Didn't post last night so it is really 1-4-05 and we seem to be escorted by the Coast Guard as we get into San Diego to clear Customs.

I think I posted under Paul’s post that we kicked in the New Year on the pool deck with champagne, desserts, music, and a piñata, while watching fireworks on the shore of Acapulco.

Spent a sea day before we got to Cabo San Lucas (with no internet connection in Cabo) and are having our last sea day today. I can get into these sea days. They are just so relaxing. Maybe I can talk Ted into doing a crossing sometime.

The daily Passages has noted that they will try to get the various football games including the Superbowl but it will depend on the satellite at the time. Today we had our first bit of ran and the CNN video portion was intermittent but the audio was fine. We are getting lots of news about the Tsunami and most of us are just so relaxed we really aren’t paying much attention to the day to day stuff.

Apparently we’ve been blacklisted from singing the word of the day. First let me explain. The Passages announces the time and says the first 8 people who sing a song for the cruise director get a token. Here’s what happened. Yesterday Ted and I each got a song to sing and found the cruise director. When we told her we had songs she said we could only sing one together. Prior to this (day 14) we had sung individual songs 4 times. Hardly a monopoly – 4 out of 13 days. We sang our song, got our token, and watched as she let other married couples sing individual songs and get 2 tokens. I stood there looking confused and so she explained that people had complained that we were getting too many chances to sing. Well, EXCUSE ME!!!!! I don’t golf, play ping pong, bowl, play bocce, darts or paddle tennis. Good heavens, there are many people on this ship winning far more tokens than Ted and I. Personally, I think who ever complained should have been politely ignored or told where and when to find the cruise director each day to earn the tokens themselves. I do not think I should have been blacklisted since I now find myself looking at all the passengers wondering who is it that thinks I’ve played a game too often. Oh well, all you BAIL cruisers, the cruise director is getting off in LA.

This will probably be my last long post. Tomorrow we get called to the theater by decks to meet with US customs individually, starting at 8 am. I think we should all show up in our bathrobes. I’ll say my goodbyes to Paul and then spend the day in San Diego. Ted is ready to go home but I could get used to this. I miss my cats and I miss my large master bath, otherwise,….no complaints.

Tomorrow the ship may feel deserted. Several families got off in Cabo, more debark in San Diego and about 70 World Cruisers have a bon voyage party to get to. The weather has turned cold, relatively speaking. It’s only 61 degrees out there. This may help ease me back to the real world.

Off to the captain’s farewell party. Our last formal night. Oh I forgot. I went to a cooking demonstration today. We got a wonderful recipe for a fish that I think I can actually pull off. Besides it is on tonight’s menu. Now if I could just have someone do all the cutting and prep work for me, I could cook like the Executive Chef does.

Colleen, another great post, too bad about the tokens...you can call our voice mail, sing a song, and we will send you a token..LOL..have enjoyed your posts..super work..r/wes

Thanks for posting! That stinks about the tokens...some people...sheesh! :rolleyes:

Amazing - you'd think people would be more interested in relaxing! Thanks for the update and sing your hearts out anyway!

I can't imagine worrying about how many tokens somebody is winning; heck, we never even tried to win one and I can't imagine that we were in the minority. It's not like the person who has the most tokens wins Sue's cruise or something (sorry, couldn't resist)!

I'm glad you have had a good time, Colleen!

I bet they would pay me tokens if I didn't sing! I sing like alfalfa.

We also had the rule where only one member of a couple could earn a token for the daily phrase. However, you did occassionally see both partners get a token. I think Glenn was allowing that for certain folks, who hadn't earned many tokens, to earn a token.

Sue, I guess I better not admit how many tokens we have earned on our last few cruises... ;)

.....or how many tokens are sitting in our "cruise drawer" at home. :D

I like to stay competitive on cruises....keeps my mind sharp.

LOL Pam! Too funny.

Colleen, love the updates. Yep, it's c-c-c-cold down here in SoCal these days!

What kind of fish did they teach you to cook?

I think it takes 43,560 tokens to win the Ferrari; I think the free cruise was less.

Marc

Now Marc, if they make you play as couples, do you think maybe they would award a "His and Her" Ferrari? <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />
And let everyone on the Diamond know ahead of time: I plan on bringing my one token with me...so I'll start off ahead of everyone else!

We cooked a fish called Talbot, I think but he said any flat white fish would work.

The cold weather is making it easier to leave the ship this morning but... I could get used to this.

so, what is a token worth? What do you get for collecting them?

sorry to be in the dark but haven't yet cruised on Radisson.
---

Leslie

The tokens really have zero value. You can cash them in for cups, bookmarks, bags etc with RSSC logo. However, it is a BIG thing to many. It is not the prices it is the "winning" and collecting that counts. I have one client that literally has hundreds. I love to win them too but I then give them away, I have three sitting on my chair in the office I need to send to my client that loves to collect them. I only play trivia though for tokens.

Ngaire, so thats how Ralph has 100s!!!! You send them to him!!!!

I am still waiting for better "gifts." They now sell the peanut vases in the gift shop, that would be a nice one. Also the Radisson logo key ring. Of course, would be nice to get ball caps and jackets, too.

We have four duffel bags, definitely the best item. My mother has eight napkin rings now. They just need to update their gifts. I keep hearing that they are coming out with new items but I never see anything new on the list. So, I just collect. I guess I will never catch up with Ralph, though.

Ngaire, tell your friend that she has to give back the tokens. Voyager is running so low on their supply that they are shorting Colleen and Ted! And it's all because she plans to wallpaper a room or something.

He wins them all himself my few little tokens from Trivia are a meaningless number in comparision to what he wins. They are becoming such a big thing they had better start making more no one wants to give them up for prizes.

I heard that they will get new prizes for the world cruise so let's make sure Marcie and Paul tell us what they are.

Marc may be the token king but I might be the RSSC T Shirt queen. My prize possesions are my 4 Song of Flower T shirts. I also have several from every ship except the Voyager. I will remedy that this year!