August 20, 2005 - L.A. to Port Canaveral - Eastbound Repo Cruise - The SHIP OF FOOLS Part 2

[kmiles]

It's OK, Kathy We're in a Cat 10 as well, so we can keep each other company up on deck in case you don't get an upgrade.

I'm just happy to be on the ship and going on this fabulous cruise! They could put me anywhere and I'd still be happy!

Arlene

We'll be there too!

I don't think it will be too bad as far as crowds go. There always seems to be plenty of space when the ship pulls into port and when it leaves.

I'm planning on buying a good pair of binoculars for the cruise. I want to make sure I don't miss a thing! Anyone else buying/taking them?

 

[kpgclark]

OK folks. I'm going to start a thread for the cruise exchange. I think we'll do cabin to cabin if that's OK. So I'll put a minimum $$$ and you may end up buying for one person sailing alone or a family. I'll try to set things up so it is adult(s) to adult(s) and family to family. For details see my soon to be posted post on the regular cruise board.

 

[mississaugamom]

We'll be there too!

I don't think it will be too bad as far as crowds go. There always seems to be plenty of space when the ship pulls into port and when it leaves.

I'm planning on buying a good pair of binoculars for the cruise. I want to make sure I don't miss a thing! Anyone else buying/taking them?

I'm bringing binoculars along for sure! (Along with our video camera, digital camera, 35 mm camera, and anything else we can think of!) We are not planning to miss a moment of this event :jumping4: :jumping4: :jumping4:

Arlene

 

[mickeyfan1]

Binoculars, check! Small, but handy. Now to find them and throw them into the duffle.

I have category 11, y'all with those 10s - just hush!

I doubt that there will be any stops on canal day, but anything can change between now and then. I don't see them asking for tips midway, I just hope that everyone remembers that the cast members for the most part are paid very low wages (no minimum wage, ships registry helps there!) and for the most part work very hard and deserve the tips that are in the guidelines. There are probably a lot that go above and beyond, and there are a few that do the minimum. I don't know if I could do it, on a ship for 9 months ata a time with just a few hours off in some ports and working 10 to 15 hours per day.

Hmmmm, I think I will try very hard to be neat and tidy for 14 nights!

 

[mississaugamom]

Binoculars, check! Small, but handy. Now to find them and throw them into the duffle.

I have category 11, y'all with those 10s - just hush!

I doubt that there will be any stops on canal day, but anything can change between now and then. I don't see them asking for tips midway, I just hope that everyone remembers that the cast members for the most part are paid very low wages (no minimum wage, ships registry helps there!) and for the most part work very hard and deserve the tips that are in the guidelines. There are probably a lot that go above and beyond, and there are a few that do the minimum. I don't know if I could do it, on a ship for 9 months ata a time with just a few hours off in some ports and working 10 to 15 hours per day.

Hmmmm, I think I will try very hard to be neat and tidy for 14 nights!

Hey, Marsha At least your Cat 11 is just for you ~ I've got my DH Martin (who's very neat but brings a lot of stuff) and my DD Lara, (who brings a lot of stuff and leaves it everywhere ) sharing my Cat 10 with me!

We always tidy up the room before the steward has to clean it, though

Arlene

 

[ivanova]

I don't see them asking for tips midway, I just hope that everyone remembers that the cast members for the most part are paid very low wages (no minimum wage, ships registry helps there!) and for the most part work very hard and deserve the tips that are in the guidelines. There are probably a lot that go above and beyond, and there are a few that do the minimum. I don't know if I could do it, on a ship for 9 months ata a time with just a few hours off in some ports and working 10 to 15 hours per day.

I learned from several CMs that servers actually prefer working the Wonder because they end up making more in tips on 3 and 4 night cruises than on 7 night cruises on the Magic.

For example, the suggested tip for a 3 and 4 night cruise for your server might be $11 and $14.75 respectively per guest. On the 3 night cruise a guest might round up to $15 and on the 4 night cruise a guest might round up to $20. So in 7 night the server got $35 in tips. But on the 7 night cruise where the suggested tip is $25.75 ($11 plus $14.75) the guest might only round up to $30. So servers can theoretically make more money working the Wonder than the Magic....

