Archive for April, 2007

Last Minute Things

Patricia April 24th, 2007

Is everyone packing? Of course I’m not — I barely got my dry cleaning picked-up. But that’s tomorrow’s project.

There are a few last minute notes I wanted to remind everyone about:

Tipping:

The ship suggests $10 per day per person for the waitstaff/cabin steward and you can buy the vouchers for this on board and charge to your account. However, there could be a need for a little cash. Here are the tips you may wish to be prepared for:

  1. If staying at the Doubletree, you’ll want to tip the transfer guy on Sunday morning.
  2. The porter at the pier.
  3. The motorcoach driver in San Francisco.
  4. The motorcoach driver in Victoria.
  5. The motorcoach driver in Vancouver (for those on the post tours).

Most of these are suggested at $1 - $2 per person or bag. So, I’d bring at least an extra $10 or so in ones.

Safety:

Um, I so hate to have to remind everyone of this, but keep your wits about you. Use the cabin safe for any large sums of cash you win in the casino, wash your hands after you use the bathroom (I know, but this is how viruses are spread), and finally, try not to get drunk and do anything silly — like any scene from Titanic, ok?

Cell Phones and the Ship:

This is a major pet peeve of both Michael and I, thus we feel the need to stress the details.  If your phone is on while we are out to sea, you will notice that you’ll have a signal.  Should you pick-up your phone to place a call, your call will go from a cell-like tower to a satelite and then to the mainland.  This is the MOST expensive type of international roaming phone call you can make.  In addition to your cell companies charges, you may incur additional charges from the company that provides the cell-to-satelite service.  Um, in a word, are you ok with trading yarn money for cell phone time?

So, here’s a few tips.  One, check with your carrier and know thy rates!  Second, when in port, you are using land cell towers — so I expect there will be a mass of us using our phones in San Francisco.  Finally, you will pay international rates in Canada (unless of course you have a Canadian cell phone).

You ask and I answer

Patricia April 20th, 2007

I see some people wanted an outline of the podcast — no problem. I’m typing a small ‘transcript’ as I listen again just for you. If you want any more information about anything I list off here, just ask in comments and I’ll answer in comments for all to read, deal?

Departing:

  • We are leaving from the Port of Los Angeles, NOT LONG BEACH. The ports are actually rather close to each other and cruise ships leave from both. You are heading to World Cruise Center at San Pedro (even though it is called the Port of Los Angeles).
  • We hope you are staying with us at the Doubletree the night before. If you are getting from LAX to the hotel, use Super Shuttle to get to the hotel. (Note, this is a great hotel if you are ever leaving from the port for other cruises).
    • Please note, you will book your time on the shuttle to the pier when you arrive (so if you want to sleep a little late please do so). Michael and I are leaving for the pier early with a full bus of stuff. You will talk to the bell staff to reserve your spot on the bus. We suggest you look to try to arrive at the pier between 1 and 3pm. (also note, the guys are driving and helping with your bags are working for tips, $1 to $2 a bag is a reasonable tip)
    • If you going to be in the hotel prior to 7pm on the 28th, please meet me in the lobby for a fun dinner.
  • Keep your photo ID and documents with you and not in your checked bags.
  • When you get to the terminal, find yourself a porter. You MUST check anything larger than your carry-on. Be SURE you have you luggage tags on the bags by then — if you need more, the porter will help you. (suggested tip is $1 or $2 per bag)
  • Once at the terminal, you’ll check=in in a very airport style area.
  • If you are FLYING in the day of, if you have transfers from Royal Caribbean, a representative will meet you at bag claim. Have the tags on your bags before leaving home, but you must claim your own bags off the belt.
  • On all flights, remember TSA’s 3-1-1 program. No more than 3 oz of a liquid, all of them in a single quart sized bag. This does not include your medicines.
  • Checking in online will expediate the checking in process, you will need to be able to print something out and sign it, if you can’t print it, there are special instructions on the site for you. Check-in is also where you will present your ID — SO HAVE IT WITH YOU.
  • You onboard account. You will be asked for a charge card, just like checking into a hotel.
  • At check-in you will be given a couple of things, a room key and a pass for WHEN you board. You may have a small wait.
  • Once your number is called, you will go through a metal dectector. You will not have to take your shoes off, but you will empty your pockets.
  • Now photo time: First photo is the “Welcome Aboard” photo. There is always a line, don’t bump the line, even if you don’t want the photo taken — it is only poliete.
  • Next photo is a security photo, you will look into a box and they will scan your room key. This is how the line will know you are on or off the ship.

You are onboard, now what?

