8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 15

[dahuffy]

Here are 2 of my favorite photos from our last cruise.
Our Lifestyle photo:

And our Palo Night:

Kevin had shaved of his mustache and goatee just before the cruise(easier for snorkeling)...first time in 27 yrs. that I'd seen him without a mustache

 

[castoff]

My TA just called Disney and confirmed that prices increases did go into effect for everyone....

(Except those paid off; blah, blah, blah, something about paids having contract obligational yada yada... Still not fair )

Like i said.... minimal costs around... No photos, no drinks that i don't bring on-board myself. (They better not even think of banning my cases of water.) No Spa.

Wonder when the cut off was for paying it off? If I just sent the check last week and still have to pay extra, well i will be bummed.

And it ain't Goldilocks!

What a cutie............that would be my Dante also.

 

[Verandah Man]

Laura/The FairyGodmother

​

 

[4boons]

Well....

. - I am gonna be on the road monday and tuesday so may not lurk as much as I might otherwise. Of course, everyones' heard that from me before - right? And I have a new notebook to try at the hotel tomorrow. So I'll maybe hook up in the evening.

Crash, do you ever just lurk?

I don't think so.

 

[Verandah Man]

The chicken pox (varicella) vaccine was only created and tested fairly recently. I think it started being available around 1995. So no adults would have had it. The jury is still out as to whether being inoculated against chicken pox will prevent shingles down the road, but those of us with kids who were inoculated can hope so, for their sake!

Hope you feel better soon, Andy.

Thanks Julie, I didn't know about that, Angelina had the Chicken Pox in 1993, so the vaccine was too late for her as well.

 

[Verandah Man]

Debi--very nice pics of you and Kevin, I really like the lifestyle pics, but what is Kevin doing wearing my socks in the white background photo???

 

[castoff]

Laura/The FairyGodmother

 

[The FairyGodmother]

How long did it take you to finish?




Hi John, I am just getting a simple black frame with spacers put in to protect from getting stuck on glass. Not sure how much $$ but can't wait to hang it on our bedroom wall. It took us about 4 weeks.

Not to long because the dog wants to eat the pieces so we do it pretty quick. I think that might have been during the big power outage when we didn't have anything else to do.

We used puzzle glue and then put it in a black frame. If you look close you can see it in the back of this picture.

 

[dahuffy]

Debi--very nice pics of you and Kevin, I really like the lifestyle pics, but what is Kevin doing wearing my socks in the white background photo???

Yeah,I know. He didn't hear me when I told him to take them off.

 

[The FairyGodmother]

Here are 2 of my favorite photos from our last cruise.

Kevin had shaved of his mustache and goatee just before the cruise(easier for snorkeling)...first time in 27 yrs. that I'd seen him without a mustache

Great pictures. You guys look great. I have known Mark since 84 and have never seen him with out a mustache.

 

[dahuffy]

Just checked my box....

----- Original Message -----
From: dcl.reservations
To: DCL.Reservations@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 4:20 PM
Subject: Important: Increase in Government Taxes and Fees for your PanamaCanal Crossing Disney Cruise Line Vacation


Dear Valued Dreams Unlimited Travel Client

We have just been informed by Disney Cruise Line that the Panama Canal has recently adjusted the per person amount charged for Government Taxes and Fees to transit the canal. As a result, Disney Cruise Line needs to collect an additional $100 per person booked on these cruises.

Dreams Unlimited Travel will be updating all of our client’s reservations in our system over the next week or so with the new reservation totals. Once we have completed updating your reservation we will send you an email with instructions on how to access your Client Services area of our site to review your new pricing. We appreciate your patience as this process may take an extended period of time while we make sure all our client’s reservations are updated accurately.

We apologize for this inconvenience and hope you understand that this increase is for the Government Taxes and Fees being assessed by the Panama Canal. This increase is not coming from Dreams Unlimited Travel.

Sincerely,

The Cruise Concierge Team
Dreams Unlimited Travel

 

[4boons]

WARNING, MATH ALERT (BUT MONEY INVOLVED)


Now they charge on a special Panama canal ton which is based on volume. Gross tonnage is also based on volume. I don't know the Magic's weight in PC tons, but in Gross Tons, the tax is about a $35,000 difference, based on Magic's capacity of (what did Crash say 1,750 people) and a likely cruise population of about 1,500, the per person charge is about $25.00.


...................................old....................new..................diff
First 10,000...........$ 29,600.00.......$ 33,900.00........$ 4,300.00
Second 10,000.......$ 29,000.00.......$ 33,200.00........$ 4,200.00
Balance 63,000.......$179,550.00......$205,380.00.......$25,830.00
Total 83,000..........$238,150.00......$272,480.00......$34,330.00

So, unless the PC Ton is about 4 times a Gross ton, Disney is goughing us here! (unless its $100 per cabin, not passenger...)

I can't imagine that Disney would charge even $1.00 more than justifiable.

