Hi All,

We have all made it aboard the Navigator and are cruising up the Atlantic coast of Africa toward Namibia. Tha fun has started and life is good as we enjoy a much needed sea day.

Crystal, our friends Ken & Shirley and I had a private guide on the first day in Cape Town. We lucked out and actually saw and got to the top of Table Mountain the first morning. Yesterday, it was covered in fog but most of it lifted before we had our sailaway. The rest of Friday we drove down the Cape Peninsula, saw the African penguins at Simon's Town, then on to Cape Point for lunch a a cable car ride to view the two oceans and before our drive back to CT, we made a stop at the Cape of Good Hope.

Yesterday, Crystal and I took the tour of Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was a prisioner for 27 years, came back to the ship, had lunch with Olivia, then hit the wharf for finally shopping adventures.

Sailaway was delayed, then we were off and had a beautiful sailaway.

This AM we enjoyed the guest chef demonstration, and now catching up on life off this ship via our computers.

So glad to finally be meeting our wonderful LCT friends.

More later.....

Hi Beth, Crystal and all...

Have been thoroughly enjoying everyone's blogs and comments as we follow along vicariously on this grand adventure. We leave in one week to arrive in Rio on December 1st (and are we getting excited?... yes!). We will be staying in Ipanema a few days prior to embarking and have hired a private guide to tour around. What is everyone else planning to do/see while in Rio?

Looking forward to meeting everyone soon.

Sandee

We had our first on board pooch session today and tonight is the B&K cocktail party and dinner with officers. Everyone originally had an invitation to the Captain's table, but that was an error. The invitation was printed to proof the format of the card but it somehow got distributed and later corrected.
Terry Breen is on board until FLL and pianist Marty Henne that many of you know. all are being had by a good time.
Jim

I am GREEN with envy.

LOL Jim, that would have been one full Captain's table!

We too are :rolleyes: :rolleyes: with envy! Sure wish we were there with you'all. Thanks for sharing everyone.

Glad everyone had a good time in South Africa. Awaiting reports of Pooch scores during the crossing.

Please let us know the winner of the free cruise after the party tonight!

No free cruise drawings last night. We only had 1/2 of Galileo's, the band was playing with one singer doing a cabaret and the othe side was full. Ngaire didn't want orher guests hearing abouta drawing for a free cruise so it'll be done at a later time when we can have a private venue. We all had a great time and a lot of our tables stayed in CR beyond show time.
Jim

Last night we enjoyed an included excursion for all cruisers, Dinner Under the Stars, in Walvis Bay. It was a wonderful dinner in the desert clustered within tall, tall sand dunes. What was to be dinner under the stars turned into dinner with drizzle... how wonderful to say we had rain in the dessert. Cindy and David joined our table and we all had a great evening. After returning to the ship, we met up in the Navigator Lounge and the party continues.

Pooch continued today and we moved up to Portofino's after lunch. We were big enough for two tables as the group is growing.

Around 3pm today we began our cruise across the Atlantic. We can now actually say we are feeling we are on water. Until now, we haven't had much rocking and rolling to report. Not bad now, but we do know we are on a ship.

Tonight we had a fun dinner with Marcie & Tom, Joanna & Tony and Chetuan.... lots of laughs and finally during dessert, one conversation, briefly!!

All is well here and life is good!!

Have a great Thanksgiving all you DC'ers. Sounds like your trip overall is going well, and has been spectacular.

It's a somber start to our Thanksgiving Day here as we receive information about the attacks in Mumbai, where we were just less than a month ago. Our thoughts today are with the lovely people we met there, and our hopes are for their well-being.

So tragic! Tom lived at the Taj Hotel for 5 months when he worked full time in Bombay in the 1990's.

Today is a delightfully sunny warm day in the Atlantic Ocean headed toward St. Helena. Tonight is the Seven Seas Society party and dinner and dancing in the Compass Rose. Wishing all of you U.S. LCTers a Happy Thanksgiving.

