Greetings from aboard MINT!

Well....we're having a GREAT time! From the Westin, to boarding (a breeze)and lunch on the pool deck yesterday to Todd's Cosmo party last night, to a fabulous dinner, to winning over $400 at 3 card poker last night...it just doesn't get any better! This is such a great bunch of friends!

Apparently there is some problem with something mechanical so our port stop in Cabo was cancelled. We each received $150 shipboard credit as a consolation. Not bad....So instead of 3 sea days, we now have 4. We're fine with this because we're just hear to all play together anyway. I've been to Mexico dozens of times besides. So, apparently we're limping along (although it sure isn't noticeably slower??). I promptly used the credit and AmEx $300 credit to book several upcoming massages at the spa. HEAVEN! We're in cabin #921 (category C). We jumped on that 2 category upgrade that Radisson offered for 1 day (apparently in error!) It is the nicest cabin I've ever been in...so spacious and an oversized balcony. We're next door to Gretchen & George who are next door to Marty & Erika, who are next door to Joanna & Tony, who are next door to Jim & Jan...well you get the picture. Like I said, it just doesn't get any better! We had room service this morning....ham & cheese omlettes, fruit, danish....HEAVEN!

Last night we ate with Joanna & Tony, Bill & Nancy and their good friends Julie & Ed. We were the last table to leave (and I'm sure the noisiest)...what a surprise! Lingered over espresso and Sambuca and laughed until our sides ached. This seems to always be the case at every dinner on every ship. Hmmmm....could be more than just coincidental! After dinner we hit the casino where I had great luck with 3 card poker. I won $400...not bad for an hour's fun!

Ray pulled off the jewelry surprise for Penny perfectly! It really is a gorgeous pendent and she wore it to Todd's party last night. It arrived at our home Fed Ex on Wednesday and from that moment, I never took my eyes off it! Security at Ft. Knox could not have been better.

Daughter Jill and sister Merrily came on board with us yesterday as guests as did Cyndi and her cute Mom, Dorothy. I'm so happy this worked out so well and they were all able to meet everyone. It was a beautiful sunny day and we had lots of fun eating and mingling, and yes,....did I mention more cosmos on the pool deck! Tonight is formal night and we're eating with Olivia, Todd, Lawrence, Joanna & Tony. I'm so excited to see Todd in his new tux and Olivia in her son's wedding dress! Of course there is a pre-cocktail party first....gee,what a surprise! After dinner we're expecting some great pole dancing from Suzanne. I'm sure she won't disappoint! This afternoon we'll have sun time on deck and trivia. Tomorrow morning we have Ngaire and Ken's Africa update with photos etc. Everyone is so psyched about ROAR!!!

Well, that's about all my news here. Sorry if this sounds the same as the letters I use to write home from camp when I was 10. I'll let Masaki,MarnaLou and others do the professional writing!

Just wanted to say hi from all of us here on the MINT!!

Wow Marcie,
So far sounds great.. let the ship limp along Mexican Riv as long as there are friends and cocktails!
Oh, please post a picture of
"Olivia in her sons wedding dress"
LOL
I know what you meant to write but that is funny how you wrote it!
Have fun

Hi Marcie

What a time you are all having!!!! Wish we were there to join in!

Please keep us posted. In the meantime, we are trying to stir things up on here! However, we miss you guys a lot!

Hugs to you all!!

I am so glad you are having a great time! I miss all of you and thanks so much for posting updates!

Thanks for posting, Marcie. Love to hear about the shipboard antics!

Marcie, thanks for taking time to write..sounds
like the perfect cruise with friends..keep the notes coming...r/wes

Wish we could have come along - it is snowing here in Santa Fe today - that's good news - maybe the ski area will open by Thanksgiving. Sounds like you're having a wonderful time - can't wait to hear more about it and especially about the ROAR presentation.

Leslie

Oh, what fun! Marcie, I've told one of my favorite 3-card poker dealers to give you a hug for me; her name is Ruth, and she's from the Phillipines. She is absolutely hilarious when she gets to know you, and never forgets your name.

Have a BALL!!! And keep posting! I tried to set a good example for you.

Thanks for taking the time to post, Marcie. What a wonderful time you are all having!

Marcie

It all sounds like heaven. If you have read any of the other posts than you have seen how all the non-mINTers are feeling. Like we are going through a crisis. But shopping & eating & fun times on the board with those of us left behind are making it somewhat bearable.
Please, please, more news from Camp Mariner when you can tear yourself away from all the fun & frolic.

