December 4,2004 !!!

[rae519]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
.. they FORGOT my birthday this year

That means that you don't age! Lucky you!
Do you think we could arrange for them to forget mine????

Honestly, we had a head server on one of our first cruises - who forgot our Anniversary until Friday night then it was a rushed deal. That's why I am soooo particular about who is our server, head server, etc. THEY DO MAKE THE CRUISE PERFECT FOR US!

Rae

 

[lbgraves]

RAE!!!! I just noticed your signiture line! ROFLMBO!!! It is going to be a great cruise!!! Did you get your quote yet? Our local TA finally got back to me today. DH wanted to at least give them a chance to match DU's price since they were so nice to us with the last trip. Well, she had to call me 3 times to confirm information. She told me that our quote must be just for 2 adults. There was a $350 difference between hers & DU's. That made me VERY happy to call & put that deposit down ASAP. They had the best price online too. Alot of people have been posting about the price increases on DCL and we are doing the Western at less than 100 more than the Eastern this past November. Granted, we only look at the off peak times but hey?

BTW, Lampskies, I don't think you are cheap at all to consider getting more for your money...especially with DCL. When I saw how much it would be for us to go on the 10 day, my first thought was...we could take 2 7 day cruises for that amount!

 

[rae519]

My reservation was made directly with DCL, $3966.31 with $400 (yes, FOUR hundred dollar) on board credit (2 A 1C - Category 6).

DU's quote was $3606.31 with $100 rebate and receive a $100 onboard credit to replace my DCL $400 credit. ($3505.31 and have $100 onboard credit - final)

I transfer my DCL reservation to Bill at cruisetraveloutlet.com and get a rebate of 7% back on the cost of the cruise. This drops the price to around $3716.31 AND I keep my $400 onboard credit. ($3716.31 and have $400 onboard credit) That is $200 more for me to spend!!

Now if only making the time pass til then was as easy!

*Where are you staying the night before the cruise? We are deciding between staying at Radisson for $109 with their cruise package deal and taking their shuttle to the port - or staying at Days Inn (like we've been doing for about $30/night) and paying the $70 for secure, lighted parking at the port. We could just come over to visit those at the Radisson, if that's where most are staying.

Yes, it is too early to get firm plans (sorry!!) but there's no acitivity in my April 17 cruise group. Maybe I'll just go incognito for that one!! HAHAHA!

Rae

 

[lbgraves]

LOL! That's OK Rae! DH is already rolling his eyes when I am talking about this cruise & what we can do. I just updated our countdown & will have to ignore it. LOL! It is going to be more fun planning this since we already know first hand some of what to expect onboard & also what new things we have to look forward to.

We don't know about the night before yet. Is the Day's Inn room non smoking??? We might drive down on Thursday from NC, then stay at the AS Movie again since that was so much fun for the kids & do DT Disney Friday & maybe watch the fireworks from one of the resorts since we would have the use of the buses & such. I DN want to go to the MK again & especially not the day before we sail since we wont have the 3 days to get adjusted before we are in a port. So, no, we aren't really sure yet. I liked parking at the port & having our luggage packed up for us so we could just drive away.

 

[rae519]

We have to use non-smoking rooms exclusively due to both Michael and I having astham. (Also, the reason we choose 5622, no neighbors on the left - upwind).

I think we will go with Days Inn and parking at port. Nice to be able to just drive up, unload park and get in the line. And I found out that you can disembark IF you forget something in your car/van (like we did). It was a bit of a process with a lot of escorting but do able. Also, when you disembark on that last day, easy to just take your own bags and get to your car and drive off.
We were GONE within 20 minutes of disembarkation and heading toward Titusville.

We are staying at a Days Inn near Universal for the week prior. AND going over to Tampa to see some sights there during that time. I want to surprise Michael with a tour of Raymond James Stadium (Tampa Bay Buccaneer NFL team). And I was thinking "Busch Gardens"!!

Rae

 

[AnnMorin]

Hey Rae if you are goig to be in Tampa you should look up Suzie (floridaminnie) she is such a sweetie and Brianna is the most darling child!

 

[LAMPSKIES]

O.K. Rae........what's up with this 400.00 credit??? DD's will then be 14 and 12. It looks like DCL is 4900.00 on line. I usually call and book direct. The only thing right now I have to figure out is Jessica (DD 13) will be in her first year of HS. We've taken them out for on of those weeks the last 4 years and it's no biggie with the Crown Point school system. DD13 is starting that "I'm going to miss my friends" thing. She spent A LOT of time on the net last cruise. We were considering letting each take a friend and book an inside stateroom across the hall from us. Let the 4 girls deal with the mess. With DCLs new pricing for children 13-17 it's not much more. And.......if I can get that credit for EACH stateroom?!?!? Hmmmmmmm I could book myself and eldest DD in one room, DW and eldest DDs friend in another the the 12 year olds in either. It looks like the difference between 13-17 and an "adult" is about 200.00......then with a 400.00 credit......am I thinking right??

