Sept 18 2010 WB TransAtlantic Pirates/Capt Jacks Re-Repoing Repossession Cruise Pt.9

[birkner]

I have recieved a message back from my TA:

"Hi Sarah,

I will check into the rotation and make sure that it has changed (I have the changed schedule and I’ll verify that) and then switch you to rotation 3. "

She has given her time well beyond the call of duty over this as I am sure it must be a right pain in the rear having things change at the last minute

Your TA Tracy really has done a great job!! I don't mind being in Animator's Palate for formal night just as long as it is not Parrot Cay. Let's see if she is successful!!

After the disagreements with my TA over this cruise and the lack of any appreciation for the transfer of a shipboard made booking of the Walt to my TA (which I did not have to do) including an extra a SPH room for my DD totaling 8 persons, I think our relationship is over.

I have been making my own on board re-bookings and transferring them to her. I am very sorry as my TA had previous to that done an excellent job. My TA just doesn't seem to be interested in our business anymore I guess.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Ok guys I need a boost......


I've been really good for 8 weeks and lost 24 lbs now.....but really really wanted to lose another 4 lb by next Friday....and I'm a little bit bummed All the gym work and swimming and on ly a pund since last Monday.......




Help!!!!

24 lbs is a lot, and you should be very proud of yourself. Rejoice in your accomplishment and let go of this small disappointment. If you concentrate on the goal you didn't reach, you are cheating yourself out of the joy your hard work and huge accomplishment should be giving you. I for one am very proud of you, and we haven't yet met! You should be your own best friend and be proud of yourself! GOOD JOB!!!!!

When I work out strenuously (sometimes 2 hours), I have to eat a little more, or I stop losing weight. Just an idea. Increase protein and add a dairy (calcium helps with weight control). Hope that helps. : )

 

[birkner]

Sorry. Clearly, I sounded like a spoiled brat, but I think I've just confirmed my bad luck at the boarding reception. We've never not waited for a concierge, and only once did we have an actual concierge. We've usually had someone who was just taking care of the "overflow" in the lounge, who we never saw again after the embarkation meeting. It did always irk me a little, because once it was our turn, we have never needed more than 5 minutes. Maybe that is the NJ in me; everyone is in a hurry!

But I guess we don't really book the suite for the concierge. (Emails to concierge pre-boarding? Two. One to request our own table at dinner, and the second to say thank you.) We book the suite because we have his and her bathrooms at home, and we don't like sharing on the ship! We'll book any room with 2 full baths.

I didn't think you were sounding like a spoiled brat at all. I was just voicing my experience of using the concierge. Like any position, if people don't utilize the position, people like that are in jeopardy of loosing their jobs. Many years ago, I once apologized to a concierge for taking up so much of their time. She told me that it really helps justify their position when people utilize them and use their recommendations. She further said that companies were always looking for ways to save money and that if their services were deemed not be utilized by many persons, their positions would be eliminated.

So as you can probably imagine, I am using the concierge in the hotels that we are staying in to the maximum. To date, I have made lots of reservations and had contact with the concierge at the Marriott Renaissance in Barcelona. On Friday, we are staying at Le Meridien whose concierge has made arrangements for receiving my extra luggage from the USA. Both concierges have been very helpful via email with making arrangements.

Just a request for those passengers traveling in the concierge on DCL, use those folks as much as you can. We used them several times a day when we have been in a concierge suite. In an era of cost cutting and downsizing, DCL is not immune to cutting services and personnel if they are not being unitized.

John and I are are not doing a concierge suite (though it was offered by DCL) this time as can't justify it in my mind for the two of us. We are going to be so busy with all the DCL and DIS activities I doubt if we will be in our room other than to unpack upon arrival, to change clothes, to sleep or to repack when we leave!! Since the cost was double what we are paying, I choose to spend the money in shipping my luggage!!

 

[Candy Apple]

YEAH Angie - I agree!!!! This is terrible to say, but I never go because of the restaurant atmosphere! My least fave is Animator's Palate and my fave is Parrot Cay, which puts me in the minority I am sure.

