Greetings from the Mariner! Arrived about 5 in FLL, quickly checked in then of to a great dinner Monday night. We hooked up with good friends we had made from the World Cruise and had a fun night with 22 friends. It was a wonderful reunion. We had seen some of these friends since the WC and others not. Everyone had a great evening. A great surprise when Joanna called while we were there and she got passed around saying hello to many she and Tony had met on their 34 days on the WC. We stayed at the Hyatt Pier 66 hotel (priceline) and were upgraded to a nice room in the newer Tower on the 14th floor with a full on view of the harbor. I had read some terrible recent reports about this hotel and ongoing renovations. I was pleased that our room (though not yet renovated) was just fine and I’d stay here again. Nice waking up, going out on our balcony and seeing the Mariner waiting for us to board! Paul (worldcruise2005 who has become a wonderful friend) was also at our hotel so the 3 of us headed over to board the ship just before noon. Walking into the waiting area was great, seeing so many familiar faces of passengers from the WC. There are many! Someone told me there were about 80 of us from the WC (not sure if this is an accurate or not…seems like more to me). The computers were up-down-up- down so check-in was a long process….definitely the longest it’s ever taken. The Kimmi’s appeared just as we were checking in…so great to see them! Thanks to Ngaire, they had a visitor’s pass to come join us onboard. We (Tom, me, Paul, Kim and John) headed up to the pool deck where we caught up on each other and enjoyed cheeseburgers on the pool deck. It was so nice being together! I so wish they were on this cruise with us.

Our cabin was ready around 3 or so, said good bye to the Kimmi’s and came to our cabin to begin unpacking. I forgot to mention a stressful time for us when we couldn’t find our yellow medical card showing proof that we had our yellow fever shot (won’t go into detail but luckily we found it! If your planning to visit Brazil make sure you have this!! I haven’t read posts yet so Kim or Joanna may have told you about the whole mess!) Talked to Joanna and Tony on the phone before our sail away. We went to a private birthday party at Star’s Lounge for cocktails, met Capt Phillipe there, then on to dinner at Compass Rose. We had a table for 8. We’ve been on the Mariner once before (MINT) but nothing seems familiar to us.. There are enough differences in the Mariner and the Voyager to totally confuse us! We do miss having the Voyager Lounge (our pre-dinner meeting area) right across from Compass Rose. The Mariner Lounge is just outside of CR here but it seems more like a hallway you walk down since it’s not a separate room. We’ll adjust and become familiar with the lay of the land soon enough I’m sure. Stars lounge was dead…I need to start recruiting. We don’t know any of the staff here…yet. So very different than when we’re on the Voyager where we know sooooo many.The
staff here are not strangers….just new friends I haven’t met yet. I had met John Barron (now married to Lindsey) on MINT who is our cruise director.

After dinner we went to a show in Horizon Lounge then a visit to the casino.

Today and tomorrow are sea days before arriving in St. Bart on Friday. Started the morning off with bridge lessons, then on to an excellent speaker to enlighten us about South America. She was great. . . I will miss having use of the internet in our cabin. The internet rate for full circle SA passengers is 250 minutes for $25. There is wifi on deck 6. Got a busy day ahead….lots of fun activities lined up! Off to Wheel of Fortune!

So great to hear from you Marcie, and looking forward to the next 2 months!

Marcie
How great you are on your way. I predict you will have that shipped memorized by this evening & will also have at least 10 new great friends. The staff - you will know them all in a day or two. Stars Lounge - jumping by tomorrow night.
And keep your posts coming. You know how many of us hang on every word.

Hi Marcie, thanks so much for posting. sounds like you are off to a great start of your adventure.

Nancy

Ah the Mariner Lounge and a great place to catch a smoke. Or maybe two or three if the Opera lecturer from hell it at your table... :ohmy:

Glad your trip has started.

Hi Marcie - thank you for posting. I love the Mariner, but, we have yet to be on Voyager - we have to wait until June!

Don't forget to enjoy the cruise - we wouldn't want to have you miss something 'cause you were sending us seamail. Too bad they can't hardwire or wi-fi your room.

Hi Marcie, I am glad you are off to a good start! I am so looking forward to your Amazon river posts, I can't wait!!

Look for my favorite Mariner waiter, his name is Gerry. I don't know if he is still onboard but if he is, he is a gem!!

Hi Marcie!

Boy, this is kind of like a tag-team! We say our goodbyes on PARTY the day you're saying your hellos on SAMBUCA!!

No lapse in the Sea Mail chain! I was worried about withdrawal, but I know you'll give us our daily fix!

Have a wonderful time!

