Enjoying the reports and pix! One question : in the first photo, who is the lady to the right of Anne?

Thanks for the reports and the pictures!!!!

Olivia, your legs still look perfect! I'm so envious! ;)

Ngaire, wasn't Marge in the NINJA cruise? I think her cabin was close to mine, or I'm confusing her with somebody else.

Suzanne, That's too bad they wouldn't let you. Seems that from a business point of view it doesn't make sense.

Great photos and reports. Keep 'em coming, please!

OH the trivia teams - we are talking serious players - I once (and I am lousy at Trivia) said the answer at my table and they ALL said NO NO NO - write it down do not say it someone may read your lips...AND CHEAT?????? Oy Vay

Joanna:

I am the one you describe. I always get plenty of scratch paper, carry my own pen and pencil, and ask for additional pencils. Write only, don't say out loud. It was such a pleasure meeting Ardis and Stan who were even more organized thank I usually am.

I am glad to hear that you had a block party!! Good luck at the next trivia game, you PARTYers.

Could y'all do me a huge favor and see if they have Coke Zero onboard, or if I need to schlep some on with me? I'm totally addicted. I assume that what one ship has, the others will, too.

Pam,

How does the coke zero differ from diet coke?

Coke Zero is made with the Coke Classic formula, while the other diet Cokes use the formula for that "New Coke" that came out 20-odd years ago and bombed. The article I read said that Coke Zero is the same thing that's been sold as Coke Light in Europe.

I absolutely hate all the Diet Coke products, but I love Coke Zero.

Pam if you ask for it they may have it. I was drinking Diet Pepsi and all they had was Coke Light on one cruise. They found some Diet Pepsi for me.

Happy new year to all of you! May it be a healthy and prosperous one.

Third try to get this $@#!! system to post the reply. This new computer system onboard is still a work in process (is that diplomatic enough??)

Started through the canal at around 6:30 am in beautiful weather, which lasted the entire day. Finished around 8:30 through the Gatun Locks. Breakfast & get ready for the birding excursion. Probably the best of the bunch to take if you were so inclined. We enjoyed the rainforest walk and seeing animals, insects and even a few species of birds! After that, we decided to go swimming in Gatun Lake. It felt great. Then on to the barbeque, followed by watching one of the Panamanian dance groups and shopping from the Indian handicrafts. Back via the last tender.

After that we reported for trivia. Roz from Portland, Maine is our sixth team member. She's very capable but hasn't yet mastered the importance of writing answers down so you don't inadvertently give the team next to you an extra point. We went down by one yesterday; had we listened to Roz, we would have swept the event by one point. New year, new habits: Roz rules today.

After trivia, we relaxed on our balcony & watched the scenery as we approached Pedro Miguel locks. We were all calling out "Happy New Year" to the pilot & tugs that were preparing to take us through the locks. Probably the most time I've spent on a Radisson balcony on any cruise. We were concerned the canal trip wouldn't be as interesting; pleased to say it was just as delightful this time, too.

We joined Chetaun, Olivia, Debbie from Ngaire's office (she's the one in the picture you were asking about), Russ, Betty and Marty for a lovely dinner at our favorite table 22 in Compass Rose. We had a bird's eye view of going through the last of the locks, toasting all of the folks on the freighters who where crossing the other way. Fantastic! Chetaun had preordered grand marnier souffles for the table -- yumm! We were out of the Miraflores locks by the time we left dinner.

Headed up to the Observation Lounge & got in the New Year's spirit. The guitar player was keeping the group entertained. At 11:15, it was time to move to the pool deck with the ship's 5 piece orchestra. Free champagne everywhere, a great ice sculture, and streamers everywhere. We kept getting our necks wrapped up in the streamers while we were trying to dance.

This morning it was a sunny, warm day to enjoy breakfast in La Verandah. Dolphins and flying fish were jumping around behind the ship - a wonder to behold! Sun is very hot today. Our driver has just given us the words for the day and it looks to be a lazy one.

