There are quite a few people we know will be on this sailing. It departs from LA on April 13th and arrives in Ft Lauderdale on April 27th. If you are planning to sail on this particular cruise, please consider posting here.

We are considering organizing a pre-cruise dinner for anyone who arrives in LA the day before our departure. We are also looking at setting up an opportunity on board for anyone interested to meet in the Observation Lounge right after the lifeboat drill. More details to follow as we get closer to the departure date.

We will make up some door signs designating our common interest in Luxury Cruise Talk that will be available on board for anyone who adds their name to the list. Providing us with your name (and especially your e-mail address) will assist in organizing any meetings or other activities you may choose to participate in.

Following is the list of people who have let us know they will be on this trip. If you are not on this list and would like to be, please feel free to add your information on a post here.

Mike

lynn87 (Richard and Lynn) Cabin-970
mdchips (Mike and Debbie) Cabin-746
mdchip's parents (Manny and Pat) Cabin-748
CRUISEBILL (Bill and Marie) Cabin-741
Cruise 'N Nut (Dick and Vicki) Cabin-775
grchenoweth (Greg and Sandi) Cabin-878
S and L (Steve and Liz) Cabin-976
jimmys (Jimmy) Cabin-670
lapeter (Al and Sharon) Cabin-672
iaheitzman@aol.com (Irene and Carol) Cabin-869
adrenn (Gary and Anne) Cabin-877
MaryEllenHaley (Bruce and Mary Ellen) Cabin-867
MaryEllenHaley's Aunt (Pat) Cabin-867
neviboy (Neville and Hannah) Cabin-920
Seagurl (Mason and Maggie) Cabin-723
mcavanaugh (Dave and Maxine) Cabin-906
Dolebludger (Richard and Carol) Cabin-?
Bette (Marty and Bette) Cabin-1039

Thank you both so very much for all the work you have done. Carol and I are looking forward to meeting everyone. Thanks for introducing me to this wonderful new board.

A note to "Mike" and "Debbie".: Have been able to access this board through Internet Explorer, instead of AOL. Am therefore using my "other" email address which is as follows: mcavanaughphd@adelphia.net
Thanks. Maxine

What a pleasant surprise at 5.30 a.m. Thanks, Ngaire. May I be the first to wish you all a happy Valentines Day.
Nice work , Mike.
Ngaire, can you get my C.C. board signature and photo onto this board? The signature was Mr.Kimmi's cabin plaque.

Neville I am only "hosting" the board - putting it on my web. Technically I am as dumb as a door knob. Karen and John are the techies, without those two this board would not exist - I am sure they will help you if you email them. I needed them too!!!!

Neville,
In case you have not already sen it, the first post under Cruise Talk has instructions for how to get your picture added. It is titled Custom Avatar.
Mike

Time to bring this thread back to the top. We are down to 56 days and we have been way to quiet.

We are arriving LA on the 12th. Mike we would love to meet for dinner that night, however, we are getting together with a couple from our Air Force days that we havn't seen in almost 40 years. Hard to believe that it has been that long. Should be a great evening of reminiscing for the one time twenty somethings.

Anyone else planning a special event in conjunction with this cruise?

Have a safe trip and we'll see you all on-board.

Steve

This is going to be a great cruise with so many people on board planning to meet. This might be the biggest group there has been on RSSC. Lots of posts when you get back please. I do love the Voyager so I know you are going to have a wonderful time.

Exciting news! I just checked the RSSC web site and they have posted the final list of excursions for the VTC Cruise. The list now includes the prices too.

The most exciting part of it for me is that the Tikal trip made the cut. And the price is $100 per person less than I expected.

Only 53 more days. It is coming quickly!!!

Mike

VTCers - What a great party trip this will be! Although it seems the Panama Canal wasn't in the stars for us this year (we're eyeing a shorter Navigator cruise in April), we can't wait to read the reviews upon your return! Mia

We just got the exciting news that our docs are in!!!! We should receive them on Monday or Tuesday of next week. We are so excited we can hardly wait. See you all soon!

