May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 5

[HollyTyler]

I've had the following response from Dreams:

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused but this increase came as a surprise to us as well as to our clients. The management of Dreams Unlimited Travel has contacted Disney Cruise Line and requested further clarification on this matter. We are awaiting a response.​

According to DCL, the $100.00 increase was in the government taxes being charged by the foreign ports the ship will be visiting. The taxes break down as follows:​

Head Tax per person $139.99​

INS User Fee per person $3.00​

International Departure Fee $3.00​

Custom User fee per person $1.75​

I have requested further explanation of the $100 increase in the “Head Tax” and have been told that due to legalities, they are not allowed to give an explanation via the telephone. If you would like further clarification of this, you can send an email to DCL.Guest.Communications@DisneyCruise.com."​

So it would seem that DCL are now saying that the $100 increase is linked to the foreign ports the ship is visiting, no mention of the Panama Canal.

Anyone who booked direct with DCL - what explanation did you get direct from them when they told you of the increase?

I'm afraid more and more it seems to me that DCL have just decided they want an extra $100 from us all, have blamed it on 'taxes', but when challenged then make it up as they go along.

Right, I'm off to e-mail DCL to seek the information they won't give Dreams.

Hmmm......more and more curious by the moment. Sure looks suspicious to me.

 

[HollyTyler]

Typing about Tyler's little ouchie got me thinking: I'm wondering how Kayla's little broken arm is healing? It was Kayla, wasn't it? Too tired to search back and verify.

 

[granmaz]

For those of you wanting to leave work early today, I got to do just that! I left work at 9:30 this morning due to an unpleasant phone call from day care.

Let me just say first that everything's fine. Somebody called me to tell me I might want to come check on Tyler because he had been swinging from a bar, fell, hit his nose and was bleeding pretty heavily, a couple teachers had him in the bathroom with ice on his nose, trying to clean him up, but he was screaming that he wanted me. So by the time I get there, he's all cleaned up, not crying or bleeding anymore, sitting on a chair holding an ice pack on his nose, not looking very happy. It doesn't appear to be broken, just a huge mark straight across the bridge right between his eyes where he hit, and his whole little nose is red. It was pretty swollen, but after some motrin at home and ice packs, the swelling has gone back down.

From the questions his doc asked me when I called to ask if he should be seen (I felt clueless because it's his first injury), she feels certain it's not broken, but that he'll likely have 2 black eyes soon. I convinced him to lie down, watch a movie, then take a nap (I'm suprrised he actually took one), in an effort to keep him from being wild and bumping it because I was afraid of it bleeding again, but it doesn't seem like it will. Probably already on the mend!

KIDS!

Oh dear, poor Tyler! I bet you were pretty worried on the way to pick him up. Glad things aren't as bad as might have been.

Hmmm......more and more curious by the moment. Sure looks suspicious to me.

I agree Holly, it seems very odd. If they can't get their story straight I think we should be suspicious.

 

[HollyTyler]

Oh dear, poor Tyler! I bet you were pretty worried on the way to pick him up. Glad things aren't as bad as might have been.

Well, my main concern was that this is the first time he's had an injury, other than normal little cuts and scrapes and tiny bumps from falling, so I was worried about him freaking out when he saw all the blood. Since head and face injuries bleed so much more than anything else, I can imagine how freaked out he was. But he says it doesn't hurt much. He sneezed about an hour ago and sort of looked at me funny, so I asked him if that hurt, and he told me he didn't, but he thought it would make his nose start bleeding again. So that told me how it must have scared him. It just looks worse than it really is. I probably could have gone back to work, but didn't know how much he'd be hurting or whether it would bleed more. Learning as I go!

 

[Ginamarie]

Well, my main concern was that this is the first time he's had an injury, other than normal little cuts and scrapes and tiny bumps from falling, so I was worried about him freaking out when he saw all the blood. Since head and face injuries bleed so much more than anything else, I can imagine how freaked out he was. But he says it doesn't hurt much. He sneezed about an hour ago and sort of looked at me funny, so I asked him if that hurt, and he told me he didn't, but he thought it would make his nose start bleeding again. So that told me how it must have scared him. It just looks worse than it really is. I probably could have gone back to work, but didn't know how much he'd be hurting or whether it would bleed more. Learning as I go!

Awww, poor little guy! I'm sure the extra mommy attention won't hurt.

 

[granmaz]

It's so hard watching your children hurting isn't it? Oh, and all the blood! Lips and noses are the worst.

 

[HollyTyler]

Awww, poor little guy! I'm sure the extra mommy attention won't hurt.

