12/5/09 -- DUMMY -- The Cruise Your Heart Desires Most ; )

[daipp]

WOW! That's some call!
.

I also had a shave - twice!!!!

David

 

[captaincrash]

Maybe this should go in the rumor board, I mean the main cruise board, but has anyone looked at the artist renderings of the new ships.....

The front of the "Deck 9" area (Deck 12??) looks to be enclosed. Hmmmm... Alaska ready?

I won't link this giant image, but look at the top decks, looks like multiple water slides and the whole enclosed "Deck 9" thing

Of course, according to some websites and inside sources, the renderings can't be trusted....

Maybe it's a giant transverse wheel ... usable as a jogging track or ferris wheel?

 

[tom31b]

I agree. We were up really early on PC morning, we watched them unload luggage for a few minutes. I had to leave because it was really bothering me watching them throwing the luggage around. I know they had a lot of luggage to deal with, but I could not believe how they were tossing the luggage around.

Krista

When we were heading to our room for the first time, I saw the pile of tossed luggage at all angles, as if they opened elevator door and dumped cart or threw bags. Based on that, no breakables went in hall last night.

 

[Stepht5]

So now I'm sitting here researching house rentals in Aruba....

http://www.thearubahouse.com/index.html

http://www.arubavillarentals.com/se...4&bedroom2=4+&start_price=0&end_price=9999999

Guess I'm not working this afternoon.....

I like the one on the beach! LOL! I personally HATE the beach but, I know dh would feel like he died and went to heaven!

I checked airfare....price isn't bad ($460pp) BUT, for some reason DFW doesn't have any direct flights to Aruba!! I could connect in Miami and it would only take us 18 hrs.....or I could connect in South Carolina and it would take from 23 -26 hrs!!!
Really? South Carolina has direct flights to Aruba but, Dallas/Fort Worth doesn't?????

Maybe this should go in the rumor board, I mean the main cruise board, but has anyone looked at the artist renderings of the new ships.....

The front of the "Deck 9" area (Deck 12??) looks to be enclosed. Hmmmm... Alaska ready?

I won't link this giant image, but look at the top decks, looks like multiple water slides and the whole enclosed "Deck 9" thing

Of course, according to some websites and inside sources, the renderings can't be trusted....

17dd says she isn't sure she wants to sail on the new ships...she thinks they will be too big. Which is why she doesn't want to try RCCL's newer ships (we've never cruised except on Disney).

I tried to talk her into a cruise from Galvaston for her b-day. She'll turn 18 in March.

 

[radioclash2]

Maybe this should go in the rumor board, I mean the main cruise board, but has anyone looked at the artist renderings of the new ships.....

The front of the "Deck 9" area (Deck 12??) looks to be enclosed. Hmmmm... Alaska ready?

I won't link this giant image, but look at the top decks, looks like multiple water slides and the whole enclosed "Deck 9" thing

Of course, according to some websites and inside sources, the renderings can't be trusted....

Oh, Tom, you're killing me. When's my next cruise ?

And, today I got the email from disney with free dining. I'm crunching numbers because I really am out of my mind

 

[Stepht5]

Oh, Tom, you're killing me. When's my next cruise ?

And, today I got the email from disney with free dining. I'm crunching numbers because I really am out of my mind

We all are....DH would rather spend every last dime of ours on Disney trips. I am hoping to pick an ABD to do for next year, also. Hopefully that will work out for us.


I can always tell when dh is either having a bad day at work or is bored...he starts sending me emails with links to DCL stuff.

 

[captaincrash]

We all are....DH would rather spend every last dime of ours on Disney trips. I am hoping to pick an ABD to do for next year, also. Hopefully that will work out for us.


I can always tell when dh is either having a bad day at work or is bored...he starts sending me emails with links to DCL stuff.

Silly me....

I was just wandering by to see whats' up and I am not clear as to what an

ABD

is?

So let me guess... ABD ... ABD .... ABD ... All Back ??? .... Another Big Deal? ... Awesome Black Dress .... Another Bacardi Drink .... Automatic Bean Dispenser? ... OK ... silly silly me I'm losing my mind here. OK... time fer me ta run. We have another soccer practice followed by a big outdoor MOVIE nite hosted by our elementary school. I'm the volunteer photographer for the event so I gotta get going early. Have a wonderful weekenbd folks! Stay safe and remember to be nice!​

 

[micmse2003]

During the call I managed to sleep, wake-up, load the dishwasher, empty the dishwasher, get the clothes in, off the washing line, have a grocery order delivered, receive the grocery, put the groceries away, speak to Alex on the other phone, and you were STILL talking after all that.

