10/02/04 Antigua Cruise

[piglet33]

Good morning everyone.

Well, it's supposed to be a very nice 79 degrees here today. Very warm for November. It's already 68 degrees now.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween.

Eric - thanks for the list.

 

[jeanneg]

Yes, Carlos and Charlie's was quite a place. John and I only lasted about 10 minutes.....just long enough to down our margaritas......but even in that short amount of time we saw more than we ever imagined! On the one hand, I was very glad our 18- and 19-yr old were too tired from the Tulum trip to accompany us, but on the other, it would have been a good experience for them to see how totally out of control too much alcohol can make you. I bet your daughter will never forget it! That's a funny story about the couple missing the boat......I bet it happens more often anyone would care to acknowledge.
Jeanne

 

[ARLO1]

From what I hear later in the night they have wheelchairs(or something to that effect) waiting to take people back to their boats.

Arlene

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Ok, it's Monday which means that it's cold and rainy here. Was lovely on Friday but the temp sunk on the weekend. It's been raining since yesterday afternoon off and on and it's supposed to continue for the next few days.

Saturday we raked 10 bags of leaves and still will have more to do when the trees finally lose all their leaves. Saturday night we went to a wedding reception in a town 1.5 hours from here. It was actually quite nice. We tried to make the wedding on Wednesday night but got caught in traffic and so were in the car for 3 hours with nothing to show for it.

The groom was somebody that Jim had taken a scout training course with and has known for 12/13 years. I've met the groom a couple of times at Gilwell. The bride we met for the first time Saturday night but she seems very, very nice.

For the wedding cake which was very pretty they had 3 layers, white, chocolate and fruitcake. People were actually eating the fruitcake -- anyone out there like fruitcake?? I personally can't stand it. We used to get one every Christmas which would sit lonely and then get frozen cause nobody liked it. Couldn't figure out why my mother actually got one every year but it was tradition. Finally tossed all the fruitcake out of the freezer and it's no longer a Christmas tradition.

Today at work the week hasn't started out well. My secretary's computer is toast although they are hoping to get it fixed and back this afternoon. She uses a computer program that only part of is located on the network which was discovered this morning. I have clients coming to sign documents this afternoon but we don't have the documents from the bank yet -- turns out someone at the bank was sick Friday and nobody bothered to look at his desk for stuff that might be urgent. The bank isn't concerned of course and is supposed to call me by 1pm to tell me when I can expect the documents. Urgh.

The weather suits my mood.

Ok well it's less than 11 months now though!!!!

Fiona

 

[@GoofyNut]

Carlos & Charlie's .... It sounds like another good reason for a name tag - at least they would know where to send the "body".

Weather is really nice this morning ... note I said morning. Seems that when the weather is nice, give it a minute. I did a bunch of laundry yesterday and put it on the clothesline and voila rain.

Hockey Nancy ... thanks, I found the Brunch menu and it looks better and better all the time.

Well it was nice to day dream for a few minutes ... now back to work and reality.

 

[Viking]

Too late, MaryJo. But you're set on status RED, which means that you intend to cruise, but have not booke yet. This way you stay informed and perhaps have can use it for motivation purposes
But if you want to be removed, just say so.

I just sent the first update, have fun with it.
So far obviously nobody needs a PDF and I can send the List as a Word.doc only.

 

[padisneyfan]

We're booked

I called DVC this am and booked us for Cat. 7. Have Room 6638. All the downgraded cat 6 rooms are gone. I had a choice of rooms on Deck 5, 6 or 7. I like Deck 6 and the location of the room. Now am points poor for 2004 and had to borrow points from 2005. I still have some point left in 2005 to use for the next cruise. Plus I don't mind borrowing, I doubt if I will be leaving the nursing home in my 90's to go on DCL.

Fionne--- I can relate to the bad start on Monday. I was to teach a class this morning at 8am. I had used my slides on Wednesday and the other nurse keep them with her stuff so we would have them this morning. So isn't she sick today and at first no one knew where she put the things. Eventually, they were found but delayed my presentation for about an hour. Thank heavens it was all part of a 2 hour program so others did their part and then I just did mine later. I thought of your son when I saw an OJ commerical this morning, that the Mom couldn't get him up and next shot shows a heavy metal band singing in his room.

