SSQQ Travel is a Travel Club run by Marla Archer and Rick Archer . The SSQQ Travel Club began in 1998 as an offshoot of Rick's SSQQ Dance Studio on Bissonnet in Houston, Texas. While Rick ran the dance studio, Marla developed the Travel business. Marla is a home-based travel agent who schedules each cruise and books the passengers (Marla does individual bookings as well). Rick writes the stories at the conclusion of each trip and adds pictures.
Rick and Marla met on the 2001 SSQQ Summer Dance Cruise. Their ship was initially headed to Cancun, but headed to Vera Cruz instead to elude a hurricane. At the stroke of Midnight on the first night of the trip, Rick and Marla had their very own Cinderella-style experience. They met on the dance floor at a singles dance. After an hour of dancing, they went to the top deck where those storm winds had quite an effect. Rick and Marla have never been apart since.
The story of how Rick and Marla met stands as convincing evidence of the powerful role the sea can play in creating Romance. To complete the circle, three years later Rick and Marla were married at sea. Their 2004 Wedding Cruise aboard the Rhapsody had more goofy twists than a madcap 'I Love Lucy' episode. Fortunately, all is well that ends well.
In reflection, the 2004 Wedding Cruise was the trip when the 'Group Identity' began to form. The passengers formed friendship so strong that the same group stayed together back on land in Houston throughout the year till the next cruise came along. In the years since, the SSQQ Travel Club has bonded into an extended family of sorts. It is a fact that people who travel together grow very close. Not only do we have marvelous adventures at sea, those shared experiences are relived throughout the year back in Houston through dances and parties.