I'm in the same minority. Parrot Cay is so colorful it puts you in a fun mood. Animators is just so black and white.

 

[birkner]

Ok guys I need a boost......


I've been really good for 8 weeks and lost 24 lbs now.....but really really wanted to lose another 4 lb by next Friday....and I'm a little bit bummed All the gym work and swimming and on ly a pund since last Monday.......
Help!!!!

My youngest DD Samantha who I call the Queen of the Gym told me to tell you to change your exercise routine a bit and if you are keeping your calories low, that should do the trick!! If you have a trainer or there is one available at your Gym, ask them for some tips!!

 

[paulcrsb]

Over the course of 10 DCL cruises, we have been in every restaurant on formal night, and to be honest....it made no difference to us. All seemed more formal for the night because the servers were all dressed as well. Being with the DIS friends is most important to us.

I agree!

Paul

 

[UKANGEL]

24 lbs is a lot, and you should be very proud of yourself. Rejoice in your accomplishment and let go of this small disappointment. If you concentrate on the goal you didn't reach, you are cheating yourself out of the joy your hard work and huge accomplishment should be giving you. I for one am very proud of you, and we haven't yet met! You should be your own best friend and be proud of yourself! GOOD JOB!!!!!

When I work out strenuously (sometimes 2 hours), I have to eat a little more, or I stop losing weight. Just an idea. Increase protein and add a dairy (calcium helps with weight control). Hope that helps. : )

Aw thanks!

My youngest DD Samantha who I call the Queen of the Gym told me to tell you to change your exercise routine a bit and if you are keeping your calories low, that should do the trick!! If you have a trainer or there is one available at your Gym, ask them for some tips!!

Thanks Samantha! (and Noel of course) I shall have a word with the trainer at the gym

 

[birkner]

Thanks Samantha! (and Noel of course) I shall have a word with the trainer at the gym

You are very welcome!! DizzneyDAnn also had an excellent dietary suggestion!!

 

[paulcrsb]

YEAH Angie - I agree!!!! This is terrible to say, but I never go because of the restaurant atmosphere! My least fave is Animator's Palate and my fave is Parrot Cay, which puts me in the minority I am sure.

I like them all!

Paul

 

[Hoagie Pie]

24 lbs is a lot, and you should be very proud of yourself. Rejoice in your accomplishment and let go of this small disappointment. If you concentrate on the goal you didn't reach, you are cheating yourself out of the joy your hard work and huge accomplishment should be giving you. I for one am very proud of you, and we haven't yet met! You should be your own best friend and be proud of yourself! GOOD JOB!!!!!

When I work out strenuously (sometimes 2 hours), I have to eat a little more, or I stop losing weight. Just an idea. Increase protein and add a dairy (calcium helps with weight control). Hope that helps. : )

Your words are very encouraging!!! Mandy, you should listen to her. Kudos to the BOTH of you!!!

 

[TheCooksLuvDisney]

Yep!
We currently have rotation 1. Which would have put us in PC on Pirate Night. This was chosen as there is another group, which includes Captain Jack, that have that rotation. I will send the Captain a message on FB and see if they are getting the same information and if they plan to change to rotation 2. Perhaps he can check once onboard and be sure what the schedule is for us.
Not sure what to do. Believe me, being in the restaurant with Capt Jack on pirate night is worth it!! Especially if you have kids. He is way more authentic than Disney's Capt Jack and the kids are THRILLED when he visits the table.

Welcome!!!

We just want to be with our DIS friends. I don't care what dining room we are at.

Got that one too.

I've been multi-tasking vacation stuff and work today - ordered a phone from Verizon that can be used overseas as my Droid won't work, bought a costume for Pirate night and then this.

I ordered a global phone too, but that's because I'll be in London on Friday. I leave tomorrow night!!!! Excited, scared, overwhelmed......

Okay...I just ordered the Droid 2 because my phone died. It will arrive either tomorrow or Thursday (not sure because of the holiday). Is it only calls that won't work, or doe that include texting? Do you know?

