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Remember that Richard Hatch vacation cruise I posted about a while back? Well, Jean Williams decided to give herself an early Christmas present and attend. She was nice enough to email me some photos and I recap which I am posting below on her behalf. Enjoy!
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Richard Hatch Adventure Cruise
By Jean Williams
I am sending out my Christmas Greetings and my reminiscent of my Christmas present to myself. Let me tell you a story of my Vacation cruise with the very personable Richard Hatch ("Apollo" and "Tom Zarek").
We started cruising together the first night with a bon voyage dinner in Orlando, Florida. Most of the crew attended. Those who arrived late stopped by and said "hi". We knew it was going to be a great group from the laughter and hugs that accompanied the meal. Pauline said she needed a cigarette after watching Capt Apollo give a back massage to the cruiser across from her. As we walked back from the dinner, the plan was: Board the ship Carnival Glory and meet in the lobby.
Next day, Blam Ventures, publishers of Richard Hatches "Great War of Magellan" comics met us in the lobby and started the afternoon off with drinks. It was a gradual slide into dinner from there. Leisurely strolling the ship and finding shortcuts to all the party areas as well as taking pictures of everything and everyone soon became the activities of choice. I went straight to the spa and signed up for a hot stone massage...ahh the joy of it all. Sorry no pictures of the oil soaked towel wrapped cruisers!
Dinner was casual and we soon found our tables. There were twenty-four attendees and we rotated tables constantly to the bewilderment of our servers. Rising to the challenge, the serving crew managed to learn and continually provide our favorite beverages and desserts. A certain flour-less chocolate delight was consumed at an amazing rate, along with Champagne (thank you Tigger) and cognac, It was a wonder no one was sick.... sea sick that is...
The sushi bar with wonderful hot sake soon became the hangout after dinner. Once we had consumed enough liquid courage, the Karaoke bar became the nights playground. Jerry, a fellow passenger, sounded just like Dean Martin. His antics and singing put us all at ease, and we vowed to returned to perform the following nights.
Sunday was the first of many creative and inspirational seminars given by Richard Hatch. That was followed by a trip to Key West and a trolley tour. Almost the entire group boarded a trolley for the whole tour. Our driver just threw his hands up when we refused to get off at any of the stops and joined in the merriment. After the trolley ride, we all did some shopping before boarding the ship for Belize.
After dinner we were back in the Karaoke bar and were amazed at the "Prince" performance given by Drew, the Blam leader. Who knew you could "freeze" your vocal cords to reach a higher that pitch! Bravo!
Monday was a day of seminars and Richard played his Battlestar Galatica "Second Coming Trailer" and "The Great War of Magellan" trailer...if you haven't been able to see these trailers.... parts are available for viewing at the http://www.greatwarofmagellan.com/ site. The Second Coming Trailer is Richard's concept of how a continued TOS BSG would have looked...*sigh* if only.
Lunch was an adventure with everyone going to a different area of the ship ...I became lost just going to the restroom... BUT I found the soft ice cream machine... from then on known as THE DARKSIDE!After lunch, the "Acting From the Heart" workshop was a very down to earth talk on life and how acting has enriched Richard's life. He certainly has a mesmerizing joy of life. You feel both humbled and privileged to be in his classes. Some impromptu scenes were worked out with directing prompts and the bonding of the group started.
We were a very diverse group but a joyful one. We separated for a swim, sun and spa... all going in different directions and met at dinner to confuse the wait staff once more. That night, we all sang each one of us alone and together in random abandonment. We followed this routine through-out the cruise... so much so, that when I was in line at the airport to go home... people in the line said, "Oh hi... Your the singer from the Karaoke bar."
Tuesday was Belize, a shore excursion to River Wallace and Altun-Ha Mayan Ruins. Being a river rat, I enjoyed the boat ride up the river with monkeys, alligator's and Iguana's sunning themselves on the shore. Lunch was at the end of the boat ride followed by some shopping.
It was a short bus ride to the Mayan Ruins. As Steve quoted to us, "They are ruins to some, to others a StairMaster". Climbing was the rule of the day, with wonderful views at the top. There was a lot of Karmic energy high on the front steps of one ruin. Our fearless leader Richard was waving from the top so up we went. On the way down two enterprising boys had a Boa and a Iguana you could pose with, for a price. After the climb we purchased Cokes and boarded the bus back to the harbor, back to the cruise ship.
Hot tubs were the order of the day after dinner, sake and singing although some of us preferred the colder salty pool. The bars had these wonderful Blue drinks called Windex. By this time, other cruisers had noticed that Apollo was on board and our group would include these others as the night and cruise progressed.