Have a wonderful time, i know you will.
Cindy

So good to hear from you, Marcie. That's one thing I don't like about Mariner either - only one real dance venue, Horizon Lounge. Sure will miss the Voyager Lounge before and after dinner. Please give our best to all who were on with us from Singapore-Rome last year. Especially Ann and Barbara, Dr. Jim&Jane and Dieter&Ilse(the dance instructors). Look forward to hooking up in BA. Give us some feedback on the duo in the Horizon Lounge. Sure hope they play decent dance music. See what you can do to get Stars going, as you said. It's been dead on every Mariner cruise we've taken. Sure wish they had a juke box in there instead of that computer driven thing. It's too hard to operate and there never seems to be an operator around late at night. Maybe Barron can do something about that. Don't know Capt. Phillipe. Sure hope he's cut from the same cloth as Capt. Guillou. Maybe we'll see you at Iguazu. We'll be there on the 7th of Feb; staying at the Sheraton that evening. Don't know whether Judy&Warren Waite are going up there or not. You and Tom will really like them. They're gamblers and he can tell jokes non-stop. We're going to have dinner with them on 9 Feb, so we can get caught up. Let's try to do dinner together, or with a group, soon after that. I'll do my smoking outside for that one. Have a great trip! Our docs are supposed to arrive tomorrow.

Glad you are settled in - I prefer the set up on the Voyager with lounge, CR and casino all together - I'm not complaining the Mariner is beautiful ship but V is my favorite - Joanna PS Don't drink all the white Sambuca!!!

Marcie,

So glad you are off to a good start! Thanks for your post. I am so excited for you, and for us, because I know you will take us along with you, on this great adventure, through your posts. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!

Betty

Love hearing about everyone's cruises when I can't be there!! Keep checking in Marcie!! :)

Karen

Here is a couple pictures from my Amazon cruise on the Mariner last Feb. Amazon

Hi M!!

Glad things are off to a good start (yellow fever card mini-issue notwithstanding). Looking forward to your posts. Cheers!

Yes, Marcie, I'm really looking forward to hearing more about the ship. Having only been on Voyager, and with 18 days on Mariner coming up later this year, I'm eager to learn how it compares in your mind. I too love the Voyager lounge set-up, so it'll be interesting to hear how the Mariner lounge works out.

I was just reading some ship info earlier today, and read for the first time about the Stars lounge, which I didn't know about. I do hope it picks up in there, as it sounds like it could be a great evening option, as long as people are there!

So glad Marcie that you are settling in and getting unpacked and finding your way around. Our first RSSC cruise was on the Mariner, May 2003 TransCanal - we loved the ship, and I think you will too before you are done. However, we also love Voyager and Navigator, and each of them has their own unique qualities, spaces and lounges, and it really doesn't take long to get aclimated.

Looking forward to your many posts that make us all feel like we are right there with you. HAVE A WONDERFUL
CRUISE!!!!! See you on MUSH! Lucky us, by the time we get on for MUSH, you will know everyone onboard, so think how great that will be!!! :D

Marcie, have a great cruise. Pretty soon, the Mariner will make you forget Voyager. Mariner is a much more comfortable ship (except for fewer computers). I really like Mariner Lounge; a nice place to stop for a drink before dinner and "pick up" dinner companions.

Marcie has been on Mariner - that was MINT!! We all had great rooms -

Joanna, I know; she just has to be on long enough to realize that Mariner is the best! <img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" />

She'll be on long enough 62 days?? - I loved the Mariner BUT really really loved Voyager - different strokes - both great -

I have not been on the Voyager, but the separate showers would make it my first choice.

Another day at sea here and all continues to go well. The Mariner is a nice ship but I sure miss the Voyager. I really don’t care for the Mariner Lounge. It’s more like a hallway to me with seating on one side, not a separate bar (room) like the Voyager Lounge is. There isn’t even a dance floor there. The ship itself is quite nice but I prefer the Voyager (others may have a completely different opinion). Our C Category cabin is just great but not a good location as we’re way in the front and very high (#902). It’s all about getting use to new things so we’re working on all these things. We were lucky to get the very last "C" cabin so can't complain....love the additional floor space!
We got our trivia team formed yesterday…good fun team! Didn’t win but did well. Yesterday was the first day at Bingo and I won! Yea! Tonight we’re eating at Signatures at a table of 8. We actually have 2 more Signature dinners and 2 Latitude dinners coming up as “invited guests”. I haven’t needed to think about making any reservations on our own yet.

Yesterday a group of us played Texas Hold’em poker up in LaVeranda. One of our friends brought the chips, cards etc. so we just set up our own game…lots of fun. The casino was not kind to me last night so I may need to go visit there tonight and get my $$ back! The casino staff seems nice and friendly.

