Representing the dogs:

Xena Blackburn (Princess of the Month)

Benny Bear (King of the Month)

Dutchess (Queen of the Month)


Representing the cats:

King Suede (Prince of the Month)

The interviews for our premiere issue will be with our most recent C & D Cruise Line Royal Court. They read as follows:
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The Interview With Xena Blackburn

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1. What was your reaction to being chosen as princess for the C & D Monthly Royal Court for March?

Answer: I was totally shocked!!!!! I never dreamed that I would be chosen! I was so very happy and proud and so honored to have this title. I will never be able to thank this wonderful group and its members.

2. How did Cash react when he heard the news?

Answer: Cash was so happy for me!!!!!! He sent me a present and personal congratulations and told me I have and will always be his princess and how deserving I was of this title!!!! He is such a sweetheart and so encouraging to little shy me!!!

3. Which trip has been your favorite?

Answer: I have enjoyed all the trips. I have had so much fun and learned so much about the countries we have visited. They are all GREAT!!!! Each one has been different and so very special in its own right. Each time I thought that this was the best cruise the next was just as special and fun!!!

4. Where would you like to go on a future trip?

Answer: Oh my goodness...that is a toughie!!!! There is so many places I would love to see and learn more about. To name a few I would like to see Switzerland, Denmark, Holland, Greenland, Iceland, Egypt and Italy.

5. Is there anything you would like to add?

Answer: I just want to say this group is wonderful and so are its members. And give a heartfelt "Thank you" to its creators and administrators for making it the GREAT group that it is. I love you all!!!!
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The Interview With Benny Bear

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1. What was your reaction to being chosen as king for the C & D Royal Monthly Court for March?

Answer: It is a great honor to be chosen by my fellow members to such a special position. I was surprised when We were nominated and even more surprised when we won. It is really a treat to be chosen in light of my sweet wife having gone to the bridge. It is nice to know that she is not forgotten by the members of our group.

2. How did you react to Dutchess being chosen as queen?

Answer: I was thrilled that my wife was chosen as queen. I would not want it any other way.

3. Is it harder to be king knowing that you don't have your queen with you?

Answer: Bitu, my queen is always with me because she lives on in my heart. It makes me smile that she still reigns as my queen from Rainbow Bridge.

4. What have you experienced as one of the co-captains of the C & D Cruise Line?

Answer: I have experienced a lot of hard work, but much more than that is the friendship and happiness that this group has provided to so many. It is my pleasure to be one of the Captains. We have a great team! It has been most difficult having lost our dear friend Wendy Garrison, but her memory too exists as part of the spirit of C&D. I know she was smiling on us during this last cruise and enjoying it right along with us.

5. Which trip has been your favorite?

Answer: Oh that is easy..... the trip to Hawaii in 2008 when Dutchess and I were married. How could I choose any other as my favorite when I received one of my greatest blessings by having her become my wife?

6. Where would you like to go on a future trip?

Answer: That's an easy one. I want to go back to Hawaii. It will be bittersweet returning to the place where Dutchess and I were married. But I know she will be with us and will walk with me in spirit. We have some fun activities planned and hope that every fur plans to attend that cruise.

I just want to say one more thing here...... I appreciate the honor of being interviewed for the premiere issue of The C & D Monthly Press. And I want to personally thank you for taking on this momentous responsibility.

*smiling and waving to all*

Captain Benny Bear

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The Interview With Dutchess

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1. What was your reaction to being chosen as queen of the C & D Royal Court for March?

I felt so honored and proud. The C & D Cruise Line and the SS Dutchess are my pride and joy. And for my husband Benny and I to be chosen to represent our group...well, I was thrilled.

2. Do you feel greater responsibility knowing that you represent all the "angel pets"?

I didn't know I represented the "angel pets". So many wonderful and loving pets have taken their journey to the Bridge and they have all made me feel so welcome and loved. To see them all in perfect body and health made my heart fill with so much love. All the Angels are representives of the "angel pets." Without them there would be no Rainbow Bridge for those babies who have to leave their earth families to go. They are safe, free, loved,healthy and all of them waiting for the day they will get to reunite with their families. On April 22nd I will be celebrating my one year at the Rainbow Bridge.

3. How did Benny Bear react to your selection as queen?

My beloved Benny was thrilled. He sent me a beautiful gift and told me how proud of me he was.

4. How did you react to Benny Bear being chosen as king?

Oh my, I was so proud of my husband. He was always a king in my heart but for others to see it to filled my heart with more love than I could ever imagine. My love for him will be forever.

5. How does being an "angel pet" affect how you go on trips with the living members?

I guess I have to say it affects me in a sort of sad way. I can't be with my husband in the way I could if I were still here on earth. We only had three months of marriage before I left for the Bridge but in those three months for the first time in my life I felt alive. We had the most wonderful marriage. I took so many incredible memories with me and left him with many wonderful memories. Pups and kitties, love one another. Build beautiful memories. Let go of the sad things and work as hard at building incredible memories. You see, we all end up at the Rainbow Bridge. Take beautiful memories with you and leave behind beautiful memories. Not sad ones children. Don't let the ones you love remember you with sad memories.

6. Which trip has been your favorite?

Here again, this is a hard question. Every cruise has been a favorite. With all the love on the SS Dutchess, how can they all not be a favorite. But my most favorite cruise was the first cruise. It was our cruise to Hawaii. This was the cruise that my Benny and I were married. Each cruise we take, I am there. If there is a wedding, I am there to sprinkle my Love Angel Dust over the couple as they seal their vows with a kiss. There is so much love on the SS Dutchess.

7. Where would you like to go when you take a future trip?

Wherever the SS Dutchess goes, I will be there. They have a fantastic itinerary of cruises and banquets for the whole year and I am so excited. I have no special place to cruise because wherever we go, it will be most special. All because of the love the pups and kitties bring into my namesake, the SS Dutchess.

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The Interview With King Suede

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1. What was your reaction to being chosen as prince for the C & D Monthly Royal Court for March?

Very proud and humbled and excited to represent our kingdom, the cat kingdom.

2. How does it feel to go from king in your own right to a prince?

Again, I am very proud to have won and be a representative of the cats on Dogster and Catster and C & D Cruise Line. I try and conduct myself in such a way as to make my family, wife Marilyn and our unborn twins proud at all times.

3. Do you feel a sense of responsibility knowing that you represent all the cats?

Yes I do. I hope I am a good representation of the cats here. Completing Captain's School last September with Spinner was a very proud moment in time for me and since being at the helm on 2 previous cruises was great. I really enjoyed bringing the SS Dutchess back into port this past Sunday.It was a very smooth ride!

4. What have you experienced as a co-captain of the C & D Cruise Line?

As I have stated, I brought the SS Dutchess back into port on the last two cruises. On this cruise I had my new wife Marilyn at my side which was wonderful. She is very supportive of me and my endeavors and wants me to be successful.

5. Which trip has been your favorite?

This past one to Scotland was for me mainly because my 2 sisters, Teisha & Minnie Mee had a double wedding there and they are both ecstatically happy. THe Scotland countryside was beautiful.

6. Where would you like to go on a future trip?

The one I have wanted to go on was Hawaii and we're headed there in April. Again, another double wedding in my family will take place in Hawaii; my brother Spinner is marrying his love Tinkerbell Blackburn and my sister Tinkerbell Angel is marrying her love Charlie Blackburn. It should be a grand affair.

King Suede (Prince Suede)