8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC #5

[bellelinus]

WHOOSH​

(I await the Slap)

​

It's no fun to slap you if you WANT it, Andrew!

It's the ones you don't expect that are fun . . .

 

[PMDR59]

Some great choices there, if you will allow me a comment,

Cabo...Care.. tender port small boats either allow the booking with lots of time to get off, as DCL shore trips will get priority, or do the Dolphins by yourself in PV, with the Sea lions should be time, and in PV we dock.

Cartegena---DCL Mangrove Eco Tour, great choice, I am thinking of that, please do not worry about Cartenena, it will be ok in the tourist areas, no problem, the issue is do not go far by yourself.

Thanks Andrew..... I was considering doing the Dolphins through DCL in PV and then booking the sealions myself....since DCL runs the bus every 30 min back to port....no set excursion return time....... Its so hard to make these decisions

 

[allshookup]

Just a quick post before I catch up from the weekend.

Thanks for all the prayers and pixie dust for Lisa at her meet. She did wonderful. She ended up winning the Floor and placing 4th overall. They take the top seven to Nationals,so both she and her friend Bugs (who placed #2) on on the Region 8 Team. They were two very happy little girls!

Congrats!!!

As of June 20 I no longer have a job.
Not sure about TOAL.
Not sure about anything.

Oh Monica I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said so I'll just say again....I'm so sorry! I wish you all the best!!!

Those really cracked me up!!!

WOOO HOOO....just made a rather large payment on the balance due for the cruise...so it looks like we are actually going !!!! I wasn't completely convinced we'd make it , but looks like we are a go!

I know I haven't posted much, but I have been lurking... To keep it on topic...does anyone know what the recommended tips are for the cruise?

Woohoo! Congrats!!!

Good fortune is coming your way..it HAS to be! Man,life can be stinky sometimes...hang in there!



Brendan and I rented a car for the week...we are still doing the pirate party bus...I will offer to anyone if you need something last minute and we can get it for you let us know! (especially for the Hojo crew!)


I have a driver's ed story! At the end of my last lesson the instructed said to me "YOU will NEVER get your license!"...Well 1 month later I drove by him in my new car! So there! PLttths!


Chrissie

What a jerk!

DH has a really disgusting large black bird story that has to do with a dryer vent...... about 5 yrs ago he pulled out the dryer to clean in the vent for me..... he reached his hand into it....and pulled out a large, dead, bird out!!! I started screaming (I usually cleaned out the tubing with a vaccum cleaner). After throwing it away he had to take a shower to get that dead bird feelign off of him.....

He had pulled out nests from the outside vent before but, after that he put screening up over the hole to keep the birds OUT!

ewwww! I wouldn't want dead bird feeling either!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

opinions please ????

on our last cruises we gave the customary prices provided by DCL x 4. (and then some for those we found "magical")

I see on the calculator some tip 50% for kids -----does anyone do that on DCL or do you tip the full amount?
KIDS, I TIP THE FULL AMOUNT
Also when it comes to the servers.....do you tip for your kids on the nights they are not dining????? (we did)
I TIP FOR THE FULL AMOUNT EVEN IF WE DO NOT EAT THERE, AS THEY ALSO SERVE YOU IN TOPSIDERS AND BREAKFAST AND LUNCH WITHOUT TIP.
But since we are not expecting them to dine with us that much over the 15 nights, I'm wondering what to do. I don't want to be cheap

Just curious as to what everyone else does.

I PERSONALLY WILL MOST LIKELY TIP OVER THE SUGGESTED AMOUNT IF I GET THE USUAL DCL SERVICE.

 

[buckifan]

Just be glad you are buying it by the tank full and not a tanker load.

Paula....I thought of you when I read these!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks Andrew..... I was considering doing the Dolphins through DCL in PV and then booking the sealions myself....since DCL runs the bus every 30 min back to port....no set excursion return time....... Its so hard to make these decisions

Dolphins at PV, gets very good reviews indeed I would go with that.

 

[buckifan]

WOOO HOOO....just made a rather large payment on the balance due for the cruise...so it looks like we are actually going !!!! I wasn't completely convinced we'd make it , but looks like we are a go!