I have the droid2. I should work on the Magic at at least 2.49 a minute. test .50 send .05 receive. but, I got the global phone from verizon for this trip anyway. Oh and they didn't ship it to me yet, I called and they are overnighting it to me tomorrow. I leave tomorrow.

Other than date changes, which I can't even see at the moment as computers playing up, and Mickey Mouse night has anything else changed? Sue can you let me know dates etc for the tastings so I can put them in the Navigator too. I want to get it sorted over the weekend if I get a chance.

Thanks Sarah!

So who lives in London that I can hunt down and grab a copy of the Navigator on Tuesday?

 

[HallsofVA]

Having taken a look at the new dining plan, for my own tastes I prefer the look of rotation 3 best and rotation 2 least.

My reasoning for this is I much prefer to be in Lumieres for Formal Night (Parrot Cay doesn't quite do it for me on Formal Night).

I am surprised that DCL didn't think, we have 2 Formal Nights and 1 Semi Formal Night, so we spread that around evenly between Rotations and Restaurants.

Just my thoughts.

Any way more importantly it is only 9 days to go!!

Under the previously announced plan, they had them completely shuffled, and there was no way to avoid being in one of the restaurants on either a formal night or semi-formal night. Now it's swung back to the opposite approach where it's sort of all or nothing!

Guys ... don't worry I have asked my wonderful TA Tracy to sort this out for us and move us to ROTATION 3 ..... she is on the case !!!

PS Remind me never to volunteer to do anything relating to linking dining again as long as I live and cruise

I'm really curious - just how many of us on this cruise are using Tracy W as your TA? I know Mrs Mork and I are, but who else is booked through her? She said there were quite a few of her clients onboard.

 

[Steffy]

We just want to be with our DIS friends. I don't care what dining room we are at.


I ordered a global phone too, but that's because I'll be in London on Friday. I leave tomorrow night!!!! Excited, scared, overwhelmed......


I have the droid2. I should work on the Magic at at least 2.49 a minute. test .50 send .05 receive. but, I got the global phone from verizon for this trip anyway. Oh and they didn't ship it to me yet, I called and they are overnighting it to me tomorrow. I leave tomorrow.



Thanks Sarah!

So who lives in London that I can hunt down and grab a copy of the Navigator on Tuesday?

I can bring you a new naviagtor, of course you won't get it until we are on the ship unless you are at the Pratik Ramblas!

Have a wonderful trip! Yay for London. See you next week!

 

[TheCooksLuvDisney]

I can bring you a new naviagtor, of course you won't get it until we are on the ship unless you are at the Pratik Ramblas!

Have a wonderful trip! Yay for London. See you next week!

Thanks Steffy!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Just a request for those passengers traveling in the concierge on DCL, use those folks as much as you can. We used them several times a day when we have been in a concierge suite. In an era of cost cutting and downsizing, DCL is not immune to cutting services and personnel if they are not being unitized.

I know what you mean, and I think Disney is already doing it! When we first started sailing concierge with them, tips to the concierge were not accepted. Now we have word that DCL has cut their salaries, and tips are now expected, shifting their salaries from DCL to pax.

On a side note, I bought euros from AAA late yesterday morning, and they arrived here about an hour ago from UPS. I was shocked they came so quickly!


And, on another side note: who else has a room (or two) in their house that looks like a tornado hit it because you're in the middle of a packing storm?!

 

[Hoagie Pie]

Listening to the news and heard big aftershock in New Zealand - hope Paula and family are okay.

Also, cruise ship news - what cruise ships are doing to look out for big waves because there have been some problems. The video they showed was all the furniture went from one side of the ship to the other. Then, the big question they raised after that, "Are cruise ships really safe?" Ahh! I was like - are you kidding me? Anybody else see it??

 

[birkner]

I know what you mean, and I think Disney is already doing it! When we first started sailing concierge with them, tips to the concierge were not accepted. Now we have word that DCL has cut their salaries, and tips are now expected, shifting their salaries from DCL to pax.

Just another way for DCL to make more money. Shame on them!!


