Sept 18 2010 WB TransAtlantic Pirates/Capt Jacks Re-Repoing Repossession Cruise Pt.5

[KermitRocks]

I was looking to carry on all of the non US shirts. the way it is looking we will have one extra bag that I can stuff full! I wasn't thinking that we all get a carry oin and a personal bag - so we got a bonus...

Phew! I couldn't imagine you fitting 100 t-shirts into a carry-on! Also, it's very nice of you to help out our non-US Dis cruisers.

 

[pilk]

Attention Southern Ontario/Western New York cruisers,

Who would be up for a pre-pre-cruise meet this summer. Maybe in August. We could try for a meet in the Niagara Falls area. Any takers?

Jon

 

[KrisannB]

OK, here we go!

A ways back it was decided that due to luggage weight restrictions we should break into groups of people/cabins for the FE.

We landed at 15 cabins and roughy 40 people, and let the kids fall where they may.

Trying to stay creative, I named the groups using tropical fruit names. So, we have Papaya's Kiwi's (both from the country and the fruit just to add to the confusion); Pineapple's and the latest group is the Pomegranate's.

The papaya, Kiwi and Pineapple groups have been filled for a while and are what I am calling locked. Those groups have been posted. The Pomegranate group is at 14 cabins, and the cut off date is the 28th.

Most people in that group are OK with it going a little over 15 cabins, so we will not be having a coconut group unless we get alot of last minute flury to be in a FE group.

That said...

IF YOU WANT TO BE IN A FE GROUP AND YOU HAVE NOT WENT ME A PM OR SIGNED UP ON THE WEB, PLEASE DO SO!!!

I will have the final group(s) posted on or about June 1. What I don't think was decided was for people that join in the fun after the 28th and request to be in a FE group what group are they put into? If peoplel are making things I am leary to leaving the group open ended as people need time to plan. If people are buying things they need a count so they can order and receive.

I am open to suggestions...

Sue

Ok you asked for suggestions so I am opening my mouth - but as I do please know that I am willing to step up and help with this if needed!

On the EBTA we had an ongoing group after the "regular cutoff" and how it worked was we opened one group up - with a limit of 12 - if people from other groups wanted to sign up for it they could (some have extra items) and any new people who came along could sign up BUT they knew on the front end that the group would close at 12 cabins but would not have a date of closing. Then when that group reached 12, we opened a new group - the last group did not have a full 12 in it I do not think but it did have like 8 - but we kept this up till 2 or 3 weeks before the cruise.

I would be happy to oversee the "Fish Extender Extended Group" and work the logistics of it if you want me too - I feel helpless - I am used to being on the planning end of things and involved in all this so I have no problem helping!

Only 1 semi formal night

We only had one semi-formal on the EBTA this time.


Krisann

 

[Hoagie Pie]

Ok sorry to confuse you or anyone else about the luggage on Delta - I and my husband are Elite members with Delta - so that gets us extra luggage - on Delta operated flights everyone in our party gets 2 checked bags free - but on code-share operated by KLM (our flight to barcelona after our visit to Austria) only my hubby and I will get 2 bags as they only give it to elite members)

I am sure that is clear as mud - but bottom line - elite members get 2 free bags on Delta - non- elite have different rules. Sorry for confusing anyone.


Krisann

So glad you clarified and that is what I was afraid of, but I did have a little bit of hope. This will be our first flight on Delta so I doubt they will give us the same courtesy as you Okay, back to my one bag and very limited on what I bring. You might see me in the same dinner outfit twice if not 3x's - I promise it will be clean!

 

[Hoagie Pie]

Krisann - would you recommend an excursion in Madiera or is there enough to do if you walk off the ship and walk around? I would love to do the tobaggan's, but didn't know if that was possible if you didn't take an excursion. Can you fill us in on your knowledge? Thanks!

