*OFFICIAL* CC Group Cruise 02/15/2014 Cupid's IV Southern Caribbean - Carnival Breeze

[momofzeke]

Happy Birthday, Char! Hope it's a great one.

 

Dave ~ so sorry to hear about your mom. Thoughts and prayers going out to you and to her.

 

Dang, we were SO CLOSE....and the baler broke down. Broke down night before last, but they got it going again yesterday morning. But last night, it bent a bunch of the stuffer needles so it is down until we can get parts. Dave is on the phone right now...it's only 6:30 AM...he is making apologies to the peeps he's calling so early.

 

Was our hottest day here yesterday....not sure if it hit 100, but it was 99 at one point.

[Cathy p]

Good morning, Breeze buddies,

Dave, I am so sad to hear about your Mom. Yes, it is rough being so far away. My thoughts and prayers are going out to you and the family.

Sue, oh no you were so close to being done. I am sorry to hear the baler broke and hopefully DH will find the parts to get it fixed.

I have a 12-5 day today which I hate. It kind of ruins the whole day.

[Cruisin Dave]

No news from Virginia this morning. My sis will probably call just before I leave for work. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

Did anyone see the news about Carnival Cruise Lines new policy. As of August 1, TAs will no longer be able to offer OBCs, free or reduced extras or expensive gifts. For now on they are limited to only $25/person. Here's the link to the article in CC: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4899

Later,

Dave

[Roe95695]

Happy Monday Everyone!!!

 

Sounds like everyone had eventful weeks some better then others.. Sorry to read about your mom Dave - Prayers have been sent.

 

Sue hopefully the bailer and everything gets repaired and says that way so you all can get the fields in.

 

We spend the weekend out of town - Went to my Great Uncles Funeral, followed by a night at Seven Feathers (Indian Casino). We held our own so that is a win to us..

 

wishing everyone a cooler week ahead.

 

Robin

[ed_k_tx]

Sorry to hear about your mom Dave.

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Flick]

Dave that was an interesting article about Carnival. However, having been a travel agent for a few years following my first retirement (I have now lost count of how many retirements I've had!LOL). I would clarify something. Most smaller agencies belong to some buying group so they can usually offer the same incentives as the big boys anytime they wish. I believe this new policy is more Carnival's doing for profit motives than it has to do with "fighting for the little guy". Since our cruise isn't until 2014 I wonder if we will still get the OBC???

[Cathy p]

I got an email from Crucon saying that I needed to pay any deposit in full even for group cruises by CC. I am calling Erin in the morning. I only paid the $25 as this is going to be my Social Security cruise so I don't want to pay it till next year. I will be sad if I have to cancel and hopefully rebook sometime next year when I pay the deposit.:(

[roudy1]

Thank you everyone for all the birthday wishes...we had a very nice day...went to our favorite spot at Bass Lake for lunch and watching the boaters and jet skiers...very relaxing spent the entire afternoon and early evening there.

[roudy1]

Good evening Cupids,

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

 

I received bad news yesterday. Mu mother is in the hospital and is in intensive care. She has a bleeding ulser and a racing heart rate. Since I live in Texas and she is in Virginia, it is very hard to deal with. I've asked if I need to be there and all I get is not yet. Hopefully I'll have more information in a day or two. It is a 2 day drive there. Don't know about flying yet.

 

Later, Dave

 

Dave...I am so sorry to hear about your mother's health and I hope you hear something soon...not easy being so far away. My prayers and thoughts are with you. Love ya

 

[AKB10]

Did anyone see the news about Carnival Cruise Lines new policy. As of August 1, TAs will no longer be able to offer OBCs, free or reduced extras or expensive gifts. For now on they are limited to only $25/person. Here's the link to the article in CC: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4899

 

Later,

Dave

 

 

I got an email from Crucon saying that I needed to pay any deposit in full even for group cruises by CC. I am calling Erin in the morning. I only paid the $25 as this is going to be my Social Security cruise so I don't want to pay it till next year. I will be sad if I have to cancel and hopefully rebook sometime next year when I pay the deposit.:(

 

Luckily I paid our deposit when I booked a few weeks ago.

Here is what I got from Cru-con today in their newsletter -

 

Carnival has just announced that effective 8/1/12, they will not allow travel agents to give ANY cash equivalent value-adds (i.e shipboard credit, pre-paid gratuities, gas cards, airline miles, reduced airfare; free or discounted travel insurance, hotel nights, or shore excursions) and will be limiting any booking incentives to a $ 25 pp non-cash equivalent item (like a tote bag, hat, beach towel, memory book, sunglasses and Carnival gifts delivered onboard (Bon Voyage items)). This new policy applies not only to advertising, but all forms of communication, including in-person, phone or any other means. If any travel agent is caught violating the policy, (whether big, small or even a home based agent belonging to a host agency) their commission can be eliminated and they can be put on a "no book" status.

 

What does this mean for you??