I know I haven't posted much, but I have been lurking... To keep it on topic...does anyone know what the recommended tips are for the cruise?

So are you PIF (paid in full)?

Glad you are going to make it!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

It's no fun to slap you if you WANT it, Andrew!

It's the ones you don't expect that are fun . . .

Well it was Lauras observation, I assumed I was the WHOOSH

 

[mkygrl]

Chrissie, we will have to get together at the hotel

This is one (of the many) things I am looking so forward to on this trip! Meeting all of you! I am excited to do so...I like meeting new people (though I feel I know many already..it's the face to face I am looking forward to!)


Tipping...On our DCL we actually didn't tip our maitre'd (if that is what he is called?)..We saw him our first night...then never saw him again until the night we gave our tips out! We split his money with our head server (we really liked him) and assistant. They did all the work so why not give it to them! Funny thing the people at our table did the same thing and we didn't even discuss it prior!

Chrissie

 

[Joan1]

Well since myself and DH are home sick today.......Kids are away this week at my brothers and then my moms......we sat down and went over our excursion list.......

Here are the plans we decided or not decided on so far

Cabo----on our own----either just chillin at the beach with everyone or maybe the Dolphin encounter. $120 cheaper to book ourselves than through DCL.

Make sure you contact the Dolphin center. When I contacted them last year they said that the cruise ships had booked all available spots for the Dolphin swims / encounters. for the day we would be in port. They also said that they have a cancellation policy of 48 hours prior to receive a 100% refund. If the ship misses the port you would still be charged the full amount. If you book through the ship and the ship misses the port you won't be charged for the excursion

http://cabodolphins.com/reservations/policy.htm

 

[bellelinus]

Well it was Lauras observation, I assumed I was the WHOOSH

You can be the WHOOSH if it makes you happy

 

[mkygrl]

Brendan and I started looking at excursions as well...
I think Cabo we are going to do on our own....Those who have been there..is there enough to do near port?(It is ok if it is just shopping and Cabo Wabo too!)

We are going to do one of the Dolphin excursions.....forgot which we decided on...

I am trying to convince Brendan to do a tour in Columbia...one of the Historical and shopping ones...he wants to do the town on our own..I'm not ok with that....

I think he is leaning to dive in Aruba...if he does I am going to find something to do..not sure what yet!


Chrissie

 

[mkygrl]

Make sure you contact the Dolphin center. When I contacted them last year they said that the cruise ships had booked all available spots for the Dolphin swims / encounters. for the day we would be in port. They also said that they have a cancellation policy of 48 hours prior to receive a 100% refund. If the ship misses the port you would still be charged the full amount. If you book through the ship and the ship misses the port you won't be charged for the excursion

Would something like this be covered under trip insurance? If your ship doesn't make it to a port and you have a non-ship excursion?

Chrissie

 

[Joan1]

Hi Joan!

Unfortunately you will not get discount tickets to Wicked -- they have never been discounted, not even during the off season as so many are. You can show up and do the front two row ticket lottery and if TWO of you win it, you could have three front two row seats for $25 (if your name is drawn you can buy up to two) . . . look here for details

http://www.wickedthemusical.com/#WickedCitiesNewYorkFAQ

Otherwise, I think just going to the TKTS booth and checking to see what they have available is the best. If you have questions about any particular shows you can PM me.

You can see what was available recently (although there are no guarantees that they will be there when you want them) here:

http://www.tdf.org/TDF_SupportPage.aspx?id=68&do=v

As for shopping, try H and M -- there is one on Fifth and 51st Street, and another near Bloomie's at Lexington and 59th. They have very trendy things and are very inexpensive. My two older daughters (15 and 13) love going there.

Finally, I think your kids would be bored with Madame Toussaud's -- we went once when it first opened but no one was that thrilled (and it is pretty expensive, to boot).

Be sure and ask if you have any additional questions!

Thank you Julie

Any suggestions on some options things to do in the city during the day?
Southstreet seaport - what do you think of this?

 

[buckifan]

This is one (of the many) things I am looking so forward to on this trip! Meeting all of you! I am excited to do so...I like meeting new people (though I feel I know many already..it's the face to face I am looking forward to!)


