Finally, I have the time to properly introduce myself.

This southernlady married her westernman 3 years ago and our cruising days began. Whopee!! I'm from Atlanta but spent my "previous life" as a railroad wife moving around the South (Atlanta, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Columbus, Knoxville) ending up in Roanoke, Virginia for about 15 years. And, ok, I'll admit it...I'm 53. Alan (55) grew up in LA, ran a business there, sold it and moved to Eugene, Oregon for 10 years. We both have two children (a boy and a girl each). Mine are grown (28 and 25) and Alan's are almost grown (16 and 20). Our girls are the oldest and both of our sons are named Brian. See, we were meant to be!

After our marriage, we began to look for a city we could call our own (and a compromise between his children in Oregon and mine in Indiana and Atlanta) and we came up with Tucson. I guess you could say that we are semi-retired. Alan manages his business interests from our home and I am a freelance writer (when I'm not playing tennis).

In 2000, Alan's parents introduced him to cruising and to Radisson. Lucky guy, he went on a Song of Flower trip that began in Tel Aviv, Petra, Syria, Egypt, through the Suez Canal and on to Turkey and Greece. Due to current political upheavals that trip is no longer a possibility.

Our first cruise together (with his lovely parents who are in their 80's and also his sister) was to the Baltic on the Song. The next year we all sailed on the Song again from Venice to Rome. We had such fun meeting each evening in the Observation Lounge to discuss the day over glasses of champagne!

This year, we sailed on the Mariner around the tip of South America (and yes, I am still working on my review). Unfortunately, Alan's parents aren't able to travel that far anymore. So, to keep it in the family, his sister and her southern husband (he's from Bama) went along with us.

This board is great! Thanks Ngaire. Our trip was even better after the advice I received from some of you (when you were on that other board). I only regret that none of you were on my cruise. Maybe next time, since we booked an open booking while still on the Mariner. We're waiting for the 2005 schedule to determine where to go next.

Anyway, that's me, WORDY!

Ah a Song of Flower lover. There are so many ex Song staff on the Diamond now I think the Diamond may develop that special feeling the song had. The CLUB taking over for the Observation Lounge. I LOVED that SOF Observation lounge. It is fun to see bits and pieces of that room that Captain Dag has bought over to the Voyagers observation lounge. Welcome aboard the boards Southern Lady we look forward to your posts.

Ngaire, What happened to the glowing globe from the SoF's observation lounge? I loved that!

I am not sure if he got that as well. The LAST load he bought over I have not seen. They renamed the lounge the "Song of Flower". I will be on the ship in March so I will report back.

Dixiechick - I was just reading your profile. we have a lot in common, I too am originally from So. California (Manhattan Beach) and my husband is a born and bred Alabamian (Montgomery). He is retired from a large aerospace company (TRW - now Northrum Grummon), we met there. We transferred to VA 18 years ago, and are still here, as all our kids are on the East side of the Mississippi, Richmond, Boston and Tenessee (see my earlier post re our son). Just thought there were some interesting common threads in our lives.
JoAnn

Skicruiser45 - whoops, I posted a message to Dixiechick - it should have been for you. My son and daughter in law and 2 little granddaughters are practically next door to you, they are in Thompson Station. As I said, we get down there fairly requently - you can read the post and then I won't have to repeat my self. Maybe we will meet up with you on a cruise sometime.
JoAnn <img border="0" alt="[Drinking]" title="" src="graemlins/062802drink_prv.gif" /> (have another glass of wine JoAnn, then you can post all sorts of messages to the wrong person!)

Cruisinfanatic-

That's OK wine will do it to you every time. I have been known to post after a couple glasses and when I re-read what I posted I wonder - what the **ll was I doing my typing was terrible.

Yes they are just down the road from us - it's so pretty here compared to Knoxville where we spent 2 1/2 LONG years!!

Happy Cruising.

