Tuesday

Arrived Manaus Saturday at noon after a long and tiring trip. One piece of Tony’s luggage was missing but we received it Sunday morning. Hotel Tropical was perfect. Pretty grounds and I thought the hotel was charming. They served an excellent breakfast buffet. Tom and Marcie came to the hotel so we visited with them and then took a power nap from 4-7 pm. Had dinner at the hotel and in bed by 10 pm. Sunday we boarded at 1 pm and in our cabin by 2 pm. Unpacked and the cabin seemed a little smaller than Voyager cabin. (Last time on Mariner we had a Penthouse C what a dream!) Someone told me 50 sq feet smaller? We are settled in and like it but do prefer the Voyager cabins.

At 6:15 we were invited to Lynne and Frank’s for cocktails (Horizon corner suite and I really thought it was beautiful loved the huge deck) – SURPRISE party for my birthday – I was surprised! I think 25 people and the cabin was perfect for that size group. So many we had cruised with on WC and just had the best time. Dinner that night with Ngaire, Ken, Marcie and Tom and what did we eat? Lamb of course – very good!

Monday morning we took boat trip and then boarded motorized canoe for trip down Amazon – it is hot and humid but there was a breeze. Grabbed lunch at LV, napped, and time for dinner! Ate with two couples from WC and had melt in our mouth filet. I went to bed at 11 pm Tony went to casino.

Up this morning had room service for juice and coffee and then headed to LV and sat outside. I am planning to sit around pool and read but depends on humidity. Some dancers are boarding shortly for a show on the ship. We are in Boca de Valeria – remote, water in Amazon brown, several small boats circling the ship. Having a wonderful time and look forward to every new experience.

I have not read the board since last Friday – miss it! Typing this is word let’s hope when I transfer it works – Karen if it ends up in wrong place move it – Just chatted with Ken and Ngaire outside computer room – hopefully I will check in with you on regular basis -

We've had two wonderful nights after dinner but haven't found anything like the Voyager Lounge! I do tend to nickname people - have one gal and top of her thong shows - call her the "tease" and a man about 60 with very trim, fit, muscular body he tends to strut - call him "Jack LaLanne" - Marcie just walked in - more later

HI Darling!! I am so very glad you made it in one piece!! Pam, Betty and I have been so sad that we had not heard from you. Thank goodness your last piece of luggage arrived, I can just imagine trying to replace those items in the Amazon!

I miss you lots but I am glad you are having a great time. Your birthday party sounds like it was a blast!
xoxo

Too funny..........Tony just walked in the computer room and caught Joanna and I in the act!! He loudly said "Oh great, how I spent my cruise @ $800 a day on the computer" Everyone here in the room just cracked up! Took a photo of Joanna and I sitting next to each other logged on LCT!

That is great!!!!! Really funny!!! :D

Glad Joanna & Tony made it there. Your party sounds wonderful, Joanna!!!

Lovin' all the Sea Mail! Please keep it up!

So where's the part about Tony's casino winnings being magically transformed into a mega rock? Tony, tony, tony .. Gary says open your wallet, man!

Very glad the errant piece of luggage was located so quickly. That's a big relief.

Have a wonderful day, birthday girl! Cheers, Anne

Great to hear from you and love your birthday headdress!

So glad to hear from you. I'm thrilled that you had a wonderful surprise party. I loved your new headdress.

Nancy

Your new Easter bonnet is fantastic. That should get everyone talking back in PV.
So glad you finally were able to post. It's just not the same around here without you.
Remember - Rio, thong, photo!! :3smile:
I'll be waiting.

Glad you made it and Tony's piece of luggage arrived in time. Sounds like a fun birthday party, how neat that they all surprised you like that.

Looking forward to more SeaMail from you and Marcie and Ngaire!

Like Betty, waiting for the thong photo! :app: :app: Do you think she knows???? <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

have a great time, sounds awesome.

Trip sounds wonderful! You're right, Joanna, the standard suites on M are a bit smaller than on the Voyager (or Navigator)...and I agree, the penthouse C on Mariner are so fantastic!!

