For you dance classers please tell Dieter and Ilse that Doug and Lynn send them best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

So glad the dance classes are a hit! Dieter and Isle are so good; cruises are best when they are aboard.

Sending them happy holidays as well.

Cheers, Anne

Congratulations and good luck to the LCT DWTMS contestants ! What a fun idea!

Joanna, glad that the cold went away!

I just found out that friends of people here at work are on your cruise. They are Graham and Alison from Toronto. She's celebrating her 60th birthday.

So if you spot them, say hi from Steve and Marian, via their friend in the office, Wendy.

Good morning! After 3 sea days, we are almost ready to anchor at Rarotonga where Mark and I are doing a jeep excursion. Land ho will be a nice change of pace! Since we will be getting back rather late from our excursion, we are having dinner in our cabin. Mark is pretty excited about dining in his shorts ;)
Last night was our BK cocktail party and dinner with the officers and we had a great time at the Captain's table with the Matassas, MOndaes, Don and Michele and Louise, the Social hostess, (I think!)
Other than that, nothing much to report from on board. I am getting ready to go to the morning slot tournament, wish me luck!

Good Luck, K!!! R needs a new pair of shoes! Thanks for checking in.

As Karen said, our dinner last night with Capt. Romeo was real nice. This is the first time we’ve cruised with him but he’s nice and easy to talk to. After our dinner Don & Michele, Joanna & Tony, Tom and I went to Mariner Lounge for after dinner drinks. Next we (except for Joanna) went to Constellation Theater to catch the last 10 minutes of the show. Tom had to be there for the introductions and to draw names for dance partners. Tom drew Louise (social hostess) which is great. We know her really well so I’m sure he’ll feel comfortable dancing with her, kind of a brother-sister act. Valerie drew the Russian Ballroom Champion, Igor. What a GREAT draw, I’m sure they’ll be fantastic together.

After dinner we went to Liar’s Club in Horizon Lounge. The place was packed but our team (Ngaire, Ken, Jim, Jan, Tom and me) WON. That is always fun but I think this is the first time we’ve ever been on a winning team. More tokens!

Tom is now off to STARS lounge for dance practice. I don’t think I’ll see much of him on sea days for the next couple of weeks. We don’t have any excursion for this afternoon so we’ll just make our own entertainment on shore.

10:35 AM sun is trying to come out - I think we arrive into port at 1 PM vs 3 PM - we have nothing planned just walk around - yes, dinner was very nice as the Capt is extremely easy going and it was a fun evening. I have not been able to stay up past 11 PM - I feel great but still babying my almost gone cold!

The B&K party was well attended and names drawn for free cruise "pot" - I cannot remember all names drawn but Jim and Jan, Don & Michele, Mondaes, Matassas, Betty, John and Kathy (harbormaster)Carol & Ralph and many others

I had filet for first time last night and it was excellent. The soups are really delicious - have had few other things that were too salty for me - maybe it is just me but I hate salt!!!

Signal in our cabin so-so for computer so Tony is sitting in coffee bar with Donna and they are lap topping away - I think there is a pooch game at 11 AM - the "girls" play and we have many laughs -

I think we'll copy Karen and Mark and have dinner in cabin in our grubs!!! Just kick back, chill, sip some wine and look at the incredible vista from our balcony - OH one small complaint - the library is just barely OK - I do wonder what they do with paperbacks left on ships - paperbacks in this library are ancient! I am reading Mary Karr's memoir (she wrote Liar's Club) but once I finish I'll be looking for a good read - more later - SUN IS OUT!!! PS Did I tell you we love this cruise???

Sounds like a great morning to be in the Pacific. Glad the sun came out,Joanna. You all are having way too much fun!!! Good for the LAMBsies. :app:

Thanks LAMBies for your reports. Sounds as if the fun continues!

Karen, your jeep excursion sounds like lots of fun.

Marcie, I'd love to see Tom and the others in the dancing competition.

Joanna, I'm glad you are feeling better.

Keep having fun, gang!!!!

Sending tons of GOOD LUCK juju to our LCT'ers to win the free cruise!

We do want pictures, please!

Someone on LAMB WILL be taking movies of that dance competition I hope!

