May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 2

[LiserAnn]

Can someone tell me a bit more about trip insurance, and why the need to get it now?

Remember, this is coming from someone who has never purchased trip insurance before.

Well, with Travel Guard, if you purchase the Essentials Extended plan within the first 14 days, your children are free. I went with them over Access American because we're flying cross country to meet the cruise and their air trip interruption policy is much stronger. I don't want to miss the cruise due to airline problem (weather or otherwise) and only get a portion of our trip cost back. With Travel Guard we'd get it all back.

When looking at insuremytrip, what are you using as the Primary Destination? Other? Mexico? TIA.

I generally wait until right before final payment to get my trip insurance since the trip is fully refundable up until then. We don't have any pre-existing condition type stuff. Is there any other reason to get the insurance now?

I used "other".

We don't have an pre-existing conditions either and we're all healthy but then again, you never know what can happen in 14 months, so I figured for $166 I'd bite the bullet. Travel Guard said if we decided not to go on the cruise (which won't happen) then we could ask for the insurance to be transferred to another sail date. She said there's no guarantee that they'd allow it, but some have been successful in the past and it wouldn't hurt to try.

 

[seaulater]

Hi everyone, we are watching the news in SLC but I wanted to say hi and I hope that seaulater and those of you from the area are all safe and everyones families are safe. My heart goes out to those families.

Good morning all. Just caught up on all the posts. Yes, there was a shooting last night about 6:45 p.m. at a mall called Trolley Square here in Salt Lake City. 6 are dead. 5 more in the hospital, 100's traumatized. Newspaper and news reports say that a guy 18 years of age, started shooting out in the parking lot and then entered the mall and just started randomly shooting. Sad thing was the mall was busy at the time because it has many trendy shops and restaurants so many families were out for dinner. Some of the kids on the news that parents were holding were just shaking. The cool thing is the EMT's carry teddy bears on their units and they were handing them out to the kids and you could just see the kids clutching them. As of this morning, the mall is still closed and the whole city block is taped off. No names have been released as of yet, only ages of sex of the victims and injured. Of the 4 in the hospital I think 2 are still critical and 2 are serious. Additionally one woman, 32 weeks pregnant was taken to the hospital, not physically injured, but they were evaluating psychologically.
Sad, sad night. That mall is definitely a tourist attraction as a lot of people go there for the night for dinner and shopping after skiing on the slopes all day. I am sure later today they will be releasing names, etc. Victims were all ages, don't know if we know anyone yet or not. Of course, our thoughts and prayers are with all involved. The shooter was the 6th victim killed by the police (luckily an off duty police officer was in the mall and had a gun with him or there would have been more killed). That's all the info I have read or seen on the news at this point.

I'm thinking from what the press said that there will be a news conference sometime mid morning today.

 

[LiserAnn]

Good morning all. Just caught up on all the posts. Yes, there was a shooting last night about 6:45 p.m. at a mall called Trolley Square here in Salt Lake City. 6 are dead. 5 more in the hospital, 100's traumatized. Newspaper and news reports say that a guy 18 years of age, started shooting out in the parking lot and then entered the mall and just started randomly shooting. Sad thing was the mall was busy at the time because it has many trendy shops and restaurants so many families were out for dinner. Some of the kids on the news that parents were holding were just shaking. The cool thing is the EMT's carry teddy bears on their units and they were handing them out to the kids and you could just see the kids clutching them. As of this morning, the mall is still closed and the whole city block is taped off. No names have been released as of yet, only ages of sex of the victims and injured. Of the 4 in the hospital I think 2 are still critical and 2 are serious. Additionally one woman, 32 weeks pregnant was taken to the hospital, not physically injured, but they were evaluating psychologically.
Sad, sad night. That mall is definitely a tourist attraction as a lot of people go there for the night for dinner and shopping after skiing on the slopes all day. I am sure later today they will be releasing names, etc. Victims were all ages, don't know if we know anyone yet or not. Of course, our thoughts and prayers are with all involved. The shooter was the 6th victim killed by the police (luckily an off duty police officer was in the mall and had a gun with him or there would have been more killed). That's all the info I have read or seen on the news at this point.

I'm thinking from what the press said that there will be a news conference sometime mid morning today.

That is just horrible, tragic and unexplainable!

 

[seaulater]

Hi! So I was looking over the photos for the Panama Canal crossing and it seems like everyone was wearing pants and sweatshirts - is it cold??? I was imagining nice warm weather for this cruise in May. Please -are we going to have some calm, sunny days???? Lisa

The only time that we wore pants and sweatshirts (or light coats) was the day after we left Cabo. It went from warm to cool. The last day you didn't see hardly anyone in the pools or out on deck because we got that "cold" pacific breeze and moistness in the air.

