RCCL Legend of the Seas to Hawaii 11/21/04

[Jevey]

Good for you! The journey is exciting as the arrival..don't you agree?

Best to take some warmer clothes too I think..as it will be chilly the first few days. Arrgh! That means another case. Hubby can never understand why us women take so many shoes; it is due to the ability to change one's mind at a moment's notice I tell him. These men do not understand coordination..hey?

 

Hope we get to meet up with you..where are you coming from then?

[Wor Lad]

Here is me thinking we had six weeks to go and it's only five! Getting my cases out as I speak..Yes Wor Lad...case(S)..so start flexing your muscles. *S*

 

Pack animal wishfully thinking "If you can't cram it all in a grocery sack you're not going!"

 

Culinary Newsflash from my Dad - Jelly wobbles in your belly but peas rattle.

[dege]

Wow, only five more weeks? I booked this trip a year ago. Jevey, I can see you think like me...the need for many shoe choices, plus we also booked a pre-trip to break up the wait. We're heading to Las Vegas for a few days next week. I look at it as a chance to get in practice for the casino on the ship (We'll see you in there Victoria). Plus, it's really getting cold here in Michigan...

Patriotic cruiser--it's good to start packing early. I decided to put away the summer clothes this weekend, which naturally led me to a stack of "save these for the cruise" items. My next step is to pull out a case and start loading it. Our goal is to do one medium size case between the two of us. I've also started booking our rental cars for the islands.

[Wor Lad]

M&M signer-uppers wanted.

 

Was it something I said?

[Jevey]

No..it's your poetry! Get back to work..*S*

[Patriotic Cruiser]

Jevey -

We're from Riverside, CA - about an hour East of Los Angeles. It's getting cold here, but nothing like Michigan - sorry Dege! It's in the low 60's today, which is terribly cold to us Southern Californians!

 

Hey Dege! How are you going to just do one medium size bag between the two of you? I've got a suitcase and garment bag for each of us, plus a goodly sized carryon bag. Don't know if I'll get it all in or not. Jevey is right about coordination - it's everything! Men have it soooo easy.

 

According to my countdown clock, there are only 30 days left till we leave - we go to Los Angeles on Saturday 11/20 and stay overnight at the Doubletree Hotel (they have a deal where you pay for one night and get to park your car there for 2 weeks). That way, we'll be in LA in the morning to catch the plane to San Diego.

 

Can't wait to meet everyone!

[Jevey]

We'll be in your neck of the woods next week until Thurs. 'Wor lad' is in school/conference. So I should not bring my bathing suit then, not that hot down south?

 

We are leaving San Fran on the Nov 21st, staying over night at a hotel that has the same deal as yours. Park and fly I think they call it.

 

Hope to see you on the ship!

[dege]

We're flying into San Diego on the 20th and staying at a hotel in the downtown area. Is anyone using RCI transfers to Ensenada? If so, were you given instructions on when the bus leaves the airport? Since we have to come back to the airport on our own, not sure when to be there. The cruise docs are vague.

[Jevey]

Dege;

 

We have the air and transfers included. I would try calling RCCL, and ask about getting on the bus that will take you to Ensinado. Not sure what a taxi would cost. It might cost about $25.00 per person with RCCL, not sure though. You could ask on the boards if anyone knows of a good service to Ensenada other than RCCL.

 

I can tell you the procedure if it helps. RCCL will be on the look out for our flight and will direct us to where the buses will be ( hopefully). Boxed lunches on the buses for all.It then takes about 2 hours to get to the hotel in Mexico, where all the paperwork is done. Then from there it is on to the ship. There the wait may be up to forty five mins. They unload the the buses as they arrive.

 

We had done this route before two years back on X . Things may have changed some, but this should give you a little idea of what to expect.

 

Have a terrific cruise! Hope to see you onboard.

[Ginnylou]

Hello, will know for sure tomorrow if I will be on this cruise as a back to back starting on 11/21/04. Looking forward to meeting others.

 

Ginnylou

[Patriotic Cruiser]

Hey! My travel agent called yesterday to say our tickets were in! Picked them up and all looks good - we have transfers from San Diego to Ensenada. There is information in your ticket book that tells about taxi's, but I'd try to arrange with RCCL for transportation. According to the information, you'd have to take an American taxi to the border and then switch to a Mexican one - too much hassle if you ask me. I imagine they'll have buses running all day as the ship holds 2500 people. We get into San Diego at 1:00pm, so we'll hop on the bus when we arrive.

 

Jevey - I think it's pretty chilly down here (about 60 degrees now (11:00am)) - bring your suite anyway - the hotel may have a spa!

 

Can't wait to meet everyone!

