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Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit #243542 01/24/15 01:09 PM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Hello from Silver Spirit. Alan and I are sailing on the Silversea Grand Voyage, Southern Cross 2015. 64 days of cruising the South Pacific works for us. Our adventure started with a gala dinner and night’s stay at the Montage Beverly Hills. With customer service that rivals what’s experienced on a luxury cruise ship, Silversea made the perfect choice. And we appreciated the opportunity to meet fellow cruisers. There will be 140 of us on the entire voyage.

Boarding went smoothly, all of our bags arrived and we’re now unpacked and ready to enjoy a fun time at sea. So far, the Pacific is gifting us with smooth seas. That’s all for now. Photos to come later if the Internet cooperates.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243545 01/24/15 07:14 PM
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Beth Offline
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Thanks, Donna, looking forward to reading all about your adventures.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243548 01/24/15 11:07 PM
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ColonelWes Offline
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Fair Winds & Following South Pacific Seas Donna & Alan. Ida and I will see y'all in Sydney. Hope you see EnglishUSA/David--he is also on aboard for the entire Grand Voyage. Rachelg/Rachel & George board in Auckland.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243550 01/25/15 08:19 PM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Loving these lazy days at sea. The Pacific is as smooth as glass. Last night, Alan and I enjoyed dinner at Hot Rocks by the pool. All the stars aligned to make it a magical night smiles.

Yes, ColonelWes, we saw David at the gala event at Montage Beverly Hills. Looking forward to Rachel/George and You and Ida joining the ship. It's been lovely so far.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243554 01/26/15 06:41 PM
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petlover Offline
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Thanks for sharing seamail Donna. It sounds like you and Alan are off to a fabulous trip.


Marcie

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243556 01/26/15 09:40 PM
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RachelG Offline
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Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243557 01/26/15 10:05 PM
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Ngaire Online
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Thanks for posting Donna look forward to hearing more from you as enjoy your cruise.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243630 01/30/15 02:32 AM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Hello from the South Pacific. We’ve had excellent weather and smooth seas for our cruise toward Nuka Hiva, where we arrive tomorrow. Service has been extremely good and we have the best butler and cabin attendant ever.

So far, I’ve honored Ngaire by dining on rack of lamb at formal night. Entertainment and night life have been very low key, as I expected it would be with an older crowd of cruisers. The other night, two of the male singers did a show based upon the tunes of Billy Joel and Elton John. That was fun. Tomorrow night, we have our first deck barbecue.

More later,
Donna

P.S. I've forgotten how to post photos here.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243631 01/30/15 07:52 AM
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cruisinfanatic Offline
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Sounds relaxing and perfect so far Donna.


JoAnn
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243637 01/30/15 01:29 PM
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Ngaire Online
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Donna I have not been to your web site for a while but clicked on the link.

You have done a sensational job on that very easy to navigate and very appealing layout. Fantastic.

Keep enjoying yourself with all that work you put in that website you deserve "rest and relaxation"

As for posting pictures Ken downloads them and then just puts it the links.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243638 01/30/15 08:50 PM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Ngaire, you are so nice. Thanks for the lovely comments about the website. By downloading, to you mean that Ken puts them in Smugmug and adds a link? I should know how to do this but it's totally escaped me smiles.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243639 01/30/15 10:00 PM
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pwolftx Offline
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Donna, our ships will probably pass in the night. We're on the Mariner in Nuka'Alofa, Tonga today. We altered course and sailed south to Tonga instead of north to Samoa to avoid a potential cyclone. Not sure if it ever materialized or not, but we enjoyed Tonga so it's not a problem. Next we sail back northeast to French Polynesia -- maybe we'll see you there.


Peggy
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243640 01/31/15 08:02 AM
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cruisinfanatic Offline
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Peggy - envious! You and Jerry live on a cruise ship more than you do at home it seems. See you in April.


JoAnn
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243641 01/31/15 08:15 AM
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jbittle Offline
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Peggy,
We were in Samoa last month and you didn't miss much. Tonga is a more interesting island. Also, it's rain season in Samoa so it wouldn't have been much fun. See you on the Journey.
Jim

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243655 02/01/15 12:58 PM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Hi Peggy, hope to catch up with you in FB. At the very least, we'll wave as our ships pass each other smiles.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243656 02/01/15 02:23 PM
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Ngaire Online
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Hi Donna

Not being a techie I always use the wrong terminology but YES he puts the picture on Smugmug and then adds a link to the picture on LCT and the picture shows up.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243657 02/01/15 10:48 PM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Today's snorkeling excursion in Rangiroa was the best ever. What a tropical paradise. And look at all the fishes:

[Linked Image]


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243658 02/02/15 09:55 AM
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petlover Offline
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Beautiful Donna !


