Now - about our group. There is a forum very similar to the Garden Web forums; Cruise Critic is a forum for folks who cruise or want to cruise. It has several categories, but the most popular one is the Message Boards. That is where you can find out about or ask questions about ports of call, information about specific cruise lines, reviews, and the most popular one - Roll Calls. A roll call is where folks "gather" to meet each other prior to a specific cruise. Each cruise line and each ship has its spot. When someone wants to meet others, you look for your sailing; or if not there, then create a roll call. There is a lot of chatting about where you are from, whether you have been on that itinerary, what plans there might be in each port, etc. I have been a member there since December, 2003. I don't post a lot, for I have posted less than 2,000 times through the years. However, there are some posters who are posting almost daily and have tens of thousands of posts. For this 42-day cruise, we had a lot of messages. Counting traveling companions, there were more than 100 people involved on our Roll Call. We had never been to Europe and Africa and wanted to take advantage of our time there, Karen got online and lined up at least 10 shore excursions. Then she posted all the important bits of information and asked if anyone on the roll call wanted to join us. On a couple of them, the response was huge and the original plan of one small bus, became one very large bus. After many months of planning, we still needed to put names and faces together. A meet and greet was planned for the first full sea day. We met in The Crow's Nest, and since we were such a large group, beverages and breakfast treats were supplied by Holland America. (Holland America also hosted their own Facebook meeting.) This group was wonderful, since we would be travel companions for a long trip and we would go ashore with several of the group many times, it was the perfect opportunity to make friends. It was great! No one person was in charge, there was one person who had contacted Holland America prior to sailing to ask for a reserved time and place. Not everyone who was on the roll call came to this meeting, but there was a decent size group. We had been on other cruises when fewer than 10 people were on the roll call and the connections were not as good. If you want to look at some of what Cruise Critic is, there is a link. Here is a link that might be useful: Cruise Critic

This year's itinerary is identical to last year's. They should be returning to Ft. Lauderdale on Friday. Next year! Oh! My! The 42-day becomes 50 days. Beyond what it has now, it adds 3 ports in Greece, plus 2 in Malta. Tough decision time. We have already signed up for October, 2015 and it leaves Los Angeles, goes to Hawaii, Samoa, French Polynesia and back. 28 days. Of those 28, 17 are at sea with no land to be seen. On a per day cost, the one to Europe is less expensive and we could drive to Ft. Lauderdale; but 50 days is a long time. 28 days from the west coast means flying (I hate that) and it is more expensive per day. Never been to Samoa, but nothing else is new on that one. Greece, Malta, etc is real tempting. Jim

Fortunately, bad weather on our cruise didn't ruin our trip. It was part of a 6-wk drive through the PNW and we had a blast before and after the cruise. Ironically, after we had done a whale-watch excursion on the cruise (where we saw almost nothing except a couple of spouts and a few glimpses of an orca pod), the next week afterwards we ended up taking a couple of friends on a whale-watching excursion leaving from Victoria BC . The Victoria boating trip was terrific - just the luck of the draw, lol! Our friends were absolutely thrilled, with humpbacks all around us for several hours, spyhopping and gliding around the boat for lots of up-close shots. It was their first visit to the Seattle area and they loved it all. We go up regularly so the cruise disappointment was minor, really, in the overall scheme of things. Oh, just had a thought about cruising from Seattle - some hotels run cruise specials for people driving in. Stay one or two nights, and you can leave your car at the hotel for the full week you're on the cruise. Plus, the hotel provides a shuttle to/from the pier. It's a GREAT deal if you're driving.

Our next port of call is Lahaina on the island of Maui. Arrival was at 8:00 and we were due to sail away at 6:00. Lahaina does not have a pier for cruise ships, the ships tenders are used to shuttle passengers back and forth. There were many people on our ship who used walkers and those folks managed to get ashore without too much of a problem. However, those in battery operated scooters just would not be able to make it. Rather than just turn loose all those who want to go ashore, there are tickets given out shortly after dropping anchor. The numbers on those tickets will determine when you go ashore. They also are working with passengers who have paid the ship for an official excursion (tour) and those get priority. Once again we rented a car. I headed for the small town of Makawao using as many side roads as possible. We went to Maui Hands, where we, once again, spent money. We ventured into a couple of other stores that offered art from local folks. Then, again, using side roads, we headed to the famed Hana Highway. We did not go to Hana, but aimed back toward the small town of Paia, where we went to the Maui Crafts Guild store. More local art. Lunch was at Thai Spice there in town. However, if you ever get to Paia, you must consider the Paia Fish Market restaurant! Communal dining with fresh, fresh fish! We took our time driving back to Lahaina to return the car. Free shuttle back to the ship was convenient. If you are ever on Maui, consider going to their aquarium, the Maui Ocean Center. A great place with two restaurants. Also on Maui is the shield volcano, Haleakala, a long drive away, but wonderful views and some good hiking to the top. That is a US National Park and some folks like to get there for sunrise (reservations recommended for that). There are some great stores in Lahaina, so if shopping is your thing, spend your money there. Back on the ship, Adagio performed in the Explorers Lounge (always called Adagio with different violist/pianist). The Ocean Quarter had the evening off, but Johnny held forth in the piano bar. The Lion King was shown a couple of times in the theater. In the Mainstage, Hyperion Knight (billed as a virtuoso pianist) had shows at 7:30 and 9:30. Since there was no live music in the Ocean Bar, at 8:30 and fun time was with Majority Rules Game, what a blast that one is. There were promotions throughout the ship for Rudi’s Sel de Mer dinner. Very French, with a menu of mostly fresh fish, inspired by Master Chef Rudi Sodamin. This is in the Pinnacle Grill and there is a $49 charge for this special event. Reservations required.