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

[granmaz]

Ladies, one last Spanx question. Do they loosen at all after a wash or 3?

 

[DiaLady]

OY! Y'all are making me nervous. We're suppose to be packing? It just hit me today as I nearly finished a huge project for work yesterday that I'd better get cracking on this packing stuff.

Even DH was out buying things he thought we needed (can you say snorkel gear that I've been mentioning since March . . .LOL).

Even start my computer day by checking on DIS boards FIRST thing.

So I'm off to find a room to create the aforementioned tornado . . . Only 6 days until we're flying away!!

 

[UKANGEL]

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

Thanks Sandi

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?!

lol I certainly do! Now that Becky is back in Bristol we plan to move all the things into her (larger) room and spread them out over her kingsize bed! The weekend will be spent in actually packing the tornado into the cases!

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??

She seems shaken but not stirred, to coin a phrase..... Its terrible how many aftershocks there have been, and how powerful they are, but at least her and her loved ones aren't injured.

Glad I didn't see the ship news!!!!!

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.....that's nice of you! Good luck to you too........next week we won't have to worry so much!

 

[birkner]

Off to get my annual ladies squish test!! I am sure I will be back to more pages that I can read in one sitting!!

 

[AlexandNessa]

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.

Noel, you should really be a travel agent. I wish I had thought of Luggage Forward a few days ago. I would've shipped pirate stuff, formal wear, and Mike's bathroom, and Mike's closet over there ahead of time! It's too late for me now, but will they deliver it to your hotel in Barcelona? I am dreading thinking about what we are taking. Fortunately, we are in First Class so we get extra luggage allowance, but that still means we need to cart it from BCN to Le Meridien.

Can I just tell you that I am SOOO jealous of all of you who have husbands who pack a toothbrush and two changes of clothes?

P.S. Good luck with your squishy.

 

[LuvsTheSun]

OMG....it's so funny Theresa (or maybe not so) but I'm in the same situation as you! Too many other things to take care of, but now we're in the final stretch, hopefully everything will come together soon. Well, guess you could say I've been packing....in my mind! Only thing is, now that kids are back in school and 2 are out of the house, life's definately less complicated (and less clutter) so now ther's no excuses!

Lynne

 

[birkner]

Noel, you should really be a travel agent. I wish I had thought of Luggage Forward a few days ago. I would've shipped pirate stuff, formal wear, and Mike's bathroom, and Mike's closet over there ahead of time! It's too late for me now, but will they deliver it to your hotel in Barcelona? I am dreading thinking about what we are taking. Fortunately, we are in First Class so we get extra luggage allowance, but that still means we need to cart it from BCN to Le Meridien.

Can I just tell you that I am SOOO jealous of all of you who have husbands who pack a toothbrush and two changes of clothes?

P.S. Good luck with your squishy.

Thank you for the very nice compliments. We get three bags at 70lbs each on United. The problem is our domestic flight on Air Berlin which has severe restrictions. Ah, well I am only paying at total of $5 to fly first class to Frankfurt and $250 for both of us to fly to Barcelona so I should not complain.

 

[su_kraft]

Thank you!! I will just wait to hear from Sue what she finds out if we can we on changing to the PLA rotation. Do you know which night the MMC is or are we still "up in the air"?

I am not trying to move any of the linked dining. I have asked that we (Hayley and I) get moved to rotation 3. I love the tropical theme, but PC is my least favorit of the three. I think thatSarah is also tring to move the late diners to rotation 3, so if she is successful, then we will all be together!!

For those of us who have requested to link late dining ... just to let you know that I have contacted my travel agent again to tell her about the changes and asked if she can move us to rotation 3. I am sure it is a real pain for her ... but what else can I do

I have asked this because a few of our diners wanted Lumieres for formal. Hope this is OK with you all.

WOHOO - if done, then we will be with you all!!

Ok, its a deal, as long as you mind me not to orginize room tours and when we are at it, we can tell Sue, ... no dis tastings

Um, yes, I agree...

Don't anyone get me wrong. I have had a lot of fun, and had I taken this stuff to the concierge at first I am certain that we would have had it all by now. Needless to say, work is very stressful right now. I am in the middle of an ISO9000 and SOX audit for customers (auditors are here Monday and Tuesday next week!) And I come back to a SAS70 for our company. So, if it weren't for Autumn and the shore side staff I would be hosed. I have also been in contact with Lynda on the ship... Sorry - guess this makes me the time hog...

