May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 9

[lillygator]

and it seems like everyone I need information from is off today as well.

 

[gydell]

Seeing as this is my first cruise, I have no idea on how much cash to bring either Gydell, any idea how much entry fees might be and to where? Guess I should look up some of the ports and attractions available. Do you just need to tip servers off the ship? Is it still the customary 15-20%? Do you tip on CC?
Thanks!
Kathe

I think the fort in Aca is $3 per person. Cabs are cash only. Cliff divers have their hands out for tips. Churches have donation boxes. No cash needed on CC or the ship except bingo and if you are doing wash, that I can remember. If you want a coke or water from vendors on the street it's cash. Small mom and pop places, and flea markets do cash. There is a street lined with these in Aruba when you get off the ship. You can sometimes get a better price if you have cash in some of the stores.

One thing that we have always been told about cokes in cans from vendors in Mexico is to wash the top part of the can with purell or a wipe before drinking.

 

[gydell]

Something I don't remember if I have posted before but the government in PV ask that you give NO handouts. Not even to children. They have gotten the begging almost gone and don't want to encourage it again. I can explain if I haven't already. Senior moment!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Something I don't remember if I have posted before but the government in PV ask that you give NO handouts. Not even to children. They have gotten the begging almost gone and don't want to encourage it again. I can explain if I haven't already. Senior moment!

Since we all have senior moments too.....we don't remember either.....so thanks for posting now.

 

[katypop]

I think the fort in Aca is $3 per person. Cabs are cash only. Cliff divers have their hands out for tips. Churches have donation boxes. No cash needed on CC or the ship except bingo and if you are doing wash, that I can remember. If you want a coke or water from vendors on the street it's cash. Small mom and pop places, and flea markets do cash. There is a street lined with these in Aruba when you get off the ship. You can sometimes get a better price if you have cash in some of the stores.

One thing that we have always been told about cokes in cans from vendors in Mexico is to wash the top part of the can with purell or a wipe before drinking.

Something I don't remember if I have posted before but the government in PV ask that you give NO handouts. Not even to children. They have gotten the begging almost gone and don't want to encourage it again. I can explain if I haven't already. Senior moment!

Thank you And don't worry about repeating yourself, sometimes I don't listen very well the first time
Kathe

 

[lillygator]

only 5 days left of 2007!
I sure hope 2008 is much better than this year was. Does anyone have the 90 day date for us to make reservations?

 

[granmaz]

Hello Everybody

We had a lovely quiet Xmas. My husband gave the wii for our family. Oh, it was good hilarous!! He bought extra games for the kids - Cars and Pirates for Wii!! My friend and her dog came for Xmas . We gave the laptop to our son but he was not bother at all as he was happy with games and wii too

We had a lovley xmas meals and watch tv last night. We were watching the dvd called 'beans on holiday'!! Also we were watching the film 'The Polar Express' as we thought it was good film as I never see it before as the kids saw it from the School.

Today, Boxing Day, we are going to husband's parent for dinner and swap over the presents.

More presents for the kids!

Scottishwee35

Our daughter bought her sons(9 & 7 yrs)laptops as there is such a problem at homework time. They also bought a Wii for a family present(they have 2 young girls too)

The 9 year old didn't want his laptop and created. It wasn't on his list and he has to have things on his list. He has some problems and probably has Aspergers. He wanted them to take it back and get something that was on his list that he didn't get. Everyone was upset - they thought it would be a great surprise as he had actually mentioned getting one, though unfortunately didn't put it on his list!!! With some gentle psychology he was actually playing on the lapotop and talking about it by the time we left. He just loved the Wii and I think he will get to play on that the most.

Our Christmas was nice but hectic..

Christmas Eve my mom and sister came over after church and we exchanged gifts, Just had appetizers. Sophia kept asking when they were leaving so Santa could come!

Christmas day John's dad, brother sister and niece came at 11:00 (or so they were late) for brunch. Egg and sausage casserole, fresh fruit,. cinn muffins, brunch punch. They stay all day!

5:00 My family- mom, sister, Aunt and cousins come for dinner. My other sister from Williamsburg, VA flew in at 8:00pm so my mom went to get her and her two kids and bring her back to the house. More Chaos ensues!!

11:00pm everyone leaves and we try to straighten up the house!

Today we will exchange gifts with my sister from Wiliamsburg, and tomorrow my dad, his wife and my sisters will come over for dinner and we will have Christmas with him!

Aren't the holidays great???

Wow, I'm worn out reading that! I hope you manage to get some relaxation time.