 

[KrisannB]

So glad you clarified and that is what I was afraid of, but I did have a little bit of hope. This will be our first flight on Delta so I doubt they will give us the same courtesy as you Okay, back to my one bag and very limited on what I bring. You might see me in the same dinner outfit twice if not 3x's - I promise it will be clean!

after our EBTA - we decided that the $50 for an extra bag was worth it - we ended up packing with extr bags but ended up not paying on KLM - not sure exactly why - and on Air France I never got a straigh answer about if I got 2 bags or not - and did not think I did - so we just said I would pay for it instead of worrying about it so much! We had a smaller backpack (but still a good size) that I put all our papers, pictures, etc. in that could weigh up to 50 pounds - if I was going to pay $50 I was going to take advantage of every pound! We decided it just wasn't worth it to worry over $50 on a cruise we paid much more for. So I planned on paying Air France for the extra bag - and then they decided I got one extra bag free because of my elite status -

long story to just say - I will skip one game of BINGO to pay for an extra suitcase so I do not have to worr about it - and most likely will get more out of than playing BINGO!

I just have decided it is one of the costs of doing the cruise - mind you I will not have everyone taking an extra bag - but one extra bag - the biggest you can take and for us we will just pay (if we are on a carrier we have to) - it just isn't worth the worry.

Krisann

 

[KrisannB]

Krisann - would you recommend an excursion in Madiera or is there enough to do if you walk off the ship and walk around? I would love to do the tobaggan's, but didn't know if that was possible if you didn't take an excursion. Can you fill us in on your knowledge? Thanks!

We were there on a Sunday and it was the Flower Festiville - so many things were closed as far as shops go. I know one DISer did the following:

Taxi to town
Hop on Hop off Bus
Cable car to top
Tobaggans to the bottom
walked back to ship

for her family of 5 she said it cost over $200 Euro's and she could have skipped it.

My DH and I took a cab into town, went around to the shops (most of which were closed) and then on the way back went up to the park that is up high across from the ship - it was a neat place and had wonderful views if you just want to hang out - maybe get a lunch or something - very nice.

Now others said they liked the tobaggans but it is expensive to "get there" to ride them down.

For us we are going to do the West Side Mediera for ths cruise. I think compared to what others paid to do things there it is worth the money - I talked to someone who took it on the EBTA and said it was really great BUT would not do it on their own as it got back 15 minutes before the cruise left.

I want to swim in the lava rock pools - he said the science museum on that one though was not worth it (you can either do the science or go swim)

So - with that being said - anyone else planning on doing the West Side Madiera excursion?

Krisann

 

[tig82174]

Hi all well I just sent in my landyard request better late than never. It is sure getting close. Back to see what other groups we can join.

Alrighty! You've been added to the lanyard spreadsheet.

As a general announcement to everyone else. I am still waiting for that small group of DISers to contact me back....but I can't let their slow response hold up the lanyard process too much longer. It is my intention to have the lanyards ordered by the end of May so that I have them in my hand before the end of June. I anticipate that I will order a batch of extra lanyards that are, as yet, not spoken for. This means that if you procrastinated ordering lanyards and decide, even though the cutoff was several weeks ago, that you do in fact want them----you can PM me or send an email. It will also mean that any cruisers who join our group after the lanyards have been ordered can contact me and try to get lanyards, too. HOWEVER, the supply of extra lanyards will be limited and so these late orders will be on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED & WHILE SUPPLIES LAST basis!!

Attention Southern Ontario/Western New York cruisers,

Who would be up for a pre-pre-cruise meet this summer. Maybe in August. We could try for a meet in the Niagara Falls area. Any takers?

Jon

Jason and I might be into that....our schedules this summer are nuts....but depending on the date/time we could maybe do it.

