*Fake* LIVE thread from MerionMom on the Navigator NYE 2010

I don't know how long I'll keep this up - depends on how many of these coupons the Guest Services people will take. :)

I'm here.

Part of the saga:

Cruise leaves Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) on Tuesday, December 28.

Originally scheduled flight:

SWAir ~ 7 a.m. Monday a.m. - Have BEAUTIFUL hotel suite booked for the three of us, anticipating a long and lovely day in sub-tropical Fort Lauderdale, a lovely birthday dinner for my daughter, and a restful night's sleep before boarding the ship Tuesday morning.

Storm is coming. SW Air announces that we can change our flights, if others are available.

Change flight to the night before (Sunday), ~ 8 p.m.

SW cancels midday flights, roughly 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Night flight still "a go".

It's looking bad.

The weather forecast is shifting for the snow to start later, and run well into Monday night.

I go to USAir's website. I see a Monday night flight with very limited space. I click on the flight. I hesitate. My daughter screams, "HIT SUBMIT!"

So I did.

I called SW and cancelled my flight, and they refunded the fare.

We are now booked for ~ 8 P.M. on Monday. Between the fare increase and the $75 in baggage fees, I am now about $400 in the hole.

Then SW cancels the flight that I had cancelled AND the one we had originally booked.

We leave the house EARLY on Monday, getting to the airport and sitting at our gate by 4:45 for an 8 o'clock flight.

They change the time to 8:40.

They change the time to 9:15.

They change the time to 9:40.

They change the GATE!

Mad stampede to the new gate. Not only are the booked passengers there, there are dozens and dozens of people hoping, praying, begging to get on the flight "standby".

They load the plane at 11:15. The gate attendant announces that no standbys will be boarding.

There is serious screaming, crying and sobbing.

We board, take our three seats together.

Plane lifts off at 11:50. Three hours after the scheduled time.

We touch down at FLL at 1:45. It's interesting - SW's planes take 2 and a half hours to make this flight; US Air's jet does it in 2 hours flat.

We are in bed at 3 a.m. So much for the gorgeous suite!

But we are here. Many others are not.

Someone from our roll call, when she realized that her flight was NEVER going to get off the ground (can we say "Spirit Air", people?), jumped in the car and drove 19 hours, getting here when the terminal opened.

Having a great time so far on the Navigator. Ate at Portofino for two birthdays: daughter and son's boyfriend.

Others have reported a decline in food, service or both at various Portofino restaurants in the fleet.

Not here. WONDERFUL meal, excellent service, no problem getting my D+ amenity bottle of wine, no problem with the pre-paid 3 dinners, no problem with my D+ free coupon.

Just a wonderful experience.

Ran into Matthew at muster. :D

G'night!

P.S. - won "the keychain" at the "Free Pull" machine in the casino.

My son had a funny conversation with his cabin attendant.

DS: May we please have the bathroom toiletries? I'm Diamond.

CA: Oh, those are for Diamond Plus.

DS: I thought that they were for Diamond, too?

CA: Well, Diamonds can have them........if they ask for them.

DS: Ummmmm....may we have them, please?

CA: Certainly! I'll go get them.

:)

I don't know how long I'll keep this up - depends on how many of these coupons the Guest Services people will take. :)

 

I'm here.

 

Part of the saga:

 

Cruise leaves Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) on Tuesday, December 28.

 

Originally scheduled flight:

 

SWAir ~ 7 a.m. Monday a.m. - Have BEAUTIFUL hotel suite booked for the three of us, anticipating a long and lovely day in sub-tropical Fort Lauderdale, a lovely birthday dinner for my daughter, and a restful night's sleep before boarding the ship Tuesday morning.

 

Storm is coming. SW Air announces that we can change our flights, if others are available.

 

Change flight to the night before (Sunday), ~ 8 p.m.

 

SW cancels midday flights, roughly 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Night flight still "a go".

 

It's looking bad.

 

The weather forecast is shifting for the snow to start later, and run well into Monday night.

