8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 16

[Diznyfan68]

Hi Crash, here is some good news. My dd took her first steps without crutches since August.

That's GREAT NEWS Jack!

 

[Diznyfan68]

And Boston is losing. Can life be better?

Not when you're a Yankee fan (Sorry Diane!)

 

[yargrnhoj]

After all of our comments about Monday, this article seemed appropriate.

"Tuesday's arrival stunned a nation still recovering from the nightmarish slog that was Monday, leaving some to wonder if the week was ever going to end, and others to ask what was taking Saturday so [redacted] long."

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/it_only_tuesday?utm_source=onion_rss_daily

 

[buckifan]

Oh you're good. We usually just skip Mass on vacation.
Heck, we sometimes skip Mass if there is a good football game. DH is in charge of that, he's the Catholic one. I just go along for the ride.

You are GOOD Deanna! We usually skip church while on vacation but seeings how we are going to be away so long (18 days!) I would like to try and get mass in one of the Sat nights or Sundays, if possible. 6:45 is really early for us (well, me!) - I'm going to have to check them out and see what other masses they offer.

Well, we are getting off of the ship in Cartagena, so I want to be prepared.

A lot of times, you can have the front desk of your hotel arrange to have a taxi waiting for you in the morning...especially if it's earlier than the time taxi's might normally start lining up. We've done this.

Thanks Stace, I think that's what we'll do!

My DD will return home next year to a confirmation retreat (probably the following weekend) and then confirmed October'ish. (We don't have our date yet)

My DS gets confirmed next year as well. Our diocese confirms in 8th grade, but our bishop does it in the Spring, so it'll be like May. DS is trying to decide now which saint name to choose.

 

[Diznyfan68]

After all of our comments about Monday, this article seemed appropriate.

"Tuesday's arrival stunned a nation still recovering from the nightmarish slog that was Monday, leaving some to wonder if the week was ever going to end, and others to ask what was taking Saturday so [redacted] long."

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/it_only_tuesday?utm_source=onion_rss_daily

Too funny and just the laugh I needed to get me through to Friday.

Happy over the hump day all!

 

[bellelinus]

Recently there were questions asked about how to get from area airports to Disneyland. I found the following on TripAdvisor and thought it would be useful here:

Inside Anaheim: Arriving & Departing

Airports

There are multiple airports serving the Anaheim area. They are John Wayne, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Ontario and Burbank. All have major airlines with easy connections to around the world.

Although any of the mentioned airports are certainly viable options for arrival to visit the Anaheim/Disneyland area, John Wayne and Long Beach are definitely the most convenient ones. John Wayne Airport is one of the better airports in the country. The baggage claim is uniformly efficient, and you can literally typically be off the plane and onto the 55 Fwy headed towards Mickey Mouse in your rental car (the rental cars are on site at the airport) in under 15 minutes. For those not renting a car, you can get a flat rate from a Taxi to the Disneyland Resort for about $35 one way. A Single person might want to check the Disneyland Express Bus Service.

Long Beach is a very small airport, and very laid back, you use stairs to get off the plane, and the baggage claim is outside. A flat rate for a Taxi is $36 to the Disneyland Resort area. Either John Wayne (also called Orange County, Santa Ana or SNA) or Long Beach are the closest and most convenient airports.

The next set of Airports are LAX and Ontario, Ontario is a couple of miles closer to Disneyland than LAX, but LAX has many more choices, both in flights, and transportation from the airport. A taxi from either airport to the Disneyland Resort area starts at $85 in light traffic, and can go over $100 in heavy traffic. LAX is served by the Disneyland Express bus service.

The farthest airport from Disneyland is Burbank, and if you are just going to Disneyland and Anaheim it is not recommended.



Additional tips and suggestions:

The four main types of transportation to reach the Anaheim Resort from these Airports are the Disneyland Resort Express Bus, Taxi Cab, Airport Van (Shuttle) Service, and Private Transportation.

Disneyland Express Bus Service is regularly scheduled service that departs from the airport (specially marked areas at the ariport are marked, ask an airport employee for directions) This service does not stop at each hotel and you may have to walk a short distance. The Disneyland Express Bus service only services SNA/John Wayne and LAX/Los Angeles International. This service used to be known as the Airport Bus.

