JohnG

QUOTE Good morning John. We were just talking on our thread and see that Celebrity has now added a disclaimer to our reservation page that they can reinstate the fuel supplement at any time. Since that notice wasn't there yesterday - it looks like it will be doing just that soon. Several of us were wondering if we made our final payment now would we be exempt from the surcharge or would they bill us for it despite being Paid In Full. On the 13 days cruise it could add up to a bit of spending money. Could you please see what you can find out and let us know. Thanks END QUOTE _________________________________________________________ Every cruise line has had the disclaimer on their documents issued ever since the fuel surcharge was removed last year, that they had the right to reinstate it if the price of oil went over some specified level. It is not a new addition. And every Celebrity reservation agent includes it in their "speil" when you book with them. I have been hearing it from every cruise line reservation department daily since last December. They haven't reapplied it yet. Carnival Corp. stated publically the other day that although oil is over the stated threshold level, they do not intend to reinstate the charge due to the poor economy. They are the only corporation to publically discuss it. That would cover CCL, Cunard, Princess, Holland, Seabourn, and Costa. RCL/Celebrity hasn't spoken publicly yet. I suspect that it will apply to all booking, including paid in full, if it occurs. Princess and Holland America often have some last minute change in port charges and taxes and they do apply even to paid in full bookings unless it is under something like $5.

I believe the formal nights are those 3 because they normally do the second night/first sea day for the first one and the never do one the last night, so the sea day of Nov 20 would the 3rd one. That leaves one sea day, Nov 17. But.....since they don't confirm them....??

I also just spoke with our group coordinator at Celebrity. Individuals can book specialty restaurants online, she said, but they won't do groups. She did say that Captains Club members can book from 60 days out until 6 days from sailing, and can request reservations for up to 12. So...we either need to make individual reservations (and they don't seem to be available yet on the Celebrity website....like the excursions) or someone else who is a Captains Club member and myself can make them. They don't have tables for 19, so we'd be at a variety of tables, hopefully near, and the times may be slightly staggered to accommodate the group. The 2nd formal night is likely Nov 17, the sea day after Barbados, but they won't confirm it, as it is always up to the ship to make the decision. I believe the 3 formals will be Nov 10, Nov 17, and Nov 20.

I'm working with a couple of local couple who seem interested in this cruise, too. I just made our flight arrangments. Managed to get my on Delta Skymiles and bought Karen's. We arrive in Miami at 3:21pm on Nov 8. And Joey, my confirmation number at the hotel is 63476960.

Pre Cruise Dinner Miami Sunday 11/08/2009 7:45-8:00pm Millers Ale House Joey and David Debbie Jim & MaryLou Cindy & Howard Andrea Judson & Louise Steve & Lynda Rose & Howie Paula JohnG & Karen *Captain Jason *Miss C ~Cheryl(GottaCruz)and family *Other southern Florida residents Group Dinner Specialty Restaurant $30.00 pp cover charge (wine extra) Joey and David Debbie Jim & MaryLou Paula Cindy & Howard Rose & Howie James & Donna Steve & Lynda Judson & Louise Andrea JohnG & Karen Slot Pull (MaryLou in charge) Wednesday 11/11@ 11:00AM The way it works: We will pick, at random, a $1 machine that plays a max of 3 credits per turn. The cost of participation is $21. per person. 1)Each participant with have 7 turns on the machine. 2)At the end of the persons turn, the credits are left in the machine and the next person adds their $21 to the machine. 3)After everyone has gone, we cash out and the winnings are distributed evenly among all the participants. Joey Debbie Jim & MaryLou Paula Cindy & Howard Rose & Howie KarenG Steve & Lynda Andrea Judson Game day (Need Host/Organizer) Card games, board games, fun games Joey Jim Howard Debbie MaryLou Andrea Scavenger Hunt (A 15 item list) (Joey is officiating) Debbie Jim & MaryLou Paula Cindy & Howard Rose & Howie James & Donna Steve & Lynda Judson & Louise Andrea CruiseCrazie Trivia Team Joey and or David Debbie Howard MaryLou James & Donna Steve & Lynda Andrea Paula

That is all for now, till I show her the list! She is one of those that got a kick out of the posting about "Connie who?".

I don't know why but I have added Karen G to the Slot Pull (I posted months ago she wanted to play), but the cut and pastes aren't picking her up. Check my last posting.

