"Have you ever been to sea, Billy?"

Here we are en route to Darwin after our port of call in Port Douglas yesterday. It will take 2 full days at sea before we reach the northern tip on the third morning. We’re spending our time taking full advantage of what the ship has to offer as well as conducting a study of human nature. There are every shape and size on this cruise, and many of these people are "cruise junkies"...they go from cruise to cruise to cruise...this explains their "pear" shapes!! Some of those we see regularly have earned some nicknames...for instance, there is a couple who sit near us at dinner. They are consistently "fashionably late" for dinner, arriving about 15 minutes after everyone else is seated. They seem a bit self absorbed. We noticed them one evening sitting in the back of the packed lounge for a show and they were condescendingly barking at all the elderly people who would wander in and block their view of the stage. I’ve nicknamed them "the President of Australia and his wife" or "Mr and Mrs President" for short. There is also a member of the wait staff who reminds us ALOT of our friend Steve G....only the waiter is from the Philippines...so him we’ve nicknamed "Philly Steve". It’s quite remarkable, really, how much they look alike. And this is only the first week...I’m sure as time goes by we’ll have a few new names for people....maybe not all of them flattering!!
I’m off to Bingo shortly...I’m feeling lucky!! Maybe today I’ll win the jackpot! Then I think it’s some shuffleboard. There’s some bridge played on board, but I’ve not gotten the nerve to join in as yet...I’m really just a learner and I know that many bridge players are far too serious!! But I’ve noticed Euchre on the schedule as well, so maybe I’ll take that in today as well.

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY: I'm thinking I've uncovered a "bingo conspiracy"...I just don't know what to do with my information!!  You have the option to play 1 card for $10, 3 cards for $20 and 6 cards for $30.  I've been playing 6 cards all along because I figured that would improve the odds of my winning....aha...not so!!  A quick analysis of all the winners in today's bingo reveals...only people who play the 3 card/$20 option were winners.  I'm gonna lick this conspiracy yet!!!  Tomorrow...I'm only playing 3 cards and stand back...I'm gonna be a winner!!!!  Stay tuned as I break open the Dawn Princess bingo conspiracy...I may just make it on CNN!!!