Sept 18 2010 WB TransAtlantic Pirates/Capt Jacks Re-Repoing Repossession Cruise Pt.6

[orlandothebeagle]

Sorry.

Woody

This should make you feel better:

On the EBTA, we had five zone time changes, and lost an hour of sleep five night in a row.

On the WBTA, you will gain back those hours -- five extra hours of sleep!

People on the EB were jealous of the WB.

Woody

youre forgiven

OK! So we were away for the weekend...and it was not practical to get up at 5am UK time..and try to pay for an Internet Access..that was not even available to pay for.........so we missed everything. No bookings for Palo, the nights we wish for....nor even nights we not wish for. Checked just.............and rubbish bookings left.
Am so not happy.........Surely there must be a better fairer system?
:-(

I know, It bugged me that I kept gettign errors like noel,It doesnt seem very fair really.

I agree with you completely. I was online for 1 hour and 42 minutes before I was able to complete my bookings. I kept getting kicked off before I could complete the booking. There were no Palo bookings available for the times I wanted even when I first signed on at 9:00 California time as I went there first.

I think DCL is assuming that most people book on the ship or something. From most reports, people once on the ship were able to get the booking they wanted by STANDING IN LINE. How 20th century is that?

Even after all the complaints, DCL seems to ignore this problem. I know it is a difficult software fix but come on!!

I REFUSE to go to rokin bar d, sorry but i just not THAT fussed that I would do that as soon as I get on ship, way more exciting things to do!

I booked last night as well. When I logged in and went to Palo to book brunch (there were not tea's avaiable) I choose a brunch and then it gave me an error and tried again still got an erorr, so backed out and started again. I lucked out and got a brunch on 9/30 and dinner on 9/23, 2 spa appointments (massage and alone time) and 2 excursions 12-Metre Regatta for St. Maarten and Virgin Islands Sail, Snorkel and Beach Adventure in Tortola.

77 days till my vacation starts and so much to do. I did stumble on a dress at Burlington Coat Factory last week for $35. So need to try it on and see if it is a keeper. I am working on breaking out of my comfort zone of black dresses - this one is purple!

Happy Father's Day to all the father's out there.

Well done, lucky you !!

I have the Regatta booked, too!

That's an awesome price for a new dress!! Good for you for expanding your comfort level with color! I hope it works out for you!




In regards to sunlight, keep in mind this is about a month later than the 2007 cruise. Sunset on September 18 in Barcelona will be 7:56 pm, so it should be beautiful watching the shoreline as we sail away!

 

[su_kraft]

The friend in me wants to say that I think Treasure Ketch will open for the first time on our cruise around 10:00 pm when we are out to sea instead of the next morning, but the competitor in me didn't just say that outloud!

That's funny! Thanks for being a friend, Kimberly! And if 10:00 is correct, I'll race ya!

I am heading straight there - I will hold a bag, or place in line for whoever can't get there! We DIS'ers have to stick together!

Hi Hayley...My dd Megan (8) would love to meet your dd's. You are all really going to enjoy this cruise as your first!!!

Sue...Thanks so much for puttin us in the Coconut FE group. However, I forgot to mention that we have 2 rooms. Myself, dh, and dd Megan (8) will be in room #6053. My mom (g-ma Cathy) and my ds Jacob (12) will be in room #6507. Both rooms would love to participate and will have separate FE's. Thanks for all you do to organize this!!! By the way, my ds was happy to hear that there will be some older boys on this cruise like your ds. Jacob will be 13 on 10-8 (the week we come back from vacation).

Have it fixed, 2 cabins - and you are all still coconuts!

Money sent thank you. Please look to see if you remembered to change the adult large to adult medium. Thanks

Change was made, thanks.

I was wondering if I was on a different cruise since I knew I still had 13 weeks to go!!!

I was wondering - and am happy to have the extra week!!!

I wonder how many Palo bookings people in concierge actually can book? That could be a part of the problem. For goodness sake, there are so many sea days this cruise there should be space for every cabin to have one of each booking, particularly considering many people don't even want to go to High Tea.

I suppose it wouldn't be fair if people who don't have internet access and can't book till on the cruise embarkation day didn't have any chance because it was only open for online ressies though.

OK, for concierge all we can book is one of each. We can request a second or whatever, but nothing other than the first is confirmed. I tried to book a second tea and was told no - the group that I set up was it for me. I do admit to having a second dinner on request.

Also, I was told that MOST anything I wanted could be booked once on board, but if there were things I really wanted to ask upfrant. I pondered for weeks and then sent a list. Many of the things on the list were things that could be reserved at the concierge date - but most of the requests were for things that can only be done on board. They will send a listing to the concierge manager on the ship and I have to confirm on day of sailing.