In an effort to reduce the "jet lag" effect on Jonathan he and I have been adjusting our clocks....It's 11:30 in Barcelona right now, we got up at 10:30 am. Sounds like we slept in, sure doesnt feel like it! My son is a cartoon watching zombie and I have every light in the house on.... COFFEE!!!!!!

I normally get up at 5 on work days and sports Saturdays. Sunday I tend to sleep in. However, we are going to take the weekend to shift the kids by about 3-4 hours. On the flip side, I actually tought about the other way as well. Glenn and I have so much to do that we are debating staying up and working the night before so that we can drop over on the plane. While this might indeed sound crazy, in my line of work we do see the occasional 36 our day...

They have cookie dough ice-cream on the boat......I am in trouble.....
...
Note to self, must tan!!! I fear it will be out of a bottle...
...
No problem at all Sue, Whatever you guys want, makes no difference to us, we don't know any different
Have been trying to catch you on Skype, 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.

You will only get the cookie dough ice cream at CC - so eat up then!!

I am doing tan in a bottle so I blind you all!

Sorry to hear about Terry's Grandmother. While expected, it is still a loss.

I will try and be on skype tonight. No cheer, No gym... But I am baking and cooking like a fiend! We are having a cookout to raise money for Feeding America. If anyone wants to donate - let me know! This is our annual fall fund raiser, and there is some friendly (or not so, depending on how you look at it) competition between our office in Alpharetta GA and Waukesha WI. We are aiming to raise $5000 in our office alone. We are at just over $1000 according to the website, but did a "biscuits and bake sale" this morning and sold biscuit sandwiches (sausage egg and cheese) and assorted baked sweets. We raised alomst $700! We are hosting a cookout on Friday as well and hope to hit $2000.

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.

Sarah - I am trying to swap 2 of the events and am just waiting on confirmation that they will accomodate. I am amazed at how fast I got dates when dealing with Autumn! I will post and PM you this evening.

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!!!!

BOOST!!!!

Awesome job!!

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!!

I think that Autumns position is safe just from me! I can't count all the eamils, and then the occasional phone call as well. She has gone above and beyond to help make this a trip of a life time. She even sends be a countdown every Monday and Friday! I am starting to write te additional comments for my comment card now!!

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!

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.

Tracy is our TA of record as well. Although due to Concierge at DCL, I haven't done a ton with her...

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!

I am planning to bring a few extra and they will be in our fish, along with the room change master and the Master List of people and swaps. (2 seperate envelopes)

OK - trying to get some work done. Honestly I feel like a paperweight this week. I haven't really gotten anything done, and can't concentrate - which is bad as I am dealing with various requests from auditors right now... While I love my job at times, I am not feeling like a value add right now... Maybe after vacation...

 

[NachoMama]

Ok, panic has set in. There are six of us traveling. We each have a large duffel bag and they are packed. Each weigh's around 50-60 pounds. We are spending a few days in Barcelona before the cruise... and I'm freaking out over wondering how hard it will be to get from the airport with our big bags to the hotel and then from the hotel to the port. I have this nightmare of a procession of 3 cabs at 50 euro's a pop just to get us from the airport to the hotel!

Also, I read in some travel books that per person, lunch could cost 20 euros/27 dollars. Is that accurate?

Any feedback you can give that would help me calm down over these two issues would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jsails]

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 know exactly what you mean! Every available flat surface on the boat has something that is going with me. My DH came home from his trip yesterday and wanted to know where he could unpack his suitcase and where was he going to sleep? He had just flown (he was the captain) non stop Paris to San Francisco and was beat!

I am going to try to cut down from 3 to 2 rollaboards, but I don't think it's possible.

 

[valbob89]

Oh Gosh - dealing with DCL on the phone is almost as painful as calling for tech support with my computer company. When we received our docs from DCL there was a page that indicated they still needed the flight info for my DH. On-line it indicated that all check-in info was complete for both of us. I called DCL and they said disregard as everything was complete. My TA called me this morning to confirm she had made final payment on our PCanal cruise. She said while she had Disney on the line she confirmed our 9-18 booking was ok. They told her we still needed to complete our immigration forms? She could not get on their site so she asked them what they were talking about as she had checked a couple of days ago and it said all our check-in forms were completed. DCL told her we needed to go on-line and complete the forms but weren't any more help. She told me she would continue to look into it. I told her I would too. I finally got my reservation to come up and it looked completed so I called DCL. After the "press 121 if you need to be transferred to the suicide prevention center recording merry-go-round" I got a women in the Documents Area who looked at my reservation and said she had to transferred me to reservations - she disconnected me. Called back and got someone who said I hadn't printed out the contract and payment authorization form and I needed to do that before they could note I had completed everything. I asked why I should print the forms when they had sent them to me with my documentation book with pages that can be riped out and signed. She sighed and said "we need you to print them out so you can read them" I told her they are in the docs DCL sent so why would I print out 10 pages of the same stuff they have printed and what if I didn't have a printer. She responded, that is why we send them. At that point I gave up. It shouldn't be this hard.
I did ask her to confirm the dining rotation, just to see if I would get a different answer. She said there has been a change this week, and quickly said "you know - it is subject to change." Formal nights 2 & 8, semi-formal 13, pirates night 11, villians night 6. The CD Brent. At the end of the call I got a call back, not the usual survey - a recording asking me to rate the call and if I wanted a supervisor to call me regarding the service I received. I pushed no - maybe I should have talked with her just for more pain. val

