March 25, 2006- Anyone else?

[gimpeaux]

Still no cruise docs/luggage tags! TA swears he mailed them to us last Wednesday and double-checked our address, but nada. He said to give it a couple more days and then said he'd take care of it if we still didn't have them.

On a brighter note, here's what the wristbands look like...

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[camom3]

Gimpeaux

AWESOME!!

Thanks again,

Jen

 

[monkeybug94]

Well that's my wrist...forgot to mention that, Dad.

 

[geffric]

I will choose to ignore any cool weather forecast in the future. Like gimpeaux says, I have found that they are usually totally wrong until you get within the week. Hopefully the temperatures will be much warmer when we look this time next week.

I agree... besides it is 23 degrees in Chicago right now.. 68 looks good to me..

Minneapolismickey - glad that the gas problems wasn't a big one and you and your passports and cruise docs are safe..

gimpeaux the wrist bands look great. Thanks for posting pictures...

monkeybug94 the wrist band looks great on your wrist.. which size are you wearing?

camom3 how are you getting from the airport? If you aren't on the DCL bus, you should be able to make a stop before you get to the ship. I imagine that there is laundry detergent to be purchased on the ship but I don't know about the red bull...

 

[geffric]

These links are from Dave's DCL site..


The first is titled the last few miles to DCL cruise terminal .. http://dcltribute.com/directions/lastfewmiles.htm

The second is Called I'll like to buy.... before I sail and where to do that.. http://dcltribute.com/faq/spacecoastshopping.htm It has directions to the publix/walmart/target /winn dixie


As of 2 years ago, they did not have caffeine free /diet soda of any type,( yes there is diet coke but not caffeine free diet coke) even in the dining room. I don't know if that has changed.

 

[geffric]

Brewed coffee on the house On March 15, between 10 a.m. and noon, come by for the Starbucks Coffee Break and have a tall cup of brewed coffee, our treat. Join us for a drink and some lively conversation on our favorite topic – coffee.

 

[minneapolismickey]

I have read a number of reports about taking school supplies to the children and elementary schools in Costa Maya. Is anyone else thinking of doing something like that? Apparently there is a school near the beach in Majahaul that is easy to access by taxi.

Also, did anyone schedule a Chacchoben Ruins tour with David or Ivan? We did not schedule a tour since I am worried about the length of time and the attention span of my DS4, but would like to take my DS7 to see some ruins. We were thinking of taking a taxi and walking around alone, but of course I wouldn't know any of the history. Is anyone else doing that?

gimpeaux-thanks for the wristbands. They look fabulous!
Hard to believe that you still don't have your travel docs. Our documents came specifically with a letter detailing the staggered dining times. They suggest calling 1-800-WDW-CRUISE if you have questions or requests. I know you had mentioned wanting the 8pm seating if available, so you might want to call again to verify that they are not staggering the dining times. It seems that the first dining time is assigned to Artist's Point the first night, the second time to Parrot Cay and the third time to Lumiere's. Hope this helps.

 

[myboysmom]

gimpeaux we are sending some Pixie Dust your way! I think I would be out of my mind if things hadn't shown up yet. The bands turned out great!

minneapolismickey glad your gas leak was only a minor one and that things are back to normal.

We are expecting 6 -8 inches of snow in the next 48 hours Of course, this weekend is the state boys basketball tourney in town. I swear we always get some kind of nasty weather!

Had our swim team banquet last night. Found out our team will have its first ever swimmer at Junior Nationals next weekend in Orlando! Don't think we will stop to cheer her on though . We will be thinking positive thoughts as we drive by.

 

[camom3]

I have read a number of reports about taking school supplies to the children and elementary schools in Costa Maya. Is anyone else thinking of doing something like that? Apparently there is a school near the beach in Majahaul that is easy to access by taxi.


I was planning to get a backpack of school supplies together. However, I'm running out of time as I leave for Florida on 3/23 at 4:30 a.m.

If I get some things together, I'll let you know.

Thanks,

Jennifer

 

[monkeybug94]

It is a medium wristband...thaks!

 

[geffric]

Thursday...Rain and snow. Snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Highs in the mid 30s. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 100 percent. Thursday Night...Snow likely in the evening...then a chance of flurries after midnight. Colder. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. Total snow accumulation 2 to 4 inches. Blustery. Lows in the lower 20s. North


DCL Take me away!!!!!