Kathy

Just sent a long winded reply, but it didn't get on. Don't feel like repeating it. Wha appened ?
neviboy

Like a number of our LCT neighbors, we also reside in sunny South Florida; Mark and I are definitely warm-weather types! (As Mark always says, “There is just something about shorts and Christmas in the same sentence...") Although our two grown children are no longer at home, the house still bustles with our four canine kids – adopted several years ago from a great organization called “Puppies under Protection.”

Mark and I are also "Baby Boomers” eagerly anticipating that time when a 3- or 4-week trek becomes reality! While our present practical pursuits (computers and law) leave limited time for leisure . . . gourmet cooking, music, gardening, reading and studies -- and (of course) cruising -- fill our pastime.

Our first cruise experience was aboard the Celebrity Century in 1996; we were upgraded to a suite and that set the bar for the trips to follow. Those Celebrity travels were fun, but after our first RSSC voyage – we were fans! With the hectic daily pace of our careers, we love the relaxation that RSSC affords . . . a roaming retreat with delightful cuisine, delicious wines, diverse activities, new friendships – and all without crowds and cacophony!

Many thanks to Ngaire, Karen, and John for fostering these virtual friendships!

Mia & Mark

Do you know how many feet are in a fathom?

George and I took our first cruise because he knew the answer to that question (6). I personally cannot fathom why he was aware of that, but that tidbit made him the big winner on a television game show in 1987 and his prize was a Carnival cruise to the western Caribbean. While we enjoyed that trip, we didn't feel very at home on that ship. When we got back we did a little research culminating in a series of Princess cruises in the 90's which worked much better for us. Now we've done a couple of Radisson cruises and probably cannot go back.

George is a cognitive psychologist and he works at Intel as an engineering director (there is a logical connection there, just trust me on that one). He enjoys scuba diving and photography. He grew up in Florida and sang for many years in the St. Petersburg boy choir. Now he has a lovely baritone voice not at all suitable for boy choirs.

My father was a navigator in the Air Force, so I grew up moving all over the world as a child. I think that perhaps the navigation gene skipped this generation, as I am usually the laughingstock of the crew when we cruise because I can be found even on the last day using my ship's diagram to find my way to breakfast. I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag. I used to work at Intel, too, but I became ill about ten years ago and have had to stop working. We have found cruising an ideal vacation because the biggest effort is just getting to the ship. Once I'm there, I can rest as I must and my needs need not impact the rest of the family. I play the flute and up until last fall when the younger of our two sons went off to college, I was an active mom. Now I keep in touch with the boys via phone and send them care packages replete with refined carbohydrates.

We have lived in Portland, Oregon for 21 years (but please do not ask me for directions). I noticed that there is a Radisson cruise that will stop in Astoria, Oregon, later this year. At first, I was puzzled by that but this really is beautiful country, worth a visit at least once in everyone's life.

We are still getting used to the empty nest but it's not nearly as traumatic as I thought it would be. We look forward to MINT this November and we also hope to be aboard the Mariner in November of 2005 as well for the 16-day voyage from Auckland to Los Angeles.

I have so enjoyed getting to know other Cruise Critic and now LCT posters on board the Mariner and the Paul Gauguin. These long-distance friendships have come to fruition in face-to-face meetings, increasing the enjoyment of cruising exponentially.

Marna Lou

My first cruise was a 3 day "deadhead" from Vancouver B.C. to San Diego, where the Cunard Princess was moving from Alaska, to her winter Mexican itinerary. I was young (22) and travelled alone, and I'd always wanted to cruise. The British Officers on board treated me like Royalty, and I was hooked on cruising.

My second cruise was also on the Cunard Princess, the next summer, when I went on board for a day "visit" with my British Officer friends. I had brought two girlfriends on with me, and they plied us with enough wine in the Officers lounge that we thought it would be a good idea to stay on board, once they'd gone to work prior to sailing. Yes, we stowed away. Threw streamers and everything once we set sail (they did that back then!) The Officers probably should have walked us to the gangway to see us safely off, that did become standard Cunard procedure after our little adventure!!

We were caught shortly thereafter (it really was just staff and geriatric passengers in those days of Alaska cruises, we were easy to spot) but the Captain eventually let us out of "the hole" and gave us the run of the ship for the night. All the (mainly senior) passengers were absolutely delighted to hear we were "The Stowaways", I think they were living vicariously through us. They bought us drinks, took pictures with us, it was grand fun.