Glad to hear, that for the most part, everyone has had a great Christmas And those not so expected moments...well they will make great family stories to re-tell on many a Christmas in the future!

I had a nice morning, Christmas brunch and afternoon with my DD and SIL and then they were off to visit other family members. This was my quietest Xmas ever, for many reasons. Christmas has been hard since 6 yrs ago when we found out a couple days before Xmas that my DH's cancer was back, and lost him a month later. It seemed especially hard this year with the back pain I experienced over the last few weeks (I am so much better now) because when my husband got sick again, it started with back pain, as he had a tumour in his spine, but for a month the doctor's thought it was just back strain, so of course this has reminded me of him even more, and all of the pain he went through.This is also the first year ever that I have not had both of my children home for Xmas, my son is in Alberta with his girlfriend and my new granddaughter and has had to work through the holidays. It is also the first year ever that I have not shared the day with my mom.We had a falling out a few months ago, and have not seen each other since. It is so unlike us, I still can't believe it has happened, but we are planning on getting together and trying to talk it out in January.She and my dad had the extended family at their house for Xmas dinner, as usual, so they did not spend the day alone, that would have made me very sad.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound so gloomy! I am really looking forward to starting a new year and going on this cruise! My daughter keeps asking me if she can join me, while I would love for her to, we both know it won't actually happen, she has a new husband, new house and doesn't get two weeks vacation yet from her job! We are talking about maybe the three of us going to WDW for a week next Dec!

Happy Holidays everyone! I am enjoying reading all of your stories

Kathe

This must have been a difficult Christmas for you. I do hope you can sort things olut with your mom sometime.

Something I don't remember if I have posted before but the government in PV ask that you give NO handouts. Not even to children. They have gotten the begging almost gone and don't want to encourage it again. I can explain if I haven't already. Senior moment!

Since we all have senior moments too.....we don't remember either.....so thanks for posting now.

Our senior moments!! We're going to forget where our lifeboat is located aren't we?

 

[gydell]

Feb 10th.

 

[granmaz]

only 5 days left of 2007!
I sure hope 2008 is much better than this year was. Does anyone have the 90 day date for us to make reservations?

February 10th I believe!!

 

[gydell]

Anyone know when Monica said she was coming home?

 

[lillygator]

wow...I should have remembered that. It's Haley's birthday! Is it still 3am?

 

[EllaEnchanted]

only 5 days left of 2007!
I sure hope 2008 is much better than this year was. Does anyone have the 90 day date for us to make reservations?

I know 2008 is going to be a better year for me....2007 was pretty terrible and I had expected great things because of the number 7....nope.....so 08 has to be great.

Is Feb 10 the 90 day out???

 

[EllaEnchanted]

wow...I should have remembered that. It's Haley's birthday! Is it still 3am?

I was able to book for my oct cruise at midnight the night before. I remember because I had to leave the hospice house. I left John there with Ray and I drove home about 10pm and waited until midnight and had no problem.

 

[gydell]

Is it still 3am?

12am

Is Feb 10 the 90 day out???

yes

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Anyone know when Monica said she was coming home?

I think she was leaving for a week and she left just before Christmas eve....so I'm thinking maybe the day before New Year's eve???

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Does anyone have any christmas pics to post? I'm sure we would all love to see them. I only have the pics of the lights that didn't come out. We forgot to take any other pics or I would post some.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Should we wear name tags at the terminal or do we think we all know what we look like by now from our pics?

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I forgot....we'll all just look for Ambassador Monica and she can introduce us all to each other. HA HA HA!

 

[granmaz]

Should we wear name tags at the terminal or do we think we all know what we look like by now from our pics?

Perhaps we will have lanyards by then.

I forgot....we'll all just look for Ambassador Monica and she can introduce us all to each other. HA HA HA!

Good one!!!

 

[fourmcds]

John is getting off work soon and he'll be going to work out. I am not leaving until 5:30 as I didn't get here until almost 9!
I am going to have the girls pick what they will be wearing for tomorrow and lay it out tonight so there is no arguements in the morning regarding clothes.

V...that is a great thing to start early. Our mornings used to be horrible with fights over clothes. Now, the last thing they do is pick out their clothes for the next day and when they wake up they easily get dressed!

I forgot....we'll all just look for Ambassador Monica and she can introduce us all to each other. HA HA HA!

That is true, Monica can be our group guide!

Deb, I am downloading pics for you...so you can see Taylor's happy face when she learned about the cruise!