I'll be in 883 on the Tokyo-HK segment. Let's do call each other after we board, and maybe arrange a dinner together. Less than a week...

Since we left the busy area of Alaska they are having noon games such as Scattergories, Taboo and Wheel of Fortune. We have been having good groups each time.

Barry gave us all a big laugh while making his noon report which was sent all over the ship. When announcing the "Arts and Crafts" class he had a slip of the tongue and said "Arts and Far-s." He will never live it down.

I haven't seen Ilse and Dieter for a couple of days but will have the answer to Doug's comment soon.

Thought for the day: " It is said that a voyage is an aphrodisiac for the soul."

More at another time.

Barry gave us all a big laugh while making his noon report which was sent all over the ship. When announcing the "Arts and Crafts" class he had a slip of the tongue and said "Arts and Far-s." He will never live it down.

That is soooo funny - probably what they say behind our backs and I don't blame them! Sure I would do same thing ... I know when the employees would see us coming into dining room they all smiled but you know they said to each other "this will be long night"

Hi! Sorry for the tardy response, I have been in San Francisco all week. Lost my wallet w/ all credit cards etc, hotel couldn't find my reservation... It's been a heck of a time especially since we are leaving on our long awaited trip but have to take the time to replace all the cards and try not to worry about identity theft. Oh well. Could be worse, we could have lived along the Gulf Coast and lost far more than some credit cards. we are in #935 and look forward to a cocktail (or 2) with you all.

McKeever; Tried to e-mail Dieter and Ilse at the address we have for them, but no response. If they want to send us an e-mail, it's dougburns1@cox.net. Thanks!

Doug: I saw Ilse and she just glowed when I told her that you both would be on board in Buenos Aires. She knows you want to perfect your Tango. They are both such energetic and great people.

Concerning the Arts and Crafts slip, Barry told me that they refer to Muriel"s Needlepoint class to Stitches and Bitc----. Oh, the things we don't know.

Very stormy today as we head to Pertopavlovsk and Russian Siberia. The Bering Sea is so shalklow the waves build up easily. Spray was hitting the windows in Observation this morning and the porpoises were playing in the bow wave.

We have had high seas off and on for two days and yesterday water came under our glass doors to the veranda. Several times in Observation spray has hit the windows and that is high!

Lots of interesting facts from Gudrun. The contract for the PG has been extended to the end of 2008 now and people are very excited about that. Also, the World Cruise itinerary is now out and Gudrun says it is significantly different from previous world cruises. I will know more when she sends a copy to our cabin.

We had the Seven Seas Society reception last night and Peggy (?) received a lovely world globe for traveling 384 nights with Radisson. So much better a gift than napkin rings which we found did not go well with our paper napkins at home.

This trip Suite 900 is being used for smaller receptions. It is larger than some houses I once lived it. It is also more "homey" than Stars or Horizon.

Doug: I told Ilse that your email address for them did not go through so she is going to email you. You know how busy they are, so be patient.

McKeever; Please ask Barry if he's going to be the cruise director for the South America cruise. Is Andreas Noehammer the hotel manager? If so, please give him our best wishes. We did receive an e-mail from Dieter and Ilse. Thanks!

we're outta here! last day of work today and heading to Tokyo on Sunday morning. Yayyyyyyyy!

Ms Understood, have fun!!!

Given that we are moving into the same cabin after you move out, can you post here as to whether 935 is shower or tub configuration?

thanks,

Marc, 935 is a combo tub/shower. Ms. Understood, have a great voyage!

Marcie, thanks! Is there a list on Ngaire's site I have missed?

Easy Marc. All the category E and above cabins that end in the number 3 on the starboard side and 2 on the port side have had the tubs taken out and the showers put in. There is ONE F cabin that has a shower 821. This was put in several years ago for some really good passengers who almost lived on board.

Just remember E and above and 2 and 3 and you dont need a list. ie. 953 and 952 would be shower cabins.

Also if you forget that, it's on the deck diagram with astrisks.

McKeever, can you ask Gudrun if she was formerly on the PG? They had a cruise consultant on our first trip in 2000, and I am pretty sure her name was Gudrun.

Aloha
McKeever, just one more request. Christina and I are in the middle of selling our house and moving to another ( not far from our current home ). Anyway we will likely need to receive an email with an attachment, print it, sign and then scan or fax it back to our broker. Could you find out if this is possible from the ship ? Or if any of the LCT group has any input we would like to hear from you on this.

Mahalo,
John & Christina

Capt. John: I am almost totally incompetant with a computer and don't even understand your question. A call to Radisson would give you an answer.

Yes, Gudrun was on the PG. She is a lovely woman.

I am getting such conflicting reports on Remy. Again I am told he is going to the Voyager.

Those of us taking the entire trip are being treated like royalty. It is wonderful. We have open bar and also unlimited internet access at a very reasonable price. They are giving us each a Mariner jacket but we don't know what it will be like yet. We had a secret venue cocktail party that ended up on the Bridge! It was followed by a private dinner in the Veranda with a set menue and special wines. In Toyko we are being taken to an elite hotel for dinner. All this is just the beginning.

Now that we are out of Alaska and the Aleutians, I feel like our trip is really beginning. Today we are at Hakodate, Japan, which is our first large foreign city. Yesterday we had rain and fog but this morning the sun is bright and the weather is very comfortable.

There is a group of eighty from Australia who are so lively and full of fun. There is a special "feel" to the ship centered around the Garden Promanade. Since there is no WiFi access in our suites people gather in the Promanade close to the latte/expresso machine and by the computer room. There are almost always people reading, playing games or using their computers.

Barry has done his English Royals speech and his Tribute to Frank Sinatra show, both of which he does very well.