Jeanne-- I am such a people watcher that I could just sit in Carlos and Charlies and watch all the things going on. However, they do have great pina colada and strawberry daiquiri . What amazed my son was that it wasn't young people in there drinking, that it was middle aged people. I think the young people don't come out until much later at night.

Cathy--- Yes a name tag would be helpful to get you back to your ship. I see that my new name has now moved to the boards "Hockey Nancy" I guess I should use that in my signature.

Well, I better get back to work.

Hockey Nancy

 

[cdnmickeylover]

The afternoon has gone a bit better than the morning. Documents have arrived for the clients to sign at 5pm. My secretary now has a new/different computer but she's having trouble with the computer program that she does most of her work on. She can access old files but it won't let her open a new file. She also doesn't have the registration computer program on her computer yet so she's used mine this afternoon. Computers are great when they work but when they don't???

Have one file that has to be finished before I leave today so I won't be getting out of here early. It's complicated and confusing and I need quiet to do it so haven't been able to get that yet today.

Must go and finish up another file so that I can get to the one I have to complete today.

Still raining and icky and now it gets dark early to boot.

Fiona

 

[Hygiene99]

PADISNEYFAN we r almost next door to each other we have one of the down graded rooms 6634

 

[Mr.Karaoke]

It was a nice sunny day today here on Long Island 70's blue skys. I wish that we could have everyday like today.

Just Rememeber:

To Err is Human, to really foul things up requires a computer

Just keep saying over and over " I am going on the Disney Cruise, I am going on the Disney Cruise".

If that does'nt work just think about going to Carlos & Charlies for a liquid lunch.


Cheers


Andy

 

[cdnmickeylover]

As I sit here still at work (it's 7:45pm) -- am going on an all day seminar tomorrow so have a number of things that have to get done beforehand -- I'm looking at my Mickey cruise beanies chanting -- it's only 11 months, it's only 11 months. You CAN survive 11 months.

I actually told the lawyer who covers for me the dates for next year and he's marked them in his calendar. He said I couldn't go away again this year as he's going to go away soon -- he actually teaches at the local college so I know he won't go away til Christmas when he has about a month off once he finishes marking exams. I said that was fine but next October is mine.

Just wish I could click my heels three times and be there!

Fiona

 

[Twinave]

A friend/co-worker came into work today. And I just so happened to have all my cruise pictures with me. I also had a bunch of Navigators and other info that she asked me to get her. While we were talking the boss says "so when are you planning to go on your cruise?" and she says "Maybe I'll go next Oct. when Ave' is going". Yikes! (Did I mention that I haven't told my boss that I booked yet?) Well, she knows now.
Got to run, dinner is ready!
Later, Ave'

 

[Cheese Please]

We went to visit DD for Parent's Weekend at the University of Delaware. They played the University of Maine in football that weekend. If you remember Gary Delana's Rockin Bar D show he makes some jokes about the University of Delaware's mascot....the Fighting Blue Hen. Gary went to UDEL. Not sure whether he graduated or not before going into show biz. But dispite the jokes the Blue Hens are undefeated this season and ranked number 2 in the NCAA Division I-AA.

Well the weather was hot and we sweltered through the first half where U Maine outscored the Hens 21 to zip.....opps....did we JINKS the Hens???

About half way through the 3rd quarter the Hens scored their first touch down. With 1:34 left in the game they scored their 3rd touchdown to tie the score 21 to 21. The game went into over time and after blocking a University of Maine fieldgoal attempt the kicked a fieldgoal to win 24 to 21.....WOW....what a nail bitter. The people seating in front of us left at half time and missed all of the excitement.

We had a nice visit with DD and took her out to dinner and Brunch on Sunday. The weather was fantastic for November.

With my Green Bay Packers upsetting the Vikings on Sunday night, it was a GREAT Day for Football in the Cheese Please household.

