theGreat Depression" Curriculum on Cd (Grades 9-12)

[OhmyDLM]

Snorkling at CoaCoa Kay is all that my hubby and I signed up for too. I'll be 20 weeks pregnant at that point so my goal for this whole trip is to take it easy!!! Every time I go on vacation I go go go, and plan plan plan, this will be my first trip ever just flying by the seat of my pants And you know what... I can't wait to relax!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PampMomof3]

I'm on the Sovereign as well and this will be the second time on this ship. I'm in room 5048 and we can't wait to GO!!! One month and our countdown as begun! I just got my travel allowance money and I'm going to spend it today on some excursions! I'll save the rest for my fake purses in Nassau!!

 

[chefkathy]

I'll save the rest for my fake purses in Nassau!!

So what will the guys do while we're shopping? :money::money: Maybe go find some cigars? :yuck::yuck:

 

[PampMomof3]

When Anthony and I went 2 years ago to Nassau we walked around and he wanted to buy so much liquor and he BARELY drinks! He LOVED :love0010:the prices so much he must've purchased 12 bottles. Ridiculous but I'm sure he'll do it again to fill our bar for company!

 

[pamperedbecky]

OK, who likes to play Roulette?? Or who would like to learn? I'm getting antsy and can't wait to go to the casino. Maybe it's because DH gets to go to Vegas next week for fun and I'm so jealous!!

So, I've been thinking about being able to get my Vegas "fix" on the ship in the casino. Soooo, if anyone likes Roulette (that's my favorite!), we'll have to find each other and play!:money::money:

 

[OhmyDLM]

OK, who likes to play Roulette?? Or who would like to learn? I'm getting antsy and can't wait to go to the casino. Maybe it's because DH gets to go to Vegas next week for fun and I'm so jealous!!

So, I've been thinking about being able to get my Vegas "fix" on the ship in the casino. Soooo, if anyone likes Roulette (that's my favorite!), we'll have to find each other and play!:money::money:

YIKES! I'm a roullette JUNKIE! Good thing there isn't table gambling here in Maine or I'd be in BIG trouble. If you're playing roullette on the ship, you can just about guarantee I'll be sitting beside you! Ha Ha.... It's an addiction and the ONLY game I play! Good thing I only vacation once a year!

 

[OhmyDLM]

Oh and most my bets will be on and around Red 23 and Black 17, don't know why, they just call to me SEE YOU THERE!

 

[pamperedbecky]

Oh and most my bets will be on and around Red 23 and Black 17, don't know why, they just call to me SEE YOU THERE!

Sounds like a plan! I've got my numbers too: 23 is one of them, but ALWAYS 5. Almost always 16/19 split (my DS and my birthdays) and the 21/24 split (DH and DD's birthdays) - it's funny how that works out.

I bet I'll see you there. :money:

 

[PampMomof3]

I've NEVER played but maybe I can get you two pros to teach me!!

 

[amy07]

I've NEVER played but maybe I can get you two pros to teach me!!

me too!
I'm getting so excited!! I feel like a kid counting down to Christmas!

 

[bethsbiz]

I'm on this ship too...6th floor. Last time my hubby got the sea sickness patches and they helped him....we were in the absolute bottom floor for guests on that trip and it was supposedly more rocky. He did just fine.

I'd love to meet some DCS folks too....hope to see more details as we get closer.

Also, anyone coming from the west coast and getting there the day early (so we can make the departure time on the ship)??

 

[chefkugler]

I'm not west coast. But I am going on Sunday and staying in at a hotel near the port. We have a shuttle to the port at 11 am.

 

[OhmyDLM]

Well we are extending our stay because we have a time share the week after the cruise gets back. Here's the kicker, PChef has a new policy this incentive period that they will extend your stay a maximun of 7 days (that's including before and after trip times). Well our time share is from Saturday to Saturday the day after we get back from the cruise on Friday. In order for us to maximize the time we have at the time share, (as we can only stay there until Friday since PChef is telling us we have to come home then since it's 7 days) we couldn't come down to Florida the day BEFORE the cruise like I would want to. If so, we'd have to leave the time share on Thursday which would be foolish since we have paid for the timeshare until Saturday...... are you still folllowing me? LoL

Anyways, we live in Maine, terrible bad weather this time of year and one tiny little airport that is prone to cancellations and delays... I explained this to PChef but they are taking no exceptions to the rule this year and won't allow us to come a day before the cruise until we want to give up yet another day at the time share. So... are flight is supposed to leave Bangor, ME at 6am and we are supposed to arrive in Orlando around 1pm. Then of course, get the luggage, grab the shuttle, and make our way to the pier... all of you on the boat for your Bon Voyarge Celebration might see me and my husband running down the gangplank with our bags screaming WAIT! He He

