We are on the Mariner and MUSHing up to Ketchikan! The satellite link wasn't working earlier, so we weren't able to post. The nerve. Darn satellites.

We had a great morning before boarding. Some of us went to the IMAX theater and saw a 3-D African Safari - it was awesome! We boarded, had lunch, mingled, unpacked, mustered, unpacked, cocktailed with the B&K crew, ate dinner and found out who got kicked off Rockstar this week. A full day indeed.

Sadly, there will be no dog sledding once again for the princess, or for the Levins. It's too late in the season and the ice is melting. I guess this means I'll have to come back, again, one of these days.

Tomorrow is a day at sea, so I'm sure you'll be hearing from us!

Thanks for posting Andrea. Continue to keep us informed of all the fun we are missing! ;)

Cheers, Pam

Thanks for checking in, Andrea! Enjoy your sea day. Sounds like MUSH is off to a great story.

Sorry the dog sledding won't work out. As you say, all the more reason to come back :D

Cheers, Anne

HI Andrea. Thanks so much for posting.

Nancy

Thanks for checking in Andrea! That is too bad about having to miss the dog sledding - enjoy the rest of MUSH!

Love those posts from the MUSHERS..... Thanks Andrea!

Thanks, Andrea!!! Love the SeaMail...keep it coming!!!

Thanks for the seamail, Andrea. Sorry you'll miss the dog sledding. Hard to imagine ice melting in Alaska but I guess it happens. Love hearing about the fun. Keep checking in!

MUSH on, Princess! Thanks so much for your sea mail. Sorry about the dog sledding. Hope you have beautiful sailing on your sea day today!

Good morning!

Once again I am the only MUSHer in the computer room. Where is everyone? Oh, could they still be sleeping? I'm going to go with that - because I left the party around midnight and I think it was just getting started! Of course, I'm wide awake at 5:30 - the sun was just beginning to glow behind the mountains. Looks like it will be a glorious day.

First of all, I couldn't believe I was actually awake past 10:30 pm, let alone hanging out at Stars. There was much dancing, some drinking, maybe some debauchery. It was great just sitting around talking to Ken, Doug & Andi and Debbie from Ngaire's office (who is just the cutest). I also met Peter from Cincinnati last night - Anne, he says hi!

Today promises to be full of excitement, what with trivia this afternoon and karaoke tonight!

Andrea, you are so kind to be up & letting us share the adventure. You need to get after those shirkers to help with the heavy lifting of daily seamail.

Hope the weather improves for you. Good luck at Trivia.

Hey Andrea,

Thanks for checking in back with us. I expect you guys to clean up for Trivia!!

Princess - thanks for the greetings from Peter! Give him & Mark my regards, too! We are glad you are all off to a fun start on the trip.

Stars? Full? It's got to be a first since Marcie & the gang debarked from SAMBUCA.

Best of luck at Trivia. Who's on your team? Try to get Marc and Suzanne. They are whizzes!

Cheers, Anne (not too competitive, am I?)

sounds like a great time was had by all. glad you all enjoyed. keep the seamails coming and be sure to watch for TUSHie seamail

Hi everyone!!
We're all onboard and having such a great time!! At Ngaire's welcome cocktail party last night in STARS (as well as the night before at the Pan Pacific) we met so many MUSHers that we hadn't met before but feel like I've known them for years and were reunited with wonderful LCTers that we hadn't seen for awhile. We ate dinner with Ngaire, Ken, Karen, Mark, John & Kimmi.....great time! Afterwards we headed over to STARS to Party Hardy! The place was packed with all us MUSHers having such a good time. Lots and lots of dancing and keeping our thirst quenched of course! After midnight we sang happy birthday to Tony Mondae, his b-day is today. We all had such fun. Cruise Director John and his wife Lynsay stayed up with us...they're such fun! We called it a night around 1:00 (me, Tom, Suzanne, Lauri, Ngiare & Ken, John & Lynsay were the last to leave). We were moving a bit slowly this morning but it's amazing what a cup of coffee will do to perk you up! We ate breakfast with Mitch and Bert in LaVeranda this morning. They're the greatest!

The scenery is magnificent. The only wildlife we've seen so far was in STARS last night but we'll keep a watch out. Tonight we're going to a special Platinum dinner in the Smoking Lounge with Capt. Philippe (it starts with a C but I know I can't spell it so won't even try). It's such fun having so many of us MUSHers all next door to each other....fun balcony time!

This morning I decided to go to play Wheel of Fortune in the Horizon Lounge. We comprised a team of Andrea, Dena & Grant and me and we WON!!
We were on a roll!

Off to go eat lunch. Miss you all and wish you were here with us! Lots of people taking photos so maybe Ken will post some.

Thanks for checking in Marcie! Sounds like things got off to a fantastic start.

Marcie, thanks for the great seamail. It sound like everyone is having a fabulous time. We will you guys!!!

Nancy

Marcie - thanks for the seamail! So glad you are off to the races, and congratulations on winning the "Wheel of Fortune". Let's hope it holds for the casino tonight. <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

Give our best to all. Cheers, Anne

Thanks Andrea and Marcie for the seamail. Glad you all are having such a great time. I didn't see much nightlife in June. Too many early morning excursions, I guess.

