The Story Begins

As a group, most of us had met before so it was easy to get excited about this trip. Funny thing was, beyond the 17 of us that had planned to go, as soon as Susan and I entered the check-in, we ran unto two friends who live about 5 blocks from us. Through the course of the weekend, we would run into people from Laurelhurst Elementary, Scouting, customers of mine, and a few others that we knew. This is an amazingly small world.

The first thing you experience are some very nice staff handing you a welcome drink in a commemorative glass that you get to keep, being told after you take a sip that it will be $8.50 plus tax and gratuity. Welcome to the cruising life where everything is available...for a price. What was the first thing I saw when we were all together on the pool deck? Peggy with her feet up on Gary. Small world? Lets change that to crazy world for now. Even more exciting was the first scheduled ship wide aerobic activity known as the lifeboat drill. Stylish life vests, which you get to wear in the halls as well as display on deck for a half hour with 1,200 other models. Man, life is good. Lots of entertainment and things to do on border as well as two ports of call to visit over the next few days.

It is funny but sitting down to dinner with friends, whether at home or here on a cruise, is some of the best time spent together. We hope you enjoy the photos.