*Sept 10th 2011 WB Transatlantic* From Spain to Space Mountain - Part 4

[nick262]

What you do with the TravelEx Cash Passport card is essentially buying Euros with dollars so you can use it to get cash or as a credit card. You don't use it for hotels or car rentals as they take holds. I look it much like a debit card with a Mastercharge logo.

You can buy them online but I go to the Travelex office at Stanford shopping center which is near my house. I also added money at the San Francisco airport before I left.

At the bottom of the TravelEx Cash Passport online screen is a link which says Store Locator (which I have highighted for you here). You can go into the store or order the Euros or British pounds online and pick them up in the store. If you don't use them all, they will buy them back as long as you save your receipt. You would then have two cards, one for Euros, one for GBP.

For example, if I spend $1,006.71, I would get 655 Euros today. If I spent $1,008.31, I would 585 GPB.

Hope this helps. Any more questions, please let me know.

Hi Noel,

Thank you for this information. This would be a helpful thing to have on this trip and one less thing to worry about when getting to Europe. I can even purchase them in DTD here at their office at DL.

 

[birkner]

Hi Noel,

Thank you for this information. This would be a helpful thing to have on this trip and one less thing to worry about when getting to Europe. I can even purchase them in DTD here at their office at DL.

You are very welcome. We found them much better than using our own bank account as no fee conversions.

 

[liesbeth1012]

It took it's fine time and where I got nowhere, my dad just simply managed to arrange my operation date. Same employee, same story, I got nowhere and constantly got the run around. He calls once, does the same appeal of it being labeled emergency and the cruise coming dangerously close by now and lo and behold; within an hour he has it all arranged! Apparently even grown women sometimes need their daddies to make small miracles happen. Anyway, coming wednesday I need to sign in, on thursday I'll get the tube placed and should be released on friday if all goes well. With only 8 weeks to recover it'll be tight, but a lot better than what I started to fear by now. Carefully starts to look like there is no need to drag me down to the port.

Good luck wednesday! And good luck to your dad too. I hope you both revover quickly.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

[Yes I think 20 staterooms/50 participants is good for us, but will go with the flow

Whatever works for you. I can easily follow the same strategy as Pat has taken for the FE, mostly because we don't have so many participants and it's still pretty straight forward. If it's easier on you to have said numbers as a max, I'll simple start working with a second group. Those like you that feel better with one group, I'll assign to one group, the rest to 2 groups.

It would be a shame if anybody felt like they'ld need to miss out and/or finds themselves struggling with bagagelimits because of the number of participants in total. We can easily make it doable for all by maintaining max. size groups. For you the suggested number works best, so I'll keep an eye out on that for you.



Thanks for all the well wishings, very much appreciated.


Nickole; if you want the best exchange rate, those tend to be on creditcards. We also aren't charged anything when using a cc instead of money exchange or ATM, but no clue about how that works for all of you in the US. I always tend to get a small amount of foreign exchange in cash for the "where need be" but for the bigger amounts I put as much as possible on my creditcard and get a lot better rate.

We were planning on only having one fish extender, the kids won't really be using the other door, we usually just go in one door and the other isn't used much. Does that sound right? We have never done fish extenders before!

You might be surprised! You are in one FE-group, which will likely help you not get swamped with gifts on any certain day but even "regular" mail can surprise you. I'm obviously not used to cruising with 4+, but on our last cruise we had a few families of 5 or 6 with 2 staterooms. Some had 2 FE's, some one. Those with one were overflowing as some moments. The families with 2 had assigned names to each pocket, belonging to each of the family members. Worked like a charm for the kids, with friends regularly leaving notes etc. in there for them. Would never have considered that if I hadn't been passing 2 of those families staterooms each time I'ld go to or from my own. Your youngest will be too young for friend-post, but perhaps an idea for the older 2 to get their own FE for their own post? Knowing kids they'll love it anyway, even if it were only a note from Mickey showing up one magical day.


Is it just me, or does this board start to slow down as soon as we don't discuss food, alcohol or kids and/or pets?


I seem to be having a dad-day or something. Wanted to switch on a light in the kitchen, but got a big bang instead. Power shortcircuit. Oops. That plug also supplies electricity to my automated doors, so I couldn't get to the closet where the main system is to reset it. Dang! And with the fridge, my mattrass and some other stuff also getting their electricity from that plug it wasn't an option to wait until the morning. Luckily parents had a late night (normally have very early nights because of my moms workinghours) and were still awake but I hate needing to call for such things later at night. There came dad to the rescue yet again. Got my power back for now and next week he'll be rewiring some stuff and changing out the light that caused this.

