Pied Piper Cruises

[jimnbillnpa]

Originally Posted by Canadianguy

And when comparing, keep in mind that the rates shown on Pied Piper don't include port fees like almost every other site does including the major cruiseline sites. But Pied Piper does show the extra port fees in the words on the left side. Just add them together before comparing as its not always obvious. But I agree that in certain categories they do offer a good discount.

That's what I was saying in a rather confusing, roundabout way.

[JoeAndMichael]

Originally Posted by smoosh21

I have now done 6 Pied Piper Cruises. I actually prefer the smaller groups to the Post Thanksgiving.

We, too, have done at least half-a-dozen PP cruises and absolutely love the people who run it, and the cruises they produce. We have also come to prefer the smaller groups over the massive Post-Tgiving PP cruise. If you want a somewhat RSVP/Atlantis-type semi-charter gay cruise, the Post-Tgiving one is for you and will cost you less than the charter companies, but for us it's "been there, done that". We now prefer the smaller group atmosphere but we DO miss the more active hosting that accompanies that yearly biggie. We also prefer the smaller ships, if you can call a capacity of a 'mere' 2,500 or so "smaller".

And speaking of that, we're going to be on the 04/03/2013 PP Celebrity Century cruise r/t out of San Diego to Hawai'i. Are any of you going to be onboard that one?

Bottom line, though: Pied Piper has hijacked this couple away from the RSVP/Atlantis charters. Believe it or not, there's a definite satisfaction derived from mingling with 'breeders' on a mixed cruise and showing them that their ancient prejudices against us are merely examples of ignorance!
We're proud to be ambassadors to their often closed society, disproving those inaccurate portrayals of us. And just as satisfying, we're often surprised at how totally accepted we are among them... indeed appreciated! We've made more than one potentially stodgy cruise a lot more fun for (some of) our straight fellow travelers.

Do THEM a favor! Show them that we don't have horns!

Wherever you go, and whoever you book with, at least do THIS: make it a point to hold hands walking around the decks, and dance at least one slow romantic number together in the disco before the cruise ends. We have ALWAYS done both of those on every one of our 20+ cruises, most of which were NOT gay chartered or groups.

[Hobie]

Joe and Michael, I'll also be on the Century cruise to Hawaii from San Diego.

We will be boarding the Century exactly six weeks from today!

I look forward to meeting you

[JoeAndMichael]

Originally Posted by Hobie

Joe and Michael, I'll also be on the Century cruise to Hawaii from San Diego....I look forward to meeting you

Hobie - Yes, we'd love to meet you. Will you be in the Pied Piper group? If so, meeting will be easy. If not, maybe we'll meet you at the CruiseCritic reception. If it's much before noon, however, we won't be there: we're late-nighters especially on sea-days.

[Hobie]

Joe and Michael,

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I'm a Pied Piper so I'm sure that I'll see you at the "welcome aboard" cocktail party.

I look forward to meeting you.

[RichardE954]

For those of you on this years post-Thanksgiving cruise, make sure you check out the roll call that is already started in the Celebrity Roll Call section.

[Denpetter]

Just a quick question for you guys, who booked through Pied Piper during the 1-2-3 promotion.

Did you receive a confirmation email about the added benefits already?
We didn't, perhaps I should ask Derek.

Thanks, D

[Luke916]

Hey there! We are Jamey and Marc and this is also our first time with PP. We are also booked on the Iceland fjords cruise on June 24th. We are from NJ and have been on many cruises before but like mentioned earlier this will be first "gay group" cruise with PP. We have always gone on regular str8 cruises before and never had any issues for the most part. Wanted to try these guys out and see how it is to travel with some other "family" members! Look forward to meeting you guys!

[blaze32789]

Originally Posted by Denpetter

Just a quick question for you guys, who booked through Pied Piper during the 1-2-3 promotion.

Did you receive a confirmation email about the added benefits already?
We didn't, perhaps I should ask Derek.

