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

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by moocow35
Jeff,

I trust you, but I have no idea what that process entails. Do we have some company do it for us? You are the expert!

Welcome Sandra!

Robin

There are plenty of places that can do it, but I do have a few local contacts that I use for the Great Race shirts that I'm sure we could use if we wanted. I know Maleficent has also offered her services towards this end. Obviously we are a smaller party then the return cruise, so we'd need a higher order rate to get into the cheaper prices, but realize that they'll make very low runs if needed. It just costs more because you need to amortize the setup fee across a myriad of shirts.

The other issue with silk screens is the number of colors is limited. Using iron on transfers averts that, but I'd rather go professional there as well.

 

[Cap]

Jeff,

Thanks for all the work you've already done on the artwork and website. Don't burn yourself out - we've still got a year to go.

I think the latest design for the door magnet looks great. One possibility - have room for both names and home city / state. We did door magnets using the OfficeMax magnetic paper for our last cruise and they worked very well.

As we move forward, we should also think about some technology issues and get info on possible ways of handling them.

As examples, A) email alternatives to paying for 14 days at Disney rates; B) digital camera downloads / dumps (Of course we could just take a few pictures each day and make the memory last for two weeks, but ....); C) cell phone service (what works w/ roaming in the ports of call / along the canal?).

I suspect that Disney will be in a learning environment along with us on this, since they have not done Panama Canal cruises previously, and probably don't have a lot of experience on 14 day cruises, either.

 

[dianthus]

Hi Everyone!

One year from today, we'll all be getting ready to get to the Port for our 14 day adventure! Let the countdown begin! Woo Hoo!


:thewave:

 

[CoMickey]

Jeff,

The magnet is looking great! Thanks for all the time you are taking on making it just right!

Vicki

 

[LinnyLye]

One year today, we'll be sailing away!!!!!!!!


<- that's me waving from the adult pool that I can now swim in!!!

 

[seaulater]

ONE YEAR COUNTDOWN!!!!!!

Oh yeah! Welcome Sandra (and family), glad to have you on board. Be sure to PM Jeff your info so he can add you onto the master sheet!

Cap-when we did the PC last year we lost our "Can you hear me now" Verizon service from before Aruba until we got to Acapulco.

Last year we were "lucky" enough (along with 3 other cruisers) to find a computer in the internet cafe that bypassed the login and darn, wouldn't you know it, it never billed us. I saved a ton! I think what we should do is "pool" our money between at least a couple of us and somehow share a key to the world card for using it for the internet on the unlimited access thing. I keep an eye on my stateroom charges, so I would know if someone tried to sneak something by me. I wonder if I can ask for an additional key to the world card? Anyway, I know I am going to be checking my email each day, and it sure wouldn't hurt as bad to only have to pay 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 or the unlimited pass instead of the full thing! Anyway, just an idea. Never had problem with the satellite and the internet hookup last year, but if you went wireless, that seemed to be a problem for some with their connections from the staterooms and stuff. Don't know if they got it worked out or not.

I will be bringing my laptop and my converter to download my pictures each day or two. I have no problem downloading other fellow dis boarders pics either, I just ask that you bring CD's to put them on.

Anyway, when I go on the 10 day Christmas Cruise I'll scope out the possibilities on the internet cafe since I'll have 4 staterooms on that cruise and see what kind of opportunities are available for saving some $$$$!

Okay, got work to do.....

Linda

 

[CoMickey]

Linda~Thanks for looking into the possiblity of 'sharing' the Internet costs. That would be great because being away from work for 14 days + I know that both my DF and I will need to check our work emals.

Look forward to hearing what you find out and you can count us in if that is a possibiltiy!

Thanks!

Vicki

 

[SandraLee]

Has anyone purchased insurance? I think the pricing through DCL is a bit high, but I'm not completly sure. Their price for 4 people for the 14 day is $400.

In the past I used Access America and kids were free.

Anyone else?

 

[jin diesel]

YAY!!! One more year to go!!

Linda, your idea is great. It would be cool if somehow we could pool together for the unlimited internet use - that way we can all go on our time and check emails or email home. I'm in if we decide to do this...

Jindy

 

[Lisa F]

Not to be a party pooper, but I just wanted to point out that sharing the unlimited internet access isn't really "legal." On our last 7 night cruise I bopped down to use the account my husband had set up and I got yelled at by the internet manager who said that it's per PERSON not per STATEROOM and I should really be purchasing my OWN unlimited access and not using my husband's. I can only imagine what the internet manager would say if they saw all kinds of different people using the same account. I'm not trying to get on a moral high horse or anything but I just don't want anyone's vacation ruined by a potentially embarassing situation!

