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

[Merion_Mom]

I know that Captain Johnny brought back to the ship 2 rocks from Cape Horn and had them mounted on plaques and auctioned them off to benefit a charity.

 

Anyone know what they went for during the auction?

 

$5,100.00 total for both of them.

 

Dave and Amy

 

Yes, Dave is correct.

 

They auctioned them at the shows one evening, one for each seating.

 

At the first one, the high bid was $3,000. At the second, it went for $2,100.

 

A crew member told me that there is actually a third one somewhere. :)

[NorbertsNiece]

Here is the URL. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3300243708_63d0b09ed9.jpg?v=0

 

Rick

 

Thanks :D

Great pic.

[TheMiz]

Here is the URL. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3300243708_63d0b09ed9.jpg?v=0

 

Rick

 

 

Here you go Rick

 

[MrZoey]

There was a reporter from the Detroit Free Press on your cruise! She wrote an article and posted some photos! http://www.freep.com/travel :D In todays paper!

[rubrrick]

Here you go Rick

 

 

Thanks George! From left to right is Captain Johnny's wife, Sissel, Letty, Zu, Carol, Joe, Captain Johnny, and Bobbie.

 

Rick

[firstcruise05]

Thanks George! From left to right is Captain Johnny's wife, Sissel, Letty, Zu, Carol, Joe, Captain Johnny, and Bobbie.

 

Rick

 

Aw...we LOVED Captain Johnny...although I'm fairly sure he spells his name differently.

 

He made even my sour puss DH smile in the mornings! And that is no small feat! :p

[Merion_Mom]

This isn't Rick's photo, but here are some of mine from the same occasion, a lovely afternoon cocktail party in Rick and Bobbie's suite:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ricko1]

Hi Carol,

Great pics! It's too bad that I had to miss the party. :(

 

Sorry to hear that you had problems on top of your problems to deal with when you got home. Sounds like you will need a cruise after all this. ;)

 

It was great cruising with you and I hope that we get an opportunity to meet again. Thanks for the fun trivia times. :D

 

Denice

[rubrrick]

Hi Carol,

Great pics! It's too bad that I had to miss the party. :(

 

It was great cruising with you and I hope that we get an opportunity to meet again. Thanks for the fun trivia times. :D

 

Denice

 

Denice..........we missed you too!! I know that you were really sick that day.

 

We would really enjoy cruising with Rick and you again!

 

Rick

[wolfcathorse]

Rick, you have a beautiful wife!

[SherriZ366]

Great pictures.

[Merion_Mom]

I'll just keep adding random thoughts as they occur to me.

 

They have replaced all of the carpet in the elevators and the elevator lobbies. It looks exactly the same, but it's newly thick and plush.

 

I was always "helped" in the Windjammer. Once, when I was sick, I just wanted a hot bowl of soup. (preferably chicken, of course). I filled a bowl, and then quickly realized that I was going to have great difficulty getting to a table safely, without spilling.

 

Out of nowhere, a WJ worker appeared with a tray and literally SCOOPED the bowl out from under me, and carried it to a table for me.

 

There were always people walking around and asking if I wanted a drink. (or anything)

 

To be completely fair, I *did* observe some people sitting near me calling out for a beverage who were not attended to promptly.

 

They were insistent about the use of wipes or liquid anti-bacterials at the entrance to the WJ throughout the cruise, and in the MDR about 60% of the way through, after everyone was already sick. :rolleyes:

 

The photographers were VERY bored on this cruise. Not too many people wanted pictures, particularly at ports where they try to get you to pose for a pic as you get off the ship. They only came around to the dining room tables a few times during the entire 46 nights.

 

We actually had our picture taken WITH one of the photographers! (he is VERY cute!) Wait, we did that TWICE! Once standing up, once lying down. :D

 

My printer/scanner seems to have died with being turned on and off so much because of the space heaters and other complications, so I will get a new one and scan in that picture for you.

 

Smoking in the Pub (Wig & Gavel) is a real problem. We liked to hang out there and sing along with Mark B, but the smoke just became too much. It was particularly irritating once I had bronchitis.

[megr1125]

Everyone being sick must have been NOT fun.....i bet the medical facility was overworked (and maybe understocked??or understaffed???)

 

i travel with a pharmacy anyway....but that would be my luck...bronchitis on a boat!

 

so have you adjusted to being home yet???

[suzyluvs2cruise]

I'll just keep adding random thoughts as they occur to me.

 

Smoking in the Pub (Wig & Gavel) is a real problem. We liked to hang out there and sing along with Mark B, but the smoke just became too much. It was particularly irritating once I had bronchitis.

 

Welcome back Carol!! I totally enjoyed all your posts and pictures and look forward to seeing/hearing more about your wonderful cruise.

 

I agree about the smoking in the pub. Wig & Gavel is such a great place but it's enjoyment, for us, was dimished by the smoke. Last night, on the pre-inaugural, we sat outside Vintages and also noticed alot of smoke.......not sure if it was coming up from the casino or quite where it was coming from. I wish there was an easy answer as the Royal Promenade is such a great place.

 

Guess who was our lifeboat station guide???................Andrew!!! We chatted a bit during muster drill.............he sends his regards. :)

[rubrrick]

Welcome back Carol!! I totally enjoyed all your posts and pictures and look forward to seeing/hearing more about your wonderful cruise.

 

I agree about the smoking in the pub. Wig & Gavel is such a great place but it's enjoyment , for us, was dimished by the smoke. Last night, on the pre-inaugural, we sat outside Vintages and also noticed alot of smoke.......not sure if it was coming up from the casino or quite where it was coming from.

