We were on the Mariner last week and there was a couple walking around with a "honey bear" named Benjamin changing whose clothes were changed everyday and never was lifted by the ears. Is this some kind of new fad amoung cruise passengers? Why?

I know Kathy and Freddie have a stuffed animal who I believe has now retired from cruising...I think he wanted his own cabin and the clothes bill was getting stiff?

We gave our friends a Stuffed Pink Poodle as a gag gift when we met them for our Cruise to Tahiti on the Paul Gauguin. We dressed her in a pink bathing suit, flip flops and snorkel gear. The room attendants posed her every day and it was great for fun photo opportunities. We called her Madame Fifi after a play date I had the summer before where I taught my granddaugters so speak French.

We booked another cruise with some land travel attached since it added so much levity and I got her a can can outfit and a British Guard's outfit - they used her to as a part of a video story of the trip and it added some playfulness and fun to that trip too.

Her final trip was on the Alaska Group cruise last year in Parka and boots. She made her way to nice girl who fell in love with her somewhere up in Washington State.

It was fun and added some humor and levity to our three cruises. How could you not smile at a pink poodle dressed appropriately for her destinations?

Cathy, I don't understand. I got all excited about a month ago when you mentioned someone suggested you should be a cruise photographer. I thought - now that would be cool. You said you couldn't due to lack of a second langauge. I would bet you would be able to pass the language test of a cruise line since you were able to teach your granddaugters enough French to do a play. You really should look into it.

Teaching them to count in French and a poem I learned in school that is French, does not quite give me enough to converse with adults and I already have two running businesses. And besides, I don't want to be crew on board - they don't get room service breakfast or all inclusive wine! As for doing a play, that is not the same as a play date (we were playing - they're kids). It was my dog, Daisy, that played Toto in the Wizard of Oz.

My sister had a 1st grade class that sent a teddy bear all over the country with people when school started in the fall. Who ever had him took pictures of him and write about where he was and what he was doing. Mail that to the class then pass him on to someone else. May just before school ended the last person mailed him back to the class with their final report. She said it was amazing and very interesting.
I know the bear went with us to New Orleans.

And then there was the famous "Turdley" on POP. Looking now for a suitable mascot for Panda and Camel--let me know if you find something.

I just purchased a teddy bear that is sporting a t-shirt with a green beer mug on the front for some clients of mine that are traveling to Ireland next month.

On the gift card I told them to please take the bear along to Ireland and in each pub that they stop in to take a picture of "Mr. Pope" by the beer mug. <img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" />

Peggy,
Here's a couple of cuties: ;)
Li Ming:


Camela Camel:

I've got a cute Manatee we got on our St. John's River cruise last year. How's that for Fjords? No?, oh okay!

Hmmm...what would be good for Fjords? A stuffed goat?

You should have a Troll for Fjords don't you think?