So on the 14 night cruise the suggested tip will probably be $51.40 and a guest might round up to $55 instead of $60 (which a server might get working two 7 night cruises) or $70 (which he might make working two weeks of 3 and 4 night cruises). Multiple this by the number of guests that a server has in his section, and over a month (or over their 9 month contract) I can see why they prefer working the Wonder and where working the repo cruise could be of concern....

 

[kpgclark]

I'm betting that when people see the totals for standard tipping for the 14 nighters they are slightly shocked. A family of 4 for example pays over $600. I expect a lot of people don't realize that.

 

[kmiles]

I do wonder what percentage of guests actually tip at the suggested level or less. I've always been so impressed by the service on the Magic that I've always tipped over the suggested amount.

I just think they really deserve it because, as Walt said, it's the people that make the difference.

 

[Bmwdsny]

We'll be there too!

I don't think it will be too bad as far as crowds go. There always seems to be plenty of space when the ship pulls into port and when it leaves.

How about this?? Make a FOOLS banner and put it on the area where you want to stand and reserve it!! No one else can stand there but the FOOLS!!
hee hee, i guess that asking for trouble!!

Kathy, i orginally boooked the cat 8 on that first day but change it to cat 6 about 10 days later when i realized that i really should have a vernadah. , The DCL still gave me a price quote as if it was the first day of ressies..Thanks goodness...perhaps it won't hurt for you to call and have it waitlist for a vernadah stateroom.
I don't know what specific stateroom i will be in but i wouldn't mind crossing over to another stateroom to other side and use mine as well. I heard that the PORT side is the best side to view so i am hoping for a port side.

Also, Now i may be off track here and perhaps have amnesia, but what is this exchange cruise gifts you are talking about??

Speaking of tips, i know of 2 people who frequently cruises, (not Disney) who does not TIPS at all!! They feel they paid enough money as is!! YEOEWEE!!I don't think i would have a heart to do that!! But i will say one thing though, and perhaps you won't agree with me...I tip more % to the waiter, asst waiter and Stateroom host than the head host...Tell me something...WHAT DOES HE OR SHE DO??? The only time i ever see her or him was when she or he comes to table and says hello once and gives us the character breakfast tickets and that is it!!! In fact, this last cruise, we didn't tip the host at all...She never once came to our table...We gave all to the waiter and asst. waitress and they should get all of the tips since they are the ones working their ***** off!! Now of course, if the host did something special, certainly i will tip them for their extroidinary services. I also feel if anyone deserves the extra tips, it not the host, but those workers in the kids' club!!! NOW that is one hard job!!!! That is like babysitting!!!!
Just voicing my opionon!!

Oh, WELCOME HOME JANET!!

 

[kpgclark]

BMW when I originally got my quote (which took a couple of days to get from DU) I asked for a quote on a higher category which took too long to get. By then they said you had to pay the difference from the CURRENT price which had almost doubled. I NEVER thought the price would be so inexpensive originally. I expected the price to be a little more than double a summer 7 night but I was very wrong. I'm not going to complain too much because we have such a great price on a cat 10. I am a little PO'd because I was waitlisted for a secret porthole room and during my wait someone posted on our thread that they got a new ressie for one. That annoyed me a little (well more than a little.) Water under the bridge. Things could still change. Maybe someone who booked early will release their cabin and I could get theirs at the original price!

Regarding the exchange- what you do is buy some items relating to the cruise and send it to the person(s) you are assigned. You, in turn, will get a gift from a surprise person. I set the minimum price at $30 which should buy some nice cruise supplies.

Nobody has PM'd me or replied to the thread yet so I'll post the link here. If there isn't enough interest I won't do it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=707392

 

[jweiss]

I'm probably going to get my head bit off..... I have always had awesome state room hosts, and have tipped over the recommended. Last year we had horrible dining room servers. After two nights, we didn't return and ate our dinners at Topsiders. I LOVED Topsiders....the service was fabulous. After the first night, I had expressed my concerns and it was no better the second night. Did I tip the recommended amount??????? Well..... Now I feel like an ogre, but the service was really bad. Now, for the 14 day repo cruise, we have late seating. There is no way that either of my kids will be able to eat that late.....no way at all, especially the baby, but even my teenager is an early to bedder..... I doubt we will eat dinners in the dining room at all. I am FINE with this. We are very casual, and I loved Topsiders. I am just wishing there were a way to deal with this whole tip business......I'd sure prefer the $600 to go to Flounders, Topsiders, etc. It's a quandry!!!!!

