LIVE LIVE LIVE from the MARINER with MERION MOM for 53 DAYS!!!

[rednancy1]

Nancy this just is not you..too dull. I like your sig.

Laura

 

Thanks Laura,

It really does look boring doesn't it?:o

 

I like your sig too. :)

[rednancy1]

Laura, I love her signature too, we just don't need to see more than once per page, right especially on a "live" thread :D:D

 

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I really do understand this especially with a "live" thread and will try to be more conscious of it. :):)

 

Scrolling down now to click off sig. :)

[rednancy1]

Carol, how on earth are you ever going to go back into the working world...:p

 

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Betty Ford maybe? :D:D:D

[nlcentralchmps03]

I have a question for Carol, or Wolf, or anybody that would know.

When is Captain Johnny starting his vacation? And will it be the normal 10 weeks off?

I'm sailing on the Mariner June 7th, and even though this will be my 5th time on her, I've yet to experience Captain Johnny. Also, how long is Abe on for?

 

Thanks ;)

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Carol, it was reported earlier that a lot of people were sick with colds and pneumonia. How is it now?

 

I too would like to know if Captain Johnny is staying on. :)

 

And where is Rick??????

 

***

[wrp96]

 

And where is Rick??????

 

***

 

All I can say is I know he's onboard based on Carol's post to me.:p

[tinkerme1]

Just want to say that Captain Johnny is wonderful! I'll also add that Captain Per, his rotation Captain is fabulous as well. We really liked him a lot when we cruised the Mariner last November. I did hear that Captain Per will be in attendance for the Pre-Inaugural festivities, but not sure if he will assume his duties directly after the Mariner arrives in San Pedro. Either Captain will make your trip on the Mariner wonderful!:D

[xpcdoojk]

OK so some folks enjoy reading what ships others have been on or will soon be on, and others don't. I have heard that if you do not like the idea of long signature that you can turn it off so that you don't have to see it. If you click on User CP you can then go and edit your preferences. Isn't that great? This way everyone is happy. ;)

 

Just a suggestion. :)

 

Annieeee

 

I don't care that much, because I have a fairly fast internet connection most of the time, but I basically follow the following protocol with my signature. First time I post on a thread I leave my sig in place. All subsequent posts I click the box and remove it. The only exception would be if something changed in my signature then I would let it post again. So, I try to follow this simple protocol, and I find it is not very hard to do, takes less than a second and it makes the post more tolerable to others. Just a thought.

 

jc

[xpcdoojk]

So, Carol, which vineyards did you go to. There are some in the valley between Valparaiso and Santiago and then more closer to Santiago? I am assuming that these were not cheap wines because you didn't go to one of the big grocery stores?:confused: That was the truly great thing about HAL on our South American cruise. We went to the a Carrefour store in Buenos Aires and a similar store in Puerto Montt. OMG, talk about wonderful everyday drinkers for almost nothing. We had a veritable cocktail party every night on the balcony with our friends.

 

I love RCI, truly, but trips to wine regions with the stupid alcohol rules drives me insane... I know very short trip.:D

 

Rick, where the heck are you buddy? You didn't let Bidwell get you down did you? Now there is a loser human being.:D

 

jc

[Annieeee]

I don't care that much, because I have a fairly fast internet connection most of the time, but I basically follow the following protocol with my signature. First time I post on a thread I leave my sig in place. All subsequent posts I click the box and remove it. The only exception would be if something changed in my signature then I would let it post again. So, I try to follow this simple protocol, and I find it is not very hard to do, takes less than a second and it makes the post more tolerable to others. Just a thought.

 

jc

 

I was unaware of the turn off feature until several months ago, and thought others might benefit from knowing about it too.

 

Annieeee

[PhoenixCruiser]

Betty Ford maybe? :D:D:D

 

Nancy, perhaps Carol can start her own rehab facility for those who take cruise after cruise after cruise after....and then have to rejoin the working world...It could be called the Merion_Mom facility for (help me fill in the blank) ;):D

 

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[Sarvowinner]

Hey Carol

 

Sounds like you are having tonnes of fun.

 

Caitlin phoned me yesterday from the Port. It was great to hear her voice. She can't believe it's two thirds over.

 

I'm still having major withdrawal symptons.

 

All the best

 

Julie

[HRHPrinceJim]

Betty Ford maybe? :D:D:D

 

:eek:

 

The Betty Ford Center is a few miles from my house, but they don't have a program for cruise addiction.

 

Otherwise, my family would have had me committed there long ago. :cool:

[bubbie617]

... It included before lunch drinkS, wine with lunch, after lunch digestivs, then more drinks when the bar staff demonstrated how to make some of the drinks and offered "samples"!

