The Queen January 31st, 2007
I’ve gotten a few calls and an e-mail that seem to say that the BIG packages that I sent out at the beginning of January may not have reached everyone. So, I’m sending this out to let you know, if you have NOT gotten a large, WHITE envelope from me in the actual mail (not an e-mail, but real live mail), please call me as soon as you can.
Please forgive me if you didn’t get the package, I’ll resend after confirming your address.
The Queen January 22nd, 2007
One of our fellow Sea Sockers has graciously offered to run a small swap — just in case you like to get presents when you get on a ship — presents from Knitters!
Here’s the plan and I want to mention it is completely optional! If you don’t wish to participate or don’t have the time, it is ok.
Now on to the plan:
Abigail has offered to run this swap. I mention this only because I’m up to my little eyeballs in details (and final payments) that I can not. (If you happen to e-mail me, I will forward it on to Miss Abigail.)
The idea is to make a pair of socks for another person in the group. Your pal will not be secret, and the swap will happen sometime early in the cruise (so, hint, you need to be able to finish the pair prior to the cruise).
Anyway, if you are interested, kindly send your name, blog address (if you have one), and e-mail address to Abigail. Also include: fiber allergies, color preference and hated colors, shoe size, foot length, and ball of foot measurements.
Participation is optional and will not reflect on your workshop grades (as if we were giving grades for workshops). Please sign-up only if you can complete the item before the cruise, as I’d hate anyone to be disappointed — and since this isn’t secret (and you will meet face to face everyone in the group) you don’t want be the person who showed up with one sock —- leave that joy to me, please.
Michael January 20th, 2007
The new site is now live! You’ll find it over at www.mycruiseplanner.net where all of the cruise news and information that was at our old site, along with tools to help you find the perfect cruise vacation for you as well as some fantastic specials.
If you were subscribing to either the podcast or to the news feed for the old site then you shouldn’t have to do anything. We’ve worked some magic with the plumbing of the internets to transfer those subscriptions over for you with out a problem.
There are still a few kinks that we’re working out on the new site, in particular the News page is not working if you are an Internet Explorer 7 user. We’re working to resolve the problem, and hope to have it fixed soon. If you encounter any other problems on the site, give us a call or shoot as an e-mail by using the contact us form on the new site.
The Queen January 11th, 2007
Wow, I can tell you from all the calls I’ve gotten in the last 48 hours that a few of you are over the moon excited about Sea Socks. (If by a few of you, I mean ALL of you.) Let me remind you that here is a great place to express your excitement, share your joy, and start chatting. This blog is as much for you as it is for me to share announcements.
Speaking of Announcements.
I’m all for some surprises, but I know everyone is interested in what classes are being offered. Now, I’m going to share a peak at the classes. Full details will be in your Sea Socks Guide.
There will be two Hands-On techincal classes. You will have the opportunity to take both of them, but the classes must be split up in order to give everyone the personal attention they deserve. They are:
Color Theory and Sock
Pattern Techinique (Choice)
On this one, you can choose between Two Types of Shorts Rows OR Toe Up with a Reverse Heel Flap.
Then there are three classes that are more on theory and ideas of socks:
Customizing Sock Patterns: How to make a standard sock pattern FIT.
Sock Scupture: The Anatomy of a Sock
Handpainted Yarn and the Sock: How to get the best from both
I do hope that’s enough of a teaser for you. Trust me, I’ve heard the topics for each of these and I’m over the moon with how cool they are going to be.
Now for the decision. You see that little thing about you choosing which pattern techinque you want? Well, now is the time to pick — sorry that this wasn’t in your packets. To make this totally fair — I’m taking class requests by e-mail ONLY (so I have the time/date stamp).
E-mail me if you want to be a part of the Two types of Short Rows Class OR the Toe-Up Reverse Heel Flap. (oh, you want to know what kind of sock goes with each of these?)
1. Two Types of Short Rows: This is a Lace style sock.
2. Toe-Up Reverse Heel Flap: This is a clog sock with a CABLED heel.
So which will it be? All e-mails should be sent directly to seasocks@REMOVETHISgmail.com (remember to remove the “REMOVETHIS” part).
The Queen January 9th, 2007
I know this is going to sound odd, but are you flying into LA the morning the ship departs? have you thought about how you are getting from the airport to the pier — trust me, walking is NOT an option.
Well, Royal Caribbean finally (oh, please don’t get me started that this took them WAY too long) announced the pricing for one-way cruise only transfers — da-dum: It is $26.
Call or e-mail me if you need me to add this. If you are staying at the hotel the night before, you do NOT need this.
The Queen January 3rd, 2007
And Warm Fiber Wishes to you all!
