Tony and I arrived in Rome Thursday around 11 am and went right to hotel - charming boutique hotel, we had little balcony and I loved the neighborhood. We found out Karen and Mark and Todd and John had already checked in - Mark called our room and asked us to meet them at outdoor restaurant across from hotel - we joined the others and a rude waiter kept giving Tony a menu and then taking it from him (always behind Tony) saying Tony was taking too long to decide on his order- finally annoyed, Tony turned around and realized his waiter was Tom Matassa! We were so surprised and so happy! Marcie told us they'd be in Rome till Monday but we were thrilled to be seeing them for two nights- that night we went out to dinner and during conversation I made some comment about getting something for my cabin and Marcie said "Oh Yes I have that, too, in my cabin" I SAID "WHAT CABIN MARCIE!!!!!???????" That's when we knew they were joining us on 007!!! We had fun dinner and the Mondaes, Mark and Todd and John stayed up way too late on rooftop terrace/bar of hotel but what a fun night! Next day Tom and Marcie Tony and I walked and had a great lunch with good vino - another wonderful dinner Friday night and now we had Olivia and her daughter Joanna - we had small private room in restaurant and had many many laughs - back to rooftop bar for nightcaps with Olivia and Joanna joining us - we were picked up at hotel and taken to ship arriving about 1 PM - our cabins were ready at 1:30 PM how nice - Marcie and Tom co-hosted Todd's cosmo party in their suite - butler brought us yummy treats and the cosmos were perfect - Sue and her dad Bill came, Frank came Carla was napping, Macy came - last night we had 11 at our table - delicious meal I had mussels, pumpkin soup and filet - this morning everyone went to Pompeii but Tom and I stayed on ship - read and relaxed - I am glad I did as they left at 8:15 am for 4 1/2 hr tour and returned at 2:15 PM!! Olivia and group went to Capri - We all had lunch at pool grill (Olivia's son and wife here now) and people have scattered and we'll all hook up before dinner tonight - weather has been perfect - actually very warm in Rome and today is a perfect "10" weatherwise lots of people sunning around pool what a perfect day to relax and look at Sorrento from the ship - - The Oceania is next to us - so Marcie pulled off a perfect surprise and it is such fun being with everyone - she said to say "hi" she was next to me in computer room but left to get her hair done....Todd's friend John is a doll - a super nice guy and I have really enjoyed him - Karen brought 25 pairs of shoes with her - now telling you things as they pop into my head - Tony said this morning "my face hurts from laughing so much last night" - now I'll get on Karen to post - I bought ten hrs of time so you'll hear from me again - great trip, great people - wish you all could be here - Joanna Sunday 4:05 PM

Hi Joanna!

So good to read your Seamail! Glad to hear everyone arrived safely and you are all enjoying eachother's company! Weather looks perfect. Take care. Best to all. Have a marvelous time!

Hey Joanna, The weather in Sorrento looks beautiful today. We've been stalking you on the webcam. What fun to be surprised by Marcie and Tom like that! May you have many more fun surprises on your cruise. Enjoy yourselves and write often.

Joanna, sounds like everyone is having a wonderful time. I sure wish I was there but will have to live through your posts. What a wonderful surprise about Marcie and Tom.

Nancy

How wonderful to hear from you, Joanna. And what a surprise to see Marcie and Tom, that is pretty funny. Say hi from all of us landlubbers.

What a great surprise for Marcie and Tom to be on the trip!

A computer question for Joanna or Marcie . .

Is the charging system the same as it was on the 2005 World Cruise? With the same password system?

Also some staff questions for the 2006 World Cruise: any idea who the Hotel Director will be? What about Elda? Will she be back? And Wayne? And Patrick?

Hope it's OK to come back to you if I think of anything else . . .

Thanks in advance . . .Peggy

Glad to hear from you. So much fun. Yes, we were stalking the ship and could see how great the weather is in Sorrento. Can you put in an order for us to keep it that way since we'll be there in two weeks?