Tipping...On our DCL we actually didn't tip our maitre'd (if that is what he is called?)..We saw him our first night...then never saw him again until the night we gave our tips out! We split his money with our head server (we really liked him) and assistant. They did all the work so why not give it to them! Funny thing the people at our table did the same thing and we didn't even discuss it prior!

Chrissie

We only saw our head server once also (very briefly). I didn't think he deserved the tip, but we gave him what DCL suggested. Our server and asst server were fantastic, so after hearing what you did, I kind of wish we had done that as well.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This is one (of the many) things I am looking so forward to on this trip! Meeting all of you! I am excited to do so...I like meeting new people (though I feel I know many already..it's the face to face I am looking forward to!)


Tipping...On our DCL we actually didn't tip our maitre'd (if that is what he is called?)..We saw him our first night...then never saw him again until the night we gave our tips out! We split his money with our head server (we really liked him) and assistant. They did all the work so why not give it to them! Funny thing the people at our table did the same thing and we didn't even discuss it prior!

Chrissie

You have at your table the Dining Room Server and Assistant Server and the head server should visit you every night.

I have always had great Dining Room Servers and Assistant Servers, I know what you mean about the Head server, on one cruise, he just came aorund on tip night with a big smile and hand out and he got nothing from me an empty hand, his tip went to the Dining Room Server and Assistant Server as they did the work, plus a bit more.

In the med I had a good head server, I was pleased there, very attentive.

You can be the WHOOSH if it makes you happy

Oh I do, I do,

 

[Joan1]

Would something like this be covered under trip insurance? If your ship doesn't make it to a port and you have a non-ship excursion?

Chrissie

I have never heard of the insurance company covering this but it is a great question. I guess they would have to contact the insurance company and ask

 

[bellelinus]

Thank you Julie

Any suggestions on some options things to do in the city during the day?
Southstreet seaport - what do you think of this?

It is some nice ships to look at and lots of shops . . . it's atmospheric but not that thrilling for preteens/teens . . . a circle line cruise either around the city (several hours) or the shorter one is fun -- but actually, now that I think of it you could probably have just as much fun just taking the Staten Island ferry to SI and then getting off and right back on again . . .you have great views of the city if you go right to the upper deck, great views as you go right past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, etc., and the cost is FREE . . . just take the 4 to battery park and the terminal is huge, you can't miss it.

If you have liked walking around Central Park before, you could walk around a neighborhood like Chinatown or Greenwich Village and just go in shops, see people, etc. My daughters like to wander the East Village (get off the 6 at Astor Place and go east) and see the goth people, tattoo shops, etc., but that might be a little edgy for some, it just depends on what you and your kids like.

Keep asking questions and I might think of more things!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We only saw our head server once also (very briefly). I didn't think he deserved the tip, but we gave him what DCL suggested. Our server and asst server were fantastic, so after hearing what you did, I kind of wish we had done that as well.

You should see your head server, every night even if its a 'hello' and 'everything ok', to give you the opportunity to say if there is something wrong, ask for birthdays or anniversary's, etc, They can help with the lobster and salad preparation, and if your meal service is behind help out.

I think this is a position where DCL is not consistent, some are 'lazy' and you should not tip them for bad or non existent service, but also reward correctly if they do help you with your requests.

If you and others do not tip, they will go away, giving others a better service.

 

[captaincrash]

When Adam took his driving lessons, the instructor said that he wished our court had sidewalks (I think we are the only court that doesn't as we have only 4 houses) He said that he really tries to get the kids to make sure they have 2 stops to make while backing up, once at the sidewalk and then again at the driveway. I am sure that father was horrified at watching his child struck by a car. Sidewalks can be just as dangerous as the road for our children.

I think there are 2 different families that have bought their kids those low sitting go carts. I don't know what they were thinking! The kids fly up and down the road and they are so hard to see.

Agreed Paula...

And I have to confess to havin' a little envy that "I" didn't have one or two of those super fast electric go carts to toot around in. GULP... I kno.... that'
s NOT the point here.... < sigh >