 

[smootenloopers]

I was wondering if anyone who is familiar with the $399 photo cd (I think this is what they are calling it) can tell me what comes with this? We haven't cruised DCL since they have done this. Do you get any prints with that or is it just a CD like you would get at the parks if you buy it there? I am just curious and wondering if there is any way that it is worth the price. I love my photos, but this is a lot of money! Thanks for any info!

A few other FYIs -

The photos on the CD do not come with borders (that's a plus for some folks and a minus for others).

I was reading on another thread that they apparently don't use a very high resolution. Depending on what you want to use them for, that could be an issue for you. Someone reported getting grainy prints from the files at 8x10 size and up. If you're using them for more "snapshot" 4x6 sizes it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[JessicasMom]

Let's see if you counted someone twice.

Karentan is in groups 1-4 & 6
JessicasMom is in groups 1-5 & 7
PinkPug is in groups 1-5
LindaBabe is in groups 1, 2, & 5
Namsupak is in groups 3, 4, & 5
smootenloopers is in groups 2 & 4
Pinky166 is in groups 1 & 3
steamboat will in is groups 6 & 7
WilliamK99 is in groups 2 & 6

I think these are the people most likely to be counted twice. With the exception of colkath2005, the people who are in all the groups are at the beginning of each list.

Hey, if it means extra goodies, count us as many times as you like!

 

[JessicasMom]

For those participating in the candy swap; we're now up to 18 staterooms and 46 participants! If there is any desire for a cut off at 20 staterooms or 50 participants per group, this is the time to speak up and I'll soon start a second group if signing ups keep pooring in.

Apparently even grown women sometimes need their daddies to make small miracles happen. Anyway, coming wednesday I need to sign in, on thursday I'll get the tube placed and should be released on friday if all goes well. With only 8 weeks to recover it'll be tight, but a lot better than what I started to fear by now. Carefully starts to look like there is no need to drag me down to the port.

Congrats on getting a date, finally. I have no doubt it will be successful and your recovery will be short (you certainly have great motivation.... awaits!) Best wishes for your father's positive outcome, as well.

As for the candy exchange, 20 cabins is a good number, but a few extras would be fine, too. I guess it depends on what the final count is; I'm giving one thing per cabin but may pop in something extra if there are little ones. I guess I really need to look at the list and start sorting .

 

[auntlynne]

ST MAARTEN/SINT MARTIN EXCURSION - IPO - INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

I've contacted Bernard's Tours to do a personalized tour on St Maarten:

Pick-up at ship at 7:45 am (we arrive at 7:15)
Drive to Marigot, Sint Martin (French side)
Breakfast and/or shopping (think croissants, pain chocolate) x 1 hour
Drive to Cul de Sac to catch ferry (10 minute boat ride)
Beach time/lunch on Pinel Island x ~4 hours
Drive to Maho Beach to view airplanes land
Return to cruise ship

I asked for an estimate for 6-12 people. This would be the cost of transport (only, I assume)

For 1-6 people, total = $350 split amongst them
For 7-12 people, price per person is $45

You would need to pay for
- Ferry $7 RT pp
- Lounge chair/umbrella (optional) at $15-20 per 2 chairs/1 umbrella
- Breakfast in Marigot or shopping $
- Lunch, beverages
- Beverages at Maho

He has air conditioned, non-smoking vans.

The main beach on Pinel island is NOT clothing-optional. (Sorry, Claire, you would need more than a top and sandals.)

I'll put up more info about Pinel Island when I've got photos in photobucket.

Looking for interested parties.

 

[birkner]

ST MAARTEN/SINT MARTIN EXCURSION - IPO - INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

I've contacted Bernard's Tours to do a personalized tour on St Maarten:

Pick-up at ship at 7:45 am (we arrive at 7:15)
Drive to Marigot, Sint Martin (French side)
Breakfast and/or shopping (think croissants, pain chocolate) x 1 hour
Drive to Cul de Sac to catch ferry (10 minute boat ride)
Beach time/lunch on Pinel Island x ~4 hours
Drive to Maho Beach to view airplanes land
Return to cruise ship

I asked for an estimate for 6-12 people. This would be the cost of transport (only, I assume)

For 1-6 people, total = $350 split amongst them
For 7-12 people, price per person is $45

You would need to pay for
- Ferry $7 RT pp
- Lounge chair/umbrella (optional) at $15-20 per 2 chairs/1 umbrella
- Breakfast in Marigot or shopping $
- Lunch, beverages
- Beverages at Maho

He has air conditioned, non-smoking vans.

