I tried to get into the live chat link today, but no one was there. Does anyone use it? It'd be fun to all "meet" in the chat room!! I'm still learning my way around this board---computers and I are not the most compatible partners in the world (I came kicking and screaming into the computer age), so it takes me awhile to get things to work!! Do you all have a set time that you meet in the chat room or is it not used very much? I'm already addicted enough to this board...I suppose the last thing I need is one more thing (chat room) to be addicted to, LOL....Liz

Liz, we don't use it as often as we should. Mostly, we use it before a cruise to blab with others that are on our sailing.

I have been thinking about holding a monthly chat, if you would be interested in that.

Hi, Karen--I'd definitely be interested in a monthly chat--that way, people would know when it was and could participate if they wanted. Let me know. Thanks! Liz

Liz, I got into those chats a couple of times, I think one was before MINT. They are definitely a challenge for someone like me (VERY late 50's in age) My brain could not process the stuff as quickly as they were keying new messages, and I type like a fiend. Too overwhelming for me. I try to make reasoned responses, and by the time I wrote one, I was way behind in the discussion. I like the message boards, that way, you try not to say anything stupid, and if you do, you can always delete, edit to your hearts content. So much discussion goes on before group cruises, I see no reason for them other than for the fun of it, sort of like a pep rally before a big game in high school, so they do serve a purpose. Another thing, we are here to help new cruisers, and most of them are lurkers (just look at the member list and see how many have never posted). They would not be likely to visit or participate in these chats. Karen, does any "new" information get imparted on these chats? I gave up on both tries.

I really wish I didn't have to put my name to this because it's such a dumb question - but what does LOL stand for? It took me ages to figure out LCT - can you believe it?

Lee,

Don't feel silly - it might be an American Colloquialism and there are several here.

LOL means Laugh out Loud
FWIW is for what it's worth (I see that a lot here and it took me a while to figure that one out too)

jhp--LOL, I know EXACTLY what you're talking about, LOL. I haven't been in many chat rooms, but I used to belong to a stepmothers message board group and we'd have chat times, and I could never keep up, either, even though I type very fast. I could never catch up with the conversation, LOL.


Lee--Here are a few other things you might see. BTW means by the way, and IMO means in my opinion. Do you have those kinds of expressions in Australia?? It's funny about LOL---that phrase has even worked itself into conversation now. Every now and then, I hear someone say something funny followed by "LOL." Liz

Thanks everyone for your help. I must admit I haven't heard of any of them here but maybe that's because this is the first board I've ever been on. Were you using these abbreviations before you started on the web?

I know they have a lot of abbreviations for mobile phones, but not owning one (must be unique) have not caught up with that 'lingo' either.

They say you should learn something every day , so I'm OK for today!!

Oh, Lee, you are as technically challenged as me, I can tell! There is a whole lingo on the web. You could probably do a search on google or something and find out all the abbreviations. I just ask, like you did. OMG (Oh my god!) have you ever been to www.flyertalk.com ? Marc from this board talks in tongues that I don't understand with all those airport codes! I just remain confident in my own intelligence about other things, and ask away. Everyone here is helpful, and you will never be put down, as there is no such thing as a "dumb" question here!

I just love this board - everyone is so nice. From reading comments about others, I was so lucky to find it.

I only get on it at work, which unfortunately won't be for much longer as the company is going down the 'gurgler'. It's a shame as I'm too old to get another job but really don't want to stop working either. At present, I work three days a week which is great. The problem of course is there has been so little work lately, I have been spending most of my day on websites. It's a wonderful time-waster.

We have a home computer but it is connected to the telephone line so I am unable to stay on it for hours. That could be my next birthday present - broadband.

Sorry - started to waffle on a bit. Hardly 'cruise related' - so I'll just mention I can't wait for my September cruise on the Navigator with my son (who works in NYC - how's that for knowing an abbreviation). Now I'm 'legal'.

Lee, sorry, sweetie, but while everyone knows NYC (you are headed in the right direction!), landing there is either JFK,(Duh) LGA(LaGuardia sp?) or EWR (Newark New Jersey). Those are the NYC area airports.

OMG, if you are on-line a lot at night after work as I am, you just HAVE to get broadband! Until just last year, my sort of rural, but summer resort area location did not offer it. I spent way too much time looking at blinking hourglasses because everyone was into broadband and cable and showing so many graphics that I wasted a lot of time. It was SO good to get cable!

I will be landing at JFK on my arrival from SYD (via LAX) and will be coming into EWR from Montreal after our cruise! Impressed?

Girl, you are GOOD! And the dumb part of me says now I can't remember where you are cruising. Is that stupid or what?

How could you remember what I'm getting up to? We're cruising from New York to Montreal on the Navigator on 7 September.

This is how I became addicted to this board - I wanted to find a cruise line that would suit both my son and me. We don't have the choice here that you have and I hadn't heard of Raddisson - can you imagine that? I just wish I had found Ngaire before I booked.

We're pretty much limited to the P&O and the Princess ships out here.

This will be my first cruise if you don't count from Sydney to New Zealand 40 years ago. I was a baby at the time - not!!

Lee, you will love that cruise. It was really wonderful. I went with Crusinfanatic (JoAnn)and we met on the boards before our Panama Canal Cruise. Let me know if you have any questions about it you haven't had answered.