1 more week!!! Just 1 more week..

 

[gimpeaux]

Sigh...one week after our TA (who we will NEVER use again) says he mailed us the cruise docs and luggage tags, they are still nowhere to be seen. DW called the Documents Departmnent at the agency today, and all they will do is say that if we don't receive them before we leave town, they will arrange for a duplicate set of docs and luggage tags to be waiting for us at the port. Which of course means we will need to get to the port, figure out what to do with our rental car while we drag all of our luggage up and inside (instead of leaving it with the porters as everyone else will get to do), get the luggage tags (let's hope they are there!), take the luggage back to the porters, and then check in with our birth certificates and licenses with the CMs. All this and I will still have return our rental car to Budget. (I'm too upset -- does anyone see a better way to do all that?)

I can't even begin to believe the TA entrusted these critical documents to the U.S. Postal Service! So at a time when I should be enjoying the thoughts of getting ready to go on this wonderful trip, I'm instead sitting here fuming and worried the whole thing may go awry because the TA did something so stupid. Arrrrghhh....

 

[lflynn]

Did she send your documents via the regular mail? that is terrible. Did you do the online forms so at least that part is done? I would think that if she called DCL she could get you another set of documents, or at least the luggage tags, no?



Good Luck.

 

[geffric]

I agree with lflynn and I would tell the TA that the solution of picking up a dup set at the port is unacceptable and that I wanted the TA to fedex another set of doc and luggage tags to arrive you by next Monday..

 

[geffric]

gimpeaux as far as the luggage scenerio, on our second cruise we were going to drop the luggage at the port and have DH return the car. Well it was early enough, so we all went to Budget for the return. The driver at Budget loaded our suitcases on the shuttle and drove us to the port. When we got off the shuttle, there was a tented area that DCL used for the luggage from those people arriving on the shuttles. The person there could help you with your luggage tags and do the run if necessary or just tag them manually.

Another scenerio is for you to drop off DD and DW and the luggage at the port, the porters will take the luggage and tag them and you can happily go off and return the car..

either way, it isn't necessary for you to drag luggage upstairs or around at all...hope that helps...

 

[gimpeaux]

lflynn and geffric - Thank you for your kind words and constructive advice. I'm going to call the TA tomorrow myself and insist on them doing now what they should have done before. It really annoys me that DCL takes care to send the docs by overnight delivery yet our TA couldn't bother to follow suit. Heck, I would have paid the extra cost of having the TA FedEx the docs to me. If that call doesn't work, then geffric's thoughts about how to handle the luggage at the port are very helpful. I'm also going to call DCL to see what thoughts it can offer about the process at the port. I did the online registration, so I guess the only important things we are missing are the luggage tags.

It's good to have you guys! Thanks again.

 

[geffric]

gimpeaux what is confusing to me is that I booked through DU and DCL UPS the docs to me directly without DU ever handling them.. wonder why DCL treats other TAs differently?

Maybe SueEllen can answer this , Hmmm..

 

[myboysmom]

All of our things came through our TA, including the letter telling us that Cozumel was out and Costa Maya was in. Our TA is local, our children go to school together and lives just a few blocks from us. As we live in a small town I think she would be just beside herself if something didn't go right. The word of mouth thing would really hurt her business.

I hope they get all your docs overnighted to you soon. We are thinking of you and your family, there is enough to do to get ready for a trip.

By the way, it has started snowing heavily here. We are to get 4-6 today with blowing and drifting. Schools to the west of Madison have closed, I wouldn't be surprised if our schools go to an early release, but then again...

Dreaming of warm sun and sand and a cold drink....

 

[Minnie328]

WHOO HOO! LETS DO THE SINGLE DIGIT DANCE EVERYBODY!

NINE MORE DAYS, NINE MORE DAYS, NINE MORE DAYS UNTIL THE SUN!

Well, all after school activites were cancelled today due to snow. And am I'm typing this, the salt truck just came around the street....how ironic?! I was totally bummed about orchesis try-outs not being today, because I'm afraid they're going to be when we're gone ...I guess we'll just have to see what happens...

 

[myboysmom]

Minnie328, you all must have gotten much more than we have! No school closings close to Madison, and all after school activities are still on.

I am looking forward to getting out of the snow too! Good news is no shoveling- it should melt in a day or two.