I am good with the process - cruise more, select earlier. Pay for a suite, book earlier. I get it and I respect it. Had we not upgraded we would have been online at midnight with the other Silvers.

Whast burns me is that a 14 day cruise is no better than a 3 day... Heck, a 3 day is equal to a 7 day... One would think that points based on nights onboard would count for something... But, alas, they dont... I am really thinking about doing a B2B next time around... Although it is total repeat of everything... :: sigh :: Stepping off the soapbox now...

Well, the past couple of weeks has been busy. Which in my line of work isn't a good thing. Finally, got caught up with the thread. Well, I'll admit I skipped pages 67 to 111, hope there was nothing important.

Jon - payment time for shirts has arrived - please wsee post one for instructions.

 

[mdwoodman]

Sounds like a great plan!! Do you know what the lines and admission cost might be for the attractions? We are just trying to avoid long lines.

I'm told that if you stay away from the busloads of organized tours, there's seldom any wait.

There is a "SkyWalk Combo" that includes:

•Cable Car ticket (options single or return and child or adult)
•Multimedia Tour (hand held guide included in adult ticket only and for use exclusively within the Cable Car Top Station)
•Apes (The apes are wild animals and roam freely throughout the Upper Rock area. However they are usually seen at both the Cable Car Top and Middle Station otherwise known as Apes Den.)
•Nature Reserve entrance ticket - Entrance to: St Michael's Cave, Great Siege Tunnels, City Under Siege Exhibition, Moorish Castle and 100 Ton Gun. (this ticket must be redeemed at the Cable Cart ticket office BEFORE entering any of the sights.) The Nature Reserve ticket must be used on the same day as the Cable Car ticket, see below.)
•FREE Gibraltar Bus Pass (adult or child one day bus pass). This must be collected from the Gibraltarinfo kiosk on the Spanish side of the Gibraltar/Spanish land frontier.

The cost is £17.50 for adults (£19.00 if you want to take the cable car back down, which we won't be doing because of where we're walking).

I need to check on the bus pass, since we won't be going to the land frontier.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I am heading straight there - I will hold a bag, or place in line for whoever can't get there! We DIS'ers have to stick together!



Have it fixed, 2 cabins - and you are all still coconuts!



Change was made, thanks.



I was wondering - and am happy to have the extra week!!!



OK, for concierge all we can book is one of each. We can request a second or whatever, but nothing other than the first is confirmed. I tried to book a second tea and was told no - the group that I set up was it for me. I do admit to having a second dinner on request.

Also, I was told that MOST anything I wanted could be booked once on board, but if there were things I really wanted to ask upfrant. I pondered for weeks and then sent a list. Many of the things on the list were things that could be reserved at the concierge date - but most of the requests were for things that can only be done on board. They will send a listing to the concierge manager on the ship and I have to confirm on day of sailing.

I am good with the process - cruise more, select earlier. Pay for a suite, book earlier. I get it and I respect it. Had we not upgraded we would have been online at midnight with the other Silvers.

Whast burns me is that a 14 day cruise is no better than a 3 day... Heck, a 3 day is equal to a 7 day... One would think that points based on nights onboard would count for something... But, alas, they dont... I am really thinking about doing a B2B next time around... Although it is total repeat of everything... :: sigh :: Stepping off the soapbox now...



Jon - payment time for shirts has arrived - please wsee post one for instructions.

I agree, we have done a 4,7 and coming up a 14 and 15, but I suppose they have to come up with something, the cruise for 2 nights after my expensive 15 night pc will count the same as mine

 

[got2travel]

For some reason I can't figure out what I had planned on for St Marteen. The only DCL tour I was going to book was in Tortolla, but now I have other plans. In Gibraltar we'll just grab a cab with some friends, Madiera is the group tour, Tortolla we're going snorkeling and St Marteen, ???? I can't recall. Guess this is where lists and spreadsheets come in handy huh? I've had it all in my head, but I think there's a leak. What the heck was I doing on this last island? Was anyone putting together a tour here?

 

[birkner]

OK, for concierge all we can book is one of each. We can request a second or whatever, but nothing other than the first is confirmed. I tried to book a second tea and was told no - the group that I set up was it for me. I do admit to having a second dinner on request.

Also, I was told that MOST anything I wanted could be booked once on board, but if there were things I really wanted to ask upfront. I pondered for weeks and then sent a list. Many of the things on the list were things that could be reserved at the concierge date - but most of the requests were for things that can only be done on board. They will send a listing to the concierge manager on the ship and I have to confirm on day of sailing.

I am good with the process - cruise more, select earlier. Pay for a suite, book earlier. I get it and I respect it. Had we not upgraded we would have been online at midnight with the other Silvers.