Picture's please. Be the first to post from a ship. Even if it's only one.

Thanks so much for allowing us a vicarious taste of the joyous experience you are having! It is really thoughtful of you to take a break to remember us back on land, and I honestly appreciate it!
What's on your formal dinner plate tonight?
Cheers! <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />
Ash

Thanks Marcie - I'm soooooo envious, we just love to party and laugh and have cocktails and parties and gamble in the casino, all that stuff you are doing -- look forward to some pictures, but be sure and post one of Suzanne doing a pole dance!!!!! have fune!

Marcie,


Thank you for posting. Sounds like you are all having so much fun. Wish we were there!!

Betty

I'm going to ride Marcie's coattails here (as it were) since probably don't need to start yet another MINT thread. :)

Having a wonderful time here - "wish all of you were here as well" (I know, I know - it really doesn't sound like much when we keep saying it over and over but we really do mean it).

Amanda and I must be catching up on lost sleep - we've been SO tired for the last few days. We had to leave the precruise party at the Westin early because we were tired from the car trip down from Sacramento to LAX and last night, had to go to bed around 10 pm or so because ... well, just because.

Had a great time at the cosmo party last night though - those things are deadly since you really can't taste the alcohol in them and they sneak up on you. It's great to finally put faces to people that you've been talking to online for such a while now and it's good to see that people are pretty much how they come across on LCT as well!

Had dinner last night with Ana Luisa (gatowoman) and Peter in Compass Rose. Food as always was fantastic and a very nice Ravenswood Zin went well with the pork that Peter and I had.

This AM, got up late - had room service delivered at 9 or so (they screwed up our room service order initially but that's another story). Pecan waffles and crab eggs benedict ... yummmm. :) After which, walked around the ship a bit and ran into various LCTers (NHCruisers, the jawbreakers) and then went up on deck for the poolside BBQ which was also very good (couldn't really eat that much since we had breakfast such a short time ago but nibbled on the grilled ahi and mahi which were quite good with the salsa). Up on deck, ran into practically everybody - Gretchen, Erika, Tony Mondae, Suzanne, Sheri and Scott, Gil, Ray and Penny, Jim and Jan, Julie Harris - it's amazing how close we've all gotten in a short time.

Need to get ready for tonight - 4 pm is the flambe tea time as well as the tequila tasting. I'm going to have to clone myself so I can be in 2 places at the same time. :) And then tonight is formal night with the Captain's reception ... oh, will the drinking ever stop?? :D

Masaki

On boarding we all seemed to arrive at the exact same moment. Ken and I were so distracted and hugging everyone we forgot to give our suitcases to the porters outside and carried them in through security screening and check in. Ended carrying them on board and then they were taken to our room. I guess that is a good way to get your bags fast but it was an honest mistake. How many times have I dont this routine, cant believe we did that.

Yes, it was a great Cosmo party last night, Todd was behind the bar in Stars shaking up a storm. This was then followed by a great dinner, with Suzanne, Sheri, Lawrence, Julie and of course Ken. I had prime rib which was great and then followed up with my mixed berries and cream.

Been so nice to meet some of the LCT people I did not already know and feel like we are old friends already. Plus seeing all those I have grown to enjoy cruising with so much. Seven days is going to be too short. We have a cocktail party every night so the bar bills wont be high on this trip.

Tonight is Kareoke night, we need to get Lawrence and Suzanne in form to "break in" those who are not familiar with the excitment of Kareoke with the LCT group.

Be back later - off to Tequlia 101

On boarding we all seemed to arrive at the exact same moment. Ken and I were so distracted and hugging everyone we forgot to give our suitcases to the porters outside and carried them in through security screening and check in. Ended carrying them on board and then they were taken to our room. I guess that is a good way to get your bags fast but it was an honest mistake. How many times have I dont this routine, cant believe we did that.

Yes, it was a great Cosmo party last night, Todd was behind the bar in Stars shaking up a storm. This was then followed by a great dinner, with Suzanne, Sheri, Lawrence, Julie and of course Ken. I had prime rib which was great and then followed up with my mixed berries and cream.

Been so nice to meet some of the LCT people I did not already know and feel like we are old friends already. Plus seeing all those I have grown to enjoy cruising with so much. Seven days is going to be too short. We have a cocktail party every night so the bar bills wont be high on this trip.