Did you stay in the 'older' section at the Tropical? Glad the a/c worked! How was the room? Do they still have mini aviaries in the lobby and small zoos on the grounds? So many questions!!

Hope it all continues to be fantastic...can't wait to hear more!!!

Glad to hear from you, JoAnna. Hope the party continues on - We're waiting to hear about some bauble from Tony to make up for those megapickles!

Marcie; Have a favor to ask. Since we won't get to the ship until late PM on the 8th of Feb from the Iguazu pre-cruise, could you ask the hotel director if he could have 2 bottles of Myers original dark rum in our stateroom #830 when we arrive. I think I'll need an immediate drink during unpacking. Thanks in advance. If they can't or won't do it, don't make a big deal of it, but I'd surely appreciate it.

Glad your errant luggage caught up to you Joanna! Nice to hear you are having such a great time.

Great to hear from you! I'm glad your luggage arrived and it looks like it was a FABULOUS birthday party! Thanks for sharing!

Hi Joanna! Sure miss you!! Glad to hear you arrived safe and sound and the lost luggage made it's way to you quickly.

Love the headdress - It's certainly you! Have a great time on your special birthday cruise!

Happy Birthday hugs from me to you!

Keep those positive vibes coming. Have a great time and get Ngaire well!!

Yay, Joanna's back on board a cruise! I love reading Joanna's postings from on board. :)

Masaki

Joanna & Tony:

Nothing like having friends on a cruise with you.
What fun!!!

Cheers! Ray & Penny
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and the sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
Lebanese artist & poet in US (1883 - 1931)

Hi guys!
All is great here in the Amazon. The weather is hot and humid but everyone is surviving it fine. Last night we ate dinner with Rogerio (F & B Mgr) with Joanna and Tony. We had such a fun time with Rogerio. He is such a wealth of information and such a pleasure to be with. So unlike the times when we’ve been stuck at a table with a boring officer and a bunch of random people we don’t know. We’ve been at a few of those tables where you wonder which could be worse
….getting through the dinner or having a root canal! (I'm sure they feel the same way about obligatory dinners with passengers). We are now to the point where we only accept invites from Officers we know and with a fun table. Friday night we’re eating with Hotel Director Martin (another great guy!!) and Joanna, Tony, Ngaire and Ken!!
Last night Ngaire and Ken ate with Paul and Hans then came over to join our table for coffee and Sambuca. Ngaire was feeling better but still not 100%. Haven’t talked to her today but hopefully she’ll be back to perfect today.. We have a reservation at Signatures Sunday night for the 8 of us.

Yesterday we played Texas Hold’em and I won! Yippee!! Ngaire wanted to join our game but was still a bit under the weather so she’ll join us today. She came to watch at the end when there were just 2 of us left. She and another friend onboard, Mike from WC are my good luck charms!

Last night Tony seemed to be having a good night at the craps table….maybe some bling for Joanna?? Yesterday we had an Amazonian band and some great native dancers come onboard with unbelievable feathered costumes. They danced on the pool deck and are just soooooo good! Everyone enjoyed it and at the end they would invite you to come up and dance with them. I gave it my best effort but can’t possible keep up with all their moves! There were also local vendors on board on the pool deck selling handmade crafts and jewelry. Joanna bought some beautiful long dangly red feather earrings. She wore them to dinner last night and looked great……Tony thinks it looks like she has pigtails.

Got an email from Lars as well as from several friends onboard the Voyager and it sounds like everything is going great on the WC!. Capt. Dag rented the entire island for a motu with unlimited caviar, champagne and a huge bar-b-que. They were transported by motorized outrigger canoes with young Polynesian native men tantalizing the ladies wearing skimpy loin cloths playing ukuleles, posing for photos, etc. I really hand it to the Radisson Officers onboard to have surprise things like this on the longer cruises!!

Doug, I will order your Myers dark rum for you so it will be waiting for you! This shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Time to check on the others, eat some breakfast and take the shuttle into town.

Thanks, Marcie! See you soon!

Hi M&J!

Good hearing from you and that Ngaire is doing better!