Taxi Cabs are available in front of all the airports, and do not require reservations at the Airport. It is recommended that you call the Taxi Cab company to arrange for a cab to pick you up at your hotel. Taxi Cabs are a good choice from either John Wayne or Long Beach, as the fare is usually less than $40 (not including tip), and that you go directly from the Airport to your hotel with no waiting or any other parties in the vehicle. Due to the way Taxi fares are calculated, Taxi Cabs are not a good choice from LAX or Ontario, as if the cab gets stuck in freeway traffic, additional time charges are placed on the meter

Airport Van (Shuttle) Service is a reserved service that will pick you up at several locations at the airports and you will share the van from the airport to your hotel with others. The challenge is the order which you are dropped at the hotel you may be the first hotel or the 7th hotel, and you might end up visiting local neighborhoods as some folks might be dropped off at their home before you arrive at your hotel. This service does deliver you to your hotel so there will be little walking. Prices range from $10/pp to $40/pp one way and this service is available to and from all airports in Southern California.

Private Transportation is a town car or van service where the driver meets you at the baggage carousel holding a sign with your name. He/She is there to pick up you (and your party) and only you (and your party). Prices range from $50 to $120.

 

[captaincrash]

With that notion in mind - why should we wait until we sail before we have some extra fun? - would anyone be up for a PRE-CRUISE SECRET MICKEY game? We could gather names of those interested - and do a "gift exchange" on a secret basis by MAIL for Christmas, Thanksgiving and Valentines Day (maybe)? The gifts would all be modest - and perhaps tons of FUN and good for a few CHUCKLES!!!! I would be happy to assist on a committe to pull this off!

Anyone interested in administering something like this with me - we draw up the simple guidelines - we divide the names up of thosse interested - organize matches (randomly) - am PM everyone thier secret counterparts' address - and so on - ? We work out the schedules for mailing and so forth?

This sounds like fun. Can you just pick one of the three?? If so, I'm in for Christmas.

I just read the newsletter Tom. It looks great.

Yeah,

I think we could just do a SINGLE Pre-cruise Christmas Secret Mickey round. However, I suggested the multiple holiday thing to spread it out - and to allow an opportunity to sprinkle you and your secret counterpart with a couple of token (possibly creative/entertaining) gestures. When we did a Secret mickey on our last sailing (my first experience with it) I gave my beneficiary a few itmes every other day that were somewhat "entertaining" (white elephant style while still being appropriate given the known background of the recipient) ... and I mixed in a couple of meaningful items - topped off by a single nicer item. IE, we had 11 nites and I had about a week to work - so I had about 5 or 6 days of goodies worked out. If we were to do a Secret Mickey pre-cruise - we could make use of a couple of opportunities to allow our counterparts (as well as yourself) a chance to begin guessing who your counterpart sending YOU stuff was.

So - the thinking I had was we could look upon each individual month as a "virtual cruise day"... for Secret Mickey purposes. And allowing for a couple exchanges would add interest to the game.

Some might also think it would be automatically "revealing" who your secret mickey was because of the post marks - well - there are ways around that as well. You can mail an item to the postmaster at a distant destination and ask it be resent with appropriate uncancelled postage and a fresh postmark to the final destination! Or you could send an item (that is light) to me and I would be happy to forward. Getting a few to do this would keep everyone guessing!

The whole idea is not to generate serious and costly gift exchanges - but to just do something FUN before we set sail? I mean, we DO have near 300 days to go? And... parcel post rates are pretty reasonable.... and I think this could make for some hilarious moments with a flurry of abortive accusations as to who sent what to whom!

If anyone has experience with a Secret Mickey Event - especially running one - then I would welcome the help and advice. I've only been a participant once - and I thought it was a uniquely entertaining DIS experience!

Anyways - does anyone else have any thoughts on this? Or am I suggesting too much too soon?

Oh well... it's raining out here - and I'm driving all over 3 counties from noon til midnite today. And this rain is probably gonna threaten my schedule all day and nite - but I can't really "get out of Dodge" til noonish.

Sigh....

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Recently there were questions asked about how to get from area airports to Disneyland. I found the following on TripAdvisor and thought it would be useful here:

Inside Anaheim: Arriving & Departing

Airports

There are multiple airports serving the Anaheim area. They are John Wayne, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Ontario and Burbank. All have major airlines with easy connections to around the world.

