Well we boarded in New York and left about 1/2 hour late. New York was great, but Bush was in town addressing the UN and staying at the Waldorf (where Kathy and Frank were) so traffic was a mess. Weather was awesome, and we had a great evening. Hooked up with ChatKat (Kathy) onboard, along with the other two couples traveling in my group, having a great time together. Ate first night in Portofino, it was great and a fun place to get acquainted. Yesterday was Boston. We stayed onboard, our daughter and son in law came onboard and had lunch and we just hung out at the pool playing cards and relaxing. Kathy and Frank went into Boston for awhile. Today is Bar Harbor, what a fabulous place, would love to spend a few days here. Weather is fantastic, warm, but not hot, a fall feel in the air, but most plesant. We did a "Best of Bar Harbor" tour, all over the island, lobster lunch and a really nice B&B, up to Cadillac Mountain for incredible views - finally back on the ship, getting ready to head out for Halifax. Of course the ship is wonderful, suites and terrific, food is great. Ate at Compass Rose last night - think overall I like it better, but Portofino was great and we will probably eat there at lease once again. drinking and eating way too much, but what the heck thats what vacations are for right??? <img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" />
Will post more in a day or two.
JOAnn

Joann - thanks for posting. We're always glad to hear more! Enjoy! Fyi - we spend three days in Bar Harbor last year. Drove from Philly through Maine to Nova Scotia for 10 days with friends. LOVED Acadia Nat'l Park. (And I am no outdoor-sy girl). Did you get to Jordan Lake for the picnic lunch by the lake? It is fabulous!

Hey J! Thanks for posting - sounds like you are having a grand time so far. Enjoy.

R

JoAnn,

So glad you're enjoying the trip so far. It's so much fun to read the posts from onboard :)

We loved Portofino, too. Lots of fun. Oh, heck... we loved EVERYTHING about the Navigator -it totally sold us on RSSC. Wish we were all there with you!!!!

Kathy

JoAnn, Hope the weather holds for you! In these parts of the world, it can make or break a good day! We are having glorious weather here in the mid-Atlantic, and it usually travels north, I think!

Joann,

"What the heck" indeed!!!! Glad you are having a great time. Hope you will continue to post. We want to hear everything!!!

Betty

Well, JoAnn beat me to the post. I can officially say that I slept with Bush, but, so did my husband. Yes, we were at the Waldorf with him and it made a mess of things. Not RSSC Fault of course. We had to have our purses, luggage and every thing else scanned, sniffed and checked and double checked everytime we left and came back. Because we were Hilton Honors, we got a really nice corner room (double upgrade) and it made it worthwhile. When we arrived at JFK, there was no one there to greet us and none of the other passengers knew what to do. I called the port agent and they said she was stuck mailing a letter and could not get back to the terminal. I called RSSC since there were 10 of us stranded in Baggage claim and they said to hold on she'd be there anytime. We waited an hour and 15 minutes and when she arrived she had ATTITUDE! Editing to add that all of the finalists from the AMAZING RACE were on our plane from LAX to JFK and ther e was a prty atosphere on the plane. I can't say I watch or knew who they were, but, by the time the flight was over, we all knew who was who. They knew who won, but, we did not. Who did win?
All else went well and Frank and I had a lovely dinner at Felidia and all else went flawlessly. Room 603 is really nice. Service and food spectacular. Lorraine (I don't have her last name) is cruise director and quite a doll. We had a nice time in Boston, walking around Quincy Market and Faniuel Hall. We ate lunch at Kingfish Hall and they gave me their tomato soup recipe, which I was supposed to get 3 years ago by mail and it never came. A long story, not well told via internet from the ship.

Today we toured with JoAnn and her Frank and did the Best of Bar Harbor tour with LOBSTER lunch. It was very nice, but a little long and NO TIME FOR SHOPPING! Excuse me if there are typos but I think there is melted butter on the keyboard. (just kidding). Maybe I am typing slow because I was laughing so hard from the Kenny Smiles show. Or because I have gambled three nights straight and still have the same money I boarded the ship with or because I had a really good massage today and I am so relaxed I have forgotten how to type at my usual 90 wpm speed. Or I have had one too many Cosmos or lamb chops or Crab Benedicts.

AHHHHH. No complaints from the Navigator! Seven Seas Cocktail Party tomorrow after a tour in Halifax.

Wish you were all here. We'd be enjoying the absolute best time together. We will post again before the ship docks in Montreal. Only 7 more nights to go. I remember why I booked this cruise with JoAnn and Her Frank. We have so much fun laughing. Isn't that what it's all about/

Sounds like you guys are having a great time!! Tell us more when you get a chance!