Can you believe that we are now closing in on Sea Socks Cruise? My office is filling up with boxes of items for the bags, the bags are ordered and forthcoming, Mama E is up to her elbows in yarn and dye — seriously, we’ve been busy!!
I don’t have much exciting news to share — other than to say hi and go over a few housekeeping things.
So, first — HI!!!!
Now on to the housekeeping:
1. Final payment is due on February 1st. I have spent the last week working on putting together everyone’s invoices (yes, this will actually be MAILED and not E-mailed) — and they are in the box to go out tomorrow. There is an excellent offer in the invoice from Unicorn Books and a questionnaire I need filled out — so if you don’t have an invoice (or aren’t the person getting the invoice) in a week — call me at 888-286-9827 or e-mail me and I’ll get you copies out straight away.
2. I have one person who wants to join us, but needs a room mate. I’m fresh out of unmatched roommates, so I thought I’d throw it out there if anyone was willing to take a triple (it will probably lower everyone’s per person rate) and add a sweet knitter to their room — as an incentive, I have a present for the two people willing to add the third. She is seeking non-smokers — but like the rest of the group, she’s a fun loving, sock knitter — thus she’s cool. Please e-mail if you are interested.
3. Has everyone heard that there is going to be an East Coast Fall Fiber Cruise, yet? Yup. There will be a 9 day cruise (roundtrip from Baltimore) in September. This one is geared to spinners and knitters and has 3 days of classes — Mama E and Amie G will be back as well as Marie from Brooklyn Handspun AND Kate Gilbert (you’ve heard of her, right?). There’s a special offer for anyone booked on Sea Socks already — but since it is exclusive to you guys, you have to call or e-mail for details.
Ok, that’s all I’ve got. I just checked Amie’s ticker on her blog — 3 months, 3 weeks, and 5 days until we depart. I can’t wait. I’m already planning my clothing (read: outfits to match my socks) and dreaming of vacationing with all my newest friends! I can not tell you how exciting it is for me to think about wandering the ship and seeing knitters all around.
The Queen December 15th, 2006
Some you, my friends, called months ago wondering why the shore excursions had not been charged for the deposits. Others of you are calling me now and wanting to know why there are odd charges on your card from the 14th. Does it shock anyone that the cause is exactly the same?
In getting the shore excursions and the post cruise packages squared away, I found out that the company (it will show up on your card as Victoria Navigation) never charged the expected deposits (actually did for about 1/4 of the group and not everyone). So, I spent my week trying to help play clean-up in this. Thus, you may see your deposits finally get charged this week.
Please let me know if you see a double charge (one from months ago and one from this week). Also note if you signed up for more than one thing (a shore excursion in Victoria AND a post cruise package) they will be charged in two charges.
There will be NO advanced charges for the Pre-cruise hotel — that you will pay for when you arrive in LA.
Please e-mail me if you have any questions and forgive this horrible delay.
The Queen December 4th, 2006
Hello all.
Here in Sea Socks Central, I’ve been trying to finalize all the tours and transfers to make sure everything will go perfectly in April.
One of the minor bumps has occured. Due to a lack of bookings the post cruise tour that took the motorcoach to Seattle on 5/4, has been changed. It is now $48 per person and is simply a transfer from the pier to the airport. I have contacted all the affected people via e-mail, but I put it out here, just in case you were thinking about booking it and hadn’t called. We need 15 people to keep it the way it was (with the tour in Vancouver) and I have 7 booked thus far. Are there 8 of you who hadn’t called yet?
Speaking of which, I am working hard on pulling together the invoices for the final payment which will be due on February 1st. If you haven’t added your Victoria Shore Excursion, the pre-hotel stay, or a post cruise transfer and are thinking about doing so, now would be the time to call.
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me or just call and chat.
Michael November 23rd, 2006
First up, we’ve got some updates to the photo gallery. Vision of The Seas pictures are up in the photo gallery, there’s two galleries for Vision of The Seas, one with all of our pictures on the ship and one dedicated just to the towel animals that our cabin steward would make for us every evening. We have so many albums that there’s now more than one page to the album listing, you’ll need to click on the 2 in the blue bar to move to the next page.
We’ve also started the work to integrate the news site with the site at www.mycruiseplanner.net. When the work is complete, you’ll find all the content from the news site over at www.mycruiseplanner.net, this in addition to all of the information that is already on the .net site. We apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause you.
Michael November 20th, 2006
It was a slow week this week, so we decided to do just one show. There just wasn’t a lot of news this past week and we decided to keep this week’s feature, cruise line loyalty programs short.
In the news this week:
Once finished with the news we discussed the various loyalty programs offered by the crews lines. Some of the highlights of what’s offered:
Don’t forget to check out this week’s Deal of the Week, and you can always find the show in iTunes. Plus if you head over to our news site you listen to the show right in your browser or download it to your computer
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The Mail Buoy