Karen - 25 pr's of shoes? for a week? 4 pair a day?

SOOOO great to hear from you. Never has the phrase been more appropriate "WISH I WAS THERE".

Give everyone a hug for me looking forward to hearing from everyone.

Dinner the last night in Rome

Joanna,

OMG! What a great time you all are having! Wonderful surprise....Marcie & Tom joining your cruise.

Hope you will keep posting for us "wish we were there" folks.

25 pairs of shoes! Oh my!

Betty

WOW Marcie pulled it off!!!! Heehee, I knew about this, just before we got off Voyager in Rome, Steph told me, and then Marcie emailed me (HI Marcie bet you had fun pulling that off)- I've been waiting to hear from you all and hear about your surprise!! Yay!!!! how fun for you all!
Great picture, looks like a good time was being had by all. We had the best three dinners in Rome I've ever had. What hotel were you at? We loved the Bernini Bristol.

The weather looked wonderful in Sorrento. We did that Pompeii tour and it was hectic, luckily we also had a couple of hours in Sorrento to shop and stuff.

Have a great time all -- I too "wish I was there".
Is Lorraine still on or has she left already? If she is tell her Frank and JoAnn said "hi" (it was her first week on)and somebody give Steph a kiss for me - what a neat guy!! Tell Miranda "Hi" from us too (the couple she knew from HAL)

Thanks for posting Joanna, keep us up to date when you can.

This story just keeps getting better and better. I doubt if there is a single LCT member that isn't green with envy.
Now besides Joanna, which of you are are staying on for next week? Another surprise of this magnitude would make this even more wonderful.
Karen's shoe count has already blown my mind. I am still working on wardrobe problems - have yet to give a thought to shoes, but I don't own 24 pair.Wonder how many she will take on MUSH!!!!!! Next summer we should probably start a Karen shoe count lottery! Winner gets all their Cosmos free on the trip.
Love the picture. Keep them coming.

Boy, glad the big secret has finally been revealed. Marcie made me go through the whole "stick a needle in my eye" rhyme before she trusted me with it a few months ago. I was charged with wheedling info about shore excursions and flight times from everyone...

And, boy, do I ever wish I was there!!! Don't forget you are drinking for those left behind!

How cool is that to have the gang back together on Voyager? Hope you are all having a fantastic time (how could you not??) and keep sharing the fun with those of us back on this side of the Atlantic. Cheers, Anne

Wow, what a fantastic surprise, Marcie and Tom! Love the photo -- everyone looks so happy.

I'm with Betty -- is anyone staying on board for a second week besides Joanna and Tony? If so, and I hope so, we'll see you on Saturday in Monte Carlo!!! :D

Thanks for posting, Joanna. I've been thinking of you and anticipating ....

How fantastic! Thinking of all of you and the wonderful times you're having. Send more photos - we love to see them.

What a great surprise!! I kept wondering where Marcie was that she had to borrow strangers' laptops in Starbucks! Ooooooh, now I'm even more envious of the 007 crowd and wish I could have made it. That dinner in Rome looked fantastic - we want more seamail!!

Masaki

What a great picture ! It says it all! Please save the names of the restaurants if you liked them for future reference.

It's a bit after midnight, I just walked past the lounge and saw Marcie doing what appeared to be the froog (sp?) I promised Mark I would come and check on the Steeler game score but I stopped in here first.

That picture that Tood (as the check-in girl called him, so now we are calling him that) posted was from the restaurant where we had the private room and the Italian restaurant owner that stands at your table and talks to you like you are family. He asked if he could order for us and we didn't quite understand what he said and we said yes. After about 3 starters, pasta and various other courses, we were all stuffed and this was BEFORE they brought the main course so we told Gigi that we were very full so he cancelled the main entre. Thank goodness!! After 10 bottles of wine, we had no room for any more food. Well, with the exception of me and a few others, we found room for desert.