 

[Hoagie Pie]

QUOTE=KrisannB;36704599]after our EBTA - we decided that the $50 for an extra bag was worth it - we ended up packing with extr bags but ended up not paying on KLM - not sure exactly why - and on Air France I never got a straigh answer about if I got 2 bags or not - and did not think I did - so we just said I would pay for it instead of worrying about it so much! We had a smaller backpack (but still a good size) that I put all our papers, pictures, etc. in that could weigh up to 50 pounds - if I was going to pay $50 I was going to take advantage of every pound! We decided it just wasn't worth it to worry over $50 on a cruise we paid much more for. So I planned on paying Air France for the extra bag - and then they decided I got one extra bag free because of my elite status -

long story to just say - I will skip one game of BINGO to pay for an extra suitcase so I do not have to worr about it - and most likely will get more out of than playing BINGO!

I just have decided it is one of the costs of doing the cruise - mind you I will not have everyone taking an extra bag - but one extra bag - the biggest you can take and for us we will just pay (if we are on a carrier we have to) - it just isn't worth the worry.

Krisann[/QUOTE]

You just don't want to see me in dirty clothes Thanks for the info - I am doing everything through DCL so I won't know until 45 days out what carrier I am on or what my stop will be. I am hoping it is Delta through Atlanta. I might end up doing the $50 especially if we don't have a connection in Europe. It isn't worth the worry - and believe me, I worry!!!

 

[Hoagie Pie]

We were there on a Sunday and it was the Flower Festiville - so many things were closed as far as shops go. I know one DISer did the following:

Taxi to town
Hop on Hop off Bus
Cable car to top
Tobaggans to the bottom
walked back to ship

for her family of 5 she said it cost over $200 Euro's and she could have skipped it.

My DH and I took a cab into town, went around to the shops (most of which were closed) and then on the way back went up to the park that is up high across from the ship - it was a neat place and had wonderful views if you just want to hang out - maybe get a lunch or something - very nice.

Now others said they liked the tobaggans but it is expensive to "get there" to ride them down.

For us we are going to do the West Side Mediera for ths cruise. I think compared to what others paid to do things there it is worth the money - I talked to someone who took it on the EBTA and said it was really great BUT would not do it on their own as it got back 15 minutes before the cruise left.

I want to swim in the lava rock pools - he said the science museum on that one though was not worth it (you can either do the science or go swim)

So - with that being said - anyone else planning on doing the West Side Madiera excursion?

Krisann

I haven't looked yet, but from your description, I am sold on the swim, etc. I will read about it and discuss it with DD - sounds fun! Thanks for the insight - appreciate it

 

[KrisannB]

I haven't looked yet, but from your description, I am sold on the swim, etc. I will read about it and discuss it with DD - sounds fun! Thanks for the insight - appreciate it

It the excursion is 99 per person and it is an all day event - and remember this price is US dollars - and the price the other family spent was Euro's so it was about $350 USD - and they got no food or anything - here is what the tour includes:

On this tour you will:

Take a scenic 20-minute drive (approximate) along the south Coast to Cabo Girão, the second highest sea cliff in the world.

Continue to the Village of Ribeira Brava where you can enjoy approximately 40 minutes of free time before continuing to Encumeada Pass from where, weather permitting, you can see both the north and south ends of Madeira.

Note: The amount of walking during this tour is at the Guest's discretion, however typically there will be approximately 0.5 miles of walking on cobblestone, flat and uphill surfaces. Wear comfortable walking shoes.


Descend the mountain and make a photo stop in São Vicente before continuing along the northern coast to the Village of Porto Moniz.


Visit the Centre of Live Science, featuring informative and interactive exhibits. Alternatively, you may enjoy a swim in the natural volcanic rock swimming pools of Porto Moniz.


Enjoy a traditional Madieran-style lunch at a local restaurant (included in the price of this tour).

Continue past Paúl da Serra en route to the south coast.

Drive back to the pier.

 

[KrisannB]

The link to a picture of the pools is: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Natural_swimming_pool,_Porto_Moniz,_Madeira.JPG


Ok I am ready to go swim!