 

[granmaz]

Oh Gosh - dealing with DCL on the phone is almost as painful as calling for tech support with my computer company. When we received our docs from DCL there was a page that indicated they still needed the flight info for my DH. On-line it indicated that all check-in info was complete for both of us. I called DCL and they said disregard as everything was complete. My TA called me this morning to confirm she had made final payment on our PCanal cruise. She said while she had Disney on the line she confirmed our 9-18 booking was ok. They told her we still needed to complete our immigration forms? She could not get on their site so she asked them what they were talking about as she had checked a couple of days ago and it said all our check-in forms were completed. DCL told her we needed to go on-line and complete the forms but weren't any more help. She told me she would continue to look into it. I told her I would too. I finally got my reservation to come up and it looked completed so I called DCL. After the "press 121 if you need to be transferred to the suicide prevention center recording merry-go-round" I got a women in the Documents Area who looked at my reservation and said she had to transferred me to reservations - she disconnected me. Called back and got someone who said I hadn't printed out the contract and payment authorization form and I needed to do that before they could note I had completed everything. I asked why I should print the forms when they had sent them to me with my documentation book with pages that can be riped out and signed. She sighed and said "we need you to print them out so you can read them" I told her they are in the docs DCL sent so why would I print out 10 pages of the same stuff they have printed and what if I didn't have a printer. She responded, that is why we send them. At that point I gave up. It shouldn't be this hard.
I did ask her to confirm the dining rotation, just to see if I would get a different answer. She said there has been a change this week, and quickly said "you know - it is subject to change." Formal nights 2 & 8, semi-formal 13, pirates night 11, villians night 6. The CD Brent. At the end of the call I got a call back, not the usual survey - a recording asking me to rate the call and if I wanted a supervisor to call me regarding the service I received. I pushed no - maybe I should have talked with her just for more pain. val

Oh my goodness Val, what a shambles DCL are! I had to laugh at the 'suicide prevention center'. Oh dear, I feel so stressed for you.

 

[MrsMork]

A week today we will be in the air, well bar, strikes, volcanoes, bla bla bla.

We fly to Barcelona a week from today also!!! We leave home in 4 days!!!

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.


I haven't heard anything recently about the Spanish air traffic controllers strike so unless they nastily spring a surprise strike we should be ok!!

HHHHMMMM I think maybe John observes more than he gets credit for...

Brilliant well done you!

I've lost 24 lbs in the last 8 weeks but would really like to lose another 4 lb by next Friday!

That is wonderful!! Good job!!

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!!!!

BOOST! But really, you have done wonderful and if it slows to 1 lb a week now, well you are still LOSING!

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!!

I like them all!

Paul

Me too!!!

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??

We have sailed thru a hurricane with DCL (Olga), and yes we felt safe the entire time. It was a bit of a wild ride at times though!!

 

[su_kraft]