We're absconding with Ken tonight for dinner at Latitudes. They don't serve lamb so Ngaire will dine elsewhere.

Pam - I'll check on the Coke Zero. We've got Sprite Zero in our cabin bar. Cheers, Anne

Hi Anne,

Happy New Year to you and the rest of PARTY!

The canal is a wonder. Perfect place to spend the last day of the year.

Thanks for reporting and continue having a great time!

Anne, so happy to hear that you and Gary (and all PARTYiers) are having such a great time! You'll get off in LA on January 10 the same day we board the Mariner in FLL.

I guess those on the full WC (like Marge) get off in San Diego and limo up to LA on Jan. 9th for the big gala WC party (I think it's somewhere on Rodeo Drive this year)??

Anne, thanks for reporting in. Love hearing about your trip and the New Year's Eve celebration sounded perfect. Rest up today!

We will be getting on just as the Party'ers are getting off. A great opportunity to meet and we missed it :mecry: . We arrive in LA around 9am but since we're on Radisson's air, we'll go to our holding cell, oops, hotel waiting area until they take us to the ship. Too bad not to meet all you guys.

Happy New Year, Anne, and to all PARTYers! So glad you enjoyed the canal trip, Anne. Here's to a relaxing, lazy day in the tropics! - Michele
P.S. What was Alex's ensemble for New Year's Eve?

Happy New Year to all the PARTYers! Thanks for the great post, Anne. So good hearing of your wonderful NYE celebration!

I know each day will bring more fantastic times! Enjoy!

Hi everyone.

Back again. Last night we had dinner in Signatures and it was truly outstanding. I was going to order beef but the waiter talked me into the lamb. I have always felt the lamb in Compass Rose is better but the lamb last night in Signatures was fantastic. It had a date crust and was perfectly cooked. I ordered a second order and Gary helped me eat that.

Today we went to the Gatun Yacht Club after navigating the first locks. It was a gorgeous day with lots of sun and not too hot. The tender ride was very short. The lunch on shore was excellent; the ribs were the best I have had on a ship. I have always felt they did not know how to do ribs on a ship but these were as good as they get. They also served hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, vegetables, salads, desserts and fruit.

I am not sure who is responsible directly for these special functions but this was incredibly well orchestrated. Drinks were available everywhere and the service was as good as you get on the ship. Steph is a new hotel director and Laurence is the new F&B manager, but things are running so well the transition is very smooth.

The locals had crafts for sale and what was nice was that they did not hassle you at all. In fact I had an experience I could not believe. I bought a vest and it had a price of $36. I paid and walked away. He ran after me and said it is marked $36 but we only charge $25 and gave me back $11.00. I was quite impressed with this honesty. Do not see this much these days it will always leave me with a good feeling about this place. The baskets the Indians make are really high quality. Far superior to the baskets you normally see. The carvings the men make are also quite remarkable.

There were dancing performances from the locals, both Panama folk dances and also the different Indian tribes also performed. They started at 11.30am and continued until we left at 2.30 pm. It was the perfect amount of time to spend there. The children were precious, one little girl and boy must have just been 4 or 5 years old.

So tonight it is New Years Eve and the formal black and white night. Steak and Lobster on the menu tonight along with many other great looking choices. The party starts after dinner up on deck. We went to bed a little earlier last night so we could stay up extra late tonight. So we look forward to the festivities tonight and wish you all a wonderful and safe New Years Eve.

Ngaire and Anne - thank you for the Sea Mail. Love your reports. Have to make lamb tonight and will drink a toast to all the Party Cruisers!!!

We loved our day in the Canal. What a great way to spend NY's. The time at Gatun is very special.

The hand made baskets, while they seem pricy (I loved one that was about $400. and I did NOT buy it)are quite special on the art circuit. I saw them with an article about the tribe that makes them and the women who are there in the Yacht Club in a gallery in Santa Fe. Price tagged at $2200.

