RNSANE

sweetnovember, we are so happy to have you join us at cruisecrazies!!!

Excellent review, Rose...I can just see crazy Michael Prasse. Glad he has a pal in this captain. He and Richard Brearley used to be the same way. Richard and Michael were on the SS together, then Richard went to the Radiance...and now he's in the Miami office.

I'm jealous....wish I had some to share....living vicariously through all your memories.

If you're talking about Tony, the Indian head waiter, he was there when I was on in December. He may not be there when Joey and I are on in Feb as he went home in January....not sure if he'll be back already. I am sure he'll be back for another contract, though, so I'll see him again. Send me an email for him ( I don't have his email address ) and I'll take it to him. I know I'll be back on board in a month or so, at the very least. Did you see my picture with him on my Monarch photos?

I think the vote for friendliest was a passenger survey...as for the crew remaining, there is definitely going to be a shuffle. The company has plans to rotate crew every few years anyway...they don't want folks to get too comfortable on one ship - but that's one of the reasons we keep going back to the same ship - for the crew. Of course, there are so many new ships coming out, they have to fill them...and, since they realize they messed up when the Radiance came out ( they used all new crew instead of doing as they always had - brought a mix of old times and new staff ), they aren't going to do that again. I noticed a definite lack of RCI spirit and quality of service of my first Radiance cruise. However, once they brought Patrick Olin on as hotel director and he got some seasoned RCI vets as staff, things rapidly turned around. I know people are wondering where they're headed from the Monarch...they love working together.

Luckyroot, have a great cruise....from the minute you enter the terminal till you arrive back at home.

Hi Counselorcruiser, There's nothing like cruise therapy to get us in perfect health!!!!!

Actually, I have a nurse colleage in San Diego who could personally pick up crazy and bring her to the ship if you give me all the info....you could call her when you are ready to disembark!!! That would be a hoot. She is sailing with us on the Monarch. Just give me all the information.

Mary Lou - Joey and I will take her on the Monarch February 4th...how do we get her to take her along.

Jackie, Trudy Julius, the Guest Services Manager on the Monarch, a petite little thing - and one of the dearest people on the face of the earth, is from South Africa. She is truly a sister to me.

I definitely like the French side of St. Maarten best and downtown Curacao is so picturesque, with its colorful Dutch Colonial architecture,. You will find it a photographer's delight. There are many wonderful museums on Curacao and it also houses the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere!I've spent a week on both islands. Curacao isn't lush and green like many Caribbean island but desert, with plenty of cactus and poisonous machineel trees. I love the divi trees, blown into strange shapes by the wind. They make great photos! There is also a plantation of aloe vera on the island. I loved the Indonesian cooking in Curacao - ate that almost nightly! On the French side of St. Martin, at Grand Case, there are wonderful beach side restaurants for lunch. There are also delightful little wooden houses, colorful, with gingerbread carving. If you want nude swimming, of course, you can go to Orient Beach. Fort St. Louis looks out over Marigot Bay and gives you a panoramic view of the island - a good photo op. Marigot, itself, is about four blocks wide but you'd think you were catapulted back to France....nice bistros, shops, etc...you can't miss that. You'll have a great time, I know. A rental car will maximize your time, especially on St. Maarten/St. Martin.

Life is hell, isn't it? Congratulations!

Sayonara, cheekie2you - joyous journey!!!

luckyroot - hope it is your best cruise ever!!!

Have a great cruise, honestokie! We''ll be waiting to hear about it!

Okay, remember I'm new - what is SDM? Oh, a no underwear cruise....very interesting. That sounds like fun, especially on a windy deck.

And the drink of the day is the "Swampwater Slime"

Yes, nice to get on the ship right in Tampa....someone can drop you off and you don't even have to pay for parking!!!

Glad to see you here, Thorn - I spent a few days in Montevideo about fifteen years ago...had a fabulous time...got to use my Spanish!!!

Teasing us with those pictures.....wish we'd been there in person, of course!

Ketchikan is a lovely town. I just enjoyed walking around, eating salmon at a local restaurant and soaking in the ambiance. Didn't even really shop - walked for a couple of hours, between lunch and a couple of drinks in the saloons. I've been there twice...maybe next time, I'll do something different.

Dan, Have a fabulous time....relax, party, sleep in...make us jealous!!

Well, Joey, you know how I feel about the Monarch...she was my first RCI cruise and I've done 17 on her in a little less than thirteen years. I LOVE the crew. So you had Sammy from Honduras for your head waiter??? Looks like we'll dine with the hotel director when we're on. Captain Karen doesn't eat in the dining room. Werner Zurcher will also join us....just Claire Nelli is cruising with me. The other queens won't be there. We'll have fun, just the three of us. So glad you had a great time.

Really enjoyed hearing about your cruise on the Constellation. I've been to all these ports except St. Lucia...have actually spent a a week at a time in Barbados. It is a beautiful island but you can't really experience it just stopping a day in port. When I was last there ( not on a ship ), we spent four days at beautiful Glitter Bay at St. James Beach. Got to travel about the island, even to the sugar cane fields of St. Lucy Parish where they grow cane for my favorite Mt. Gay Rum. For the last three days, we went to the wild Atlantic side and stayed at Sam Lord's Marriott there. It's nice since the Caribbean and Atlantic sides are so different. I must get to St. Lucia one of these days...I want to see the Pitons! So you didn't get your fanny tanned at Orient Beach on St. Martin? I always laugh at dinner after we sail from there - you can tell the folks who went over to the French side, sans clothes...they can barely sit at dinner! Thanks for the great review.

Hooray, DMore714, how nice to see you with our crowd of crazies!!!!