We end our first leg tomorrow and it has been great. Passengers are enthusiastic and full of energy and lots of fun. Many are not experienced travelers and at Terry Breen's first lecture three-fourths had never been to Alaska. We have found no rude passengers even in the exotic Teas such as the Cheesecake Tea or the Chocolate Tea. I think it just shows that each cruise has its own demography.

According to Captain Philippe, he will be taking the South America trip even though Captain Guillou returns to the Mariner in Tokyo. Both captains are enthusiastic and caring people.

John and Lindsey Barron are the cruise director and social hostess. John keeps us busy with a full calendar so that it is necessary to make choices as to which event to attend. I like this.

Weather in Alaska has been great with loads of sun except one day when it was overcast and drizzly.

Barry Hopkins has returned and is on board but is not taking over as CD until tomorrow. His assistant will be Dionne who is a great gamer, I hear.

I hear Gatowoman is on board but she has not identified herself yet.

Will write again tomorrow.

Oh, yes, lots of whales, Stellar sea lions, harbor seals and otters. Wonderful.

Great to hear about your nice weather!!!

Thanks for checking in! Sounds like everything is going well. Continue to enjoy.

it is so wonderful hearing those posts..... you can just feel the happiness!!!

Your report makes me anticpate our Alaskan cruise even more! Thanks for checking in.

we'll be joining you in Tokyo. Hope the "no rude passengers" rule continues to hold! We met John and Lindsey on our Baltics cruise last year. John was great as "k-Jay" for Karoake night which is my husband's great pleasure. Don't know when that will be but my husband is Jerry who is at the mike every chance he gets. Hope to meet up with you on the ship!

Hope the "no rude passengers" rule continues to hold!

Has never been an issue on any Radisson cruise we have taken - can people be unfriendly? sure - abrupt?? sure - but 95% of our fellow passengers have been wonderful!!

McKeever, thanks for report.

Looking forward to meeting you in a few weeks. How am I to "identify myself" if I have no way of knowing who you are? ;)

If you want, I am sure Karen can help you with a custom avatar. :)

Now, if I only knew my cabin assignment. :( McKeever, can you check with information desk to make sure someone else has 1060 and not me. :D

See you soon!

If you want, I am sure Karen can help you with a custom avatar.

I think the avatar makes it so much easier for us as we cruise together - Mrs Moose needs one too!!!

So glad you're underway and enjoying yourself! Please give John & Lindsay our warmest regards. Are Herb and Marilyn Straus on board yet? Cheers, Anne & Gary

Nice to hear from you, McKeever. Sounds like things are shipshape.

Sounds like everything is going great for you! Thanks for checking in.

It sounds like you LCTers on these various legs need to start posting your cabin # so you can contact each other since no one knows what anyone else looks like.

Well, MsUnderstood, now we know--you'll be the one with the singing husband. I usually avoid Karaoke, but being in Japan, I suppose one night of it will be part of the experience. I promise not to participate--no one has done enough evil in life to deserve the particular torture of hearing me sing.

There's enough LCTers going to be on this cruise that we ought to come up with a way to spot each other--even with avatars, I have trouble recognizing people from their pictures. Keeping a rose in our teeth is likely to get old fast--we need to come up with something more subtle.

Crystal,

You could just request "YMCA" and substitute the lyrics for "SONG" with or without the dancing and napkin waving!! :banana:

McKeever - love the sea mail! Thanks for letting us know! (and glad to hear that manners seem to have improved on this cruise)

Masaki

Suzanne, I still have the apron--maybe I should bring it along. I'd happily sing again with the Flavors of the Month.

McKeever, glad you are having a good cruise. Can't wait to hear more. Keep posting!

We will be in 778 Sydney to Auckland.

Ron and Birgit

Aloha

Christina and I will be in 744 from Hong Kong to Singapore. Looking forward to meeting all of you.

John & Christina

We're in 767 AKL-LAX.

Kathy and I will be in 917, Tokyo to Sydney.

Arlene and I will be in 935, Hong Kong to Singapore. My folks, Joan and Chuck, will be in 740 (or is it 741?).