St. Helena turned out to be the cruise's pleasant surprise. I'd more or less dismissed it as a throwaway port--a place we were stopping pretty much just because it's on the way. Well, it's a lovely island--dramatic rocky face, with a lush, bloom-filled mountainous interior.

Beth and I wound up joining Jan and Fred and some others to take the "ancient bus," a 1929 vehicle (we think a Rolls Royce) now tricked out to carry 14 passengers in an open-topped truck arrangement. The driver proved an excellent guide, as he skillfully maneuvered us through some pretty scary mountain roads and provided a surprisingly good narrative of what we were seeing. St. Helena is where Napoleon died in exile, so much of the emphasis was on that bit of history.

The island was lovely, and the people incredibly friendly. The only way to get there is by boat, and we were the first cruise ship this year (the next one is due in January) so the only "strangers" they get come on the monthly mail ship. With 3600 residents, our little Navigator passengers increased the population by more than 10% (I don't think many crew went ashore), and so we stood out. Everyone we passed waved and one woman came running out of her house to take our picture as we drove past (though I expect that had more to do with the odd vehicle we were in).

It was a wonderful day. We're now getting ready for "truck stop night"--the full cruisers have been invited to eat in the crew mess, with a truck stop theme.

Four sea days lie ahead. And then, Rio!

I second Crystal's opinion of St. Helena. What a nice surprise. The interior of the island is a garden paradise plus the citizens truly welcomed the diversion of a cruise ship passing through the area.

Another fun event tonight - the 50's and 60's lat night show that Cody put on in Galileo Lounge. The dance floor was hopping to the oldies. This cruise has been a great way to relax after the rigors of safari. Alan and I highly recommend the combination.

I did a long post but I lost it all. Never learn. This will be a quick post as pooch time is approaching.

So happy that Marc and Arlene won the free cruise. This has not been an easy year with the indecision as to where they will be located so this is a nice welcome home present

St. Helena was a wonderful surprise. A delightful port and the interior of the island reminded of New Zealand.

We have had spectacular weather on this cruise. No rough seas and today the sea is the most wonderful shade of blue. This has been a great crossing.

We just finished off a rack of lamb that we special ordered for lunch and shared with Frank and Wendy. Life does not get much better. Tonight they have the first session of “DANCING WITH THE STARS” at 6.30 pm so we are looking forward to watching that. I missed this competition on Lamb. Wish Valerie was here and dancing for us.

Been a lazy cruise for us. We have not stayed up every night like we often do, and only been up late a few nights dancing. Really been a nice trip, great people, food has been excellent and the weather perfect.

Pat is the Pooch champion so far with only a few days left to go.

It does get better Ngaire. While you had your rackof lamb we had steak tartare prepared at our table by Executive Chef Neils. Capt John & Dr Claus joined our group of 8 for a wonderful lunch.

Last night after the show several crew members performed in Galileo's - it makes you wonder why they bother with professional entertainers when there is so much talent in the crew. The show lasted until midnight with lots of audience participation.

Time to go to Pooch.
Jim

Glorious weather for our crossing and all the sun worshipers are golden brown. I love laying on the chase in the shade and reading....ahhhh life is good. We saw a whale today just frolicing along. Tom and I had massages this afternoon which always works well for us. We still play Texas Hold'em poker daily and now I have Tony for a bingo partner. Two days ago we both won at Bingo and he won the cover all!

Last night we ate in Portofino's and it was delicious. The menu is back to Italian. Mona Lisa was our waitress...remember her from singing on the Diamond? She looks exactly the same but now has 2 kids.

Everything is going super here....isn't it amazing what gorgeous blue skies and waters can do for you!! We reach Rio on Wednesday. Off to tea and trivia.

Sounds heavenly, Marcie.
Thanks everyone for your reports. On to Rio...I can't wait for those posts. Maybe more pix....

Having such a great trip! Meeting Crystal, Beth, Frank and Carla and SO many others makes it so special. A rainy day today, but we have been so lucky with wonderful weather. Good day to curl up with a good book!