Whast burns me is that a 14 day cruise is no better than a 3 day... Heck, a 3 day is equal to a 7 day... One would think that points based on nights onboard would count for something... But, alas, they dont... I am really thinking about doing a B2B next time around... Although it is total repeat of everything... :: sigh :: Stepping off the soapbox now...
.

I agree with everything you said. We gave a party in the Walt, which was planed with the concierge staff on land and they did a fabulous job. They were the ones that told me not to worry and book on board even before I boarded the ship.

If you want to take it a step further, then why not more points for paying more just like you get with your credit cards?

There really ought to be a better reward system for frequent cruisers and one to incentive people to spend more to get more....

Off my soapbox now also....

Just my thoughts...

 

[birkner]

I'm told that if you stay away from the busloads of organized tours, there's seldom any wait.

There is a "SkyWalk Combo" that includes:

•Cable Car ticket (options single or return and child or adult)
•Multimedia Tour (hand held guide included in adult ticket only and for use exclusively within the Cable Car Top Station)
•Apes (The apes are wild animals and roam freely throughout the Upper Rock area. However they are usually seen at both the Cable Car Top and Middle Station otherwise known as Apes Den.)
•Nature Reserve entrance ticket - Entrance to: St Michael's Cave, Great Siege Tunnels, City Under Siege Exhibition, Moorish Castle and 100 Ton Gun. (this ticket must be redeemed at the Cable Cart ticket office BEFORE entering any of the sights.) The Nature Reserve ticket must be used on the same day as the Cable Car ticket, see below.)
•FREE Gibraltar Bus Pass (adult or child one day bus pass). This must be collected from the Gibraltarinfo kiosk on the Spanish side of the Gibraltar/Spanish land frontier.

The cost is £17.50 for adults (£19.00 if you want to take the cable car back down, which we won't be doing because of where we're walking).

I need to check on the bus pass, since we won't be going to the land frontier.

I saw that also but was wondering how you would collect the bus pas and if you couldn't how would you get around???

If you find out the details, will you please post as that seems like a great option.

 

[birkner]

For some reason I can't figure out what I had planned on for St Marteen. The only DCL tour I was going to book was in Tortolla, but now I have other plans. In Gibraltar we'll just grab a cab with some friends, Madiera is the group tour, Tortolla we're going snorkeling and St Marteen, ???? I can't recall. Guess this is where lists and spreadsheets come in handy huh? I've had it all in my head, but I think there's a leak. What the heck was I doing on this last island? Was anyone putting together a tour here?

No tours for us as DH had me sign up for the Rhino Rider. I wanted to do Tiki Hut but he thought this looked more fun.

Any body done either excursion?

 

[KermitRocks]

I was also on the 2007 WBTA and we had no fireworks....If I am remembering right, it was still daylight when we left

Thanks. It's hard to enjoy fireworks in the daylight.

I'll be in line with you!! I have a Dooney/WDW sketch tote that I've never used, but I love the DCL pattern!

Kristi

I went to Disneyland last weekend and they had a huge assortment of Dooney purses. I thought long and hard and decided to wait for the cruise b/c I like the DCL pattern more than the other designs. If they open the shops an hour after we leave port, I'm there.

More Info on Funchal Daniel Taxi Tour

For anyone that might be interested in prepaying for this tour while to ratio of dollar to euro is still fairly low, I just paid for John and I via paypal.

I said the money was a gift. The cost including fees was 60.30 Euros for a transfer from my bank which translated to $76.52 American or $1.2689 per Euro.

Thanks Noel. I will make the payment via PayPal, too. The cost of 60.30 euros is for two people, right?

 

[got2travel]

Just checked on Palo and there is a table for 2 available every night except day 6 which is the first of the 5 consecutive sea days.

 

[Disney Sweetie]

It was and the folks followed the ship out waving Mickey Hands. In fact we were given Mickey Hand on a stick (like a poster) that had our cruise and dates printed on it. Do you remember those?

I have mine hanging on my wall at work...I got it autographed by Don "Ducky" Williams.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Fingers crossed for a quiet night everybody, catch up on Tuesday, only one night off(million things to do) then I am locuming tuesd,wed,thursd(disney dollars!) so busy day tom and probably wont be able to catch up, no more than 20 pages right

 

[birkner]

Thanks. It's hard to enjoy fireworks in the daylight.




I went to Disneyland last weekend and they had a huge assortment of Dooney purses. I thought long and hard and decided to wait for the cruise b/c I like the DCL pattern more than the other designs. If they open the shops an hour after we leave port, I'm there.




Thanks Noel. I will make the payment via PayPal, too. The cost of 60.30 euros is for two people, right?

