Arlene
07-12-2006, 01:55 AM
Hi everyone,
My partner and I had a wonderful time in Alaska. This was our 2nd rfamily cruise, and we brought my brother with us this time. He's never been on a cruise before and he had no idea what to expect other than what we told him. He had a fantastic time. I know that because he told us at least 6 times each day! By the way, he takes full credit for the positively beautiful weather all week, and claims absolutely no responsibility for the hell we were put through the night of the baby tsunami!
I got a big chuckle out of seeing my brother go up to Kelli in the Stardust to tell her how much he was enjoying everything. As soon as he started speaking, Kelli politely stood up to listen. My brother is 6'5", and all I can say is that it's good that he isn't long winded (like me?) or Kelli would have had a stiff neck from looking up!
One thing I encountered over and over is that everyone wants to compare each cruise to the previous ones. It's human nature to do that. But, I'd like to suggest that everyone think of future cruises as unique experiences without comparison except maybe to other types of cruises. I've been on many cruises since they are my favorite type of vacation. In my opinion, whether one likes everything or not, the rfamily cruises are so far above regular cruises, that they can't even be compared. Sure we would like to see Rosie participate in each of the shows, but is that really what the whole cruise is about?
It was really neat to enjoy the cruise through my brother's eyes. There wasn't a thing about it (except getting sea sick) that he didn't enjoy. When he first expressed an interest in coming, he wasn't sure what to expect. But, he trusted us when we insisted he would have a great time and that we'd make him a tee shirt that said, "I know you wish I was gay, but I'm not." :-) One thing I really liked is that after a few days on the ship, he felt comfortable asking all sorts of questions that I don't think he would have ever asked had he not had that experience. Mostly the questions were about me, but "disguised" as general questions. All though he never came right out and asked, I'm sure what he really wanted to know was how come I got married 3x if I'm gay! Ahh ... not that easy of a question to answer.
Anyway, my brother said he would absolutely go with us again on the next rfamily cruise we go on. My partner seems to think we're not going to Bermuda, but since I'm our vacation planner, I have the last word! Having blown FAR TOO MUCH money in the casino, we'll all have to replenish our bank accounts before thinking about next year's vacation! I'm so glad I didn't know we could take our room key to the cashier in the casino to get more money! Someone told me the last day after the casino closed - thank goodness! Hopefully, I will have forgotten we can do that by the next cruise!
I would like to suggest that everyone who didn't think this cruise lived up to the last 2, remember that each cruise is a new and different experience, and try to not compare them. It's kind of like going to the same restaurant day after day and ordering the same thing because you like it so much. After a few times doing that, you start comparing to the previous times, and eventually stop going all together because the restaurant doesn't live up to your expectations anymore even though the meal is still just as good as the first time.
Thank you again to Kelli, Gregg, Colleen and the rest of the rfamily crew for all your hard work and for always smiling even though you're horribly sleep deprived and don't get to eat a single meal in peace. You all do an incredible job. And, thank you to Rosie for letting us get a picture with you even though we don't have kids! :-)
Looking forward to the next one.
Arlene
My partner and I had a wonderful time in Alaska. This was our 2nd rfamily cruise, and we brought my brother with us this time. He's never been on a cruise before and he had no idea what to expect other than what we told him. He had a fantastic time. I know that because he told us at least 6 times each day! By the way, he takes full credit for the positively beautiful weather all week, and claims absolutely no responsibility for the hell we were put through the night of the baby tsunami!
I got a big chuckle out of seeing my brother go up to Kelli in the Stardust to tell her how much he was enjoying everything. As soon as he started speaking, Kelli politely stood up to listen. My brother is 6'5", and all I can say is that it's good that he isn't long winded (like me?) or Kelli would have had a stiff neck from looking up!
One thing I encountered over and over is that everyone wants to compare each cruise to the previous ones. It's human nature to do that. But, I'd like to suggest that everyone think of future cruises as unique experiences without comparison except maybe to other types of cruises. I've been on many cruises since they are my favorite type of vacation. In my opinion, whether one likes everything or not, the rfamily cruises are so far above regular cruises, that they can't even be compared. Sure we would like to see Rosie participate in each of the shows, but is that really what the whole cruise is about?
It was really neat to enjoy the cruise through my brother's eyes. There wasn't a thing about it (except getting sea sick) that he didn't enjoy. When he first expressed an interest in coming, he wasn't sure what to expect. But, he trusted us when we insisted he would have a great time and that we'd make him a tee shirt that said, "I know you wish I was gay, but I'm not." :-) One thing I really liked is that after a few days on the ship, he felt comfortable asking all sorts of questions that I don't think he would have ever asked had he not had that experience. Mostly the questions were about me, but "disguised" as general questions. All though he never came right out and asked, I'm sure what he really wanted to know was how come I got married 3x if I'm gay! Ahh ... not that easy of a question to answer.
Anyway, my brother said he would absolutely go with us again on the next rfamily cruise we go on. My partner seems to think we're not going to Bermuda, but since I'm our vacation planner, I have the last word! Having blown FAR TOO MUCH money in the casino, we'll all have to replenish our bank accounts before thinking about next year's vacation! I'm so glad I didn't know we could take our room key to the cashier in the casino to get more money! Someone told me the last day after the casino closed - thank goodness! Hopefully, I will have forgotten we can do that by the next cruise!
I would like to suggest that everyone who didn't think this cruise lived up to the last 2, remember that each cruise is a new and different experience, and try to not compare them. It's kind of like going to the same restaurant day after day and ordering the same thing because you like it so much. After a few times doing that, you start comparing to the previous times, and eventually stop going all together because the restaurant doesn't live up to your expectations anymore even though the meal is still just as good as the first time.
Thank you again to Kelli, Gregg, Colleen and the rest of the rfamily crew for all your hard work and for always smiling even though you're horribly sleep deprived and don't get to eat a single meal in peace. You all do an incredible job. And, thank you to Rosie for letting us get a picture with you even though we don't have kids! :-)
Looking forward to the next one.
Arlene