They know this ship is full of their most loyal customers and I don't think they would risk alienating a major customer base.

I would wager that DCL is not passing on the full cost of the increase.

They're not stupid.

 

[4boons]

Take it easy, Andy......hope you feel better soon.

Roger......that is a significant % increase. This is really stinky. I have a $400 OBC right now, so there goes the benefit of that! Of course, I'm still living if fantasyland that they may just "forget" to charge me the increase....I think I continue living there until I actually get that letter.

Went to the mail box and there it was. I don't like it but I don't think DCL would risk making one of it's major customer bases mad without justification.

And with the number of Castaway Club members on this cruise, I don't think they would risk an all out revolt by charging more than the actual cost.

There is only so much money for this trip so I guess we will have to rework our budget.

 

[dahuffy]

Went to the mail box and there it was. I don't like it but I don't think DCL would risk making one of it's major customer bases mad without justification.

And with the number of Castaway Club members on this cruise, I don't think they would risk an all out revolt by charging more than the actual cost.

There is only so much money for this trip so I guess we will have to rework our budget.

My sentiments exactly. May have to forgo that Harley Davidson Excursion on Aruba I was planning on.

 

[4boons]

Good Morning Everyone
I didn't have time to get back on here last night. Good reason though, We finished our puzzle within a puzzle. Yes Brooke helped and even Dante with 2 pieces. I don't think his work will show through though. Here is the pic. of it. Hope you can see all the detail, it was really hard. Off to post office, bank and frame shop to get puzzle framed to be put in our bedroom. I will ketchup later. Tina

I love the puzzle. Wonderful job.

 

[mkygrl]

So where are the Harry Potter fans on the thread? Still pouring through the 759 pages?

Ihaven't read any of the books. Brendan has (got the new one Saturday). I have seen the movies though.

I read the last 2 pages of Brendan's book! LOL

Chrissie

 

[micmse2003]

How long did it take you to finish?




Hi John, I am just getting a simple black frame with spacers put in to protect from getting stuck on glass. Not sure how much $$ but can't wait to hang it on our bedroom wall. It took us about 4 weeks.

Took us longer because we're older.
I'm using Cheryl's computer.

John

 

[captaincrash]

WARNING, MATH ALERT (BUT MONEY INVOLVED)

Now they charge on a special Panama canal ton which is based on volume. Gross tonnage is also based on volume. I don't know the Magic's weight in PC tons, but in Gross Tons, the tax is about a $35,000 difference, based on Magic's capacity of (what did Crash say 1,750 people) and a likely cruise population of about 1,500, the per person charge is about $25.00.


...................................old....................new..................diff
First 10,000...........$ 29,600.00.......$ 33,900.00........$ 4,300.00
Second 10,000.......$ 29,000.00.......$ 33,200.00........$ 4,200.00
Balance 63,000.......$179,550.00......$205,380.00.......$25,830.00
Total 83,000..........$238,150.00......$272,480.00......$34,330.00

So, unless the PC Ton is about 4 times a Gross ton, Disney is goughing us here! (unless its $100 per cabin, not passenger...)

Now THIS is turning my eyes RED with annoyance. If this is the case then the price change to $100 per person would be gouging us! And in my groups' case the $3000 increase would be about 75% unjustified.

I know some have said they can't imagine Disney making too much off us loyalists... but in spite of the "feel good" product they market - it is a business after all. They have two huge new ships to finance and shareholders to answer to. They are in the business to make $$$$ ... and we are thier crop to harvest and manage.

Right about now I am suspicious of being a bit mishandled as a PATRON. Especially since I'm in the midst of booking a little cruise on Costa. I'm fixing to pay $1449 for a window cabin for 7 nites with a great eastern port rotation. Comparing the Magic on the same dates (a western port rotation) the price with Costco for a window was $4150 with a $350 Costco cash card.... net cost about $3750. Hmmm ..... On the one hand it's $3750 for a less desirable (to us) western voyage versus $1449 for a more desirable eastern voyage. Granted, the cabin on the Magic is a little larger at 180+ feet versus Costa with 160'.... but I could sail Costa just over 2.5x for the price of DCL. I smell something fishy though with this new DCL fee accessment.

Don't get me wrong - I love DCL - and I've always felt their rates were tolerable to us. However, piecemeal gouging like this is annoying. I had assumed the $100 per person was just the Panama tax - not a new repricing. When we booked and placed a deposit that fateful morning I thought we were LOCKING in the price FROM Disney. Tax changes are acceptable - not additional skimming!!!! I'm going to weigh my words and have a chat with DCL tomorrow or some time very soon. Not that I'm anyone special - but in combination with everyone else griping maybe something will come of it. This cash cowis not going to be impolitely MILKED by DCL quietly....

 

[Grandma x3]

Happy Birthday Laura!

eeyorelver10​

ing! Hope your B'day is Wonderful!!!!!

 

[Grandma x3]

Laura/The FairyGodmother

​

'ing - Hope your B'day was the Best!!!!!