 

If you are a consumer and have been thinking of booking a Carnival cruise sailing in 2012, 2013 or 2014...make sure you book it before July 31, 2012 with a CLIA certified travel agency so that you can maximize your booking bonus before this new policy becomes effective. If you have a Travel Agency you already book with, use them. If you don't, give us a try. Either way, support the Travel Agent community and make sure you book with a cruise specialist before August 1, 2012.

 

NOTE: This new policy also includes Cruise Critic groups. Please make sure you deposit in full with Cruise Critic's designated cruise specialist at CruCon before 8/1/12. Call 800-493-6609 to book.

 

For more details on this new policy, go to: https://www.goccl.com/content/form-policy/documents/ValueAddPolicy_FAQ.pdf

 

********************

[AKB10]

Char, glad you had a happy birthday. :D

 

Dave, I am sorry to hear your mother is in the hospital. I hope she does well. My prayers are with her and your family. How is it being back to work? Is it the same or has the atmosphere totally changed?

 

Heidi, I am loving hearing your updates about Eric. I bet his eyes have been opened.

 

Sue, did you finish with the hay baling and hauling?

 

Ed, looks like you and Dale are on vacation in Illinois - have fun.

 

Rick, I had always thought of being a travel agent, but with all of the changes in the travel industry I am not sure if it would be a good job change.

 

Robin, sorry about your Great Uncle.

 

To all of the other Cupid's - have a safe week!!!

 

[roudy1]

Hi Cupids...

Boy there is a lot of talk on the boards about Carnival's new policy...luckily we booked our deposit as well last week...so I feel good about that. I wonder how it will affect CC's future groups with CCL? I have noticed that there are not a lot of groups set up for CC...I remember when you would see 20+ groups to choose from.

Dave...thinking about you and hope all is going okay.

Heidi...how is Eric's apartment coming along? Is he looking for a new one?

Cat...I hope you don't have to cancel the cruise.

Hope everyone is having a good evening...

[Dspcentury]

Dave...Sorry to hear about your mother..Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

I have not booked this cruise yet..To be clear...Can I put a $25.00 deposit on this cruise or the full deposit?

[Cathy p]

Good morning, Breeze buddies!

I rec'd an email from Erin this morning letting me know it was only for people not booked by Aug 1st. She said I was just fine as I booked in May. YEA!!!!!

David, thoughts and prayers still going out to you and the family.

Robin, sorry to hear about your Great Uncle's death. I have been to Cherokee Reservation before and their slots were so very tight.:eek:

 

12-5 shift today and then off tomorrow so shall lurk a bit, chat later.

[Flick]

Just got off the phone with Erin. Our group is grandfathered in so we get to keep our OBC. The new policy from Carnival will effect all groups booking after August 1. While paying the whole deposit at this time will get you the cabin of your choice your guaranteed cabin is safe.

[Cathy p]

Rick, I forgot to ask about the OBC. YEA!! More good news. As I said this is my Social Security cruise. I worked my whole life to get that. While it is still available and I am still alive and kicking, I deserve a treat.:D

[MarkASparks]

No news from Virginia this morning. My sis will probably call just before I leave for work. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

 

 

Later,

Dave

 

 

 

Dave,

 

What part of Virginia does your Mother live?

[momofzeke]

Rick ~ thanks for calling Erin and getting that info! Good to know we will still have our perks. We already paid full deposit and chose our cabin, but I'm glad for those who put the $25 deposit down for a guarantee.

 

Well, the parts for the baler are on their way....coming from Memphis, TN via next-day-air. Hoping they arrive today, although we are so far out in the boonies, sometimes even next-day-air doesn't actually arrive the next day. $6,000.00 worth of parts....can you say "ouch"???? Oh, well, just part of the ranching business.

 

Dave and I hauled every bale that was baled, so today I will have the day off. I really need to clean house since that has not happened since we started haying.

 

Heidi ~ so sorry Eric is having a hard time, hopefully he'll adjust to everything soon and enjoy his Vietnam experience. Seeing what Staci said about all the dying crops she saw makes me grateful that we have as much hay as we do. We WILL have enough to feed our cows this winter. We WON'T have any to sell. That is going to wreck my budget, but could be much worse. At least we won't have to BUY hay....

 

Brian & Staci close on their new home in a week...next Tuesday. They are so excited!

 

Another big event next Tuesday....Greg & Mal are taking their big St. Bernard, Austin, in to be neutered. This is a BIG deal to them, he's like their baby. He has one undescended testicle so that makes it a little more complicated. I'm sure he'll be fine, but they are very worried. I'll be really glad when next Tuesday is over!!

 

When we got to the field to haul hay yesterday, there was a cow and calf in there....she's not so dumb! She crawled out of her field (she is going through the creek under the fence even though we have a water gap there, which is basically a fence built down to the creek that you take out in winter when the creek is high) and had her calf in the hayfield. So, she had this whole giant 500 acre field of fresh cut hay and green grass....so what does she do? She plants her calf (they do that all the time...somehow the calf knows to stay where the mother leaves them and not move) and wanders out of the field to where her friends are across the fence and grazes there all day. We kept our eye on Little Guy and he was just tucked away in a windrow of hay all day long. But, yesterday evening we checked and she was back with her baby. Hopefully she'll take him out of there today...he should be able to travel by now, he's a day old. They get up and running pretty fast.

