avie

You are correct. But I am modest.

Eight looks about right -- your group and ours. I think we may get a few more as the date gets closer. I'm optimistic. Maybe you have to give Princess a few more handicap points (but not too many). Thanks for correcting my error. Avie

Joey -- Oooops I just realized that I spelled Marcia's name wrong. Not Marsha but Marcia. I would appreciate your correcting the group list. One really cannot trust whatever brain is left. Thanks.

When is your last day at the office... David finishes next Saturday... Lucky, Lucky David. My last day in the office (hopefully) is Wednesday, the 17th. I've scheduled vacation beginning the 18th, but all good plans, etc. etc. etc. Thanks for the suggestions for the return to the LAX area. We're staying at the Westin on Century, so we do have the shuttle from LAX.

Joey, On our return to Los Angeles, we will be overnighting near LAX (driving out to the Getty during the afternoon, and then meeting friends for dinner). What is your recommendation for transportation from San Pedro? Should we take a taxi the hotel from the cruise terminal? taxi to Long Beach Airport and then get a car from there? Take the ship transportation to LAX? Arrange for a pseudo limo? Or try to get the concierge on the ship to make arrangements? Thanks. Avie

Sure, we're in (if food is involved, we're there!!! But meeting all is even more important ). Time: whenever. we're game. I believe David's philosophy is commendable!!! We're in "cruise mode" already. Avie PS -- Opened up the Quarterdeck website. Looks like a great place to go. We're ready. Thanks to all for the suggestion and coordination. A

Bon Voyage to all aboard!!!

We love BBQ; same with conche chowder;same with the requisite beer! Really, we like food. Just name the place.

Yum -- So who cares if my clothes won't button. Count us in -- Marsha and Ray's flight from RI should be in by then, and we will be arriving early afternoon.

I'm declaring progress -- stopped the newspaper; stopped the mail; got a large, fast memory card for the camera; got an extra battery pack for the camera -- we're creeping up on the readiness scale.

No pinch hitters allowed.

Damn lobbyist 8:30 sounds good for us (we will be meeting Marsha and Ray at their motel around 7:30ish)- count us (4) in -- wherever. Actually the brew pub sounds good (especially the brew portion). Perhaps you could send (post) the Comfort Inn at which you will be staying. That way, I can invoke Mapquest and find out the area were are talking about (and how to get there). Thanks.

Eightish may work out for us -- we'll arrive relatively early afternoon, but Marsha and Ray wil be getting in early evening. I don't have any idea where we are staying with relation to your hotel. (We are probably closer to the airport.) But we'll probably have a car. I vote for other than Outback -- perhaps seafood! (Yes, it may even be local!) What are your druthers?

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Good Looks!!!!!!

I haven't heard a word about the specialty dining! I did call the Captain's Club, and was told that they did not have the information -- just wait and I would be notified. Ah, well- just love the communication. I guess I will find out when I get on board -- maybe.

i don't know what our plans are yet. It depends on the arrival time for Marsha and Ray. But, keep us informed of the meet-up. Thanks. Avie

ok i don't think i know it where is it in the district? It's in the trendy Penn Quarter area of downtown -- 9th and G St. NW; near what used to be called MCI Center (now Verizon Center), and at the Gallery Place Metro. Now, a great area -- a few years ago, not so nice!

Favorite restaurant? That's a hard one! (We have faves for various food-types.) The one we ate at last night was Zaytinya. Owned by the same chef that has Jaleo (Spanish tapas). Food is great, decor is inviting, and service is wonderful. What more can one want?

Happy New Year! Joey, you do have excellent taste. You selected a really wonderful wine. We had a great time. We went to one of our favorite restaurants in the District, and had Mezze. Lots of small plates of Mediteranean foods. But the people there just keep on getting younger!!! Or we're getting older!!! Avie

Sorry for the confusion on the Celebrity 'champagne." I referred to it as "faux" champagne only because I was being super technical in this super technical world in which we reside. From memory, I believed it was technically a sparkling wine as the grapes did not come exclusively from the extremely small Champagne region of France. It may be a true champagne, and again it may not. But that is irrelevant. Mea Culpa. Regardless of what its pedigree is, the wine is not bad. Indeed, I enjoyed it, and found having the bottle delivered to the room a very nice touch. The dress code is published on the Celebrity website under the "before you cruise" category, and then under the Frequently Asked Questions. Notwithstanding the formality of the code, the passengers wear what they desire. Joey is correct. From our observations on our only other X cruise, some people followed the code, and some didn't. For example, I wore a tie and jacket on the dressier, non-formal evenings -- I was in the minority! On formal evenings, I wore a tux; Betty doesn't like formal dresses, and she wore her "Auntie Mame" outfits!!! Most importantly, I never saw anyone booted out of a venue because of dress!!! Getting off the soapbox -- I've gotten to the mundane - but important - phase of cruise preparation -- I notified the newspaper of the stop and start dates. I was going to do this with the mail, but the USPS web site won't let me do it yet. Next comes preparation of a spreadsheet with our contact information as well as other info for our home and dog (who, regretfully, we are not permitted to bring with us!). And then copying the essential pages from our passports and the credit cards we are taking with us so we may have the facsimiles with us in case the orginals do a disappearing act. The copies do make life a little easier if replacements are needed. Off to get dressed for dinner. We usually don't do the accepted "party" things for New Years Eve, but we do enjoy going out for a wonderful dinner. And that's where we will be this evening when the ball drops. Have a fantanstic New Year. Avie

Actually, the faux bubbly comes with the cabin -- stop in and share! I would't be too concerned about the weather at IAD. So far, we've had spring and fall weather -- very little winter weather. And our worst storms are usually around President's Day. The experts should be coming out with the 30 day outlook soon. I'll keep you posted, And with the 3 hour time difference and the choice of many carriers, you have the opportunity to re-route. We're scheduled to leave IAD at 8:00 that morning. Lucky you -- spending the day in SF. But I usually don't go shopping there -- just eating! Finally, I'm declaring progress. Completed the on-line check-in today. That really makes the cruise real. Avie

Thanks. We'll probably aim for the same time frame. (Assuming the ship gets in on time and there are no norovirus concerns that will delay boarding.)On our previous X cruise, I believed the time on the docs. I found that it was a stupid thing to do!!! And just the thought of the bottle of chilled sparkling wine (Celebrity-type) waiting in the cabin gets the juices flowing!!!

Ugh, we need a vacation. Running out of time; running out of steam; just running!!! It didn't help when the vacation time I scheduled in December and the first week in January was cancelled. But we are all set for the 18th on. What boarding time on the 20th were you given? The snow in Denver is most scary. We're just hoping it doesn't come east around January 19th, as Washington, DC just cannot cope with any snow! Happy New Year to all. Avie

Isn't it 19 days for you, et al., or am I just confused (as usual) --