  • If you have kids, you will be stopped to have the kids get a muster station wrist band. This is required, so the kids from the kid’s program can be taken directly to the muster stations in case of emergency.
  • If you are onboard prior to 1pm, your stateroom will not be available. The staff is still cleaning and they don’t want you tripping over bed linens in the hallway, if possible.
  • Thus, this is a good time to go to the welcome aboard buffet in Windjammer (this is the only place to get food before dinner the first night). Windjammer is in the forward section of the ship, which makes for outstanding views.
  • Outside the buffet are staff members are selling two programs (one of which is a requirement for Michael). There is the soda card. This gets you unlimited sodas and juices in all the bars on the ship. You can only get this on the first day of the cruise and you will get a nice insulated mug for it too. If you drink more than 2 sodas a day, you are ahead of the game. The other program is a wine bottle pre-purchase program. You can pay in advance for about 5 bottles of wine and save 20%.
  • Once done here, go get a bite to eat on your “surfboard” of a plate and enjoy a pre-departure snack/meal — or as I like to call it “Warm Up.”
  • For the Sea Sock person: At some point between 2 and 6pm, you will want to wander to Conference Room 3 or in the Showboat Lounge to check-in. This is where you will get your goody bag, important information, and meet me.
    • MUSTER DRILL and how it affects registration and the ship:
      • NOTE: all services on the ship will stop at 4pm for the Muster Drill — including registration.
      • We will be getting our life jackets and meeting our friends at the muster station.
      • Royal Caribbean’s muster stations are outside, so dress appropiately. You may be outside up to 20 minutes to 30 minutes.
      • Don’t wear your life jacket TO you muster station for safety on the stairs. You must take the stairs (unless you have arranged for help prior)
      • You will be required to put on the lifejacket at your station and the crew will help you if needed.
      • The sooner they account for everyone, the sooner the drill is over.
      • We will back at registration after the muster drill.
  • Dinnertime. We will be sitting near each other, we don’t know where or who our waitstaff will be. But we have been requested not to change tables if possible, though if there is a need to move, we can work it out — but if at all possible, let’s not move around nightly.
  • After dinner, we have ‘Sea Knitting’ for those who don’t want to enjoy the shows. I’ve designated the spot to meet up with other knitters should you wish.

(You can read the schedule too — so I won’t re-type them — comment with questions)

  • San Francisco: If you get up early you can watch us going under the Golden Gate.
  • If you going on Marin Fiber Arts tour, please be prompt! We will be boarding the bus at 9am.
  • When we get to Victoria, we will again be leaving the ship quickly and together, please be prompt.
  • At both stops, I will give out my cell phone number in case you need me.

Last night of the cruise:

  • Dinner is at 6pm and RIGHT after dinner we will be wandering up to the Viking Crown Lounge for a cocktail party AND door prizes. (not in the podcast, but of interest, there is a 1 in 2 chance you will win a door prize.) However, you must be present to win. Don’t miss this fun.
  • This is also the night you need to pack as we will leaving the ship in the morning.
    • There will be instructions on the procedure from us and the cruise line the night before.

And the all important hairdryer question: There are hairdryers in all the cabins and hotels.

So, what other questions do you have?

I’m 200 pounds lighter!

Patricia April 12th, 2007

No, this certainly didn’t just become how to lose 200 pounds overnight blog — but I thought I’d share with you that I just gave to my dear, wonderful UPS lady 200 POUNDS of goodies for our cruise!

Yes, and the good news is that I’m not done shipping, but this is the LARGEST shipment.

Ladies, we are on our way, the bags are heading south, the ship is prepping for our arrival, and I’m about to pull the luggage up from the basement and start my own packing! You??

We have a new celeb on the cruise

Patricia April 11th, 2007

Yes, we all know about the people you are excited to see, but did anyone else see TODAY’s Knitty Gritty?  Want to know who that pretty young designer was?  Well, Kaity (the daughter of our Lynda) was on the show!  Um, I totally loved the slippers she made.  (And I kinda think she was the highlight of the show!)

If I could figure out how to get it off my TIVO, I’d bring it along.

But, Kaity, I can’t wait to meet you.  I want to hear all about your experience.

Can you talk about the cruise enough?

Patricia April 11th, 2007

Well, this past week Michael and I dedicated our feature show of the podcast (internet radio) to YOU!!  Yes, we talk all things SeaSocks.  I thought I’d share the link here, so you can go and listen.

We got through the schedule a bit, we talk about boarding, and even a little about disembarking.  There are things to know in the show and we are gearing up around here to pack and go cruising!

(Yes, the excitement at Sea Socks Central is high and unfortunately the packing levels have been LOW — so if you see me in the same clothing for a week, know that I’m in the laundry daily washing them — so it is ok, right?)

That’s a lovely shade of green…

Patricia April 5th, 2007

Ok, it is time to answer the question about motion sickness for anyone who is wondering or even worrying a bit.