Although any of the mentioned airports are certainly viable options for arrival to visit the Anaheim/Disneyland area, John Wayne and Long Beach are definitely the most convenient ones. John Wayne Airport is one of the better airports in the country. The baggage claim is uniformly efficient, and you can literally typically be off the plane and onto the 55 Fwy headed towards Mickey Mouse in your rental car (the rental cars are on site at the airport) in under 15 minutes. For those not renting a car, you can get a flat rate from a Taxi to the Disneyland Resort for about $35 one way. A Single person might want to check the Disneyland Express Bus Service.

Long Beach is a very small airport, and very laid back, you use stairs to get off the plane, and the baggage claim is outside. A flat rate for a Taxi is $36 to the Disneyland Resort area. Either John Wayne (also called Orange County, Santa Ana or SNA) or Long Beach are the closest and most convenient airports.

The next set of Airports are LAX and Ontario, Ontario is a couple of miles closer to Disneyland than LAX, but LAX has many more choices, both in flights, and transportation from the airport. A taxi from either airport to the Disneyland Resort area starts at $85 in light traffic, and can go over $100 in heavy traffic. LAX is served by the Disneyland Express bus service.

The farthest airport from Disneyland is Burbank, and if you are just going to Disneyland and Anaheim it is not recommended.



Additional tips and suggestions:

The four main types of transportation to reach the Anaheim Resort from these Airports are the Disneyland Resort Express Bus, Taxi Cab, Airport Van (Shuttle) Service, and Private Transportation.

Disneyland Express Bus Service is regularly scheduled service that departs from the airport (specially marked areas at the ariport are marked, ask an airport employee for directions) This service does not stop at each hotel and you may have to walk a short distance. The Disneyland Express Bus service only services SNA/John Wayne and LAX/Los Angeles International. This service used to be known as the Airport Bus.

Taxi Cabs are available in front of all the airports, and do not require reservations at the Airport. It is recommended that you call the Taxi Cab company to arrange for a cab to pick you up at your hotel. Taxi Cabs are a good choice from either John Wayne or Long Beach, as the fare is usually less than $40 (not including tip), and that you go directly from the Airport to your hotel with no waiting or any other parties in the vehicle. Due to the way Taxi fares are calculated, Taxi Cabs are not a good choice from LAX or Ontario, as if the cab gets stuck in freeway traffic, additional time charges are placed on the meter

Airport Van (Shuttle) Service is a reserved service that will pick you up at several locations at the airports and you will share the van from the airport to your hotel with others. The challenge is the order which you are dropped at the hotel you may be the first hotel or the 7th hotel, and you might end up visiting local neighborhoods as some folks might be dropped off at their home before you arrive at your hotel. This service does deliver you to your hotel so there will be little walking. Prices range from $10/pp to $40/pp one way and this service is available to and from all airports in Southern California.

Private Transportation is a town car or van service where the driver meets you at the baggage carousel holding a sign with your name. He/She is there to pick up you (and your party) and only you (and your party). Prices range from $50 to $120.

Thank you for all this info, I checked all my options and decided to organise my own transfers from LAX to Disneyland, being met in international arrivals, and also DL to Port Sunday.

They have suggested a SUV, to look after our luggage.

 

[Downrivermama]

Crash, I think the Secret Mickey would be fun!

 

[jeanneg]

Hi all,

I just wanted to give a big "thank-you" to Tom for the latest edition of the newsletter. I know I don't post much, but I try to read as much as I can and look forward to meeting everyone when we are finally on the ship. One of the reasons I have so little time (in addition to working) is that I am training for my very first full marathon this coming January at WDW. I am in my mid-fifties and overweight, so this is no small endeavor. I have been training since last January and have never worked so hard at anything in my life. I am relatively slow, so training consumes hours and hours each week. I noticed that sk8ingmom's DH is also doing it and wondered if there is anyone else who has signed up for either the Mickey(26.2 mi) or Donald (13.1).

On another note, I just noticed on the newsletter the new departure times from Alcapulco.....is it possible that DCL made a typo and we really leave at
1AM the following day? 1 p.m. just seems way too early, especially since we have 2 sea days following it. I know sometimes DCL will stay a little longer in a port to give the crew some time off. Leaving so early hardly seems worth it.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yes THANKS for news letter.

Have you seen this? one place DCL, will NOT go to in 2009/ 2010/2011/2012.

