Dan

St Croix

Tortola

Is there anything on the chips that say Mariner, or just RCI? I don't recall anything on previous cruises being ship specific, but then I never had chips in my possession long enough to get initimate with them LOL

We are still hoping to be sailing in 2005. We've talked with our friends from Kentucky that we met on the Grand 5 years ago, and they are up for it. Hopefully later in the year on the Something Princess LOL.

I have no idea about the timeshare thing, but it almost never makes sense financially to book direct with a cruise line.

Oh to only have had that much luck in the casino to not notice $350 in chips LOL. I'd call RCI and see, but they probably will say you are out of luck. You can probably hang on to them, and let them be an inducement to go on another cruise soon. Or you can try to find somebody going on RCI soon and see if they trust you enough to buy them from you.

History has shown that there isn't anything scientific about upgrades. Sometimes they might have already slotted you in for a higher cabin, and sold your category out, while other times they have you in your guaranteed category, and you're part of that category being sold out. Or it could be that those online agencies have sold out their share of cabins, but other companies might have holds on blocks of other cabins in those categories, and will release them later. You can always be excited, but you also shouldn't have your hopes up either, until you receive word either when your tickets arrive or when you get to the ship and find out what cabin you really are in.

You can also read more at www.queenmary.com

Most message boards have a familiar look. They aren't using the same software as here or Buggie. I don't know that overtaking them would be in Jason's (or Naomi's for that matter) best interests. They have 350,000 posts on there, and that's only since April 1. I can't imagine Jason wanting to manage a board with that much activity, much less try to pay for it all. As for old posts, this board moved twice in the last year and the old posts didn't move with us. Let's face it, message boards are hardly used as an archive of old info. When people want to know something, they rarely ever search for topics about that subject, they just ask their question. It wouldn't make sense to me for CC to go and move the millions of posts dating back almost 2 years that were available for viewing on there.

Bonaire.

Victoria BC?

They are also retro-fitting the Grand, Golden, and Star Princesses with these screens. Unfortunately, the Diamond and Sapphire aren't set up the same way, so they can't have the screens.

Tortola?

Belize?

Barbados?

Peurto Rico?

Jamaica?

If you are sailing from Long Beach, how about looking into staying on the Queen Mary? With the possible exception of Vancouver, I can't think of a "hotel" that's closer to the ships than this. I've also heard that you can do your cruise check-in from the Queen Mary. What better way to prepare for a cruise than spend the night before on a grand ship? LOL

I also collect shot glasses, and have them displayed on a wooden shelf on my wall unit. Depending on the ship you are going to be working on, you may or may not have a lot of places you go to over the course of your contract. I mean, work on the Caribbean Princess or Carnival Destiny and you won't be any place new after your first 2 weeks. If you know what kind of itineraries you will be doing, that might help you plan ahead what kind of momentos to collect.

Many give phone cards, so they can call home. A nice gesture. I'd just as soon give them extra cash, so they can buy the right phone card, or something else if they don't happen to be in need of a phone card. They don't have a lot of personal space on the ship to keep a bunch of trinkets and momentos, so if you want to give them anything, space consideration should be kept in mind.

I have no problem with thongs, as long as it's Halle Berry wearing it LOL. I have dark sunglasses, so I don't get in trouble with she-who-must-be-obeyed, who can somehow sense my neck muscles moving. :) If somebody who really shouldn't be displaying themselves like that (like me) feels like it, fine. Won't bother me, since I'll be looking at those that look good with it all hanging out LOL

I agree about how hard it is to get motivated to do anything. It's 3 months shy of 3 years since we stepped off Carnival Victory, and I'm still lazy.

Tortola?

I have consistenly heard that Princess and HAL own Alaska. I don't think Alaskan itineraries attract as many families as, say Caribbean, so taking kids on HAL might leave them wanting a bit. Princess, though, has very large ships in Alaska, and they have more extensive kids programs. Plus, since there will be 3000 or so people on the ship (as opposed to the 1400-1600 on HAL), there is more likelihood of more kids. Plus, with Princess being a little more affordable, more families would pick Princess. Where are the friends you want to stay with after the cruise? Are they in Alaska? You can have the cruise line delay your return air (for a fee of course LOL) by a few days. If you are doing a round trip cruise out of Seattle or Vancouver, you can likely book your own air for a lot less than through the cruise line, and make your own schedule. One way trips either to or from Alaska are usually pretty expensive for air, so that way would probably be better to book the air through the cruise line. Either way, a decent travel agent will be able to advise you

Hmm, judging by the iceberg in the harbour, I'll guess St John's Newfoundland LOL