July 28, 2007 - "Rome-ancing the Mouse Cruisers" -11 days! Part 2

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Ok, I know this is my 5th cruise, but I don't think any of them were sold out (I tended to cruise on the off season). Any hints from those who've been on a full ship?

Take a towell for the sunbeds!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

UPDATED with fluff!

************************************************************************************************
PIRATE POSTS Major pirates awarded at posted ending in thousand or five hundred, mini pirates at posts ending in hundreds.

MAJOR PIRATES


The Tag Fairy Captain Tag Fairy
DISNEYMAGIC316 Pirate '' Dead men tell no tails''
JLAWALL Captain Threadstarter. or for 4500 Captain Provider???
SallieP Captain (Flash) propeller hat
disneylover5 Elizabeth Swan
AL'N'STEVE (Kids of Andrew) Captain Jack Sparrow
Mrs Jobba Captain Hook
bellelinus Pirate Will Turner -Captain Tea Bags
Mary JoCaptain Tom and also later Captain Colourful-tech-Weebles-wobble
MRSJOBBA A honorary Captains Lady!!!
KYLA Captain MAL-'I think that was the longest Fluff streak ever'.
ANDREW DEREK Admiral Andrew
Eeyorelvr The Sneaky Pirate award.
Disneylover 5 -Elizabeth Swan
Disneynutinlondon- Capt Bovvered
Danfromca- Captain Cat-purrfect.
islandmom3Captain Calypso Captain Banana
kidcoos3 Pirate Navigator-the-kid.
JustJus Capt Under-Development
alexcturner "Captain Surprise".

Full pirate listing, Majors in RED.

Thread Starter jlawall
100 AJDonn
200 MrsJobba1
300 AnnaS
400 AJDonn
500 disneymagic316
600 benspock
700 kyla
800 Andrew DEREK UK
900 Andrew DEREK UK
1000 jlawall
1100 Kissimmee
1200 eeyorelver10
1300 jlawall
1400 MrsJobba1
1500 jlawall
1600 disneylover5
1700 Andrew DEREK UK
1800 MrsJobba1
1900 formerCPer
2000 salliep
2100 lovebeast
2200 MrsG
2300 disneylover5
2400 LynnTarrant
2500 disneylover5
2600 kidcoos3
2700 MrsJobba1
2800 MrsJobba1
2900 Andrew DEREK UK
3000 AL'N'STEVE
3100 LynnTarrant
3200 MrsJobba1
3300 eeyorelvr10
3400 kyla
3500 MrsJobba1
3600 jlawall
3700 MrsJobba1
3800 jlawall
3900 MrsJobba1
4000 bellelinus
4100 Mary Jo
4200 Sandaneli
4300 LynnTarrant
4400 crawford5
4500 jlawall
4600 jlawall
4700 kyla
4800 Aurora1959
4900 LynnTarrant
5000 Mary Jo
5100 lovebeast
5200 MrsJobba1
5300 MrsJobba1
5400 MrsJobba1 hat trick
5500 Disneynutinlondon
5600 LynnTarrant
5700 Jlawall
5800 Mrs Jobba1
5900 Mrs Jobba1
6000 Danfromca
6100 islandmom3
6200 Disneynutinlondon
6300 kyla
6400 LynnTarrant
6500 kidcoos3
6600 Aurora1959
6700 Kyla
6800 eeyorelvr10
6900bellelinus
7000 jlawall
7100 Kyla
7200 Aurora1959
7300 Andrew Derek
7400 Andrew Derek
7500 Mary Jo
7600 Mrs Jobba1
7700 Andrew Derek UK
7800 MrsG
7900 Andrew Derek UK
8000 JustJus
8100 kidcoos3
8200 Disneynutinlondon
8300 Kyla
8400 AnnaS
8500 KYLA
8600 Pixie Dust II
8700 MrsJobba1
8800 Andrew Derek uk
8900 Andrew Derek uk
9000 jlawall
9100 Pixie Dust II
9200 LoveBeast
9300 TP Mrs G
9400 Disneynutinlondon
9500 jlawall
9600 AnnaS
9700 Sandaneli - Sandra (not Sandy)
9800jlawall
9900Pixie Dust II
9999 LynnTarrant-The premature 10,000 pirate
10,000 eeyorelvr10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10100 Mary Jo
10200 Andrew Derek UK
10300 Disneynutinlondon
10400jlawall
10500 islandmom3
10600 Mrs G
10700jlawall
10800 jlawall
10900 MrsJobba1
11000 alexcturner
10100 formerCPer
11200Pixie Dust II
11300Bridegirl
11400 jlawall
11500 Andrew Derek UK
11600 Kyla
11700 jlawall
11800 Andrew Derek UK
11900 AnnaS
12000 SallieP
12100 jlawall
12200 Andrew Derek UK
12300 Pixie Dust II
12400 Andrew Derek UK
12500 danfromca
12600 Bridegirl
12700 MrsJobba1
12800 Jlawall
12900 bellelinus
13000 bellelinus
13100 Andrew Derek UK
13200 jliwall
13300 jlawall
13400 Kyla
13500 Sandaneli
13600 Disneynutinlondon
13700 kidcoos3
13800 Perdie
13900 Andrew Derek
14000Salliep
14100 bellelinus
14200 Pixie Dust II
14300 jlawall
Thanks for help Mary Jo: Sorry limited to 25 images on this post cannot give everyone a 'smile'