Yes it is for two persons. 30 Euros per person + .30 Euros for the fee Just be sure you after you pay you send send an email to Eusébia. mentioning my name and our reservation. I sent her a Paypal thank you card (free) and you could use that to mention the name and reservation date.

I just got an email from Eusébia that I will post. I will ask her specific instructions for additional payments if you would like.

Noel

I am also going to take a copy along of my paid invoice.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

•Apes (The apes are wild animals and roam freely throughout the Upper Rock area. However they are usually seen at both the Cable Car Top and Middle Station otherwise known as Apes Den.)

QUOTE]

If you take the Cable car up is it possible to not be really close to the apes? DH isn't too sure about getting "up close and personal".

 

[tinker1bell]

I read somewhere that Disney finances and sends their own pyrotechnics to Barcelona for the two EBTA arrivals in part as a publicity event to let Europe know they are there. So, I highly doubt we'll get a send-off of the same nature.




The friend in me wants to say that I think Treasure Ketch will open for the first time on our cruise around 10:00 pm when we are out to sea instead of the next morning, but the competitor in me didn't just say that outloud!

I would rather get the same info for you guys (or anyone) 5 times than never receive it at all! Now on the 6th time, I might have to start charging Drinks of the Day for inbox overload!

We are such twins!!!!

 

[birkner]

ATTENTION ALL DANIEL TAXI MADERIA TOUR CRUISERS:
Hey gang, here is the latest email on our trip. Seems like they can accommodate all of us and more. If anyone has any more questions, please ask away!!!

Hello Noel,

Thank you so much for the 60 Euro payment you sent me. I finalized the transaction already and all is ok. Thank you for the cute “Thank you” card too.

Nice to know so many people are interested in taking the tour with you. Yes you can accept everybody and even more. We can provide more 15 passenger vans than 16 passenger ones and in order not to split the couples, we’ll accommodate 14 people in each one. In case you have any solo cruisers, they can complete a 15 passenger van. We also provide 8 passenger vans and depending on your total number of people we can use them as well.

Yes, we customize itineraries whenever our clients have their own preferences. If you or your group have any ideas, please let me know.

For large groups we book the restaurant beforehand and, in the morning, the driver talks to the clients about the different options in the menu, so that everybody decides what they’d like to eat. The driver then calls the restaurant to place the order in advance and when the group arrives, lunch is served straight away, which is very convenient and avoids any waste of time. Please make sure everybody understands that lunch is being paid extra. Sometimes people don’t pay all due attention and then they feel annoyed when they discover that the meal is not included in our price.

I’m not quite sure what a tapas lunch is, but maybe you mean a light meal, right? In a previous e-mail I mentioned “espada” which is a very popular fish in Madeira. It’s not too heavy, but if you prefer something more on the light side, maybe you’d rather have, for instance a soup and sandwich. Anyway, the restaurant caters for everything, so it’ll be up to each and every person to choose whatever they feel like having.

Now… Dee Judson. I’m thinking I’m going to resend her my message again and see what happens. Yes, maybe she’d like to join your group. She’s coming in a 6 people group, they’re interested in the West tour, plus wine tasting at Blandy’s, in the end.

I’m so pleased to know everybody is so enthusiastic about their Madeira tour.


Best wishes,

Eusébia.

 

[got2travel]

If you take the Cable car up is it possible to not be really close to the apes? DH isn't too sure about getting "up close and personal".

The apes are everywhere and are free roaming. However, they generally stick to specific areas where food is laid out for them. They will occasionally follow a person if they think you have food.

 

[woody73]

Whast burns me is that a 14 day cruise is no better than a 3 day... Heck, a 3 day is equal to a 7 day... One would think that points based on nights onboard would count for something... But, alas, they dont...

I agree, we have done a 4, 7 and coming up a 14 and 15, but I suppose they have to come up with something, the cruise for 2 nights after my expensive 15 night pc will count the same as mine

. . . If you want to take it a step further, then why not more points for paying more just like you get with your credit cards?

There really ought to be a better reward system for frequent cruisers and one to incentive people to spend more to get more....

I like Royal Caribbean's loyalty program.

• One cruise credit for each completed sailing.
• One extra credit when you sail in a suite, and
• One extra credit when you sail on a 12-night or longer cruise.

Woody

 

[birkner]

I like Royal Caribbean's loyalty program.

• One cruise credit for each completed sailing.
• One extra credit when you sail in a suite, and
• One extra credit when you sail on a 12-night or longer cruise.

Woody

You said it perfectly!!!​

 

[birkner]

Hopefully, I have answered all the PM's, posted all the information and answered any questions via email.

DH and I are going out for Father's Day dinner and I will be back online later tonight.

Hope everyone else is having or has had a marvelous Father's Day.