 

[lbgraves]

I'm pretty sure the 400 credit was from rebooking onboard. I thought that was only for the special Antiqua & San Juan itineraries though, Rae? Did you change your date somehow?

 

[rae519]

We booked on board last May - one cruise to San Juan and one to Antigua both offering $400 onboard credit. We cancelled one and changed the other to the December date. The credit carried over.

Right place at right time, I guess.

Lampskies - I always book Disney then go over to Bill at cruisetraveloutlet.com for that 7% rebate. I don't know if you can get any onboard credit with him or not, but that special booking credit was only for onboard booking.

With girls of that age, I don't know whether to cry or laugh for you. NOT into the teenage hormonal thing - having enough to deal with menopause!!!!

HAHAH@

Happy New year!

Rae

 

[lbgraves]

Well, heck Rae! If I had known that you could change your date & keep the credit...I would have MADE DH rebook onboard. Oh well, it all works out in the end. I am happy with our price & know that next time we will definantly book ASAP after boarding if only to get the credit on our account. After all, what difference does it make if that 1000 is in our bank or Disney's with the "big" interest rate we get.

I am getting the kids tucked in & will be hoping to fall asleep here soon myself. Not enough sleep over the past month & after cleaning all day I am exhausted. Just hope that both kids sleep thru the night!

Happy New Year everybody!

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
Hey Rae if you are goig to be in Tampa you should look up Suzie (floridaminnie) she is such a sweetie and Brianna is the most darling child!

We already talked about it! Small world! She is a darling!!

I hope to meet up with my sons (Three Circles) also on this trip. Can't wait!

Ann, maybe you'd like to join us?????

Rae

 

[AnnMorin]

Rae my love the only way that could happen is if you could contact the govenor and tell him to give DH the job,, I have to work on 24 applications for him and since we are not political it is probably a waste of time..........oh well new yar swill be spent typing,, next december will be spent drinking give Suzie and the boys a hug

 

[rae519]

Maybe the gov would considedr making you the official state Disney representative????

Hey, always worth a shot!

Speaking of shots, isn't it hot tub and champagne time????

Rae

 

[AnnMorin]

Well I have had the champagne (can you tell by my spelling of late?) Jay just had to leave to bail someone out. I always worry when he is on new years,, so I won't sleep tonight, I hope he is home safe soon...........
As for the govenor... well i voted for him and he seems like a great guy ..BUT we will se if his "non politial appointments' really hold true,,
Meanwhile I had to buy 625 sheets of good paper today to print the 24 copies of his application on............. i am dizzy,, how long until I see you Rae?/ Gosh I need a hug now

 

[rae519]

(((( )))))

Always there for a friend!!!

Hey, I'm going to "talk" Mom into a little trip between July - October - haven't been back to my in 5 years and miss it so very much, just want to see some friends along the way, hit the Washingtonville Winery (Holiday Wine!!) and we will have to see if we can arrange a "cup of coffee" meet!!!

Do you or does anyone else want us to bring back anything from our April cruise? We are going Eastern and yes, Ann, the Dolphin Swim is going to be our excusion at St. Marten!!! You should get a commission for selling it so well!

Rae

 

[AnnMorin]

I sent you part two of the application to review,, I hope my printer does not have a melt down, I am still printing part one only

 

[lbgraves]

Well, I may not be able to check in for a while. I am about to take this thing apart to try & install a DVD RW R Drive so we can burn CDs with our pictures & make videos. Hopefully I will be able to figure this out...if not I will have to find someone to take it to.

 

[AnnMorin]

you are a brave woman lisa!!

 

[rae519]

Lisa- you scare me.
Ann - going over to see it now.

By the way, no one has been able to recognize my voice for the past month and some - Tom says I sound like a squeaky breather and that's when I can get words to come out loud enough to be heard!!!

Going to IMAX (taking my bonine!) to see "The Young Black Stallion" tomorrow - can't wait! Maybe I can get some riding tips from watching her!!!!

Temps going to be in the 50's tomorrow and plunging to the 30's by Sunday - better enjoy it while I can!

Rae

 

[lbgraves]

Well I managed to put the computer back together enough to get back online. LOL! I contacted Compaq thru their chat & found how to take the HD apart, then figured out how to replace the blank drive with this DVD thingy. I have connected the power source & finally figured out how to connect the IDE cable so that I can return the double one I picked up at Staples in the middle of all this. The only thing that I need to figure out now is how to connect it to the sound card...once I find out just where the darn thing is.