[Jevey]

We arrive at 12:28 pm in San Diego...you never know, we may end up on the same bus! Do not have our docs yet, as they are coming via e.mail

 

Looking forward to meeting you all. Time is getting close!

[dege]

We do have RCI transfers so no need for other transportation. Our flight in is the day before so we'll have to make our way back to the airport on the 21st to catch the bus. Just wondering when the busses start leaving the airport. The last time we did this cruise our flight arrived on the same day (around noon). It seems like we had about a 45 minute wait for the bus. We retrieved our luggage and placed it outside the terminal in a roped off area. We then waited in a line by the escalators to check in with the agent.

I think I heard the last bus leaves around 4pm, but we hope to be in Ensenada by that time. By my calculations it's looking like we could be much closer to having the 25 people for M&M. I'm seeing a few new names on this board. Also a few doing back to backs from the previous week.

[Wor Lad]

...for the next three weeks. Remember when it was three months?

 

Him - Book, anticipate, pack, boogie on down.

 

Her - Pack, hit the shops, try re-packing, put extra stuff in 'pending' pile, formalize 'pending' pile into another wheelie bag, repeat until each piece of luggage exceeds husbands lifting capacity, boogie on down to the refrain 'Don't hurt yourself with those bags Dear'.

[Patriotic Cruiser]

Wor Lad -

You'll be sorry for your comments when you find that something "she" packed is something "you" need! :)

I've got to try on all my stuff I've been buying all year to make sure it still fits! If not, its "a shopping I will go".

See you in 3 weeks!

[Wor Lad]

I just love the anticipation. On our way here - we're in Long Beach - on the shuttle, we went by the Monarch of the Seas in San Pedro to drop of some folks. The ship was beautiful and a joy to behold. Our turn soon.

Dave S.

[Patriotic Cruiser]

Wor Lad -
We sailed on the Monarch last year (our first RCCL cruise). It was very nice. I'm hoping the Legend will be as nice or nicer. See you soon!

[Wor Lad]

Still teasing ourselves - went on the Queen Mary today in Long Beach - 10 million rivets in close formation - real thing soon.

Dave and Gillian

[Patriotic Cruiser]

Did you see the lightning storm this morning? I saw it on the news. We're about an hour east of Long Beach. Wish we could board the ship there instead of Mexico, but it'll be an adventure. Only 22 working days left!
s

[Wor Lad]

Not aware of the lightning PC but it did rain a lot. We were pleasantly surprised with Long Beach - very swish down town - and their public transportation has Sacramento's whipped. I've got one more trip next week and then it's focus on the cruise.

[dege]

We're back from Las Vegas. I can now empty the suitcase and start packing for the cruise. It will take a while to get the selections down to one medium case for the two of us. I hear we have only 15 signed up for the M&M. It looks like the ship seems pretty full--where is everybody?
Patriotic Cruiser, the Legend is much nicer than the Monarch which we've also sailed on. The best part about this cruise is the length. Lots of time to take advantage of everything the ship has to offer or just relax. We did a little of both. I found that this cruise was a little more casual than others I've been on. People didn't go all out on formal nights.

[Patriotic Cruiser]

Dege -
Glad to hear the Legend is nicer than the Monarch - I really liked the Monarch. I read our ticket book and it looks like just 3 of the nights the guys will need a tie and jacket. Besides the formal nights (2) all others are casual (the book said sport shirts for the guys - he'll probably wear Hawaiian). I'm vibrating with excitement!!! Only 18 working days left till the trip - oops! actually only 17 since 11/11 is a work holiday (Veterans Day).
Let's all try and meet somewhere even if we don't get an official M&M. Dege - since you've been on the Legend before, do you know a good place we can meet? Should we go ahead and plan a day and time now, just in case?

[Jevey]

Started packing today! What to take, what not to, that is the question.

Called TA ..she said RCCL has been having glitches with e-docs, so we may get the hard cover ones instead. She is looking into, and will get back to me shortly.

Now, back to the packing..my oh my, these many shoes? Hmm..yes, they all have to go.

[Patriotic Cruiser]

Jevey -
It hit me last night that I NEED to take another pair of shoes! I was really trying to be good and just have one pair for dress-up, but I've got this great dress I want to take now and it needs it's own matching shoes! I sure wish the days of Steamer Trunks were here - I'd do much better packing in one of those! See you soon!
s

[Jevey]

PC...don't feel badly...I'm up to nine pairs already! This does not include my work out shoes either!

BTW. ..cruise docs are coming via mail..RCCL is having many problems with e- docs. What the heck? They can print them on toilet paper for all I care..as long as we board the ship! *S*