We’re cruising South along the coast of Brazil and will arrive in Punta del Este, Uruguay tomorrow (Sunday) for a full day then Montevideo, Uruguay on Monday. The weather has been perfect for all the sun lovers each day and most (unfortunately not me) are getting glorious tans (especially Joanna & Tony).

Last night was a special dinner for us “Los Marineros” (the name for those of us on the full South America trip). They took all the furniture out of the Horizon Lounge and replaced it with all the tables and chairs from Signatures and visa versa. We started off in Signatures for cocktails then went into Horizon Lounge for dinner and a fabulous Tango show. The 2 award winning Tango dancers danced during each course served. They were soooooooo good. What a beautiful, sensual dance. As for dinner, I’m not sure what we ate (I only recognized the salad) but each course was very good and very Argentinean (I suppose). The entrée was a combination of various beef, pork, chicken and fish (I think) and more of a Tappas style.. Everyone sure enjoyed it!! There are so many of us on board that they divided it into two nights with the remaining “Los Marineros” passengers eating there tonight. Anyway, it was just great and a real first class Radisson surprise to us! After dinner we hooked up with Joanna & Tony then made our deposit at the casino, then on to STARS night club. BTW, they’re giving Tango lessons each day at STARS.

Tonight a group of us are having “German night” in Compass Rose. There are 25 of us at 4 tables next to each other. I instigated this get-together and special ordered 23 Weinerschnizel and potato pancakes last night for our German dinner. We did this once before (just one table) and had so much fun. It originally started off as one table but more and more people wanted to come to our party so it has really grown (I think everyone coming is friends from the WC last year). This should be a lot of fun and we’ll likely break into a bit of Um-PaPa singing. You should have seen the look on the restaurant manager’s face last night when I special ordered various German dishes (2 people want ham hocks as well…..didn’t even know what this was but now I know it’s pig’s knuckles!!) Thank goodness he’s a real pro with a “can do” attitude.

The Texas Hold’em game still goes strong each sea day afternoon (everyone misses Ngaire) and now a group of about 7 of us are playing a fun, easy card game called “31” with a $15 buy in. This too is lots of fun though I’ve yet to win. Maybe today!

The staff on the Mariner is absolutely wonderful. John Barron is such a great Cruise Director….so full of fresh energy and quick whit. He’s very friendly and approachable….here there and everywhere around the ship. I’ve heard lots of people say that he’s the BEST CD and I think I would agree.

Sailing out of Rio night before last was magnificent….what a gorgeous city all lit up. The sail away party was at 11pm with the band, singers, cocktails, etc. on the pool deck. I’ll have to post some photos soon.

Super Bowl is being shown in the Constellation theater on Sunday and there's a board with squares to buy and win $ if the half time or final score corresponds to your box.

Well, this is about all that’s popping into my mind this morning

Marcie,

Thanks again, for your report! The special dinner in the Horizon Lounge sounds great, and your German night will be loads of fun! (pig's knuckles????????)
Good luck in your card games!
Keep having fun!!!!!!!!!

Betty

Miss you all and particularly that No Texas Hold Em poker game. Thought about that yesterday knowing the game was on and I was in my office working. Enjoy your German night and say Hi to everyone for me. Keep reporting I love reading your sea mail.

Marcie and Joanna:

In Punta del Este, see if they can recreate the zip line from Amazing Race. They all zipped off the top of the Hilton into the pool.

Continue to have a wonderful adventure!!!

Marcie...what a wonderful cruise. Every moment seems to get better and better! Wish we were there. Thanks for sharing the fun.

Saturday 11:45 am

Yesterday and today are beautiful days – sunny and warm but not painfully hot – we stayed at the pool for quite some time yesterday – I was in the pool most of the time as the water was cool and refreshing. We plan to head back up around 1 pm today –

Since there was a party for the full cruisers last night we ate ALONE in CR. It was nice and we were in and out in 1 hr 15 minutes – headed to casino where I lost $20 in slots (you can tell I am not gambler and hate losing money) but gal next to me kept hitting jackpots – clang clang clang clang – all the high rollers were missing so guessing maybe they had private card party? I really just people watch in the casino

We pulled drapes last night and surprise!!! It was 9 am before we opened out eyes – so we are well rested and ready for whatever the day and night offers us –

Had group pix taken formal night – really excellent of everyone and, of course, I have my eyes closed – GRRRRRRR!!! We had 2 tables in Signatures that night and everyone looks wonderful in the pixs – some very pretty dresses and sequined tops – I asked the photo man “can you put eyes in my picture?” - he just stared at me – I said forget it –

