Greetings, All!

We are having a marvelous time here and keeping everything ship shape for you PARTYer's!

I just wanted to check in with a bit of up-to-the-minute info. Forgive me if this is common knowledge already.

Keith and I were speaking with Ken Watson (Exec. VP Mktg & Sales for Rad) and I inquired about the impending name change. Ken said that it is going to happen in January, with the refurbishments taking place over time (i.e. replacing everything that has the harp logo - BIG job as you all know). His body language indicated that phase was a logistical nightmare, so I certainly feel for him. Of course, that didn't stop us from also asking what will happen to the Rad logo ship items....I would love a set of those chargers on my dining room table! Ha Ha

Additionally, all logo-wear in the boutique is 50-80% off as they are trying to liquidate their stock. Nice time to grab some garb.

We have yet to hook up with Neville and his wife due to my poor prior-planning, but have already met so many wonderful folks onboard. The group this time is a little older than our Mariner Xmas cruise last year, but that has had no effect on everyone's enjoyment.

Here are some comparisons between Mariner and Voyager that I can make for you right now:
Voyager has a more reserved/formal atmosphere to me. Mariner at Xmas was deocated with the usual garlands, but there were also cheerful gingerbread houses everywhere and a tree for the children to make ornaments. Perhaps these things will show up later in the trip. Currently, we have nice trees everywhere, but they are decorated a bit "sterilely" for my taste.

Mariner definitely has the better library, but Voyager has the edge with the layout of Compass Rose and the casino.

These are just my personal thoughts. The menus appear to be identical and just as fabulous. I had only to read the degustation appetizer Sunday night to know it was the "beef wellington" dinner! My fav.

Horseback riding adventure in San Juan today. It was our replacement choice for the cancelled canopy adventure. Gosh, we really will have to do that one day. The old picture of Todd still rests in my mind as I think, "How much fun that must be!"

Anyhoo - I can't promise to pop in with any regularity, but I will be on every so often to check in with more news and just general observations. I am keeping a journal this time and SWEAR to post a review!

Hope all is well!

Oh - Ngaire, Ken sends warm regards your way!

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

Great to hear from you Ash! So happy you're having a good time in the warm weather. Have fun horseback riding!

Hi Ash! It sounds as if you are off to a good start! Thanks for checking in and for the update on the name change.

I love seamail!! Thanks, Ash. Have a great time.

Ash,

Thanks for the Sea Mail! Interesting comparisons Mariner to Voyager......hmmmmmmmm!
Keep having fun and keep posting when you have time!

Betty

Thanks for checking in, Ash. Have fun with the horses!

Thanks for reporting!

Re the Canopy tour..... I didn't know this was available in San Juan! Do you know where it was supposed to be? Where did you go horseback riding?

Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks!

So nice of you to take the time to check it!! i know how time gets away from you in paradise!!
Cindy

AshD, glad to hear you are having such a marvelous time. If Ken Watson is still aboard, why don't you ask him about the tier program? Especially, we would like to know if the program will be in effect for the 2006 WC and SA one.Thanks a lot and continue to have a great time.

Thank you for your post. We "PARTY" cruisers do appriciate it.

I'm also curious, since I will be on Voyager in June, and am slightly alarmed by postings elsewhere on this about the increase of excursion prices on Mariner, and higher drink prices. Any sign of this?

Yes Yes, Ash, it would be great to find out when the tier program goes into affect. Hopefully at the first of the year and NOT April which has been rumored!

Thanks for your very informative post, Ash. The comparisons you've given in regard to Voyager vs. Mariner were interesting. We've sailed on Voyager twice and love the ship.We've yet to sail on Mariner. Hopefully someday soon.

I hope you continue to have a wonderful time on your cruise and shore excursions.

Interesting comments, Ash. Thanks for sharing them. I agree that Compass Rose and casino are better on Voyager. Glad you are enjoying your cruise and look forward to more reports.

Thanks for checking in with SeaMail Ash - will be waiting further posts as you go along. Glad you are having a good time so far.

We have cruised Voyager and Mariner each two times. If traveling in a "lower" class, we prefer the Voyager..we love the suites (separate shower and tub) and there are more and more conveniently located laundry rooms for those traveling on the lower floors.

However, my favorite suites are the Mariner Penthouse suites. We also love Barry and are excited to be traveling with him again as cruise director...He is on the Mariner now, right?

Ash, Thanks for your reviews.

Thanks for the sea mail. My favorite read every time. It is so interesting how people vary in whether they like the Mariner or the Voyager better. It is great to read peoples impressions. Keep posting!!

Greetings, All and Happy Christmas!

I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get back to my reporting, but I must admit that I’ve tried several times and lost the message each time. Very frustrating. The system times-out after no activity & my messages are long enough to count as no activity LOL. So, now I am going to write in a Word doc and cut/paste to LCT. I hope this works!!

