Westbound Repo Ship of Thieves-Remember the Magic!

[Tink rules]

I asked John yesterday if he would do the same cruise again if Disney offered it and he said, without hesitation - YES!!!

So it is an AYE from us too.

Come on DCL - Panama Canal for 2010!!

Does it have to be Panama or can I fit in any other special destination?

One sad thing. We came home to the news that our very new neighbours, who we really like and get on with really well had had dreadful news. Quintin, the husband has just been diagnosed with a rampant malignant brain tumour. There is nothing that can be done. Treatment would only extend life and not for long. They say he might have only had it for 2 weeks, and he could die very soon. How awful and unbelievable in just such a short time.

Oh Hugs Marilyn and many prayers!

Good morning all.

There is one left over piece of business from this cruise. We fired our dog sitter. Well, not fired, we just won't have him back again.

I told you... next time I'll come and take care of them... but of course you realize...next time we'll be traveling together again... Think they'd fit in my carry on???

Hey guys.
I was not on your cruise - In fact I don't try my first till November.
I'm just perusing and I also happen to be a friend of ibouncetoo.
That's how I got here I follow her everywhere.

Any way - you guys are quite the bunch of
Nutty Chatterboxes.

Gaaawd - I hope we have nutty chatterboxes on our cruise.

Yes we are... and we had such a blast together!!!! Hope you get some "chatty" people too!!!

ok, I need something to plan.

How about another trip??? That's what I'm doing and I'm not even fully unpacked yet!!!

That is what I really would have thought! Ah well!!!

How about thoughts on cruising in hurricane season?

DH and I have cruised DCL at the height of hurricane season every Sept. since 2002. The weather is almost always perfect because the captain will take you to perfect weather if at all possible. As long as you don't have your heart set on certain ports of call it is a great time to cruise. Of course there never is a guaratee that you will make your ports anyway. We did have to outrun a hurricane one time and miss CC. We were diverted from an Eastern to a Western one time. And another time we had to miss Key West. None of this mattered. They were all great cruises. This is the first Sept. we will not be cruising since 2002. The WB repo was definitely worth missing this Sept. though. It was our best cruise to date!

You know... I really loved the sea days on this trip. Maybe I'd hate it if I really wanted to see the port, but I'd be just fine with some more time at sea if the captain can find some nice relaxing waves for me!!!

 

[Making_Memories]

Thank you honey. I knew I could count on you.

Of course! Still missing everyone soooo much!

 

[katypop]

You're right.....how could I ever do another 7 night when 15 went so fast. John and I will have to talk about it.

I loved LA.....everywhere we went and everything we did was awesome. Even the weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold.

Vegas was ok....I didn't like it as much as I liked LA. We only gamled our last hour there and I won $200 at the quarter slots. The pool was overcrowed, the heat was unbearable. I don't think I like the desert....at least not there. The drive from LA was barren and dry and hot. I'm more of a coastal person, I need an ocean.

I have some more pics to post of California Adventure and Las Vegas from the trip.

Hmmm....you're talking about the b2b, and you won $200.00! Just enough to cover the deposit

ok, I need something to plan.

I know...b2b Sept12-19 and 19-26

That is what I really would have thought! Ah well!!!

How about thoughts on cruising in hurricane season?

I survived parasailling and zip-lining and rappelling on this last cruise, hurricane Piece of cake

Are you going on the September 12, 2009 Eastern Carribean?

Sept 12 Tortola, YES! and then 19-26 WC. Are you on Sept 12 too

So John and I are sitting here laptop to laptop having coffee....he doesn't go back to work until tomorrow. Naturally, we discussed the subject of Back to Back on the Tortola cruise.....we think we will do this too with everyone else.

Woohoo

What are the dates for the B2B? I think we're booked on one of the two, might book the second ...

The 12th of Sept is the 1st one (eastern w/ Tortola) followed by the western on the 19th.