Dave

 

[padisneyfan]

Peter--- You were one of the lucky one's to get a downgraded room. They were all gone this morning. I think on the 10/11 cruise most of the navigator staterooms were from our group. Maybe the person between our rooms with be with the Cruisetoberfest III.

Another beautiful day in PA, in the high 70's. I think we are to have warm weather for 2 more days, then rain and cooler. Most of the leaves are now off the neighbor's tree that all falls on our driveway. So maybe tomorrow we can blow them out and the front can stay relatively leave free.

Hockey Nancy

 

[padisneyfan]

Dave--- Sounds like an exciting football game. At least they can come from behind and win, not like Penn State who can't even win a game in the last 6 games. Most have been the weekend to visit children at college since we did the same thing.

Nancy

 

[RellingTwin]

Fair warning everyone, my introductions and Bios are on are the way. I used the plural because I sent it at LEAST 4 times! I'm not sure what happened but my computer froze up when I hit "send". I tried a few things (including hitting "send" a few more times) but it would not work. I finally just copied and pasted the whole thing on another e-mail. Since I copyed the address from Eric and Anja's bio I got a copy myself (or rather 4 copies!)
Sorry about that!
Dave (CheesePlease) you were spared the deluge of e-mails! For some reason yours came back as undeliverable???
I'll take this as a sign I need some sleep!

 

[piglet33]

I called DCL to ask about my copy of our stateroom charges and was told they would send me a copy but it would take at least 3 weeks. Since so many people are having problems with "extra" charges, I wasn't happy about that.

So I wrote to DCL to tell them about some problems that we had with our stateroom and to tell them that I never received our stateroom charges. Boy was I surprised when I got a response the next day. Of course they apologized for the room, but they also said that they printed our charges out and mailed them to me that day. Well, I received it yesterday. It only took 2 days for me to get it instead of the 3 weeks that I was told on the phone. Now that's Customer Service! Anyway, the good news is it looks like all the charges on there are mine so no calling up and complaining for me. I only have to pay the bill.

Here's the email address in case anyone needs it: dcl.guest.communications@disneycruise.com

Renee'

 

[bettemom]

Good Morning Friends,

Okay, brace yourselves.....Kim will be posting within the next 24 hours about our 'saga'. .....Not a fun time......

Bette

 

[Sarah'sMomfrom PA]

piglet33..I also never got my statement from DCL under the door and I called and just received mine in the mail yesterday and unfortunately, the charges are mine!!

Another beautiful day in Pennsylvania...we are supposed to hit 70 degrees today and then turn cold over the next few days..oh well...too bad it can't stay this nice until April.

Nancy..padisneyfan...was so nice to talk to you today...I might make a trip down to the Christmas show in Harrisburg so maybe we could get together for dinner and it would give me an excuse to bring the book down to you!!

Mr. Karaoke...your cover is blown...I was on the boards last night and Sarah walks in and said "Oh, I see that Andy is posting now!!"

My boss decided because it is so nice today that he may have to do a little "turf inspection and management" which in lay man's terms means that he is planning on golfing this afternoon!!

 

[bettemom]

Hi Guys, This is Kim here with the final answer from Disney over our " minor inconvenience"


For those who look at this chat group and were not aware of what occurred I will give this synopsis.

Almost 14 months prior to the 10/11/03 cruise I booked porthole room cat. 9 which was changed to a cat. 10 by Disney. We normally would have been in a cat. 11 due to $$$ but with onboard savings and the fact that this room was available we snapped it up. After a very difficult and hard year for our family we were so excited to look forward to having a porthole room, seeing daylight and thoughts about decorating our cabin with the porthole. About October 7th I called DCL to confirm some dinner reservations links with other cruisers and gave them our cabin # & reservation #, Disney says you are all set with no mention to me of any cabin troubles.

We arrived at the port for check-in and were the 2nd in line. The reservation agent asks if I new we assigned a new cabin ?, no I knew nothing about a cabin change. She gave me the new number and as fast as she could got me out of the registration area. Now most of us assume when Disney changes your cabin you have been given an upgrade. We thought the same, so while waiting in line we check a friends passporter book and lo and behold we are in an inside cabin about as far forward you can go on the ship.