Sorry R, I can in just about last in the Slots tourney so you are going to have to wear Costco flip flops!! We are just waiting to see if we will be allowed to tender in to the island. It is sunny but VERY WINDY! The tenders look like bobbers, I just hope we can make it to shore for our jeep excursion. Time to go get off the ship, be back later!

Yes, I hope someone takes at least a short video with a little camera!

Love the sea mail - just wish I was on board! Should anyone meet up with Linda and Ed Wright could they please say 'hi' from me. Ta. Lee

Hi finally had time to post tonight during a really fun and relaxing cruise. What a great bunch the LCTers are. We've enjoyed meeting every one. Thanks for Ngaire and Ken for a wonderful reception last night in their gorgeous suite, and the dinner with staff. Really enjoyed Berneice and Arjan (Guest Relations and F&B Manager) at the table. Wonderful conversation and food and wine.
We have been busy with super lectures on the islands and their culture, and Tom Lippman from the Washington Post on the Middle East. Fascinating!
Our excursion to Bay of Islands on the Maori cultural tour was terrific. Really enjoyed all the stories by our guide on Maori culture. We also were privileged to go to a Maori marae and have a welcoming ceremony from the elders in their hand-carved sanctuary. The ritual was beautiful and we were asked to respond on behalf of our culture and group. In the end, they accepted our tour group as friends and it was a very moving ceremony. An unforgettable experience.
Played trivia every day and won the first day. John also has won at golf some, so the tokens are coming in, albeit slowly.
Today was really something! The waves at Rarotonga were quite high. The tenders were bobbing like crazy and it was uncertain whether we would even be able to go ashore. However, we caught the first tender. Marcie and Tom and Joanna and Tony were on it too, and we really rocked and rolled into port. John and I walked around town for a few hours and enjoyed the beach before returning to catch the tender back. Because the seas were so high, and one of the tenders had a window blown out on the way in, the wait was a bit longer. But, we got on and really felt the seas on the way back. It took a couple tries to tie up to the ship, which couldn't anchor and had to keep the engines going. The deck crew did an excellent job in finally getting the tender tied up and getting us back onboard. The ride was definitely like an amusement park! The later tenders lost their sliding doors and windows, which were crushed by the wave action pushing the tender into the loading platform. However, everyone eventually got back onboard and relaxed, being safe and sound. Kudos to the crew! Some excursions were cancelled however, which was to bad for those involved.
We've been taking dance lessons with Dieter and Ilsa, along with Don and Michele. It's been a lot of fun and we look forward to cheering on the LCTers in Dancing with the Stars.
Tonight we had dinner at Signatures with the new menu which was fabulous. Service as ever, was great.
The whole cruise has been super - service, food, cabins, staff. Can't ask for more. Good to see old friends too.
We'll close now. A day at sea tomorrow and we'll try to post later. This is a dream of a cruise and thanks to all LCTers for their warm welcome.
John and Kathy

Quick post. It is BEDTIME but just checking in before we hit the sack. Very rough tenders today but we did get ashore and completed a circle tour by local bus of Raratonga.We enjoyed getting off and visiting the island and kudos to the crew who handled it all so well. Bet they are all tired tonight. Rocking a little tonight but I always enjoy sleeping when the ship is moving. Hope everyone else feels the same way.

Playing lots of pooch with the girls and Ken. He has a whole kennel of gals. Tomorrow we will play at 11.00 am and 2.00 pm. Getting some bona fide addicts here who are proudly sporting their pooch addict pins.

Wish I was not getting off in Tahiti the time is flying by WAY too fast. Really enjoying the people on the cruise and met some wonderful new LCT posters. It is so fun to be with those we know and love and also so nice to meet the new people. Wish we were staying!!

Be back later another WONDERFUl sea day tomorrow I sure do love these sea days.

I hope you LAMBers are getting prepared for the INVASION of the PEARLS PEOPLE in a few days.