Marcie

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243665 02/02/15 04:27 PM
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Ngaire Online
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That is great snorkeling and many like the drift dive with the currents. Thanks for posting the picture nothing like a picture! I guess you figured it out.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243688 02/04/15 12:54 PM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Yesterday started the second segment of this Grand Voyage. The butler manager made the rounds to all Grand Voyagers to check on how our butlers are doing and if we have any suggestions. Nice touch. Since we have the best butler ever, all that Alan and I could contribute were complements.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243693 02/05/15 03:53 AM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Forgot to post photos from our Moorea excursion, swimming with stingrays, sharks and a motu barbecue. What a fun day!

[Linked Image]

Alan and I couldn't wipe the grins off our faces. We do enjoy petting stingrays:
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

And, of course, the reef sharks were hanging around:
[Linked Image]


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243696 02/05/15 05:39 PM
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Ngaire Online
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Beautiful shots Donna the lighting and colors are fantastic. Love the underwater picture of the sharks. Keep those pictures coming.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243697 02/05/15 09:03 PM
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I am not so sure I would have looked so happy with sharks swimming around me, but the pics are beautiful.

See you soon.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: RachelG] #243698 02/06/15 04:25 PM
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Sharks have to eat too!

I've swam with black fin reef sharks - as soon I entered the water they swam away - must be afraid of me - yes - I had showered!



"Life is far too serious to be taken seriously."
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243702 02/07/15 12:55 PM
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Haha, Ted. I don't mind them eating as long as it doesn't involve taking a bite out of me.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243705 02/09/15 12:01 AM
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At LAX waiting for our flight to auckland. We will spend a couple of days there before boarding on Thursday. We had a wonderful day today with Helen and Jerry and their family at Disneyland. They sure know how to show out of towners a good time!

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: RachelG] #243706 02/09/15 02:40 AM
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southernlady Offline OP
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The sharks don't care one bit about us. Can't wait to see you and George in Auckland.

Ha ha, Ted. They ran away from Alan and me too even though we had showered smiles.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243707 02/09/15 02:44 AM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Day before yesterday, we missed Rarotonga because the swells were too big to tender to shore. While it was sad to miss a port, I have scary memories from LAMB when our tender had a hard time returning to the ship because of those swells.

Today, the seas have been really bouncy, not good for me. I'll post photos from Bora Bora tomorrow, hopefully.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243710 02/09/15 07:54 PM
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pwolftx Offline
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Hmm, we're right behind you and having gorgeous weather. No problems at all in Rarotonga and beautiful weather here in Bora Bora today. It's the luck of the draw I guess. We'll be anchored in Bora Bora for three days to allow plenty of time to drink in this beautiful scenery. We're counting down the days -- five more-- until Ngaire and the group get on. The food has been outstanding and so has everything else--it's been a wonderful cruise that's only going to get better when more friends get on.


Peggy
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243711 02/10/15 04:10 AM
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southernlady Offline OP
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So glad your cruise is going well, Peggy. 3 days anchored in Bora Bora sounds wonderful. We're experiencing excellent food and fantastic service, as well. Glad to know that the luxury cruise industry is meeting our expectations smiles. Say hi to the stingrays for us.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243716 02/11/15 11:55 AM
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Looking forward to boarding later today.

Why am I up so early? George somehow managed to set the hotel alarm clock for 4 am.

I am also posting over on CC as I have a lot of friends who don't follow LCT.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243718 02/11/15 01:45 PM
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southernlady Offline OP
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See you today, Rachel! Lucky me, I'm married to a man with an internal alarm clock. It's a 5 a.m. wakeup call no matter where we are in the world. I survive on afternoon naps smiles.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243721 02/12/15 02:25 PM
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Fun dinner last night with Donna and Alan catching up on everything. La terraza is great as remembered.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243731 02/14/15 12:07 AM
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Missed the port of Napier today due to high winds. Very bummed as it was one of the ones I looked forward to most.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243739 02/14/15 09:45 PM
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southernlady Offline OP
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The entertainment on the Grand Voyage has been ho-hum until last night. Pianist Van-Ahn Nguyen rocked her concert. Formal night and Valentine's Day made the perfect combination. The LCT contingent looked dashing, if I do say so myself.

Today, we're in Picton. Alan and I skipped tours in favor of a stroll through town and to recuperate from going to bed at 2 a.m. last night.


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243784 02/23/15 05:33 AM
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At the Melbourne airport awaiting our long flight home. We had a wonderful trip, all the better with the company of Donna, Alan, and David.

Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243792 02/23/15 10:15 PM
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southernlady Offline OP
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Safe travels home, Rachel and George. We had fun traveling with you again!


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Souther Cross 2015 on Silver Spirit [Re: southernlady] #243819 03/04/15 12:01 AM
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ColonelWes Offline
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Please enjoy some pictures of Ida and I (we boarded in Sydney and will disembark in LA) enjoying lunch today with southernlady: Alan & Donna:

[Linked Image]

Also, pix of EnglishUSA:David at the Italian restaurant on board two nites ago--wonderful osso bucco:

[Linked Image]


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