Any word on when the 2007 itineraries will be available? If anyone can get the scoop, it's you, Marcie.

Have a great day (of course, that's a given!)

Marcie, thanks for checking in! I'm glad Ngaire is feeling better and give Joanna my best!

Nancy

Will "megapickles" Tony take a photo of Joanna's pigtails?

Great to hear ffrom you Marcie, love all the details!

Bonnie: Yes to your questions (zoo etc) about Tropical Hotel - I loved the older section and a/c was cold cold cold! The front desk could not have been nicer or more helpful regarding Tony's luggage -

Had early room service yesterday morning (6:30 am juice and coffee) and headed up to LV for breakfast - ate outside - nice breeze

Yesterday we stopped at pool deck at noon (after taking full tour of ship) - and watched dancers they brought onboard - fun colorful show and Marcie was up dancing with them! Oh and the "tease" was dancing in her teeny bikini - Had quick lunch in LV around 1:30 pm and saw Ken and Ngaire so had fun visit then off for power nap and reading. Marcie told you about dinner with Rogerio - what as asset he is to Radisson. It was wonderful dinner with soft shell crab, chilled sweet pea soup and lobster. Ken and Ngaire and Hans and Paul joined us for after dinner drinks at our table. Then we headed to ML for more laughs - Tony went to casino and I went to bed. Actually, Paul and I left together and rode elevator up to deck 8 (me) and he is on 9 - he got off at 8 and I told him one more floor for you - this is "so" Paul - he insisted on walking me to my cabin - I do miss the Voyager Lounge and the great interaction we had on those cruises.

The library is very good on so I have enjoyed taking books to my cabin. Took a couple of DVD's out but have no idea when or if we'll watch them. We have very good stewardess "Olivia" so it is easy for me to remember her name!!

We took the shuttle into Santarem today (hot and humid) and walked around for about an hr. Tony is headed to the pool and I am in computer room with Marcie. Tony has taken pixs and he'll download and Marcie will help me post a few.

Tonight we have special ordered weiner schnitzel and potato pancakes for dinner- cocktail party at 6 pm in Nagire's suite - another fun evening, no doubt.

We leave here at 1 or 2 pm and have 2 sea days - YEAH!! Cruise the Amazon River and cruise coast of Brazil.

Rogerio will be on MUSH as will our currect Captain - Rogerio said we're in for a treat as the Captain loves to "get up close" - having dinner Friday night with Martin the Hotel Director - another great guy - many many nice friendly people on this cruise - miss talking to you all on regular basis but I'll keep posting! Joanna

PS The chance you'll see me in thong anywhere is as remote as some of these villages we are visiting!!

Wonderful to hear the Rogerio will be aboard - we are in for a real treat during MUSH! His wife was the concierge (I think) during our Navigator Bermuda cruise and he was F&B then.

JoAnna, sounds like you are all having such a good time. Keep it up!!! Thank you for reporting in.

Thank you all for reporting! Glad to hear Ngaire is feeling better and that everyone is having a great time.

Anthony

So glad to hear Ngaire is recuperating. You all sound like you are having a great time. I love reading your reports.

Great to hear from you, Joanna! All reports indicate a fantastic time is being had by all. Continue to enjoy and post!

BTW - Love your "P.S." It's so Joanna!

Nice to be hearing from you both. Sounds like you are having fun. Miss you!

Joanna, even on my first trip to Rio at the young age of 34 it was REAL EASY to skip the thong!!! :o :eek: :o

Oops...editing to add (or rather clarify) that I didn't actually 'skip' the thong...just substituted it for a more reasonable suit! ;)

Joanna, I miss all of our frequent email exchanges. I'm so glad you are having a great cruise. so, what did Tony give you for your birthday?

Nancy :)

Bonnie, you crack me up!!

Our Captain for MUSH sounds like he is going to be a lot of fun!

crack?

