Patricia March 24th, 2008

First, don’t forget to check out the links to right with the  Goody Bags & Door Prizes in the blogroll. These are folks who have donated to the door prizes and goody bags thus far and more keeps coming in daily.   

I had to share this little piece of good news.  Late last week, I went to pick-up some yarny goodness from Muench Yarns.  Now the owner, the fabulous Kirsten, filled the back end of my car with stuff us.  I was actually speechless when I saw the items just go in and in. 

Nope, I’m sorry, but what exactly is waiting to be put in bags and shipped is a major secret, but let me tell you that I hope you are all blown away by the generousity of Muench.  But here’s the best part…

I asked (as I always do) “What do you want me to promote to the group?”  Kirsten looked at me and said, “Tell them to support their local yarn shops.  Times are tough right now and the yarn shops in their area need their help.”  (And it wouldn’t hurt if you asked them to bring you ggh and Muench Yarns and those YUMMY Rebecca patterns.)

How sweet is this??

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Patricia March 11th, 2008

This announcement only applies to those who booked their Sea Socks cabin prior to November 15, 2007. 

Celebrity (along with many other lines) announced yesterday that they would be refunding all fuel supplements charged to those bookings made prior to November 15th.  This means that if you paid the deposit before 11/15/07 you will get a $35 per person shipboard credit on board.

They (Celebrity) is handling this credit process and it is 100% based on the date of your booking.  If you are wondering if it applies to you let me know and I’ll look it up for you. 

If you are not in this group, I’m terribly sorry.  This refund is because these early booking people were not advised of the fuel supplement when they booked the cruise and that is not the case post November 15th. Please let me know if you have any questions.

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Patricia February 20th, 2008

soonish.

Well, I don’t know how else to tell you this, but I am no longer taking new bookings for Sea Socks ‘08.  So, if you were waiting until the very last minute, it has past.  I’m sorry.

However, I’m pleased to tell you that there will be a Sea Socks ‘09 — no the details aren’t ready yet (who do you think I am ‘Wonderwoman’?) but booking will open up for those who are not on Sea Socks ‘08 on the 22nd of May.

If you are on Sea Socks ‘08, you will have an opportunity to book on board.  Enough talk about Sea Socks ‘09, we must begin to focus on our joys and excitement for Sea Socks ‘08.

I have begun to receive the door prizes here in prep for shipping to the ship.  Yes, they are amazing!!  Yes, you will love them.  Yes, Michael is trying to hold me back from buying from our generous sponsors.

Off to go buy goody bags!!!

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Patricia February 16th, 2008

One of the things I truly love about this cruise (and trust me, when it isn’t final payment week, I’m normally much more chipper) is that so many people pitch in to help in so many unique ways.  This is just one of those stories.

About a week ago, I got a call from fellow cruiser Beth who wanted to know if I’d have a problem with her idea to run a contest.  Um, no — so Go Beth and Cindy!!!

Announcing…
The Sea Socks Felted Slipper Contest!
 So what do a bunch of wild and crazy knitters wear on their feet to a pajama party at sea?  Why, felted slippers, of course!  They will keep your toes toasty, contribute to the general savoir faire  of your pajama outfit,  serve as conversation starters — and add a smidgeon of competitiveness to our shared adventure at sea. Knit yourself a groovy pair of slippers, then felt ‘em, embellish ‘em, pack ‘em, and bring ‘em on the Sea Socks 08 Cruise! Wear your slippers to the Sea Socks Pajama Party on Tuesday, May 13 (edited to add — date may change as the schedule becomes more final),  and step right up to show them off. Sea Sock Cruisers Cindi Unmack & Beth Callahan will admire everyone’s felted slippers, talk it over, maybe argue and lobby a bit, then ultimately award prizes in the following categories:
v Best Theme Slippers   (“Sea Socks,” of course!)
v Best Embellished Design  (Add-ons to the basic felted slipper)
v Best Intrinsic Design  (Knitted-in designs, such as stripes)
v Cruisers’ Choice Award (You be the judge!)
  Rules:
1.   Slippers must be present to win.
2.   Slippers must be worn by a Sea Socks participant.3.   Slippers must be knitted, then felted (fulled).
4.   The opinion of the judges is final, no matter how much chocolate & yarn you offer them. (But don’t let that stop you from trying.)
  Prizes!     Prizes!    Prizes!

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Patricia February 14th, 2008

…I have been flooded by mail, e-mail, and phone calls since Thursday last week.  In fact, I’m writting this note to let you all know that I am here and I’m trying to dig through it all.  If I’m slow getting back to you, please forgive me and know I won’t declare you a pest if you keep calling. 

However, I don’t want anyone to panic.  By the end of this weekend, I will be sending everyone who is paid in full and I have their forms an e-mail confirming this fact.  I will be calling anyone (but given my mail, this won’t be many calls) not paid.  In other words, if I don’t call you, it is a good thing.

There are a few of you — and you know who you are, who don’t even have your packets yet.  First, forgive me.  Second, they are coming.  You will not be in trouble because I’m late.

I will update you all on how many of us there are and other fun facts in about a week.  If you have any questions, please don’t worry about calling me.  I am in the office trying to find the bottom of my mail pile and get return calls out.  I’m late on both counts.  For the record, my hours are 8am to 5pm Pacific, though I will almost always answer my phone in the late evenings. 

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Michael January 22nd, 2008

I apologize for the big and loud headline for this post - but the information here is extremely important.