 

Then we walked to the Vinoteca for winetastings. We drank more there. (read with tone of deep understatement) Everyone bought bottles, and as I mentioned before walked right back on the ship with them.

 

... but fortunately the Deck 9 regular Concierge Lounge stays open until 8:30!!!!! Got my usual 6-8 ounces of Courvoisier.............

 

Must go to crappy free wine-tasting in dining room.

 

Carol,

 

 

You're going to have to have someone wring your liver out by the time you get home. :eek::eek: If you'd like, I'll look into a good local facility where they can help you with that! ;):p:rolleyes:

[Merion_Mom]

I have a question for Carol, or Wolf, or anybody that would know.

When is Captain Johnny starting his vacation? And will it be the normal 10 weeks off?

I'm sailing on the Mariner June 7th, and even though this will be my 5th time on her, I've yet to experience Captain Johnny. Also, how long is Abe on for?

 

Thanks ;)

 

I'll try to ask the Captain about his vacation plans. I know that Abe will be taking his vacation in April-May-June (no specifics), and Ken Rush will be his vacation replacement. (He thinks that that's hilarious). Abe is from Nebraska, and always tries to vacation when it's neither too hot or too cold there.

[Merion_Mom]

I figured you needed something to cheer you up! But I do have to say "Oh the ignominy of it all..."

 

hee hee hee hee hee:D :cool:

[Merion_Mom]

Carol, it was reported earlier that a lot of people were sick with colds and pneumonia. How is it now?

 

I too would like to know if Captain Johnny is staying on. :)

 

And where is Rick??????

 

***

 

Rick is onboard and healthy. Yes, many people are sick. I'm among them. It's like working in a daycare center or other relatively enclosed germ factory. No matter how often YOU wash your hands, you will eventually touch something that a germy person has touched. I'm all mucous-y and whooping cough-y. I am taking important and strong medicines: cough syrup with codeine, some white pills, some triaminic strips, and, of course, liberal doses of Courvoisier. If I can't kill the germs, maybe I can drown them.

 

I have no idea of "numbers" of sick people. Everyone (it seems) is or has been at some point a little under the weather. But it's winter - how many people where YOU live have had something during the past month?????

 

This morning was the Meet 'n' Mingle. Rick presented a plaque to Captain Johnny. Abe gave away the usual semi-crappy prizes. I kept my perfect streak alive - I did not win anything.

 

As a matter of fact, there was "Casino night with your Cruise Director", where they give out raffle/carnival tickets, and if your number is drawn, Abe gives you a prize.

 

For the first time ever, Abe drew MY number! This was for $100!!!!!!

 

You call either "red" or "black", and they spin the roulette wheel, and if your color comes up, he gives you $100. I called black..............yep, it came up red. :(

 

The person before me didn't win either, but SHE got a bottle of champagne. I got a crappy casino t-shirt.

 

C'est la vie! At least my luck is CONSISTENT!!!!!!

[Merion_Mom]

I don't care that much, because I have a fairly fast internet connection most of the time, but I basically follow the following protocol with my signature. First time I post on a thread I leave my sig in place. All subsequent posts I click the box and remove it. The only exception would be if something changed in my signature then I would let it post again. So, I try to follow this simple protocol, and I find it is not very hard to do, takes less than a second and it makes the post more tolerable to others. Just a thought.

 

jc

 

This is also my custom.

[Merion_Mom]

So, Carol, which vineyards did you go to. There are some in the valley between Valparaiso and Santiago and then more closer to Santiago? I am assuming that these were not cheap wines because you didn't go to one of the big grocery stores?:confused: That was the truly great thing about HAL on our South American cruise. We went to the a Carrefour store in Buenos Aires and a similar store in Puerto Montt. OMG, talk about wonderful everyday drinkers for almost nothing. We had a veritable cocktail party every night on the balcony with our friends.

 

I love RCI, truly, but trips to wine regions with the stupid alcohol rules drives me insane... I know very short trip.:D

 

Rick, where the heck are you buddy? You didn't let Bidwell get you down did you? Now there is a loser human being.:D

 

jc

 

There was no confiscation of wine or any bottles on the second day, either. I can only guess what mass quantities of Chilean wine are now on board in the many cabins of the Mariner of the Seas!!!!!

 

We arose early, and departed the ship at 8:15. Michael was waiting with a LARGE and very nice bus - this time there were 40 of us, vs the previous day's 29. He also had a new "trainee", an American, Allie, from Binghamton, NY.

