tvaud

Actually, we are forward on top near the MUTS pool.

We are sitting at our muster station waiting for the drill to start. Took a while for the staff to find the person in charge of the potty box. But it's in an ok location. They left a dog life jacket on the bed but it was way too big. We brought our own anyway. The crew is in love with Pedro so far. He is being an angel. The ship had a minor noro break out at the end of the last cruise, so we had a delayed embarkation. In about 30 minutes, we will waive to you from the center bar on the top deck. BTW, only the X-ray security guards asked to see Pedro's documents. So far, so good.

Cindra

Checking in from the road... We just passed Jacksonville and have about five or so hours more to drive before we get to my parent's place. Pedro has been an angel, so far, but he hasn't been eating much. I guess it must be the traveling. It's 61 degrees right now and I'm loving the warmth. The sun is brightly shining and Pedro has discovered how much he likes laying in it. My jacket is still on, but not for long.

Tomorrow is the big day. I will try to remember to bring my scarf up on deck to waive to you all. I will look for the camera and stay closer to the port side. I think we are planning to spend sail away at the bar on the top deck, center of the ship.

Minor panic last night, as the pack of wet naps leaked in my tote. Some things got soaked and had to be tossed or dried out. Luckily, all of our boarding passes and Pedro's paperwork were in a plastic folder.

Cindra

Yikes - can't imagine any of these great big galumphs of labs as fur stoles!!! We'd be flattened! :eek: but we get hugs and Poppy still likes to climb on my lap for big hugs when she needs a proper Mummy Hug! Thankfully the big boy Max doesn't want to do this! LOL!

 

 

 

I think it's amazing what Pedro does for your DH - and your DH for not leaving the poor cat - it's someone's much loved pet too.

 

 

 

 

 

One more sleep and you're off ..... Any webcams you want us to wave at??? :p:D

We are leaving at about 4pm on Monday on the Coral Princess out of Port Everglades, so the same webcam that Cindy was on will be the same for us. I wasn't planning on making a sign, frankly nothing else will fit in our suitcases. We will be up on the top deck. There should also be a scooter person with us. Not sure where the camera is mounted, but we will waive. I will try to get Pedro up where you can see him. If you have any suggestions for me, I will still be in touch on the road.

Thank you to you all for the info and support. I will give a full report when we return. Let's hope Pedro doesn't go into "loose cannon" mode...no dragging chairs or running around the dining room. ;)

Will check in from the road.

Cindra

Of course Pedro may sit on your lap, just make sure he's not "surfing" the table when you're at the restaurant and that he's only doing his job or in a "down/stay!" I sometimes wish that Horton could sit on my lap and so does he!

 

My girlfriend has a Seizure/Alert Dog and she MUST be sitting next to her no matter where that may be. We've traveled together and when the dog is sitting on the couch, she does get lots of looks but in order for the dog to catch the before stages of the seizure and lick my friends face, she must be able to sense her body chemistry and being on the floor, with all it's distracting scents doesn't work for her dog!

 

You must be getting so excited! I know that a week or two before my cruise is always so hectic but so much fun! I love the anticipation thing, it's part of the whole experience!!!! ;)

That's good to hear, as Pedro is happiest on a lap. He is usually attached to Bill most of the time. This evening, Pedro went into action, as Bill witnessed a driver hit a cat. The person didn't even stop. Bill got out of his car, stopped traffic, and picked up the cat and gave it back to the owner. He is so sensitive to animals that when he got home, he was so upset. Pedro immediately picked up on this and was right in his face. He didn't leave Bill's chest until the tears stopped, then sat on his shoulders for a while. Can you imagine Horton doing that...?:eek: He's like a fur stole. LOL It's amazing how these little guys can pick up on the chemical changes. It's also helpful that they can be held like babies. Dog hugs are the best.

I am excited...but have been so busy this week, that I haven't been thinking about it as much as I usually do. This week went by so fast, that I hope I am ready by Saturday morning.

Yes, anticipation is half the fun.

Cindra

I wish Colleen (MCDW) was "around" but haven't heard from her lately here. She cruises with her small hearing-ear dog, Misty, and could give advice. (Raylene is such a chunk, I'd be squashed if she sat on my lap, so I'm no help with this one.)

 

Don't you feel relieved to have that paperwork done against all obstacles?! Whew! Had to laugh at the "subway ticket booth" at the USDA. I'm already slightly dreading starting on the forms for our April sailing, but at least I know more now what to expect.

 

We know you're going to do us proud, Cindra! Have a great cruise!

 

Yes, photos! Just use a big zoom lens for Jamaica.