 

[jweiss]

Okay, so that all of us who DON'T have windows or verandahs (I know I'm the only one) don't feel left out, maybe we should do an on-deck space/view trade!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? And, of course, anyone is invited to come look at my walls anytime.....
As for a gift exchange.....I'm up for that.....The gifts could be specific for where we're from.

 

[izzinmac]

But i will say one thing though, and perhaps you won't agree with me...I tip more % to the waiter, asst waiter and Stateroom host than the head host...Tell me something...WHAT DOES HE OR SHE DO??? The only time i ever see her or him was when she or he comes to table and says hello once and gives us the character breakfast tickets and that is it!!!

Melinda,
I used to agree with you, but I have had a few experiences that have convinced me they do a lot! I think their job is primarily to be there to handle the hard/unusual situations, and they do it well. If you have no problems, they become relatively invisible, as they should. Unfortunately, we often consider it as doing nothing! On one cruise, our head waiter Ali went to a lot of trouble on the first night finding us seating at the other dining time. When all 22 of us cruised last year the head waiter went out of his way to specially arrange our tables for better seating as a group. And on this last cruise, it was one of the head waiters who got the name and phone number of the contact I sent you for the "Fools" seating. Plus, when our waiter injured himself and was off a few days, not only did our head waiter arrange the replacements, he even served us one of the nights when they were short handed. I think those are the kinds of things they focus on, so I make sure they get at least the recommended amount - more if they do something special to help me!
Bob

 

[kmiles]

I think the Head Server does do a lot but it's just not as obvious. I think a lot of their work is "behind the scenes" and ensuring that the dining room is running smoothly.

Perhaps that's why all of their efforts are not as obvious. Because they do it so well!

 

[kmiles]

And, of course, anyone is invited to come look at my walls anytime.....

How about this?? Make a FOOLS banner and put it on the area where you want to stand and reserve it!! No one else can stand there but the FOOLS!! hee hee, i guess that asking for trouble!!

I think this is a GREAT idea! Melinda, we'll all need you to guard the area for us. If anyone attempts to so much as look in your direction I want you to scream "Get away from the Sisterhood's private viewing area!!!!!!!"

Next, if that doesn't work, charge them!

 

[kmiles]

Just curious...

Did anyone actually view the Curacao video this week?

 

[Bmwdsny]

I think this is a GREAT idea! Melinda, we'll all need you to guard the area for us. If anyone attempts to so much as look in your direction I want you to scream "Get away from the Sisterhood's private viewing area!!!!!!!"

Next, if that doesn't work, charge them!

Sounds good, but you forgot one thing...I will be in my own Vernadah, peace and quiet, drinking zinfidel!! Perhaps, Arlene can do the screaming instead!! NO wait, The 4 LOONEYHOOD VULTURES can!!!!!!!

Ok, Bob, Kmiles, I will be sure to look for what the host does behind the scenes on the repo cruise!! I will read their lips and see how "hard" they worked! If they worked hard to get you behave, and wipes your drooling, they can count on me for a good tips!!

What Curacao video????

 

[DenverVal]

I have a category 8 porthole. Do you think it possible that they might clean it before we enter the Panama Canal? We're right behind the bow, and catch a lot of spray. I know last time on the 7-day our window was crusted over by the end of the cruise and we had smooth sailing all the way! Wonder what it'll look like after 14 days?

I didn't know about a special on Curacao, though I did catch the Disney Cruise special for the billionth time.

As for tips, I just budgeted them into the amount I needed to save right from the start. I'm happy to say that I have the cruise almost paid for!! I'm keeping it, though until Disney says I have to give it up.

 

[Grumbo]

Do you think it possible that they might clean it before we enter the Panama Canal?

No problem Val.. J.G.E. will look after that for you. We have a number of the Sisterhood skivvying for us on this cruise. We have "Meandering Melinda" that is looking after the windows on this junket. Pull the drapes though as she is a bit of a voyeur

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[paulcrsb]

Just a word on the wine package.

For the 10 day they offered 10 bottles. I'm not a huge wine drinker so that left my DW to try to drink all 10 (she should fit in well with this group)! By the end of the cruise we still had three bottles left. Two we shared with the other DISers on late seating and the third we gave to our assistant server. I think if all DCL offers is a 14 bottle wine package we will be better off buying them individually.

Paul