Mike (and Debbie)

Mike, you sure are lucky on that Tikal trip. The private companies I have contacted are showing much higher prices. I have decided on the Antigua trip with a good company. The $135 cost of RSSC is outrageous. Must be a misprint. $35 is about right. Manzanilla and Granada(Nicaragua) are all set up with reliable people.Ngaire is sending the docs. today.

Neville, what do you have planned for Manzanillo and Nicaragua?

We are still deciding on tours. In Puerto Vallarta, we are going to do a canopy tour but we'll book it directly. We should still have some time left after that. We would like to see some of the area and learn a bit about the history there.

In Manzanillo, we wanted to see some of the area and again learn about the history.

In Acapulco, we wanted to see the cliff divers but none of the RSSC tours sounded very interesting. We may just poke around on our own.

In Huatulco we thought we might try the Jungle tour on ATVs through the RSSC tour.

Tikal is a definite for us in Puerto Quetzal. The only thing that would stop us is if RSSC decides not to do the tour. As soon as we get our docs (tomorrow) we plan to fax back a request to book this particular tour.

Nicaragua was another place we would like to see the area and learn some of the history.

We are not what RSSC has planned for the Canal transit. I guess we'll just play that by ear.

And given the short time at San Andres we are not even sure if we will get off the ship.

In Grand Cayman we will do the snorkeling with the sting rays thing. But we will book it on our own.

Mike

Wow! Our documents just arrived today. We were not expecting to get them until tomorrow.

There are 2 formal nights on our cruise. And there is more about excusrsions in the documents we received than there is on the web site.

This is exciting!!!! Only 36 more days to plan and get ready. We're looking forward to seeing everyone on board.

Mike (and Debbie)

Just received a call from our TA with the news that our docs are in. We should receive them on Wednesday or Thursday. When I called my wife at her office with the news, her response was loud and something along the lines of YEAHEEEE. Be seeing you all soon!

Steve

Thank you Mike. This is very interesting. We read all the messages! Thanks for all the work you are doing to make this Cruise fun for us. Manny said to tell you we are looking forward to the trip. I think I am too, but........ I will feel better when I get that Life Jacket on! Love, Debbie's Dad and your Mom

Hi again Mike,
Forgot to tell you that we got our Docs today. Very interesting!! Love, Dad & Mom

Hi everyone, just to let all of my fellow VTC'ers aware of two mistakes in the documentation that I received from Radisson yesterday.

In the booklet, it states that the embarkation port is Long Beach, and that there are two formal nights. Well, long story short, I called Radisson and they did confirm that we are leaving from San Pedro, Pier 92, and that according to the agent that I spoke with, on cruises of 14 nights there are usually three formal nights.

Two years ago we where on the Navigator for 14 nights through the canal, and had three formal nights, that is why i questioned the booklet that said only two.

Looking forward to meeting all on the 13th.

Bill and Marie

Hi Bill,

We get our Docs tomorrow, Yeah! However I think 2 formal nights is what it is going to be. On the Mariner trip we took last fall for 18 nights we were surprised (and a bit sad) that it had only two formal nights. I have mixed feelings on this one because I liked the three formal nights we had on our last cruise together.

Looking forward to seeing you and Marie again but will miss Marti, Patti, Eleanor, and Dick. To think I almost didn't go to the meeting set up by you and them. What a mistake that would have been.

