FRIENDS ... My Lifesaver & My Anchor!

FRIENDS |frend| 

noun

a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.

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FRIENDS... for me personally are one of the biggest highlight of our cruise. They are my comfort and pleasures of this journey ... our getaway. Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband, but I enjoy my friends...they are the ones who keeps me company, when my  husband wants to take a nap, call it a night or just wants to take a break from “me”. My cruise friends share in the excitement beginning with the pre-cruise as we chatter about the preparation, the planning of all the things we will be doing or not doing. The numerous activities or simple relaxation of cruising lifestyle...those lovely sea days offering both, time for more friends or time for a little one on one friendship moment.   

FRIENDS ...are my lifesavers. On this cruise we have celebrations and planning. My friends are there for me helping to share the thrill and joy. My dear friends have stepped in without a hesitation

to help me enhance the cruise, the occasion and events. They have tossed in the enthusiasm, the anticipation and the excitement. They have simply been there for ME! Thank you for being my lifesaver.

FRIENDS... are my anchor. The tie and the stability of being there as solid as an anchor is to this ship. My friends are by my side. On this cruise we have so many years of friendship with each cruisers. Tho’ there are many different groups of friendship, they are also one of the same being anchored to me. Sharing various stages of our lives here and there through the years -- Childhood, Educational Pursuits, Professional Careers & Organizational Groups, Lifetime Events & Celebrations, Travels & Leisure Bucket Lists shared and even the decision to Retirement. There in the beginning and in the end, my friends!

FRIENDS... on a cruise ship! The encounter meeting with someone new, or reuniting with someone we met before....getting to know you better, sharing a meal, enjoying a shore excursion, laughs over a conversation with old friends, crossing path with a comforting and familiar smile, joining an activity or acknowledging a solitary moment in passing. The joys of friends on a cruise!

FRIENDS ...creating the lifetime moments. The memories ..the special time. The fun and laughter that creates side aches you can’t remember why you hurt. The warm fuzzy- happy moments and the simple slower times, quiet talk times to enjoy one another -- hanging out and sharing, talking stories. These are but a few of the joys I cherish about being on a cruise with friends. I am grateful, appreciative and thrilled to be sharing

this with you all.

Hope you find the moments to enjoy “your friend”, whether it be to reconnect with your spouse, or long time friend. Perhaps sharing a cocktail of the day with a new friend to get to know them better?

Enjoying a drink, a talk,  a laugh or two while you play, share in an activity or do nothing but be there by your friend’s side in silence because that’s what friends can do... I hope you create and savor your moments and I hope a few of them will be with me. Thank you for being my lifesaver and anchor...its bon voyage time!

Friendship Quotes provided by Google.com

    

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS

Back in 1986, I had an opportunity to go to Hawaii to participate in a professional learning exchange program which was co-sponsored by my California Parks and Recreation Society and the Hawaii Recreation and Park Association. During this time, I was very fortunate to have met a number of professional colleagues who have now become lifetime friends. SInce this encounter, we all made a practice to meet up at our annual professional conference and whenever the conference was held in Southern California our group would take an additional 2-3 personal days and head to Ensenada as a tradition.

During these years of friendship, whenever my Hawaii friends would come into town I would coordinate our carpool to Ensenada (back in the days, rental cars were not allowed across the border) or we would meet up as they individually came into town. On the same note, when we headed to Hawaii we would also meet up with our Hawaii Friends and they would very generously host us with their warm Aloha Spirit...and though most of us are retired now. Our special friendship has still endured to this very day.

Some of you on this cruise have met my very special Hawaii Friends and had the opportunity to receive their gracious hospitality and aloha. One of those Hawaii Friends I speak of here is, Joan Yamanaka and she had shared this with me and I thought I would share it with you. In my experience this truly spotlights the beauty, grace and generosity of who the Hawaiian people are... during our visit to the islands, I hope you have an opportunity to experience the Aloha Spirit that has touched my heart through all these years. Enjoy! 

Aloha Nui Loa, Diana

There are friends..and then there are “Hawaiian Friends”

FRIENDS: Never ask for food

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS: Always bring food.

FRIENDS: Will say “Hello”.

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.

FRIENDS:Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS: Call your parents Uncle & Auntie

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS: Cry with you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS: Will spend hours talking,laughing and just being together. Help clean-up when all pau (finished)!

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS:Could write a book with direct quotes.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that’s what the crowd is doing.

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS:Will kick the whole crowd’s okoles (butts) that left you.

FRIENDS: Get mad when you don’t stay in contact.

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS: Years could go by and you pick up like it was yesterday.

FRIENDS: Come and go.