Wednesday was Costa Maya and the Kohunlich Mayan Ruins. This proved a challenge and we were soon on our way in two vans packed to capacity. As we drove along, our guide talked about the 100+ thousand unexcavated ruins dotting Mexico. Soon after, you could see the hills of ruins rising above the flat plains and coastal swamps. Once at the site, there were many choices of ruins to see and climb. The energy this time was found in the low places among the jungle growth near a group of stones called the race track. I referred to it as the Valley of Sighs. The stones scattered about seem to sigh as the winds passed over them. Huge trees covered the area, all of it bathed in sunlight. Out of the valley shade, the sun was a welcomed warmth on our skins. Some disrobed to enjoy it all. Apollo had a snack of fresh coconuts at the vendor area and gave a Blam Ventures leader a back rub before we all piled into a van... heading for lunch, drinks, and the beach.
Entering the town of Costa Maya, we all claimed a spot on the beach. Some went shopping while others headed for bars, restaurants, and water. I was so excited about finally getting to swim in the wonderful lolling salty blue green, I forgot to take pictures! The water was very clear and shallow so you had a good view of where you were stepping. The swimming was wonderful! Apollo swam with the fishes and enjoyed the brace of salt and sun! The man never stops!
In the the low surf, some snorkeled although the coral reefs were out quite far. Dark Clouds in the distance told of the rain to come and sure enough, it did... just enough to rinse the salt water off and get our towels wet. But the sun came out after 15 minutes and all was warm and toasty again.
After drying off, finding our clothes and shoes we had one last drink, then hailed a taxi back to the pier. Some of the braver, crazier folks decided to walk. Their story was a topic of the dinner table that evening. After our usual sake and singing, we decided to partake of the dancing and these guys could shake it! Some of us followed the dancing with a show at the Amber Palace and others with a swim, still others more sake and champagne and a night on the deck. We all may try that next cruise!
Thursday was a day at sea and two workshops with Richard. "Mastering Fear" was the topic of the morning workshop. This is a workshop everyone should take. It was insightful and comforting to share your life's experiences with people who supported and cared for you. Richard, as always, masterfully kept us on topic and took us under his wing to give guidance. We left this workshop with a very mellow feeling... pausing for a circle of back rubs before lunch. Some of us found the DARK SIDE and pigged out on Chocolate ice cream. Others found the light and shot some hoops before the next workshop.
A workshop of Personal Coaching followed with a smaller group of caring individuals with multiple life goals. *Sigh* By that time I had partied so much I lost my voice. I think the drink I shared with Jerry didn't help, since I noticed he too was loosing his voice. There was so much I wanted to say, BUT I guess I'll have to go on another cruise and retake this workshop...LOL! Just being there with all that energy was a life altering experience!
That night we had a special formal dinner on board at the Emerald Room. This was a dinner of epicurean delight. The service and food far outshone anything previously enjoyed. We spent as much time admiring the food as we did eating it. *Sigh* to eat as kings at least once in your life was worth the cruise!
Drinks at the Sushi bar and meeting the other cruisers, plus a group photo followed. This was a group indeed and any photo of 20+ people all energetically trying to outdo the next was a feat only a pro could handle! I am still waiting for a copy of that shot....Steve hello!
Friday morning found us all tying to do more and sleep less, some of us succeeding far to well. The last workshop was Richard's "Building Successful Relationships in Business and Life" This was attended by many. By this time, since I had no voice, I was communicating by writing messages to one and all with the ships bar crew writing the answers back. (Dear ones I can't talk, I can... still hear...) The lengths I go to communicate!
This workshop really solidified the group and progress that was made in many areas of well being. Each one left with the feeling that change was imminent, powerful, and worthwhile. Our lives "Oh Great One" have been forever altered by your wisdom and support. This was truly a cruise of light and hope for the future.
Did we ever find the "Vote for Tom Zarek" bumper stickers?
That night before dinner we had our farewell cocktail party thankfully next to the Sushi bar so the Sake flowed with the Windex's... I found that, after consuming untold quantities of raw ginger and very hot sake, I could be heard if only faintly. I must learn sign language!
Dinner followed with everyone finding friends at every table... friends you did not want to leave. Jim those Men in Black shades rock! Eva and Philip enjoy Germany! Karen you are my hero, let's cruise into the sunset!
Later, back at the lounge, we met with many fellow cruisers not in our group for photos and drinks. It is fun and humbling to see grown people become 13 years old again when they meet their childhood Hero. Apollo was, as always, gracious, warm, open, and willing to share his struggle of trying to bring back the "Second Coming" of BSG and his new role as Tom Zarek in the new re-imaged BSG. No guys he didn't give us any spoilers... even when we tried "other means" on him.
Massages and Champagne were shared, instructions for debarking were confirmed, hugs, emails, tears and plans for another cruise were passed along the couches of well wishers. Even the crew of the Glory joined in for pictures with Apollo.
This is my Christmas Story and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did living it.
So if you have a free week, and want to enrich your life many fold, come, join us next year in December it will be a vacation you will never forget!
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Thanks goes out to Jean Williams for sharing her experience with us! I can only imagine the amount of pure BSG geeking that went on after a few drinks!
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