That last morning coming into Long Beach, I think everyone had on long pants, sweatshirts and/or coats. It was COLD!

So, yes, bring a pair of pants and a lightweight coat or sweatshirt. But the only time you will probably wear it is the morning you get off the ship when reality hits you square in the face.

And, if you want depression to set in..............you will be looking at pallet after pallet of fresh fruit and such being brought onto the ship as you are getting off. We had eaten the Magic out of every piece of fruit you could think of and our mouths were watering at the sight of fresh raspberries and strawberries. The Magic wasn't prepared for all those adults eating bowl after bowl of fresh fruit all the time. It was great.

Can you say ice cream with fresh raspberries and strawberries every day? YUM!

 

[granmaz]

I read about the Mall shootings! How very very tragic. I'm so sorry for all the families involved.

The only time that we wore pants and sweatshirts (or light coats) was the day after we left Cabo. It went from warm to cool. The last day you didn't see hardly anyone in the pools or out on deck because we got that "cold" pacific breeze and moistness in the air.

That last morning coming into Long Beach, I think everyone had on long pants, sweatshirts and/or coats. It was COLD!

So, yes, bring a pair of pants and a lightweight coat or sweatshirt. But the only time you will probably wear it is the morning you get off the ship when reality hits you square in the face.

And, if you want depression to set in..............you will be looking at pallet after pallet of fresh fruit and such being brought onto the ship as you are getting off. We had eaten the Magic out of every piece of fruit you could think of and our mouths were watering at the sight of fresh raspberries and strawberries. The Magic wasn't prepared for all those adults eating bowl after bowl of fresh fruit all the time. It was great.

Can you say ice cream with fresh raspberries and strawberries every day? YUM!

I read the live account the other day and it was noticable that the clothing changed on the last day! Lets just hope we have a heat wave in LA next year. I also hope it is good weather going through the Canal with it being just in the wet season! Whatever, we are going to have a great time!

 

[seaulater]

I was just on the DCL website...I periodically check, just see how it's selling, etc. Anyway, I could not get anything to come up for the WB or EB repo! (I used 2 people). I thought maybe the system was down so I did mexico and a ton of cruises came up so it's not down. Our cruise couldn't possibly be sold out, could it?

I just popped onto the DCL website, the EB is showing unavailable, but the WB for 2 people showed availability in Categories 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

I think there will be availability all the way up to just about sailing, just like last time. Families were not willing to pull their kids out of school for two weeks and for most school is not an issue in August.

And I think probably about the same amount of kids will be on May, 2008, that were on the last one, about 350. Not alot of teenagers, they will be mostly younger kids with their parents. It was really nice for the kids because the pool area was very manageable for them the whole time!

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

The West Coast can get socked in with fog in May. They call in June gloom but you never know when it is going to happen. I have also seen May be some our hottest times. Definitely be prepared and bring a sweatshirt and a pair of pants.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

I just popped onto the DCL website, the EB is showing unavailable, but the WB for 2 people showed availability in Categories 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

I think there will be availability all the way up to just about sailing, just like last time. Families were not willing to pull their kids out of school for two weeks and for most school is not an issue in August.

And I think probably about the same amount of kids will be on May, 2008, that were on the last one, about 350. Not alot of teenagers, they will be mostly younger kids with their parents. It was really nice for the kids because the pool area was very manageable for them the whole time!

They must have been working on it last night then.

 

[LiserAnn]

I just popped onto the DCL website, the EB is showing unavailable, but the WB for 2 people showed availability in Categories 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

I think there will be availability all the way up to just about sailing, just like last time. Families were not willing to pull their kids out of school for two weeks and for most school is not an issue in August.

And I think probably about the same amount of kids will be on May, 2008, that were on the last one, about 350. Not alot of teenagers, they will be mostly younger kids with their parents. It was really nice for the kids because the pool area was very manageable for them the whole time!

Linda-that's what I'm hoping. I mean, I'll be happy regardless, but it would be nice to have less crowded areas.....so that all us DISers can have the ship to ourselves, to play bunco, skip bo, DOD pool games, DOD laundry time, and basically have a HUGE 15 day long DISmeet!!!!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I'm hoping for warm weather but we'll have long pants and a sweatshirt regardless as the weather here in May when we leave can be iffy. Just no snow please!!!

Looked at the website and there was availablity but boy have the prices gone up since the first day.

Fiona

 

[disneylover5]

Sounds good - if you want, you can organize the bunco, I can organize the martinis! Or vice versa. Doesn't matter. We had about 4 or 5 martini choices (chocolate, apple, some run of the mill). Anyway, I made a menu and laminated it - it worked perfectly because sometimes things kept spilling! I could meet up with the bartenders ahead of time to get them the recipes if they don't have them, and then we can all sit around with drink service included!