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Your Vacation begins in 10 Days ​

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

LAST CALL FOR PEOPLE IN THE U.K. WHO WANT TO ORDER GROUP T-SHIRTS

The company that I am using to print my family's group t-shirts is going to be printing them tomorrow (Wednesday) and then sending them out special delivery so I should be getting them on Thursday. Helen (Mrsjobba1) has also ordered her shirts from the same comapny. I have already sent them the 2 images that we are using.

If anyone else from the U.K wants to order group t-shirts I suggest that you ring them today as they are doing a print run tomorrow and printing additional t-shirts should be fairly easy.

The website to pick your style of shirt is http://www.printedclothing.com and the phone no. is 01727 853289

Have a great day

 

[eeyorelvr10]

OK - I am going to admit it once - just once ok - I am truly on top of going slowly insane, I went and took the plunge. I have started a blog but for the life of me someone please tell me how to post the link here again - I went to the one that everyone went too but not sure if I just type in the name

OK let me try this:

http://lesrome-ingmagicalvacation.blogspot.com/

OK if I didn't do this right - someone let me know. I will now attempt to go to the trip reports and log in there too.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

I'm taking an informal poll...

Are there others out there like me who define cruising as staying aboard the ship, relaxing, eating, napping, relaxing, more napping, etc. rather than getting off at every port for 12hrs and then needing an additional week off when you return home to rest from your "vacation"?

This DH (Jeff) is only going ashore on 4 excursions...

The rest of the time will be savoring some very relaxing moments on board my favorite ship!

4KittyMagic - remind me of your name again?

DH would love nothing better than to sit on the ship and sleep, eat and snore away but this evil, wicked woman is always dragging him around. Although, if he enjoys himself - you might be able to convince him to stay aboard a few times for a game of poker!

Poker in the Med! Who'd a thunk it!

Sorry, but no, not for this cruise -- I will be in full commando mode (note that I did not say "going commando" . . .). I agree that the ship can be an extremely relaxing place, but this itinerary is so unique that I really want to experience everything I can off the ship, and have my girls experience it. This was true even before we decided to go on the repo cruise too and have all those days at sea. But the great thing about a cruise is that it allows so many people with so many different idea of what a terrific vacation is to have their own unique perfect vacation.

I completely agree we (Me, DH, and the kids) love nothing more than just lazing around our favourite ship and enjoying all it offers us. That being said however....not this time. Even though we live in the U.K we rarely holiday in Europe so this is a must for us so we can get a taste of what is really just on our doorstep so we can decide where we want to go back to.

 

[LynnTarrant]

Thanks Izzy I'll phone today and sort the Tee shirts!!!

Just posted my Blog addy on the trip report board

http://romancingthemousebritsversion.blogspot.com/

 

[eeyorelvr10]

OMG! I am having soooooo much fun learning about this blogging thing but alas! I must go to bed. I think I finally learned how to blog from the cellphone but have to wait until later to see if the mobile icon get switched.

I have to get up and do my second to the last traiing session in about 7 hrs and I'm still here typing! I told you all I was

Anyway, Thanks was it Lynn and her DD = Tara? That posted how to blog? I am forever in your debt - I think I am now hooked on this. Now if only DCL would get with it and get a faster connection!

Didn't someone say that one could do most anything on Word and then when the internet was up upload it to save time?

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

If the internet is as slow as they say - I might be texting from my iphone if I can - boy is DH going to be sorry he gave me that!

OK all - I am tired and my eyes are all scrunching up - guess that means I must get my tale to bed. Later all -

 

[bellelinus]

We saw Mary Poppins with our DISfriends from 2005 & Stomp with my DD....

WE HAD THE BEST WEEKEND IN NYC.......the disboards are the best!!!!!