Cunard tendered us off on an Indian Reserve in a remote area of British Columbia the following day(enroute to Alaska), and we had a hard time getting home (it took 36 hours - and we were hungover to boot). All in all, though, it was an experience!! Oh, to be young and adventurous again.

I have cruised many times since (paying every time) on Carnival, then Royal Caribbean, then Celebrity, and now I'm hooked on Radisson.

I married Mike (we're 45 and 47) 6 years ago, we have two 17 year olds from previous relationships, and now I have him cruising as well! Most of my friends, too, at this point! 14 of us went on the PG together last September, and 12 of us are going on the Diamond in September.

Happy Sailing (and remember, always pay....)

Charlene

Charlene:

Your stowaway story is a hoot! What fun. I've often wanted to hide in a lifeboat when it's time to disembark but I guess the comforts of RSSC's suitelife have me too spoiled to risk it.

Charlene - that's a great story! Thanks for sharing that with us! (still chuckling over the image of you guys stowing and the party afterwards with the guests)

Masaki

What a cute story, Charlene. Alan and I always threaten to stow away near the end of our cruises. We hate the idea of a new passenger using our suite!!

Andi, You really started something! This board is full of wonderful people. John (pharmacist) and I (night shift emergency room county hospital very tired worker) have been married 32 yrs. Originally from Western New York state. Living in Las Vega$ for 26 yrs. Love it here! Have 2 children; Jack 28 married to Jennifer and have one son 2 and another baby due in Sept. and Anne 26 single, very pretty and working at getting her career going. She has been working 6 or 7 days a week for a convention planning company. Doesn't have time to date right now; so I am always "looking" for her. The whole family loves cruising. Started in '87 on a 3 day NCL old ship (the cabin wasn't as big as our bathroom)Had both kids with us and they slept in the pull-down bunks over our heads! But, loved that cruise and everyone since. They all get better and better. Radisson being the best so far. We are pet lovers also. Have 2 dogs, Madison a 2 yr. old Cock-a-poo and Libby a yr old Bichon. They would love to go on a cruise with us. Any of you visiting Vega$; give us call; we would love to meet you. 458-6300.
Going to the Baltics in Aug on the Voyager.

OK - where to start...
I am a single retired US Air Force weather forecaster, now forecasting for a civilian contractor at Thule Air Base in Northern Greenland. We're about 650 miles from the North Pole and 650 miles North of the Arctic Circle. WE just had our first Sunrise since October 2003 :hyper: . It's a fascinating place and I've lived here for 10 years. Before that I was stationed in Utah, Illinois, Colorado, Tehran Iran, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and Germany.
My first cruise was in 1994; a retirement present to myself, on a charter of the Ocean Breeze from Aruba half-way thru the canal. I remember thinking then, "Wow - this ship is HUGE" <img border="0" alt="[eyepop]" title="" src="graemlins/eye-popping.gif" /> . Nine years later I was on the Zuiderdam, parked next to the Ocean Breeze in the Bahamas and thought, "Lordy - that was HUGE??? :eek: " Postage stamp sized pool, 1 hot-tub, diesel stink, etc...
Since that first cruise I've been on several Carnivores, Maasdam, Zuiderdam, Windjammer Mandalay, QE2, Sea Breeze, OCean Breeze again, Crystal Harmony, Radisson Voyager, Ocean Princess (3X), and, most recently, the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary 2 - now THAT was HUGE !! <img border="0" alt="[eyepop]" title="" src="graemlins/eye-popping.gif" />
My favorite cruises were the first one (isn't it always the best in memory?) and the QM2 for various reasons. I also thought the Voyager was so classy and fun, that I've decided to do Radisson almost exclusively from now on. My next one is on the PG 29 May and again on 11 Sept.
I plan on staying here in Greenland for at least another 2-3 years to save enough to buy a home (someplace WARM ;) ) then try to cruise once a year.
I also enjoy cars (wish I could have one up here - the MB SLK320 is at Mom's :( ), internet, movies, and Music (mostly MOR and classical).
My favorite holiday is Halloween, mainly because my birthday is the next day, and this way I always get a party <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> !!