 

[SandraLee]

Anyone know where a good place to do a dolphin encounter will be? I have a DD6 who would LOVE to do this!

thanks.

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Welcome again to the New People.

Happy 1 year dance

As far as dolphin encounters go, I'm not at all familiar, since we aren't stopping in Cozumel. (The one there was definitely worth while)

 

[jin diesel]

Hi Sandra!

My daughter is sort of in-between your kids' ages (will be 1.5 months shy of 8 at sailing) so I know they'll meet at the Kids Clubs. She would also love to do the dolphin encounter.

We will be spending an entire day at Curacao, and I am hoping that when the shore excursions come up "Dolphin Swimming" is one of them.

There is an aquarium in Curacao that offers all kinds of cool stuff such as: diving, snorkeling, dolphin encounters, etc. This is the link: www.curacao-sea-aquarium.com

I hope our port is near by!!! I'd love to go there!

Jindy

 

[SandraLee]

Jindy . . The Sea Aquarium looks very cool. But, looks like they have everything EXCEPT dolphins.

I'm sure we'll find a dolphin encounter somewhere. Maybe one of the Mexico excursions.

Good to meet you.

Sandra

 

[jin diesel]

Originally posted by SandraLee
Jindy . . The Sea Aquarium looks very cool. But, looks like they have everything EXCEPT dolphins.

I'm sure we'll find a dolphin encounter somewhere. Maybe one of the Mexico excursions.

If you click on the "PRICING" link on the left-hand side of the aquarium's home page you'll see the pricing for all of the dolphin activites. However, if you try to click on the "INFO" link next to the dolphin items - it doesn't work. So who knows? Maybe we will have to try Mexico...

Either way, I'm sure there will be at least 1 place where we can find it! Hopefully....

Jindy

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Looks like curacao will be one place.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/servl...let?idShorex=1963&nbrDest=020000&codePort=CUR

www.dolphin-academy.com/ is returned by google, but the server is currently down. That looks to be the place at the aquarium.

 

[jin diesel]

Originally posted by Tigfanjeff
Looks like curacao will be one place.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/servl...let?idShorex=1963&nbrDest=020000&codePort=CUR

www.dolphin-academy.com/ is returned by google, but the server is currently down. That looks to be the place at the aquarium.

Hey Jeff,

That dolphin-academy site is definitely the one that isn't working.

Thanks for the link to the holland america site! I sent you a PM.
-jindy

 

[Cap]

Linda, thanks for offering to check out the Internet access. I'd like to find a way to cut the costs of unlimited access. I presently pay about $35 / month for unlimited broadband (with five email addresses), so paying DCL $89 / week for one account, or perhaps $178 for the cruise seems like a real rip-off.

Lisa, when we were on the 7-day cruise in Feb, I "never" saw a cast member on duty at the Internet Cafe. Judi and I used the one account with no issues. I actually complained to the Guest Relations Manager that they were not maintaining the equipment (e.g. mice with no trackballs inside, dirty and sticky keyboards) and that I expected better service from DCL for the price they were charging. She said that it was kind of an "added duty" assignment for a crew member and was a franchised service, not actually Disney. I would agree that only one shipboard email ID would be assigned, but when they sell "unlmited" internet access, then I strongly believe it should indeed be unlimited, and I should be able to keep the account signed on 24 hours day, if wanted. However, from your note, it appears they have a different idea. I hope they didn't really YELL at you about using your husband's account.

 

[seaulater]

Yep, most of the time there is never a CM at the internet cafe. They usually have a sign posted as to when help would be there 5-7 pm, 9-11 am. Anyway, we will be sure to check it out. I can't imagine that a CM would yell at you. If they yelled at me I would go report them. I'm the guest. And if Disney thinks they are going to get separate accounts for each person on a stateroom, they are absolutely nuts. If I pay for unlimited access and use it with my own laptop from my stateroom, are they going to come in and check to see which person is keying in the information?

Let's see. I could hook up my own laptop in my stateroom, start charging everyone half the price of Disney for unlimited access from my own stateroom and pay for the cruise that way......hm.....what a thought!

Linda

 

[jin diesel]

Originally posted by seaulater
Let's see. I could hook up my own laptop in my stateroom, start charging everyone half the price of Disney for unlimited access from my own stateroom and pay for the cruise that way......hm.....what a thought!

Spoken like a true pirate!