Having a great time so far. Barely even thinking about home or the internet. So I’m apologizing if I don’t get around to sending updates very often. It’s just too relaxing here to do anything vaguely like work.

Our day started early on Sunday as we flew from Lubbock to Dallas to Ft. Lauderdale. We were late but still arrived about noon. Heading down the escalator to baggage claim I see at least half a dozen reps from cruise companies. I find Judy with Radisson and fully expect her to tell me to collect our bags and meet her so she could point us to a bus for a ride to the pier. Remember my only other Radisson experience is the PG where a very large jumbo jet discharges hundreds of passengers all at once with a good number heading to the PG. Baggage claim and bus loading were fast and efficient put not individualized. But Yesterday, Judy found our name on her list then never left our side for the next hour. She found a sky cap for us, made sure he, not us, pulled our bags from the belt. When the bags seemed to be taking forever (about 40 minutes) she did her best to try to find out what the problem was, find the best place to stand to grab the bags, etc. Since our bags took so long to appear the bus had left for the pier and Judy offered to put us in a cab if we didn’t want to wait the 10 minutes for the next bus. Good heavens!! I’m not that spoiled, not yet anyway. We kept asking if she had other guests she needed to help and she just said that RSSC had 4 people in the terminal and she was to stay with us until we were on our way. Lovely, just lovely.

We did seem to go thru quite a few check points, ID checks, registration, metal detectors but as soon as we stepped into the lobby we were handed champagne and pointed to the pool grill for a bite to eat. After eating we went back down to the 24/7 coffee bar which is where everyone was arriving, grabbed 2 chairs and some cappuccino. We were offered more champagne if we wanted. I went and made reservations for Signatures and Latitudes. They let me make the reservation for 3 even tho I didn’t have Paul’s room number with me. By 2:40 they announced the suites were ready.

We unpacked, at 4:00 I went to an orientation at the gym, There seems to be plenty of treadmills but all aerobic equipment has a 30 minute time limit if people are waiting. Still don’t know how long the jogging track on deck 12 is. I’m guessing 1/10 of a mile. 5:15 was the lifeboat drill. 5:45 was the sail away party. At 7:00 we met Paul in the Observation lounge. No one else from LCT or CC showed up but we hooked up with Jacqueline Dolan, the harpist, and went to the Compass Rose where a lovely couple was just waiting at a table for 6 to meet new friends, too. I have no idea what I ate. It was good and I cleaned my plate but my brain was not in gear any longer.

After the day I had, I don’t know how I managed to stay awake thru dinner so I missed introductions of the social staff at 9:30 last night.

Other impressions – there are an inordinate number of wheel chairs and walkers on this cruise. Although Paul and Ted and I aren’t the youngest on board, we may be the youngest who paid for their own cruise. There are kids and teens and programs for both. So far we have encountered nothing but the usual high level of service we have all come to expect.

Wait until you meet the colonel! You can’t miss him. He told me he is on the whole world cruise and has brought 4 white suits to wear. On formal night he will stand out. He’s a charming guy, seems to be traveling alone, already knows most of the staff and many of the passengers, really is a colonel but must be retired, looks absolutely dapper in his white suit and black string tie.

Item of note – There is NO open bar even for the full world cruise passengers.
Other things I can remember – Captain is Knut Hanssen. Cruise director is Glenn Younger. If you prebooked your excursions, check the envelope carefully. We were double booked on just about everything and I had to go get it straightened out. It was handled quickly and efficiently.

Today we docked at Key West at the Naval Ship yard. We took trolleys onto town. Ted and I did not do a tour but walked around on our own. Got to the southernmost point on the continent but our digital camera seems to have given up. The picture is there but we just can’t see it. I brought along a regular camera but we missed some shots today.

I’ll try to get back here and see if you have any specific questions but it may be a few days. I’m having too much fun doing nothing. You can email me at tedcoll@swbell.net and I’ll try to check that, too.

Hi Colleen,

What a nice surprise to come home and find your post. Glad you and Ted managed to meet up with Paul. It sounds like your cruise will be a blast! I wish we could all be there with you. :)

Enjoy every minute and have a very happy holiday!

Kathy

So good to hear from you Colleen. It sounds like you're having a great time! Wondering about all these wheel chair passengers...are they on just the pre-cruise or the full round the world? I can't wait to meet the Colonel!

Colleen,
You truly sound delighted and I'm so happy for you!

Boy, I'm really confused now. We were told that Capt Dag would do the world cruise and that Jamie and Dana Logan would be the cruise director/ass't. Maybe they're going to have a change over in LA. Can you guys check on that, please?

Colleen

Great reporting. I love Knut. He has been the Captain on every single RSSC cruise I have taken and he remembers me. It has to be my big mouth. We need more details on the Colonel. I have someone in mind for him.

I am sure Doug that the staff will change in LAX. The official world cruise does not start until January 5. They are on a long time for the world cruise so it is normally the official beginning when the staff changes over.

thanks for checking in Colleen - enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Colleen, great living vicariously through you. Thanks

Fantastic, Colleen! But we need more details! :) Thanks for posting.

Masaki

colleen, super post, great details, feel like
I'm onboard again, have fun and keep the posts coming, thx..r/wes

I was excited to hear that we were going to have Capt. Knut...I just love him! Well, I'm sure Capt. Dag is great too...I've just never met him yet.

We were on the voyager 12/4-13 and Glenn said that the staff will be changing in LA.

OK, I wrote another post and will start a new thread in a minute. Meanwhile I will try to get some answers as best I can about crew changes. We did receive our passages today that fetured the Captain and some staff. It said captains are on 3 months, off 3 months as a rule but didn't give any specifics of when changes take place.

I've talked to the colonel again and he is as charming and dapper as ever. He was flirting with last night's entertainer. I don't have a lot of details as he is a popular guy.

Many of these wheel chair passengers are on a long time. Don't get me wrong. Thay are as nice as everyone else and the halls are not overly crowded or anything. But we are baby boomers with an emphasis on baby.

OK Colleen

I need to know the age of The Colonel. It's very important.

Betty (I think I am about your age!) Why do you need to know the age of The Colonel? I'm hoping Paul, Fred and the others will get to know him before I get on, and will have dinner together1

It is not for myself. I really am happily married even though that so & so I married will not travel with me. I am on the lookout for several friends.
And, dear one, I think you are much younger than I am.
Since I haven't been on a trip since July, I am aging fast. You can imagine how that comment goes over with my DH.

Thanks for the update Colleen, we sailed last New Years with Capt. Dag and Jamie and Dana, it will be nice to see them again.....We were on the 1st. segment of the world cruise on the Naviagtor a couple of years ago and we sorta felt like the young ones, even though we were in our middle fifties.... We really enjoy all ages , except most of the older group doesn't stay up for the entertainment, well, they might stay up , but fall asleep during the show. We love watching them, maybe someday will be the ones people are looking at(hope not),,,Can't wait to hear more... :) :)

The colonel is 80+, Does NOT use a walker, seems very spry, and alert.

There's another lady on board until April mamed Marge. Found out last night she got on in October in Monaco. She calls this her assisted living facility but she doesn't need any "assist." Trying to guess her age is tough. She reminds me of my 80 year old aunt but my aunt still plays tennis. I met her doing crafts.

I'll post a longer post this afternoon after my tour of Roatan Island.