Yes, it is a huge relief to get the paperwork out of the way. Today, I had to deal with the car. It turned into a huge expense, as the car needed new brakes and rotors...AND a new tire, since that one had a slash in it...and the oil change it went in for. I guess I won't be getting any big emeralds in Colombia...:cool:

The camera bag is ready to go, so you can expect a few pics to be posted. :)

Cindra

Cindra,

 

Please take lots of photos on your cruise! Have to see Pedro in his fine wear. :)

Don't worry. I will try to take pics of him whenever I can on board and in each port...being creative in Jamaica, of course.

Warning - a whole LOT of photos!

 

I took photos at the graduation ceremony on Saturday, and then the next day for the celebration of the "I, J & K" litters' birthdays.

 

Graduation:

 

https://www.facebook.com/hollysumner.ff/media_set?set=a.10152691175038543.1073741843.535573542&type=1&pnref=story

 

Birthday Party:

 

https://www.facebook.com/hollysumner.ff/media_set?set=a.10152690218468543.1073741842.535573542&type=1&pnref=story

Great pics!

Chris and Roz,

Have no fear. I do know the rules on board. Yes, Princess does not allow feeding people food to the dogs or sitting on the furniture. I will not give in to any begging or sad eyes from Pedro(...unless it is in the privacy of our cabin.;))

Since he is a little dog, will they frown upon him sitting on my lap? Just wondering about that... When it gets crowded, we will put him in the doggie sling and carry him.

Today, I had my appointment at the USDA APHIS office...or should I say, vestibule...:rolleyes: I walked in and saw a man behind a window, like at a subway ticket booth. I told him I had an appointment, thinking they would buzz me in eventually. Nope. The man said to slide my documents under his window. He then told me to sit, because I had to wait for the head vet to get out of a meeting. I guess making an appointment doesn't mean the same thing to them. I sat in this freezing cold vestibule for 40 minutes before I got a shout from the man behind the glass that my docs were signed, sealed and ready to go. In the meantime, a man walked in for the same reason that I was there, with the 1:30 appointment( I had the 1:00). We started to chat. He was wondering how long I was waiting. This was not his first time traveling with his dog, so he was used to the process. Funny thing was that he was headed to Costa Rica...one of our ports. He was headed to the west coast though. Before we knew it, they called to me that my documents were ready. As I put them into my folder, they called the other guy too. His wait was maybe 10 minutes, total.:cool: From there, I drove over to the nearby Staples and faxed the docs to Princess. Got an email confirmation from them tonight. Phew...done! On the way home, I picked up some more cat food and bird food for the rest of the family, while we are gone. Five days until we board the Coral Princess...three days until we start the drive down. I'm keeping my eyes on the weather, as there could be some snow on Saturday. I'm hoping it comes from the west and it doesn't start until later in the day, when we will be far enough south of it.

Don't worry. We will make you proud.

Cindra

PS: I wound up making 8 copies of all of the documents, just in case.

Just a point of information (for Cindra for future reference), did you know you can type info into the form 7001 yourself, print it out and take it to the vet? The USDA has a PDF online you can save to yor own computer, with fill-in blanks.

 

 

 

Saves time since the USDA certified vet just checks the info (vaccine number etc) against the records you bring, then signs the form.

I actually did download the form and had it with me, but they said they it would be easier for them to do it on their computer and just print it out.

Question... How many copies of the certificate should I bring with me, and do I ever have to hand over the original to anyone, or should I keep it for myself?

Cindra

Well, Pedro and I had our vet visit for the certification today... Is it appropriate to mention chickens with their heads cut off in a vet's office...? I made sure we got there nice and early, in case of traffic. Remember yesterday, the vet office called to change the time of the appointment? Well, today they said I was supposed to have been there at the original time. They thought we were no shows! I chimed in about the call I got changing the appointment and the very same girl said, "Oh, that was me. I guess I didn't refresh the computer." She apologized and we waited to see the dr. He also mentioned the appointment time, but said he believed me after I explained everything. Also, he didn't realize that this visit was for the certificate, as no one informed him...until I did. Then the real fun began. The girl in charge of the certification paperwork left, also thinking we were not coming. They tried calling her to track her down, but couldn't. So, another tech and the vet had to find the form, fill it out on the computer and double check the requirements. I had the port requirements with me, but the vet found another...Aruba needed certification that the dog has lived in the US for the last six months continuously. We did find a box on the form for this information. Pedro didn't tolerate the booster shot very well this time as he let out a big yelp. He actually growled at the vet at one point. I made sure to ask again about the flea and tick treatment, as I wanted him to have some protection in the tropics. Once I had the meds and records in hand, I went to check out. They had the charges all screwed up. As I was given an estimate prior to the visit, I questioned the amount. Then the vet came rushing out to let the girl at the desk know that the computer counted one vaccination as two, so he corrected that...and the re-exam cost, which is less. The total came down over $30. The office is not normally that crazy. I guess they were just having a bad day. After that experience, I took Pedro down the street for the best frozen custard in the area. That's one of the perks of going to the vet...soft ice cream! Pedro loves it too. He always wants mine...and of course I give in...so this time, I got him a small cup of his own. He was feeling blah and at first ignored it. But once he saw me eating mine, he gave his a lick. He ate some of it, but then looked up at me as if to say, "Thank you, but I am not feeling so hot..." So, I brought him home. He didn't eat his dinner tonight, and dragged around the house...just like last time. I'm sure he will be back to normal in a day or so.