Lisa - I missed your offer to organize so please organize away! I can help in any way. Just let me know! Lisa

I think it would be fun to have a partner to plan this with. I would love to organize the BUNCO....you take care of drinks and food?? (think we will be hungry??) I will get the dice, score sheets, Baby Bunco Dice (or maybe we could use Mickey Mouse!) and I will put together Baby Bunco prizes. How much should we do for the enrty fee? We do $5 in our group, but since we are on vacation, it might be fun to up the Ante.....Anyone who plays, please suggest what you think.

If you want to play, send me a PM and let's see how much interest there is.

 

[KrisannB]

I'm hoping for warm weather but we'll have long pants and a sweatshirt regardless as the weather here in May when we leave can be iffy. Just no snow please!!!

Looked at the website and there was availablity but boy have the prices gone up since the first day.

Fiona

yep checked today and was able to get a quote - the price for our cruise has gone up about $1200 so I feel really good about getting up so early on the 31st!

The savings should about pay for our airfare! Now to figure out other ways to save money for the cruise - good thing we have over 14 months left!

Krisann

 

[HollyTyler]

Count me in for poolside Bunko AND drinks!

 

[HollyTyler]

No snow here yet. We're supposed to get 3-6 inches today and overnight. Not enough to close schools. Bummer! If schools close, day care closes, which means I can't go to work. I LOVE snow days!

 

[tink1963]

Well, with Travel Guard, if you purchase the Essentials Extended plan within the first 14 days, your children are free. I went with them over Access American because we're flying cross country to meet the cruise and their air trip interruption policy is much stronger. I don't want to miss the cruise due to airline problem (weather or otherwise) and only get a portion of our trip cost back. With Travel Guard we'd get it all back.




I used "other".

We don't have an pre-existing conditions either and we're all healthy but then again, you never know what can happen in 14 months, so I figured for $166 I'd bite the bullet. Travel Guard said if we decided not to go on the cruise (which won't happen) then we could ask for the insurance to be transferred to another sail date. She said there's no guarantee that they'd allow it, but some have been successful in the past and it wouldn't hurt to try.

Good Morning,
I am looking into getting insurance w/ Travel Guard also, but was wondering a couple of things. did you include your flights with disney or are you booking those on you own? And if you are booking yourself did you just estimate the fiight cost?
this is all so new to me. Travel Guard seems to have some good options. I included coverage through disney when I book the cruise. How hard is it to opt out of the Disney insurance. I have transfered my ressies to DU.
Thanks for any help.

Venetia

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

Good Morning,
I am looking into getting insurance w/ Travel Guard also, but was wondering a couple of things. did you include your flights with disney or are you booking those on you own? And if you are booking yourself did you just estimate the fiight cost?
this is all so new to me. Travel Guard seems to have some good options. I included coverage through disney when I book the cruise. How hard is it to opt out of the Disney insurance. I have transfered my ressies to DU.
Thanks for any help.

Venetia

I originally had insurance with Disney and just had my TA pull the coverage. We are booking on our own for flights. The people on the phone will do a good job at estimating for you. If you go a little higher it wont really cost you more. Disney said you can put back on the insurance up until you make final payment. The reason we are all doing insurance now is because kids are free if you book within 14 days of deposit. Since we are definitely going I am getting the insurance now. The insurance is not refundable so that is another decision you have to make.

 

[birkner]

Mmmmmmmm, Yummy!

Are you a fan of Xmen too?

I loved Xmen and I hear "Woverine" with Hugh Jackman will go into production at the end of 2007. Wonder if Patrick Stewart will appear?

 

[birkner]

Can you give me instructions on how to respond to more than one post at once? Must have missed that thread.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

O.K. I got my inurance. I am done!!! $111.00 for all four of us. That does not include my airfare but I am going to call to add that on when we get our flights.

 

[KrisannB]

I originally had insurance with Disney and just had my TA pull the coverage. We are booking on our own for flights. The people on the phone will do a good job at estimating for you. If you go a little higher it wont really cost you more. Disney said you can put back on the insurance up until you make final payment. The reason we are all doing insurance now is because kids are free if you book within 14 days of deposit. Since we are definitely going I am getting the insurance now. The insurance is not refundable so that is another decision you have to make.

I thought we only had 10 days to cancel the disney insurance - I was reading it as from when you took it out (for me this was with the reservation/deposit) but guess I did not read it right - which I would have left it in place then and cancelled it closer to final payment time if nothing happened = oh well.

Krisann