That is always a temptation - Joanna

ian, can't do that. You have come too far! Well, I can't say I have ever been to any of these ports on a cruise. I would at least suggest some sort of catamaran cruise or something to put you on a pretty and secluded beach or great snorkeling!

We have been to Cozumel, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. Cozumel has good snorkeling or you can often go to the Playa del Carmen and see the ruins. Jamaica is my least favorite place - you need to be escorted there, do not venture out on your own. The shopping centers are all walled in for the tourists and heavily guarded. We took a tour and walked Dunn River Falls. It was beautiful, but, I'd prefer to stay on the ship.

Grand Cayman was wonderful - You must go to Stingray City, there are several options of swimming with the StingRays or going down into a submarine type of thing and watching a diver feed the rays. Also, it's fun to walk 7 mile beach and have lunch there at one of the hotels on the beach. I'd skip the Turtle Farm and Tour of Hell. The Turtle farm has a number of tanks full of large ocean Turtles and a gift shop and Hell is a convenience store where the proprietor wears a devil costume and has paraphanelia with Hell and Devil themes.

Hi from a grateful new member ~~~

“Hey! It’s the Silversea Lady!”

Kinda catchy?! I heard this last weekend as my husband and I attended our zillionth Open House here in San Diego. In our quest for a home, I’ve met just about every single Realtor in the County. Though I’ve longed for a cure, I have this disease which provokes me to sell a cruise to anyone who tries to sell something to me. (Seriously, … our insurance agents, car dealers, even telemarketers end up booking cruises with me.) It’s like an involuntary twitch of some sort. I say involuntary because I’ve been attempting to retire from the business. (It's a great business, no doubt...I'm just hoping to do something different as I'm teetering on the big five oh.)

Admittedly, I really don’t qualify as a Silversea expert, as I’ve only been on one Silversea cruise. Still, I am such an avid fan. My first Silversea cruise? Silver Whisper, May 2002. Cruise number 50. The cruise that took the joy out of cruising for me ~~~ On any other line, that is.

It was February, 2002, when I received the timely invitation to try Silversea. Feeling forlorn, I was perusing the increasing long list of social service agencies that had rejected my internship applications. I had just earned my Master’s degree in Psychology and was searching for someone to allow me to do my three years of servitude in order to get my license as a therapist. You see, I have this irksome flaw (in the Therapy World) ~ I’m happy. This was a drawback during my interviews. I guess I should have made something up when asked, “And where do you go for your therapy?” Responding with “the sea” didn’t land me any positions. Anyway. While in the midst of this funk, a fax streams in from Silversea for a fam in the Mediterranean. Light. Hope. Within minutes (and before even asking my husband about this adventure!) the cruise is booked. Yes, I felt guilty in booking a fam, knowing that I am leaving the cruise business. That guilt has been absolved, as I have since filled many a stateroom.

What a dream cruise. Silversea has it all. Sublime. It truly ruined me, though. We recently sailed in a very nice suite on a new, but very mass market cruise ship. I thought that by choosing a spacious suite we could make up for the fact that it wasn’t Silversea. But it wasn’t Silversea. It just wasn’t Silversea. This sentiment, by the way, nearly drove my dear husband mad. I am fortunate to be married to the Kindest Man in the World. Yet, after muttering, “This is okay, but it just isn’t Silversea” for the umpteenth time, he said, “If you say that one more time, I’ll throw you overboard.” Well, not really. He would never say anything like that, but I’m fairly sure the thought crossed his mind.

We have sailed Crystal a number of times. Class act, but that pesky and often times, hefty bar bill at the end of the cruise is a bit of a bummer. We’ve always been very impressed, though, with Crystal. We have not yet had the privilege of sailing Radisson or Seabourn, but I have a feeling that once we do, we will be fans of these fine lines also.

