8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 3

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We're doing the Med Repo this august, then this Repo next August. My son has no clue about either. .

Keep forgetting that I have the MAGIC for 11 nights in the Med this summer before this 2008 cruise. Still lots to organise for that.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Wow ...some great Info here ...Thanks

Bit early but will hopfully help you plan, the medications and suncream are most important!

 

[Phoeberella]

For our cruise last year, we left WDW and told the kids we were, "Going to go look at the ocean since we're this close." We happened to find the ocean near the port, where I promptly announced that I needed to use the bathroom....maybe Disney would let me use theirs since I still had my t-shirt & ears on from WDW. As we sat on the drawbridge near the terminal, I flipped down my windshield visor, and a note from Tinkerbelle fell saying, "You are going on a Disney Cruise" with the date. The kids were in shock all the way through the check-in process, picture with Minnie & walk through the ear tube. The blank look last through lunch, and the giggles started at the Mickey pool.

While they were swimming (DH supervising) I went down to the room to unpack quickly. I wasn't gone long enough for them to notice. When we went to the room after swimming/for muster drill, they found their clothes (princess dresses, priate costumes, etc.) in the closet and it was at that moment that it sunk in that we were really going to be going on the cruise.

We're going to do our best to keep this cruise under wraps for a while. As much as I'd love to show up at the port, I think it will be more important to have the kids make some DIS friends and learn a little about the geography, cruise ports, etc. prior to getting on the ship this time. Still, if you can pull this off as a surprise, it's worth it for that big WOW.

Enna, that sounds absolutely "Magical"!! wish I could pull that off for my two.

 

[Verandah Man]

On PC day Verandah man you can come on mine if you wish.

Thanks Andrew!!! I have a feeling I will be all over the ship, that day!!!

 

[dzneprincess]

Hello
Just wanted to pop in and let you all know that I will be on this cruise

 

[Verandah Man]

Too soon!!!

 

[DisneyVegas1]

Hello
Just wanted to pop in and let you all know that I will be on this cruise

Aboard Mate

 

[Verandah Man]

Who Got It?

 

[LITTLEKID58]

PANAMA Check list

Might sound obvious but Pack lots of high factor sun cream, you are close to the equator, ( but do not cross it) and on PC day out a lot watching everything going on, it takes a long time all day and so you burn without noticing it.
If on deck wear hats etc., and protect eyes, even if raining and it is likely, protect yourself you will still burn.

Pack lots of cameras and Videos you will use it all quickly, and extra batteries on charge all the time. Again long day.

Take cameras to every dinner Disney often had a surprise.

Buy a photo package this time, many photos, you will want them.

If your Digi camera memory gets close to full do not loose it ask Shutters to convert to disc. Best to get a large memory on the Digi camera.

Water, take lots of it during the day, and if you have alcohol in moderation!

Its very humid, care for people with Asthma. Headaches might occur so bring tablets. Get back into Air-conditioning is the best.

Ships photographers will get off the ship at the PC locks, they take pictures of you, wear something you will notice at Shutters, we had an England flag on our verandah.

Go to the pre PC talks I am sure they will have some and they explain a lot in advance and what to look out for. You might get a book in your room as well.
Ship has a barbecue on the day of the crossing in addition to Topsiders and plutos.

Read PC Navigator thoroughly it will tell you the times through each lock on the day, plan your day accordingly, its a long day, you will need a break.

Best view is front of the ship, DECK 10, it went very early on PC day, many people, staked their claim early, but as I said long day, so be polite, you have to move sometime, for loos etc. so allow everyone to look.

Best to agree a meeting place in advance for all the family as it is very busy and people and kids can get lost.

Mickey Minnie etc. are likely to be at the front all day on the view areas outside the bridge, so look out for them.

Ships stateroom TV will have one channel with a live PC guide speaking on it, if you have a view from your room turn up the sound and listen as you go through.

Ships horn is likely to go off a lot, lots of locals on land keep calling out for the ship and the bridge responds with the horn.

The Captain doesn't like you throwing anything off the ship in the locks local kids call to you and ask for anything from Mickey soap, to Disney stuff etc., The ship will be fined if you throw anything off.

Sorry the ships laundry is very busy on PC day? Does everyone think it will be empty?

If your family or friends have port and s/board rooms with views best to agree in advance to allow each other access on the PC transit day, the best views could be either side.

The ship is likely to arrive at the entrance to PC late the previous evening and stop to refuel, this was at sea on DCL last time, but on princess cruises we had a announced stop and could get off in Panama from 6pm to 12 midnight.

Very early on PC day the PC authority crew will come alongside the DM and jump onto the ship from a small boat, its good to watch and then they take over control of the ship through the transit of PC.

The little trains pulling and guiding the ship through the locks are called 'Mules' they have cables attached to them from the ship, and they run on a rack, and rails and go down steep slopes.

