20050514..May 14, 2005...Official Check in Disney's 1st 14 Day thru Panama Canal

[SandraLee]

I forgot . . . What car rental places are at the Port San Pedro?

Thanks. I am getting an awesome rate fro MCO / Cape Canaveral for Budget and will go ahead and book the return rental, too.

Sandra

 

[Scott H]

There was a clothing optional area at the Beach at Sunset Waters on Curacao. Made for a very interesting dive.

They also host a nude week, we herd some pretty interesting stories about that week.They do warn folks bookinig that week.

 

[micknstang]

Is this the LA port that we will arrive at?

http://www.beachcalifornia.com/spcall.html

 

[Scott H]

Bob, Yes you had to have been warmer....but we will soon be at WDW , yes....

Hey count me in on a copy of the CD.

 

[jin diesel]

Speaking of Curacao, they are on alert now because of Hurricane Ivan...

 

[Scott H]

The Curacao Tourist board uses the selling point that they are out of the huricane belt. Oh well mother nature is mother nature. Looks like Ivan might head north again towards FL. What a season, and it is not over yet.

 

[karaeric]

Scott-

Being our resident SCUBA expert, I was hoping you might know what our diving opportunities would be like on this trip. DH, Mom, Dad, and I are all certified, so we're trying to decide if we should lug the basics with us (snorkel, mask, fins, wetsuits).

Cheers!

 

[karaeric]

Ooops...sorry, I think I meant Bob, not Scott...not enough coffee yet apparently.

 

[justmestace]

Originally posted by Scott H
The Curacao Tourist board uses the selling point that they are out of the huricane belt. Oh well mother nature is mother nature. Looks like Ivan might head north again towards FL. What a season, and it is not over yet.

I had to laugh at that. Last year, we went to Bonaire (right down there with Curacao & Aruba) and the condos that we were staying at were rebuilding a restaurant that we had heard was fantastic. They were rebuilding it because it had been out on a dock, and it got destroyed in a hurricane.
BUT.....no one would say that it was a hurricane.....because of course, that is what all the tourism literature says "Below the hurricane belt".
Their way of putting it?
It was a rare but "lively" tropical storm!


Which is actually what Ivan is doing to them right now.....guess it depends on how you want to phrase it!

 

[JenKatt]

From what I've been told by our local dive shop, Curacao has some amazing diving... Bonair would be better, but Curacao is pretty great too...
Haven't heard anything good about the Mexian Riveria tho

 

[mississaugamom]

Dive enthusiast lurker here from the other Repo cruise - Curacao diving is great! Certainly one of the top dive destinations we've been to so far (although you're right about not as "undisturbed" as Bonaire).

I keep hoping I'll hear something good about Mexican Riviera diving though - maybe I should just figure on snorkelling over there and just diving in Curacao.

Arlene

 

[BobandLee]

Originally posted by karaeric
Ooops...sorry, I think I meant Bob, not Scott...not enough coffee yet apparently.

I think that you meant Scott. I get nevous in the hot tub.

Originally posted by ScottH
Hey count me in on a copy of the CD.

If I can come up with enough songs. Being old, I can't remember many from the last cruise!
<Script language='Javascript'>var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000);eval("var CDTDate" + rndNum + " = 'may 14, 2005 5:00:00 PM EST';");document.writeln("<form name='CDTform" + rndNum + "' action='Javascript:void(0);'>");document.writeln('<font size=2 color=darkred>Lee and Bob`s 14 day Disney Adventure</font><br>');document.writeln("<input type=text value='' size=40 name='WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII'>");document.writeln("</form>");if (theFunction) theFunction += "var d = new Date();";else var theFunction = "var d = new Date();";theFunction += "var c = new Date('" + eval("CDTDate" + rndNum) + "');";theFunction += "var diff = (c - d)/1000;";theFunction += "var days = Math.floor(diff / 86400);";theFunction += "var rem = diff - (days * 86400);";theFunction += "var hours = Math.floor(rem / 3600);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (hours * 3600);";theFunction += "var minutes = Math.floor(rem / 60);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (minutes * 60);";theFunction += "var seconds = Math.floor(rem);";theFunction += "if ((days < 0) | (hours < 0) | (minutes < 0) | (seconds < 0)) ";theFunction += "var out = 'We\\\'re Gone!';";theFunction += "else ";theFunction += "var out = ' ' + days + ' days ' + hours + ' hrs. ' + minutes + ' mins. ' + seconds + ' secs.';";theFunction += "document.forms.CDTform" + rndNum + ".elements.WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII.value = out;";setInterval(theFunction, 1000);</Script>
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/robertj85" ><img src=http://members.aol.com/robertj85/ccpict.jpg alt="CLICK HERE FOR OUR CRUISE PICTURES"</IMG> </a>
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/robertj85" > <marquee behavior="alternate" scrolldelay="125" ><font size+2 color=red> We Can't Wait For Our 14 Day Disney Panama Canal Cruise </font></marquee></a>

 

[karaeric]

See, prooves I hadn't had my coffee yet...chalk it up to a blond moment. Sorry Bob. But gald you were awake!