And he's definitely getting lots! Before his nap, he suckered me into reading him a book in bed, just like at bedtime, and also convinced me to sing the same songs to him that I do at bedtime. I'm a pushover!

I'm surprised he's still sleeping....it's been almost 2 hours. Quite long for a kid who has been done with naps for a long time (with the exception of a 45 minute nap during really busy times or growth spurts). Well, as long as he's up in a half hour. That way he'll have a little over an hour to eat a snack and play outside before his dad picks him up. It's giving me extra study time, so I'm not complaining! Just popped online to look something up for my assignment....now back to the books!

 

[MrsMork]

ANGIE! My Disney sweetheart image of you , .

You know that I do stray occasionally, PJ.

 

[granmaz]

Holly, did you get that apartment booked for a vacation? Can't remember which island sorry.

 

[pjpoohbear]

You know that I do stray occasionally, PJ.

TEQUILA?

 

[Jhalkias]

Thanks for enlightening us PJ! It has an entirely different meaning over here.

Ohhhhh . . . it has that meaning here too . . .

 

[nskjerven]

Has anyone ever cruised for Christmas on DCL? It seems like it would be extra special!

We did 2005. It was great. I was over packed Xmas stuff for our room. Being away was all we really needed. Santa did not appear via helicopter (that we saw) He did pass out gifts to each child that morning. Elves where around too with face paintings. Dinner was yummy & formal that night so it was all together the best!

I was going to say the same thing Nan . . . Is HK Disneyland not doing well, or are we just not seeing it correctly by the pictures?

Not alot of people at the park at all. I understand from prior reading and confirmed with our personal tour guide (4 hour night tour around the city) that HK Dland doesn't compete very well against Ocean Park.

Just a quick note on the job front . . .

After meeting with a good friend who is also an attorney, I have decided to pursue a slightly different tack . . .

I have decided to start a small side solo practice

Good luck to you. I can say from our years of personal experience (me 10+ and Paul going on 5) it is the best and worst to work for yourself. I love the freedom, but the hard part is that we always feel that we have to take on work because you never know when it will dry up. Right now Paul is feeling pressured to go in house for a client and frankly he may have to take it, as his practice is slow right now. There are good and bad things with any job. I guess the key is to looking at each glass as half full.

I am starting to feel left out.

I'd be glad to offer you our price increase letter, if that would make you feel better.

I love it, like the cruise is a must do, well it is really.

Well, it is, isn't it???? I told Paul about the increase, he said "oh well, pay it"

I got it today also...oh well. Like DH said, guess we'll have to cut back on something. It's not a lot but $400 would make for some great massages or DODs (you know, the laundry room DODs....) such is life.....

Did you offer to host a DOD party in the laundry room? I think this just might be the one way I'd do laundry on the ship

Deb:

Deb, ditto as Holly said. x 1000. My heart is with you. I can't believe my dad is gone already 1 1/2 years...

Sorry I've been off these last few days/weeks. It's been hard trying to catch up with everything. Molly is very involved in her play and we have swim lessons and birthday nonsense just about every day lately. This weekend is the SJ Grand Prix. We opted to cancel our Fairmont ressies, the boys are at a go-kart race on Sunday, so it just didn't make any sense to have another big bill arrive so soon after my China trip.

Well, work is calling me again....

 

[HollyTyler]

Holly, did you get that apartment booked for a vacation? Can't remember which island sorry.

Paradise Point Cottage in St. Thomas. Not booked yet. I can't book until I receive my deposit back from cancelling my Nov. cruise. Disney credited my Mastercard 7/18, so it should be any day now. As soon as it shows up, I'll make the phone call! I also figured out which friend will definitely be joining me that week. No, not a "male friend".....couldn't find one of those. This is a former co-worker named Lori that I still keep in touch with. She's going through some personal issues and mentioned desperately needing a getaway. When I told her about this place, she just stared at me....her maiden name is Paradise and she used to live in a town called Paradise, so she figures it's destiny that she join me for a vacation on Paradise Point!

The week I need is still available, according to their calendar, so I'm hoping to book any day now. Just waiting for that deposit I'm getting back soon.

 

[Jhalkias]

Not alot of people at the park at all. I understand from prior reading and confirmed with our personal tour guide (4 hour night tour around the city) that HK Dland doesn't compete very well against Ocean Park.


Good luck to you. I can say from our years of personal experience (me 10+ and Paul going on 5) it is the best and worst to work for yourself. I love the freedom, but the hard part is that we always feel that we have to take on work because you never know when it will dry up. Right now Paul is feeling pressured to go in house for a client and frankly he may have to take it, as his practice is slow right now. There are good and bad things with any job. I guess the key is to looking at each glass as half full.