Today is another sea day and we are rocking slightly more than usual and there are fewer people in the coffee bar. This morning I giving myself a special treat - having a manicure. As you all know the spa services are so pricey on the ships but I still have shipboard credit left and it is certainly too rough for me to do my own. I would have the cabin walls painted with polish, I'm quite certain.
When we got to Rarotonga, I commented to a friend - "the sea is angry today!" The swells were not small. I don't know if this was good or bad news but I waited for 30 minutes after they started tendering people to the island to get in line. The ship has 3 tenders. The rough sea had already caused damaged to 2 of them. They said the rest of us would have to wait an hour before the captain would let us go. But after the hour, the captain halted all trips to the islands. At that point they were worried about getting the passengers back on-board that were already there. Slightly disappointing, but if anyone ever asks have I been to Rarotonga, I will answer, "Of course." And no one will ever ask because I had never heard of the place myself. I spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool deck and actually got in the pool.
Someone should have warned me it was salt water. GULP! :eek: Also made some new friends - so nothing lost and new friends gained.
Tomorrow is Bora Bora. I had to cancel the tour I had scheduled there but am hoping they still have room on the tour that goes to the WWII battle sites. If not, I'll try to do something that is Bora Boraish - whatever that may be! :D
We are definitely looking forward to the Invasion, Gil. All of you Pearl People will love the LAMBsters.

Good morning! Yesterday was our jeep tour on Rarotonga which really was a great way to see the island. We were almost vertical at times while climbing steep dirt roads but the view was really worth it! We didn't get back to the ship until 6:30pm so we had a most wonderful dinner in our room in our pjs! As for the tender back to the ship, we were on the last tender and when we got on, we noticed that one of the windows was broken and as we were getting off our extreme tender ride, we saw what was happening. The tenders were being thrown up against the ship and the window shattered right as we were getting off. Kudos to the tender driver for getting us back safe. The only other option was to leave us on shore!
Today is our first totally overcast morning, I hope the skys clear soon as I need my daily fix of pool deck time!
That's all for now as I have to do some boring online bill paying!

Betty/Karen, thanks for check in with us today. Karen, glad to hear that you were able to do your jeep tour in Rarotonga. Betty, everyone at home will believe that you got off the ship in Rarotonga...your secret is safe.

Hope the weather clears up. Enjoy another wonderful sea day.

Nancy

It's kind of a lazy morning for me. Just finished pancakes in La Veranda. Tom is at stretching class then off to his dancing school practice with Louise to come up with their routines. Yesterday they picked the music they'll dance to. He chose Glen Miller's "In the Mood" and something else but I forgot which one.

Last night we ate dinner with Joanna & Tony in LaVeranda....excellent surf & turf! The lobster was delicious. Tonight we're eating in Signatures with Jim, Jan, Joanna & Tony. This will be another fun dinner (aren't they all!!) This will likely be the only time we eat there....just once every couple of weeks is OK with us.

Yesterday we won trivia with 14 out of 15. Almost got all 15 but missed who the oldest Beatle was (we put John Lennon but the correct answer was Ringo).

Saw the comedian last night and got lots of laughs. He plays poker with us at our 2pm games so thought it would be fun to see his act.

Gil & Arlene...we're fired up and ready for the PEARL invasion! BTW, your names were drawn for the final B&K free cruise drawing so you guys are in the hopper. Sure hope the winner is an LCTer!

Recruited Tony and Karen to play Bingo with me....the first few days I was the only one from our group. Me winning the cover all helped my recruiting efforts!

This is such a GREAT cruise!!

10:15 am - Tenders were an adventure yesterday! We hit some very high swells, ten feet, on our return and I was happy I was with Tom as he is pretty calm guy so I pretended it was no big deal to me (I was faking it!) - Marcie and Tony stayed in port little longer but if you didn't tour there wasn't much going on in the big "R" -

Once I stepped off elevator I walked into spa and booked facial and reflexology appt to relieve my "tender stress" - they were able to book me in 30 minutes so that was spur of the moment treat

Dinner at LV last night very good - lobster. Tonight, Signatures with Jan and Jim am looking forward to the wonderful filet they serve - don't think I will make 11 am pooch but will try for 2 pm game today- yes it is an addictive game and nicest bunch of women - rocking little today - hoping sun will come out so I can visit the pool - coffee bar packed this morning - Grand Central Station - can't say it enough this is such a fun cruise and the new LCTers we have met are fun loving group - Joanna

SO enjoying all your reports; keep 'em coming please!!!

marcie - thanks for letting us know we're in the Hopper (Sure better than being In The Bag, isn't it? :ohmy: ). Something to look forward to (As if the LAMB/PEARL MIXER and then PEARLS itself isn't enough!).

