I can't wait to see Ken's pictures. This is really interesting, Ngaire.

Ngaire,
What an adventure! Thanks for sharing it. I eagerly await Ken's photos! Wow!

Betty

In Darwin right now. Sorry this thread is under the wrong heading should be under Sea Mail. Just started here so I am staying here.

Internet on the ship is expensive and slow so I am not able to really read all the posts so it is nice to be on a land line and be able to read and catch up with what is happening on the home front.

Darwin - hot hot hot. Lovely little town though with a nice shopping mall with all the normal tourist items along with standard shops. There are some tours today to the outback area but having done this before we are electing to make it a lazy day. We know how hot it will be. Just browsing around and taking it easy. The passengers will enjoy South Australia and N.Z. and the cooler temperatures I am sure.

Going to have a get together tonight for the LCT group. Looking forward to that.

Looking at Kens Bali pictures it really was a pretty place when you were away from the main street. We will post of course when we get back.

Okay, off to check email and read your posts.

Having a great time, NEARLY won trivia yesterday Marc but the McKeever group beat us by one. I knew the right answer too just did not go with my instincts. Oh well always today!!

LEE --- yes we are getting off in Sydney. Ken is climbing the bridge pretty much as soon as he gets off and I have a meeting with an Australian travel agent at noon. We will be off the ship by the time you board. Shame that those times did not work that would have been great to meet you - particularly on the ship. Enjoy coming aboard hope you have fun. Sure wish you had joined in Darwin,there are quite a few getting on to day to go to Sydney.

I'm enjoying your reports, Ngaire. The komodo dragons sound like quite an experience. Looking forward to Ken's pictures. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

The only thing Ngaire has failed to mention is the parties she has or is hosting. Pearl Mesta II she is.

The second night out she and Ken hosted a Brown and Keene Travel cocktail party. Tonight they are hosting the LCT cocktail party in their suite, and later as we cruise the Coral Sea, she has offered to host a party there for my lovely better half, who's birthday it will be. She and Anthony, the Dining Room manager who was a headwater on the Diamond five years ago - our first RSSC cruise - have arranged another delightful dinner party also in Pat's honor - with the Captain, of course! In addition to being the TA with the mostest, Ngaire is the hostest with the bestest too!

Margo, thanks for the great news from home - we've been hearing good things from our (other) west coast, via newspaper and various internet sites, but nothing real definitive. And getting e-mail to work is not all that easy either. But we survive, gratiously!

Hi again:

Enroute to Thursday Island. The people who did the jumping crocodile tour enjoyed it so I wish we had done that – hindsight is 20/20. The boat had an open air viewing deck and ALSO an air conditioned cabin so that would have been perfect. NEXT TIME.

Had an LCT get together in our cabin last night and the ship did some of the best food I have seen for a small gathering. The beef on a stick, the chicken and the shrimp were outstanding. Nice to have everyone together and we had a nice time. The weather and seas have been perfect, like glass most of the time and we had a beautiful sunset to view.

We are looking forward to another day at sea today. I love this schedule of a port day and then a sea day. There is a port tasting this morning that Ken is all over that, not my cup of tea.

The staff has been great on this trip. Very accommodating and we have had some wonderful fun and LONG dinners. Certainly enjoying the entire cruising experience.

Be back later, special order tonight of lobster tails.

Wonderful, as always, to get hear from you, Ngaire. If I may ask - What is the jumping crocodile tour? Sounds exciting!

Have an extra lobster tail for Alan and me! Hope you continue to have a great time!

Ngaire,

Thanks! I love reading your sea-talk!

Betty

Thanks, Ngaire

We will be taking the same cruise next year (and joining you on the Sydney-Aukland leg), and your insights are very helpful in thinking about what to do or not do. The biggest problem is waiting that long. We are very envious of all those reporting doinng their document dances.

Well be envious.. as I am heading to the airport in a few hours to Sydney to pick up the Mariner..Sydney to LA... stopped the dance :app: ( this is looking like a military airlift... I will need a forklift at the airport.. but it keeps the bride happy.)

See ya downunder Mate.....G'day...fair Dinkum, bobs you uncle...... ( gotta get warmed up

Dan & Barb

I wanted to do the bridge climb when I was in Sydney, but it was pouring rain and coooold, and I decided not to go!! So I am really looking forward to Ken's pictures, and his review!

Love hearing from Ngaire, et al. :)

We are enroute to Thursday Island. This is a tiny island where few cruise ships stop it is going to be interesting. The main history is that of pearl diving and a base during World War II for US and Australian troops. I like these out of the way small ports. Interesting to see how people live in these remote places. Arrive today at noon so will report back after our stop.

Last night the ship threw the BEST special function party I have ever seen. Over the years I have been on board from most major holidays or events such as Christmas, New Years, July 4th, Easter etc. This Halloween party though was truly outstanding. The crew decorated the Horizon lounge complete with smoke, cobwebs it really transformed the Horizon lounge. The staff really got into the spirit and had incredibly great costumes and they were really into their parts. I was really impressed with the effort made to make this a special occasion for the guests. I am sure the Australian passengers that were on board who may not have ever seen a Halloween event (not celebrated in Australia and New Zealand) were impressed.

There really are great crew members on this ship that do a wonderful job. I often hate to single out any specific person as I hate to leave out anyone that has also done a great job. However, I feel that anyone coming on board certainly can look forward to excellence from the key staff. Barry is as always a wonderful cruise director with so much warmth and humor as he carries out his duties. Barry's key staff of Dionne and Muriel make a winning combination. They are everywhere and always upbeat, smiling and giving 100%. The bar team of Rogerio and Franck have been outstanding. Our LCT party was truly outstanding and their attitude of helpfulness and desire to please is something that is really appreciated. The dining room manager Anthony who used to be the Manager of Signatures is excelling in his job as well. The Captain Jean Marie is EVERYWHERE. Always around smiling and visiting with the guests. Gudrun is a wonderful future cruise consultant we always love to see her. We have had some wonderful waiters as well during our dinners.