Group Photo Computer Lounge Tuesday 11/10 @ 11:00am Wear your CruiseCrazie Connie Goes Crazie Tee shirt for group photo opportunities Meet at the:Computer Lounge Group Dinner Specialty Restaurant $30.00 pp cover charge (wine extra) Joey and David Debbie Jim & MaryLou Paula Cindy & Howard Rose & Howie Slot Pull (MaryLou in charge) Wednesday 11/11@ 11:00AM The way it works: We will pick, at random, a $1 machine that plays a max of 3 credits per turn. The cost of participation is $21. per person. 1)Each participant with have 7 turns on the machine. 2)At the end of the persons turn, the credits are left in the machine and the next person adds their $21 to the machine. 3)After everyone has gone, we cash out and the winnings are distributed evenly among all the participants. Joey Debbie Jim & MaryLou Paula Cindy & Howard Karen G Rose & Howie Sea Day Card Tournament (Need Host/Organizer) Spades, Canasta or Hearts Joey Jim Howard Scavenger Hunt (A 15 item list) (Joey is officiating) Debbie Jim & MaryLou Paula Cindy & Howard Rose & Howie CruiseCrazie Trivia team Joey and or David Debbie Howard MaryLou

Karen will have 3 formal outfits, and I have a tux and a white dinner jacket. We have used shipboard laundry in the past on a 12 day cruise, and I have 2 tux shirts but will need one of them redone on this cruise. I don't have much trouble getting everything into 2 suitcases and a carryon, and Karen does the same, despite having at least two different pairs of shoes per day! Heck, she has more bathing suits than I have shoes! She doesn't like to wear shorts or t-shirts. She has been a banker for about 35 years and just isn't comfortable in casual. Even pants are a very rare occurance for her, like when she had to wear jeans to go horseback riding last cruise.

There are shared taxis at the pier that will take you to Coki Beach, and there are taxis waiting there for the return.

It is not so much the cruise lines as it is the countries. Some require that it be valid for 6 months after you enter the country, so that if you were detained or hospitalized while you were there, you would have a valid passport so you could leave the country. They don't wan't someone's passport to expire while they are there and be unable to leave at the end of their visa limits. In addition, on this cruise, leaving from and returning to the same US port, there is still an exception even after June 1, 2009 that US citizens are not required to have a passport to reenter the US. An original birthcertificate and govt issued ID will suffice (kids under 16 only need the birth certificate). However.......if you missed the ship and had to fly out, or had to fly home during the cruise due to injury or a family emergency....you need a passport to fly internationally, and to reenter the US. So, we are strongly recommending that people all have passports.

In Europe women can't enter the churches in shorts. My daughter carried a skirt to slip on over her shorts. But men were not stopped in shorts. I've had no trouble in the Caribbean or Mexico in shorts while visiting a church. Karen doesn't wear shorts so she never has encountered the problem. In Barbados, a nice beach day can be had at The Boatyard, a beach club in town that can be reached inexpensively by taxi. Beach, water "burg", chairs, etc, beach bar and restaurant, small gift shop. There is an admission charge but it is reasonable. Amount isn't posted at the website. http://www.theboatyard.com/

I don't own a laptop or a cell phone. Karen has a cell. Don't need them since I work from my home office. However, on the ship I buy a package of minutes (250 is usually the largest the offer) because I need to check my email daily. Even though I have an associate with access to my electronic files in my absence, many times I can answer a question etc for the client by email. If it can wait till I get back, I handle it then. If they want to book right now, a refer it to my associate, and have to split the commission. My business is built on establishing ongoing relationships with my customers, which is why I get a lot of repeat business. So I have to be reachable. We also use it to check in with our daughter, exchanging brief emails daily. We, too, will likely book Southwest, which is significantly less than flying into Miami, and the shuttle to Miami is only about $18 per person. We'll probably book the Celebrity transfer back to FLL at disembarkation. Also two free bags per person. (That is an $80 savings over American). But I, too, have been monitoring it to see when they open up past Oct 31. I don't monitor, normally, very often. When I have booked through Orbitz in the past they have been good about sending me emails when there are changes. So have Continental and Delta.