The main beach on Pinel island is NOT clothing-optional. (Sorry, Claire, you would need more than a top and sandals.)

I'll put up more info about Pinel Island when I've got photos in photobucket.

Looking for interested parties.

John and I may be interested. We planned on renting a car but I will email him to confirm so put us down as a tentative yes. I will PM you as soon as I hear from him one way or the other.

 

[Chris&Jeremy]

Noel - any update on the details of the Madeira excursion?

 

[TxMermaid1]

Hey, if it means extra goodies, count us as many times as you like!

ME TOO!!

 

[TxMermaid1]

SHARK DIVING

I have a few spots available if you want to do a shark dive in St. Maarten's. It will be a 2 tank dive with one of them being a shark dive. This is an awesome opportunity to see some sharks up close and personal.
If you have an interest or questions please PM me.

 

[auntlynne]

Some info about Pinel Island off Sint Martin/St Maarten

"Pinel Island is a little gem just a short boat ride off French Cul-de-sac. Regular ferrys leave the dock at cul-de-sac starting at 10am with the last return ferry at 5pm. *You can also reach Pinel by renting a kayak near by the dock with*Caribbean Paddling*or through tours.

The main beach has three great restaurants, each renting out beach chairs.* Located on the far left side of the beach, Karibuni offers fantastic Caribbean cuisine in a relaxing atmosphere. *Yellow Beach, located straight*in front*of the dock is known for its amazing BBQ and their Tiki huts. Up on the Key located in the middle has become a favorite of locals and visitors alike. They have become known for delicious succulent lobster, wonderful salads and burgers to die for. Also a happy hour you won't forget. Try Maria's Famous Mojito!!!!!

Of the three restaurants Up on the Key is the only one who offers 1 euro for 1 dollar exchange rate (cash only) Come prepared as there are no ATM machines on Pinel.

Snorkeling on Pinel is known to be the best snorkeling in St. Martin. *The snorkel trail is on the far right side and is protected by the marine reserve. *Rules include: no walking on coral, fishing, feeding fish, collecting of any type. *Wakawa Eco-Klub is the only tour operator allowed to offer*snorkel excursions in the Pinel Snorkel Trail. *They offer a fully guided snorkel tour with 8:1 guest to guide ratio and it uses Amphicom audio snorkel technology which allows you to listen to a narrative about the reef and fish and you are snorkeling. *You can pre-book or find them located behind the Yellow Beach Restaurant. For the more adventurous snorkler take a hike over to the other side of Pinel and snorkel right off the beach to get a glimpse of lobsters, groupers and many other forms a sealife.

For those of you who need a bit of shopping Paradiso gift shop offers unique and beautiful souvenirs.**

Don't forget the sun block when you visit Pinel for the day.

Ferries leave the dock from the french Cul de Sac every 1/2 hour from 10am to 5pm with a cost of 5 euros or $7 seven days a week weather permiting. One price for the kayak: $10 each person for the day." From Tripadvisor

Leaving the "mainland" of Sint Martin

Make sure you can swim; this is the ferry at rush hour

After a brief ride, you have arrived

Table for lunch

Definitely island-style

The back beach, about a 10 minute hike

 

[LindaBabe]

Okay, now I'm confused. I thought the three of you counted as one cabin. Do you mean I should put each of you on a separate list?

I'm sorry I confused the issue We ARE in one cabin but the people on all three lists won't get the same things because each one of us is taking a list. Does that make sense? or is it worse? Sorry.

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I won't be posting much this weekend. I'm off to Maryland tomorrow for a friend's baby shower (she's having twin boys!) so I won't be on the boards until Monday morning.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone & hug your doggies for me!

I seem to be having a dad-day or something. Wanted to switch on a light in the kitchen, but got a big bang instead. Power shortcircuit. Oops. That plug also supplies electricity to my automated doors, so I couldn't get to the closet where the main system is to reset it. Dang! And with the fridge, my mattrass and some other stuff also getting their electricity from that plug it wasn't an option to wait until the morning. Luckily parents had a late night (normally have very early nights because of my moms workinghours) and were still awake but I hate needing to call for such things later at night. There came dad to the rescue yet again. Got my power back for now and next week he'll be rewiring some stuff and changing out the light that caused this.

