Hello All!

It's been a while, simply got swamped after the April cruise with buying and moving into our new home, closing the school, and becoming certified open water scuba divers to those of you who directed us to Ngaire. We are pleased as punch to become part of the B & K clientele!

"It's good to be back, Lloyd."! (anyone recognize this obscure quote? (Masaki?)

Cheers! :lct:

Welcome back, Ash!

I know the origin of the quote but I cheated and googled it. I'll let somebody else try first. :)

Masaki

PS: And congrats on the open water certification! You're ready for the PG at some point!

Was on the MAriner Xmas cruise last year. YEs - as special as RSSC is, it seemed they were even better for the holidays! Cannot think of a better way to spend the holidays!

Gil,
We were on the Mariner Christmas cruise of 03, did not know anyone else was on board from the previous cc board.
Ash,
That cruise is a delightful time to go. Yes, you do pay more money, but for us that work, it is less days to take off of work. You are welcomed home with a gift from Radisson cruise lines. It is in my front window. It is very beautiful. They celebrate Christmas --low key-- santa comes through for the kids, and big kids (us) he makes his way through the pool area and goes up to a lounge and gives out gifts to the kids, the trees on board were low key and there is a gingerbread house in the atrium.
We are going on the Navigator over Christmas this year!
Jan

Wondered what happened to you. Missed your attitude. Can't wait until my Mariner cruise next September.

Chip....my attitude - VBG - does it show, or perhaps you've confused me with another prodigal? <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

Jan, thanks for the info! Nice 6 month tease about the token from the cruise....you are cute and evil, yes? We looked at the Navigator cruise as well, but, as a teacher, the time off just isn't there. Oh well - 10 more years in the biz and sky's the limit for travel!

Part of the reason we ended up selecting Mariner was the dive excursions. Hopefully, we'll be on the PG within the next 3 years and REALLY see some beauty. Only been quarry diving for now & the cold water fun is not to my liking. Too much gear! <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" /> I think I'll begin another thread so divers can identify themselves and their "hot" dive spots and adventures.

It is, in fact, wonderful to be among you again! I am looking forward to offering help and/or answers from my limited, but growing, experience with Radisson.

No takers yet for my movie quote? (It's my favourite game - next to Jeopardy!)

Cheers! <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />
Ash

How time flies! Sorry - I was on in '02 - just SEEMS like last year.

The quote, Jack Nicholson in....

Yea for Gil!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:
So, uh....tongue in cheek here, you want a towel animal or a ship on a stick for arriving at the correct, even if implied, answer? <img border="0" alt="[rofl]" title="" src="graemlins/rofl.gif" />

Ash

i DIDN'T ARRIVE AT THE ANSWER - i CAN PICTURE HIM SAYING IT, BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT HE SAID IT IN.
(DARN CAPS LOCK!)

So it is still open, and I get HALF a ship on a stick (That like getting the shaft?)

"As my Mexican friend said, to the pure life"

Gil, that is okay for one year off. Not bad! Ours was a great cruise!

Ash, that is one of the reasons I got out of teaching, I can travel now whenever I want to! Thus, I have to take time between Christmas and the New Year, but it is only a week to be off.
I normally travel when the kids are still in school, just like in May, the only kids on the Euorpe cruise where the ones that were in college. But, during Christmas or Thanksgiving, we do love to be on the seas.
We had to pick between the Voyager- panama canal or The Navigator. You don't even know that kids are on board during the trip, they are so busy doing other things.
If you e-mail me, I will let you know the item. I won't let you wait for 6 months! Actually Marc told me about it before I left, and sure enough it was there!

Going to try and use Karens instuctions to post my photo tonight. Fun!! Jan

We were on the Mariner for Christmas and New Years of 2002 (I think). The staff was marvelous, as usual. There was even a crew Christmas Carol show that was a lot of fun. For some reason, a majority of passengers who were on the New Years portion (they were b2b) brought some sort of attitude with them. Once in a while we ate with other passengers, but most of the time we ate with various members of the crew. One of the crew said, that "frequently" the New Years passengers are "not a happy bunch."

Ash, Maybe you misunderstood me. You discribed yourself once as a smartass, that's what I meant. I didn't mean to imply that you where a VBG. I don't know if I offended, you never know in one paragraph posts. But I want to be clear as to what I meant.

As my Mexican friend said, to the pure life.

John Wayne to Ron Howard in the Shootest. As he was drinking the WhoHitJohn

Chip, I don't want to answer for Ash, and I may be wrong but VBG stands for very big grin in internet lingo. :)

Whoops, I thought stood for something else.

Now I want to know what chip thought VBG stood for!! :banana:

Masaki

B as in the sex of my beloved puppy.

Chip,
No offense taken at all! I'm pleased to be remembered.
Karen's correct about the internet def of VBG. My fault for assuming everyone knew. When thinking of an unflattering interpretation, I came up with "very big girl", but I see your interpretation clearly, based on the "attitude" comment. I am neither, but smartasses do cause different opinions from all. I hope we can cruise together some day!

Gil - the line is Nicholson's to the ghost bartender in "The Shining".

Cheers! <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />
Ash