Masaki

Thanks for posting! We're set for this itinerary for next year, so we appreciate all the information. Cheers, Anne

We took this trip a few weeks back and were chased by Francis on the to Montreal and by Ivan on the way back - did have great weather for the Quebec and Montreal stops. We were traveling with three other couples so took room 1000 to provide more room for gathering. We have never taken advantage before of the complementary cocktail party offered with MS - did this time and WOW! - complete (and I mean complete) bar moved in - they couls serve anything! - really nice arrangement of Hors D'ouevres (sp) bartender - even rearrangement of the furniture - really a wonderful, unexpected benefit. The measure of any service organization is its ability to exceed expectations - RSSC does this regularly.

Today is Saturday and we are in Halifax. Weather is just amazing, 75 or so, blue skies, clear as a bell, just beautiful!!! We and Kathy and her Frank had the same tour again today, we did the "City and Peggy's Cove" lighthouse - perfect, and great views, charming little village -- we had gingerbread with creamy ice cream it was sooooo goooooood!!!! (and I'm not a sweet eater)! Tonight is the Society party, plan on attending that. Monday ChatKat will have Frank's BD party in their room, and Wednesday one of my couples, who are in a Grand Suite, will host a cocktail party (the complimentary one like hrprof mentioned - Grand Suites get one too) for all of us. I will probably try to do something in our room either tomorrow night or the last night. Tomrrow is Sydney. The QM2 is docked right in front of us, what an amazing ship, if we turn around before we leave, then we will sail right by on the side our cabin is on, otherwise will have to go up back and get some pictures. Just did a couple of miles on the walking track - needed that, now I have room for hors'd ouvres, cocktails, dinner and whatever else tonight. I'm running a little behind in the casino, so decided not to go there tonight, I think my Frank and I are going to go up to Galileo's and do some dancing to the duo that plays till midnight. We'v gotten very friendly with Lorraine the Cruise Director, and she told me she would be having dinner with us on Wednesday, so that will be fun - she is really cute and full of energy and personality. The Kenny Smiles show was really great and we all enjoyed him. Tonight is the "Broadway" song and dance show.
Thats it for now, sure Kathy will also post again soon. Will post again tomrrow or Monday.
JoAnn

I love Kenny Smiles! I wonder if he will be on the World Cruise segment #2, my little time on board.

Joann and Kathy -
Sounds like you are having fun. Did they do the Mexican lunch and the chocolate mousse?
Oh, I need another vacation!

Joann, Glad you and Kathy are having such a nice time and have such good weather!!
Maybe (if you have a chance) you could inquire if Kenny Smiles is going to be on the World Cruise. Like Olivia, I think he's great!

Enjoy the upcoming parties you're attending!! Better luck in the casino!

Hi JoAnn & Kathy,

Sounds like you all are having a great cruise. I enjoyed this itinerary 2 summers ago. So glad you liked the Peggy's Cove excursion. It is so picturesque. That warm gingerbread with ice cream was wonderful. We were there on a chilly July day with lots of fog. I can't wait to hear about the QM2 docking in Sydney. If I remember correctly, that was a small port. Hard to believe the the QM2 can even dock there. Take lots of pictures to share.

Report back soon,
Beth

So great hearing that you are all having a wonderful time! Continue to enjoy yourselves and post when you can.

We had Kenny Smiles on our VOF sailing last year and he was very good!

I'm another fan of Kenny Smiles - very funny! Glad to hear things are going well - enjoy the rest of your cruise and post if you get a chance!

We are at sea today. We did have a cocktail party in our room last night. They set it up perfectly and we left and came back to an all cleaned up room. What a pleasure. We got a tray of big shrimp and a second tray of Cheeses, I made Grey Goose Cosmos and every one else chipped in from their own in room bar set up. Lots of Laughter on board. 2nd Kenny Smiles Show had my sides hurting from laughing so hard!

Weather could not be better - 60's and 70-s in PEI and Sydney. We took an all day tour in Sydney - the Brass d'or Lakes which we did at Masaki's recommendation. It's was SPECTACULAR. The scenery is unspoiled and magnificent. The Amoeba sailing was really fun as well. Then yesterday we took an all day tour in Charlottes Town PEI. We went to Anne of Green Gables and Dalvey by the Sea. Again, a perfect day with a perfect choice of tour. The Lobster lunch was as good as it gets.

JoAnn and Frank (mine) and I did the slot tournement this morning (we lost) and I am signed up for Blackjack.

WE are really having a good time. Anyway, my husband is waiting to sign on to the office and the blackjack tournement starts shortly. We are having a cocktail party in JoAnn's suite tonight. Dinner with Lorraine, the Cruise Director, tomorrow. We have another sea day tomorrow, so will post more either later or tomorrow. JoAnn came by and said she'd offer her two cents worth later on as well.

Au Revoir!

Great to hear of all the good times!! Anyone know about Kenny Smiles on the World Cruise??

Good Luck in the BJ tournament!

Its cold and rainy today, but luckily we are at sea so there are lots of things to keep us occupied. As Kathy said we did the slot tournement today - even when they give me money I can't win!!! Oh well.

