Bound for Barcelona - April 10, 2010 EB TA - Part 4

[auntlynne]

Auntlynne,
I have a bone to pick with you. If you are going to redo the Mickey Mouse Club theme song you have keep the Donald Duck response in. The Duck gets no respect.

I was just doing the end of the song; Donald doesn't pipe in there, does he?

I guess I should have put the beginning of the song on this new thread...

Sounds interesting. All the same shirts or each chooses the one they like best? Kristi

My vote: Each choses her own cougar shirt.

....mmmmmmm chocolate covered strawberries. ...

I'd forgotten about the snacks they put out by Rockin' Bar D before the late-night shows (I'm always still full from Late dining).

I e-mailed to get more details on the flower festival from their web site. I got a response today. I was wanting to know the time of the parade specifically so that we would be there in time after other activities.

Concerning the Flower Festival, we confirm that it will happen on April the 17th and 18th....
The Flower Parade will happen on April the 18th, from 16H00 on....
​

Sooo, parade starts around 4pm and it will still happen even after the recent weather/mudslide problems. thanks for the updated information.

You really are the fact checker Thank you. A few days ago, nearly all water, electricity and telecommunications were back to working. Today, cruise ships return to Funchal.

- Lynne

 

[auntlynne]

We booked a tour with Daniel's taxi and I'm wondering whether we should consider cancelling. I've seen pictures of the roads and I don't know how much clean up will be done by the time we arrive. Anyone have any info on this or similar thoughts?

They really seem to be concentrating on the clean-up. You might want to keep in touch with Daniel's taxi and find out when is the latest you can cancel - and/or if the areas you want to visit were even affected - the damage seems to be area-specific.

per the Madeira News blog (which got their info from NASA), the devastation was intensified because

The city center sits on slightly sloped ground, while outer suburbs perch on the mountain slopes around the city. On February 19-20, 2010, when heavy rain poured down on the island, the high suburbs suffered mudslides and floods. As this map illustrates, the slopes around Funchal surround the city in a semicircle, so water flowing down the mountains was concentrated in the bowl where the city is located. The devastating floods killed at least 42 with 18 still missing as of February 23, according to the government of Madeira.

The other community damaged by extreme flooding in February 2010 is Ribeira Brava, to the west of Funchal. This small town sits at the base of a ravine. Indeed, literally translated, the name means “rough stream or riverside.” The topographic map shows clearly how rain falling on the mountains on either side of the deep ravine would naturally converge near the town.

 

[KrisannB]

For those of you that don't like coffee (ME), there is hot tea and hot chocolate available - even at the beverage station. If I remember correctly, there is even milk at the beverage station (I like my hot chocolate a little creamier and it helps cool it down a bit).

I'm looking forward to the little tables set up late at night by the nightclubs with desserts (choc covered strawberries).

Kristi

I am def. a hot chocolate gal - don't like coffee - like the smell but not the drink!

I too like to but a little bit of creamer in mine - we also like to order it at dinner/lunch as sometimes it has whipping cream with it mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[auntlynne]

How can we have 82 posts and over 1,000 views on this thread? Who is looking at us? Are there that many lurkers? Now would be a great time to join us - you don't have to read all the old posts

- Lynne

 

[sdlong329]

Hey Kristi my aunt and I thought it might be fun if a bunch of us got the cougar and/or cougar in training shirts and wore them all together and had a pic done...what do you think?

--I will volunteer to take the Cougar pictures!

... Go to the beverage station with our cool castaway club cups put some milk in the cup, then walk over to the ice cream station put some ice cream and chocolate syrup and shake. And there you have it instant (sort of) Milkshake.

--Instead of using the small cups offered at the Ice Cream Station, I get a drink cup from the Beverage Station, and FILL 'ER UP with a LARGE serving of ice-cream!

--Steven Long

 

[KrisannB]

How can we have 82 posts and over 1,000 views on this thread? Who is looking at us? Are there that many lurkers? Now would be a great time to join us - you don't have to read all the old posts

- Lynne

not sure but if they count people refreshing to see new posts as a page view I have contributed to that count a bunch

Krisann

 

[DisneyHeather]

not sure but if they count people refreshing to see new posts as a page view I have contributed to that count a bunch

Krisann

Yeah I've contributed to the count a lot too if they count refreshing the page.

 

[woody73]

Are there that many lurkers?

Yes.

In addition to people on our cruise, there are people on the WBTA (seeking information on ports, flights, and hotels), and people on Med cruises (seeking Barcelona hotel, sightseeing, and transportation information).