Yeah I know you guys won't be able to resist either

Man...IF I even get on this cruise, how am I going to get OFF, when you are all staying ON?

Lunch break over....back to work!

.

Easy...you won't! You'll have to stay on board with us!!!

Kathe

 

[mishoe01]

Seems like they half read your email and thought you were just praising the 2 servers. Dim!!! I would send it again.

I did send a response back--we'll see if anything else comes of it.

 

[mishoe01]

Monica, I know here in Canada it isn't surprising there is no mention of the firing. Companies can get into a lot of trouble up here for mentioning that type of thing about ex-employees. So usually it is best not to say much but give the letter to the powers that be and provide the writer with "lip service" to do your due diligence. However, what the letter may do behind the scenes is something altogether different.

So I just took it as someone trying to provide you with a courteous response, and at the same time not saying too much that may get him/her or the company into too much trouble - C.Y.A. style.

Hi Ken,

Your reply does make sense, but I sent a reply email anyways (did that before I read your response).

Can't wait to see your pics!

 

[iankh]

Hi guys....you MUST do both with the rest of us. We need more shots around the ship and it wouldn't be the same without you!

Sept 12 is the Tortola Eastern and Sept 19 is the B2B Western!

Congratulations on your pending nuptuals.....after 21 years I think it's about time! We're with you in thought, wish we could share it for real. Please post pictures!

I'll look at the calendar. This one of those things I might have to book first and inform Sukie about afterwards.

He knew virtually nothing about the Panama Cruise, other than I booked it, until we got on the airplane.

Yesterday, we drove up in Mrs. Fezziwig to the Chicago Botanical Gardens, and suddenly he said to me, "You know, people kept coming up to me on the ship that I had never met before and asked me how Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Fezziwig were. How I liked the Smart Car. What did you say on that bulletin board?"

I'm not sure if I ever told him that I told everyone that the first concert he went to was Jenny Lind when she appeared in New York City in 1856 ...

 

[iankh]

Ian,

Sorry to hear about this. Not nice at all. How did Truman & Tallulah react when you guys got home? How are they now?

Tallulah, the smarter of the two, was especially subdued for several days. On the plus side she was also exceptionally well behaved. We thought she had given up trying to be evil.

We now believe that she comfortably believes that the dog sitter is not coming back, so she has returned to her old ways. Feeling that Sukie did not give her sufficient attention today, she pooped in his office.

Ah, it's good to be home ...

 

[iankh]

Is anyone taking advantage of the new DCL promotion?? You can book a res now and just put down 1/2 of the deposit......2nd 1/2 is added into your final pymt.

Tempting......

I have the b2b booked right now....and a 4nt to be moved to 2010....maybe onto 2011. Do I REALLY need another res????

Oh yeah, sure, tempt me to add on the second week!

 

[HollyTyler]

That is our state bear (the Grizzly) at Grizzly River rapids. We call it Bear Moutain around here or "our bear" at California Adventure. I think it is hilarious that none of us in our house or neighbors know the name of the mountain (as Monica did!)

During Xmas and Halloween they project images of snowflakes and spiders onto the bear's head.

WAY COOL!!!!!!

 

[HollyTyler]

Most of you probably read the posting that Will added about our server (Alonso) being fired the last night of the cruise. Well, I sent my own email to DCL about this.....

Here's what I wrote:
I just got off the Magic after the Panama Canal crossing. Everything
was amazing until the last morning and I feel like I need to let my
feelings known as to my disappointment.

This is regarding an incident that we were made aware of by another
guest concerning our server Alonso (from Costa Rica teamed up with
Grissell from Peru).

First of all I must say that the two of them are the best pair of
servers I have had on any DCL cruise (this was my 4th) and had been
planning on requesting their services on my upcoming cruises upon the
Magic (am booked for a b2b in September of 2009). Both of them were
amazing and because of their level of service I have a really hard time
knowing that Alonso was let go on the last evening.