One of the other highlights is getting to see LCT members I already know and then meeting LCT posters that I have never met. We also met some of my regular clients for the first time that have been a real delight. I hope they will start posting soon. One couple is coming to Antarctica with us and I know they will fit in wonderfully with those already booked for that trip. People are always the highlight of a cruise. We have had some delightful dinners and tonight we are going to Signatures with Count Florida. They are changing menus tonight but I have not seen the new offerings yet.

Off to hear the lecturer now and then LUNCH always a nice event.

Love the pictures! And that komodo dragon! WOW!!

Masaki

Approaching Thursday Island the surroundings were very pretty. Lots of very green islands with white sand beaches and calm water the most gorgeous shade of aqua. Once ashore Thursday Island is not much. We hired a taxi for 30 minutes and drove the whole island. We saw everything from the nursing home to the kindergarten. There was one main street with Internet in the library where we posted the pictures of the Komodo Dragon and Ken & Muriel at the Halloween party. However, it is interesting to see how people live and the laid back attitude of a small place like this. Certainly a lot less stress than we have in our daily lives. Nice homes not fancy but clean and the whole island was well maintained. We were only ashore for about an hour or so total and then came back to the ship. There was a nice breeze so it was not so hot.

The seas continue to be calm. It has been incredible weather and I think this is an area that is known for some rough seas. In this regard we have been truly blessed.

Off tonight to Signatures and a new item on the menu is lamb in puff pastry. That sounds interesting and is definitely in my plans for tonight. This is a menu I have not seen before.

The pictures are great. I like your description of Thursday Island. Nice to get a different perspective on life once in awhile. Hope you continue to have smooth sailing. Enjoy that lamb!

That dragon really does look prehistoric! Thanks Ken, for posting the pics!

Great photos. Thanks Ngaire and Ken for your post!

Betty

Really great photos! Thanks for posting them!

The lamb sounds delish!

Sorry have not posted for a while you know how busy it can get. Cairns was a great port of call. We have been there before but had not done the Kuranda area where you go up by train and then can come back by coach or skyrail. We were a little lazy that morning then had emails to do so by the time we got off the ship it was about 9.00 a.m. We found that the train left at 9.30 am and we had to “speed walk” through town to the station. It is only about five blocks away. We made it in plenty of time and the train journey is about 1 ½ hours long. It was okay been on better trains. At the top it is pretty touristy but it was a great day, sunny but not too hot, so we had fun just wandering around. There are a bunch of wildlife parks at the top but we chose not to do these have done this type of thing so often in the past. You can hold a koala and get your picture taken so if you have not done that it is a nice thing to do.

Coming back we took the skyrail and we absolutely loved that. I would recommend that to anyone who does not have a fear of heights or concerns about a gondola type ride. It is really high off the ground – never been on a gondola that high before. It went right on top of the hills and the rainforest canopy. You could hear all the birds and see the forest so well. I thought it was spectacular. We then came back to town and walked around. There really was not enough time in Cairns. It is a lovely area and the small town of Port Douglas is only about an hour away. Ken and I spend a week in Port Douglas a few years back and would loved to have gone back and retraced our steps.

Next stop was Hayman Island. A very expensive resort and a “leading hotel of the world”. We had about four hours ashore in two groups and use of the facilities of the hotel. It was really a delightful morning. I did get a tour of the hotel and see basic rooms up to the big suites. Basic rooms start at $650 Australian. The food costs were high as to be expected about $20 for a hamburger. Whenever I see these resorts I always think about what a good value cruising really is, the resorts are lovely but expensive.

We have continued to have absolutely incredible weather. Calm seas from the first day until today and the weather forecast predicts more good weather. This may be a blessed cruise and they may have a great Tasman Sea crossing as well. The food has been good and our dinners so very enjoyable. Cant believe it is already coming to an end the two weeks just flew by. The longer the trips I take the more I want to stay on board for a longer period of time. One of these days a world cruise will be in my future. Quite a long time away from now but one day!!!!

By the way the girl in the picture I posted from the Halloween party is Muriel for those of you who cannot recoginize her.

Thanks for checking in Ngaire. Love to hear from you and am glad you are still having a great time!

Anthony

Great to hear from you Ngaire! Tell all your staff friends that we sure look forward to meeting them in January (if we haven't already) and to stock up on the Sambuca!

You sure have been missed around here!!!! Continue having a great time!

Your trip sounds wonderful - we returned Monday night - someone asked "could you leave soon again on another cruise?" I said just as soon as I pick up my dry cleaning and pack my bags!!!! Joanna

Joanna...come to LA for MIMOSA (Dec. 4) and the post SPINN cruise (PC) Panama Canal(Dec. 5-19)!

Yes Joanna - please come to MIMOSA!!!!!

Ngaire - love hearing about your latest adventures and seeing Ken's photos. Sounds like you are having the best time!!! I can't wait to hear all about Hayman Island. I'd love to stay there one day.

Good luck for your Tasman Sea crossing. Hope the seas stay as calm as they have been!!

YOur cruise sounds wonderful ( as usual) Ngaire.. love the Halloween picture.. for a sec. I thought that the Komodo was a costume.. ha ha..
tell us more..

Sounds fantastic Ngaire - thanks for all the posts. I'm like you, always hate when the end is near. Great Halloween picture.