May 2, 2014 - A WONDERous trip through the Locks WBPC

[twopeasonepod]

Go check out Costco Travel. For some reason, a little voice in my head said "Hey - why don't you go see if the price of rental cars has gone down any since you booked yours." So I went to Costco Travel web site, and I now have a full size car from Alamo, picking up at FLL on 5/1 and returning to MIA on 5/2 for a grand total of $28.69. I could have had a full size SUV for $13 more. Crazy!!

This is my strategy. I go back literally evert week to check if the price has dropped. I ended up getting our minivan at WDW for 21 days for like $550. Unfortunately, I'm not getting a cheaper rate for a minivan on May 1st.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Okay, I know this probably sounds creepy, but I have two hotel rooms in Fort Lauderdale that are available to anyone that wants them (assuming you are in our Cruise Meet haha).

Here's the sitch: Back in July, I bought two rooms (one king, one with two queens) on booking.com. It was a great deal, but I had to pay up front with NO REFUNDS. It's the Holiday Inn Express Hotel Ft. Lauderdale Aiport/Cruise. Which is pretty funny because that's the banner at the top of this page. Anyway, we are now staying in Miami, because I want to go see my Braves play the Marlins that night. But I can't get my money back. I called the hotel and they said all I have to do is give them the new names.

Anyone interested? I'll put this on FB as well (but it's DH's FB so forgive me if I don't get back to you right away -- I don't do FB because of my job).

 

[Jcmh]

This is my strategy. I go back literally evert week to check if the price has dropped. I ended up getting our minivan at WDW for 21 days for like $550. Unfortunately, I'm not getting a cheaper rate for a minivan on May 1st.

It seems like minivans are always crazy expensive. Sometimes more so than so convertibles, mustangs, and the luxury cars. When we went to Hawaii with our cousins, we tried to just rent one minivan for us all but it was cheaper to get 2 SUVs.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Oops, they are taken already! Happy to help Keri and Liz!

 

[Muushka]

You each get a $25 bag.

Our rental car prices are truly out of line on this trip, because we start the week after Easter, and also because we are doing different things, like continuing our area retirement search! We have split the week + into 3 segments, to keep costs down, but no part is as good as jcmh has!

Thanks Bobbi

Good luck with the car rental search. I remember last year I needed a car rental and the prices were quite high. About 4 weeks out I did find a great deal on Costco, where I had been checking all along. Hopefully something good will come along.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks Bobbi

Good luck with the car rental search. I remember last year I needed a car rental and the prices were quite high. About 4 weeks out I did find a great deal on Costco, where I had been checking all along. Hopefully something good will come along.

We are not Costco members. There is no store nearby. We have Sam's and they do not do car rentals. All of our segments are "one way" and that's part of the problem. Still, we hope!

 

[aan1701]

I would probably be interested in some pin trading, but not at 10 AM. Honestly canal day is a great day. After the first set of locks there is nothing really going on besides a great BBQ. In any case I would be interested if it were later. Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would probably be interested in some pin trading, but not at 10 AM. Honestly canal day is a great day. After the first set of locks there is nothing really going on besides a great BBQ. In any case I would be interested if it were later. Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Thank you for the input. What time would be better for you? I've no other feedback, nothing is set in stone! I was reading that mixology classes tended to be around 2, so I was avoiding the afternoons. Would 11 be better, 11:30?

 

[aan1701]

Thank you for the input. What time would be better for you? I've no other feedback, nothing is set in stone! I was reading that mixology classes tended to be around 2, so I was avoiding the afternoons. Would 11 be better, 11:30?

I am just not a morning person. It going to be hard enough for me to make my 11:30 brunch at Palo the day after the canal. I will leave it with I am interested. I even think the Cartengena day is good because we are only there till like 2:30. We could meet somewhere like at 1:30. It's pin trading we could even meet outside. I will not have much with me. Just some extras from DL and WDW.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[bobbiwoz]

I am just not a morning person. It going to be hard enough for me to make my 11:30 brunch at Palo the day after the canal. I will leave it with I am interested. I even think the Cartengena day is good because we are only there till like 2:30. We could meet somewhere like at 1:30. It's pin trading we could even meet outside. I will not have much with me. Just some extras from DL and WDW.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Ok...well I will see if there's any other feedback!

 

[aan1701]

Ok...well I will see if there's any other feedback!

Right on. Just booked my room for one night in FLL and car with Alamo. Got a great rate with my premier pass at Alamo, 28 for the day for a full size, and got my room with my airline employee discount. A one bedroom suite with a full breakfast buffet for 109. Not complaining at all about that. We stayed the last year and loved it. Yes it will take about a hour to get to MIA but that ok

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[PirateBob]

Ok...well I will see if there's any other feedback!

Bano and I are hoping to do some trading, but we are just bringing traders. With the flight home it would be silly bringing our keepers. I would prefer mornings of sea days, but it does have to fit in with ship board events. This is our first PC crossing and we want to go to the lectures.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Bano and I are hoping to do some trading, but we are just bringing traders. With the flight home it would be silly bringing our keepers. I would prefer mornings of sea days, but it does have to fit in with ship board events. This is our first PC crossing and we want to go to the lectures.

I go to the lectures as well. Going through and learning about the canal is why we're on the cruise! On the EBTA there generally were 2 presentations, same lecture, 1 in the AM....and 1 in the PM. I am hoping for the same.

On the EBTA there were 5-7 people who showed up for the pin trading. Some early, some late. It was nice.

 

[CowboyKell]

Our DD loves to trade pins so the three of us would be happy to participate.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our DD loves to trade pins so the three of us would be happy to participate.

Great!

I notice on the first post there's plans to meet at the Promenade Lounge after the Boat Drill. It will be a good time to see the people behind these posts!

 

[dolphingirl47]

When we did the Panama Canal Cruise in 2011, they only offered the lectures once per day and I think it was at 2 or 3 PM. I have recently read through the Navigators for the Eastbound Panama Canal cruise last year and there the lectures were at 9:30 AM.

As far as Pin Trading is concerned, I am flexible. I am an early bird on the cruises because of the time difference, but I am happy to meet later in the day, too. I will also only bring my traders. My keepers are displayed on artist canvasses in my living room.

Corinna

 

[LyndaC]

While Captain Puckett only lectured once a day on the EastBound Panama Canal cruise, it was replayed throughout the day on one of the TV stations, but I liked it better in person.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Since we can't know what time the lectures will be, let's leave it as suggested, days 6 and 12 at 10 AM or later in Diversions. I get the sense that 10-11 AM...or some time within that slot could be acceptable.

Bobbi

 

[bobbiwoz]

Last year, Day 4 there was a lecture at 11.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48708486&postcount=136

 

[aan1701]

Since we can't know what time the lectures will be, let's leave it as suggested, days 6 and 12 at 10 AM or later in Diversions. I get the sense that 10-11 AM...or some time within that slot could be acceptable. Bobbi

Well have fun. 10 is just to early for this night owl.

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