Hello from the PG!!! We are happy to be on board, but the 3 days inSydney were very nice. Not having been on this shiip before, i will try to describe the changes. All of the carpeting in the halls/rooms is new. Red, and quite pretty. It would appear that all the bedding is new as well. The matresses are very firm, but comfortable. One thing we noticed are the wine glasses in the main dining room. On previous cruises, the nicest glasses were reserved for passengers that purchased a bottle. Now, all the wine glasses are the really pretty larger glasses. A tiny thing, but noticeable to us. Marc Conroy is aboard, and hosted a very nice coctail party at the hotel in Sydney. We missed it, as we had opera tickets, but i understand his speech was simple, did mention the name change but little else.

We stopped at a bottle shop (liquor store) on route to the ship, David "picked up" a case of Australian beer for our fridge. Of course we were on a bus full of passengers and held up the entire crowd . They were good about it though. Oh, we think the average age onboard is about 70. When we boarded, "someone" said to him, can i help you with that? He said sure, and handed this gentlemen the giant case of beer, proceeded to check in. I asked David if he realized the "bellman" was Marc Conroy. Everyone thought that was quite funny.

We are adjusting to the ship well, very, very bumpy. Our cabin attendant is sea sick. We are fine, but many are complaining. We anticipated this, and do have iron stomachs.

Well, off for now. My book and the pool beckons. I will keep in touch!!!
Cindy and David :rolleyes: :)