Finally we have internet access!

Here is our first onboard post. The internet has been down for servicing so I’ve not been able to post until now. This is a combination of posts from the time we left Denver until now; the morning of day 3 - heading into Grand Cayman.

We’re onboard. Our flight yesterday went perfectly; no delays of any type. We spent the night at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66; nice room with a balcony on the 12th floor.
We stayed at the hotel until 12:15 on Monday as I wanted to watch the inauguration. Then a quick ride over to the port and we were onboard 15 minutes after getting out of the van. It’s a small ship and we have a regular size balcony cabin. The cabin is very nice, but has little storage - actually we did very well putting things away and stored our clothes for much cooler weather under the bed in a suitcase.

We did the dinner buffet the first night and the food was very good. Tuesday morning we had our usual coffee and pastries delivered to the room after we awoke. Then we wandered around a bit more of the ship. She really is lovely; much ornate dark wood everywhere. The library is huge (well comparable huge - tiny ship but one of the biggest libraries I’ve seen except aboard QE2). The casino is very small but I don’t usually do much there except give my $10 charity to the starving slots. We had lunch in the dining room - it was very good and I’m glad to learn that it will be open every day - even port days. Dinner was in the buffet area in the Bistro which is offered more than the buffet dinner. It has two menus; an Italian pizza and pasta one and one that offers steak, chicken, etc. We will probably be having dinner there many nights.
Weather this morning is gray, cloudy, wet with moderate to high seas. We are expected to anchor in GrandCayman at 9:00am.

Thank you for the gifts. It was such fun to receive them.

Seas have been moderate to high and winds at 20 knots so we are doing a bit of rocking and rolling. This seems to be a well traveled bunch of people and I haven’t heard anyone mention seasickness. We did have some sun after lunch and spent some time sitting our on the balcony. Now I’m going to try to post this as it looks like I have access.

We are Packed

We are either really good at packing or we have forgotten much stuff! We are completely packed in 4 large bags. 3 are at about 49 lbs. but one came in at 52 lbs… we will see if we get an overweight charge on it. Maybe it will slide through but at this point I really don’t care. I just want to see all 4 of them on the carousel in FLL.

David will take us to the airport in the morning and all arrangements are taken care of for the house. Fred is in charge of the house while we are gone - Peter and Beth will help.
I’m almost to the point where I can relax… then again probably not until we get to the hotel in Fort Lauderdale.

--Ben?? could that be Desert Vision Ben??

We received our Welcome Letter

Dear Susan Clark Koenig,

Get ready to board the spectacular Royal Princess® for a voyage of a lifetime!

Throughout your journey, you'll mingle with fellow travel enthusiasts at grand celebrations, delight in authentic dining options with regional accents and enjoy fascinating lectures.

Part of your Princess experience includes a wealth of onboard entertainment and activities. We don't want you to miss a single event - so take a look below to see what's going on while you're onboard.

On behalf of the officers and crew of Royal Princess®, we look forward to welcoming you onboard and dazzling you during your Princess escape around the world!

Sincerely,
Peter Roberts
Cruise Director – Royal Princess

It included much information on the special events and activities we will have onboard. I've posted just a sample below - this is on the ScholarShip@Sea® and Guest Lecturers.
---
Princess Cruises®, the leader in at-sea interactive courses, invites you to participate in one of our many fascinating enrichment lectures. Learn to take professional-quality photos of your vacation; create a unique hand-painted plate; discover how to navigate a cruise ship; craft a vacation keepsake souvenir or sit back and listen to informative presentations and inspirational real-life tales.

Princess Book Club
Meet fellow passengers and avid book readers while engaging in literary discussion at the Princess Book Club. Book selections are drawn from The New York Times Best-Seller List. Selected book titles for Royal Princess® are:
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

Computers@Sea
Download your best digital photos and learn how Photoshop can make them even better. Unlock the secrets of the World Wide Web by surfing the internet with ease. Attach documents, photos, even short videos and e-mail them with confidence. Our Computers@Sea program offers passengers an array of fun and useful computer classes taught by our computer expert, Nancy Prince.

Learn to Play Bridge
As you journey around the globe, experienced bridge players can play bridge under the supervision of a certified Life Master Bridge Instructors and accrue points, while beginners can learn the basics of the game.

Photography Contest
Show your creativity and individual style by participating in the Royal Princess World Cruise Photography Contest. Prizes will be awarded over four segments with a grand prize. You don't have to be an expert to enter, so give us your best shot! The photo categories are:
Nature, Landscapes or Seascapes
People, Family or Friends
Architecture, Cities and Towns
Open, Creative or Artistic

Christian Religious Services
As you journey around the globe, celebrate Sunday religious services (including Palm Sunday and Easter) with Christian clergy, including a Catholic Priest.