Cruise Lines Reject Grand Bahama
Oct 17, 2007



The Bahama Journal - Major cruise lines are rejecting Grand Bahama as a port of call because it has little to offer tourists, according to Minister of Tourism Neko Grant, who met recently with officials of major cruise lines.

At a town meeting held at the Foster B. Pestaina Centre on Monday night, Minister Grant told local stakeholders in the tourism industry that after trying to convince cruise lines to make Grand Bahama one of their ports of call, their response was "no thanks".

He hit local taxi drivers, tour operators, vendors, business persons and artisans with the cold, bitter truth that major cruise lines like Disney said they would never even consider Grand Bahama because their customers feel harassed, ripped off, and say they have nowhere to go.

Minister Grant said the cruise business has declined in The Bahamas and other parts of the Caribbean by three to five percent, while it has increased in Europe by 25 percent.

"Disney…they said ‘Grand Bahama [isn’t] for us. Your ground transportation is a mess. You’ve got to remember that people who sail on our ship go to Disney Land before or after, and Grand Bahama is not a place where we want our passengers to go because if they’ve been to Disney Land, we take them into Nassau, and we’ve got work to do there; we take them to our private island, and we come into Grand Bahama Island. It doesn’t matter what happened before they left Orlando, what they experience in Grand Bahama ruins everything’," Minister Grant said.

Minister Grant said hundreds of destinations offer the same thing The Bahamas offers and Grand Bahama must do things differently to not only make people want to come here, but to make them want to come back.

He said cruise lines were told about the things the government will be doing to correct the problems in Grand Bahama, especially with regard to ground transportation and tours.

"They said ‘good. Call us when you fix it. Save yourselves the embarrassment and call us when you fix it’," Minister Grant said.

He said that recently, Carnival Cruise Lines had to refund thousands of dollars to disgruntled passengers who visited Grand Bahama and had an horrific experience.

"The question is, if we continue our nonsense, will they continue to come?" he asked.

Director General of Tourism Vernice Walkine told tourism stakeholders Grand Bahama has the best potential of any island, but she said most tourists aren’t getting good service.

"Disney Cruise Lines has said to me, ‘I’m not coming back to Grand Bahama ever, ever, ever, full stop’. How do you respond to that? What am I supposed to say to them? They aren’t wrong. They are absolutely right because their guests have the worst experience on their entire itinerary. Carnival has said the same thing," Ms. Walkine said.

"We rank lowest in terms of satisfaction out of all of their ports of call. Why? What’s wrong with us?" she asked.

Ms. Walkine said The Bahamas must take note of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative put in place by the United States because this put a different twist on the local tourism market.

Under the new rules, Americans traveling from the region by air must present passports upon their re-entry into the United States.

Ms. Walkine noted that for many years tourists did not need a passport in order to re-enter the United States from the Bahamas.

"So, for years we have had the very good fortune to be the destination that Americans would think of first when they want a quick get-away," Ms. Walkine said.

"They could get up on a Friday morning, pack a couple of things in a bag, grab their driver’s license and hop on a plane with no problem. Well, that changed. They now have to have passports and this has had a dramatic impact on our business, and in particular Grand Bahama."

She said that now that they have passports to travel, the Americans can now travel anywhere in the world.

"So all of a sudden our competitors are not just the Caribbean, it’s the world. Americans are exploring all over the place. The Caribbean has been popular for many, many years but it’s like ‘been there, and done that’," Ms. Walkine said.

 

[bellelinus]

Thank you for all this info, I checked all my options and decided to organise my own transfers from LAX to Disneyland, being met in international arrivals, and also DL to Port Sunday.

They have suggested a SUV, to look after our luggage.

Andrew, I know you too well to imagine you doing it any other way!!!!!

 

[bellelinus]

Hi all,

I just wanted to give a big "thank-you" to Tom for the latest edition of the newsletter. I know I don't post much, but I try to read as much as I can and look forward to meeting everyone when we are finally on the ship. One of the reasons I have so little time (in addition to working) is that I am training for my very first full marathon this coming January at WDW. I am in my mid-fifties and overweight, so this is no small endeavor. I have been training since last January and have never worked so hard at anything in my life. I am relatively slow, so training consumes hours and hours each week. I noticed that sk8ingmom's DH is also doing it and wondered if there is anyone else who has signed up for either the Mickey(26.2 mi) or Donald (13.1).