I am so COLD - I need those tropical breezes SOON!!!!

16 hours till we leave. I think I'd better to pack again! :D

It sounds like you Lambs are having a wonderful time. Thanks for the updates - we sure miss you back here on land! :)

Don't you DARE repack again! :mad: Can't wait to see everyone. Sounds like a super group, but then again with all the LCT'rs how could it not be?

Snorkel trip in a Rarotonga lagoon yesterday was very rough. Nothng much to see since the wind was blowing constantly. We were on the tender loading passengers when one of its windows was smashed as it crashed into the ship. Someone got minor cuts from it but the crew took care of everyone so well. They reacted very quickly in getting the tender out of the way of the bobbing ship. At that point, there was no choice but to go ashore. It was even more dangerous returning in the late afternoon. Karen & Mark were on the same wild ride back with us. Unbelievable ride! We all went to have a drink immediately afterward then crashed in our rooms. Hats off to the deck crew for keeping everyone safe. They sure did have their work cut out for them.

I'm a wee bit seasick - last night & this morning was a SCOPACE experiment. Thankfully, they work very well.

Looking forward to seeing the PEARL folks.

Still rocking a little but it is not too bad. Had a lazy morning I love being in the bed when it is rocking. Like a baby in a rocking cradle.

Played pooch at 11.00 am -- Ken won again. He has been the ONLY male and therefore the alpha male in the kennel and strutting his stuff. So at 2.00 pm we had David join us and then David won. The girls in the kennel are going to have to band together and defeat these pit bulls.

I love these days at sea. So nice and lazy. Tonight we are going to have those going to Africa up to our cabin for before dinner drinks and African dreams.

The food has been so good. I am really looking forward to the dinners and been able to stay with my planned "watch what I eat" program as there have been plenty of low carb choices and they have not run out of berries!

Tom and Valerie are working hard at "dancing with the stars". Each day they get together to work out their dance programs. I am so sad I am not going to see the actual competition.

Ken is working on pictures right now so hopefully we will get some posted soon I know it seems crazy but it has been so busy we have just not had the time.

Back later!!!

Hi everyone,
It sounds like a fun and exciting cruise. I know you have a great bunch of LCT'rs, and certainly you have been having many wild experiences. Like others have said, I wish I were there with all of you.
Keep the mail coming, and some pix, hopefully.
Lynn

A few photos from LAMB:


Mariner in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand.


Donna & Betty at the Brown & Keene Cocktail Party.


Ralph Picking one of the Free Cruise Preliminary Winners.


Betty with Ngaire trying hard to see the name on the card. She could use a ladder.


Marcie is excited.


The 'Les Gauguines' sing and dance at dinner.


The reception at Rarotonga.


A colorful house in Rarotonga.

YEAH!! :app: :app: :app: LAMB pix. Thanks, Ken.....

YAHOO PHOTOS!!!!!

And, they are great! Thanks Ken!

Now, if you can post some "scratch 'n sniff" pix from the various dining venues...

Wonderful pics - thanks much!

Or scratch and sip..... some of the wines and champagne!!!!!

Yeah Beth!

Scratch 'n sip works too!! :pass:

I hope the Dancing with the Stars competition will be filmed and a DVD available! Sounds like fun!

Scratch and sniff? Scratch and sip? Sign me up for both events.

Ken - thanks for the photos. We're feeling much better now!

Cheers, Anne

Sounds like a YouTube event to me!!!!! :banana:

What wonderful pictures! I am thoroughly enjoying escaping the cold winter via all of your seamail. Sounds like you are all having such a grand experience. Pat and Ray you'll have to explain pooch to me when you get home.
Sitting in your jammies on seadays sounds so nice......oh to be on a ship right now. Keep the mail coming .....I'm loving everyone's posts.
Pat