Jewish Religious Services
When in the Mediterranean, celebrate Passover services with Rabbi Allen Mallar.

Guest Lecturers


January 20 – February 24, 2009

Russell Schweickart – Retired Astronaut
Takes you on a unique and beautiful tour of planet Earth from a distant perspective few have experienced.



Lynne Truss – Best-selling Author
What do the collapse of literacy, the breakdown of social cohesion, the beauty of a semicolon and the value of an apostrophe have in common? Keen observer of the world and best-selling author Lynne Truss humorously ties it all up in a common sense look at the world we live in.

Arthur Hiller – Director of Love Story and former Motion Picture Academy President
Countdown to the Oscar telecast show and let him regale you with tales from behind the velvet ropes, and lead you down the red carpet to the best seat in the house. And remember: "Love means never having to say you’re sorry."

Sue Cameron – Hollywood Journalist
Hollywood has never lacked for scandals: tantrums, cover-ups and murders. From Garbo to Kidman, veteran Hollywood journalist Sue Cameron has personally interviewed them all. Ask a question and she'll know the answer because she was probably with them at the time.

Dr. Dean J. Papavassiliou-Caribbean Destination Lecturer
Follow world traveler and former diplomat Dr. Dean J. Papavassiliou through the Caribbean and Central America as he explains the people, history, and culture of this wonderful and exotic region of the World.

John Maxtone-Graham – Maritime Historian
Relive heroic tales of North and South Pole explorations, the Titanic's gripping final hours and other maritime stories.

Les Evans – Former Concorde Pilot
Former Concorde pilot, talks about the glorious past of flying this technological marvel and casts his gaze forward to discuss aviation's future.

Norman Caisse – Astronomer
Embark on a fascinating journey from our own Solar System, through the Milky Way, and on to the edge of the known Universe. On clear dark nights Norman can be found surveying the South Pacific heavens. Be sure to join him on deck.

Douglas Pearson – Australasia, South Pacific and Polynesian Naturalist
South Pacific and Polynesian expert Douglas Pearson lives on the idyllic island of Moorea. His unusual selection of objects enhance his unique " menu of stories," giving depth and color to his talks.

February 25 – March 19, 2009

Donald Blair – Space Travel/NASA Expert
He amazes you with photos seldom seen by the public and explains some of the most complicated machines ever built by man – the Space Shuttle and Space Station. It's literally out of this world.

John Maxtone-Graham – Maritime Historian
Relive heroic tales of North and South Pole explorations, the Titanic's gripping final hours and other maritime stories.

Glenmore Trenear-Harvey – Espionage and Intelligence Expert
Receives regular briefings from MI5 and MI6, Britain's secret intelligence and security services. A featured speaker at conferences worldwide, he has been involved with the clandestine world for over 40 years.

Heather Clement – Japanese Cultural Historian
What obi should you wear with that kimono? What’s the difference between Shinto and Zen? How deep should I bow? Join us as Heather Clement de-mystifies one of the most advanced societies on the planet.

Marylou Blakeslee – Oceania, Micronesia Naturalist
From Australia's Great Barrier Reef to ancient turtles that swam with dinosaurs, to mammals of the South Pacific, explore the varied natural treasures this world has to offer.

Gunn Seawell & Don Schenzel – Ballroom Dance Instructors
Ballroom Dance Instructors teach the graceful movements of the Waltz, the rhythmic steps of the Salsa, and the fluid steps of the Cha Cha, among other dances.

March 20 – April 10, 2009

Michael Irving – Naval Maritime Historian
Naval Maritime Historian who has spent more time on water than on dry land. His personal favorites include James Cook, Lord Nelson, the Portuguese, the Spanish and the Dutch, and the ravages of scurvy.

Hassan Eltaher – Holy Land Cultural Historian and Expert
The story of the Suez Canal is like sailing through World History. Senior Analyst for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs with the Government of Canada, Hassan Eltaher brings this part of the world to vivid life.

April 11 – May 8, 2009

Lainie Kazan – Hollywood Personality and Legend
You may know her from her 26 appearances on the Dean Martin Show, or her reoccurring role on The Nanny, or her critically acclaimed role in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Chanteuse and actress Lainie Kazan shares her life story, from her Brooklyn beginnings to her starring roles on Broadway.

Thomson Smillie – Opera/Broadway Lecturer
Celebrate the musical cultures of Italy, Spain and France, and learn about the turbulent life of Greek diva Maria Callas.

Debbie Fraioli – Mediterranean Cultural Expert and Port Lecturer
Explains the highlights no traveler should miss in the ancient and historical ports of Europe.

Watercolor and Calligraphy Instructor
Hone your artistic skills and then donate your finished art to a silent auction benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation to fight breast cancer.