See you very soon, Mary Ellen and Bruce

We got our docs yesterday. The time is going so slowly now. Looking forward to meeting you all after the lifeboat drill

Mike, Our docs. arrive today. Our plans are as follows;-
Puerta Vallarta. Just a 4 hr. tour of downtown, the countryside, a tequila distillery, marina, lighthouse for photos, etc. all via a taxi at the dock or whatever.
Acapulco. probably stay on board.
Manzanillo. I reserved a 7 hr. tour @ $55/person
to visit Colima the volcano, Calima, brickmaking, the cathedral, the ruins, etc.
Puerto Quetzal. I have reserved a full day tour @ $50/perperson, with p.u. and return to the ship for visiting Antigua. One of the oldest C. American cities. This is a very interesting town and I have much literature.
San Juan del Sur. I have reserved a full day tour to Granada @ $50/per person.
Panama Canal. We have been there twice. The last time was a barbecue run by the ship with an open bar at the Yacht club. We can discuss this with the hotel director as I mentioned before in my e-mail.
Cayman on a Sunday, ugh. Unless you want to swim with the sting rays, or snorkel, etc. Maybe a sing song in my favourite pub !!
All of the above reservations were for 3 couples.
We always share expenses with whomever, but no 2 hr. lunches !!
Hope that your pre-cruise dinner works out.

Neville,

You left out Huatulco. Any plans there.

We would love to join you in Manzanillo and San Juan del Sur. It would be us an our parents so that would fill out your three couple capacity.

Mike

We are only in port for a few hours in the a.m. in Huatulco. The scenic drive seems to be the best bet. If we take the RSSC tour we would have to leave at 8 a.m. I am always up and around at 5 a.m. but not Hannah. We will perhaps take the tender around 9 and maybe pick up a taxi van and do the ride. I left it open.
But you and the folks are on for Manzanilla and and Granada at San Juan Del Sur.

Here is a follow-up to Bill's comments above. I gave RSSC a call too just to see what they would tell me.

My documents say the embarkation point is the LA Cruise Ship Terminal. That terminal is in San Pedro. So it is referred to using either name but it is the same place. It also goes by the name Port of Los Angeles and World Cruise Center.

According to the person I spoke with, there are definitely only 2 formal nights on board the cruise. I asked him to clarify if that was a general statement or was it specifically true about this trip. He confirmed that the 2 formal nights are what is scheduled for this particular sailing.

In addition to that, he informed me there will be 5 casual nights and 6 semi-formal nights. As a general rule, he said the first and last days are casual and then they alternate with semi-formal along with the 2 formal nights thrown in.

Just thought I would pass along what I heard. Looking forward to seeing everyone in one more month. I am still waiting for a few replies about dinner the night before. We will be dining at the Queen Mary that evening. I will send details once I hear from the last few people.

Mike

We have two more people joining us on the VTC. Gail and Rich just posted a message asking if anyone else is going on this cruise. That brings our numbers to 36!

Welcome Gail and Rich. I will add you to the list and we will keep you posted on what we have planned. Be sure to get your cabin number to us.

Mike

Mike,
Thanks a bunch for all of your guidance! We will be in cabin # 838. We are arriving in L.A. the afternoon of the sailing so we will be unable to join you for dinner on the Queen Mary. Enjoy!
Gail and Rich

To all VTC cruisers....Is anyone aware if any immunizations are required for this cruise?
Thanks,
Gail&Rich

I went to the web site included in the docs from RSSC and entered the name and password they gave us. Nothing is listed there so I am assuming that no immunizations are required for the areas we are visiting.

Just 22 more days!!!!

Mike,
Thank you for the info on the immunizations.
Gail&Rich

Reservations have been made for the pre-cruise dinner. We will be dining at Sir Winston’s on the Queen Mary. Reservations were made for 6:30 pm. There will be nine of the VTC cruisers at the dinner:

Mike and Debbie
Manny and Pat
Bill and Marie
Bruce and Mary Ellen
Pat

If you are in the Long Beach area and would like to join us for dinner, please let me know. We can always add a few more chairs.

Dress code at Sir Winston’s is semi-formal which means a coat for the gentlemen with tie optional. Here is a little info about Sir Winston’s:

Winner of The Southern California Restaurant Writers 2002-2003 Golden Sceptre Award for Continental Cuisine.

The Queen Mary's most elegant restaurant features award-winning Continental and California cuisine. You will also discover superb service, an extensive wine list and panoramic views of the coastline.