Oh Gosh - dealing with DCL on the phone is almost as painful as calling for tech support with my computer company. When we received our docs from DCL there was a page that indicated they still needed the flight info for my DH. On-line it indicated that all check-in info was complete for both of us. I called DCL and they said disregard as everything was complete. My TA called me this morning to confirm she had made final payment on our PCanal cruise. She said while she had Disney on the line she confirmed our 9-18 booking was ok. They told her we still needed to complete our immigration forms? She could not get on their site so she asked them what they were talking about as she had checked a couple of days ago and it said all our check-in forms were completed. DCL told her we needed to go on-line and complete the forms but weren't any more help. She told me she would continue to look into it. I told her I would too. I finally got my reservation to come up and it looked completed so I called DCL. After the "press 121 if you need to be transferred to the suicide prevention center recording merry-go-round" I got a women in the Documents Area who looked at my reservation and said she had to transferred me to reservations - she disconnected me. Called back and got someone who said I hadn't printed out the contract and payment authorization form and I needed to do that before they could note I had completed everything. I asked why I should print the forms when they had sent them to me with my documentation book with pages that can be riped out and signed. She sighed and said "we need you to print them out so you can read them" I told her they are in the docs DCL sent so why would I print out 10 pages of the same stuff they have printed and what if I didn't have a printer. She responded, that is why we send them. At that point I gave up. It shouldn't be this hard.
I did ask her to confirm the dining rotation, just to see if I would get a different answer. She said there has been a change this week, and quickly said "you know - it is subject to change." Formal nights 2 & 8, semi-formal 13, pirates night 11, villians night 6. The CD Brent. At the end of the call I got a call back, not the usual survey - a recording asking me to rate the call and if I wanted a supervisor to call me regarding the service I received. I pushed no - maybe I should have talked with her just for more pain. val

UUGH! why do they make it so hard? I hate the conflicting answers and the run around as well.

Not to add confusion - but I thought that Brent was NOT on the Magic? Or is he back on now but then getting off for a stateside job?

 

[Disney Sweetie]

Laura just saw the Naked Man of Barcelona

I asked if she had her camera.....she said it was her small one but it did the job!!

 

[granmaz]

Laura just saw the Naked Man of Barcelona

I asked if she had her camera.....she said it was her small one but it did the job!!

Oh no!!!!!

 

[valbob89]

Hi Mandy. I do "fat loss for idiots" when I need a boost, but it's an 11-day diet. I started on Monday to finish on Thursday, when we leave. Then I plan on doing it for about 8 months when we get back from the cruise, lol.

It works, and I like it because I don't have to think about what I'm eating. PM me if you want, and I can share a menu with you (you pick foods from a list).

What is the Fat Loss of Idiots diet? Thought I had heard and tried them all. I have been on a "sensible diet" (according to my stupid doctors) for 3 months and lost almost nothing. The last 7 days I have been on the cabbage soup diet and lost more then I did in 3 months - I know it is probably water loss but I'm not going to listen to reason. I would love to know about another diet - unless it has the word cabbage in it. val

 

[MrsMork]

Laura just saw the Naked Man of Barcelona

I asked if she had her camera.....she said it was her small one but it did the job!!

So...the small one did the job, huh?

 

[CustardTart]

Brilliant well done you!

I've lost 24 lbs in the last 8 weeks but would really like to lose another 4 lb by next Friday!

Nice one!!! You can do it!!!

Oh I have plenty of cushioning Kaz!!! You can have some of mine!:

Oh that's OK, Mandy!!!

I know all about head in the sand and these strikes etc! Just need to get to Barcelona and then we should be ok. Unless DCL strike of course!!!

Hush now, GrandMazter!!!

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!!!!

You could always try eating only protein for a day or so - that really helps me if I've plateau'd. Keep up with the gym/swimming and don't let yourself get hungry...

 

[UKANGEL]

Off to get my annual ladies squish test!! I am sure I will be back to more pages that I can read in one sitting!!

Good luck Noel!

I am not trying to move any of the linked dining. I have asked that we (Hayley and I) get moved to rotation 3. I love the tropical theme, but PC is my least favorit of the three. I think thatSarah is also tring to move the late diners to rotation 3, so if she is successful, then we will all be together!!

That will be good if we're all in the same place


I will try and be on skype tonight. No cheer, No gym... But I am baking and cooking like a fiend! We are having a cookout to raise money for Feeding America. If anyone wants to donate - let me know! This is our annual fall fund raiser, and there is some friendly (or not so, depending on how you look at it) competition between our office in Alpharetta GA and Waukesha WI. We are aiming to raise $5000 in our office alone. We are at just over $1000 according to the website, but did a "biscuits and bake sale" this morning and sold biscuit sandwiches (sausage egg and cheese) and assorted baked sweets. We raised alomst $700! We are hosting a cookout on Friday as well and hope to hit $2000.

Good luck to you all with the fund raising



BOOST!!!!

Thanks Sue!

We fly to Barcelona a week from today also!!! We leave home in 4 days!!!


Yay!!


That is wonderful!! Good job!!

BOOST! But really, you have done wonderful and if it slows to 1 lb a week now, well you are still LOSING!


Again, thanks Angie

Laura just saw the Naked Man of Barcelona

I asked if she had her camera.....she said it was her small one but it did the job!!