Krisann

 

[MrsMork]

Krisann this looks lovely! We may sign up for this excursion. I will have to look at what else is offered. I can't believe I have not studied excursions yet. I can book in 30 hours!!!

 

[KrisannB]

Krisann this looks lovely! We may sign up for this excursion. I will have to look at what else is offered. I can't believe I have not studied excursions yet. I can book in 30 hours!!!

The only reason we did not do it on the EBTA is because we figured the water would be too cold to swim then but warmer for this cruise!

I need to go pay off the cruise!


Krisann

 

[DisneyCruisin]

You could always do what one of the mechanics at a former employer would do and it only costs a couple cents. The check engine light kept coming on, everytime we had him check it he couldn't find anything wrong. So, he finally took a piece of black tape and covered the dash light. There problem fixed, no more light annoying you on the dash.

Jon

Now that's creative! Never thought of that!

 

[pjpoohbear]

Paid in Full last week!
Slowly getting things marked off the long to do list

Congrats! to all our new PIF members.

Attention Southern Ontario/Western New York cruisers,

Who would be up for a pre-pre-cruise meet this summer. Maybe in August. We could try for a meet in the Niagara Falls area. Any takers?

Jon

Put me on a list, if we aren't too crazy with back to school at the Computer Shop, I will be there.
Pj

 

[pjpoohbear]

Krisann this looks lovely! We may sign up for this excursion. I will have to look at what else is offered. I can't believe I have not studied excursions yet. I can book in 30 hours!!!

Angie, I thought our booking was tonight at EST midnight? (10pm for you) I can't read, lol. It is tomorrow night agh!

Pj

 

[su_kraft]

Ok you asked for suggestions so I am opening my mouth - but as I do please know that I am willing to step up and help with this if needed!

On the EBTA we had an ongoing group after the "regular cutoff" and how it worked was we opened one group up - with a limit of 12 - if people from other groups wanted to sign up for it they could (some have extra items) and any new people who came along could sign up BUT they knew on the front end that the group would close at 12 cabins but would not have a date of closing. Then when that group reached 12, we opened a new group - the last group did not have a full 12 in it I do not think but it did have like 8 - but we kept this up till 2 or 3 weeks before the cruise.

I would be happy to oversee the "Fish Extender Extended Group" and work the logistics of it if you want me too - I feel helpless - I am used to being on the planning end of things and involved in all this so I have no problem helping!





We only had one semi-formal on the EBTA this time.


Krisann

So this is my dirty little secret... I am incredibly anal about stuff... LOL that is why I move all over my company - I fix what is broken, move on fix something else. I am the spread sheet queen - and do a mean pivot table these days...

That said, I will keep adding groups (and the Captain can be a Coconut afterall!) or, I can publish what I have and send it to you to track the later sign ups. (Then you can see how anal I really can be...)

As I told someoine today, the anal me is not going on the cruise as I really want to enjoy celebrating my birthday and anniversary and that me tends to be too anal to have fun...

Sue

 

[DisneyCruisin]

Sue, I really appreciate this, but I find it a little odd, that the Med dinners will be when we are in the Caribbean and the Caribbean dinners are when we are in the Med. Any chance the concierge didn't know as much as us!! ha ha!! It doesn't match up with "Little Birdie" either. I just thought I would bring it up to see if anyone else found it odd. Maybe I am odd

Hmmmm, let me share the new dates with the birdie and see if it's confused! I also thought it was strange the first formal night was not a sea day!

 

[DisneyTrek]

Lauren and I are officially PAID IN FULL!!!!

Here is what we were told about theme nights: Nights 2 & 7 are Formal. Night 13 is Semi-Formal. Night 11 is Pirate Night. Night 8 is "Theme" Night. They told us to check back at a later date to find out what "Theme" Night is. They said that the EBTA did not have this "Theme" Night. So, I guess we'll eventually find out what that is all about.

Daniel