Here is a sampling of their menu:

APPETIZERS

LOBSTER CLAWS
With Duck and Mushroom Filled Zucchini Blossoms On a Bed of Crisp Purple Potato, Arugula and Orange Cluster Tomato Basil Coulis $13.50

WARM GOAT CHEESE
In a Crispy Potato Basket with Grilled Vegetables, Pistachio Nuts and red Pepper Coulis $7.50

SALADS

Portebello Mushroom Salad
With Buffalo Mozzarella, Field Greens, Vine Ripe Tomato Chervil Compote Served with Blackberry Vinaigrette $6.00

Boursin Hazelnut Salad
Tender Baby Romaine with a Boursin Cheese Napoleon Served with Cranberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Sprinkled with Hazelnuts $6.00

ENTREES

Broiled Swordfish Filet
With Crisp Angel Sweet Potatoes, Enoki Mushrooms, Black Sturgeon Caviar and Extra Virgin Basil Olive Oil $25.50

Beef Phyllo Sir Winston's
Beef Tenderloin Fois Gras Wrapped in Phyllo Dough with Merlot Trentino Sauce $33.00

Venison en Croute
Venison Chop Marinated in Herbs and Olive Oil Wrapped in a Puff Pastry with Broiled Portabello Mushrooms Accompanied by Chambord Sauce $27.50

DESSERTS

Sir Winston's Torte
Sweet Dough Shell Topped with Pistachio Cream Served with Vanilla Sauce. $6.00

Rum Gateau
Chocolate Cake with Apricot Marmalade and Blackberries Coated with Chocolate Ganache, Served with Chambord Coulis. $6.00 <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

My mouth is watering aready. What a wonderful way to start our cruise!

Mary Ellen

I posted a reply on the 'other' site and don't know how to get it here without typing it all over.
I raised the webcam issue.

The following post is from Neviboy. I am just helping copy the text from CC to here.

A menu like that we will be a perfect prelude to what is to come on Voyager !! BON APPETIT, EN AVANCE !
We should be able to board about noon if our flight is on time, and after checking in will go to La verandah for a spot of lunch.
On the subject of webcams, if the ship is in the RIGHT channel of the Miraflores Lock, our shore friends will be able to spot us. Give them the web site before you leave , and we will be able to e-mail them the evening before arrival at the canal, provided the Captain has the information of timing. Mike and I will co-ordinate. Of course, stalker leader,Karen, will be kept posted all of the way. We have some hilarity planned which we will not divulge, so make sure that you have your printers ready !!

Neville

Here is what the door signs will look like:

I've gotten a bit out of the loop due to illness in the family. Will someone please post when and where the initial meet-up will be onboard?

Thanks
Richard :) :) :)

I am glad that you decided not to cancel. We went through the same thing with both of our mothers for many years. It is what made us start buying insurance. We never had to use it because of them but we did have to use it two times because of our own mishaps.

Richard,

We will be meeting in the Observation Lounge right after the lifeboat drill. Neville should be posting some details very soon so keep checking the boards.

Has your cabin number been assigned yet? You booked with a Category E gurantee? How does that work?

Mike

Well, I don't know exactly how a category guarantee works. Ours is for cat. G. As I understand it we are guaranteed a cat. G (fine with us) or better. Our TA has said if we allow her to wait till the last minute, we stand a chance of a significant upgrage, depending on cancelations, etc. We knew some folks on the Navigator to Alaska in June, '02 who ended up with a two cat. upgrade that way. Then again, we may get a G, and I would not have a complaint at all. Sounds sort of like gambling to me

In any event, we may not know our cabin number till we reach the ship. That's why I am so interested in the "meet-up" details, as I KNOW we will have the number by then.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Nice door signs, mdchips. Wish there would be one for me ... but I'll have to settle for traveling on VTC vicariously. :(

You all are going to have such an awesome time!! I can't get over how large this group is....you're sure giving our MINT group a run for our $$. Anne and Gary, I think you're on more roll calls than anyone....VTC, VJ7 and MINT!

So many places to visit....wish I could do them all!