I read an article about HKDL and Ocean Park. HKDL really revived that old park. Did you happen to go there too, and what did you think?

Good insights Nan . . . I have been having some conversation now not only with some friends locally, but also with some other attorneys (who use Macs in their offices). I go back and forth now more than my initial excitement. Lots more research and work to do and much to think about. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[lillygator]

For those of you wanting to leave work early today, I got to do just that! I left work at 9:30 this morning due to an unpleasant phone call from day care.

Let me just say first that everything's fine. Somebody called me to tell me I might want to come check on Tyler because he had been swinging from a bar, fell, hit his nose and was bleeding pretty heavily, a couple teachers had him in the bathroom with ice on his nose, trying to clean him up, but he was screaming that he wanted me. So by the time I get there, he's all cleaned up, not crying or bleeding anymore, sitting on a chair holding an ice pack on his nose, not looking very happy. It doesn't appear to be broken, just a huge mark straight across the bridge right between his eyes where he hit, and his whole little nose is red. It was pretty swollen, but after some motrin at home and ice packs, the swelling has gone back down.

From the questions his doc asked me when I called to ask if he should be seen (I felt clueless because it's his first injury), she feels certain it's not broken, but that he'll likely have 2 black eyes soon. I convinced him to lie down, watch a movie, then take a nap (I'm suprrised he actually took one), in an effort to keep him from being wild and bumping it because I was afraid of it bleeding again, but it doesn't seem like it will. Probably already on the mend!

KIDS!

Awww...hope he is feeling better soon.....I didn't get a phone call but when I got to school Samantha had fallen face first off the monkey bars and split her lip and part of her nose....nothing is swollen or anything to this point and as superficial as this sounds....I hope it doesn't scar!!

So since Johnny is closing tonight I took the girls to Samantha's favorite place aside from McDonald's....Olive Garden - and it's such a deal for me, since the two of them LOVE salad and breadsticks....they split a pizza and ate more salad than I did....(that's all I usually get). We practiced our princess manners and did quite well. Haley is out of a high chair, too tiny for a booster really so we have to work on princess standings in the booth!

We had a fun GNO! (girls night out)

We fully intended to come home and swim but the girls wanted their pj's on and to watch Buzz so I complied....

 

[lillygator]

and Holly - that looks like a GREAT DEAL in St Thomas.....we are going to have to check that out in another year or so!

 

[Jhalkias]

Awww...hope he is feeling better soon.....I didn't get a phone call but when I got to school Samantha had fallen face first off the monkey bars and split her lip and part of her nose....nothing is swollen or anything to this point and as superficial as this sounds....I hope it doesn't scar!!

So since Johnny is closing tonight I took the girls to Samantha's favorite place aside from McDonald's....Olive Garden - and it's such a deal for me, since the two of them LOVE salad and breadsticks....they split a pizza and ate more salad than I did....(that's all I usually get). We practiced our princess manners and did quite well. Haley is out of a high chair, too tiny for a booster really so we have to work on princess standings in the booth!

We had a fun GNO! (girls night out)

We fully intended to come home and swim but the girls wanted their pj's on and to watch Buzz so I complied....

We ate at OG last night . . . took my MIL there for her BD. Since no one got just salad and bread, it was not a cheap night out. I wasn't as happy as I once was with the food . . . loved the salad, but the bread doesn't seem as fresh, and the meal portions seem to have shrunk. Alex got the "Tour of Italy" and I told him it looked more like the triple combo at Fazoli's, but cost three times as much!

 

[Jhalkias]

I think I like Macaroni Grill and Bravo much better for Italian food now. I REALLY like the bread at Macaroni Grill, and love having the olive oil to dip the bread in.

 

[lillygator]

We ate at OG last night . . . took my MIL there for her BD. Since no one got just salad and bread, it was not a cheap night out. I wasn't as happy as I once was with the food . . . loved the salad, but the bread doesn't seem as fresh, and the meal portions seem to have shrunk. Alex got the "Tour of Italy" and I told him it looked more like the triple combo at Fazoli's, but cost three times as much!

John's fav is the Tour of Italy or the Chicken Parm......but really....tonight we were charged salad and bread $4.99 for me....$4.50 for a kids pizza....and the girls had to have shakes before we left....I always leave an overly generous tip as I don't think I have spent much, but we've been frequenting this place for a while as a girls trio and they have come to know us......if it was up to John, no way would we go there.

 

[Ginamarie]

You can't compare OG to the Macaroni Grill- the Macaroni Grill is a LOT better!