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Post by Shan on Jul 18, 2007 14:54:59 GMT -5
Are we talking in lieu of Labor Day weekend? A cruise is fine with me. If we do a four day/three night, the cost is not much more thatn what a three day hotel and food would cost. They are actually pretty economical. A Grand Caymen cruise out of Texas could be fun. And as for seasickness...the old ships were like that, but the new ones are like floating cities. You barely feel the motion anymore. I should know; I've been on three cruises! It's fun with a lot of people to hang out with. Count me in. I think you're absolutely right about the value! The 3-night cruises I've been looking at in April start at around $279 per person and really don't get a lot higher than that, even for the ocean view cabins. That's less than it would cost for hotel + food at a land-based S'cubiefest.
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Post by Onjel on Jul 18, 2007 19:20:52 GMT -5
Are we talking in lieu of Labor Day weekend? A cruise is fine with me. If we do a four day/three night, the cost is not much more thatn what a three day hotel and food would cost. They are actually pretty economical. A Grand Caymen cruise out of Texas could be fun. And as for seasickness...the old ships were like that, but the new ones are like floating cities. You barely feel the motion anymore. I should know; I've been on three cruises! It's fun with a lot of people to hang out with. Count me in. I think you're absolutely right about the value! The 3-night cruises I've been looking at in April start at around $279 per person and really don't get a lot higher than that, even for the ocean view cabins. That's less than it would cost for hotel + food at a land-based S'cubiefest. That reasonable. The only added cost would be for the airfare to get there, and for most of the S'cubies that's something we'd be paying anyway. I think it's a fab idea!
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Post by Shan on Jul 18, 2007 19:43:34 GMT -5
I think you're absolutely right about the value! The 3-night cruises I've been looking at in April start at around $279 per person and really don't get a lot higher than that, even for the ocean view cabins. That's less than it would cost for hotel + food at a land-based S'cubiefest. That reasonable. The only added cost would be for the airfare to get there, and for most of the S'cubies that's something we'd be paying anyway. I think it's a fab idea! That's what I'm sayin! The only thing that's a bummer is that the drinks are horrendously expensive aboard the ship. They make up for the financial sting a bit by mixing the drinks VERY strong, e.g., strong enough that after just one I assumed I was still sober enough to talk shop with one of the company VP's and ended up telling him that pretty much everybody thought he was a jackass. Hey, HE approached ME with work-related questions!
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Post by betsyAB on Jul 19, 2007 8:30:16 GMT -5
OK, I still need to know if we are still doing Labor Day weekend or are we postponing a few months and doing a cruise instead. Please to tell me. Thank you very much.
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Post by Shan on Jul 19, 2007 8:52:55 GMT -5
OK, I still need to know if we are still doing Labor Day weekend or are we postponing a few months and doing a cruise instead. Please to tell me. Thank you very much. Sorry, Betsy. I thought I put it in the main post here but it was in one of my later ones! We'll be looking at early next year, some time between February and April.
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Post by Jan on Jul 19, 2007 10:58:46 GMT -5
OK, I still need to know if we are still doing Labor Day weekend or are we postponing a few months and doing a cruise instead. Please to tell me. Thank you very much. Sorry, Betsy. I thought I put it in the main post here but it was in one of my later ones! We'll be looking at early next year, some time between February and April. I voted yes on this--particularly interested if we can depart from an air hub like Orlando (just for an example), where it would be cheap for everyone to fly to. I think this is a peachy idea--always wanted to try one, but probably never would if I wasn't doin' it with da S'cubies.
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Post by Vlad on Jul 19, 2007 15:18:47 GMT -5
OK, I still need to know if we are still doing Labor Day weekend or are we postponing a few months and doing a cruise instead. Please to tell me. Thank you very much. The Labor Day date has been cancelled. Unfortunately there were not enough people who could actually make that date (even tho it "won" the vote) to make it a worthwhile S'fest. So, instead, Shan has proposed this "cruise" version of S'fest, and if there is interest in it, will come up with potential dates for the coming year. Hopefully with more notice, more folks will be able to make it. Planning an S'fest and trying to satisfy everyone's needs is always the hardest part. Vlad
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Post by Shan on Jul 19, 2007 19:20:41 GMT -5
In case anybody was wondering about flight + cruise discounts, I checked it out a bit today and was told that there's no benefit to be had from combining flights with cruise tickets unless we're all going from the same airport.