Tonight was dinner with Captain Knute (I think Miss Ngare had something to do with that!) and we had a very nice time. He is quite charming with a jolly good sense of humor. Of course, he knew about LCT but I don't think he knew that I get a crush on every RSSC Captain that I come in contact with ;) After dinner, we started doing shots of the Captains favorite liquer, Aquavit (I am sure I just butchered the spelling on that) and I am pretty sure that was my first time doing shooters with a Captain. It really was a fun dinner with great conversation!

Today we went to Pompeii with a tour but our tour quide wasn't holding our flea size attentions so we snuck off on our own and caused havoc in the ruins :) We were looking for a certain area of the ruins and Marcie asked one of the employees if he could tell us where it was and he barked this at her, "If you would pay for a guide like everyone else, you would know where it was" Well, we DID pay for a guide but he was too long winded! So we went on our merry way through the ruins and of course we got silly and had fun. I can't exactly say what we were doing, or I would have to edit my post!

Well, I am being paged so I think I have to go back down to the lounge and see if I can catch Marcie doing the jerk :) I am really having a marvelous time and I think the week is going much too fast!! I will check in again later.

xoxo

PS, tomorrow night is the Brown & Keene/LCT cocktail party, that should be lots of fun!!

Sounds like a wonderful time. This year without cruising and the LCT bunch has been tres boring. Thank goodness 2006 will be here shortly.

Hi to you all...is this tour VOF in reverse? What are the ports?

Karen,

Sounds awesome, Girl! Great cruise....great weather....the greatest company!!! What more could anyone ask? So glad you are having soooo much fun.
Please continue to post. We all want to know everything that's going on.
We miss you!!! Enjoy!!!!

Betty


Oh yeah, and we want to know if and when you wear all the shoes. heehee

Karen, Sounds like a great first day filled with fun and giggles. Be careful doing shots with the captain!!! You might miss a port..... the town not the bottle of..... :pass: :pass:

Have a ball and keep us LCTers at home posted of all your fun and games.

When you see Marcie duck walk out of the lounge, you know she has been overserved!!!!!!!!

What fun! Marcie, you pulled off a great surprise. I kept wondering where you were going for your "birthday weekend".

I can't wait for more reports. Would love to be on one of these cruises someday. Everyone has so much fun!

Karen, 25 pairs of shoes? I wish I could find that many shoes that would actually fit. The only part of me that's skinny...my feet!!

Have a great time guys and please send us email. It's so much fun to read. Keeps me smiling all day.

Karen, thanks for checking in! We miss you terribly but of course we are glad you are having fun. Try not to get arrested. xoxox

Todd and John sipping Cosmos on Formal Night:

Joanna and Frank:

Hi guys! Yep, we're having the time of our lives. Last night we had fun dinner with Joanna, Tony, Todd and John then hit the Voyager Lounge (gee what a surprise!) Rolled into bed at 2:30am but had so much fun. Olivia (and her 3 kids who are GREAT!), Frank & Carla, Sue and her siblings, Mark & Karen (but she left the earliest...probably the only smart one) all had lots of fun and laughs. We danced a LOT with all our group and I even danced with Lars (lots of the officers were in Voyager lounge too). Our group alone took up the entire back section, and the entire Voyager lounge was packed! Tom had a very good night at the Craps table then joined us in the lounge and danced his tootsies off. Many photos have been taken but I'm afraid many will NOT be suitable for posting here! :D

Wednesday night 14 of us have reservations at Signatures (2 tables). This morning I had a facial and this afternoon Tom has a massage planned (after last night night our bodies were screaming "surrender....no more Sambuca!"). For the 2nd night in a row we were doing Kamakazi (sp) shooters as well. Maybe tonight we'll repent! It has been really fun getting to know Frank, Carla and Sue this trip and Todd's friend John is just great too (and a really good dancer)

Joanne, I posted on a previous posting that I was able to spend half hour with Steph before he got off on Saturday (his vacation was moved up).
Peggy, sounds like the same people who were with us on 2005 WC....Capt. Dag, Lars, Patrick, Jamie and Dana. Hopefully Elda too!