Lower outside port hole rooms might get a close up view of the lock walls as we descend, Lumiers at dinner was below the walls and you saw them through all windows.

In my opinion the Pacific is more active than the Caribbean bring medication if you suffer from movement.

Acapulco take of the so called tourist guides, they hassle you a lot, they want to take you to where they get commission including friends market stalls.

Leaving LA you might get a tug escorting us out with a plume of water as a fountain its a good picture opportunity.

The disembarkation presentation is the night before Castaway cay, not CC night to give you more time that night. Worth going as a few things change remember lots of luggage on this one.

If they have a crew talent show go its very good indeed.

Allow extra shipboard credit and spending its 15 days, more tips, more photos, and I presume special PINs as well that cost a lot, and dont forget the statutory T shirts for the cruise. They most likly with have a sale of Mexician riveria t shirts after leaving acapulco as they will not be going back again!

Postcards and Panama stamps are available at guest services, you do not get off but the ship can have them posted for you on the day only.

Andrew you hit everything right on the money... it was the best that is why we wanted to do it again.

Thank you so much

Liz

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks Andrew!!! I have a feeling I will be all over the ship, that day!!!

Yep most likly every where, its a long day to if everyone has respect for each other everyone gets a view, you will have to eat during the day, so people will have to move around and there is always something to see, lots of ships, and little cruisers will pass us during the transit.

 

[jonesing]

wow! Only 9 pages overnight! Gee, you'd think people here were getting a life outside DIS!

 

[dzneprincess]

hey while Im here maybe I can get #9400??

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew you hit everything right on the money... it was the best that is why we wanted to do it again.

Thank you so much

Liz

Thanks forgot, as you cannot buy extra luggage later, bring an expandable bag, for all of thoose extra DCL Gifts etc and shopping. Last night is a nightmare fitting it all in. And disembarkation is difficult due to that, I think they were going to say 10pm cut off, but took it to 12 midnight.

 

[captaincrash]

ehhh you dont need no stinkin banner ...What you need is a Pirate Flag to hang from your Verandah ....Thats we did on the DEC DD ...everyone had them and when we pulled into CC the Pirate flags were waving from Verandahs and those with windows put there flags up in the windows ...It was great ....If you need the link to the Pirate flag we use (cause this is the design from POTC) here is the link to the person who sells then and they are cheap ..


http://cgi.ebay.com/new-3x5ft-JACK-...QQihZ017QQcategoryZ115972QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Arrrrrrg!

I be flyin' my skull n' bones on DIS voyage, mates!

 

[Verandah Man]

Hello
Just wanted to pop in and let you all know that I will be on this cruise

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!​

 

[dzneprincess]

aw crud too slow

 

[Phoeberella]

Wow, I just made it through to the end of posts. I have been reading since Wednesday, LOL. Wanted to say "Hi" and introduce myself. We will be on this cruise with all of you. This will be our second Disney Cruise. We went last November on the Double Dip. We were hooked! Myself, DH, DD 10 and DS 3 (at time of cruising). Look forward to "meeting" all of you over the next 18 months.

 

[Verandah Man]

hey while Im here maybe I can get #9400??

Nice try Amanda, but the Capt'n beat you too it, LOL!!!
He's a sly one he is!!!

 

[Esteri]

Those fish extenders look cute. I think if we can get the pattern for it, most of us with sewing machines can put it together real quick.

I was browsing thru my bookmarks and found one from a diser I saved. She gave detailed instructions on how to tie dye a mickey head shirt. You know the two circles for the ears and the one big one for the head. Problem is I do not know how to link something like that
When i get my DS to come over , I will try to remember. Since we have over 18 months, I'm sure I'll have it posted by then

There are several ways to tie dye a Mickey head. Here's the one we used: http://www.graenit.com/tiedye.htm. This makes a more "abstract" head. But uses only rubber bands and is pretty easy to do.

You can also trace a Mickey head on the shirt (using a paper plate or something), baste around it, andpull the threads up very tightly (like a drawstring). This makes a more "perfect" head. But requires needle and thread.

There's also a swirl Mickey head - it's referenced on the thread we got the link to earlier.

Once you get comfortable with how to use dye you can start to do different sorts of things. Here are the shirts I did for our Aug'06 trip.

This is one is a two step process where you die the shirt and then remove the dye to make a pattern.

Oops. There I go again. Um, I'm just a little passionate about wearable fabric art. It's probably way more than you really want to know. I'll be quiet now.

 

[DisneyVegas1]

Wow, I just made it through to the end of posts. I have been reading since Wednesday, LOL. Wanted to say "Hi" and introduce myself. We will be on this cruise with all of you. This will be our second Disney Cruise. We went last November on the Double Dip. We were hooked! Myself, DH, DD 10 and DS 3 (at time of cruising). Look forward to "meeting" all of you over the next 18 months.

Aboard Mate