David

DAVID.........it was Arlene and Helen doing all the talking!!!

With their brand new ships, I'm suprised to see Cunard so low down.

David

The first two cruise lines I could never afford.

Three Rum Runners in little tiny plastic cups...$21

Bucket of beers...$27

Watching M tottering around the beach...Priceless

Pictures Please!!!!

I found a great looking place to stay in Aruba

http://www.vrbo.com/global/siteFrame.asp?mainurl=http://www.arubavillatropical.com&returnurl=/120002

$3750 per week
Sleeps 10-12, 5br, 4.5 baths, pool, hot tub, 2 refrigerators (think that will hold enough beer?),

If we all pitched in to rent a bedroom...........not too bad of a price.

So now I'm sitting here researching house rentals in Aruba....

http://www.thearubahouse.com/index.html

http://www.arubavillarentals.com/se...4&bedroom2=4+&start_price=0&end_price=9999999

Guess I'm not working this afternoon.....

You mean they just don't pay you to surf or head up our thread???

Cheryl, will you be saving these for everyone?

Of course I will. I have friends in high places!!

Like this one ?????

David

This does not say for Cheryl's use only!!!

 

[micmse2003]

Anyone going into chat tonight?????

I did movies and and home for the night.

 

[sk8ingmom]

Anyone going into chat tonight?????

I did movies and and home for the night.

I'll be around.

I found a great looking place to stay in Aruba

http://www.vrbo.com/global/siteFrame.asp?mainurl=http://www.arubavillatropical.com&returnurl=/120002

$3750 per week
Sleeps 10-12, 5br, 4.5 baths, pool, hot tub, 2 refrigerators (think that will hold enough beer?),

Wow, that's $350-ish per person for a week, not bad.
Unless of course we do like we did in college and cram 30 people in a "sleeps 10" place. I once paid $12 a night for a ski-in ski-out condo at Snowshoe. Of course we had 30 people in a 2 bedroom condo.

Three Rum Runners in little tiny plastic cups...$21

Bucket of beers...$27

Watching M tottering around the beach...Priceless

I weave. I stumble. I DO NOT totter.

 

[cruisin'Mike]

I weave. I stumble. I DO NOT totter.

Sorry. Bad choice of words.



How 'bout wobble?

 

[sk8ingmom]

Sorry. Bad choice of words.



How 'bout wobble?

Like a Weeble?

No, that doesn't work. Weebles don't fall down.


I did.

 

[micmse2003]

Like a Weeble?

No, that doesn't work. Weebles don't fall down.


I did.

 

[poohluv2u]

Also, I really noticed our luggage got trounced during this trip...way more then normal. My beloved Pooh bear luggage had large pieces of plastic on the inside edges that was shattered, 1 handle strap broken off of my daughters new luggage, 1 front zippered pocket completely torn off on another and 1 pull handle broken.

After seeing this onboard ship our first cruise, we decided to forego the pleasure of having Disney handle our luggage the next time

 

[Esteri]

I also had a shave - twice!!!!

Wow! That's some beard!

Wow, that's $350-ish per person for a week, not bad.
Unless of course we do like we did in college and cram 30 people in a "sleeps 10" place. I once paid $12 a night for a ski-in ski-out condo at Snowshoe. Of course we had 30 people in a 2 bedroom condo.

Sorry M, out grew that in college.

How 'bout wobble?

Wheebles wobble but they don't fall down?

Like a Weeble?

No, that doesn't work. Weebles don't fall down.


I did.

Rats! She beat me to it!

.

 

[cruisin'Mike]

Like a Weeble?

No, that doesn't work. Weebles don't fall down.


I did.

OK. Now how did I miss that? I didn't have that much to drink.

 

[arlenesp]

Anything to do with airlines doesn't not thrill me in the least at this moment. If I could just walk onto the ship - I'd be so there. Arlene - you are so lucky to be close to DCL.

Yup and we do not want to fly to the ship ever again. Unless it is a really great itinerary.

During the call I managed to sleep, wake-up, load the dishwasher, empty the dishwasher, get the clothes in, off the washing line, have a grocery order delivered, receive the grocery, put the groceries away, speak to Alex on the other phone, and you were STILL talking after all that.

David

How come you didn't say hi?