Marcie it sounds like MUSH is going great! Please give John and Lynsay a big HUG from me - I miss them. :)

Thanks for the Seamail.
Did I read it right, that there was some Debauchery last night in Stars? From the MUSH crowd? NOOOOOO - I cannot believe that. :ohmy:

Whew - I sure am glad I didn't go on this trip if that kind of stuff goes on there. Why can't you all behave properly, like you did on MINT? :hyper:


And to think, it wasn't even Karaoke yet!

ENJOY ALL YOU MUSHERS!!!!!

Hi Marcie! Good hearing from you! Keep the reports coming! Have a great time. Big hugs from me to my gal pals!

Karaoke is tonight. :)

The trip is off to a great start though I have to say that the weather is certainly not cooperating much today. Fairly overcast with some drizzles here and there - it's keeping things sort of wet. Hard to see any wildlife with this. We did see porpoises out of the windows of Compass Rose last night though -had a great dinner with Marc and Arlene, Doug and Andi, and Guy and Yvonne (Andi's friends from Switzerland).

Wish us luck for tonight - Capt's welcome and informal night!

Masaki

Thanks for the seamail Masaki - hope the weather clears up for your first day in port! :)

Masaki, thanks for the great seamail. so glad everyone is having a great time.

Nancy

Thanks for the seamail, Masaki. Have a great time tonight. Hopefully, the weather begins to clear tomorrow.

To all musher's
keep the seamail coming. I like living vicariously! I hope the weather holds.
Lynn

Love the seamail, keep it coming! So glad ya'll are having a good time. Love to read about the fun.

Well after dancing my tootsies off for a second night we are in the computer room at 1.00 am to make a quick post and check email. Computer down a lot and could go any moment as the sign says "no internet available" so I will make it short and sweet. Had a lovely dinner tonight with Andrea N, Fred Pat, Kathy, Frank and their friend Carol. After that we sat with JoAnna, Tony, Marcie and Tom and Tony got an "unmentionable birthday gift" from the Marcie and Tom. Something to do with a snake -- I wont elaborate.

Then off to Stars which I think should be renamed MUSHERS ROOM for a little more dancing and Kareoke singing. A lot of fun. Do not know if I can keep this up every night but sure will give it a try. Great to see Suzanne and Tom dancing together, this is always a treat for the eyes.

Okay better sign off before we lose the signal. If it get better at some point Ken will post pictures.

How is the TUSH cruise going? Are you all staying up late too???

Hi Ngaire! Great to hear from you. At last - STARS has a purpose in life.

We managed to get a stealth copy of Tom's gift to Tony. To say it is remarkable is quite the understatement.

TUSH? No one here but us chickens, Mama Sup. It's bedtime stories with milk and cookies, then tuck-in time and lights out at 10 pm.

Satellite problems? Heh heh .. we were countin' on 'em.

We are visiting beautiful downtown Ketchup Can today.

Can't wait to see MUSH pictures. Cheers, Anne

oops

Just a quick post to say hello and to admit I didn't make it to Stars last night. I think it's a mistake to go back to your cabin after dinner, because you might want to lie down on your oh-so-comfortable mattress, with super soft sheets and warm snuggly comforter. Sometimes, the ship might have a little more motion than normal - perhaps a nice rocking sensation - back and forth, back and forth. The next thing you know it's the middle of the night and you've missed the party. But, you're refreshed and up at 4:45 am for an exciting day in Ketchikan. Hopefully we will get to see bears today!!

Good morning, Andrea. Glad you are posting so early. Have a wonderful day in Ketchikan.

Ngaire, those dancing nights sound like lots of fun. One of these days I'm going to be on a cruise where that happens!

Everyone sounds like they are having so much fun. Good food & good friends & a little rest. Stay happy.

Thanks Ngaire, Masaki, and Andrea for your posts!! Sounds like a wonderful cruise! Waiting for photos, please!!!!!!!

We are having a wonderful time. I had never seen so many people on "sports deck" on a cruise as I saw yesterday....until the rain got too hard. Shuffleboard, bocce, and paddle tennis were all occupied.

Karen, Mark, and I won tokens for baggo. Then David and I teamed up for second in bocce and first in shuffleboard. Finally, our random trivia teams were a success (at least our team though it was a success) and we won at trivia.

Last night a wonderful dinner with Debbie and Russ...then a quick nap before karaoke....and then it is 0530.....oops.

We, too, are looking forward to seeing the bears....if the weather cooperates.

If not, it will just be a relaxing day in town.

Andrea- it sounds like you are still on east coast time. By the time you are in the middle of the cruise you will have gotten adjusted and then when you fly back- you lose that time- yikes!

Mark- just noticed you penguins love it. And the saying below it.

Enjoying all the updates.
Jan

Our first port of call - Ketchikan!

I forgot to mention in my other post just how wonderful all the MUSHers that I have never met, are. (dang, I hope my English teacher doesn't read that sentance, lol)

Everyone is just GREAT! I feal really lucky to have so many new friends, this group is just the best!!!! Hopefully we will get some pics up today of the MUSHers.

Already got some, Karen, in the Stalking MUSH thread!!!!heeeheee!!!! :D