Other lines we've sailed: Royal Viking (Sun, Sky, and Sea), American Hawaiian Cruise Lines, (Independence, Constitution, and ... anyone remember this?? ss Liberte) NCL (ss Norway - very meaningful, as my Mom sailed her when she was just 12 -- when the ship was the ss France), RCCL (Sovereign, Viking Serenade, Serenade, Voyager, Empress of the Seas, and some others...I can't even remember), Celebrity (Zenith, Horizon, Summit, Infinity,) Crystal, (Harmony, Symphony)Princess (Grand, Golden, Sea, Dawn, Diamond, Royal, and Regal,) and Carnival (you name it. Fortunately I'm a good camper).

So that’s my story. Other passions ~ my wonderful family. In addition to being married to the Kindest Most Wonderful Man in the World, I have two awesome daughters. They’ve both flown the coup. Our “empty nest” (it’s hard to say that without smirking!) is filled with the Cutest but Stupidest Golden Retriever in the world, and two domineering but adorable cats. (With dogs, you’re an owner. With cats you’re an employee.) I hopped off (thrown off?) the therapist path, but am hoping to work in research once we’re finally settled in our new home. Or, who knows? I might still be selling cruises when I’m 121-years-old. Until then, I am volunteering with our local Alzheimer’s organization as a caregiver's support group facilitator. Highly rewarding. One way or another, cruising is always on my mind. “The sea’s in my veins.”

I feel fortunate in finding this superb message board. The reviews are well-written, the sentiments positive and uplifting. Thank you for my warm welcome and for your patience with my rather lengthy intro. I am looking forward to getting to know you all, and perhaps someday joining one of your group cruises.

Cheers!
Cindie

Hi Cindie, our famous 600th member! Thanks for taking the time to write your introduction! If you need help with your avitar picture, just give me a holler.

Welcome Cindie - WOW what an introduction - Can't wait to meet to you - Joanna

Cindie,
Welcome to LCT!!! I know you will enjoy this board. We all share the same passion...luxury crusing! I enjoyed your introduction. Thanks for letting us get to know you.

Betty

Great introduction, Cindie! We've got some other therapists here too ... so you're in good company! Looking forward to meeting you in person on a future cruise!

Masaki

Welcome Cindie! Glad to have you on board!

Welcome, Cindie! I enjoyed your introduction. You are a very welcome addition to the LCT family! Hope we have the opportunity to cruise together sometime soon!

Please keep posting!

Hi SS Lady -

Welcome to the California Branch of LCT!
But we have a Cyndi from San Diego, so we can't get as confused as we do when someone refers to Claudia and we say - Claudia? From California or Florida? Mermaid or Plain?

Nice to have you on board with us Cindie

Quote in part: "This was a drawback during my interviews. I guess I should have made something up when asked, “And where do you go for your therapy?” Responding with “the sea” didn’t land me any positions!"........
_______________________________________

Laughed so hard- spit my coffee.. thanks for that
Cindie

Welcome to LCT.. we are all into water therapy here.. the more the better.. you will fit in splendidly.

Nice to meet you Cindie. Loved the introduction. Welcome to LCT!

Greetings LCTer's! We're Don and Michele from Southern Calif. and love to travel but are new to cruising. We first found B&K three years ago and booked a cruise on the PG with Linda. We ended up buying a vacation place instead and had to put the PG trip on hold for another time......NOW, we're ready to start cruising! It's great to see that B&K has this wonderful place to meet now. Terrific idea and such a nice group of people!

As for us, Don is a retired banker from a large bank, having spent many years dealing with the entertainment industry. His last assignment was portfolio manager for the gaming industry. I spent my banking years holding the hands of utility companies, certainly not as exciting, that's for sure. Don's 59, and I'm, ahem, mid fifties. We love animals - currently have one 13 yr. old precious male dachshund (who we rescued) and a 15 yr.old parrot (rescued this old guy too). Duncan, the dachshund, has a girlfriend (another dachshund) who comes over every day to play. We are now reduced to dogsitting but love every minute. (I have caught up on the story of Maggie, the precious dog, and am so happy to read that she's doing so well now. I've a lot of catching up to do!!)