While we still have a few months before we sail now is a good time to make sure that you understand the documentation requirements that both Celebrity Cruises as well as the US and Canadian Governments require for passengers. If there is documentation that you need but don’t have yet, you still have plenty of time. I can’t stress this enough, if you do not have the proper documentation with you when you check in for your cruise - you can and very likely will be denied boarding. That’s something we don’t want to happen to anyone.

For US Citizens the latest information on documentation requirements can always be found at http://travel.state.gov/ However the requirements that will be in place for US and Canadian citizens on the day we depart are:

U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a passport, passport card, SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, or a U.S. Coast Guard Mariner Document (Don’t sweat it if you don’t know what SENTRI, NEXUS or FAST is). Alternatively a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate will be accepted.

You should have the original birth certificate with a raised seal or a certified copy - photo copies of birth certificates may not be accepted.

Passport card applications will be accepted starting February 1st and you are welcome to apply for one, however the first cards are expected to be delivered in “Spring 2008″ so there’s no guarantee that you would have your passport card in time for the sailing.

You are required to have proper documentation regardless of whether you intend to get off the ship in any of the ports we visit or not.

It is essential that you have the required documentation when you check in for the cruise. If you are denied boarding due to improper documentation Celebrity Cruises will not refund your cruise fare, nor is such a denied boarding covered by travel insurance. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that you bring the required documentation with you.

I hate to have to make such an ominous post, however neither Patricia nor I want to have anybody left on the pier as the ship is sailing away because they didn’t have the proper documentation with them.

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Patricia January 20th, 2008

I just want everyone to be aware that SeaSocks will be closed to all new bookings on February 15th.  That sounds so final and frankly it is.

There are a few reasons for this hard and fast date, and because I’m a giver, I’ll pull back the curtain a bit and share:

1. For reasons that defy explaination there is a rule with Celebrity that once there are pentalities for canceling, you can’t add people to a group.  No, I don’t get it either.  So, if *I* don’t cut it off, Celebrity would.
2. (I’m about to share my deepest secret), I don’t have a goody bag from last year’s cruise.  I don’t because when I ordered, I ordered extra and then I kept taking bookings and well, one sleepless night I counted.  Opps.  I had dreams of donating the extras to charity — what extras.  So, I’m enforcing the no exceptions policies, not because I want a goody bag, but because I don’t want to miss count more than just me this year.

So, it’s not just me, it is Celebrity.  We both are closing for new bookings on 2/15 for Sea Socks ‘08.  That said — I’m planning on ‘09 already — and fair warning, bookings for Sea Socks ‘09 will open promptly on May 21st.

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Patricia January 18th, 2008

I’m throwing this out there, because I get asked about roommates all the time and I have good answers, really I do.

First, as of this typing, I have 3 people in need of a roommate.  It just so happens that they are in an inside, an outside, and a balcony cabin. 

So, I’m looking to make some matches.  Now, here’s my basic rules on helping to find a roommate for you…

1. If you need a roommate to cruise, let me know.  I understand the difference between “need” and “would prefer so I have more money for yarn” — you can imagine those are vastly different things.

2. Before I will match you with a roommate, you have to put a full deposit down ($500) on a cabin.  This is really insurance for your other half (and you, really).  Should one of you need to back-out, the cabin doesn’t risk being lost until the other half of the deposit is paid.

3. I know final payment is coming up, but it doesn’t mean we don’t do a little last minute scramble around here.  Last year, I pulled a triple out at that last minute (yes, it was tight, but it worked) to get everyone on board. 

So, if you’ve been thinking about this and wondering who you could talk into to coming with you — I have roommates who need you!!

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Patricia January 16th, 2008

…no, it isn’t May yet.  But now is the time to start dealing with the biggest hurdle on the way to Alaska.  (Well, the biggest hurdle right after you had to explain to the family that *THIS* was the way to see Alaska — with 120+ of your closest knitting friends.)

Yes, winging its way to your mailboxes are the first of two packets from me.  The first is about your final payment and confirming what you booked and what you wanted.  There is also I questionaire in there.  We beg you to fill it out because if you don’t Michael is offering to make up your information (will you trust me that it wouldn’t be pretty if you allow that?) The second won’t be out until about 4-6 weeks before the cruise when I have documents for you and material lists and all sorts of the fun.

So, in your packet there’s stuff for you to fill out — please do.  If you need more copies of those forms, they are here:

Sea Socks Questions Sheet

Sea Socks Exclusives

Finally, would you like to pay your final payment? You don’t have to go back to the registration site — in fact there is no way to do what you want from there. Call me at 888-286-9827 or just mail the form back from your packet.

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Michael January 12th, 2008

Patricia’s already posted about SeaSocks Exclusive excursions you can participate in - you’ll find the details here. Don’t worry, there will be a flier with all of that information included with your latest invoice which you can expect this coming week…

But, what if you want to do something in Juneau, Ketchikan, or even something else in Victoria? Well, we’ve got some options for you thanks to our good friends over at Shore Trips. You’ll find a wide variety of options from Whale Watching in Victoria BC, to kayaking or canoing in Ketchikan, even flightseeing or hiking in Juneau.

Shore Trips limits their tours to small groups of people - you won’t be sitting in a full motorcoach that’s part of a caravan of motorcoaches all on the same tour. They guarantee that you won’t be delayed returning to the ship - and they’ve never had a passenger miss a ship. Plus they offer an extremely generous cancellation policy - you can cancel without penalty up to 11 days before your tour and they always offer a refund in full in the event of a ship itinerary change or weather-related safety considerations.

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