Terry Breene leaves in Tokyo and I will feel her loss. She is a very special person and is so knowledgeable about both South America and Alaska.

There is also much excitement about the 2007 World Cruise. The itinerary is a break from the old itinerary and people are very interested and some are even booking now. We realize that suites cannot be assigned until after the 2006 WC because they have first choice. But people taking the entire Grand Circle Pacific are offered another 5% discount. All these 5%'s are adding up.

We are off the breakfast and then an eight o'clock excursion so will leave now. I really enjoy reading your notes. Keep them coming, please.

John, I had to send a fax once from the Voyager so I'm sure it can be faxed back after you sign the document from the Mariner. I hope it doesn't have to be notarized....there was not a Notary on the Voyager.

McKeever, so wonderful to hear from you at sea, and that the trip is turning out to be wonderful and meeting expectations!

John and Christina, not sure what the law is in your state, so this is not legal advice. You could always sign a Limited Power of Attorney prepared by your attorney to a trusted friend (could that possibly be a lawyer?) who could act in your stead in your absence to sign a contract. Just make sure they would e-mail you before signing anything with terms of sale/purchase, etc. That way, they could sign anything for you (Contract of Sale, HUD-1, etc. for the sale, and if you are buying they could also sign all the mortgage docs.) No need for a notary on board. I have this quite often when clients are away when settlement occurs. Send me a private message if I'm not being clear.

McKeever,

We'd love to know if Remy is going to be on the Voyager . . . we'd love to see him again.

Marcie and Captjohn,

Notaries are only in the US. We needed a RE document notarized while we were at sea and there was no way! We got as far the possibility of the captain signing it . . . we were able to postpone the closing so it was ultimately a mute point.

The limited power of attorney makes sense though.

Peggy

We agree, Peggy, we would LOVE to see Remy on the 2006 World Cruise on the Voyager. What a special treat that would be.

Thanks for the bon voyages. I am sure we will have the best cruise ever (I say that about every one becasue the one I am on is alwasy the best one!) We will take good care of the cabin for you. Helen & Jerry

John & Christina - if we can help in any way, please let us know.

Masaki

p.s. The Cruise Director on South America will be John Barron.

John & Christina - we just went through a similar experience re: real estate. We gave our attorney a limited power of attorney to accept the offer from our eventual buyers. We incorporated hard parameters as to the terms we wanted. We were in Bali far from a fax machine, let alone a notary.

It worked extremely well. We have also gotten comfortable giving him limited power of attorney to sign off on the actual purchase or sale of real estate.

If you have someone else whom you trust and who can follow your instructions, you could use them as well. Have your attorney draw up the limited power of attorney. It is so much easier than trying to leap across time zones, etc.

Hope that helps and have a wonderful trip. Congratulations on the real estate transaction! Cheers, Anne

The 28 of you who are doing the whole route must be having a blast. When we did the whole route I don't even remember special excursions (except for the hutong ride in Beijing), but certainly no jackets, etc. Sigh! Just one year too early for all the goodies.
M.

McKeever, Sounds like you all are having a great time! So John Barron will be our cruise director on the SA trip (I'm assuming this is the John of John and Lindsey right?) We met them on the Voyager last year, nice couple! Do you happen to know where Jamie & Dana are right now? I'm guessing they're doing the WC again in January??

Are you or any of the LCTers on the Grand Circle Pacific signing up for the 2007 WC?


Keep having a great time and continue the excellent postings!

Marcie, Dana and Jamie are home now but will be boarding the Voyager in December and staying on the ship for the world cruise.

Mahalo for all the help !! This is quite a group.
I think we will use the limited power of attorney.We are hoping that we can sell before we leave. I know what your thinking but here in Hawaii like California it could happen.

Masaki, we will let you no when we need help with the move, we will need a good strong back !!

Thanks again,
John & Christina

Mahalo for all the help !! This is quite a group.
I think we will use the limited power of attorney.We are hoping that we can sell before we leave. I know what your thinking but here in Hawaii like California it could happen.

Masaki, we will let you know when we need help with the move, we will need a good strong back !!

Thanks again,
John & Christina

Wow! Weather! Because a typhoon in front of us will slow us down, passengers scheduled to disembark in Tokyo will be leaving in Sendai and be bussed into Tokyo. People are disappointed but not crabby about it and are looking on it as an adventure.

Yes, John Barron is the husband of Lindsey who is returning to dancing and will not be the assistant CD.

Marilyn: Yes, we are having a great time. Our group is small enough to be intimate. Those of us who went to Beijing last year are being offered the Summer Palace and the hutong again. Nice.

Nana's health is deteriorating but she is well taken care of.

Enjoy your posts - happy you are such a wonderful tome

John - we've got a Land Cruiser too in case you need space to haul things in as well. :)

Masaki

Well, we made Tokyo about two in the afternoon rather than the eight o'clock at night that Captain predicted. He slowed way down over night and then put on full speed ahead. Now, at three o'clock, passengers are waiting to debark and sitting around looking bored. Sunny and gorgeous outside. We are here until tomorrow evening so we have all day tomorrow to do what we want. What a gorgeous city with tall buildings and wonderful bridges. Friendly people everywhere in Japan, all bowing as they greet us. We are now in the habit of courteously bowing back.

Since we arrived so late there was no band or drums to greet us. That was so impressive last year.

McKeever, So glad you made it to Tokyo with bright, sunny skies. That is a welcoming sight. Hopefully Radisson with have a wonderful send off for you tomorrow, band and all. Say Hi to my good buddy Crystal, as she is embarking in Tokyo.

McKeever, I'm enjoying your posts. Sounds like a wonderful cruise.