This is my first convention report, so if I'm a little rusty you'll know why. A brief explanation: The Sci-Fi Sea Cruise is made possible by Dan Harris and Future Programming Concepts. They've been doing Dr. Who cruises for a few years and decided to branch out this year by inviting Mira Furlan from B5, and Nigel Bennett from Forever Knight, as well as Sylvester McCoy from Dr. Who. I originally signed up for this trip because I was a Nigel fan, only later watching B5 and becoming addicted to it also. So you'll understand that for much of the trip I hung around Nigel more than Mira. I'll recount the Mira bits for you here.

Tuesday, May 13--It was a four day cruise from Tampa, FL, to Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Mexico, then back to Tampa. I hardly saw Mira or Goran on the first day. I heard from someone that due to flight complications, and mixed up arrangements, she nearly missed the boat. Fortunately, she and her delightful husband Goran made it. There were only about 26 people in our entire group so we only needed two tables at dinner. Because the fans got cards telling them where to sit, it was the stars who got to table hop each day. Nigel sat at our table every night, so I didn't see much of Mira, Goran, or Sylvester at those times. I know one time I looked over at their table and Sylvester and Goran were playing the spoons.

Wed., May 14--At lunch, Mira, Goran and Sylvester sat at our table. Due to the volume of the room, I could only hear Sylvester, who was sitting right next to me. Sylvester and Goran were discussing a book, while my mom was asking Mira how she liked Kauai. She said she loved it. Mom also asked how she was getting along driving in California. Mira replied okay, but that she didn't drive on highways.

On this night was the Captain's Dinner, so everyone had their picture taken with Capt. Nick, our comedian captain. My mom and I ordered the pictures of Mira and Goran with the Captain to make up for not getting to sit with them at dinner. (Of course I was sitting right next to Nigel this night, so I wasn't too put out. ) One picture is so hilarious. Mira has this haughty look on her face, and Goran is...well, it's sort of hard to describe.

Someone told me that when Mira saw the picture she said, "He looks so sleazy!" To which he replied, "Come here, baby." Don't quote me on this! But you get the idea. It was formal night and Goran was wearing a shirt with bright red and green watermelons on it, while Mira wore a sensible black. They are very different personalities.

Thurs., May 15--Today everyone took the 11 hour tour of the Mayan city of Chichen Itza. After a 3 hour bus ride, we arrived. One of the first things Goran did was to pet a stray dog. The people in the little cantina were warning him not to, but his open personality charmed the dog, too. I can see why Mira married him.

After visiting the Observatory and Nunnery, we walked back to the temple of Kukulcan, or the great pyramid. Our guide was going to let us go, but Goran convinced him to show us the Ball Court, where a very difficult game similar to soccer was played. When the guide told us that one of the team captains got his head cut off at the end of the game, he asked us whether it was the winner or loser. Of course I'm thinking the loser, but Mira confidently says the winner. Our guide says correct, and then explains how the winning captain got the honor of sacrificing his life to the gods for his people. I don't know where Mira, Goran, or Sylvester went after that because I went off to climb the pyramid with Nigel and friends. Later, we all made it back to the bus, and *much* later we got back on the boat. Mira, Goran, and Sylvester went off to see Cozumel, while many of us ate dinner on the ship.

Friday, May 16--After watching two episodes of Forever Knight with Nigel in attendance, it was time for lunch. Mira and Goran sat two seats away from me. Somewhere along the way the Bermuda Triangle was discussed, and Mira asked if anything had disappeared there recently. I think the consensus was no, but then the topic turned to the TWA flight disaster. Unfortunately for all of us, my father regaled the table with his theories involving UFO's. Even Mira Furlan isn't safe from my dad's lectures! Of course I, the great skeptic of the Shea family, am sitting there shaking my head. Finally he concluded, and I have no idea what Mira thought of all that. Oh well. Since she's rather reserved, and I'm *very* reserved, (and a little intimidated by her,) I didn't say much.

