All right everyone...after doing some research today, I think I have a password-protected website for our group ready to roll!
http://alaska2013.jimdo.com/
I will PM everyone on our roll call so far the password for the website. Right now, although the website will show up in search engines, none of the content is publicly viewable without the password (which was my #1 criteria in finding someplace to host the site). Hopefully this should make everyone more comfortable sharing information such as cabin numbers and photos.
Please let me know if anyone has suggestions for additional content to add to the site, or if you have any other suggestions for meet-ups. For now I set our first-day CruiseMeet time as 3 PM on embarkation day in the Promenade Lounge, since that seems to be a fairly traditional place and time...but nothing is set in stone!
I also did include information the DISer List portion of the site to get a FE exchange going. In order to add you officially to the list (assuming we want to do this!), I will not only need you to make a post here or via PM to me, but I MUST have your cabin number(s) before I will officially add you. If you are booked GTY status, let me know that so I can put that information on the webpage.
Additionally, for an FE exchange it's helpful to come up with a drop-dead due date for adding anyone to the exchange. Last year, we set this date about one month before cruise departure, as a number of people in the exchange needed time to buy supplies and assemble gifts...sticking to that due date wasn't always easy, but it was immensely helpful for people. Will doing this again be OK with everyone?
Let me know if you have any feedback! After I get everyone the website password, I'll also edit the first post of this thread to include this information.
Sally - best of luck with your flights!! I will gladly trade an Australian winter for a Mid-Atlantic one if you're getting frustrated down there