The computor is doing some crazy things but I will attempt to continue this log.

I am a travel nut like the rest of this board and have always wanted to see the world. We were generally "land people", except for bareboat charters, but the last several years cruising has looked more and more enticing. We did a NCL Hawaii cruise that was very disappointing and then last summer we took a family cruise to Alaska on the Mariner and I was hooked. A group of 10 friends will be on the Baltic Cruise from Dover to Copenhagen in June and I am sooo-- excited. Now to get my husband as enthusiastic,

We live in Lake Charles, La. - site of Hurricane Rita - and our community is still in the midst of recovery. Everyone had damage - mainly from trees - but we were very lucky compared to Katrina. My husband is a lawyer and still practices part time and I'm a little like Marcie - a 25 yr. realtor, but I bet one house for her in Southern California was a year's worth for me. I was so glad to finally retire I agreed to go along with my husband's dream and buy a 42' trawler for a 1 years cruise from La. to Montreal, Canada and back. How's that for a cruisin*** When I think that we could have been on the Radisson World Cruise for the same $$ it makes me sick - but that would have never happened. It really was an adventure -either terrifying or thrilling. We did 122 locks, were docked at the foot of the Twin Towers 1 week before 9/11 and had many glorious weeks in Florida. Wish I had known some of you Floridians then. Other than the year on the water, we have bareboated the Caribeean,(my favorite cruising grounds), done Morocco by Jeep, a marvelous French barge cruise, a Catamaran in French Polynesia, beautiful New Zealand, Thailand, Egypt, Russia in the snow and most of Europe by car. I really am a frustrated travel agent. Now all I want is to sit on a wonderful cruise ship and watch the world go by.

We have 2 grown daughters - both Texans - and the light of my life 3 precious grandchildren. How blessed we are to have had such a wonderful life and I thank you for all your great information. Happy Crusin -- Jan