On a side note, I bought euros from AAA late yesterday morning, and they arrived here about an hour ago from UPS. I was shocked they came so quickly!

Congrats on getting them so fast. I bought mine at the bank as the AAA rate was much higher. The Euros came the next day.


And, on another side note: who else has a room (or two) in their house that looks like a tornado hit it because you're in the middle of a packing storm?!

One of our spare rooms looked like that for about a month. We are in the last death throws of packing with shifting good from one suitcase to another. The forwarded luggage is by the door waiting for the Luggage Forwarder to pick up today.

 

[Hoagie Pie]

I know what you mean, and I think Disney is already doing it! When we first started sailing concierge with them, tips to the concierge were not accepted. Now we have word that DCL has cut their salaries, and tips are now expected, shifting their salaries from DCL to pax.

On a side note, I bought euros from AAA late yesterday morning, and they arrived here about an hour ago from UPS. I was shocked they came so quickly!


And, on another side note: who else has a room (or two) in their house that looks like a tornado hit it because you're in the middle of a packing storm?!

I only have one room, but a tornado definitely hit it. Great question! Now I am hearing about the storm Igor - I am shutting the news off!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

I really am going to have to take the comment back Lynne! I was just telling him the saga of the changing rotation and people not wanting Parrot Cay for formal night and he said 'I can understand that, it isn't quite right for formal night is it?' There you go. He has eventually picked up some ship knowledge from all the cruises.

Deep down I reckon he know's a lot more than you think? I may just have to test his knowledge on the ship

Terry's grandmother died on Sunday, It's OK, we have been expecting it for a while, So have been so busy and have in-laws staying until next Sunday after funeral.

Sorry to hear about Terry's Grandmother Hayley ... even if it is expected it is still very sad to lose a relative. Sending

The cookie dough ice cream is at castaway cay, lol.

Pj

and it is absolutely fantastic !!!

Ok guys I need a boost......


I've been really good for 8 weeks and lost 24 lbs now.....but really really wanted to lose another 4 lb by next Friday....and I'm a little bit bummed All the gym work and swimming and on ly a pund since last Monday.......

Help!!!!

Mandy this is truly remarkable ... you have done amazingly well and you should be so proud of yourself !!

I have so far lost a big fat one kilo, but hope to kick things up a gear tomorrow wth 2 walks and a session on the Wii Fit each day until we leave. Now I have finished work it is so much easier to focus, although with my Mum having a birthday today I have had to give a little !!

Thanks Sarah for trying to get the roto changed to 3.

What day are we wearing our Trans Pirate shirts? I would assume it would be boarding day but I could be wrong. Obviously tasting shirts to tastings until I spill a tasting on the shirt.

We are wearing ours to join the ship ... hopefully most of us will and then we can spot each other a mile off !!

I'm in the same minority. Parrot Cay is so colorful it puts you in a fun mood. Animators is just so black and white.

Parrot Cay is my favourite too

 

[granmaz]

I know what you mean, and I think Disney is already doing it! When we first started sailing concierge with them, tips to the concierge were not accepted. Now we have word that DCL has cut their salaries, and tips are now expected, shifting their salaries from DCL to pax.

And, on another side note: who else has a room (or two) in their house that looks like a tornado hit it because you're in the middle of a packing storm?!

It does seem the US way of doing things to pay much less to service employees and then expect the customer to top up the wages for them. I know we accept that is how it is when we visit, but it just seems all wrong. However I do like the way we are treated when staff are after more money/tips(if you know what I mean) Being Brits, and knowing some don't tip, we go to some offsite restaurants in Orlando, and the service is disgusting sometimes because they have had experience of that and tar us all with the same brushh! So it is a self fulfilling prophecy - they don't get tipped from us either, and we are normally really good tippers! Sometimes I tip anyway just to prove a point though!

I do have a room that looks like a tornado hit it, and a few other places around the house like that too. I know it will soon be tidy again, but can't help thinking of all the unpacking and clearing up when we return. Now, I really shouldn't be thinking those thoughts right now should I?