Tomorrow, is my trek up to the USDA office. Do I have to show them proof of my travel documents? Is the certificate supposed to note that he is a service dog? I'm bringing his records with me, just in case. Let's hope that office has their act together.

Cindra

We were not home to see them leaving port. Did anyone do a screen capture of the ship and post it?

Well, I almost had a heart attack just now... My vet's office called. They said the vet wouldn't be available at my appointment time tomorrow and the wanted to reschedule. OMG! Noooooo! I told the girl that this appointment was critical and couldn't be changed...and explained why. She then said that we could come either earlier or later the same day. I was so relieved. Luckily, it will only be an hour later than the original appointment. Phew! The weather forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday(my USDA appt) is clear for both days, so I don't have to worry about that.

The forecast for Saturday, the day we leave, may have some snow showers, but we should still be ok. We are driving down to south Florida, so once we get past DC, we should have no worries...weather-wise.

This is the first cruise that I didn't use a detailed list to pack from. I hope I don't forget anything.

Cindra

It was on the warmer side today....in the upper 40s to low 50s. We decided to go to Atlantic City to check out the outlet stores. The roads were empty on the way. There was no traffic at the tolls or approaching AC. We had no trouble parking and walked around a bit, got what we came for and stopped at Starbucks for refreshment. Pedro was enjoying the day too. His head was up, he was sniffing all the new smells and that tail was wagging away. At one point, a police car about 50 feet away from us turned on his siren and it made us jump....all, but Pedro. He didn't even flinch. Makes me a little less worried that the ship's horn will scare him. He was an absolute angel...very ON today. He slept all the way home in the car, though. LOL It was an exciting day for him. Can't wait to see how he reacts to next week's events.;);)

One week to go!:D

Cindra

I'd book both of you under the cheaper price.

I wish I could. Mine just came up cheaper for some reason.:confused: I will keep checking back, though, to see if I can snag the lower price for my DH as well.

TV

No discount for anyone much less Elite.

 

Did you book both of you at the same time? Excursion pricing changes and while it doesn't happen often, you can book one person at one price and a day later, it's a different price... or a different price onboard. Keep your confirmations/travel summary because if the price is higher on the ship and they charge you the higher price, you'll have proof that you booked it at the lower price and they'll honor it at the Shore Excursion Desk.

Yes, Pam, both excursions were booked at the same time. Both were adult fares, as I thought maybe mine came up as a child fare, which is cheaper by $10.

I have printed out the reservation page with those fares to take with me. If the higher fare comes up on my room charges, I will have it adjusted at the shore excursion or passenger services desk.

Thank you!:)

TV

I was just checking my excursion reservations for our upcoming cruise. I am Elite and my DH is Platinum. For the same excursion, my cost is $10 less than my DH. Is there a discount on excursions for Elite or is this a mistake? Anyone know?

Thanks.

TV

Question regarding the MDR... Do you have to request a table out of the way or will the MD already have that information and place you there on his own?

Cindra

Just sanitize the floor before you kiss it... ;)

Cindra, Hope you have a great cruise! Sorry to hear you are in the snow zone too. But it seems Boston is the place being slammed this year. I really dont know where more is going to go. As it is now people have to walk in the street because sidewalks are unpassable.

Heading to warmer weather!!

Hope you have a great one too! Which ship and ports will you be in? We're on the Coral Princess...round trip Panama Canal. I've nicknamed it "the coffee cruise" due to the fact that four of the five ports are famous for their coffee. I hope to snap some up in each.

Can't wait to get out of the cold!!

Have fun! We can compare stories and photos when we return.

Cindra

I think we are going to just make it out. Im trying not to think about it.

 

Dobiemom welcome back!!