Where to begin? Well, I did have another opportunity to speak with Ken Watson and he also addressed the group at the SSS cocktail party, so I grabbed a napkin and took notes about the tier program in order to report back accurately. Here goes:

Around the 1st week of Jan ’06, SSS members will receive a snail-mailing which completely details the loyalty program. Additionally, the mailing will contain a certificate for a 1 category upgrade on over 40 selected sailings fleetwide. Anyone accompanying the certificate holder also qualifies for the upgrade.

Although the mailing should have complete details, Ken did mention some of the benefits and I wrote them down because we all like previews, yes?

4 Tier Program:
1-20 nights – no details
21-74 nights – Silver Tier = comp spa certificate(s), comp internet, comp 1 hour phone charges, comp pressing on formal and informal nights (again, there is more, but these are the specifics Ken mentioned)
75-199 nights – Gold Tier – no details
200+ nights – Platinum Tier = comp liquor, canapés daily, comp 4 hours phone charges, exclusive invite to the bridge, exclusive on-board or on-shore event, comp pressing and laundry, membership on the Platinum customer advisory board (again with the “more” comment)

Ken informed us that 54% of this cruise is SSS members with a combined total nights sailed of a little over 13,000. Wow! This knowledge leads me to believe that our tier level has already been set based on nights previously sailed.

That’s all I know from Ken and my notes.

With regard to the question about drink prices, I can only tell you what they are right now. I sail so infrequently that I am unqualified to make comparisons. Currently the minimum price is $6 (single malt scotch, vodka, etc.) up to $11 (20 yr-old tawny port) and of course well up there for your REALLY premium drinks. Hope this helps.

I have actually been keeping up with the journal and will be posting a lengthy review next week, but I wanted to just let you know briefly that the San Juan horseback riding adventure was a fiasco! In true Radisson fashion, however, there was a letter of apology on our door before we even returned to the ship and Keith and I were credited $200 to make up for the misadventure. Radisson is a class act, ladies and gentlemen, no doubt about it.

That’s all for now. I hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday. Although we are disembarking on Tuesday, I will check back with the board to see if anyone has questions that I can answer from the Voyager. We have a sea day today and tomorrow, so I’m quite willing to track down any information you might require or just want to know for fun!

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

Happy Holidays to you, Ash! Thanks so much for taking the time to post this information for us. Most appreciated!

Sorry to hear that your horseback riding excursion was not the favorable experience you had hoped for. It's good to hear the Radisson did make amends.

Hope you continue to have a wonderful cruise. If you hear anything further, we're all ears (make that eyes!). Looking forward to a more in-depth review/report when time allows.

Thanks for reporting back and Merry Christmas to you too.

I'm very curious about the horseback riding fiasco since I was very surprised they would offer anything like that in SJ. People do horseback riding in PR but out in the countryside. I couldn't fathom where they were going to take you for it that would be convenient to the ship's location.

Great to hear from you Ash! Thanks for reporting in about the Tier Program. Guess we'll just all sit tight and should know the exact details by next weekend.

Curious if you talk to Ken maybe you could ask "When does all this go into affect". At the beginning of '06?? Heard rumors that it doesn't go into affect until April....not good for us on SA Cruise?? Enjoy your last couple days!!!

Wow Ash - thanks for reporting in. That is a lot of info. Now we can just wait for our letters and for the RSSC website.

Great information, Ash! Thanks for taking the trouble to put this together.

Free internet would be a terrific plus.

Thank you Ash, free internet may increase the beloved sea mail!!!
Cindy

Greetings All on this sad, last day of our voyage, but happy day-before the voyage for PARTY!

Marcie - I've been unable to get with Ken again to ask "when?" for the tier program. Hopefully, that will be detailed in the mailing, but I will continue to scout for him, just in case!

I did discover from Ken, as an aside, that he very much endorses guests' contributions to the crew welfare fund. It is not a widely known practice, apparently, as the ship doesn't advertise this method to reward your crew other than passenger word of mouth. So - here's my official word of mouth to past and future passengers: contributing to the crew welfare fund is very much appreciated!

Have a lovely day!
Cheers!
Ash

I spoke to Ken last night and he told me the new program starts "in April".

My best guess is late April, after both the SA and WC are over. His point being we bought those cruises under the old system.

"just the facts mam" No opinions here.

Peggy

Peggy,thanks for the info. I do think it is a shame that the powers to be decided to start the tier program after the WC and SA one. What about the people who made reservations for cruises after the 2006 WC? They booked the cruises under the old system too but will get the benifits of the tier program.Maybe I am wrong, but it seems to me that the loyal world cruisers are being penalized for their past support.

Ditto Sealover. The April date was not just by chance.

seems like they're penalizing those WC people. Not a good business decision.