 

Guess who was our lifeboat station guide???................Andrew!!! We chatted a bit during muster drill.............he sends his regards. :)

 

I could not agree with the two of you more.........and the smoke even seems to travel out into the promenade area.

 

The Wig & Gavel is also a "hot" spot on the ship for wireless internet use. So.......it's good....and bad....all at the same time.

 

I can't complain about smoking.........since I'm an ex smoker.......but it really bothers me, so I stay away from those areas. The casino also won't get any of my money because of the smoke.

 

Rick

[Merion_Mom]

Here is the link to the entire webshots album.

 

Since I could not reliably and regularly upload photos on the day that I took them, they are mightily out of sequence. I apologize.

 

Each does, however, have a caption, which will place it in context.

 

Enjoy.

 

http://good-times.webshots.com/myphotos?action=refreshPhotos&albumID=569646389&security=XUtufU

[Merion_Mom]

Welcome back Carol!! I totally enjoyed all your posts and pictures and look forward to seeing/hearing more about your wonderful cruise.

 

I agree about the smoking in the pub. Wig & Gavel is such a great place but it's enjoyment, for us, was dimished by the smoke. Last night, on the pre-inaugural, we sat outside Vintages and also noticed alot of smoke.......not sure if it was coming up from the casino or quite where it was coming from. I wish there was an easy answer as the Royal Promenade is such a great place.

 

Guess who was our lifeboat station guide???................Andrew!!! We chatted a bit during muster drill.............he sends his regards. :)

 

Ruh roh! I guess that you mentioned us by name?!?!?!?!? :eek: ;) :D

[mjldvlks]

Here are some more penguin pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

I love this pic! Who knew that penguins burrowed into the sand/dirt???

 

 

I love these pics Carol. They are adorable. We are ready to cruise with you - you are just going to have to figure this "work" thing out so you can keep cruising! ha.ha. Hope all is well - been thinking about you. We are swamped getting ready for the IOS TA - lots of fun activities planned and our group has grown to almost 160!!! Crazy. We've been trying to get Rick and Bobbie to join us, as well as Doris.

:D

What a wonderful trip - we loved seeing it through your eyes. Thanks for all the info. We have had several requests to post live from the Indy so we are going to do that in April. Could never compete with your adventures...but hopefully it will provide info on the ship to the boards.

 

Take care of yourself and hope to talk to you soon. Mary

[Merion_Mom]

Andrew at Muster on Leg 3:

 

 

 

 

 

[mjldvlks]

I'm resting in peace!! After a long drive back, and a sick DW......yes, she finally caught what so many had onboard.........and now we are unpacked.........and having a nice day of rest!!:D

 

Actually......it's time for a martini!!:D:D

 

Rick

 

Hi Rick! Hope Bobbie is better. Now that you are home, we will be waiting for you to sign up for our TA on the Independence!! Our group has exploded to over 150!! We have alot of fun stuff planned. Once the prices dropped so dramatically - many, many signed up. So glad you guys had such a wonderful trip. We have enjoyed reading about it so much. Take care and tell Bobbie hi. Mary

[Merion_Mom]

Some of my favorite signs:

 

Think about this one:

 

 

 

I just love the picture on this sign!

 

 

 

Outside La Vinoteca, the wineshop where we did a tasting AFTER a long lunch with lots of drinks, in Vina del Mar in Valparaiso, Chile: (Thank you, Mariana!)

 

 

 

GOTTA love the illustration on this one!

 

 

Oops, almost forgot one of my favs:

 

[SherriZ366]

Here is the link to the entire webshots album.

 

Since I could not reliably and regularly upload photos on the day that I took them, they are mightily out of sequence. I apologize.

 

Each does, however, have a caption, which will place it in context.

 

Enjoy.

 

http://good-times.webshots.com/myphotos?action=refreshPhotos&albumID=569646389&security=XUtufU

Thanks for posting Carol. I have been skipping through some album pages and will put it on slideshow tomorrow.

[Lynn the Cruiser]

Welcome back Carol. Loved the pics. Hope your house is OK. Maybe we'll meet up someday, either on a cruise, or in Philly!!!

[CAC104]

I have bad news from home.

 

My friend who is watching my house for me discovered 6 inches of water in my basement and a broken pipe. I think that it turned out to be several broken pipes and at least one broken radiator. There is major water damage to my house, although I am hoping that it is mostly confined to the basement.

 

Just before I left home for Port Canaveral, I had finished cleaning out my parents' house and moving ALL of their furniture and hundreds of boxes into my house. I do not know what has been damaged by the water.

 

I have managed to change my flight home (yea, Southwest!) from Friday to Thursday, and will head straight home from the pier, instead of relaxing and flying out the next day.

 

Fortunately, wonderful friends at home are taking care of repairs and cleanup. They tell me not to worry, but how can I not??????????

Do you have the type of heating system that uses steam and the water has to stay on? When we leave our house, we shut our main water valve off and turn the electric water heater off. Our furnace doesn't need any water to run and we turn that way down. I hope your insurance will pay for the damages.

 

I have been so curious....Being on many cruises and spending a small fortune to e mail home, I was wondering what did your internet bill come to with all the time you spent posting, or did they comp you since you were running this link???

[The Big Booper]

I skimmed all zillion pages of your album. Wow!

 

You lucked out, with the Corsair 747 coming in over Maho. Those big guys need the whole runway and frequently skim the fence at 10 feet up. Shame that only Corsair still flies them.

 

Hope your house problems get fixed up.