I remember you were going to see Mary Poppins -- Stomp is a lot of fun, and in such a small theatre you really feel as if you are a part of it. Glad you had a great weekend!

 

[disneylover5]

Lisa, you're a saint How is your mother doing? How are you doing?

Mom ran a fever (101 degrees) all Sunday night and Monday morning. She started feeling better on Monday afternoon. I am sure all the Meds that they gave her at the hospital started kicking in.

She keeps saying she only wants me to take care of her and not my brothers. She says she loves my brothers, but there is nothing like a daughter. I hope I have learned a lesson for when I am older.

My 2nd brother came up from SC to care for her so I can work this week and try and pack something. I came back to VA.

So she has both of my brothers in DE with her.

Yesterday afternoon, she said Andy (brother # 2) had taken great care of her and she was happy. Okay....HOLD THAT THOUGHT for 4 weeks....that is all I need. I explained very carefully to her that I will not go on this trip if she does not "get with the program" (I said it much nicer). She started to cry and said she would do her best. She says she does not want to be a burden...well my brothers and I have laid out a plan.....all she has to do is follow it. I guess that is hard giving up your independence.

Time will tell.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers,
Lisa

 

[AnnaS]

I just finished all the nametags (well Gretchen DD11 and her friend finished them) I will FED EX them in the morning.....so Jeanne look for them on Wednesday

Thank you for doing this. Hoping for the best also.

 

[bellelinus]

Hi everyone...

Okay, I'm desperately trying to catch up -- but you all know how that goes. In the meantime, I am also trying to add our new cruise friends to the Excel list, and the cabin map on powerpoint. I have indicated which cabins are participating in the Fish Extenders by making those red, while the other ones occupied by DISers are in lime green (what else). You can get to these lists on Page 1, post 1.

Okay, here is our passport story - It is long, so those who want to bypass the drama can skip to the next post.

On Thursday last week I checked online again to see my ds, Nick's passport status. It had been mailed out, but then was undeliverable to his dad's house. It turns out that whoever keyed in the address at the Passport agency transposed the numbers so the address showed 5309 instead of 9305. The agent told me to go to the LA Federal Bldg. at 1100 Wilshire Blvd, and that they would be open from 8am-3pm. We could then pick up the passport.

So, Friday morning, Nick & I took off at 6:30 and went to 1100 Wilshire Blvd. Now call me clueless (yes you can), but it didn't occur to me that the lack of American flags probably signified something. We went inside & I asked the security guard for directions to Suite 1000 -- um -- we were at a Condo in Downtown Los Angeles! and had to go 17 miles WEST to the Wilshire District to 11000 Wilshire Blvd.

Well, it took 40 minutes but we got there, and I think the several American flags outside of the 17-story white building was a good indication that we were really at the Fed bldg this time.

We were directed to a man at a podium outside the building, and he asked for our confirmation number (confirmation #?), so when I said we were told to go to the building, he gave me a slip of paper & said to call that number & get an appointment. So I called, and the agent I got this time listened to my story, and verified that the address they had to deliver the passport was wrong, and that we would have to go to the agency & have them issue a new passport. He gave us a 9am appointment - great!

So, when the 9am appointments were called up to stand in line to get ready to go in the building, we got in line, too. When the line was called forward to get into another line to get in the building, the guard at the front (the same one who had given me the slip of paper & told me to get an appointment) asked if I had a confirmation #. I said, no, but the agent emailed my name to the agency for a 9am appointment. He told me to join the long line of people sitting on the stone benches also waiting for their names to be called.

And so we sat.

And sat.

Names were called.

Ours weren't.

And we sat.

Finally after noon, I tried to make an automated appointment -- none available -- this took over 40 minutes.

And we sat.

So, I called the passport agency again - did they even submit our names? I wanted to know if the agency could hold on to our passports when the post office returned them, and if we could pick them up at Will Call. It turned out that the Washington DC office processed the passports. Well, now, that makes a lot of sense that the office in Washington DC would process them instead of sending them to Los Angeles or San Francisco offices (both California based Federal passport agencies). So, there was no way for us to pick them up. I explained that we had spoken with two agents, and that they had us wait at the LA agency -- she then explained that the Los Angeles agency will only take appointments 48 hours in advance.

Um, so waiting in the sun (oh, did I mention it was a beautiful hot sunny day in CA? Really - about 90 degrees, but I digress) from 8:30am to after 2pm was supposed to be a good exercise in patience, I guess, because there was no way that we were going to get our passport that day. I did get a farmer sunburn.