Tonight is Kareoke night, we need to get Lawrence and Suzanne in form to "break in" those who are not familiar with the excitment of Kareoke with the LCT group.

Be back later - off to Tequlia 101

Marcie and Masaki, thanks for the interesting tid bits! Try and post more pictures and tell Marcie to let us poor ROARer's left behind know all about the ROAR presentation :hyper:

great posts, everyone....keep it up!

You guys are the best!! Thanks for soooo many updates, we really do appreciate them.

Todd just sent a cosmo party picture and I will post it below:

I've never had a Cosmo that looked that good!

Please tell me the gift bag got delivered.

Great to hear from Masaki and Ngaire!

You guys are having too much fun! We're living through your posts!

Todd, I can taste those fabulous Cosmos now! That's a super photo of you!

Live photos from the ship at sea. Cool. Way to go Todd.

Pam-

Thank you so much! Yes I received the little fellas in great shape! We used 4 Grey Goose's (Geese?) at the Todd Cosmo party last night! There must have been about 60 people there.....my arms are still tired from all that shaking! I had a great bartender assisting (I trained him on the making of a prper Todd Cosmo) his name is Felipe and he is from Santiago, Chile.

Talk later.

Oh, good! I couldn't imagine that two would cover the entire group but hoped it would help some! Todd, are you going to be able to do the PARTY cruise next year? Maybe if you do, I'll get to taste one of your Cosmo's. I had one at the previous cruisers' party and I think it was straight vodka (I didn't specify Gray Goose because we couldn't stay long; reservations at Latitudes) with a little pink coloring in it.

Hey guys. Sounds like a great time. Marcy, save all your winnings for the world cruise. Would like to see you win big during the long cruise.
Mr. Todd , We haven't met but a Grey Goose Cosmo sounds like heaven. Do you think you could send us off in LA on Jan 5th with one of those!!!
Don't forget, don't drink the water

Todd,
Su mirada gris Todd fantástico del cosmos del ganso..

or should slightly tranlate to your Grey goose Cosmos look fantastic Todd! lol
How fun! Thanks for keeping us all very jealous and thirsty.. all we get are Karens mints... :D

Hey Wes, don't ya think one of these Mintsters should be sending us plate pictures from dinner? :rolleyes:

Claudia,

You make me laugh. We have friends (we met on the Mariner in 2001) who do just that! They take photos of food and email those with little stories about their travels. We sent them a photo of an empty dish of Cinnamon Ice Cream from our last trip on the Mariner-their favorite! Here is one of theirs....

My mom and I had the best time as visitors on the Mariner Friday. We so enjoyed meeting Marcie and Tom, her daughter Jill and sister Merrily, Ngarie and Ken, Julie, Joanna, Sheri and Scott, Suzanne, Todd, Gil, Maskai and Amanda. What a great group you are :) :) :) There were so many more we didn't have a chance to meet. I'm so sorry about that. :( But everyone made us feel so welcome and part of the group. We really should have found a walkin closet to hide out in for the rest of the cruise!!! :D :D But alas, OUR disembarkation was scheduled for that same day at 4:00. It went too fast.

Loved the pictures Kathy & Todd posted and what fun to read everyone's posts here. You MINTERS are having an amazing time. Happy cruising to all of you!!!

Cyndi

I don't know, what do the rest of you who are not on MINT think, don't you just think there is too much partying, too much cocktailing, too much casino winning, too much eating, too much laughing, too much hanging out at the pool, too much fun??????? This all just sounds so fun, I can't believe we didn't sign up (although just getting back from Canada/New England probably had something to do with that - you know, money, etc) but I think I am just too envious!! WOW these guys are having a great cruise, I just hope the Mariner can survive all this frivolity!! Whooohooo party on MINTers, all the rest of us can do is read and enjoy your posts and sit home and cry in our beer! :mecry: :mecry: :mecry:

Cyndi,

As I read your post about spending the day on the Mariner with all our friends, I couldn't help thinking, if I were in that position, they would, no doubt, have to drag me off kickin' & screamin'. Not a pretty image! :)
Kathy, tooo funny, your friends and their photos of the food.LOL!
Great pic, Todd!! I can almost taste those cosmos.

Betty

Betty,

Believe me, I thought about it. But I had my Mom with me - so I had to behave :D :D :D

Cyndi

Today is Sunday and we are still at sea. Must be somewhere near Los Cabos this morning. Last night was formal night and I got all dressed up in the new Tux. My first time to wear it and I had a great time. We were all out dancing last night.....we have a few non-pro pole dancers with us and I was out there getting freaky too! Also last night was the Captain's reception and it was held before dinner in the atrium area of the ship. Great party location because it is open for 7 or so floors and you can see people on all levels dressed for formal night. Lot's of fun.