 

[chefkugler]

Your too funny. You will make it. What is the last boarding time?
I would hope they wouldn't book you like that if you could miss it

 

[OhmyDLM]

Your too funny. You will make it. What is the last boarding time?
I would hope they wouldn't book you like that if you could miss it

Oh my gosh, the cut off for Pampered Chef to send you the day of is if you arrive before 12:30 to the airport in Orlando. I beleive our flight has an estimated arrival time of 12:24 so we made it by 6 minutes... and that's if it's on time! Currently I'm looking out my window to a freaking blizzard in my front yard, it's never ending around here in Maine. So I'm TERRIFIED it will be this way 3 weeks from now when we leave. The ship leaves at 5 so I'm assuming we'll be getting on it just before it leaves. I've cruised a lot in the past and have learned the hard way that it's ALWAYS best to travel the day before... due mostly to lost luggage! But with PChef's new 7 day extention policy and our time share agreement, we're going to have to take a chance on this one!

If we don't get on the ship the 14th, we'll meet you in the Carribbean! Ha Ha

 

[bethsbiz]

Regarding departure and the airport: When we cruised 2 years ago, the time at the airport upon the return was the longest and least fun of the trip. Just a reality. PC disembarks folks based on their flights, etc. and you are informed when to be where so you disembark at the correct time.

After getting bused over, we got to the airport around 10:30 and our flight was around 5:00 p.m. This airport -- at least at the time -- has a policy that you can't check in until 2 hours prior to your flight so you can't even check your baggage until then. We were exhausted (after days of sun and fun) and basically curled up on some lobby style chairs, gripped my luggage, and slept. I'm making sure I have a travel pillow this time! NOTE: This airport MIGHT have a luggage storage area...but we didn't ask about it last time. We just traded off hubby and me going the get food, go to the restroom, go shopping, etc. Finally got thru security and then President Bush managed to add some excitement by arriving at the airport just before we were suppose to board, for some speech in the area. It shut down the airport, caused all kinds of drama (black helicopters??), secret service, etc. Kind of a fun memory. Actually was surprsingly fast...no major delays.

This year, we knew the drill so we extended the trip by one day so we can disembark, rent a car, go to the Kennedy Space Center and then fly out Saturday evening. We pay for the rental and the extra night hotel of course.

For first timer's on an incentive trip like this: PC generally takes care of all the details...there will be people from Carlson Travel greeting incoming flights, and busing you were you need to go. If it is like last time, PC will pay for all luggage handling and also onboard tips (THIS IS A BIG DEAL!). PC will provide this info on most of this stuff in our trip pack we'll be getting soonn.

Anyhow, getting more excited by the day. Only problem now is locating a decent swim suit and starting to shave my legs more often so they are ready for lotion and sun!

arty:arty::sun::sun:arty:arty:

 

[chefkugler]

I'm sort of glad that I booked my own I guess.
We are taking the 2 boys, so we found it cheaper to take the travel money. We are flying in on Sunday. Then after the cruise we have a shuttle service taking us to a hotel near seaworld. We will spend 2 days there and fly back home on Sunday.
So we made it an extended family trip. Even for what that cost me, it would never compare to having to pay for it all.
I'm so excited, we have a countdown on the fridge. I even started to sort clothes for packing. Swim suit all set got 2 new ones. ( gotta have a spare).
Can't wait for that sunshine.:sun:

 

[chefkathy]

I bought a new suitcase today.

 

[chefkugler]

We are having trouble with the whole suitcase issue. Since there is 4 of us and we extended our trip after the cruise it is hard for us to stay with just 4 suitcases. The kids have smaller ones. But then you still need a garment bag for the dresses and suit. I hate packing. Cause I'm stuck doing it for all 4 of us. Then we will get there and it will be my fault they are missing something.

 

[chefkathy]

And if you use a big suitcase and pack it too full, you will be over weight for the airlines. Ask me how I know. Grr.So we needed a second one.

 

[chefkugler]

Yeah at conference one of my consultants did that and it was so funny. She was moving stuff and making a new checked bag. She learned her lesson. I also don't want a bag too big. Where will I store it on the crusie? I heard under the beds.

 

[OhmyDLM]

Yeah at conference one of my consultants did that and it was so funny. She was moving stuff and making a new checked bag. She learned her lesson. I also don't want a bag too big. Where will I store it on the crusie? I heard under the beds.