We're just pulling into Portafino.
It's really been so fun with everyone here and we truly do wish you all were with us!!!

Marcie,

Sounds like too much fun! Glad to hear that you guys are keeping the Voyager lounge hopping. :) As for the Sambuca & Kamakazis ....repent or repeat.......whatever! Just continue to have fun, and continue to post!

Todd, I'm lovin' your photos. Thanks for posting them!

Betty

Wow!! A cruise with too many hugs and laughs and cosmos and wine and shoes and friends.....what could be better!!!! :D :D :D :D

Thanks for reporting! Let the good times continue to roll!

If Elda is on board, please send our very best to her and tell her we missed sailing her when we cruised to the Baltics in August.

Denise & Alan

You are guys are just having toooooooo muchhhhh funnnnn! STOP!! haha! just kidding -- hope you continue to have a great time! Portofino, my favorite port of our cruise hands down!!

Marcie I don't know if Frank and I will be able to keep up with you guys on MUSH - we love to party, but I don't know you guys really know how to party - ok we'll start practising up now!!!
I can't find your post about Steph - where is it?

JoAnn, I think it's on the thread 007 with music (?)

I was mistaken about Karen going to bed early. She was up until 1:00 am and this is her new record!! Also I forgot to mention that the theme party in the Voyager Lounge last night was 007 and James Bond! Wasn't that perfect!

We just returned from Portofino where 10 of us ate a great pizza lunch. It is such a nice town!! Now I'm going to go lay up on the pool deck with a good book.

Just returned from Portofino at 3 PM - Tony, Frank and Carla stayed there majority of us came back to ship to rest - most of us are anxious to have some R&R around the pool - last night was fun but oh so late getting to bed!! The food has been outstanding, weather is perfect, and many nice people on this cruise - I think Tony and I are only ones staying on next week - it will be sad to see so many great LCT people leave HOWEVER we look forward to seeing Betty and Priscilla - I am headed to the pool to read and think we are eating in LaVeranda tonight - cute girl delivered b'fast this morning and we recognized each other immediately from the WC - she is waitress in LaVeranda and I had left my shoe bag for her when I got off ship - told her she can have this one too! Fun to see many of the nice kids who work for Radisson - we all agreed no posting of any pictures taken after 10 PM!!!!

Hi Marcie,

Thanks! Glad to know that some things will be the same on the 2006 cruise . . .

I don't have to tell you to enjoy your trip - clearly you - and everyone else - is!

Have fun . . .Peggy

You guys are having so much fun! Ok, I'm naive, what are Kamakazee shooters? What party experts you all are, don't think I could keep up with you. But, I sure would have fun trying.

The pictures are wonderful. Post more. Enjoy the facials, massages, reading by the pool. Rest up for more fun!

Wow, what fun you are all having. Sounds like a great time and such a great group of people. Keep have the times of your life!!!

Nancy

Ohhhhh...I just read about Marcie and Tom's surprise!!!! How COOL!!!!!!! :app:

OH, I too wish that I could be with you all! What fantastic pictures!

Don't forget what Suzanne said...you are drinking (and eating) for all of us left behind!! <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" />

Sheri

p.s. please relay to Karen and Mark that there is a bounty out on Tommy Maddox's head for the HORRIBLE game he played on Sunday! UGH!!!! <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

Sounds like a great time - amazing that you were able to keep your booking a secret, Marcie!

While you're having fun in the Voyager lounge, try a Midori Margarita. Denise introduced us to that one on BRAVO. I just had one last night at a restaurant in Santa Fe and it didn't hold a candle to the ones they make onboard.

---
Leslie

Marcie - I can't find it, but not to worry.

Glad you all are getting in some pool time - its hard to do on those port intensive itineraries, and you need to rest up for the evenings. Sounds like a really fun group. We are sailing along with you with our memories of our Monte Carlo to Rome trip.

Joanna - how fun to run into your waitress friend from the WC. Enjoy La Verandah - loved the eggplant parmigian (sp? killed that didn't I).