Judy and John,
You say Baltics in August on Voyager. Are you part of the Baltics August 13th(BAT)? Andi and Doug, Gretchen and I, Lawrence, and the Kimmis will be there.
Greg

OOPS! Sorry, Just read your post on Roll Call. Envy your extra days to Lisbon.

I think Judy and John are on another week...unfortunately...

Ok - deep breath, for I, too, am long-winded.....

Greetings!
Although I am a writer by nature, I will try to stick with relevant facts so my introduction does not bore anyone.

First, I'd like to thank Marcie for "bringing" me on board this board. Ha! I've been stalking CC and CM boards for months now, posting infrequently, and not really feeling any comraderie with my fellow cruisers (except Marc :) ). This forum, however, is a joy to discover, as are the people who contribute. I can think of no group I'd rather meet and get to know better than you all! I feel very comfortable sharing my questions here, because I know I will receive answers from many experienced people.

So, who am I?
Well, my name is Ashlyn and I'm 35. A veteran teacher of middle school for 11 years, I also have the honor of being a consultant for the Core Knowledge Foundation (a curriculum) and for the American Board of Certified Teachers of Excellence. My husband (of 5 weeks!) is Keith. He's 37 and a scientist with DuPont (field: plant pathology), as well as the goalkeeping coach for the University of Delaware men's soccer team, and a Ph.D. candidate.

Our story has been called the most romantic one anyone's heard "in real life", so I love to have opportunities to share it.

We met late August of 1990 at graduate school - the University of GA. We dated for a while, feeling a connection neither had felt before, but Keith got a job with DuPont in Delaware (biologist) and moved. I stayed in GA and we continued our relationship long distance with the intention of me relocating in December. We wrote each other every day for 3 months (oh - the years before email) With Christmas came Keith to retrieve me, but my parents were none to happy with our plans. If we were to marry they would be happy, but that wasn't what we had in mind. My father stated that living together went against the values I'd been taught and put his foot down. Given our ages and the bonds with my parents which would be irrevocably broken if I left with Keith, we chose to end our relationship amicably and never spoke again. What could we do, right?

Fast forward 12 years. I was 2 years out of an incompatable marriage, content with my life at the time, and then my beloved grandmother died. We were very close. From her belongings, an old photo of Keith fell out. A couple of days later, the box full of my correspondance with Keith fell from a closet shelf onto my head and I re-read every letter. The letters awakened a burning need in me to find him and see how his life had turned out. No other intention but to reconnect on a friendly basis. So - 48 hours later, after a wild internet session, I had located his email and contacted him. This would be May of 2002. He was still in Delaware and delighted to hear from me & we once again began our daily notes. I went to visit from Georgia that July and we re-discovered our old feelings were made deeper by our maturity. I visited at least once a month until 29 May when Keith again returned to GA and this time, retrieved me. My parents have mellowed and were extremely pleased with him and us. They still weren't too jazzed about the living arrangement, but what could they do? Take my car away? Ha

Finally together, the bond between Keith and me grew and strengthened in ways I never dreamed possible with another human. We are soulmates.

In October of 2003, we decided to use my Spring Break as an opportunity to go on a cruise. Neither of us have traveled this way before, so I researched the heck out of everything until we found Radisson and knew that was the one. Little did I know he had other plans for this vacation.

Christmas Eve, 2003, Keith got down on his knees and proposed. He's never been married and didn't think he ever would. I was shocked and said yes through my happy tears.

So - - now our vacation is our honeymoon! We will be sailing on the Mariner to the Caribbean 9 April of this year. Our anticipation is HUGE! And the help we receive from all of you, invaluable.

I do apologize for the length of this post (I have a more detailed version which I've spared you Ha!) and any mistakes I didn't catch in editing, but we really hope to meet as many of you as the travel money will allow & this meeting can only be enhanced by knowing about us.