She told me that we will have to wait to see if the passport shows up in San Diego (about a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles) on Saturday, the 21st, and if it doesn't, call again, and they will give us a confirmation number. Our flight leaves at 6:30am on Tuesday, so Nick will have to go to the passport agency again on Monday, hopefully with confirmation number in hand, to have one re-issued. oh, and she told me no cost. I surely believe that after all of this. I thanked her for her advice/help & hung up.

As a last ditch effort, I went up to the guy who gave me the slip that morning - the one who had been standing there about 10 feet away from us -- wait, 20 feet because he was now in the shade, and we weren't, and asked him if there was any chance that he would call any more names. He responded that no, there was no chance. The last names he called was at 11:25, and usually if there were no names by noon, then they wouldn't be calling any more. So, I learned that yes, it is too much to ask of someone in that position to take a little heart for the people waiting for their names to be called. And now that I think of it, he had asked us all to move down the bench some after 12 o'clock because the will call line was getting longer.

So, that was how Nick & I spent our Friday.

I was supposed to go to San Antonio to visit some cousins, and was no longer in the mood, but Nick convinced me to go.

I had a great time, despite the long flight due to thunderstorms in El Paso that grounded the plane for two additional hours on the tarmac. So, I got there at 1am instead of 11pm. Oh yeah, it WAS Friday the 13th, huh.

We went shopping - I got cruise clothes - so really made out , but had no internet time, really, until I came home last night. However, it was already after midnight, so had to go to sleep & get ready for work today.

So here I am. Grateful to all of you for your thoughts. They really warm me.

Oh, and Sallie -- I DID think of you while on the airplane. As we were leaving from LAX (to go to El Paso & then San Antonio), I saw a family board the plane, and the son was wearing a DL propeller cap -- surely to help keep his mother cool.

Mary Jo, I can feel myself tense up even reading your account -- I hope this all works out for you on Monday. You really deserve this vacation -- be sure and tell yourself "yes" whenever you debate whether you should spring for a massage, or another drink, etc, etc.

 

[AnnaS]

I'm being optimistic, so we're leaving on July 24th

How do you handle the pressure MaryJo? Glad to see you here again. We are all rooting for you.

 

[bellelinus]

If I post 50-80 posts a day, I have it all!!!!!!!!!

Ello..............

I don't think 80 posts a day is unreasonable! And congrats on the

 

[AnnaS]

Hi everyone...

Okay, I'm desperately trying to catch up -- but you all know how that goes. In the meantime, I am also trying to add our new cruise friends to the Excel list, and the cabin map on powerpoint. I have indicated which cabins are participating in the Fish Extenders by making those red, while the other ones occupied by DISers are in lime green (what else). You can get to these lists on Page 1, post 1.

Okay, here is our passport story - It is long, so those who want to bypass the drama can skip to the next post.

On Thursday last week I checked online again to see my ds, Nick's passport status. It had been mailed out, but then was undeliverable to his dad's house. It turns out that whoever keyed in the address at the Passport agency transposed the numbers so the address showed 5309 instead of 9305. The agent told me to go to the LA Federal Bldg. at 1100 Wilshire Blvd, and that they would be open from 8am-3pm. We could then pick up the passport.

So, Friday morning, Nick & I took off at 6:30 and went to 1100 Wilshire Blvd. Now call me clueless (yes you can), but it didn't occur to me that the lack of American flags probably signified something. We went inside & I asked the security guard for directions to Suite 1000 -- um -- we were at a Condo in Downtown Los Angeles! and had to go 17 miles WEST to the Wilshire District to 11000 Wilshire Blvd.

Well, it took 40 minutes but we got there, and I think the several American flags outside of the 17-story white building was a good indication that we were really at the Fed bldg this time.

We were directed to a man at a podium outside the building, and he asked for our confirmation number (confirmation #?), so when I said we were told to go to the building, he gave me a slip of paper & said to call that number & get an appointment. So I called, and the agent I got this time listened to my story, and verified that the address they had to deliver the passport was wrong, and that we would have to go to the agency & have them issue a new passport. He gave us a 9am appointment - great!

So, when the 9am appointments were called up to stand in line to get ready to go in the building, we got in line, too. When the line was called forward to get into another line to get in the building, the guard at the front (the same one who had given me the slip of paper & told me to get an appointment) asked if I had a confirmation #. I said, no, but the agent emailed my name to the agency for a 9am appointment. He told me to join the long line of people sitting on the stone benches also waiting for their names to be called.

And so we sat.

And sat.

Names were called.

Ours weren't.

And we sat.

Finally after noon, I tried to make an automated appointment -- none available -- this took over 40 minutes.

And we sat.