Other than dogsitting, we spend several months a year in our favorite locale, the Bahamas. We've been going there for over 20 years (we were married there also!), so we finally have a comfortable place now to return to having no time constraints being retired. The only problem with it is that internet charges are $$$$; so, not able to enjoy LCT unless we're back here in So.Cal. In the Bahamas, we enjoy our time snorkeling, swimming, beach walking, fishing, chatting to the locals, enjoying the fresh fish caught during the day, and a good wine which somehow arrived in our overstuffed luggage!

As you can tell, we're much into our retirement and have slowed down to almost a snail's pace! Believe me, I'm just happy to have lived through 30 years of the rat race as I know you all have or are experiencing.

Thanks for listening(reading). We are eager to join you fine people on the high seas. We're starting with a crossing - oh dear - hope we haven't bitten off more than we can ....well, I welcome any comments or suggestions on this one! Voyager, Monte Carlo to Ft. Lauderdale 11/6/05.)
Hope to meet you all in the "cruising" years to come. Michele and Don

Welcome Michele & Don! Your love of animals is certainly up my alley...I too have rescued many many animals through the years and have actually kept many! Where is So. Cal do you live?

Like you two, Tom and I are both recent retirees and loving every minute of it! After working full time for so many years, I believe I was "born to retire"!!

Hi Michele and Don! Welcome to the board, it sounds like you are going to fit right in!

You picked a relaxing cruise go along with your current lifestyle! After your crossing, you will be hooked and then we will twist your arm into cruising on the Alaskan "MUSH" cruise with a whole boatload of LCTers!

Marcie, I can't turn away from an animal who needs help - they are such angels.
Sounds like you're a real friend to these sweet loving creatures. And, you and your husband sound like you have figured out how to retire in style!! I'm finishing reading your WC journal - truly you should be proud of your writing and entertaining abilities! Outstanding. Oh yeah, we live in Santa Clarita-30 mi.north of LA.

Karen, first of all, thank you for helping us get the picture posted. Yes, I would love to join you all on MUSH. You all have such a good time.!

Welcome Michele and Don to LCT. I enjoyed your introduction.

My husband, Alan, and I are on your Monte Carlo to Ft. Lauderdale 11/06/05 cruise. We are escorting Alan's 88-year old recently widowed mother plus Alan's sister will also be joining us. We'll have to make plans to meet!

Michele and Don, welcome to LCT! I am on ROAR with my daughter, and have already met many of those coming from either previous cruises, but most right on this board. You will have a ball, and Ngaire tells me you two are right up our alley in the "fun to travel with" category! Looking forward to meeting you! Chime in now and then, please! Oh, and I have met Donna and Alan (above), too, if only briefly at our recent lct brunch in California. They are great!

Just wanted to say hello and welcome to you, Michele and Don! Hope you will chime in often.

There's quite a few of us who live in So. CA on LCT. We meet every now and then for brunch/lunch/dinner. Hope you can join us sometime soon.

What lovely greetings!
Donna, we're very happy to know that you, Alan, and your mother-in-law and sister-in-law will be on the 11/6/05 cruise! That's just great! Can't wait to meet you all. Have you ever done a crossing before?? This is our very first cruise so a bit nervous about all the usual things. Thanks for the welcome!

jhp, thanks for the welcome here! Hope we can meet up to the "fun to travel with" comment! It's amazing that so many of you know each other. Seems like there's always something to look forward to here!

Denise, thank you for your warm welcome. Yes, it would be fun to meet with the So.Cal. group. I just pulled up one of the pictures from, I believe, the luncheon in May? (I'm trying to catch up!) There's quite a group there!

Michele

Michele & Don,
I enjoyed reading your introduction. Welcome to LCT. I know you will enjoy this board. Lots of fun people here, with a lot of cruise knowledge!

Betty

Welcome Michele and Don,
We have not done an LCT trip as of yet but definitely want to include some in our future. I often visit the B&K site and am enviously looking at "sold out Roar". I have found friendliness and information at this site as you can attest to.