After lunch, Mira very graciously agreed to watch the newest B5 ep with us, Rumors, Bargains, and Lies. She hadn't seen the ep in its final form, so it was almost as interesting to her as it was to us. I'm not certain, but unlike Nigel, I don't think she does this kind of thing often. Mira took a seat near me and prepared herself, asking questions like "What do you want me to do?" while Goran happily found the lights and turned them off. We told her to just comment on anything that came to mind while watching it. Because of spoilers I won't say too much in detail, but she thought the first scene was funny. When we were a little surprised when she had to ask what Ivanova said over the coffee cup, she explained that she doesn't hang around the set all day watching other people's scenes. After watching the first emotional Delenn scene, she told us how it parallels her life so closely that it wasn't hard to find the tears. She was also as stumped by the Reebo and Zooty bit as we were, and asked who they were. Someone explained that they were made up. She commented on Super Lennier saving the day, and how she especially liked his explanation to the religious Minbari about why he did what he did. She agreed that it was an excellent episode, "A thriller."

Right after that we went to the Commodore club for a 45 min. party, picture, and autograph session. Mira was the best organized. She gave us all pre-signed photos and then personalized them. It was very sweet of her. After I got a book signed by Nigel, and my mom got a post card signed by everyone, it was time for a disorganized picture rush in the badly lit club. I went over to where my mom was telling Sylvester about our ill fated trip to Egypt, and I had to distractedly relate that story while trying to get out of the way of picture takers.

Amazingly, Mira decided to come visit our little section of the club, so I got to talk to her for a few minutes. She asked who the B5 fan was in my family, so I briefly admitted that I started out a Nigel fan who then became a B5 fan because of this cruise, (had to watch the show and find out who that Mira lady was!) Of course, I'm obsessed with it now. I explained how my father is not a TV fan at all. She said he seemed very interesting. I told her that History is his kind of fandom, currently Russian history. She said that he reminded her of her father, who's also into Russian history. At least she understood!

We got to talking about the makeup she has to wear, since now she's going to be shooting the prequel movies, and must go back to the full Minbari getup. She isn't really thrilled about that aspect, but what can you do. We talked about the makeup for the pilot and she said that it felt very cold, and the worst part is that it makes your nose run. My mom said how she really loves the subtlety of the actors, even in the makeup, with the exception of Londo. I argued on Londo's behalf, saying that he is subtle when he's being serious. I think all our thoughts drifted to what Andreas Katsulas can accomplish in G'Kar makeup, and Mira said that he is just amazing. I finally asked something that had been on my mind recently about Delenn's bone. To me it looks like the bone is receding a bit (receding bone line!) She said there is no difference in the makeup, and that it must be the lighting. I'm not quite convinced, but who am I to argue with Mira? By then it was time for pics again. This time it was group shots. After that I didn't see them for the rest of the day, but I got to sit next to Nigel again at dinner, so I was content.

Sat., May 17--On Saturday, Mira, Goran, Nigel and many of us were leaving. After fighting their way through immigration they went out on the sun deck to hang around with some of us while waiting for permission to get off the ship. We all pulled up deck chairs and sat in a circle while Sylvester discussed his less than pleasant experiences with what he calls the customs tribe. He says he doesn't believe in countries, he believes in tribes. There are the uniformed members of the customs tribe who are mortal enemies of the acting tribe. Members of the acting tribe, such as themselves, always seemed to hit it off wherever they went. Mira said that she knew of members of the actress tribe who were secretly part of the customs tribe. Goran told of a violent encounter he had with a uniformed nut, and how if it weren't for his brother breaking them up, he might have been killed. Mira said that this kind of thing happens all the time in their country. You can be killed over nothing. Nigel talked about unpleasant Canadian border experiences, and of an atrocity committed by the Canadian army, and the hypocrisy of the ensuing investigation. Not to leave us out, they mentioned corrupt American police once or twice. It was a very serious ending to a wonderful trip, but that just made it all the better.

So what is Mira like in person? Well of course she had that lovely accent. She's taller than me, I think she said around 5'6". And she is very beautiful. Very strong and feminine all at once. I'm lucky to have met her.