Anyway, what a special day in Panama! Enjoy.

I am writing reports in my cabin but often dont get around to getting down here and posting them. Hence the mess up in sequence with other PARTY posters information.

Last night we had a great time for New Years. They did a great job on deck and it was a lovely night. A little warm but still pleasant. After midnight they started playing a little more disco music so we then started dancing even more. Suzanne you were missed. However, I told Cheutan that you often ask the officers to dance so she said she did a "mini Suzanne" and got one of them up and dancing. We have to get you two to meet one day.

Patrick the Dining Room Manager can truly "cut a rug" and had me and Cheutan moving like crazy. We had a great time. There is nothing like sharing New Years with good friends. Lots of group hugs going on all around.

The fun part of the evening was Miss Scarlet O'Hara, namely Anne. Who chose on black and white night to wear a RED floral dress. She did stand out so I felt that her new nick name should definitely be Scarlet. The vote for who truly is Rhett is still out we have some great contenders for the role. Of course Captain Dag is right for that role.

Ken will get some pictures posted soon.

That's an understatement, it requires a lot of stamina to keep up with him!! Can't wait to see pix of everyone all dressed up! What a fun night!

Looking forward to those pictures!

Some PARTY pictures from New Years Eve:


Debbie & Russell 2005

Scarlett in her red dress

Ngaire, Chetuan & Debbie

Ngaire, Gary & Jan

Debbie & Russell 2006

What fun! Love Anne's non-conformist dress. What are Ngaire, Chetuan and Debbie singing?

Ngaire,

Thanks for the photos. Gee....looks like a lot of fun!!!!!!

Betty

Love all the photos. More, more, more!!

Ngaire et al, thanks for the seamail. Glad you are having a great time.

Pam,
I spoke to Laurens this evening. He is the Food & Beverage Manager. He was not really familiar with Coke Zero, so he knew it was not something that is regularly stocked, like Tab, for example. But, he did say that he understood it was a Coke product and had seen it in grocery stores, so he knew he could get it with at least 30-day advance notice. He advised to coordinate your request through your TA. As a side note, I requested citric acid-free cranberry juice online on my guest information form and caffeine-free Diet Coke on Clay’s more than 30-days in advance and both things were waiting for us when we arrived in our suite. I did not know which ship you will be sailing or when, but Laurens thought it should not be a problem to have Coke Zero stocked if requested well in advance.

Marcie, I private messaged Karen earlier today and told her it was ok with us if she makes a sticky link to our journal somewhere on the board. Clay and I are both working on it, therefore 3rd person for consistency. Unfortunately, internet service onboard has been extremely spotty and erratic and our priorities for usage are first for Clay’s work, 2nd to keep our families posted and LCT is a lower priority, although we do miss reading the board every day. Sorry.

Happy New Year to everyone, Debbie

Thanks, Debbie! I can't do it 30 days in advance, we sail on the 7th of January. I'll convince Mark that we need to make a stop at Publix and pick some up for ourselves. Laurens might know it as Coke Light; I think that is what it is called in Europe.

We will be on the Navigator out of Ft. Lauderdale. Woo HOO!

Thanks again!

I Love those pictures, and i love that red dress. go Scarlett!!
Cindy

Scarlett....you are one sexy woman - but I knew that - Great Dress!!!! Joanna

More, MORE, MORE photos!!!

Love the photos! So much fun to see people you know having a great time! Looks like the photos were taken during the dinner on the top deck! Anne looks spectacular!

How are all of you northern Californians holding up in the rainstorms? It looks awful from what we are seeing on CNN.

Alex was wearing the full black and white gangster look, complete with fedora on New Year's eve. He was in the lounge last night dancing away and I am enjoying getting to know him.

The computer system is blessedly behaving itself this morning. It is much, much faster when it is working than the old system (given the increased price, it should be).

We started the new year off right with Roz directing traffic for the trivia team yesterday. We were the sole winners, and because it was a sea day there were twice as many teams competing. How sweet it is! Token count is now up to about eight.