Everyone seems to congregate deck 6 outside of library and computer room – wonderful latte and expresso machine located there too – people play cards, talk, read, use laptops etc –

I feel guilty saying this as I really like all the wonderful staff we have met on the Mariner BUT I do miss the Voyager Lounge – last night the Mariner Lounge was crowded they had singer/piano player and she was very good – and we certainly have had some fun night in Stars BUT the VL is very special – maybe because it is across from casino and makes it so easy to wander back and forth??? Certainly not a reason to select one ship over another…just my opinion –

Tonight German dinner (2nd time)– wiener schnitzel very good but potato pancakes they served with it were bad – looks like they use frozen hash browns and cut them in circle and fry – Signatures serves some entrée (forget which one) on a bed of delicious potato pancakes -

We have been so fortunate to have met such friendly couples on this cruise - have only met 2 grumps and they are married - that's good as they spared 2 other people misery by finding one another -

More later – off to library and lunch - Joanna

Joanna,

You are tooo funny! Sounds as if the fun continues. Thanks for posting for us! Enjoy!!

Betty

Joanna - sounds great, such fun!!! Your sense of humor is just fantastic and I'll bet everyone around you is just laughing constantly.

However, somehow you have become Ngaire - did you notice??????

Keep us posted. Love both yours and Marcies reports!!!

Both these reports are fantastic and so funny. Joanna, I do think that Photographer could find you some eyes someplace. :eek: The whole trip sounds very special. Marcie, look forward to more photos.

JoAnna,

That photo can be scanned and "photoshopped" Karen is expert at this now!

Joanna, Your posts are fantastic (although for a moment I thought Ngaire was posting!)!

Enjoy the weiner schnitzel, and have an extra portion for me! I love it!

Unfortunately for Ngaire, she was only on for 8 nights and is now back at home, hard at work!

She must be using a computer where I forgot to log out of LCT. As we are not in the habit of logging out it happens a lot when multiple people are posting on board a ship. I wish I was Joanna and back on board.

Sunday 9:45 am

We are heading into town (PDE) on tenders at 10 am - big group - we had our delicious schnitzal last night - 3 tables of 8? We headed to bed early as wanted to get up early and have full day - the sun is shining and temps feel good - I will report back later and let you know about our day - everyone seems exicted about Super Bowl - I think they'll show it in theater - I'm not that excited maybe watch in our cabin? - more later - Ngaire I must have ended up with your non logged off computer - I enjoyed being Ngaire for a few minutes - whoops John just came on and told us tenders taking a litte longer than expected? People with walking difficulties are encouraged NOT to take tenders due to depth of water - Joanna

Joanna, thanks for another great update. Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Nancy

Look forward to your report when you return. Glad to see your smiling face back again, not that Ngaire's smiling face isn't wonderful too!!

Have a great day in port.

The lovely Miss Lynn and I are off for Buenos Aires in about an hour. Will see you aboard, Marcie. I'm sure there will be a lot of familiar faces. Not sure about the crew though. Haven't been aboard Mariner for a while. Brian O'Brian and Dieter&Ilse are the only names/faces I've recognized so far.

Bon Voyage, Doug and Lynn! I hope you have safe travels and a great cruise!

Doug, hope you and Lynn have a great cruise! Send us some sea mail!

Hi All: Sunday 5:22 PM

Punta del Este is a beautiful little town – very upscale, immaculate, nice shops, - my favorite small port to date – we left on the 10 am tender – about a 15 minute tender crossing on choppy but very pretty seas – we grabbed the free “leather shop” shuttle into town – some serious buying of leather purses but not by me – walked around and 8 of us had lunch at a…..PIZZA PLACE!!! More shopping (window for me) and back to ship by 3 pm and headed for pool and hot tub – pool was quiet, sunny and constant breeze. Pretty nice to sit in hot tub overlooking this sweet town -

Woman at the pool told me she had checked real estate here and you can buy 3 bedr 3 bath condo overlooking beach (beaches are really nice) for $179 thou US – but, of course, you have the long trip to get here and sure would help if you spoke the language – Montevideo tomorrow – hope as nice as today. I really have not done any shopping but I really am not big shopper at home – now Shanghai was a different story.

Our trip is winding down – we fly out from BA Wednesday at 5 pm – Tony is already starting to dwell on the “trip is over” and I plan to enjoy it till the last second with no complaining about how close we are to the end – most of the couples we have spent time with are on full 62? day cruise – they love every minute – I think 21-28 days would be my limit …. but we’re all different –

I had thought we’d eat in our cabin tonight – would only be the second time this trip and the first was due to my cold!! However, I think I will lose the battle (Tony) and we’ll end up in CR – they have chateaubriand tonight!!