Our group is really having fun together. We all do our own thing various times, but things together at others. Four of them are playing in the Bridge game right now, Kathy and Frank are headed for the Blackjack tournement - I'm just wandering. We've had such fun at dinner every night - tonight we will have cocktails in our suite, then tomorrow we will cocktail in my clients room that are in the Grand Suite. We will all also have dinner with Lorraine, the Cruise Director.
Had a facial in the spa today, it was wonderful, but apparently Frank (Kathy's hubby) thought I had cancelled my facial - hmmmmm what do I say to that???? (I had cancelled my hair appt, and he heard me say that ----- butttttt I had just come from the facial when he asked the question - does that tell me something? or should it???? hahahaha - he won't live that one down)

Marcie - Kathy just ran back and said that Kenny Smiles will be on part of the World but she didn't know which segments. He is one funny guy that is for sure.

Denise - you must be getting really excited, only three more days till you fly to DC for your trip on the Diamond. Have a great time and post when you can.
Thats it guys - more later.
JoAnn

Kathy & Joann,

Sounds as if you are all having a blast. I love reading your posts. Thanks.

We enjoyed Kenny Smiles on our Mariner cruise in the spring.

Betty

Thanks for the updates! Have fun!

Thanks for all your comments. We will be going on the same trip October 17th. Your suggestions for excursions are invaluable. Have a terrific time on the rest of your trip.

You guys are having a blast! Kathy - glad you enjoyed the Bras D'Or tour!! :D Good luck on the blackjack tournament and have a great dinner with Lorraine tomorrow, guys!

Masaki

Thanks for the reports. Sounds like you are all having a wonderful time! Enjoy! Enjoy!

Yes, JoAnn..Down to the wire. We leave Friday! Thanks for remembering us! And, JoAnn..Tell Frank natural beauty needs no further enhancing!

Kathy & Joann:

Your reports make me envious! Can't wait for my turn on the Navigator. Thanksgiving can't get here soon enough.

I love late nights on the ship. Email responds quickly and there is a certain ambiance when you are alone in the library. Today we cruised the Saeugney River/Fjord. Reminded me of Alaska. We saw some whales. Breaktakingly beautiful. Fall colors on the trees in minute doses. Clear, crisp skies. We had cocktails in the Grand Suite (801) with Private Bartender. What a beautiful suite. I played both days in the BJ tourney and made it to the finals both times, but did not win. There were 32 players both days at sea. I did, however, win the Slot Tournement today and my husband won a round at Bingo, so we are happy gamblers, but not enough to pay the preliminary bill that we got today even with our AMEX credits. I did have some fun in the boutique <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" /> having bought an Amber Necklace and matching earrings and then went back and bought an Amethyst Ring and matching earrings. Frank might take my shopping privleges away in Montreal (ha ha ha)

I took quite a few photos (actually over 350)of them) so I will put a few up when I get home.


We had dinner with Lorraine Barron, the CD tonight and we laughed really hard AGAIN! Well, I am out of the passed on computer time from Masaki, so I am going to sign off. JoAnn is out of time as well. I will check and see if I can borrow some more without replenishing.

Wish you could all be here, just as I wish to be on your cruises too. Will report in on the last day, tomorrow!

Well, we are sitting in the library at the computer and waiting for our color to be called. Bags are somewhere in the bowels of the ship, overstuffed as usual. We had breakfast in Compass Rose and decided we'd better finish the morning wait while there were still chairs left. This is the saddest part of the cruise. But we are looking forward to Montreal.


We were really pleased with the itinerary. We've had a really good time. I think it is definitely the people you cruise with and the staff that sets the tone. JoAnn and her Frank are very special people. One of those you meet on board and wished they lived in your neighborhood so you could have a Sat Night dinner out or a bridge game at home with them. The other two couples she brought aboard were equally as special.

We made this a tour heavy cruise and had very little down time except for the two sea days. I would book with less all day tours next (well, on PIP, I think it will be all down time!) I took 500 photos and I will post some of them when I get back. We did the all day tours in Halifax, PEI, Bar Harbor, Sydney. We made our own tour in Quebec with a cab driver and went to Mont Morenecy Falls and Ilse De Orleans (excellent!) and then did the ships walking tour in Quebec City. I would have just wandered there if I knew how charming it really was. Too much history for me. The Tea at the Chateau Frontenac was nice and so was the Carriage ride back to the ship.

Service has been impeccable. The entertainment was entertaining and you'd never know the lead singer in the production show was ill and they scrambled to entertain us. We were not unhappy missing the production shows since they had not changed since we were on in June in Bermuda.

I think the food was good, but there were some days where we ordered from the simplicity menu because the choices were not quite what we wanted. The quality is good, but I think it has been better at other times. One night there were 3 pork entrees on the menu. Not that I keep kosher, but, there could have been some variety.

The Navigator is lovely, but, I still prefer the Mariner. Maybe I will be on the Diamond or Voyager for 2006 in the Baltics and will have a new comparison. Maybe there will be a new ship to try by then.

I will probably have some more thoughts and do a review when I get home and settle in!