Thanks, D

Hey Buddy- Yes, we booked the 1-2-3 promo back in Jan (of course the beverage package!). There is a total of about 14 of us from Orlando- We have been working with Bruce at PP. We didn't get any confirm, however, when I log into the Celebrity website, it shows our beverage package promo. We are also going to upgrade it to the premium package (incl martini's and frozen, and energy drinks too!). Set up your login at Celebrity with your confirm number- Where are you traveling from? I am sure, although it's early but we'll be going down to either fort laud or miami on that Friday for pre cruise. Hope that helps! Tommy

[blaze32789]

Originally Posted by Luke916

Hey there! We are Jamey and Marc and this is also our first time with PP. We are also booked on the Iceland fjords cruise on June 24th. We are from NJ and have been on many cruises before but like mentioned earlier this will be first "gay group" cruise with PP. We have always gone on regular str8 cruises before and never had any issues for the most part. Wanted to try these guys out and see how it is to travel with some other "family" members! Look forward to meeting you guys!

Hi Jamey and Marc! This is going to be our first PP cruise- We are a group of about 14 from Orlando, Can't wait! It's going to be allot of fun for sure! Your Iceland cruise sounds amazing! We've been on a partial gay cruise before with another company and it was a great time. Look forward to meeting you guys! Are you coming in early for pre cruise in Miami or Fort Laud? Tommy and Ray here.

[DavyB]

Originally Posted by Denpetter

I and my BF are going.
Btw did you receive a confirmation of the beverage package yet?
I haven't and neither have I received a booking confirmation from PP.

I haven't received any confirmation from Pied Piper regarding my booking or beverage package. However, when I log in to Celebrity's web site and pull up my reservation, the beverage package is there.

I've also emailed Derek about this last week. When I hear something back, I'll let you guys know.

David

[JoeAndMichael]

Here's a little something I've "heard about" but of course would never do because I'm sure it's against cruise ship policy (ahem): There are several brands of grain alcohol for sale in most liquor stores (sadly, not at Safeway - not thatI'D buy it, mind you) which goes by several brand names, most notably EverClear. It is either 75% or 90% grain alcohol, depending which state you live in, which... I've heard... you might sneak onboard a cruise taking up half (or less) the space in your luggage that the same potency of vodka would take. Yes, it's fully intended for drinking, and no, it's not rubbing alcohol! And no, it won't make you blind...I've heard . It purportedly has less taste than vodka and no aroma. You'd use half-or-fewer ounce(s) per drink than you'd use of vodka (vodka being usually 80 Proof / 40% alcohol). "A friend" has tried it as a substitute for vodka and swears by it - and AT it when he's had too much OF it.

This is not, however, cost effective for everyday use at home since it costs a bit more than twice the price of regular vodka... at least that's what I've "heard"... ahem.

[JoeAndMichael]

Originally Posted by blaze32789

Hi Jamey and Marc! This is going to be our first PP cruise- We are a group of about 14 from Orlando, Can't wait! ....Tommy and Ray here.

Hey, guys... if you haven't visited Cruise Critic's Celebrity Century board for this same cruise, please do. It's a bit frightening in that it suggests that pretty much all the non-PP passengers on "our cruise" are conservatives who're probably older than I, and I'm 68! Thank goodness we're all sitting together in the diningroom. Otherwise, my husband and I might wind up at a table full of str8 Missourians (MY home state, regrettably) who declined to help us eat our (25th?) wedding anniversary cake when the waiters presented it at our table (on the first night of a previous, NON-PP cruise). Although they didn't actually say so, we got the idea they might be afraid they'd "catch gay" from us. We got a different table starting the next night.

May we safely assume that when/if they come to the table with our 32nd anniversary cake, you'll fearlessly join us... please? I think we're all together at the second seating (circa 8:30) spread among multiple tables, of course. Michael and I usually go from dinner to the second performance in the theatre, then go to the disco following the show.