Cheers!
Ash <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Welcome to the Board Ash!

Anthony

Oh Ash, I LOVE your story. This is just so romantic!! What a great way to start my morning....I'm so happy that you and Keith found each other again!! Do you prefer Ash or Ashlyn?

Thank you!

I really have no preference. To me it's just about how formal anyone wants to get. I answer to both.

Cheers!
<img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Great story - thanks for sharing - Joanna

Well, thought I'd join in and try not to boor anyone.

Gretchen and I have been married for 26 years :) and will celebrate our 27th with a one night post cruise in Copenhagen :) after the BAT Cruise. We have two children (Sarah 24 who will accompany us on the BAT (a graduation present) and Geoffrey, 21)both of whom live in Tucson. 75 miles away is a good distance from which to watch your adult children continue to grow up ;) . Gretchen and I met on an airplane as she was on her way back from Officer's Basic at Bethesda (Navy Medical Service Corps) and I was on my way home from a PsyOp Warfare course (USMC Artillery). We sat across the aisle from one another. She was stationed at Great Lakes and I was at 29 Palms, CA so we did the long distance thing for three years before we got married. Gretchen is now an Occupational Therapist for the School system and about to retire from the Navy Reserves. I'm a systems engineer and test Command and Control Systems for the Army. We're both in our mid-fifties but Gretchen would be quick to point out that I am older ;) . First cruise was Big Red Boat, followed by two on Carnival (including a family reunion) and now have done three on Radisson; Mariner Caribbean, Navigator Alaska (with Denise, Alan, Ngaire and Ken) and Navigator trans-canal. Doing a Back to Back on PG weeks of 13 and 20 March (only three weeks :D :D :D ) and BAT in August. We have made our home in Sierra Vista, AZ for the last 12 years. Prior to that did 7 years in Niceville, FL (Eglin Air Force Base), 6 years in Albuquerque, and a year in Carlsbad, CA.

Gretchen is from Wyoming and I was born in Louisiana (but I moved around a lot growing up as my Dad was in the USMC or "rough necking" in the oil field). For those of you who may have wondered about my signature, I am a Naval Academy alumnus from 1972.

So glad to meet all of you! We have some incredible folks here! No wonder it is such a special place.

Every introduction makes me more anxious to meet each of you in person. HOpe that happens soon!

Well, as many of you already know, my name is Richard, and Carol is my wife. I'm 60 and she is a very young 51! We have three daughters in their early 30's living in Oklahoma City, Denver, and Atlanta. The Atlanta daughter is married and has one son.

We are young retired people. Me from the practice of law and Carol from a managment position with the US Postal Service. We live in Yukon, Oklahoma which is a suburb of Oklahoma City.

Other than cruising, Carol's main hobby is sewing on her "Ferrari" embroidery machine and other machines I can't begin to describe. Mine include, of course, being an automobile enthusiast as you can see under "Cruise Talk", along with landscaping and architecture.

Our first cruise was in '92 on Crown Cruise Line (now defunct) to the W. Carib. We used a local TA I like to call "Cheap Bob" who talked us into a broom closet sized inside room, but otherwise the cruise was enjoyable. We didn't cruise again till '98. Between then and 2001, we cruised RCI Norwegian, and another incarnation of Crown lines to the far S Carib. By 2001, these "mass market" lines had started down their slippery slope into massive nickel and diming and crowded conditions, and we decided no more cruising like that. In the Summer of '01, we booked on Renaissance for a March '02 cruise to the E. Med. When the tragic events of 9/11 occured, we cancelled that cruise on 9/12, and that was a good move as Renaissance declared bankruptcy on 9/25. We then learned that Radisson was offering specials for those who had been booked on Renaissance for cruises scheduled to depart after the bankruptcy, and of course did not. We discovered that we qualified, dispite our cancelation, and I said "Let's go to Tahiti!" We did on the Paul Gauguin in Feb,'02. Everything after that is history. The Navigator to Alaska, Mariner Nice to Rome, PG again back-to-back, Navigator again to Bermuda, and Diamond to the W. Carib. Next up will be the Voyager Trans-Canal on April 13. There are many people on this board (and the CC board)who are booked on that cruise, and we are eager to meet all of them!