First, for the record, I speak with authority as I’m a sufferer and have been there, done that.

Now on to the good stuff.

Motion sickness, commonly called “seasickness,” is no different than car or air sickness. So, to know if you are prone to it, ask yourself, “do I get carsick or air sick? If the answer is no, then the chances are that you will not have a problem. However, if you are like me, who can not be a passenger without being a touch green, I’m going to offer you a few pieces of advice.

  1. This will sound odd, but the emptier your stomach is the worse you will feel. I know it seems odd that there is food everywhere on a ship, but the cruise lines know that full passengers are not sick passengers. So, eat a good breakfast, go to the welcome aboard buffet, keep a little bit of food on your tummy.
  2. If you are looking for a non-medicinal method to quell the queasy, then consider ginger pills. They are the only ones that proved effective on the Discovery Channel show, Mythbusters.
  3. Most of the population will get relief with a Dramamine or Meclizine, but they do come with some amount of sleepiness.  I have found “low dose” versions, and while they did make me less sleepy, I did retire early the first night.  Now, Michael swears by this, go to bed early the first night with a few pills and wake up all fine and with sea legs.
  4. There are bands, pressure point things and such.  I’ve heard people rave about them and I’ll freely admit I have no experience one way or the other with them.
  5. Finally, and this is what I currently use, there is the scopolmine patch.  It is a little thing that goes behind your ear.  It is available via prescription only, thus you’ll have to talk to your doctor, and my pharmacy mentioned that not many insurance companies cover it.  Does this stop me?  NO.  I put it on about mid-morning the day I’m boarding a ship and I am not bothered by queasiness at all.  I have found that I don’t “get sea legs” like I did with the Dramamine and sleep method, so I have to re-apply the patch after 3 days.  I also found that I need to switch off the sides of head to apply it, else my skin gets irratated.

Now, I don’t suggest everyone in the world get the patch, nor do I think there is ONE cure for everyone.  For some, they will not be bothered at all; others merely need to eat a few crackers and all is good.  However, for me, I needed to call in the big guns and since I do this often, I thought it worth a chat with my doctor.

If you have specific questions, feel free to ask — or if you have advice for all your new friends — I am not a medical professional — I am just a travel agent who gets motion sick — your mileage may vary (you know the drill, right?)

It is FINALLY April

Patricia April 2nd, 2007

You know, almost a year ago, I thought April 2007 was FOREVER away. I didn’t think we’d ever be so close to this trip — in fact, I’m beginning to do my standard “Pre-Cruise Clothing Shopping.”

I thought briefly of posting here yesterday an April Fool’s Joke, but I don’t like April Fool’s Jokes — so you all were spared.

Now, Miss Amie (you remember, the one with the packing questions?) well, she was wondering about the materials list. And since a few e-mailed or called, I’m going to try to answer the questions here.

Materials:
The complete list is in your documents packet. I have sent ALL of them out, but there are about 9 packages on my porch waiting for the mailguy — so I’m thinking by Friday of this week, you’ll have them in your hands.

The single biggest question is about the requests for “Worsted Weight” yarn. There’s 50 grams requested for Amie’s classes and a second request for odd balls of yarn for the color class.
1. The reason for the worsted, and not sock weight, is because Amie is going to teach the WHOLE sock in one class and thus a small version of the big one to get through the techniques. (Be gentle with her, she’s already drinking heavily because there will be near 40 of you in each class.) I’ve had a few people mention they don’t have worsted weight and I’ve offered that they might double or triple strand something if they wanted to Forget that. Like Amie says in comments — a single ball of worsted weight is CHEAP (even if you are a snob like me) — I’m just the information chick — Amie knows best. ;)

2. The reason for the odd balls and scraps is for the color theory class. Might I suggest we put Erin’s color skills to the test and find the biggest range of colors you can find. I’m bring a bunch of worsted weight yarn, but the more odd colors the better.

Other materials you’ll want to bring:
1. Needles. You are going to want a range of needles.
2. Things to show off or want some help with.
3. Your sense of humor.

Now, from Aunty Nin:
She wants to know how to avoid the camera people — because she doesn’t like a camera in her face all the time.

This is such a fair question. I’ve been able to avoid them exactly ONCE. I’ve seen some people just walk right past them. I’ve seen others be a little rude about it. I suggest the simple, “I’m sorry, I’m really not interested.” Approach. The sad part is that you will be standing in the line to get past them.

Also from Aunty Nin:
So, the ship sails at 6pm and we won’t know if the bags made it until 8pm???

Not quite true. The luggage will begin being brought to cabins as early as about 2pm — I’ve known very few people who wait as late as 8pm for their bags…but I like to warn people you may not have them until after dinner. The luggage system is amazing to watch, but yes, make sure you have the basics in your carry-on.