 

We headed straight out of town, using Mariana's suggestion: we went to the farthest place first, and worked our way back.

 

First stop: Pablo Neruda's house, which is now a museum dedicated to his life and works.

 

What an amazing house! He loved to collect things, and when his "stuff" needed more space, he just added on a room. And he had great people building for him, and the design and collections and furnishing are wonderful to behold. I impressed myself by being able to read the large wall display that explained his life, in Spanish.

 

There were some artisans' shops nearby, and I bought a lovely handmade wooden, leather and brass box, about 6" x 4" x 4" - it looks basically like a miniature trunk. $14 US!

 

Next we began our pursuit of wine.

 

First vineyard: Vina Indomita, where we ate another gourmet lunch, and had white and red wines with the meal. We had pre-ordered from a list of 5 choices, and mine was the "Tierra" choice: all beef. First I had carpaccio with arugula garnish. Then a large chunk of grilled beef in a nice sauce over a maize-y, scallion-y base. Last, a dessert plate of three very chocolate-y treats. It was time for our wine tasting, and they were just bringing out espresso. A few people took one, but most passed.

 

Then we tasted a white and a red, and mass buying followed.

 

Nex stop was right across the road: and I already forget its name. :rolleyes: :eek:

 

Tour of the wine-making process this time, followed by wine tasting. Bill gave an empty tank a colonoscopy. Picture to follow.

 

More mass buying.

 

Last place: Willam Cole Winery - the owner was there, and some of the group met him. He moved to Chile from Denver, Colorado, and is very passionate about his winemaking. We had a tour of the vineyards and the winemaking process, then the tasting, with crackers and nice local cheese.

 

And guess what happened next?

 

Yup, mass wine buying.

 

Everyone was afraid to fall asleep on the way home. On the last leg, when everyone snored and snoozed on a trip back from the estancia in Buenos Aires, Len went around and took pictures of EVERYONE asleep, and they are on our group (Yea, Patrick!!!) DVD. It's not a pretty sight!

 

Another fabulous day in Valparaiso. We didn't get anywhere near Santiago, I think. We were in the Casablanca valley.

[Merion_Mom]

Hey Carol

 

Sounds like you are having tonnes of fun.

 

Caitlin phoned me yesterday from the Port. It was great to hear her voice. She can't believe it's two thirds over.

 

I'm still having major withdrawal symptons.

 

All the best

 

Julie

 

Caitlin claims that it was 80 minutes of "Yes, mum. Uh huh. Yes, mum. Uh huh. Uh huh....................."

 

:D

[Merion_Mom]

Today at 3, as I mentioned earlier, was the scheduled Crappy Wine Tasting in the Main Dining Room.

 

There were SO many people that they turned away about as many as they seated. I *thought* that we were near the front of the crowd, but they ran out of space.

 

The guy announced that they would have another one tomorrow, even though they usually only have one. A woman near me started getting very indignant, very loudly, saying that tomorrow was a port day. I told her that NO, it was another sea day, and she calmed down slightly. Sheesh. Some people................

 

Part of the "problem" is that just about eveyone on board is C&A, so everyone has the darn coupon. I can't imagine anyone paying for it, although on regular 7 night cruises, they do.

[Merion_Mom]

Does anyone out there know just how low the prices dropped on inside cabins? They probably dropped even lower in Chile.

 

We are sailing with about 2500 pax aboard, roughly the same as the second leg. The trustworthy rumor two weeks ago is that there were 1400. That's a LOT of last-minute cruisers!

 

And you can look around and see some VERY inexperienced travelers!

[Merion_Mom]

I wanted to go to the show tonight and see the violinist, Hannah Starosky, but I tried and found myself coughing and didn't want to disturb others.

 

Won and lost money in the casino, instead.

 

It was first formal night, and there was the Captain's Reception and speech from the RP bridge. I skipped it. Been there, done that, got the cheap champagne.

 

Did I mention that when I get my coffee cup full of Courvoisier from the CL on Deck 9, I have to hotfoot it back to my aft cabin to get my brandy snifter, because the cognac starts eating through the cardboard within minutes? ;) :eek: ;) :D

[Merion_Mom]

We are doing the "go and ahead and table-hop" method of table assignments again in the MDR on first seating. My favorite waiter is definitely Shasi, and I always try to sit at his table. I also like to sit with Paul and Judy and Vicki and Woody. We have a LOT of fun at dinner!

[Merion_Mom]

I need someone to research a war for me.

 

It was between Paraguay and Bolivia, and supposedly it was over a postage stamp.

 

That's all the info I have.

 

Go to it!