I want to let you know a bit of my "history" with Alonso. We started
out the cruise with me being the recipient of many of Alonso's jokes and
teasing (all done with laughs from me too). I remember the 1st Tuesday
morning my travel mates & I went to breakfast and after being seated,
all of a sudden I found someone jumping right next to me and saying
"boo". You guessed it - it was Alonso. Needless to say I jumped (and
probably did my share of screaming too). Fast forward to later that day
- I ended up getting sick due to the motion of the ship so I decided it
was best for me NOT to go to dinner that night and went to bed early.

The next morning my friends told me that Alonso was worried about me the
night before - he first thought I was upset with him that he was teasing
me but when the boys told him that I wasn't feeling well, they told me
that he (Alonso) wanted to personally bring me something to eat to make
me feel better. The next evening when I walked into the restaurant, as
soon as Alonso saw me he came running up to me and gave me a BIG hug and
said he hoped I felt better.

While I have ALWAYS had good service from my servers on board, I really
must say that Alonso & Grissell were above that bar and FAR exceeded my
expectations. I have never given an actual GIFT to any of the prior
servers (not tip) but I felt moved to share something with these 2
people as they had touched my life in a most memorable way.

When his departure was explained to us on that last morning it crushed
us all. Not exactly the way I wanted to have this amazing cruise end.
We were told that his departure was basically due to a guest who seemed
to have had a bad encounter with Alonso. It was explained that this
guest was upset as she didn't get the dessert she requested. We were
also told that she requested a change of server which was done. I don't
discount that people don't always click or get along with each other,
however Alonso had been with DCL for 9 years and I really don't get how
DCL could let him go. True we may not have seen what happened and there
MAY have been more to this, it just doesn't seem right.

I really hope DCL will do what is right by Alonso and reinstate him.


NOW for DCL's response:
Dear Monica:

Thank you for your e-mail.

On behalf of the entire Disney Cruise Line team, I would like to say
that we are very appreciative of your kind words for our cruise ship,
service, and crew. We wanted to create a unique and incredible vacation
experience that matched the quality of the Disney Theme Parks and Disney
Resorts with crew members who continually exemplified those standards
that have been established by our company's heritage. It's always
gratifying to hear in what areas we have succeeded, and I also
appreciate the time you took to tell us about Alonso and Grissell. I
have been sure to share your e-mail with all of the appropriate
shipboard and shoreside individuals.

Again, thank you for sharing your experiences with us. We look forward
to the chance to welcome aboard you and your family again one day soon.

Sincerely,

Joel
Guest Communications
Disney Cruise Line

Does anyone else notice no comment on the fact that he was fired and my disappointment at DCL?

For a company that seems to strive for excellent customer service, they sure do love those form letters and non-answer replies. Good grief, it's like pulling teeth trying to get a real response from those people. Just pathetic.

 

[HollyTyler]

Tallulah, the smarter of the two, was especially subdued for several days. On the plus side she was also exceptionally well behaved. We thought she had given up trying to be evil.

We now believe that she comfortably believes that the dog sitter is not coming back, so she has returned to her old ways. Feeling that Sukie did not give her sufficient attention today, she pooped in his office.

Ah, it's good to be home ...

 

[lillygator]

I can't do Sept or Oct....Sept is year end close month and really Oct and Nov and most of Dec are audit. I have been lucky to go on vacation in Dec.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Deb and Deborah - glad both of you are home safe & sound. Glad you had a great time on your extentions.

Happy to be back so that we can start planning our next vacations.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Wow, what a cool picture! What is it?

It's the river rafting ride that we did and got soaking wet.....but we cooled off!!!

I'm glad we ran into Heather and family too......I didn't get to see them on the boat, so I got to talk to them a little at DL. I'm glad I got Bethany's picture for Tyler.