 

Just got back from the vet. Got the health certificate, and Wex is ready to go. Had hair done , picked up pills and did banking. Groomer tomorrow, pedi Sat with Stephanie and thats it! Whew. :-)

Keep thinking positive thoughts!! Also, keep rechecking your local weather app for updates on the weather...as it can change so fast. I have been checking my 10 day forecast all week. So far, so good, for us. We could also leave the night before, if need be.

You are doing this week, what I will be doing next week. Crunch time!!:eek: We will definitely get out, come hell or high water. I am more concerned about making the vet appointment and the USDA appointment the next day. Both offices are in NJ, which gets more snow than Philadelphia usually. There is also some dodgy weather forecast on the day of the vet appointment. I will definitely be there. I have to hope that the vet will be too. Alas...something else to obsess about.:rolleyes:

Cindra

Cindra, you're learning the "triggers" for Pedro. He frightens at loud and sudden noises. Horton literally shivers at the sound of popping balloons. I had to remove him from an area onboard the Crown Princess because he looked like a bowl of licorice jello! How's that for a Service Dog reaction?

 

Princess loves to have balloons in their Piazza for dropping at midnight and while they're blowing them up and placing them in the net they do sometimes pop! And, since I like to hang around this area a lot, I'm going to have to do some set-ups around Horton before we go on our next cruise. He will have to become desensitized to the popping of balloons.

 

Hello PartyCity, here I come! :rolleyes:

Roz,

Thank you for reassuring me that service dogs are not perfect all of the time. When I have encountered others with their SDs, they seem so perfect and well trained...then, when Pedro does something that's not so perfect, I get concerned. Thanks to you and others who have shared some horror stories, I feel more confident in Pedro. He does the job he was trained to do so well...but sometimes, he just isn't perfect. It's nice to know that this imperfect behavior isn't unusual in a SD....they are just dogs after all, and I shouldn't expect perfection. I imagine those perfect show dogs you see on TV can be wise guys too.:p

DH and I have decided, for Pedro's safety...and sanity...because of all the craziness on embarkation day, that we will keep Pedro safely in the doggie sling. This way, he won't be spooked by loud noises, stray canes, dropped carry-ons, or other odd noises. He always feels more secure when he is close to a body anyway. I hope the TSA guy doesn't want us to put him through the scanner!:eek: Don't worry, we would NEVER let that happen. We may have to take him out to put the sling through though.:rolleyes:

12 days....and counting

Cindra

All this talk of snow is starting to unnerve me. The first thing I do in the morning is check the 10 day weather forecast these days. We are just under two weeks till we sail and as of today, the weather was clear for the final vet and USDA appointments. This better not change! Mother Nature, are you listening???

We are driving down to Fort Lauderdale, so my next concern would be the forecast for that weekend. We always have a back up plan. There is always the option of leaving the night before the original date, driving down to Virginia somewhere south of DC for the night. Then, have a leisurely morning and an easy drive to SC or GA or even Jacksonville, FL. Saving another easier drive for the following day. Actually, that sounds better to me than waking up before the crack of dawn to leave, drive 10 to 12 hours, then stop for the night. I don't do mornings well at all...! The next day would be a slightly shorter drive to our final destination. Even though, we have dodged a few bullets with the snowstorms of late, it has been so cold. I cannot wait to feel warm again. I am so looking forward to not wearing sweaters and coats. I know Pedro is too. He prefers going au naturale...;)

Speaking of Pedro... We had him with us at Staples today. He was not enjoying it at all. He wouldn't sit or stand still while I had to fax something to Princess...regarding HIM. He was pulling on his leash to go over to an elderly couple and would not listen to commands. Accidently, my cane fell from the counter and scared him so much that he ran and screeched so loud. I was embarrassed. The only thing I could do was pick him up and stick him in my coat. He was fine after that. We made several more stops without incident. Maybe it was something in Staples that he didn't like.:confused: I'm starting to think that we may keep him in the doggie sling until we get on board the ship to avoid any negative possibilities.

Roz, do SDs get a boarding pass? Do I need one or more copies of form 7001, or should I just make copies of the original?

Cindra

Lucky dog to be on the beach in the sun! :)

Cindra

Ok, I'm intrigued now. I want to hear all of your "Marley moments" on board your past cruises. It will ease my anxiety.

Cindra

Cindra, if you would like to practice, I have the ships horn as my ringtone on my phone! It is free from "zedge". It even startles me, sometimes! :eek:

LOL I love it! I tried to find a horn online, but none loud enough to test on him. I will have to find the one you have. I wish the Coral Princess had the new "Love Boat" themed horn. He might actually like that one.;)

Cindra