[MarkASparks]

Luckily I paid our deposit when I booked a few weeks ago.

Here is what I got from Cru-con today in their newsletter -

 

Carnival has just announced that effective 8/1/12, they will not allow travel agents to give ANY cash equivalent value-adds (i.e shipboard credit, pre-paid gratuities, gas cards, airline miles, reduced airfare; free or discounted travel insurance, hotel nights, or shore excursions) and will be limiting any booking incentives to a $ 25 pp non-cash equivalent item (like a tote bag, hat, beach towel, memory book, sunglasses and Carnival gifts delivered onboard (Bon Voyage items)). This new policy applies not only to advertising, but all forms of communication, including in-person, phone or any other means. If any travel agent is caught violating the policy, (whether big, small or even a home based agent belonging to a host agency) their commission can be eliminated and they can be put on a "no book" status.

 

What does this mean for you??

 

If you are a consumer and have been thinking of booking a Carnival cruise sailing in 2012, 2013 or 2014...make sure you book it before July 31, 2012 with a CLIA certified travel agency so that you can maximize your booking bonus before this new policy becomes effective. If you have a Travel Agency you already book with, use them. If you don't, give us a try. Either way, support the Travel Agent community and make sure you book with a cruise specialist before August 1, 2012.

 

NOTE: This new policy also includes Cruise Critic groups. Please make sure you deposit in full with Cruise Critic's designated cruise specialist at CruCon before 8/1/12. Call 800-493-6609 to book.

 

For more details on this new policy, go to: https://www.goccl.com/content/form-policy/documents/ValueAddPolicy_FAQ.pdf

 

********************

 

I received the same email.

[Dspcentury]

Good Morning Cupids...

After speaking to Erin this morning it looks like Adrianne and I will book before the end of the month so that we don't loose out on any of the amentities they will be giving us. I will give all the heads up for when we do. I hope that the fares for this cruise do go down as we get ready to sail..:rolleyes:

[HeidiHo]

Good Morning!

 

Rick - thanks for calling Crucon and getting that clarified. I was going to do that today. So glad we are grandfathered in but I'm not clear on one thing. does everyone booking into our group still get the OBC even if they book after July 31st or will they only get it if they book before then?

 

I got a REALLY long message from Eric this morning. the kind no mother wants to get. He is sick. Most likely it's food poisoning. We kind of knew that would happen. His system needs to adjust to the food and since he's going to be there so long he doesn't want to spend the entire time only eating certain foods. It will just take time. He started getting sick at the school and one of the teachers gave him an antibiotic and like an idiot, he took it without asking what it was and then found out it was Amoxacillin, WHICH HE IS ALLERGIC TO!!!! :eek: Actually, we're not positive he's allergic but when he was a baby he broke out in hives after taking it so he hasn't taken it since. He didn't have a reaction though so I think he's OK. I told him not to take anymore. He has a prescription for Cipro that he got here in the states before he left that he can take. This is the part I really hate about him being so far away. I feel so helpless. :(

 

Not much else is going on. I have worked long shifts the last 2 nights so I'm tired. Last night I didn't get home until 12:30 AM. We have 5 managers and one of them makes the closing host stay until she leaves and she was the closing manager last night. Company rules say that there must always be a manager and at least 2 employees in the restaurant at all times so that means 2 employees must stay until the manager is ready to leave. The other managers always have 2 kitchen people stay. It's not a big deal, I just know that if I'm closing with her I'll have to stay late. Once I'm done with my work I can just sit on the sofa and wait but I'm still getting paid. I usually just sit and play Angry Birds on my phone till she's ready to leave. LOL. I'm working tonight and she's closing again but I'm not the closer so I should have to stay late. I never hold my breath on that though because sometimes it doesn't work out that way.

 

Have a nice day. :)

[Flick]

Good Morning!

 

Rick - thanks for calling Crucon and getting that clarified. I was going to do that today. So glad we are grandfathered in but I'm not clear on one thing. does everyone booking into our group still get the OBC even if they book after July 31st or will they only get it if they book before then?

 

 

Have a nice day. :)

 

Heidi; I simply didn't ask THAT question but she said the "group" was grandfathered in. Perhaps you can call and clarify.

[Flick]

Heidi; I just called Erin not realizing it is probably lunch time so I left your question as a voice mail. Hope to hear back from her the afternoon.

[Dspcentury]

Heidi..When I spoke to Erin I was told that I had to book before Aug 1 to get the any the OBC and other amentities. I can still use my Carnival coupon that I bought when we were on the Carnival Spirit.

[Cathy p]

Hi, Breeze buddies!

I am pooped today as I did not have to go in. I was going an extra 5 hours just to train with the girl next to me so I can be ready for her job when she leaves for surgery in 2 weeks. So she did not come in and I was free.:)

 

Sue, sorry about all that cost but really enjoyed the calf story.

I missed the info that Staci got the house, congrats to all of you..

Heidi, sorry also to hear about Eric. I hope he is better soon.

David, thanks for the info and look forward to chatting with you soon.

Off to lurk.