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Oh my God, Ash! What a story and yes, amazing. What are the odds? Wow.

Ash, that is so wonderful. Thank you for sharing your story.

MarnaLou

Everybody's story is amazing but have to say that Ash's story does take the cake for the most romantic. Congrats on your recent wedding and hope to meet all of you on board some day!

Masaki

These stories are terrific!!!! (It's like our own little soap opera....with happy endings all around!)

God, I'm a sucker for romantic stories...and that was ONE ROMANTIC story Ash! Thanks for sharing!

This introduction thread is such a great idea. I check in on it every day and have such fun reading all the life stories. What a varied and interesting group of people. I do hope to meet more of you onboard one day.

Ash, your romantic story has the makings of a great American novel or a hit movie. Evidence that life really is more interesting than fiction!

WOW it is so interesting to read about everyone! I have been following many of your posts from CC and it is great to learn so much about all of you. I just discovered this board and am excited to be a part of it.

I am, shall we say, nearing 50 and my husband is a couple of years older. We work together in a family business in the Four Corners area of New Mexico. We met in college and will have been married 27 years in June. We were fortunate enough to celebrate our 25th on the Paul Gauguin!
We have a daughter in college and a son who is graduating from high school this year.

Our first cruise was on the Monarch of the Seas in the Caribbean in 1993. We discovered Radisson on a corporate incentive trip on the Diamond in 1997 and again on the Navigator in 2001. We loved the line so much we are now sailing her on our own when we can and are booked for Europe with our kids this summer.

Ash, somethings are just meant to be. I had a blind date with Dick on New Year's Eve, engaged on Valentine's Day and married in May 1956. Yep, 48 years and going strong. Ain't love wonderful !!

Okay.. you know that I can be long winded so will try to do the condensed version.
Me 40-something Al older - another cradle robber to add to the group..we seem to have quite a few here don't we guys?
We live in Encino which is in the "Valley"
( suburb of L.A.)..I am your friendly neighborhood Real Estate lady and Al has happily retired.. which makes these cruise plannings very easy.. no schedules..no kids...except a Dobie and a cockapoo and their best friend the cat. We have taken at least 2 cruises a year on just about all the name brand lines and our favorite was the small Renaissance ships that held only 112 people. Although thinking back a few years ago we took a barge cruise through the Burgundy region of France and that actually wins the prize for best cruise type experience. It was a gorgeous ship with 3 cabins ( so only held 6 passengers) and lucky us and our friends were the only passengers with a crew of 6 - Captain, hostess, 6 star chef, a driver to take us on excursions & catering to our everywhim for 7 days. If anyone is thinking of doing sopmething sensational that IS the way to go.
If you want to check it out their website is
Http://www.saroche.com
now back to this story..yawn...
We will be celebrating 26 years of wedded bliss in May ( somewhere on the high seas between Italy and Corsica)..on Oceania.
Looking forward to MNM cruise ( Mariner nineteenth March) our first on Radisson , and from the looks of it no one from this board is joining us..
Our first cruise was one that takes the cake in cruise stories..
It was a Princess cruise to Mexico. We took a taxi to a restaurant way up in the hills with the view of the bay of Acapulco and the ship below. Had a wonderful relaxing lunch and a few to many margaritas.
We kept watching that ship and we heard a horn blast and then it started to move.. you can imagine the look on Als' face ( he said I had the same look on mine).. at which we both just laughed and ordered another round!
Well, it goes without saying that they are right about American Express ( don't leave the ship without it) lol.
one hotel for the night..
two airline tickets to meet the ship..
one miss the ship story to tell forever.....
priceless...

Oh Claudia....that is hilarious! I really needed a good laugh today...how did you know? What a terrific attitude you have about life. Yes, Tom and I too would have ordered another round of Margaritas and later yanked out the AmEx just like you and Al did!
PRICELESS INDEED!