Woody

 

[Happy Goofy]

A great big thank you to Lynne and all the others who are keeping us in the loop and getting things organized!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started on my FE gifts and only got 1/4 of them done. I guess I better get going. Is it still at 96 cabins?

 

[thossink]

Unfortunately - Yes.....the free coffee on board sucks! Jackie & I even had a chat about this with Simone (our head server on our Jan cruise) when he asked us our opinions (he probably really wishes he hadn't ).

We got atleast 1 coffee/day at the Cove Cafe --- I'd say that was probably the largest chunk of MY bill

I agree on our last cruise the Coffee was not the best. I ended up at the Cove about once a day for some good stuff.

T

 

[slcmom]

A great big thank you to Lynne and all the others who are keeping us in the loop and getting things organized!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started on my FE gifts and only got 1/4 of them done. I guess I better get going. Is it still at 96 cabins?

Really? I hope you're joking, Charlotte, though I'll adjust if you're not. I thought it was 44 cabins. Someone advice, please!
Ann

 

[Dishy24]

Really? I hope you're joking, Charlotte, though I'll adjust if you're not. I thought it was 44 cabins. Someone advice, please!
Ann

I was just going to type the same thing!!! I thought it was around the 45 mark as well!

96???

 

[goofprincess]

I was just going to type the same thing!!! I thought it was around the 45 mark as well!

96???

Tell me it isn't so......... That's still even too high a number with combined FE1 and FE2.

 

[kileybeth]

I think we are all okay

AuntLynne's list over on her webpage has 45 cabins listed in FE group #1
Dee's spread sheet has 39 listed so far in FE group#1

FEgroup #2 is still at like 7 cabins or something?

Now if you want to count people or adults/children then those numbers are a bit mind boogling.

Oh Lynne and Dee when will we have a final "official count" for FE group#1?

Oh no! Wait it is Michelle who is doing that right? Michelle??? Help us out here!

 

[KrisannB]

The FE totals for Group #1 is listed on the first page of the last thread. So go back there and get it - Michelle has it up to date there. But I will post it here also:

Fisn Extender list:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surprise your fellow cruisers with a small gift in their Fish Extender!

This is the Fish Extender gift giving list according to general info and by cabin number. If anyone is doing gifts according to age, or by gender, etc, please see the website for a more detailed breakdown. I will add the room numbers to the list as they are assigned since many do not have room assignments yet.
Also, if anyone sees something that is incorrect and needs to be fixed or changed (some people are giving gifts according to the amount of people and not cabins), or if you do not see your name on this list and would like to be added, please pm me, michelle2.

Some ideas of past things that I have gotten as FE gifts are: strings of mardi gras beads, pirate or other tattoos, stickers, pens and pencils with customized info about the cruise on them, small toys, candy, door magnets, bubbles, party favors, antenna toppers, etc....

We have decided on some general guidelines:
DEADLINE TO JOIN THE FE GROUP WILL BE FEBRUARY 1ST. (Due to having enough time and notice to specially prepare gifts.) If someone wants to join after this date, a second group can be added.

The group has decided to give to all on the list, and can deliver anytime they want.

ariella: 1A
belle1627: 2A, 2C (DS11 and DD8)
Brooklyn: 2A
Brooklyn (mom): 1A, 2C (DD8 and DD4)
bound2travel: 1A
cupcake: 2A
cupcake (cupcake's mom): 1A
dee47: 1A
Carla: 1A
dennisgirl: 2A
Dishy24: 4A, 1C (DS10)
emma’smom/Hannah’sDad: 2A, 2C (DD7 and DD4)
FirstTimeCruiser: 2A, 1C (DS6)
FirstTimeCruiser (FirstTimeCruiser's parents): 2A
goofprincess 2A
Happy Goofy: 2A
Ginamarie: 2A, 2C (DD4 and DS1)
Ginamarie Ginamarie's DB and DSIL): 2A
Ginamarie (Ginamarie's parents): 2A, 2C (DD11 and DS6)
grlzmom: 2A, 2C (DD7 and DS7)
grlzmom: 1A, 3C (DD15, DD13 and DD8)
IngridRalph: 2A, 2C (DS15 and DD12)
Janell.carrasco: 2A, 2C (DD13 and DD7)
joius24: 1A, 1C (DS14)
KrisannB: 2A, 2C (DD15 and DS12)
linac: 2A, 2C (DD tween and DD tween)
marren111 (DisneyFamilyFive): 2A, 3C (DD7, DS4 and DS2)
mdvasquez: 2A
mdvasquez: 2A, 2C (DD19 and DD6)
michelle2: 2A, 1C (DS7)
friends of Michelle2: 2A, 3C (DD11, DD9 and DD6)
mommyto3princesses: 2A, 3C (DD7, DD5 and DD3)
Mrs. Gumdrop: 2A
Mrs. Gumdrop (DFIL and DMIL): 2A
Mrs. Gumdrop (DSIL): 1A
PrincessMonkey: 2A
realfam: 2A, 2C (DD14 and DD2)
sdlong329: 2A
SquirePM: 1A
StaciJo: 2A, 1C (DD5)
StaciJo (family members): 2A
TiggerPU88: 2A. 1C (DS8)
TheCruisers: 2A, 1C (DS8)
dizmomof2: 2A
spacerangerqueen: 2A
thewittezoo: 1A
thewittezoo (mom): 1A
thewittezoo (aunt): 1A
bekaah: 2A
annekevdbroek: 2A, 2C (DS6 and DS3)
slcmom: 2A, 1C (DS)
kileybeth: 2A
scottjm: 2A, 2C (DS11 and DD8)