I was trying to get DS14 to look up your DH on WOW, but he is horribly shy
Ok DS just came in and says it wasn't that he was shy- it was because he is on a different server
I'm not a gamer

DS was testing the last version release of WOW and gave my DD the codes to try it. Now her whole family is addicted.
DS is even flying into Anaheim next month for the WOW convention.

I also had a shave - twice!!!!

David

DAVID.........it was Arlene and Helen doing all the talking!!!

Let me know when you want to do it again!!!! Sorry I had to leave you 2 alone so much to answer all the calls and the door.

 

[radioclash2]

We all are....DH would rather spend every last dime of ours on Disney trips. I am hoping to pick an ABD to do for next year, also. Hopefully that will work out for us.


I can always tell when dh is either having a bad day at work or is bored...he starts sending me emails with links to DCL stuff.

I know I'm really stressed when I start pricing out disney vacations. hhmmm maybe if I spent the time working instead of surfing for vacations I would be less stressed... nah

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Tom, I'm not sure if someone answered you already but ABD is adventures by Disney.

After seeing this onboard ship our first cruise, we decided to forego the pleasure of having Disney handle our luggage the next time

Yeah, that's what it looked like when I walked by the luggage room on the last cruise (it was near our stateroom doors) and we DID receive damage to our luggage this time- from DCL (was that way when we got down there to get it in the terminal)- knocked off the complete plastic (and wheel gone too) on one of our largest luggage. bummer Wish it had happened to one of the smaller luggage. This is our disney luggage too. wahhhhhhhh

(oh also- we went thru flight there and luggage to us on the ship just fine- but after the cruise DCL taking our luggage to terminal also smashed a lot of toiletries.. in a lot of seperate ziplocs in a lot of seperate luggage- so they were all pretty much manhandled roughly. thank goodness I'd put them all in big ziplocs! Ziplocs rule! But it's a mess getting it all out and cleaned up afterwards.)

Someone mentioned they had more luggage on that cruise though (we had the same amount as on the 7 day cruise though) and so maybe they were in a bigger hurry and were rougher with the luggage? Or maybe we were just luckier on the first cruise LOL)

 

[m&m's mom]

Coral, your dparents are going to have a great trip! What alot of fun!!!
Last year I bought FIL the National Geographic book on *100 best trips* or some such title. Because him & MIL need to go on more trips -- they used to travel all the time. Now they seem to only go out to CA to play golf with her sister-in-law. And FIL's deep sea fishing trips with dh & bil.
DH really thinks his dad would have a great time on a cruise -- his mom would hate it -- but, we can't get him to go.

They are going to have a great time but I am tad worried. I had to send Bill to get them from going on another bus in Cartegena. I just happened to be looking out the window and sent Bill to retrieve them.

That's so wonderful!

You know... it just occurs to me that Alicia and I have sailed the Tahitian Princess ... way back when it was the Rennisance R4 running a Tahitian Port rotation. Alicia was pregnant with Julianna then (8 years ago) and Alicia's parents sailed with us. It was on THAT cruise that we informed Alicias' Mom and Dad we were expecting our 1st child!

Above left we are taking our 1st sit down lunch on the R4. Above at RIGHT are Alicia's parents being met as they landed at LAX to begin our flight to Tahiti to meet the ship. This was pre 9-11 when we could MEET arriving passengers at the gate! Below at left was the moment when we informed her parents we were expecting - as that was the ultrasound image of Julianna Sam is holding. On the right BELOW is the R4 as we saw it before boarding in Papatee.

​

It is so important to do the things you really want to do ... obviously. I really want to go around the world a couple of times .... each time ON ONE TRIP. It kind of has a nice ring to it... KWIM? Frankly, you pause to think about it and it is SO REASONABLE to do in reaching so far and seeing so much with a degree of predictability and comfort. If only it were A LOT LESS COSTLY, eh? < chuckles > Now you have to consider that I would weigh a window versus a balcony cabin to economize... while I tend to think we'd engage in far more shore excursions since most of these port calls would TRULY be once in a life time visits.

