HEY ALL -

I’m writing my first blog from our AMAZING new office in Times Square!! I LOVE IT!  I am looking at the Waterford Crystal 2009 New Year’s Eve Countdown drop ball with 10,000 energy efficient LED bulbs, which is still up and yards away from my window.  OBAMA’S our President!!!  What could be better?  Well, if our cruise was next week and I got to see all of you… but I’ll be patient.

I want to let you all know that our entertainment for this summer’s cruise will be announced very shortly and we have a HOT, HOT, HOT lineup!  My R family blog is the “Entertainment Blog” and will focus on the incredible entertainment and performances scheduled for the upcoming cruise AND feature a Q+A with a past or future R Family Entertainer.  

Please welcome my first Q+A guest…one of R Family’s favorites, star of WICKED…

JULIA MURNEY!

1) Which cruise(s) did or will you be attending?

I was on the inaugural cruise to the Bahamas in ‘04, the summer cruise to Alaska in ‘06 and the spring cruise to Mexico in ‘08 and am hoping to go to Alaska again this summer, schedule permitting.

2) What was the ONE thing you HAD to bring with you on the ship?

My friend Jen!

3) What was your favorite memory or touching moment onboard the ship?

Towards the end of the first cruise, I was walking through the cafeteria and was suddenly struck by all these beautiful families and how joyous our alternate reality on the ship had become and I realized that I didn’t want to leave.

4) What is the one event on the ship that you would NEVER miss?

I love the theme nights-some of my favorites were pirate night (dancing to YMCA next to the pool-which I am probably too snobby to do in real life, yet on the ship all bets are off), and the superhero night when all the kids-and many of the adults-went all out -all hail the hero sandwich!

5) Did you bring any family or friends with you? If so, what was their reaction?

I have brought my dear friend Jen with me every time (or my faux lesbian lover, as some like to call her) and last year also took my friend Charley and my sister Caitlin.  The reaction is always to the fog of love that seems to envelop the ship…at first you’re amazed and then you know it’s so very true and then you realize you have to go home and not everyone understands where you’ve been.

6) What was your worst or most embarrassing on stage moment?

I have had my share-one of the most amusing/disconcerting was on the Alaska cruise when we hit some rough seas and by the time I got up to perform, Seth Rudetsky had disappeared from behind the piano and was in a heap just off stage.  Needless to say, that was the end of that show

7) When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was little, I thought being a waitress was really cool.  Little did I know how bad I would be at it!

Is there anything else that you would like to do add to the blog regarding what is new in your life?

I am about to play a mean nurse on “One Life to Live” for a few episodes so that should be fun! They are super nice over there.  Besides that I’m just looking forward to springtime with my dog and my family and friends and am looking forward to what’s next…whatever that brings! 

Now, go and watch this amazing video of Julia performing at my birthday cabaret celebration in NYC last July.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxP18E-kTEM&feature=channel_page

I can’t wait to see you all this summer!  For our repeat passengers, it has been too long and for our new guests, I can’t wait to party with you for a week and welcome you to R FAMILY!!

PEACE OUT!

Colin Sheehan

R Family Vacations

Entertainment Coordinator