Tommy and Ray... I hope your group and all the rest of the Pied Pipers will show up en masse in the disco every night... at least on the nights before sea days when there are no early morning shore excursions. Michael will probably be in the casino at the video poker machines, but I'll be up there just watching the passengers dance. If previous PP cruises are any indication, most of us Pied Pipers will be gathering around the bar laughing and getting to know each other. I almost never dance anymore, but always try to get Michael to dance at least one slow-dance with me every night up in the disco. We have never been hassled... or barely even noticed... dancing together among all the old fogies (like us), so don't be shy!

[blaze32789]

Originally Posted by JoeAndMichael

Hey, guys... if you haven't visited Cruise Critic's Celebrity Century board for this same cruise, please do. It's a bit frightening in that it suggests that pretty much all the non-PP passengers on "our cruise" are conservatives who're probably older than I, and I'm 68! Thank goodness we're all sitting together in the diningroom. Otherwise, my husband and I might wind up at a table full of str8 Missourians (MY home state, regrettably) who declined to help us eat our (25th?) wedding anniversary cake when the waiters presented it at our table (on the first night of a previous, NON-PP cruise). Although they didn't actually say so, we got the idea they might be afraid they'd "catch gay" from us. We got a different table starting the next night.

May we safely assume that when/if they come to the table with our 32nd anniversary cake, you'll fearlessly join us... please? I think we're all together at the second seating (circa 8:30) spread among multiple tables, of course. Michael and I usually go from dinner to the second performance in the theatre, then go to the disco following the show.

Tommy and Ray... I hope your group and all the rest of the Pied Pipers will show up en masse in the disco every night... at least on the nights before sea days when there are no early morning shore excursions. Michael will probably be in the casino at the video poker machines, but I'll be up there just watching the passengers dance. If previous PP cruises are any indication, most of us Pied Pipers will be gathering around the bar laughing and getting to know each other. I almost never dance anymore, but always try to get Michael to dance at least one slow-dance with me every night up in the disco. We have never been hassled... or barely even noticed... dancing together among all the old fogies (like us), so don't be shy!

Hi Joe and Michael! I am on the "roll call board too" Our group is allot of fun- I think we have 12 or so. You bet we will be at the Disco dancing the night away! And I will for sure slow dance with my honey! We can't wait for this cruise- it's going to be allot of fun for sure! Considering the free beverage package too!
And as far as those Missourians.... they and all there closed minded douche bags can just go to the shuffleboard court and stay there!
I think most all PP will be in the 2nd seating for dinner- Our group is mostly all on deck 7. So, are you celebrating your 32nd on this cruise? Wow!

[JoeAndMichael]

Originally Posted by blaze32789

Hi Joe and Michael! I am on the "roll call board too" Our group is allot of fun- I think we have 12 or so. You bet we will be at the Disco dancing the night away! ...I think most all PP will be in the 2nd seating for dinner- Our group is mostly all on deck 7. So, are you celebrating your 32nd on this cruise? Wow!

I'm pleased as (spiked) punch that you guys are going, but slightly confused about the total PP group. You're a group of approx. 12 from Orlando if I understand correctly, but not the entire PP population on the cruise, right? Do you, or does anyone else, know the total count of PP'ers for the cruise (by "PP'ers", I mean Pied Pipers, not golden showerers).

Years ago for a previous PP cruise, I bought a bunch of flashing-LED light "jewelry" like bracelets and earrings that change colors, tacky-kitschy disco flashy stuff. I've recently ordered replacement batteries and will being passing around some of them in the disco. For anyone interesting in this crap, Google something like "flashing led disco accessories". I can't find the URL I used years ago, but a few similar ones are:
gotparty-dot-com/lightbracelet1.htm , glowsource-dot-com/ ,
justrightlight-dot-com/
This is all dirt-cheap tacky stuff. The postage will cost more than the items.
It's worth buying some of this crap just to read the enclosed instructions in "pigeon" Chinese ("Don't Too Crazy!", "in place the anode to the crust").