The last two times I posted I had "notes" with me - this time I am just winging it - had cocktails in Ken and Ngaire's suite last night - two cute photographers were there taking pixs for an international magazine - very nice young guys - I guess for some Radisson coverage in mag- nice group of people in her suite - Martin was there and the Captain - both very charming men - we talked about Alaska and Mush - tried to prepare the Captain for the 100 plus LCT'ers joining his ship in August -

on to CR for our schnitzel dinner - delicious - then we were "a group on a mission" - it was 10 pm and we checked out all the lounges - Ken and Ngaire came with us - unfortunately, not much going on - ONE lonely couple dancing in Horizon Lounge - but maybe it was too early and there was a show going on - so we went to the casino - to bed by midnight

- up early this morning for juice and coffee room service and then to LV around 9:30 for quick bite - there is strong breeze today so we put on out suits and went to pool - there until noon and boy did we get some color!~!! Tony is off to some casino thing and I'm on computer!! I am going to spurgle and play the slots later - I hate losing money!!! Tonight dinner with a group in CR and tomorrow night Signatures -

it really is a beautiful day and pretty nice sitting here typing and looking out the window as the ship moves down the Amazon - I had a friend on WC who would save me all of his old newspapers which he received in his suite - I do miss all my daily paper reading -

some really nice couples on this trip and I have taken pixs but I will have to wait till we get home to post -

Nancy: We decided the cruise was my b'day present and our anniversary present - I saw a gal at the pool today - I guessed her center diamond was 5 carats and two side diamonds 2 each? I pointed it out to Tony and commented but his hearing problem kicked in - I see no jewelry in my immediate future - but I have 2 cameras and the big mega pickle so life is good!!! Joanna

Joanna,

Enjoy the peace and quiet on the ship NOW because your next cruise will be so active and busy (your next one is MUSH?). Sounds like the perfect cruise to me. Lot's of R and R combined with good friends and interesting things to see.

Joanna, I think a cruise is the best birthday/anniversary gift.

Nancy

Sounds fun Joanna! Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself and thus enjoying your birthday and anniversery present. I know that hearing problem you mentioned, I think sometimes Frank has it too!!Although, I can't complain, he's done pretty well on his own the last 3 or 4 years in the jewelery area, totally taken me by surprise -- and my birthday is two weeks before Christmas and our Anniversery is one week before Christmas.

Anyway, hope the trip continues to go well. I love the idea of all those relaxing days crusing.

Sounds like they are having a lot of fun WITHOUT us! Thanks for the posts, Joanna, Marcie and Ngaire! Somehow, my day is just a little better when I can hear news from a friend (even if I have never met them!) on a ship in faraway places.

Joanna: I, too, know all about that hearing problem! I always hear that "the cruise is the present" for birthdays, anniversaries, you name it! Guess I can't complain; how else would I have met up with pirates?

Enjoy your cruise and keep posting. Who is your captain? We had a couple, as aI remember, on our Amazon cruise, both French.

10:30 am Friday

Did I say things have been quiet at night? Well that changed in the Stars Lounge last night! I have some pixs that I plan to offer for sale – can do some serious shopping in Rio with the money!! Tom and Paul danced for us and another gal, Judy, was their partner in crime. We were back in our cabin at 1 am – large group in the lounge including Ken and Nagire and saw Ken snapping pixs too –

We had dinner with Marvin and Joann and Tom and Marcie last night – many many laughs. Marvin’s humor reminds me of combo Don Rickles/Henny Youngman – tonight Signatures with Martin HD who is tons of fun.

I did scorch myself at the pool yesterday but no pain – strong breeze today and ship moving some. Going to slot tournament at 2:30 – we just finished b’fast in LV since we slept in from all the partying last night.

Eduardo, at pool bar, is a super nice guy. He is keeping Tony stocked with dark ginger ale in our room. I finally have Tab, which I have requested in the past, but somehow never was on ship. So we’re two happy people. I had the filet again last night and it was delicious. The food has been excellent and we have No complaints period.

I am having trouble keeping track of the days – is this Thursday or Friday?? That’s a good sign I’m having fun. They do announce the day and date every morning - reminds me of the announcement in nursing homes – BUT we need it!!! More later Joannan Jean our Capt is French first name Phillipe - soooo nice