We saw at least four big pods of dolphins yesterday. They were leaping entirely out of the water and were traveling lightning fast. One lone dolphin was tearing alongside the ship and stopped just before it shot into the side. The water is so clear you could see them swimming underwater between the times they surfaced. I've never seen such a great dolphin run as I did yesterday.

Weather here is perfect. It was windy on deck so we got to play "chase your lettuce" at lunchtime again as it blew off your plate. Cream dressings were in order if you wanted to make it back to your table with any semblance of salad. Patrick & the boys had cooked up a special lunch for us, including a caviar station, crab legs, mussels and one terrific roasted ham. I missed the brats and beer.

Arnold was standing by the caviar station next to the chilled vodka saying "Well, why not??" as he handed them out to those who wanted one. He lit up with a big smile, Suzanne, when we sent him your regards. He's got a cosmo waiting for you whenever you can come aboard. I haven't met Arnold before this trip and he is one great bartender.

Big time nap yesterday afternoon. Had to be ready for the after dinner festivities (new year's resolution for me).

We had our Ken night at Latitudes and it was so enjoyable. They served small bits of all the items family style. There's a lazy susan on the table so everyone can take what they want. They also had those great Riedel tumblers for the wine on the table. Man, it tasted much better in those glasses.

Afterwards, we made it through a couple of songs in the show lounge and then it was time for Voyager Lounge. I miss Perry Grant on this trip but we still got some big band swing in. Heck, we managed a Mexican polka while we were at it. Dag came down to visit for a few minutes. We docked in Puntarenas around 10 last night. The crew was thrilled - extra shore leave for them. I understand there was one medical evacuation last night (heart problem) so there was an extra reason to get here early.

We got a scare the second day out as Gary's mom needed to be hospitalized. She's stabilized so as of now it looks like we won't need to fly home early. Talk about service - the ship's staff got the message from Ft. Lauderdale, went to the trouble of finding us onboard and personally told us we needed to phone home, right now. Nothing short of amazing.

I've got a date with the ibuprofin after I sign off. Those cosmos get me every time. Today is the return of the canopy ZIP LINE tour with several of the LCTers. Tonight we are passing Mariner on her way to Fort Lauderdale and have lots of antics planned for 11 pm. I'm wondering if or when someone will moon them (or us) in the moonlight.

It is a terrific group on board and a wonderful cruise, indeed.

Cheers, Anne

Love your posts, Anne. Sorry to hear about Gary's mom. Glad you are able to continue enjoying the trip. Enjoy your day today. Can't wait to hear about the 11pm antics.

Oh, how I love the Sea Mail!!! Thanks ladies!!
Keep having a PARTY, and keep posting, please!!

Betty

So good to get the seamail!! Anne, so sorry about Gary's Mom. First his root canal and now his Mom neing hospitalized.

It sounds like you all are having such a great time! Keep reporting from the PARTY! Love your sexy dress Anne! Everyone looked beautiful!

These reports are the highlight of my day! Best wishes to Gary's mom. Hope all goes well for her.

What great photos - really captured the spirit of things. Anne, love the dress and the reports. :D Best wishes to Gary's mom!

Masaki

Anne,

What a great report!

So happy to hear Gary's mom is stabilized, but what a concern for the two of you.

We're hanging tough here in Northern Cal. I'm going out shortly in search of gopher wood. At least the winds have died down today. Marcie's daughter and SIL had a giant pine tree come down on their two cars parked in their driveway at their home in San Jose.

Arnold is just the best (and, oh so handsome!). I had the pleasure of sailing with him five times on the Song. He was always the first to greet me with a "welcome home". Would you ask him if he knows where Zaldy is?

Anne, So sorry to hear about Gary's mother. What a relief that she is in stable condition. We wish her the best.

You guys are having too much fun! How great! I love your rebel spirit in wearing that fabulous dress! You Go Scarlet Girl!! Everyone looked marvelous!