HAWAIIAN FRIENDS: Are family

K-Fong Design ... Does it Again!

Well, she does it again... our friend Karen Fong known to us warmly as K-Fong, does it again! She has graciously shared her creative talents in creating our 25th Anniversary logo. How does she do it?!!! 

Karen asked us to provide her with side by side photos and so from this simplistic request merged with her incredible skills, talent and creativity. K-Fong does it again and comes up with our 25th Anniversary Logo. We love it and so appreciate you. We know you can’t be with us on our cruise K-Fong. But we know, you will be there in spirit and logo!

Oh and for inquiry minds who need to know....how are we connected with Karen?  Roger and Diana met Karen at the City of Irvine when both were working stiffs! Karen worked in Community Service with Diana and she was the Department Graphic Artist. Some may have remembered that Karen had also designed their original Maui’d logo when they got married as well as our 10th Anniversary Re-Maui’d logo.

Karen has been influential to Diana with many years of fun and creative times. One that many of you may have benefited with was the initial editions of their annual Davis family newsletter which Karen has assisted with and now Diana has learned to design and format on her own. 

One of our most memorable story about Karen has to be when she went to the 24 hour photo shop (no digital back then) on Maui the same afternoon of Roger and Diana’s marriage ceremony to develop shots of Diana white as a ghost. Everyone, especially Roger was worried sick as Diana looked like Casper the ghost . Will she change her mind to get married? Diana of course was in total denial that she was white and ghostly. Saying she was fine and okay! OMG after the photos, no wonder Roger was worried that Diana might change her mind. Well, she didn’t and the “I Do’s” came through as Diana has been saying “I Do Again and Again...and looks like she’s gonna say it one more final time on their 25th anniversary.   

Mahalo Nui Loa,  K-Fong..Thanks so much! So here is the logo debut .... 

Why Should I Sign-Up with the "DAVIS" Group?

Traveling with Friends is comforting! 

So the question proposed is “Why should I sign-up with the Davis Group?” 

Great question...

Although many of you have traveled with our group before there are others who may be new or perhaps still for those not signed up yet, may want to utilize their own travel agent.  Quite simply put... you can use whoever you like, HOWEVER,  doing so will allow you to book the 15 day Hawaiian Cruise on the Ruby Princess but NOT get you into the exclusive speciality of being a part of our Davis Renewal Group AND "all it’s celebratory information, personal attention, events, group discounts, activities and other potential cruise benefits" liked those who have chosen to sign-up with Alex at Innovative Travel Planners.    

Roger and I have decided that we will be renewing our vows on board the ship and the invitation will be exclusive to those signing up through Alex. We are very please, to have Alex as part of our renewal party because we know she and her company have always gone the extra mile for us . Alex started with us at our 15th Anniversary and now we are the lucky ones to have her not only as our travel agent but also along with her husband Ted, have become very good friends.  Alex brings to the team over 40 years of professional travel agency experience as well as being an avid traveler herself. We have the utmost respect for her and appreciate all she has done for our travel groups. 

During this cruise you will have exclusive benefits for being a part of “Our Group”. This is not to say that you have to be with “The Group”.  If you care to have a more solo cruise experience, the choice is absolutely there for you. With our group, you can embark and disembark to your liking. But being affiliated with a group such as ours, can only provide you with a bit more personal attention as well as optional fun activities, familiar camaraderie beyond just boarding the mega Princess Cruise Line as well as other potential perks which may include any discounts or price reductions that we can only hope to get through Princess Cruises. Again let me reiterate that participation in the activities and events is totally optional. Our goal is for you to enjoy your cruise and have a good time. We only ask that you simply respect and honor other guests with consideration and reflect a positive attitude, after all no one likes a whiner. Or as Roger says, if you don’t enjoy having a laugh or two then perhaps we are not the group for you!    

Another benefit for those who enjoy socialization is that being a part of our group allows for special camaraderie and comfort whether you choose to bring a friend or come solo. Many of our friends, have through the years, connected and gotten to know one another and now look forward to being with this group. Knowing that you are a part of this group and guided by both Alex and Diana is also another major perk and I know appreciated by many returnees.   

Alex is very efficient in covering your cruise and ship board needs while Diana makes sure

that the group receives the best benefits possible during this cruise. These may include seeking cruise discounts and benefits whenever possible, private shore excursions, communicating details of cruising, sharing destination information, highlighting the joys of our sea home & lifestyle during our cruise, the comfort of having familiar faces, assisting with personal questions and concerns during this group cruise, and introducing our group cruisers who also bring a number of laughs, stories and experiences to share. 

So join us and c’mon aboard WITH US...its time to begin your cruise with Roger and Diana!