Look forward to meeting you and yours,
Joe (& Michael)

[JoeAndMichael]

Tommy & Ray: couldn't find any posts by Blaze32789 on the Roll Call for Century, 4/3/2013 at:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1624465

When I wrote "Hey, guys... if you haven't visited Cruise Critic's Celebrity Century board for this same cruise, please do." I was referring to 4/3/2013. Are you there under a different name perhaps? If not, you haven't really missed much. I doubt we'll go to the Cruise Critic meeting unless it's very late morning or early afternoon, but... maybe.
Don't tell me PP has 2 Hawai'i cruises soon and we're not on the same one!

Joe

[blaze32789]

Originally Posted by JoeAndMichael

I'm pleased as (spiked) punch that you guys are going, but slightly confused about the total PP group. You're a group of approx. 12 from Orlando if I understand correctly, but not the entire PP population on the cruise, right? Do you, or does anyone else, know the total count of PP'ers for the cruise (by "PP'ers", I mean Pied Pipers, not golden showerers).

Years ago for a previous PP cruise, I bought a bunch of flashing-LED light "jewelry" like bracelets and earrings that change colors, tacky-kitschy disco flashy stuff. I've recently ordered replacement batteries and will being passing around some of them in the disco. For anyone interesting in this crap, Google something like "flashing led disco accessories". I can't find the URL I used years ago, but a few similar ones are:
gotparty-dot-com/lightbracelet1.htm , glowsource-dot-com/ ,
justrightlight-dot-com/
This is all dirt-cheap tacky stuff. The postage will cost more than the items.
It's worth buying some of this crap just to read the enclosed instructions in "pigeon" Chinese ("Don't Too Crazy!", "in place the anode to the crust").

Look forward to meeting you and yours,
Joe (& Michael)

Hi boys- this is PP most popular cruise- Based on what I heard from previous cruises- I believe there will be about 900-1000 that booked through Pied Piper.
goddy flashy bracelets !! Love it! of course we need accessories! haha!
We'll light up the disco!
-- Tommy

[tysona]

We just came back from 11 nights on the celebrity. Equinox. I found pied piper. To be useless. Derek. And his team were poor hosts and did not speak to me or my partner throughout the whole trip. We were left to dine alone at dinner while two of his 'hosts' sat at the next table and didn't not even come to speak to us.it seems that although they offer good prices and you get a few free drinks .that is all they offer. nothing else except what was already available with celebrity no special shore excursions. no specific port information nothing!
This was our fourth cruise and our first gay group cruise.I would prefer to just go onboard and meet fellow gay travellers at the fod meetings. Maybe we were unlucky but it spoilt what should have been an amazing trip.

[cle-guy]

Originally Posted by Canadianguy

And when comparing, keep in mind that the rates shown on Pied Piper don't include port fees like almost every other site does including the major cruiseline sites. But Pied Piper does show the extra port fees in the words on the left side.

I actually find this helpful, helps calculate the singles rate, taking the rate x 2 and adding in port fee and only 1 tax.

[Capricorn77]

Originally Posted by tysona

We just came back from 11 nights on the celebrity. Equinox. I found pied piper. To be useless. Derek. And his team were poor hosts and did not speak to me or my partner throughout the whole trip. We were left to dine alone at dinner while two of his 'hosts' sat at the next table and didn't not even come to speak to us.it seems that although they offer good prices and you get a few free drinks .that is all they offer. nothing else except what was already available with celebrity no special shore excursions. no specific port information nothing!
This was our fourth cruise and our first gay group cruise.I would prefer to just go onboard and meet fellow gay travellers at the fod meetings. Maybe we were unlucky but it spoilt what should have been an amazing trip.

Hi tysona,
what was your cruise itinerary?
My partner and I just booked a Mediterranean cruise on the Celebrity Equinox with Pied Piper and am now a bit concerned...