It is wonderful to be back on board the Navigator. The refurbishments are very noticeable and have improved the ship immensely. The new outside grill area is significantly larger with new tables and chairs. There are some oval tables that work really well. This will be a huge hit on warm weather cruises. The entrance to Stars is very dramatic with the black granite. The new décor inside the bar is dramatic and with the exception of the black and white floral chairs I thought the look was sensational. I am now becoming used to the black and white chairs and will probably love them by the time I debark. The new fabrics and chairs in Compass Rose and Gallieos are an improvement. The Compass Rose chairs do not appear to be as heavy as those on the Mariner or Voyager, or perhaps I have just become used to them now. Prime 7 looks the same as it does on the other ships and is larger than I thought it would be.

Not seen the “duck tail” clearly yet, I do think it has improved the vibration but there is still a noticeable vibration in the aft. Again something you just get adjusted to when sailing.

So wonderful to see everyone. We all miss the Pam, Mark and Carol and Ralph who were going to be with us and toasted them on the first night. I have had dinner with Dennis, Jackie, Marty, Bobbi, Brad, Leslie and Scott and Niki so far, and this is probably the part of the cruises I enjoy the most. Having the chance to have a great meal and visit is always the highlight of a cruise for me and Ken. The food has been really good so far, last night in particular with perfectly cooked tenderloin and a generous helping of Lobster this after a wonderful leg of lamb lunch I was indeed a well fed and happy camper.

Yesterday we had our first pooch games and Pat scored a 136 point game. WOW. I am going to keep that as the high score on my pooch score sheets and we will see how long that record lasts. With the pooch master and pooch mistress on board I am sure they will be trying to knock Pat off her pooch throne but with a score like that it will not be easy. Yesterday was a chocolate tea and the room was packed. Ken and Sheila, Brad, Arlene, Pat and I formed a team and got 13 out of 15 correct and won Trivia yesterday. We have bragging rights until the next trivia session. Great start on the cruise with a win in trivia and a high game score in pooch.

The senior staff is a “dream team” for me with most of the people ones I have known for many years. It makes it so pleasant when you have people that you have such a wonderful relationship with, like coming home to family. We were talking to Franco and he was the Head of the Dining Room on our first ever Radisson cruise on the PG and this was before we went into the travel business, this was about 12 years ago. That is a long history. Captain John O’Neil, Franck (GM) and Florian (F&B), , Doug (Executive Concierge) Franco (Dining Room Manager) Lyn (Cruise Consultant) Carmen (Head of Reception) Steve (Security Officer) Paul (Cruise Director) a fantastic staff.

Rough sailing the first night due to swells but calmed down significantly last night. Ken and I are fine with ship movement in fact I sleep really well when the ship moves. We just worry about everyone else.

Today we are in Astoria. Rainy dismal day and most of the group are on a 7 hour excursion to Mt. St. Helens, Ken and I are taking a very short tour to a mansion with a high tea with scones. I am currently on a search for scones that are the “melt in your mouth New Zealand variety”. Been a long time since I have had truly great scones - may have to wait until November for the New Zealand cruise but still going to continue the effort to find that “perfect scone” in the meantime.

Be back later, we are truly loving being back on the Navigator