Well, I won (came in 3rd) in yesterday's slot tournement. Hoping I can keep it up in today's Blackjack tournement. Took bridge lessons this morning, followed by a cooking demonstration (or more like a comedy team composed of the Executive Chef and the Corporate Chef). One of the couples lives in our area that was in the Bridge Class and we had lunch with them so we are going to continue the lessons at home together. After the blackjack tournement, we will tea and trivia. One of the ladies on board who is a headliner pianist (she was a student of Stravinsky and did some major playing for the studios) and I struck up a conversation. She was a classmate of my mother's from Grammar School to High School. What a small world. They lived on the same street. We have met some wonderfully interesting people on board ship.

There is not enough time in the day so much to do with 25 hour days!

Graham, for private guides, it's probably best to look on the private guides section of the board here. Tell us where you are going and we can suggest guides to use that we have experienced. Sometimes it's best to even do a ship's tour depending on the time in ports or even to grab a taxi and do something on your own.