Robert, why don't you consider the Navigator's
4 Dec 05, cruise to nowwhere from/to LA...only $298 pp..will get Paul and you Seven Seas
Society Membership too..r/wes

Wes...the cruise to nowhere is now a charter and unavailable.

I just found out because we are booking back-to-backs but have to leave the ship for that one night in LA and then reboard in the morning. The one really nice part is RSSC will be providing the hotel to make it work for us.

I've posted my countdown clock, but can't remember code to make it work...can anyone help?

Margo, here is my code. I added a * infront of first IMG so you could see it; just delete star and put in your own dates.

[*IMG]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2005;05;18;12;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/IMG]

Thanks Marc!

Arrghhh - chartered - foiled again! But thanks for thinking of me Colonel.

I had it booked too in the infamous 601. Ngaire says my refund is on it's way. Robert, I think you should join us for MUSH! Or at least join us for the Queen Mary "Welcome Home Cruise"

Duplicate post due to flood control?

Kathy, that happens every now and again, just ignore!

R - Join us on 007!

Robert, ya just gotta go on MUSH with us!

The Queen is looking like more of an immediate reality. MUSH sounds lovely but as you know, I have to get Paul to Europe before I can convince him to cruise. With his family descending on us in waves this year (help!!)Europe is looking more like a 2006 thing. But who knows - Paul grumbled for a month when I bought a new PC - now I can't tear him away from it. Stranger things...

Perfect that you will join us on the QMWH Cruise
We can talk Paul into joining us for MUSH. Some told me today they thought I could sell ice to eskimos (lol. Can I sell Eskimos to Paul?

Well, Kathy, he is from Vermont so almost an Eskimo, eh? Worth a shot, girl! I'm an old ice seller m'self! No dice - he is all yours!

I saw the title to this thread and thought "wow, I'm going to read about Robert's first planned cruise". I guess that will be sometime in the future! In the meantime, Robert is proof that you don't need a lot (or any) cruise experience to be a very active and appreciated member of this board.

I never even realized before that you have not yet cruised Robert! You are a special member of this board with or without cruising. Can't wait to eventually read all about your first cruise. First cruises are magical!!

Cyndi

PIP PIP! Robert, you are already on the left coast, only a few more hours to paradise ;) You have four months to plan, come ooooooooooonnnnnn <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" />

You guys are so sweet. Thanks, one day I'll say the magic words...I'm booked!

And we are all eagerly anticipating pictures of you doing the Doc Dance! Hey, now that's an idea -- we should have a thread with pictures of us doing our Doc Dances every time we get our docs. I'm not going to be getting mine for another three months -- just enough time to practice some killer moves.
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSXXXXXXXXUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/5/5_1_122.gif' border=0></a>

Great idea for a folder on ofoto!

Robert:

All kidding aside, you really should cruise the Paul Gauguin before it is gone --- now scheduled to happen at the end of '06 last I heard. You know that we rate Radisson several notches above the "run of the mill" cruise lines. What I may not have said before is that we rate the Paul Gauguin and its itineraries a notch or two above even that! I get a laugh about people who cruise the PG for their first cruise. I say "what was your first car, a Ferrari?" Then I get a laugh out of the same people when they then try to find a cruise as good as on the PG! Maybe someday, someone actually will! For anyone who can take only one cruise in their life, this would be it.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Richard, well said.

Robert, what is holding you back from cruising?

Richard has a good point, Robert.

When the 2006, "summer in Tahiti" specials come out, you should jump! You've got an advantage living in L.A. already!

You get the best cruise in the world, *and* you get a trip to the South Pacific. Golden!

Robert: Maybe Paul will never want to cruise - maybe you'll just have to pick one and go alone - but as you can tell, you're never really alone - when I told Tony I had booked a B2B Greece and Italy he said "I don't know if I want to do that" I told him it's you or one of my divorced girlfriends - but I WAS GOING!!! Now he is as addicted as I am - Joanna

Yes, the PG is something I'd like to do but I've told Paul Europe land first. With all his family coming out this year at various points (egad) that takes '05 out of the running which means Europe in '06 and maybe a cruise also. I'd like to do MUSH but unless I act now I fear I'll miss out.

Joanna - I can just picture the look on his face if I told him I was going alone or with a friend. Oh dear...

It does not help my cause to have huge news stories about sick boats like that which is dogging RCCL at the moment!

Robert,

RSSC has some of the highest CDC cleanliness ratings at sea.

Kathy -

It's a topic I try to avoid to the point of him asking me this morning why I keep changing the channel every time the story came on...lol...

Robert,

You have met many on this board. Even hosted party's. We have talked when you were online in LV.

I travel alone and all went very well. RCCL with more then a thousand people well you know to many people.

Try a short cruise alone or with a friend just to get a taste of RSSC.

The Queen I have heard not good. Same old class system.


Regards, Judy


JPar

Joanna - I can just picture the look on his face if I told him I was going alone or with a friend. Oh dear...

Same look on Tony's face - they need to know you are serious - I am leaving!!!! Joanna

Sorry to confuse you, JPar. The reference to the "Cruise on the Queen Mary" is for Brunch at the Queen Mary ONE which is now a hotel and restaurant permanently docked in Long Beach, California. Many of us Californians (and some Texans, Ohioans, Arizonans) will be gathing for brunch on May 1st.