So whatever group discount (and other bennies) we can get through the cruise line will be for booking a block of at least 8 double-occupancy cabins.
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Post by Vlad on Jul 19, 2007 19:53:09 GMT -5
That reasonable. The only added cost would be for the airfare to get there, and for most of the S'cubies that's something we'd be paying anyway. I think it's a fab idea! That's what I'm sayin! T he only thing that's a bummer is that the drinks are horrendously expensive aboard the ship. They make up for the financial sting a bit by mixing the drinks VERY strong, e.g., strong enough that after just one I assumed I was still sober enough to talk shop with one of the company VP's and ended up telling him that pretty much everybody thought he was a jackass. Hey, HE approached ME with work-related questions! For those of you that are concerned about "drink" prices.. there's always the option of smuggling aboard your own bottle or two. I personally took aboard a one liter bottle of Bushmill's whiskey in my check-on luggage aboard ship. You ARE allowed to fly with it, provided you don't have more than a couple bottles (I seem to remember the limit being 4 liters) and they are un-opened and in their original containers. The ship's policy is no alcohol allowed brought aboard ship (they have special provisions if you want to bring aboard a couple bottles of wine "for a special occasion". It's a complete rip, tho', as you have to surrender it to them and they charge you corking fees at dinner, or if it is brought to your cabin.). I simply shoved my whiskey in the middle of my suitcase, which was locked. They X-ray luggage going aboard ship, but they allow you to have it locked. I studied this issue at length before smuggling it aboard and really, the worst that can happen if they catch you is they confiscate the alcohol, never to be seen again. No worries about not being allowed aboard or it ruining your trip. The cost of drinks aboard ship is about that of a nicer bar.. somewhere in the 5-6 dollar range per average drink with the larger "boat drinks" running around 7 and half. Plenty of nice wines can be purchased at 25-35 bucks a bottle, and they had a pretty large wine list to choose from. What Shan says about hte meals is true.. there's more to eat there than just about anyone could want. And it's all free. Quality-wise it ranges from about a chain restaurant to surprisingly good. The "nice" dinners in the dining room were ample, fairly well cooked. The New York strip I had for the last diner was actually one of the better steaks I have ever had. And the cheese cake? Out of this world! And don't get me started about hte butter. This particular cruise had some of the best butter I have ever had n my life. Just plain, nice, salty butter. I think I may have gone through a loaf of bread with my dinners as a conduit. ;D Vlad
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Post by Shan on Jul 19, 2007 20:08:21 GMT -5
Yes, Vlad smuggled a bottle of whisky aboard, it's true. I was a nervous wreck about it until we were in the cabin and it was stashed. I guess I was just never meant for a life of crime! Also, our ship had a sushi bar. Just...sushi. Whenever you wanted it. It was a lifesaver, truly. And you've never lived until you've had the beef Wellington with the gorgeous gravy they did with it. It was also made more delicious by the impromptu entertainment I provided by tasting it off of Vlad's plate and eye-roll praising the wonderful "man sauce". I could to on and on about the food, including the non-meat-oriented dishes that I thoroughly enjoyed...
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Post by Vlad on Jul 19, 2007 20:13:00 GMT -5
Yes, Vlad smuggled a bottle of whisky aboard, it's true. I was a nervous wreck about it until we were in the cabin and it was stashed. I guess I was just never meant for a life of crime! Also, our ship had a sushi bar. Just...sushi. Whenever you wanted it. It was a lifesaver, truly. And you've never lived until you've had the beef Wellington with the gorgeous gravy they did with it. It was also made more delicious by the impromptu entertainment I provided by tasting it off of Vlad's plate and eye-roll praising the wonderful "man sauce". I could to on and on about the food, including the non-meat-oriented dishes that I thoroughly enjoyed... Yes, you doing a Kaylee strawberry eye-roll and exclaiming about how wonderful my man sauce was certainly raised a few eyebrows at hte dinner table. Vlad
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