This morning I slept in a bit and we had a 1 hour time change ahead. So this morning was room service breakfast, the gym and then I have lunch coming up with Olivia and her daughter Joanna shortly. Hopefully after lunch a little sun on the deck.....we still have some clouds down here.

Hi...me again!

Started the day off with room service then Tom and I both had massages. AHHH...after last night's activities the timing was perfect!

We just finished seeing all the wonderful photos of Africa. Ken and Ngaire did such an excellent job of photographing many different animals (including 2 mating lions...into some very rough sex! :eek: ). We saw photos of Cape Grace, Table Mountain, Singita with very detailed shots within the actual rooms and grounds. It just gets me even more excited for ROAR!!

Last night was formal night. It all started off funny because Lawrence grabbed a dark suit (thinking it was his tux) and Tom completely forgot his tux shirt (but had the studs etc.) so Tom wore Lawrence's shirt. Between the two of them they actually had a whole outfit. Lawrence wore his dark suit. We had a great time with Olivia (in her gorgeous dress), Joanna, Todd (looking so handsome in his new tux), Lawrence, Joanna & Tony Mondae. I had the surf and turf by ordering both the filet and lobster tail! There is a senior Marines Master Chief Sergeant on board. He was in his dress blues and looked so distinguised. He just returned from his 2nd tour in Iraq. He stopped at our table and shared his experiences with us etc. Such a PROUD MAN. He talked with us for about 10 minutes and as he walked away from our table we gave him a huge round of applause and told him how much we appreciate his service to our country. We sure enjoyed talking to him.

After our espresso and Sambuca we went to the Star's Lounge for kareoke night. George (Mr. MarnaLou) did a wonderful solo, then Ken & Lawrence did two duets....very good job! (Beatles song). Suzanne & Paige (Anthony's wife) did simultaneeous pole dancing and they were so good!! With a little practice they could really work up a routine and take it on the road! Paige is an RN but did some pole dancing in her previous life....she is good!! It was so fun watching them both together. Of course than everyone did lots of dancing in the disco...Gil and Olivia looked great doing some wild moves! Suzanne and Tom Cruise (this is what Ngaire nicknamed my husband) did their usual wild dancing, the Masakis looked so great together on the dance floor and of course our "princess" Ngaire was seldom off the dance floor (Ken too!). Julie (who works for Ngaire) is absolutely gorgeous and has captivated the hearts of all the men. Not only is she beautiful, she's as sweet as they come too and so much fun. Too many things to mention but know we all had such a fun night!!! BTW, Jean and Clyde were there for the kareoke part and Jean said that this is the latest they've ever stayed up on a cruise. Clyde is 89 and in unbelieveable shape! Of course Jean is cute as a button which I knew she would be with that avitar of hers!

Tonight is our big group dinner in LaVeranda which will really be a hoot! At 9:45 is Kenny Smiles so we'd like to see him. Good chance of another night in the disco again! Tomorrow we're in Mazatlan with all of us going on the private tour including lunch that Olivia set up.

Well, off to go meet "the gang" on the pool deck for lunch. Yesterday I had the steak sandwich and it was so good I ate another one...just couldn't resist! Bye!!

Really enjoying all the reports, especially yours, Marcie! You know how we females love all the details!!

Marcie, I'm glad you're having such a good time. Don't you love it when there's lots of dancing in the disco.? One of my favorite parts of cruising is getting to dance! I don't know how to pole dance though. Maybe Suzanne and Paige will give lessons <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" /> . I love reading your reports. Keep them coming.

You guys are having too much fun!!! There should be a law! LOL!!!!

Betty

Thanks for posting from the MINT. Sounds like you are all having a wonderful time! I thought we had a great time with our Bloody Mary's at brunch this morning! Apparently not as good of a time as all of you are having! LOL! Continue to have a good time - you all deserve it! Have a brandy for all of us that got left behind! :)

Thanks for posting, minters.

Sounds like an amazing time. And those cosmos......... heaven! Todd, what a terrific picture of you. Just as I pictured you, our LCT Cosmo King! Can we talk you into coming on BRAVO?

Enjoy the rest of the trip. Wish we were all there with you.

Kathy