So, I called the passport agency again - did they even submit our names? I wanted to know if the agency could hold on to our passports when the post office returned them, and if we could pick them up at Will Call. It turned out that the Washington DC office processed the passports. Well, now, that makes a lot of sense that the office in Washington DC would process them instead of sending them to Los Angeles or San Francisco offices (both California based Federal passport agencies). So, there was no way for us to pick them up. I explained that we had spoken with two agents, and that they had us wait at the LA agency -- she then explained that the Los Angeles agency will only take appointments 48 hours in advance.

Um, so waiting in the sun (oh, did I mention it was a beautiful hot sunny day in CA? Really - about 90 degrees, but I digress) from 8:30am to after 2pm was supposed to be a good exercise in patience, I guess, because there was no way that we were going to get our passport that day. I did get a farmer sunburn.

She told me that we will have to wait to see if the passport shows up in San Diego (about a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles) on Saturday, the 21st, and if it doesn't, call again, and they will give us a confirmation number. Our flight leaves at 6:30am on Tuesday, so Nick will have to go to the passport agency again on Monday, hopefully with confirmation number in hand, to have one re-issued. oh, and she told me no cost. I surely believe that after all of this. I thanked her for her advice/help & hung up.

As a last ditch effort, I went up to the guy who gave me the slip that morning - the one who had been standing there about 10 feet away from us -- wait, 20 feet because he was now in the shade, and we weren't, and asked him if there was any chance that he would call any more names. He responded that no, there was no chance. The last names he called was at 11:25, and usually if there were no names by noon, then they wouldn't be calling any more. So, I learned that yes, it is too much to ask of someone in that position to take a little heart for the people waiting for their names to be called. And now that I think of it, he had asked us all to move down the bench some after 12 o'clock because the will call line was getting longer.

So, that was how Nick & I spent our Friday.

I was supposed to go to San Antonio to visit some cousins, and was no longer in the mood, but Nick convinced me to go.

I had a great time, despite the long flight due to thunderstorms in El Paso that grounded the plane for two additional hours on the tarmac. So, I got there at 1am instead of 11pm. Oh yeah, it WAS Friday the 13th, huh.

We went shopping - I got cruise clothes - so really made out , but had no internet time, really, until I came home last night. However, it was already after midnight, so had to go to sleep & get ready for work today.

So here I am. Grateful to all of you for your thoughts. They really warm me.

Oh, and Sallie -- I DID think of you while on the airplane. As we were leaving from LAX (to go to El Paso & then San Antonio), I saw a family board the plane, and the son was wearing a DL propeller cap -- surely to help keep his mother cool.

Thanks for sharing Mary Jo. What an ordeal.

Please let us know as soon as you get it, we want to relax w/you.

 

[AnnaS]

Ello..............

Congrats JoAnn

 

[bellelinus]

Mom ran a fever (101 degrees) all Sunday night and Monday morning. She started feeling better on Monday afternoon. I am sure all the Meds that they gave her at the hospital started kicking in.

She keeps saying she only wants me to take care of her and not my brothers. She says she loves my brothers, but there is nothing like a daughter. I hope I have learned a lesson for when I am older.

My 2nd brother came up from SC to care for her so I can work this week and try and pack something. I came back to VA.

So she has both of my brothers in DE with her.

Yesterday afternoon, she said Andy (brother # 2) had taken great care of her and she was happy. Okay....HOLD THAT THOUGHT for 4 weeks....that is all I need. I explained very carefully to her that I will not go on this trip if she does not "get with the program" (I said it much nicer). She started to cry and said she would do her best. She says she does not want to be a burden...well my brothers and I have laid out a plan.....all she has to do is follow it. I guess that is hard giving up your independence.

Time will tell.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers,
Lisa

 

[AnnaS]

Helen,

We are leaving on July 27th (non-stop out Newark, NJ).

 

[disneylover5]

Mary Jo,
I know that the passport will work out. I just know it....it has too.

My DD was going to Mexico at Easter with friends and we fought and fought with the passport people simliar to what you are going though.

Here is the good news....when you get the passport, (and I know you will), It is the best feeling in the world!!

You are doing all the right steps......

Take care and since I have prayed for a passport before and God did not seem to mind...I am praying again!!

(that is the first laughing smiley I have used in a long time!!) I must be feeling a little better!!
Lisa

 

[AnnaS]

I need to get off now so I can get ready for work. I tried to quickly read and "ketchup". Since I spent my 15 minutes on-line - I could not look up dress code for Palo.

Is dress code the same? Sports jacket/suit for men?

I will probably get an answer quicker if I ask here. Thanks everyone. Til later.