My only complication in doing one of these is ... I would try and organize a GROUP to go so we could get that 1 in 16 tour conductor rebate (to split among my sailing friends)! Plus ... I wonder what sort of amenity points we'd get? Ya suppose I could negotiate for something better that 1 in 16 (6.25% savings) sails free? On Radisson 7 seas group I booked it used to be a 1 in 12 (or something like that - it was much better than what I considered curtomary) sails free or everyone gets an 8.3% savings! With everyone in our group doing a suite on the Tahitian Princess we'd split up $40,000+ in savings plus amenity points and anything else I can weasel out of Princess. You suppose they give breaks for repeat cruisers and ... AAA or Costco members? You think they'd consider a barter subsidy? I'd be willing to be a guest speaker on the voyage if I could get another 15% off... OK.... I'll settle for 10% discount... do we have a deal? OK, 8% it is then... LETS' SHAKE ON IT!!! < steady silent barely contained grinnin' ... I was ready to compromise down to 5% > Hmmm.... lets' see... who can I get to go along with this circumnavigation TOAL to build this into a 6 or 8 cabin group? Oooo... Oooo.... Ooooo .... maybe I should PM M&Ms Mom??? < wink >

Seriously.... What I am impressed with on the Tahitian Princess voyage is it's length... 117 days is among the longer voyages! THAT is what I'd like to do some day - and I'd like to do it some day sooner than later... < wink agian >

DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART
Wed Jan 14 Fort Lauderdale, FL 5:30pm
Thu Jan 15 At Sea
Fri Jan 16 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 10:00am 6:00pm
Sat Jan 17 At Sea
Sun Jan 18 Panama Canal (Full Transit) (Cruising) 7:00am 4:30pm
Mon Jan 19 At Sea
Tue Jan 20 Manta, Ecuador 6:00am 7:00pm
Wed Jan 21 At Sea
Thu Jan 22 At Sea
Fri Jan 23 Lima (Callao), Peru 7:00am
Sat Jan 24 Lima (Callao), Peru 1:00pm
Sun Jan 25 At Sea
Mon Jan 26 At Sea
Tue Jan 27 At Sea
Wed Jan 28 At Sea
Thu Jan 29 Easter Island, Chilean dependency 9:00am 6:00pm
Fri Jan 30 At Sea
Sat Jan 31 At Sea
Sun Feb 1 Pitcairn Island, UK Territory (Cruising) 10:00am 2:00pm
Mon Feb 2 At Sea
Tue Feb 3 At Sea
Wed Feb 4 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia 8:00am 5:00pm
Thu Feb 5 At Sea
Fri Feb 6 Rarotonga, Cook Islands 8:00am 5:00pm
Sat Feb 7 At Sea
Sun Feb 8 At Sea
Mon Feb 9 Crossing International Dateline 8:00am 8:00pm
Wed Feb 11 At Sea
Thu Feb 12 Auckland, New Zealand 7:00am 10:00pm
Fri Feb 13 At Sea
Sat Feb 14 At Sea
Sun Feb 15 At Sea
Mon Feb 16 At Sea
Tue Feb 17 Burnie, Tasmania, Australia 8:00am 6:00pm
Wed Feb 18 At Sea
Thu Feb 19 Sydney, Australia 7:00am 10:00pm
Fri Feb 20 At Sea
Sat Feb 21 Brisbane, Australia 8:00am 6:00pm
Sun Feb 22 At Sea
Mon Feb 23 At Sea
Tue Feb 24 Cairns, Australia 7:00am 6:00pm
Wed Feb 25 At Sea
Thu Feb 26 At Sea
Fri Feb 27 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 7:00am 2:00pm
Sat Feb 28 At Sea
Sun Mar 1 At Sea
Mon Mar 2 Guam, U.S. Territory Noon 7:00pm
Tue Mar 3 At Sea
Wed Mar 4 At Sea
Thu Mar 5 At Sea
Fri Mar 6 Osaka, Japan 8:00am 8:00pm
Sat Mar 7 Hiroshima, Japan 9:00am 5:00pm
Sun Mar 8 At Sea
Mon Mar 9 Inchon, South Korea 8:00am 5:00pm
Tue Mar 10 At Sea
Wed Mar 11 Shanghai, China 7:00am 6:00pm
Thu Mar 12 At Sea
Fri Mar 13 At Sea
Sat Mar 14 Hong Kong, China 7:00am 8:00pm
Sun Mar 15 At Sea
Mon Mar 16 At Sea
Tue Mar 17 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam 7:00am 7:00pm
Wed Mar 18 At Sea
Thu Mar 19 Sihanoukville, Cambodia 9:00am 6:00pm
Fri Mar 20 At Sea
Sat Mar 21 Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand 7:00am 7:00pm
Sun Mar 22 At Sea
Mon Mar 23 At Sea
Tue Mar 24 Singapore 7:00am 5:00pm
Wed Mar 25 Kuala Lumpur (Port Kelang), Malaysia 7:00am 6:00pm
Thu Mar 26 At Sea
Fri Mar 27 Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India Noon 7:00pm
Sat Mar 28 At Sea
Sun Mar 29 At Sea
Mon Mar 30 At Sea
Tue Mar 31 At Sea
Wed Apr 1 Bombay (Mumbai), India 7:00am 10:00pm
Thu Apr 2 At Sea
Fri Apr 3 At Sea
Sat Apr 4 At Sea
Sun Apr 5 Dubai, United Arab Emirates 7:00am 8:00pm
Mon Apr 6 At Sea
Tue Apr 7 At Sea
Wed Apr 8 Salalah, Oman 7:00am 5:00pm
Thu Apr 9 At Sea
Fri Apr 10 At Sea
Sat Apr 11 At Sea
Sun Apr 12 At Sea
Mon Apr 13 Luxor (Safaga), Egypt 6:00am 10:00pm
Tue Apr 14 At Sea
Wed Apr 15 Suez Canal, Egypt (Cruising) 1:00am 5:00pm
Thu Apr 16 Cairo (Port Said), Egypt 7:00am 8:00pm
Fri Apr 17 At Sea
Sat Apr 18 Athens (Piraeus), Greece 9:00am 6:00pm
Sun Apr 19 At Sea
Mon Apr 20 Sorrento, Italy 8:00am 6:00pm
Tue Apr 21 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 7:00am 6:30pm
Wed Apr 22 Cannes, France 9:00am 6:00pm
Thu Apr 23 Barcelona, Spain 11:00pm
Fri Apr 24 At Sea
Sat Apr 25 Gibraltar, UK Territory 7:00am 1:00pm
Sun Apr 26 Lisbon, Portugal 10:00am 6:00pm
Mon Apr 27 At Sea
Tue Apr 28 At Sea
Wed Apr 29 Cork (Cobh), Ireland 8:00am 6:00pm
Thu Apr 30 At Sea
Fri May 1 Paris (Le Havre), France 7:00am 7:00pm
Sat May 2 London (Dover), England 7:00am 5:00pm
Sun May 3 Paris (Le Havre), France 7:00am 6:30pm
Mon May 4 Zeebrugge, Belgium 8:00am 6:00pm
Tue May 5 Amsterdam, Holland 9:00am 5:00pm
Wed May 6 At Sea
Thu May 7 Copenhagen, Denmark 7:00am 5:00pm
Fri May 8 At Sea
Sat May 9 Helsinki, Finland 8:00am 5:00pm
Sun May 10 St. Petersburg, Russia 7:00am 9:00pm
Mon May 11 Tallinn, Estonia 9:00am 3:00pm
Tue May 12 Stockholm, Sweden 7:00am
​