On another note, I just noticed on the newsletter the new departure times from Alcapulco.....is it possible that DCL made a typo and we really leave at
1AM the following day? 1 p.m. just seems way too early, especially since we have 2 sea days following it. I know sometimes DCL will stay a little longer in a port to give the crew some time off. Leaving so early hardly seems worth it.

Congrats on training for the marathon! That is quite an undertaking and you can be proud of yourself for going for it.

I was also shocked at the idea of leaving Acapulco at 1PM. Already with the previous time we were stuck with only the daytime cliff diver show -- with this time there could be no cliff diver show seen at all! I will hope that you are correct and they actually mean 1 AM the next day . . .

 

[tom31b]

On another note, I just noticed on the newsletter the new departure times from Alcapulco.....is it possible that DCL made a typo and we really leave at
1AM the following day? 1 p.m. just seems way too early, especially since we have 2 sea days following it. I know sometimes DCL will stay a little longer in a port to give the crew some time off. Leaving so early hardly seems worth it.

Roger (Goofyonthehiseas) pointed out that in 2005, there was an extra day between Acapulco and the canal. He further speculated that given the distance and the max speed of the Magic, we have to leave by 1pm to get there in time.

 

[allshookup]

Yes! Cleveland winning!

At least we get one night rest. I was watching last night without a days rest. Not good for the arm.

that beer can get heavy

Not when you're a Yankee fan (Sorry Diane!)

That's okay...I can take the ribbing! We do our fair share around here too!

 

[winotracy]

Roger (Goofyonthehiseas) pointed out that in 2005, there was an extra day between Acapulco and the canal. He further speculated that given the distance and the max speed of the Magic, we have to leave by 1pm to get there in time.

In 2005 we left Acapulco at 2 or 3 am on August 25. We had days at sea and arrived at the canal somewhere between 10-midnight on August 27. We stayed outside the canal overnight and went through in the morning. I don't recall if we were going all that fast from Acapulco or not.

I just called and was told that things may change multiple times over the next 300 days. I did this mainly so that the 1pm was brought to their attention in case it was a typo. We'll see what happens.

 

[DisneyVegas1]

Hi all and welcome to those that have just found us

I'm not going to be around (not that I post a lot) as I'm off to Cambodia tomorrow. I'm doing this trip for anyone interested http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/KSM with a couple of days either side in Singapore.

Have fun and talk to you all soon!

"Cleary you have never been to Singapore"

 

[DisneyVegas1]

Attention you Scurvy Dogs

I have noticed as of Late alot of new Crew mates Joining us on this wonderful journey to lands full of treasure , I say to you "Welcome Aboard Mates " . Now that is out of the way , Please submit your information to the website so we can see your Pirate Faces , also Dont forget to be adding the Banner logo to your Signature line , Not doing so could get you lined up to walk the Plank ..

That is all , now get back to work scrubbing me decks ....

 

[cruisin'Mike]

Yes, that's part of the romance package. It was in DMIL/DFIL's room (connecting cat 4s) - they were celebrating their 30th anniversary, we were rank amateurs doing our 11th anniversary.

Andy

We wanted to do the REAS package for this cruise. We figured we'd have time to relax and use some of the things like the Rainforest Pass, champagne breakfast, etc. Unfortunately, we found out that they don't offer the package on cruises that are longer than 7 nights. So no REAS for the TOAL.

Hi Crash, here is some good news. My dd took her first steps without crutches since August.

Jack, that's great news! We'll continue to keep your daughter in our prayers and send best wishes for continued progress and recovery.

Hi all and welcome to those that have just found us

I'm not going to be around (not that I post a lot) as I'm off to Cambodia tomorrow. I'm doing this trip for anyone interested http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/KSM with a couple of days either side in Singapore.

Have fun and talk to you all soon!

Paula, have a great trip and stay safe! Can't wait to hear about your trip when you get back.




Crash, the Secret Mickey sounds like fun. Count us in!

It should be a great way to get to know more about each other, and guessing who your Secret Mickey is will be a blast.

Tom, love the newsletter. Thanks once again for doing this!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew, I know you too well to imagine you doing it any other way!!!!!

I have it all organised from London to Port Canaveral now, I am debating the last bit/last day.