OK you miserable lot! Who is winning at Pooch and Trivia?. I'd like to know who the competition is before I re-join you in Rio.

OK, David, Ngaire has all the Pooch scores, so she can announce those. Just today we spoke "fondly" of you at Pooch and mentioned that we needed score cards for your arrival in a few days. We play at 2:30 in Portofino's. Get ready for the teefs and ruens.

Official scores will be announced tomorrow after our final games for this segment. You will start a whole new contest on the next segment. Both Crystal and Pat score now.

Hi All,

After leaving Washington DC last night we had a fairly uneventful flight arriving in Rio a little after 11 AM today. Made our way through immigration, baggage and customs, found our way to the pre-paid cabs, and were at our hotel and checked in by 1 PM. I had a lot of angst over what hotel to stay at with so many to choose from and ended up booking at the Ipanema Plaza and we are very happy with the choice. We are one block from Ipanema Beach and there are lots of shops and restaurants within walking distance that will be vieing for our attention over the next couple of days. The hotel has a lovely rooftop pool with cafe and the view of the beach in one direction and Christ The Redeemer (peeking in and out of the clouds) in the other direction is spectacular. Our tour guide is picking us up tomorrow at 7:30 AM for a planned full day of touring. We hope the weather will be as sunny and beautiful as today.

Sandee

Sandee, you are off to a good start, thanks for checking in!

Hi Sandee,

Glad to hear that you and Brian made it safely to Rio. We're waiting for you. Enjoy Rio and see you soon.

Thanks, Beth. We have been having a blast touring Rio but are looking forward to finally setting foot on ship and having the opportunity to meet everyone. Hope everyone has a great day in Rio and see you soon! And if you get a chance to go to SugarLoaf make sure you go behind the shops, down the stairs and along the walkway and you may be lucky enough to see the cute wild monkeys. There are even a few babies. Just one of our highlights of todays touring.

Sandee

We are having a rainy sail-in to Rio this morning. Looking forward to the clouds disappearing and touring this lovely city.

Unfortunately we have to say good-by to some wonderful new friends. Safe journeys home, good folks..... until we sail again!!

As Beth has already written, it's a rainy day in Rio. But I'm still smiling about one of the most fun formal nights Alan and I have ever had. Starting out with a wonderful crew show, then on to Chateaubriand and lobster for dinner, and later, the finale of Dancing with the Navigator Stars. After the show, as we exited the theater into Stars Lounge, many of us stopped to dance and dance and dance. Sometime after midnight, when the DJ turned the music up even louder, we got the message that it was time to turn in. A rainy day in Rio may be a good thing for us.

We leave for home tomorrow with great memories. Sailing on a crossing after safari turned out to be the perfect combination for us.

Happy sailing to all of our friends staying on to Ft. Lauderdale.

Sure sounds like you all had a wonderful time.
Wish we could have been with you.

Happy travels to all who departed today! We sure will miss you. We look forward to new arrivals. Happy Travels to all....PLEASE keep in touch!
Carla & Frank.....what will it be like here on board without you after spending the past 3 weeks together? Cindy, don't forget when we visit I get Cocoa Puff !!

Back at work. I miss the Navigator.

Official Pooch Winners for SAMBA

Don R. won most points scored and most games won
Pat B. won highest point game at 122.

Well, we are home......very happy to be home, travel over, unpacked and the washer going like mad...but, so sad to leave everyone. We miss you all and the Navigator already!
xo

oh Marcie, a little coco puff time will definately be in order, but you will have a real time getting her away from grampa !!

We're home, too. Every hour or so, Alan reminds me, "they're serving lunch on the pool deck now." Or, "if we were on the ship, we'd be drinking champagne at Gallileo's." I just throw the dirty clothes at home.

What a fun trip with lots of great people.

Cindy, you left your black sweater in the tour van. I'll email about sending it to you.

Glad to hear that the SAMBAites are all getting home safely. We sure do miss you and hope to sail with you all again.

Cindy, we have a bar stool picture for you. Will need to upload it and post later.