I have to say Jacqueline that I am a bit jealous of you & your dad. I lost my dad 7 1/2 years ago and miss him all the time.

 

[MandyGirl]

Noel - any update on the details of the Madeira excursion?

We ended up doing just a half-day tour because of the little ones. Finally sent that off today and hoping for confirmation. You guys have a blast!!

That's great news Jacqueline, well done to your daddy.

I will be sending you lots of good luck for Wednesday and hoping for a very speedy recovery.

Ditto, Jacqueline!! Surgery and recovery are no fun, but I'm so glad it finally got scheduled for you! I had a relative with malignant kidney cancer, and it was TWO MONTHS before they could schedule to have that kidney removed this spring! Hospitals and their OR schedules... grrr....

What you do with the TravelEx Cash Passport card is essentially buying Euros with dollars so you can use it to get cash or as a credit card. You don't use it for hotels or car rentals as they take holds. I look it much like a debit card with a Mastercharge logo.

Hope this helps. Any more questions, please let me know.

Thank you for that, Noel!!

I won't be posting much this weekend. I'm off to Maryland tomorrow for a friend's baby shower (she's having twin boys!) so I won't be on the boards until Monday morning.

Have a wonderful trip!

ST MAARTEN/SINT MARTIN EXCURSION - IPO - INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

I've contacted Bernard's Tours to do a personalized tour on St Maarten:

Your pics remind me of the contrast between St Thomas and St John. It's probably been ten years since we have actually "stayed" on St Thomas during a cruise stop. We always take the ferry over to St John. Pinel looks to be the same!

Bernard is going to be quite busy with all of us! I think there are several who have booked his group tours.

 

[birkner]

Noel - any update on the details of the Madeira excursion?

I will try to work more on Madeira this weekend! West tour is essentially the same but I will give more info on the East tour. I have been busy with pins and lanyards and haven't devoted much time to the tours, sorry.

 

[birkner]

We ended up doing just a half-day tour because of the little ones. Finally sent that off today and hoping for confirmation. You guys have a blast!!
Hope you have a great tour!! We did have single vans last year with kids your age but I do understand that you want to do less of a tour.


Thank you for that, Noel!!

You are very welcome!

 

[Brookspayne]

It took it's fine time and where I got nowhere, my dad just simply managed to arrange my operation date. Same employee, same story, I got nowhere and constantly got the run around. He calls once, does the same appeal of it being labeled emergency and the cruise coming dangerously close by now and lo and behold; within an hour he has it all arranged! Apparently even grown women sometimes need their daddies to make small miracles happen. Anyway, coming wednesday I need to sign in, on thursday I'll get the tube placed and should be released on friday if all goes well. With only 8 weeks to recover it'll be tight, but a lot better than what I started to fear by now. Carefully starts to look like there is no need to drag me down to the port.

App. they've got free internet hook ups, so I'll be spending lots of time on the DIS wednesday. A lot better than hanging around doing nothing. It'll be an interesting week, for sure. Dad will have an operation on the 13th so poor mom is a bit left out (family full of crutches, she's awaiting her own operation ). At least thank god for proper taxi services. I'll have to lug along my own mattrass to the hospital and obviously this time dad can't help me unlock it, roll it up and pack it, let alone drag all of that stuff along. "No problem, don't worry, we'll have your driver show up a little early and he'll help you where needed" according to the taxi company. Ah, good old proper service.

Sending you pixie dust and hope recovery is less then 8 weeks, not long now before we all finally meet.

Burnice

 

[Brookspayne]

I seem to be having a dad-day or something. Wanted to switch on a light in the kitchen, but got a big bang instead. Power shortcircuit. Oops. That plug also supplies electricity to my automated doors, so I couldn't get to the closet where the main system is to reset it. Dang! And with the fridge, my mattrass and some other stuff also getting their electricity from that plug it wasn't an option to wait until the morning. Luckily parents had a late night (normally have very early nights because of my moms workinghours) and were still awake but I hate needing to call for such things later at night. There came dad to the rescue yet again. Got my power back for now and next week he'll be rewiring some stuff and changing out the light that caused this.

Living next door to the folks has it advantages as well as disadvantages, Dad is always around to help fix things for me, David (husband) is not very good with labour type jobs, if fact things seems to fall apart when he tries to fix anything around the house so Dad always saves the day, even for 83 he still likes to do jobs around the house, the disadvantage about living next door is being on a diet and not be able to eat Mum's fabulous food.

Hope your Dad's op goes well, please keep us updated on both of your ops.

Burnice