 

[LisaG520]

I can't do Sept or Oct....Sept is year end close month and really Oct and Nov and most of Dec are audit. I have been lucky to go on vacation in Dec.

I thought we were the only ones who can't go in September - year end for Darrell too.

 

[LisaG520]

It's the river rafting ride that we did and got soaking wet.....but we cooled off!!!

I'm glad we ran into Heather and family too......I didn't get to see them on the boat, so I got to talk to them a little at DL. I'm glad I got Bethany's picture for Tyler.

Glad your home safe and sound!!

Other than the desert part did you enjoy Vegas? Get to any shows? You drove thru the town we used to live in before San Diego - Barstow.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I could NOT have said it better myself! I only did this cruise because of its length and the opportunity to do something (go through the canal) that not a whole lot of people get to do. (And of course, the opportunity to cruise with all of YOU wonderful people!!) I never was excited about the Mexican ports of call. Being from Southern CA, the Pacific didn't hold a lot of allure for me to begin with, and once we left Puerto Vallarta, we might as well have been at home for how the weather was.

Give me the Caribbean ANY TIME! I'm only sad that there will not likely be a 2 week Caribbean, so the only way to do it is back 2 backs, which I THINK would be more expensive, but maybe not.

Unfortunately we already have our next year planned, so we probably won't be joining you all on the Sept B2B adventure, but maybe in a year or two.

We DID buy into DVC this cruise, so we are planning to take advantage of it to go to WDW in early December of this year, then next year we want to go to Disneyland Paris and London. That will pretty much wipe out our points through 2009, so it will be 2010 before we'll be able to save enough points to cruise again (If I have the points calculated correctly!)

But I'd probably do another repo cruise again, even if it WAS this one, just for the chance to hang with everyone again and to spend 2 weeks on the Magic!

Hi Tracy.....it was great seeing you and your family for dinner with Woody and Mrs. Woody. It was a great DISer fix at the end of our LA visit. Hope we'll get to sail together again. And we'll do dinner again next time we're in your neighborhood.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I thought we were the only ones who can't go in September - year end for Darrell too.

We'll miss you both as our neighbors and our dinner mates. I'll post pictures to share with you when we go.

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

I could NOT have said it better myself! I only did this cruise because of its length and the opportunity to do something (go through the canal) that not a whole lot of people get to do. (And of course, the opportunity to cruise with all of YOU wonderful people!!) I never was excited about the Mexican ports of call.
But I'd probably do another repo cruise again, even if it WAS this one, just for the chance to hang with everyone again and to spend 2 weeks on the Magic!

Being from AZ I feel the same way about Mexico. I've seen plenty of it--it's not that I don't like it, in fact I like a lot of things about it, but combine Mexico with heat and I don't need to go there. I really enjoyed staying on the ship in PV and Cabo, although I did take the tender in Cabo and walk around a bit and that was fun because it was cool that day. Even the Western ports, Key West, been there several times, I'll probably skip it. Grand Cayman and Cozumel have nice diving so I would think the snorkeling would be good so I'd probably do something like that there, but being on the ship for 2 weeks--now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!

Man...IF I even get on this cruise, how am I going to get OFF, when you are all staying ON?

.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!

I can't do Sept or Oct....Sept is year end close month and really Oct and Nov and most of Dec are audit. I have been lucky to go on vacation in Dec.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Glad your home safe and sound!!

Thanks Lisa, we miss you guys.....we had such a great time with you both.

Other than the desert part did you enjoy Vegas? Get to any shows? You drove thru the town we used to live in before San Diego - Barstow.

I could give up going back to Vegas. We didn't really have time to do all the hotels and the shows......had to pick one and we went for the hotels.....swimming and a little gambling.

Barstow was a great place in the middle of nothing.....very strange to us.

For vacation, I would much rather do places in California that we didn't get to rather than spend time and money in Vegas.....I think every meal we ate was $100 or close to it....even the hotel buffet.