Kathy,

So sorry I did not know about your Queen!


Regards, JPar

Robert:

The thing about the Paul Gauguin is, after 2006, she's gone forever according to my best info at this time. Europe will always be there. It didn't change at all between our trips there in '98, '01, and '03. But I think and hope that Paul will understand that the PG cruise around Tahiti is time sensitive! You probably will not be able to go in '07, as the ship will not be there! In our opinions, Europe is perhaps a "questionable" cruise destination. By that, we mean that much of Europe is probably best seen via land and not via cruise. However, French Polynesia (in our opinion) is not only best but is ONLY to be seen by cruise, because of the very high prices and questionable quality of land resorts there. Windstar has already left the Franch polynesian market. Princess' Tahitian Princess is scheduled to leave that itinerary at the end of '06, and you wouldn't like that "nickle and diming" cruise anyway. And after the end of '06 the PG is currently scheduled to leave this area. It is well worth seeing, and IMO is the best cruise destination there is! It's kind of a now or never situation, that caused us to cancel a cruise of eastern Italy, the Greek Isles and Athens to take one last go on the PG. Those European destinations will still be there, and will still look the same, in the future ---- as they have done for the past 500 or so years. But our only opportunity to go to FP "the right way" will soon be gone. If you agree, I hope Paul will agree that at times one must sieze the moment, and take an opportunity that probably won't be there much longer.

BTW, there has never been any kind of "epidemic" on any Radisson cruise. These problems on cruises have all been traced to one thing --- transferable diseases that spread in a very contained environment which is very crowded. Radisson ships are not crowded at all. I am a bit claustrophobic, and that is one reason we cruise Radisson. Because a Radisson cruise is not a bunch of people compacted together, diseases do not spread among the guests as on other lines. Quite to the contrary, I have seen an example of how a PG cruise can be good for one's health. On our '03 PG cruise, a couple came onboard and the man was suffering from ALS. He was in a wheel chair and could not walk. He could barely use his arms. Later in the cruise, I saw him again, as he WALKED up to me! He said the cruise had been good for him, and that he felt better for it, and could walk now and didn't understand why. He told senior staff about it, and they made him a VERY GOOD DEAL for staying on a second week, which he decided to do. By the end of the second week (we too were on a back to back) this man seemed almost unimpaired! And I certainly hope his recovery has continued. Also, I have a friend who is a doctor who has actually PRESCRIBED relaxing and unhurried cruises like the PG to those with stresss related symptoms. He says (though I can't confirm) that the IRS has not objected to their tax deductibility under the circumstances! So you might show this post to Paul, and tell him that one who cruises Radisson a lot has some evidence that a cruise on the PG is not bad for your health, but is actually good for your health! If he wants more details, he is more than welcome to email me.

Hope this helps,
Richard :) :) :)

Thanks, Richard for the information and interesting asides. You are right about Europe not going anywhere vs the PG really going somewhere (else). I'll discuss with Paul and see how it goes.

Richard,

Someone is pulling your leg about a cruise being an allowed medical expense. I sure wish it were true, but, alas if they chose to audit him, it would be disallowed. You can claim whatever deductions you think are deductible. You also take responsibility. There is not much difference between tax fraud and tax evasion.

Yes, I think my doctor was kidding on that one! But I wasn't kidding about the man with ALS, and how he improved after two weeks on the PG, as I actually witnessed that. The point I want Robert and Paul to understand is all this news coverage about disease outbreaks on cruise ships doesn't apply to Radisson, and that Radisson has been free of such problems. Oh, sure, one can get sick on a Radisson cruise, just like at home or any where else. How Radisson has avoided this is a matter of guessing. My guess is the uncrowded conditions on Radisson just don't allow for fast spread of such diseases. My son-in-law thinks that Radisson's high percentage of balconies and the better air ventilation that brings is the reason.

Bottom line is that a Radisson cruise is a healthy experience.

Thanks,
Richard :) ;) :)

Robert, you need to listen to Richard. He knows his stuff about the PG. Is there still room on PIP? We'd love for you & Paul to come.

Ok, bumping this thread up again, found a good
3 day on the Navigator (Freeport to NY) only $711).. Robert, here is you chance to visit NY
after your first cruise...r/wes

Thanks, Colonel. I'll go check it out right now!

Joanna, I had to laugh when I read your posting. Dave put off our traveling, so one day about eight years ago I made reservations at a couples only spot and I told him that night that if he didn't go I would have to find someone else. He went and never stopped wanting to go. Sometimes it works!

I may very well end up doing a few cruises by myself in the future as Dave's interest in traveling is slowing down again.

Trish

Loon,

I did that with my first husband too. He HATED to travel because he was in sales and did it for a living so a vacation to him meant sitting on the beach somewhere. I surprised him and booked a trip (a week in New Orleans) and he had the time of his life. I planned everything around what he'd like to do. It certainly was our best vacation together.

Robert, need help with a good surprise for Paul?

Robert, 3 days on the Navigator would be perfect! It will only leave you both wanting for MORE, MORE!!!! A great way to convince someone that cruising is a wonderful way to travel. Plus, if my memory serves me correctly, Paul is a chef, right? With New York having so many fine restaurants would that be a way to tempt him?