Yippee, smooth sailing and sunny skies for yet another day! Last night was the BK cocktail party and it was nice see everyone all together!

Dinner was with Betty, Larry, Pam and Mark and the menu didn't appeal to Betty and I so we had filets that were super good. At the recommendation of the sisters, we sat in Ricardo's section and had PERFECT service and he is such a nice guy. Franco has been a joy, I just love seeing his smiling face. The officers are out and about and very visible on this cruise. I met Captain Aage Hoddevik this morning and he is really charming and funny.

Tonight is the Captains welcome and the first formal night. This is always my favorite night in Compass Rose :) We will be having dinner with Betty, Larry, Jim and Jan.

I will try to get more pictures of everyone at formal night tonight!

Thanks for the post, Karen. Can't wait for the pics of formal night. So glad you're having a couple of nice days at sea.

Great to see you reporting in, Karen. I always go for the filet if I don't like the menu. Good choice. Can't wait to read more about all the FUN you're having.

Another vote for the filet when uncertain what to order - so glad your seas are calm and looking forward to FUN reports! :hello1: :hello1: :hello1:

Thanks for checking in, K! Photos of everyone all gussied-up for formal night would be grand.

Can't wait for photos Karen. Thanks for checking in.

Can't wait for formal night pix! say hi to Ricardo from the sistah's and ask about his children, he loves to brag. Have FUN!

Great to hear from you, Karen! Sounds like all are having a wonderful time so far. Ditto what the others say - I can't wait for more pics!

Having a grand time. As Karen said, the service on board could not be better. Looking forward to Capt's party tonight! Enjoying a lazy sea day today!

We had a great time at the cocktail party last evening. The Captain, Hotel Director, Cruise Director, Assistant Cruise Director, Human Resources Manager and Staff Captain all joined in at one time or another. As Karen mentioned the Captain is from Norway and quite personable. Englebert is the general manager and I always enjoy sailing with him. He is always scurring about making sure that things are in order. Lorraine is always a delight as cruise director and Louise her assistant is equally delightful. The food has been good, but the company even better. Today was a Tex Mex buffet up at the pool deck which was quite good.The seas have been a bit rough and quite windy but hopefully it will be as sunny when we arrive in Aruba in the morning. I took my youngest son to ballroom dancing lessons today which was quite a challenge with the ship rocking but he really enjoyed it. Had chocoholic tea with Larry today as Betty was catching up with LCT and emails.

Susan, thanks for posting..let us know how the diving goes please..esp in Dominica...r/wes

We just got back from formal dinner, introduced Judy and Steve to Ricardo. Suzie, his oldest daughter will graduate as an RN this Spring! The next one is in college, I think he said a freshman.

The water seems to be calming down a little bit.l

Great dinner tonight! It was nice to wish Jim happy birthday in person, much better than one of my pictures of a cake!

Here is the birthday boy and then one of me with my boyfriend Franco

wow great looking group!!! women look fabulous and Betty's Larry (have met the other hotties) is handsome!!!!!!

Awesome pics, K!! Paul thinks everyone looks wonderful!!

Robert I was wondering?????? Is Paul baking the b'day cakes??? :D :hug:

This is the best looking group. Wish I was there. :(

I thought I was looking at a pix from Star Magazine! Handsome Guy's and Dolls! :app:

Great formal night pics of everyone! :)

Land Ho! We just made our first port, Aruba. I think we are going to hop off and see if we can rent some jet skis. Partly sunny skies and a bit windy, which is the norm for this island.

Great pics from formal night, everyone looks so great, thanks Karen. Have a great day in Aruba.

Beautiful Pictures Karen....thanks!

Naw, Joanna, I must give credit where credit is due -

Karen baked the birthday cakes and air expressed them to me. You should have seen the bewildered look on the poor FEDEX guys face when I explained what he was hauling up the stairs... :D

Great pics - everyone looked so dashing on formal night! Enjoy sunny Aruba (from rainy/cloudy/COLD Fort Worth--40 degrees--boo hoo!)

Happy belated B-day, Jim!!!

Robert :D :D :D :app: :app: :app:

R, you've made my day !! Poor FedEx guy...

Karen, great pictures!! Franco looks as young & chipper as usual. Don't forget to tell him Hi from Larry & Cindy from Hawaii!!!!!!!!!

Great day in Aruba today, we couldn't of had better weather! Dinner in Compass Rose with the Mainiacs and Betty and Larry, we laughed so much! After dinner, they were showing Mamma Mia up on the pool deck on a big movie screen so we went up there for dessert. I was dipping a strawberry into the chocolate fountain, a wind gust blew in and flung chocolate all over the front of me

So sorry to miss all of you on this trip but Steve and Judy (those maniacs) sound like FUN!!!!

A chocolate dipped Karen?!? Hope it came out okay.

Had a great group of 16 divers in Aruba. Too windy to dive the wrecks as planned but went to two nice reefs instead. Was fun watching Mama Mia under the stars as we sailed away from Aruba. Missed the caviar and champagne breakfast this morning as we lazily sat out on the balcony watching the ferry cross over to Curacao. Is a bit windy today as well as overcast but the temperature is quite nice. Off to town....

Susan, at what point in the movie did you fall asleep. Who woke you up and said the movie was over.

It's good to hear that the chocolate fountain is still there. Someone should have a camera aimed at the fountain -- it would get some good shots of chocolate flying around and/or down the front of shirts and blouses:-)

Curaco is a very pretty place.
Probably about 95 degrees earlier today with a nice breeze,
but right now it is pouring rain.
Suppose to be a outdoor BBQ tonight at the pool deck but this may ruin those plans.

We took a walk over the swinging bridge this morn. and around town. Curacao is very charming. Not much open on Sunday morn. It has stopped raining now, and appears the BBQ is a go.

We are on the 6th deck all the way forward, and we have experienced no problem with the internet signal.

Lorraine just announced the pool deck BBQ is a go and then will follow with disco with the singers and dancers. Guess it is party time.

Susan, Sorry you missed diving the wrecks. But, glad that the weather didn't keep you from diving at all. Better luck on the rest of the dives. We had some nice spring skiing in Maine this weekend. Many times this season we've had lifts on hold because of high winds. It's funny how the wind can adversly impact such different sports.

I spoke to several of the divers that went out today. Said they had 5 or 6 foot seas but that the diving was better than yesterday. Sorry we missed but I am not fond of rough seas when I am diving.

Good Morning from St. Lucia! There is a GINORMOUS P&O ship docked here, the Ventura. I had no idea they had ships that huge, but it's a big one. It's raining pretty hard right now, so we'll reserve judgement on whether or not to wander around. I took a picture of the local "Home Depot" from the aft deck, I'll try to get it up in a little while.

Hope the rain clears quickly, Pam. Those mega ships are a sight to behold when docked next to yours!

Cheers, Anne