Big Doodle Cruise News -UPDATE 2

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

UPDATE - DKers are still signing up!!!

Elizabeth (Bailey) & dh Jim - newbies - the latest cruisers to sign up!!!!

Ann (Oliver & Rosie) & husband Bill - repeats

Lisa (Daisy) & her daughter Nicole - newbies

Nicky* (Riley & new puppy Boris) - newbie - Our 1st ever international cruiser!!!

Dori (Rua) - repeat

Doris (Knox) - repeat

Leslie (Halas) & her mom, Judy - newbies

Ronna (Murphy & Wilson) - neewbie

Laurie (Fudge & Vern) and husband, John - repeats

Jane (Guinness & Murphy) and her husband, Dave and son, Tim (my cruise crush) - repeats

Myself - repeat and dh, Bob - newbie

So far 19 people and 9 cabins!!!!!

We still have Suzanne Smith that is in NEED of a cabinmate!!!!!!

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There will be a cruise in Oct. 2013 - not a sanctioned DK event but a Doodle Cruise as the last one was.  EVERYONE is welcome.  All that is required is that you contact:

Susie or Shel Perlin

Cruise Planners of Florida

www.cruiseplannersofflorida.com

941-729-0113 or international 877-724-2483

 

You will book seperatly and then we will be linked together for dining.  I'm encouraging everyone to sign up for early dinner for easier socalizing. 

They will help you to select your cabin - and you will make a deposit on your credit card of around $200.  - I don't suggest the early saver fares as they are not refundable - most other deposits are 100% refundable up till final payment is due.

We are sailing on Oct. 13, 2013 

6 nights on Carnival FREEDOM out of Ft Lauderdale, FL

Key West, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios - 2 sea days

Hotel and airline assistance will come later

TRY to stay on deck 7 is you can!!!!

THERE WILL BE A DOODLE CRUISE 2014!!!!  We will begin planning as soon as they open up those dates for reservations, should happen early 2013.  PLEASE - if you want on this DK Cruise - we will book as a group - so watch for more info. 

JOIN the Doodle Lovers Cruise Group as this will be the last post on the front page!!!!

 

 

 

 

1st I hope that everyone will realize that getting a group together on a cruise ship is a daunting task.  Each cruise line is different in how they handle this and it isn't a simple thing - last cruise we were booked as individuals and later we were grouped for dining.  We booked in Aug for an October cruise - at this point we are WAY behind the 8 ball.  This time I was trying to book us as a Group which would get us perhaps some on board credit (free money on S&S card) of some other perks.  Sadly - on the Oct. 13, 2013 cruise - suites are VERY limited and for balcony cabins - I'm not sure how much "grouping" we can do. 

I'm very frustrated at this point and have asked the Travel Agent to check to see if the ship has more availability on the Oct 27, 2013 sailing.  She will let me know tomorrow.  Don't get me wrong - we can all get on the 13th sailing - but I can't promise that our rooms will all be central in location to each other. 

QUESTION:  How important is it to YOU to have all the cabins close together?  If you fear smoking - you might have to opt for a Spa cabin. 

For each type of Cabin there are different categories - so a Balcony can be different in price based on ship local - forward, middle, aft and by deck.  Last time we all were on deck 7 which I believe was an 8C - so if we try to group people will have to be willing to spend the same as their neighbor.

QUESTION:  If availability was better the 2nd or 3rd week of January, 2014 - would you still go? 

Also - the hotels in Ft Lauderdale are more expensive - but will be in a BETTER (safer) location, we could have a great time in FtLdle the night before we cruise. 

Lastly - when we pull the trigger on this cruise - you HAVE TO BE READY to decide - you can always back out later but we cannot "hold" the group cabins for long.

I'll be back to you tomorrow.  For now I'm going to sip a cocktail and try not to have my head explode.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

I think the 2014 fall trip is a great idea. I think with my smoke problems and the short time along with the need for a room mate makes 2013 harder to accomplish. Just my personal thought.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Jane, I'm looking forward to what you find out about later October 2013!

[sandy b]

Jane, thank you for all your hard work.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I still want to go in October, 2013. Let us know the details.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

ME TOO!  I can't do a regional get-together with Murph, and I don't want to wait two years to do this again.  At my age two years is a VERY long time...LOL.  I would probably go again in 2014 too, but I definitely want to go next October..

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Spent yet another hour on the phone with the TA.  Let me encourage everyone - if you want to cruise in October 2013 - some of us are going the dates will either be 10/13 or 10/27.  We waited too long to be able to get larger numbers of cabins in a row and some suites are limited.  We will have to book as individuals (just like the last cruise) - by early 2013 we will begin the booking for the Oct. 2014 cruise - which will then be booked as a group.

Benefits of a group would include a private meeting room and some other perks.

Tomorrow I will announce the date selected and give you the information for the travel agent.  If you need a cabin mate - get asking now.  A deposit will be required to book a cabin (balcony cabin around $200.).  For ship details and cabin descriptions go to Carnival.com

Sail On!!!

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Just throwing this out there.......maybe a different cruise line?

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I am definitely willing to wait for the 2014 Cruise. I think one year out may be too much and the experience may be "washed"out a little with the ones that just had the fantastic experience of the original doodle cruise. 

I vote for waiting and doodling around our great lands when an where we can. (PA tooning sounds like a perfect 3/4 day to me).

Oh and Jane, thank you so much for everything you are doing.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Read the UPDATE -----  I'VE BOOKED MY CABIN!!!!  Lets go!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

# 7283

They have found balcony cabins in a row but can't hold them - so book early and ask to be next to your friends.

[Adina P]

Have fun cruisers!!!  I'll be jealous but just can't swing two in a row.  At least not right now.  I'll miss you all when you go!!!

[Leslie and Halas]

Hmmmm....It's 2 days before extended tax season ends.  I might be able to swing that.  We have CanAm this weekend (giant flyball tournament in Indy), and I think they'll let us know next years' dates.  So by the end of this weekend, I should know if CanAm will conflict.