The next year they convinced half the neighborhood to go on another.

“There were five couples and one single,” Lefkowitz said.

She and Irving operated Irving’s Jewelry and enjoyed nine respites at sea. When he died, she kept up the tradition.

Of all the cruise activities and side trips that go with an at-sea vacation, Lefkowitz said she enjoys people meeting the most. She’s made lasting friends. But on her recent trip, she knew enough travelers to keep her agenda full.

“I didn’t meet anyone interesting this time because there were so many Port Arthur people there,” she said.

Because it was her 33rd trip with Royal Caribbean, Lefkowitz got an upgrade to larger quarters.

“That cabin has spoiled me for anything else,” she said.

Fifteen years ago in St. Thomas, Lefkowitz met a woman at a shop called Mr. Tablecloth and that meeting forged a Port Arthur community tradition. Each year she buys an embroidered Christmas tablecloth that a lucky Rotary Club ticket holder will take home. The project helps Hughen Center students who can’t go home for the holidays have a party. If she doesn’t actually cruise to the area, she gets a cloth delivered to her.

Nancy Currie said Lefkowitz turned gave her the cruise bug. She’s been on 11 or 12 cruises, but can’t catch up with her friend.

“She has been on more than I can count and even talked my husband into going with us. He immediately became addicted,” Currie said.

“I really became a close friend of Ursula's after Irving died in 1985. I was running the Jefferson City Shopping Center Merchants Association and Irving was president so he and I became good friends. When he passed, Ursula kind of adopted me as a surrogate daughter. They had a cruise planned for October, but he passed away in May, so Ursula invited me to go with her. Since it was already paid for, I packed my bag,” she said.

Currie also credits Lefkowitz with connecting her with Rotary.

“She was the first woman to join North Port Arthur Rotary and got me in with her. She has enjoyed Rotary as much as Irving did and has probably recruited more members since joining in 1989 than anyone before or since. She is definitely a Senior on the Go,” Currie said.

Cruise lines are famous for fabulous food, and Lefkowtiz said it can be a challenge to enjoy a lot without over indulging.

“You don’t have to eat and drink everything the first day. You don’t. There’s a tomorrow,” she said.