PLEASE NOTE: All shows, entertainers, movies and events are subject to change without notice

The first reports are coming in from the Tahitian Princess World Cruise. It left on the 14th, one week before ours. The itineraries are identical until we pass through the Suez Canal then they differ. Apparently there were problems at check-in when some people didn’t have the appropriate shots or their immunization records. Luckily we have gotten ours and have our paperwork all in order. A friend on that cruise just emailed that the closet and drawer space is much less than expected and to pack even more carefully.

Pack carefully for 107 days with temps ranging from 100 degrees to 40?? Ok, we’ll pack carefully and plan to store any extra clothes in the suitcases under the bed.

My Luxury Cruise & Travel office is now closed for the duration and my two agents are handling everything. Tomorrow we run the last minute errands and Saturday we pack. I’ll be glad to have everything finished. Sunday we can relax all day! The weather for Monday looks excellent for our flights – that is always a concern when flying out of Denver in the winter.

It's snowing

It’s snowing today in Denver which only adds to the anticipation of heading to tropical weather. One week from today and we will board Royal Princess in Fort Lauderdale. We will fly in the day before and spend the night at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six.

The piles of clothes are getting pretty high. We won’t actually pack until the day before we leave and I’m sure I’ll change my mind about some of the stuff in the stacks.

A little about us

Several people have emailed me that I should tell you a little about us. We are both retired from our first careers; mine in government and Jim in construction. We married later in life (in our 50’s) so kids are all grown and on their own. My real love in life has always been travel and photography so I met a perfect mate as he enjoys both. I have done travel destination stock photography for about 20 years and have two stock photo agencies that carry my images. You are beginning to understand why Luxury Cruise & Travel agency is my second career. I started the agency a year prior to my retirement to learn the ropes and give myself time to not get in over my head. I’m so pleased that we have been able to build a successful agency. I guess we will get a real feel for our success when we return from a 4 month hiatus… will my clients still be here???

Our travel history together started in 2000. I had planned to do a QE2 crossing as a 50th birthday celebration for myself and Jim agreed that he would like to do it with me; it was his first cruise. That was the start of our addiction to cruising. One of our next cruises was a 10 day cruise on Celebrity Mercury from Caracas, Venezuela to Ft. Lauderdale. It was on that cruise that we met Joyce Gleason Adamidis, the wife of Captain Adamidis. We struck up a great friendship that continues today. We sailed on their ships, mostly Millennium, 5 or 6 times… if you ever want to feel like Royalty, be good friends with the Captain and his wife. We certainly miss them now that they are retired and living in Greece, but are looking forward to visiting with them on our port stop there during this cruise.

We have done about 30 cruises, primarily on Celebrity and Holland America, but have sailed at least once on most of the major cruiselines. As some of you know we are suite cruisers… I’d rather go a little less often and do it first class when we go. We have had a couple of the Penthouse suites on Constellation and Infinity – these are 1500 sq. ft with 1100 sq. ft of private balcony. I think they are the most “over the top” suites available on any premium cruiseline. We also have had Royal Suites and Sky Suites on Celebrity and many S suites on Holland America. Our only other cruise on Princess we were in a Grand Suite on Grand Princess. That suite is second (in my opinion) in luxury on a premium cruiseline. We have also had an inside cabin while on a travel agent seminar at sea on Royal Caribbean and an outside cabin when we Hosted an Ensemble (our consortium) hosted Alaska cruise on Holland America. This world cruise will be our first regular size balcony cabin. I’ll give you my thoughts as to how we deal with it as we go along. Oops, I better say here that we have always paid full fare for our suites… there are no travel agent deals for them.

I just found a wonderful link to photos of Royal Princess. Thanks to Richard H. Wagner, the editor of that wonderful website.

Happy New Year!

It is now 2009, which I hope will be a prosperous year for all of us. One thing that was good (for us) about the failing economy of 2008 was that it opened enough cabins on this cruise for Princess to offer the travel agent rate on some. Otherwise we would never even have thought about doing a World Cruise… well, perhaps as a Last Hurrah when we were old and gray, wait a minute we are gray even if not so old.

Jim has been working to get all our electronics ready to go; extra cards for the cameras, clearing out the Epson photo hard drive, he even bought a little speaker thing that plays music from flash drive sticks so we can have some music in the cabin. Since every plug strip we have is in use he also bought a new one for use in the cabin.

I have some things sorted to be packed, but very little already in the one suitcase that is on the bedroom floor. It seems I’m spending most of the time getting our clients taken care of before turning over everything to Michelle and Shannon. Ray and Joann headed out today for their Holland America S. America Grand Voyage on Prinsendam and Paul left a couple days ago for his Amtrak adventure to Ft. Lauderdale for his Holland America World Cruise Segment. Wow, the next file folder up is ours! How exciting, when we booked this back at the end of August, it seemed to be a fairly long time away. Now it is almost here.