Yup. they fit under the beds and also you have a small closet that they will fit in too. Two beds are on the floor no matter what and they should be able to hide about 4 suitcases. What I do (because I can NEVER travel without more than one bag, traveling light does NOT exist in this household), is unpack everything and put it all away in the draws/closet etc., then I can stack my smaller suitcase into my larger suitcase and then slide it under the bed.

The rooms are very small so you want to make good use of the space you have! This is my third time on this particular ship And I still couldn't be more excited to go!!!!

 

[chefkugler]

Thanks for the tip!!
I also read on cruise critics that you can have them store your luggage. I'm not too sure I would do that.
Since you have been on this ship before, I have a question.
Since this is my first cruise. What do photo's usually cost? I know they say they are always taking your picture on a cruise.

 

[OhmyDLM]

Thanks for the tip!!
I also read on cruise critics that you can have them store your luggage. I'm not too sure I would do that.
Since you have been on this ship before, I have a question.
Since this is my first cruise. What do photo's usually cost? I know they say they are always taking your picture on a cruise.

They can be pretty pricey for the professional ones, so what I do is save them throughout the week in my "special spot" (A spot you choose to hide them in) and then we go through all of them and pick and choose a few that we like the best. The last cruise I went on (It was Royal Carribean but not this ship, but I think it's all pretty uniform) an 8x10 was $20 I think. The do take smaller pictures as well (like in the dining room) and those were like $10. If you're a picture person like me it's so hard to decide.

On our honeymoon cruise (Princess Cruise Lines) we ended up spending $240 just on photos because I refused to narrow them down since they were "once in a lifetime" ha ha. Now that I've had surgery and lost so much weight, I don't even like looking at them anymore... but their still great to have as memories

 

[pamperedbecky]

Getting antsy! I want to go NOW!I've spent most of the day reading more reviews on Cruise Critic. I'm getting so antsy for the cruise! One of the things I read about was the Crown and Anchor Society so I thought I'd look into it. It's a "frequent cruiser" kind of program that has some benefits, like a savings booklet and stuff with little deals in it. As long as you've cruised at least once with Royal Caribbean, you can sign up. I heard you get coupons for little savings in the casino, bars, the restaurants you have to pay extra to go to, etc. The more you cruise, the bigger the deals and benefits.

SO I signed up!! They say that the savings booklet is delivered to your cabin the first day of the cruise. I hope I signed up with enough time to spare since the cruise is 22 days away. I just thought I'd throw that out there if anyone else wanted to sign up for it. You'll see the tab for it on their website. I figured, why not?

 

[chefkugler]

Cool Becky
How did you sign up?

 

[pamperedbecky]

You just go to www.royalcaribbean.com and you'll see a tab with the Crown and Anchor Society stuff. I forget what area it was, maybe under benefits or something it said at some point to register if you weren't yet a member. You have to at least have gone on one RCI cruise and it asks for your name and date of travel for the past cruise. I just entered that information and it enrolled me. I wish I remember exactly where it was, but look around and you'll probably find it.

 

[bethsbiz]

If they do pictures like the last cruise, you can make decisions on all photo's up until the last evening. They WILL take tons of photo's. There was a photo area where you went, viewed, discarded what you clearly didn't want, and then could continue to "evaluate" stuff you were considering purchasing. My main advise on their photos is to not feel you have to buy the first day...wait and see what all comes thru.

We did purchase 4 or 5 shots last time...ones that showed the date and the boat picture, etc. I'm not shy about asking folks to take our picture either so I had a LOT of great casual pics too!

 

[chefkugler]

Does anyone know yet what they plan to do in Nassau? I still haven't figure that out yet.

 

[OhmyDLM]

I've spent most of the day reading more reviews on Cruise Critic. I'm getting so antsy for the cruise! One of the things I read about was the Crown and Anchor Society so I thought I'd look into it. It's a "frequent cruiser" kind of program that has some benefits, like a savings booklet and stuff with little deals in it. As long as you've cruised at least once with Royal Caribbean, you can sign up. I heard you get coupons for little savings in the casino, bars, the restaurants you have to pay extra to go to, etc. The more you cruise, the bigger the deals and benefits.

SO I signed up!! They say that the savings booklet is delivered to your cabin the first day of the cruise. I hope I signed up with enough time to spare since the cruise is 22 days away. I just thought I'd throw that out there if anyone else wanted to sign up for it. You'll see the tab for it on their website. I figured, why not?

My hubby and I are part of that and it's great!!!!!!!! Last cruise we went on last year we got all kinds of great coupons and we even got two sets of Royal Carribean terrycloth bath robes to take home as a free gift. There's different levels of the program so I'm not sure what comes with the first level, but this will be my 11th cruise with Royal Carribean and we love the perks! Especially the Casino coupons