Does anyone know if Radisson has "Friends of Bill W" meetings on their sailings? I don't remember from past sailings - and this time traveling with a friend who wants to attend if available. Thanks for any insight! Michelle

I don't know about the other lines but the Bill W cocktail parties on Radisson are very quiet with a limited drink selection :D .

Seriously, they do have them
John

We were on a b2b in Sept, and they had the meetings on both sailings, two or three times on each. I'm sure your friend will be able to find them, they are usually listed in the daily schedule.

We were on a 10 day itinerary on the Paul Gauguin in June. I just looked through all our daily schedules. They had meetings on days 5, 7 & 9 at either 5:00 or 5:30 pm in the Connoisseur's Club. From reading elsewhere on the bulletin board I understand they are going to convert that space to staterooms during the drydock. I expect they would find another location to meet the need.

We noticed that they had meetings on our Voyager Baltics cruise this August.

Yes, they are on all the cruises - not just RSSC. It's a good idea to make sure that your friend goes to the first one onboard so that there can be a second one. If no one shows up to the first one, then others may not know that there are more people on board who will attend.

OK....I will bite....who is Bill W?

Guy who founded AA right???

Yes, it's "code" for an AA meeting. Two trivia token prizes for you.

More trivia - how about "Friends of Dorothy?" During my last cruise through Panama this summer - there were more listings for "Dorothy" meetings than "Bill." Finally found the answer! Later read in a travel article that most of the Luxury Cruise lines do not post "Dorothy" meetings in their daily activities schedule because the smaller passenger capacities and the ability of guests to more easily meet one another and mingle with their peers if they choose.

I have no idea, but here's my best guesses:

Friends of Dorothy -

Scarecrows, Cowardly Lions and Tinmen?
Toto?
Auntie Em and Uncle Henry?
Glinda?
Munchkins?
Wizards?

Sorry!!!

Good going smilinjack, I was about to ask the same question. Too funny!

Smilin' Jack, in case you think that was a "silly" question, it certainly wasn't. I was on about my 6th cruise, and I noticed once again my fellow passenger was "Bill W". The guy with all the private parties. I was flabbergasted to think we kept booking the same cruise...I was absolutely stymied. I finally mentioned it to my family, and my brother-in-law (a reformed alcoholic of 15 years) nearly fell off his chair laughing at me, and then explained it was the founder of AA, and a pseudonym for AA meetings!

Charlene,

I was wondering the same thing when I saw numerous Friends of Bill W meetings posted almost daily on our last cruise.

So now we need to know about Friends of Dorothy. I meant no offense with my tongue-in-cheek response, above.

Well, as a Toto Trainer, I can tell you that Friends of Dorothy are not related to anything to do with the Wizard of Oz. It's the code for Gay and Lesbian community.

Sorry, Kathy, but as I understand it, it is not only "code" for a Gay and Lesbian community meeting, but it is a reference to Judy Garland.

And yes, Joanna is correct. Bill "W", Bill Wilson was the founder of AA. Those who have cruised with me know how I picked up that piece of knowledge. <img border="0" alt="[c]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />

Hello Everyone!

Ok, let me come out of the closet and confirm that "FOD" (Friends of Dorothy) meetings are code for Gay & Lesbian meetings. You can find out more at the "Cruise Critic" site by scrolling down to the Gay & Lesbian Cruising discussion board.

BTW: It's questionable about the origins of the term "Friends of Dorothy." Some maintain that it's related to older American gay culture's embrace of Judy Garland (actress, singer, unfortunate alcohol & seconal abuser), while others insist that the catch-phrase was started in New York Ciy as a code for gays, but relating to "Friends of Dorothy Kilgallen" (the socialite, gad-about, columnist, quiz show panelist...also lethal abuser of alcohol & seconal.)

In my humble opinion, I like 'em both! (Oh, please...the stories. Not the booze & pills!)

And on a more serious note, both could have used a "Friends of Bill W." meeting. Might have saved their lives...

Cheers!

Eric

P.S. - If I ever see you at a FOD party, my lips are sealed... <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

Thanks, Eric, for the detail. The article on Cruise Critic is quite interesting.

Yes, it refers to Judy Garland's role, but, not the actually Wizard of Oz as a work.

Hi Charlene!
How's the gang up in Toronto?
Hiro and I are well...looking forward to our next cruise. We're going to experiment with Oceania next April with a "Friends of Dorothy" group!
Cheers,
Eric

Hello to JoAnn too!
Cheers,
Eric
P.S. - Sorry for the multiple posts. Must be having a "senior" moment...

Thanks for the information, Eric and Suzanne!

Eric, I see you and Hiro are from Glendale. Any possibility of joining our brunch on Dec. 4th down in OC? It would be great to meet you both!

Hi Eric and Hiro! Great to see your picture, which cruise was that on? We're all doing just fine here in Toronto, hunkering down for a long winter after a FANTASTIC summer. No cruises booked in the near future, but that'll change, that'll change...............

Charlene

Ah yes, our famous (infamous?) Suzette...yes, she felt it her responsibility to perform her duties as "social hostess" to the very best of her ability! Her "research" on the aforementioned group is probably one of the funniest cruise stories I have ever heard!!!! :app: :app:

On our second or third cruise, we remarked that it seemed to be a major coincidence that Bill and his buddies were booking the same trips we were; it took us a while longer to catch on.