I guess someone else is stuck with the infamous 1060! :D

McKeever; Is Peter, the stocky, bald headed bartender by chance back aboard Mariner. He had gone from Mariner to Diamond in mid 2004, but Diamond is gone and we're trying to locate him. Thanks

As far as Marilyn has told me, she and Herb will be joining in Singapore. She has emailed me a couple of times here and is very glad Remy is coming Oct. 10th. Also, they are very sad that the classical pianist, Nana, is extremely ill and not expected to live.

I don't know Peter and so cannot answer that question.

We had dinner in Signatures the other night with the Captain, Barry and Gudrun (the future cruise consultant) and had a lively table with lots of laughter. I am convinced that people taking cruises live longer than those who don't due to the lack of stress and the joy involved. As events have unfolded, we have eaten in Signatures three times this week and I am looking forward to the Compass Rose and Latitudes.

Marc: It has been fun being anonymous but I guess the time has come to unveil. During Trivia, I cannot think unless I am sitting in the front row at the end with my SE, Pauline and Doug Crombie and Tony and Dave. We are looking forward to seeing you and your family.

We've been trying to get ahold of Dieter and Ilse, the dance instructors who are normally on the Mariner. Are they aboard now?

I am convinced that people taking cruises live longer than those who don't due to the lack of stress and the joy involved.

I agree with that statement 100%

Ah the lovely Gudrun and Barry. I am coming in Singapore staying on until Sydney. Please tell Barry and Gudrun I will be there soon.

McKeever, we will see you soon. Sounds like you have our favorite trivia seats; on the floor of Horizon Lounge at end on starboard side. :( I guess we will need to scope out space when we board.

Yes, Ilse and Dieter boarded in Whittier. We are now in the Aleutians and heading toward Dutch Harbor. A "gale force" storm is expected late this afternoon and Captain Philippe is trying to outrun it. Sun is still bright outside.

People on board seem to be in the 50-60 age group and all very nice. We still have met no rude people. We have met eccentric people which add to the fun. Today we are having a Viennese Tea which is my favorite with all the whipped cream dishes.

Marc: You mean we both enjoy sitting in the same seats for Trivia? We can work out a compromise.

Today those doing the entire circle are invited to the Captain's quarters for cocktails. There are only twenty-eight of us. I am amazed more are not doing the entire circle. I guess the last leg with so many sea days is daunting to many.

The ship has only 450 passengers and the next legs are due to be almost full.

See you later.

Oh I love the Country Fairs! We had a couple of those on the WC, lots of fun. I threw the basketball and hit the bullseye and sank Capt. Dag! I couldn't do that again if my life depended on it...a real fluke!

Continue to enjoy such a special trip!!

McKeever; Please tell Dieter and Ilse that Doug and Lynn Burns said hello. Tell them we'll be on the Buenos Aires-Callao cruise in Feb and we're looking forward to brushing up on the tango with them. Thanks

Aloha

McKeever, If you are posting again could you let us know the name of the captain ? See you in Hong Kong.

Mahalo, John & Christina

McKeever, looking forward to meeting you on the Tokyo-HK segment, along with Ms Understood and her singing husband, their travelers, Crystal and Jody & Kathy. We are in #783. How will we get to meet all of you guys? We leave Monday afternoon for JFK airport to fly to Tokyo on Tuesday. We have Jody's suite #, so I guess we'll just have to call and introduce ourselves. What about you Ms Understood, Crystal? See you soon. Linda & Larry

Our Captain now is Philippe but Captain Guillou is returning in Tokyo. Both are very personable.

We had our second Alaska Pub Night with the Horizon Lounge transformed into the Red Dog Saloon complete with 1890's costumes. Lots of fun.

Our gale storm did not materialize and the weather is only slightly rolling. Today in Dutch Harbor it is overcast and cold. A shuttle is provided into town and we saw the church, the World War II museum and the Aleut Museum. All very nicely done.

We are having a Sail Away today with an ususual warm wine.

More later.