Wow, all those posts. Well, I don't want to be left out, so here goes.
I was born in Leeds, England and a Taurus. This makes me doubly stubborn and determined !! My family moved to Manchester in 1938 and i became a Man. Utd. fan. Graduating High school at 15 and obtaining a B.Sc. degree in Estate Mgt. at 17, I joined the British army on D-Day.
My first cruise was when I emigrated to Montreal from Liverpool in 1948 on the Canadian Pacific's Empress of Canada. On a 20,000 ton ship, THAT was a rough passage.
Unable to practice engineering in Quebec due to a language problem, I turned to commerce. When I retired in 1976, The Co. I had built was the largest bathroom accessory Co. in Canada.
I married a Canadian gal in 1953, and after a few years we started travelling to Europe for a few weeks in summer.
Our first 'modern' cruise was in 1960 on Grace Lines' Santa Rosa. from N.York to caribbean ports.
Negotiating Cape Hattaras in January was quite rough !! Our first port was Ft.Lauderdale !!
Returning to Montreal I suggested to the Pres. of Canadian Pacific that C.P.Air should fly Canadians to Antigua and pick up freighters who were carrying passengers to the islands. (On CP ships). I gave the idea to Grace Lines. And very soon thereafter, cruise ships started sailing from Miami. Maybe my idea worked !
The next cruise was on Celebrity to Alaska. Unfortunately, we were upgraded to a balcony cabin. And as I told Ngaire, we were hooked on balconies.
We sailed round Cape Horn with Royal Princess. This was extremely enjoyable. We 'hit it off' with a couple from the Isle of Man, and after that we seemed to draw a crowd with much hilarity.
A C.America cruise was booked on Renaissance.
Our older daughter, a consulting engineer, leased premises at Ft.Lauderdale port which was H.Q. for Renaissance. She told me to insure my trip, which I did, 3 days before the bankruptcy.
My younger daughter was employed by RSSC to do some artwork and so we met her at the corporate offices which is a stones throw from our home in Pompano. There we booked a C.America cruise. It was love at first sight !
Since then we were on Mariner to the med. in '02 and on Voyager to the Med. in '03.
On retirement in 1976 I entered McGill Law school
since I was being groomed to take a Parliamentary seat in 1978 election. Not wishing to move from one cold City to another, Toronto, with a safe seat, we emigrated to Florida. We have lived in the same golf course condo for the past 25 years.
This is too darned long ! But. Ihave 2 fingured it so might as well add it to the pile.
At least, when all the VTC's on April 13th. read it ,they will know that we are fun people,although Hannah hates Monty Python and I am a devotee !!

I missed out a very important item.
IT'S A SMALL WORLD.
Waiting to board our first Mariner cruise Hannah detected a British accent. This couple were our next door neighbours. At dinner we established that this lady's mother tried to fix me up with her daughter for a date when they arrived in m
Montreal in 1949 !!! You guessed who the daughter was !!
Next. Taking the PISA tour in Oct. 03 on Voyager I started a conversation with aburly Australian.
His English accent, very slight, gave him away.
WE WENT TO PRIMARY SCHOOL TOGETHER IN LEEDS !!!
when we were 4 years old. he is a retired barrister.

Wonderful story Ash, thanks for sharing that. There are soulmates in life and when you find them it is a wonderful thing.

Mr.USNA72 is a champion trivia player. If he is on your cruise and you like to play trivia grab him. A lot of this group are so fanatical about trivia they had me get the quiz from the staff and continue on with two more contests once the "normal" trivia was over. Pretty competitive bunch!!!

Neviboy is always having these SMALL WORLD experiences. It is amazing when you discover these kinds of things in the oddest places.

Neviboy...or should I call you Neville? (you Taurus you), I'm so happy to hear more about you. You've always seemed a bit intriging & mysterious to me, yet very Interesting!....not any more!! So great to hear about you! Hope we can meet up someday, I'd love to pick your brain! How about Las Vegas in April? You sure have led an interesting life! Thanks for sharing with us...
This Introduction Board is my very favorite, I just love reading everyone's BIOs!!