TOTAL: 53 cabins --143 people (95 adults, 48 children)

Boys: 18 Girls: 30
Age 1: 1 boy
Age 2: 1 boy, 1 girl
Age 3: 1 boy, 1 girl
Age 4: 1 boy, 3 girls
Age 5: 2 girls
Age 6: 3 boys, 2 girls
Age 7: 2 boys, 5 girls
Age 8: 2 boys, 4 girls
Age 9: 1 girl
Age 10: 1 boy
Age 11: 2 boys, 2 girls
Age 12: 1 boy, 1 girl
Age 13: 2 girls
Age 14: 1 boy, 1 girl
Age 15: 1 boy, 2 girls
Age 16: 0
Age 17: 0
Age 18: 0
Age 19: 1 girl
Age 20: 1 boy (slcmom)
Age unknown: 2 girls (tweens)

 

[KrisannB]

I also went and put the info in one of my message slots on the first page. Maybe Lynne can copy the info over to her web site. Not sure how hard that is. so the official cabin count for FE 1 is more than 44 but not as many as 95!

Krisann

 

[kileybeth]

Thanks Krisann, I should have pointed people there. I knew it was there just wasn't sure that was the "final, official one". Guess the point of a cut off date is so it can be final eh?

So 53 cabins! There you go!

 

[slcmom]

Thanks for helping slow down my heart palpatations....one other question about the soda station. How big are the glasses? I've been wondering if I should bring a package of BIG paper cups since I tend to consume my diet Coke in vast quantities. I don't suppose they stock diet Dr. Pepper or Fresca? Thanks,
Ann

 

[KrisannB]

Thanks for helping slow down my heart palpatations....one other question about the soda station. How big are the glasses? I've been wondering if I should bring a package of BIG paper cups since I tend to consume my diet Coke in vast quantities. I don't suppose they stock diet Dr. Pepper or Fresca? Thanks,
Ann

the cups I would call a small cup at WDW - and there is great discussion on using any other cups at the station for "cleanness" issues. Use the provided cups and then pour them into your larger.

There is NO DR. PEPPER on board at all! We will be sending some in our goody bags from Shirley's to help with our children's withdrawl for a month (but just one 6 six pack total!) Have never seen Fresca but have also not looked.

Krisann

 

[auntlynne]

Yes.

In addition to people on our cruise, there are people on the WBTA (seeking information on ports, flights, and hotels), and people on Med cruises (seeking Barcelona hotel, sightseeing, and transportation information).

Woody

I would call them spies! Lurkers are like wallflowers - they belong with us, but they are too shy (or busy - who can keep up with this posting pace!) but just haven't made it official.

I've seen some EB TA folks asking/answering questions on various threads on this forum.

I have even seen one of us post a beautiful photo of Arizona's red rocks out there.

T....one other question about the soda station. How big are the glasses? I've been wondering if I should bring a package of BIG paper cups since I tend to consume my diet Coke in vast quantities. I don't suppose they stock diet Dr. Pepper or Fresca? Thanks,
Ann

They really don't want you using anything but their 12 (16?) oz paper cups. I think it is a health issue. And no refilling the same cup - use a new one - and cringe at the non-greenness of that (of course, you are sailing on a giant hotel, are we really being green?) Now, you can bring your own cup and use as many of their paper cups as necessary to fill it. They do have Coca-Cola products - someone else will let you know about your specific choices - not finding much online right now.