The food has been excellent in CR….no complaints there! Plenty of Sambuca flowing after dinner too. The staff onboard seems more aloof than what we were use to on the WC. They’re very nice, professional, courteous and doing a great job…. but don’t seem to have the outgoing, “get to know the passengers” attitude like the staff on the WC did. I’m sure one big difference is that on the WC the staff has photos of all the guests (guess it’s required learning?) so you are always called Mr and Mrs. Xxx. This may improve as time goes on. They are doing a good job but just don’t show the same “warmth” and “familiarity” as the staff on the WC. I guess being with Capt Dag,, Lars, Steph, Jamie, Dana, Patrick and that group spoils you for LIFE!

Doug, dinner is a definite! I’m looking forward to seeing Ann and Barbara….what fun ladies! Also, I found out that the entertainer Bruce Meadows is getting on soon. I guess he had some knee surgery that he’s recovering from but will be rejoining the Peter Grey group soon.
More later…..off to the wine tasting!

Love your seamails - probably just a question of settling in on the Mariner - I do think it is lovely ship and look forward to SA and Mush - but the Voyager is hard to beat as far as we're concerned - Hi to Judy and Bruce

Marcie, I agree with you about the Mariner lounge, I always felt as if I was sitting in the hall!

Oh I better not tell Mark that you were playing Texas Hold 'em, he will be green with envy!!

Thanks for updating us, I LOVE your seamails!!

xoxo

Thanks for keeping us updated Marcie! Your seamail is some of the BEST. I hope you continue to have a great cruise.

P.S. - Thanks for the info about the Hyatt

Anthony

Wine tasting! SUCH the life, M. Thanks for the seamail. Ditto what K said.

I have been on both and I agree Marci, The Voyager was just more comfortable somehow. Stars was completely empty every night of our 14 days Tokyo to HK. I walked past it every night as it is right by the computers and NEVER saw a soul. Someone (You) has to "get this party started"!Have a fabulous trip.

Marcie: Say hi to Bruce and ask him if he's recovered from the Pirate attack. I think he;s the same one who was on the Seabourn's first segment (Alexandria to Mombasa) when we were attacked by pirates. Also say Hi to Ranie for me if he's still working in the Verandah restaurant. Loved that guy. and Rennie and Miguel. Loved that bunch. Have a wonderful trip. We loved Terry Breen, the lecturer and hope she's still doing it on S.A. She's fantastic.

Hi Marcie....it's so exciting to find seamail from you! I second Jean's note about Terry Breen - she is a wonderful "expert" lecturer and a darn nice person too!

Just knowing we have 60 more days crusing with you makes my day really bright!

Have fun,

Hi Marcie, It sounds like your cruise is getting off to a great start. Loving your seamail and hope you will post pictures soon, maybe on photobucket like you did on the WC.

I just found out today that a friend of mine (Mom & I met her and her daughter a few years ago on the Mariner) is on your cruise for the entire trip. Her name is Terry Mann and she is travelling solo until BA. If you meet her, tell her Beth from NC says hello. Her daughter emailed me that she is aboard. Terry is alot of fun.

Marcie; Is Andreas Noehammer the Hotel Director? If so, please pass on our best to him.

Great to hear from you Marcie!!

Hey Marcie..keep the seamail coming.
Agree about the lounge on Mariner looking like a big hallway ..
oh well have another Sambuca..it'll turn into a lounge quick enough

thanks Marcie for the wonderful report. I know everyone appreciates the time it takes out of your fun wine tastings!!!
Cindy

Marcie - nice to hear from you. I'm sure you will warm up to the Mariner as time goes on - we love it! Now I will agree with you about the Mariner Lounge over the Voyager Lounge, but I never noticed that when we were on. I'm sure before the week is out, you will know everyone onboard and things will start to seem more familiar to you.

We were in #1005 and never had a problem with being that far forward, which was amazing because I was worried about it. It turned out to be like a little private area - there were only 5 cabins on each side and it was so quiet and we loved it. Your cabin looks to be sort of in the same area as we were, one deck down, slightly more forward - although when we did have a couple of rocky nights, it was definitely felt up there more, no question.

Anyway - looking forward to more posts. I'm sure that before long, your WC group will be totally in charge and you will all be having a great time, not that you aren't already.

PL, glad all is going well but to bad about the casino <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

And

The man in the colorful shirt is "Jamaica", this was an on going joke between the two of us. He worked in the breakfast/lunch buffet and everyday I would ask to see his passport from Jamaica and he would have and excuse for not having it.

So if anybody in your group see him ask about his Jamaican passport .. :D