Curious... Le Harve (Paris) is a double port call spread over 3 days. Do they seriously ecxpect folks to disembark and stay ashore 2 nites then return to the ship? Gee... that would pose an interesting consideration. Not to mention you are more likely to kiss off 125K of your inheritance (as opposed to 100K)... that is .. in 2008 dollars. And since it's an inheritance we're talkin' ... than it's more like $250K adjusting for investment yield in 7-10 years hence... or possibly $500K in 15-20 years assuming an average yield (Compound Annual Growth Rate [CAGR] of the S&P 500 from 1950 to 12-2007 was 8.66%.... and we've had a bad run since 2000 so I feel we're due for a uptick unless the Democrats win the white house - IE a democratic congress AND white house equates to the worst possible combination for investment yields from a HISTORICAL POV .... http://www.moneychimp.com/features/market_cagr.htm ) So if the Dems gain the white house while retaining control of Congress ... it just might be another 4 years before we can anticiapte a really nice uptick, or an apocalyptic economy, eh? ... at any rate ... conservatively, I've taken the liberty of assuming a 7-10 year interval to double your money applying the rule of 72 on compound annual return summaries for a presumption of a 7.2-10% yield. Of course this is gross proceeds before taxes, potential litigation and other expenses related with any transfer. This is not a soliciation for any registered security - and remember ... past performance is no indication or guarantee of future performance.... you should seek out your own reliable independent counsel regarding your investment decisions. < wink & grinnin' > We all should'a bought more gold... as some SMART folks I know did!!!

Thanks Tom for all the above! I have been asking for an itenerary and we just have not gotten it together. Now that I see their stops- I am more envious.
There are a few places where they get off and take a side trip and meet the ship at another port. I know to see the Tah Majal they have to take 2 days out.
That was great seeing the pictures. Your FiL looked very happy to getting a/another grandchild.
So.... as long as Exxon Mobil stays worlds largest company, I guess my inheritance is safe. These days- who knows.