Cruisetarp - Jim prefers red - I can't drink on my current meds but if I'm off them white. deb1220 - Yes - I drink red - preferably Shiraz or Merlot Elfed JoeyandDavid Y Joey prefers White - David Red (but drinks both) JohnG Red. The only white Karen drinks is the kind with bubbles in it. lashl - Yes, we both like red or white. PatJud WHITE ZINFANDEL PaulaW Rat Rogue SailingRose Rose drinks either but prefers white. Howie doesn't drink 55ChevyLady- yes, white

I had one family from Finland, who had been in the US since August but was scheduled to return to Finland June 3 They were booked on Carnival Splendor May 24. When they rerouted it to the Pacific Northwest, they were devasted. She said I can go out with an umbrella in my own country. I wanted to swim an snorkel. They weren't going to be here to use a future cruise credit, so I contacted the C/L and sent them copies of Finnish passports and airline e-tickets and Carnival refunded 100%, which they were not otherwise offering. On the other hand, I had a past client call and book three balconies for the Mariner of the Seas which was rerouted up there. They were happy with the prices and the itinerary. They have rescheduled away from Mexico so far through the June 15 sailings. I think the following weekend sailings are still set for Mexico, as they are figuring the CDC warning to avoid Mexico will be lifted by then. Costa Maya has been particularly affected, as they had just reopened in the second half of last year from the hurricane damage, and now no cruise ship stops, which they are totally dependent on. There is really very little other tourism in the area, and the local nearby town depends on the cruise business.

Karen and I used Lord Sheffield once and enjoyed it. Sailed toward Saphire Beach and the airport, then back past, I think Divi Beach, and snorkled, jumped off the ship, etc. They do a nice BBQ onboard. We only hd about 6 passengers the day we went. It is an easy walk from the pier area, just down the street from the terminal, toward town.

Judson, see my reply on the Connie Goes Crazie thread. The Celebrity website has a brochure that decribes how it works. You use the Blackberry and pay roaming charges through your provider from the point in the US that receives the signal. See the pamphlet from the Celebrity site that describes it under GPRS Data Service on page 2: http://media.celebritycruises.com/celebrit...e_faq_02_07.pdf

Celebrity has confirmed that they will recall all our unsold cabins for the Connie Goes Crazy group cruise sometime tomorrow, May 13. Last chance to book at these great discounts.

Celebrity has confirmed that they will be recalling the remaining cabins tomorrow, May 13, that we have saved at our CruiseCrazies discounted price. Last Call!!

Celebrity reports the XPress Pass and Manage Your Reservation system has been down for several days. They are working on it but don't know when it will be back up. Judson, you can use a cell phone on the ship. They transfer your call via satellite to the US and then roaming charges apply. Most providers are fine. Regarding the Blackberry it looks like that works too, with the roaming charges. See the pamphlet from the Celebrity site that describes it under GPRS Data Service on page 2: http://media.celebritycruises.com/celebrit...e_faq_02_07.pdf

I'll call Celebrity this morning and try to find out something. I'm getting the same response on my reservation: null and system maintenance, and it won't even let me do online check-in.

My God! I don't check in in a week cuz I've been very busy and we are 50 pages later. Took me a while read all the posts. I take a tux and a white dinner jacket. Karen loves to dress for dinner every night. She doesn't do t-shirts but I just ordered a Connie Goes Crazie t-shirt. We had just mentioned last night the need to stop at a grocery store to pick up a couple bottles of wine. Regarding the insurance question, if you purchased Travel Companion through me, it doesn't cover cancellation if you just fear the flu. It only covers if you, a traveling companion, or immediate family member are incapicated by illness, verified by a doctor, and unable to travel. I remember the home state gift exchange one time at a RCCL meet and greet party organized by that other board.

I'm talking to Karen about a European River cruise for 2010. And our national conference on whatever cruiseline hosts it next year. But college tuition for my daughter, going into her 2nd year in pre-med is a strong contender for our funds! We usually cruise about 4 times a year.

Karen doesn't drink white wine unless it has bubbles in it! Just send any unused bottles to our cabin.

Debbie, Has your TA ever told you that each cruise line has a special needs procedure and you can submit a form ahead of time telling them what your food/dietary restrictions are? I have a customer in California with very similar needs to yours and we have had no problem on several lines by submitting the form ahead of time. In addition, last time we had my daughter on a Celebrity ship, and she is lactose intolerant and doesn't like "stuff" on pasta, etc, and she spoke with the Asst Maitre D' one night, he began bringing her the next night's dinner menu the night before and letting her specify any modifications she wanted and they did it for her. Needless to say I tipped him well.