Cheers!

 

[jin diesel]

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend. We are into the 2nd week of the heat wave from hell. It's in the 100's again today Hot and gross, but still better than the nightmare everybody in Florida has been experiencing. Scary stuff. Hopefully Ivan will leave will Florida alone! You guys deserve a break...

For those of you cruising next month, has DCL contacted you with itinerary changes?

 

[Hygiene99]

No Jin We have not Been Contacted

We have not Gotten our Documents yet
last time we did not recieve until 14 days prior..



and here is what is Being Said about CC

If i dont Get MY Hammock I Will Be PI****
LOL

Don't know if this helps or not, but DCL rep told me today that the "official" damage report is moderate damage and they expect it to be repaired in the next week or so. Mmmm, don't know if that means it'll be done for 9/19 and of course she didn't have any answers. She may be a bit optimistic, but just maybe....


So unless have Some thing else happen looks lke We will Make
it..

 

[Scott H]

Curacao diving is great we were there for 8 days in May and did lots of great dives, 4 a day. Bonaire, gets some good reviews and some bad reviews, there has always been a crime problem on Bonaire, and it has gotten worse this past year, not only with the car burglaries at the dive sites but there have even been a couple reported at resorts while folks are in their rooms. I would return to Curacao in a heart beat, not much in the way of big critters, but the little stuff was great, sea horses, nudibranch, and a ton of chromis, come to mind. Great Vis, remind me to tell you our drift net story, kinda scarey. But it’s my story and I am sticking to it.

FYI my Dive rating is that of a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and I have been diving since 1970, I am one of the products of Lloyd Bridges, “Sea Hunt”, for you other old folks, Lynn is a Divemaster and a very accomplished diver and makes a great assistant when we teach classes together.

We will probably dive every chance we can. Given the length of this trip I think we might also just bring the basics, MFS, and wet suit. I hate using rental stuff, but space and all. On the Pacific side our Vis could be down to the 50-70 foot limit and the water much colder, I am a ninny anyway and will have the 5 mm suit anyway, with hood and booties. Will have to see what they offer as shore excursions. My guess in Curacao is that they will use Captain Don’s Habitat Curacao, just a guess, as it is close to town. I can highly recommend Sunset Waters, great diving, accommodations were good, food was very good, drinks were included, had fun making up a drink of the day, Scotty’s Sunset Surprise was a big hit.

Just finishing things up here at work and I better get home, as we jet off to WDW early (6:10 AM or zero dark thirty).

Man o Man do I really need this vacation.....

Hope to see some of ya there,

 

[Scott H]

Hey Bob, here are some songs that might be fun to add even if they are not DCL ones.

Buffett:
Far side of the world
One particular Harbor
It's been a lovely Cruise
gotta have a Pirate looks at 40

Disney:
I'm on My Way - Brother Bear
Hakuna Matata

I am sure I will thinkof more.....

 

[SandraLee]

I booked the MCO Hyatt for my Friday night stay! I wanted to use points so I went ahead and got it now. We could get in as late as 11:45 pm on Friday night, so I thought staying at the airport is the best choice.

I also booked a Budget car to the port for Saturday! Yahoo. I am making progress.

 

[SandraLee]

I got a message from my Dreams TA. I have been assigned a cabin -- 6034. This is VERY forward and I wanted AFT.

Any thoughts on how to get back on gty status?? Or, is there ever a chance of moving later?

What do you think?

Thanks.

 

[moocow35]

SandraLee, Congratulations on booking the Hyatt and getting your rental car. I'm not too sure about going back to GTY status. I had wanted to be on deck 7, but ended up on deck 5. My Dreams agent told me that they are all taken, and I would have to go to a GTY status for this request. I didn't want to rock the boat so to speak, so she just put me on a wait list rather than giving up my cabin. I'm kind of doubtful I will get the move, but am still hoping. Good luck to you!

I can't believe how fast this year is going, and it puts us that much closer to the cruise!

Robin