So now headed to library (right outside of computer room) and this library has been the best of any cruise – why? Have no idea – good selection of books – I don’t think they recycle paperbacks left in cabins – too bad as I always leave mine and they are current – paperback selection very small -

Oh last night most of the gals wore their jewelry purchased in Rio - I have never been surrounded by so many incredible pieces - bracelets, rings, pendants, necklaces - all gorgeous and BIG!!! - I had my stunning $20 Timex watch on which I purchased at Target right before I left for this trip - Joanna

Joanna, I can't believe it's almost time for you to come home. I am sad that your journey and journals will end but I HAVE MISSED YOU and I will be glad to have you back!!

Joanna, thank you to you and Marcie for allowing us at home to enjoy your cruise with you! I know it has taken a lot of time for those reports, and I think you know how much it means for us to piggy-back along with anyone who is at sea!

Joanna,
You have me LOL with your Timex watch - love it! Thanks for all the reports; it's been a fun time!

Great to get today's update. Please ask The Snake why his casino winnings were reinvested in a $20 Timex. :rolleyes:

Enjoy every minute! Safe trip home, you two. Cheers, Anne

Yes, I saw some of those jewelry pieces being bought. Unbelievable!!!! Some truly were stunning. I bet it was a glitzy affair!!!

There was a shelf in the library on Navigator with a sign "Paper Back Exchange". I had some really lightweight mystery novels that I wasn't interested in bringing home, so I deposited them there.

Joanna, I've missed you and it's time for you to come home. Wave bye-bye to Marcie, that's a good girl.

"People with walking difficulties are encouraged NOT to take tenders due to depth of water."

Joanna - Unless the passengers have to wade from the tenders to the shore, what does that caveat mean?? And now that our dearest Ngaire is no longer on board, I assume there are no passengers who can walk on water. In any event, depth of water and strolling impairments notwithstanding, it has been great fun reading your posts. They will be missed. Cheers, Fred

JoAnna,

Thanks for staying in touch with us - love your reports. Glad to be on your cruise with you via seamail.

And we'll all be glad when you're home "blah,blah, blah-ing" with us here.

Hi guys! Today we're in the capital city of Uruguay....Montevideo. Ready to go exploring.

Yesterday we had such a fun day in Punta de Este, Uruguay. It is such a beautiful, clean city….a very upscale beach town. They call it the St. Tropez of Uruguay. It’s loaded with little shops and boutiques and lots of nice Italian restaurants (settled by Italians and Spanish). There are magnificent homes and apartments overlooking the immaculate harbor. It’s the type of place you could rent a little place and spend a week. I bought a couple of pairs of inexpensive shoes and we had pizza and walked at least 2 miles exploring.

Last night we ate in CR then there was a big Super Bowl party in Constellation theater. Many ate dinner there (started at 8:00p) with burgers, hot dogs, chicken, beer, etc. Unfortunately we didn't win any of the quarter or final score boxes but had fun at the party. Tonight there's a complimentary Tango show onboard.

Tomorrow is J & T's last day. We'll be in Buenos Aires then on Wednesday they disembark for home and we leave for Iguzu Falls for the night.

Here are a few pix from our German dinner night before last (there were 25 of us at 4 tables). FUN TIME with such nice friends!

Great photos, Marcie! Everyone always looks so happy in the dinner pix :)

Monday 3:50 PM

Left the ship at ten this morning - another beautiful day but cooler - 78? perfect! Walked all over Montevideo - people are so nice and very friendly. Just got back and tired from all the walking - this is a beautiful country with beautiful people - both in spirit and looks -

Last night big festivities in Constellation Theater for Super Bowl - they served hot dogs, popcorn, beer etc - we ate in CR, delicious as usual -

Fred - due to the tide when the tender pulled up to dock in Punta del Este the floor of tender was wayyyyyyyyy below dock - you know how you normally just stroll off? So we had to climb the stairs in tender to top deck and they hooked up a ladder so we could walk down from roof of tender - would not have worked for anyone with walking/climbing problems -

Think we are doing the "Evita" tour tomorrow morning - nap time calling - Joanna

Don't cry for me Argentina :3smile:

Am loving your Seamail!!! Thanks!!!

Thanks for the seamail and photos, J&M.

Hard to believe your cruise is coming to an end, Joanna! Your casino winning bling is a $20 Timex? You're a low-maintenance kinda gal! Have a safe trip home! Sure miss you!

Bon Voyage, safe travels and happy times, Doug and Lovely Miss Lynn!

Marcie, thanks for the update and the great pictures.

Joanna, enjoy the rest of your time!

Nancy