We did the Voyager November Maiden crossing, from Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdal. Absolutely loved it. My one suggestion to do, if you have not already done so, is to sign up for the Cordon Bleu Cooking Class. It was great during the crossing. It sells out fast.

Deanna

Hi Michele and Don -

I am a former banker too (20+ years - VP retail management and entertainment industry), but, not retired, just changed hats and very close to you with an office in Woodland Hills.

You will love the cruise. Feel free to ask away any questions. Think of the crossing as being on a wonderful resort with many great things to do all day - or relaxing if you want instead!

Welcome Michele and Don to LCT!

Masaki

No, Michele, we've never sailed on a crossing but have been wanting too. When Alan's mom showed interest in this cruise, we jumped at the chance to go. Can't wait! And, sometimes we come to So. Cal. for the LCT get-togethers (Alan's mom lives in Irvine), so who knows, we might even meet before Nov.! In any event, looking forward to meeting you and Don.

Olivia, we didn't get to chat much at the LCT brunch. We'll have to make up for that on MUSH.

Welcome aboard shipmates Michele and Don :lct:

Here is another "Welcome to LCT", Michele and Don! Your Voyager cruise sounds wonderful!

Thanks Betty, Deanna, Kathy, Masaki, Jim and Ginny!! It's great meeting you all.
Kathy, your "Toto" dog is so cute! And, we aren't very far from you. By the way, we enjoyed your PIP pictures so much! Tks for the offer of help - we will have questions of all you experienced cruisers.
Deanna, yes, I will definitely look into the cooking class! Tks for the recommendation.
Donna, we'll have a great time experiencing our first crossing together! What to pack, how many formal nights, what are you guys doing pre-cruise, etc. etc.!! - and here's hoping there's another LCT LA gathering before then!

Hi Michele,

Yes, that photo you are referring to was our Welcome Home Marcie and Tom brunch. We had a great time. It's terrific to have these get-togethers in between LCT cruises. Here's hoping you participate in as many LCT cruises and get-togethers as possible!

Welcome aboard Michele and Don!

HI - Thanks Claudia. Love your mermaid!

michele

Welcome to LCT, Michelle and Don! We've never done a crossing, so I'll be interested to hear how you like it. I'm sure you'll like the RSSC ships, and the LCT folks you'll meet along the way! As you already have seen, this is a great group of travelers with lots and lots of information to share on a wide range of subjects. If you're not already, I'm sure you'll soon be addicted to LCT!

Hi Priscilla. Can't wait for the crossing! Donna and I will be able to report about this wonderful experience - Thanks for the welcome!
Michele

Hello all at LCT. We are Frank and Wendy from Cairns, Australia. Are we the only Aussies here??
We have only cruised once on Radisson, Voyager April 2004 Panama Canal. A wonderful cruise where we met so many super folks, many of who are LCT members! However, we are booked on Navigator 8 November for the 26 days La to LA. Is that one SPIN? Can't wait! We have also just put a deposit on a Mariner Alaska cruise in May 2006!

Frank and Wendy: Why not Alaska Aug 2006 Mariner - 100 LCT'ers cruising??????????? Joanna

Hi Joanna,
Unfortunately I am still in full time work and can not get time off then!

Hello FandW, and welcome to lct! I think we may have another aussie aboard, Lee, and she may be on that MUSH cruise that has it's own thread. I have never been on the panama canal, but am on PARTY and look forward to it. If you are on SPIN, Margo and her husband are aboard and I hope she will check in!

The only time I have met Aussies on a cruise was on the Silversea Shadow, and they were my favorite fellow guests! Very funloving! Then I went on on a leg of the World Cruise on the Voager in January, and we had 3 days in Sidney because of a storm. I loved that city! Two of my nieces went there to live and travel (one studied in Perth) and loved it! They did not want to come home !

Thank for you welcome jhp. We had fun welcoming Voyager in to Cairns on the World Cruise, heard all about the rough weather down near Tasmania. We were able to catch up with Jamie and Dana for a few hours!