At this point boarding is starting so I immediately go to guest services and explain that this is a problem, 3-4 cast members later I have a member of management listening to our problems about the room change, Disney states that my travel agent was notified of the change the day that I called DCL reservations myself. After several hours I pretty much had a meltdown over the whole issue of cabin rooms. We were told to go to the cabin we were now assigned and after the ship was boarded they would see if we could be moved, of course 1st cruise after drydock no cabins are to be had.

I immediately called my travel agent who has heard nothing from DCL about our porthole cabin being out of service due to mechanical problems, when DCL was pushed to show us proof that they notified my travel agent of the cabin change they then backed down and said to her that they " dropped the ball" and forgot to notify her. At this point nothing can be done on the ship according the manager I spoke with, and who dealt with my family the whole week, all decisions for compensation for the DCL error/change will come from stateside after we return home. Please keep in mind no one in my family was ranting/screaming or demanding anything from Disney, however I did say that I hoped Disney would step up to the plate and credit back to us the money difference between the 2 cabin categories as we would not have ever been in a larger cabin without a porthole. It was inferred to me by a DCL manager that this would not be an issue with Disney.

In support of the manager Sonja from DCL, she was a charming woman who dealt with us as well as she could, but the most she could accomplish was to get us dinner reservations at Palos ( by the time we went to get reservations after the cabin fiasco all were gone) and have daily a fruit plate, cake plate or other food treats sent to the cabin. That was nice of her and it was the thought that counts, but honestly, I could have called room service myself and had the same items delivered.

Now I am sure some people are saying so what is the big deal here??? If the cabin was out of service for mechanical problems then DCL should not be held accountable. The reasons that Disney should be held accountable are the following:

1) Disney lied about notify the parties involved, myself & my travel agent of the cabin change.They admitted that they dropped the ball and did not notify the parties involved.
2 ) If the cabin we had been assigned originally went out of service at the last second or days prior to our cruise then at the least a manager should have been on hand in the terminal to explain the problem to us, and not leave it with a reservation clerk in the terminal who acted like, who hoo you have a new cabin, (can we infer upgrade here !!!) and quick get this guest out of the check-in line.
3) Well the cabin that we were told was out of service for mechanical reasons had someone staying in it the week of the cruise, I called the cabin myself and checked. I even have the persons name who was occupying the cabin we should have been in.

Too many little things just did not add up, and you could not get a straight answer from DCL reservations, Reservation agents at the terminal, and the onboard castmembers. Why was someone else staying in a cabin that was supposed to be closed down for mechanical problems ?? I have a fantastic travel agent named Beci, and she and I were in contact daily over the course of the cruise. When I was told something it went right to Beci also. After we returned home Beci then took on Disney over the cabin foul -up and yesterday I received Disney's reply ...

Finally Kim got to the point ....

Disney's official answer is ( drum roll ) too bad . They are sorry that I was confused about which cabin we would be in, how was I confused ? all my documentation and reservation forms had that porthole cabin number written on them. The customer service department who sent this joke of a letter hoped I enjoyed the stateroom gift I was sent, NOT ! we received no stateroom gift from Disney what so ever. They stated once again the cabin was not available for mechanical problems ( then why the h*** was someone staying in that cabin?) and how they rarely have to take a cabin out of service .. bla bla bla.... Finally, they quoted word for word the dimensions, bed configuration of the cabins to show that we were given the same type of cabin, WRONG, no porthole.

So guys will we cruise again, you bet, next October 2nd with some of the best people. If it were not for the support of many of you on that trip I seriously gave thought to getting off and going home in those first 36 lousy hours. Right from the beginning I told you we demanded nothing and expected nothing from Disney and guess what we got NOTHING... Are we disappointed, not really since all along this is what we expected to hear. My travel agent is taking this much worse than us, she knew some of what has happened to our family over the past year and knew how much we counted on the special
" treat" of a porthole room. So my parting advise to everyone is do not count on your cabin assignment being final until you are in the cabin with the door locked behind you... See you all soon..

Bye, Kim