 

I go to USAir's website. I see a Monday night flight with very limited space. I click on the flight. I hesitate. My daughter screams, "HIT SUBMIT!"

 

So I did.

 

I called SW and cancelled my flight, and they refunded the fare.

 

We are now booked for ~ 8 P.M. on Monday. Between the fare increase and the $75 in baggage fees, I am now about $400 in the hole.

 

Then SW cancels the flight that I had cancelled AND the one we had originally booked.

 

We leave the house EARLY on Monday, getting to the airport and sitting at our gate by 4:45 for an 8 o'clock flight.

 

They change the time to 8:40.

 

They change the time to 9:15.

 

They change the time to 9:40.

 

They change the GATE!

 

Mad stampede to the new gate. Not only are the booked passengers there, there are dozens and dozens of people hoping, praying, begging to get on the flight "standby".

 

They load the plane at 11:15. The gate attendant announces that no standbys will be boarding.

 

There is serious screaming, crying and sobbing.

 

We board, take our three seats together.

 

Plane lifts off at 11:50. Three hours after the scheduled time.

 

We touch down at FLL at 1:45. It's interesting - SW's planes take 2 and a half hours to make this flight; US Air's jet does it in 2 hours flat.

 

We are in bed at 3 a.m. So much for the gorgeous suite!

 

But we are here. Many others are not.

 

Someone from our roll call, when she realized that her flight was NEVER going to get off the ground (can we say "Spirit Air", people?), jumped in the car and drove 19 hours, getting here when the terminal opened.

 

Having a great time so far on the Navigator. Ate at Portofino for two birthdays: daughter and son's boyfriend.

 

Others have reported a decline in food, service or both at various Portofino restaurants in the fleet.

 

Not here. WONDERFUL meal, excellent service, no problem getting my D+ amenity bottle of wine, no problem with the pre-paid 3 dinners, no problem with my D+ free coupon.

 

Just a wonderful experience.

 

Ran into Matthew at muster. :D

 

G'night!

Cool beans.....:)

So glad you made it Carol! Happy New Year!

New Cruise Director: Mitch Merucci.

Wonderful Concierge: Carlos.

Excellent steward: Rocky

Someone from our Roll Call won a free dinner in Portofino!

Went to trivia and someone ELSE from our Roll Call recognized me and we played (and lost 80's tunes) trivia together.

Made my donation to the casino. They have added a LOT of penny slots, including a Wheel of Fortune machine.

Glad you made it, Carol!!! Have a great cruise!!

I was watching your Southwest thread - glad you made it - enjoy!:D

We were all watching your flights yesterday with bated breath... so glad you made it safe and sound.

Have a wonderful time... it sounds like you are off to a great start. :)

Glad you made it and may the weather on your cruise be bright, sunny, and warm. Your experience just proves that it pays to be as proactive and allow for extra delays at this time of the year.

Have fun!

So glad you both made it! Had been following the flight sagas.

If you get a chance see if Adrian is still tending the wine bar. He is wonderful. I was on the navigator about a year ago.

Glad you made it aboard the Navigator! Have a wonderful cruise. :)

Went to trivia and someone ELSE from our Roll Call recognized me and we played (and lost 80's tunes) trivia together.

Where's Ally, when you need her? :p ;)

Have a great cruise, Carol!

It won't be the same, without me ... I know ... but TRY to have a great time! ;) :D

Plane lifts off at 11:50. Three hours after the scheduled time.

 

We touch down at FLL at 1:45. It's interesting - SW's planes take 2 and a half hours to make this flight; US Air's jet does it in 2 hours flat.

 

Well, there are a lot fewer planes in the air at that time of night, as well as fewer because of the storm, so more direct routings are possible. Plus, the pilots are running late too and want to get to bed as bad as you, so they can goose it a bit instead of running the fuel efficient way.

Have fun on the ship and keep it fresh for us LOL.

Carole.... Do you ever have uneventful travels?

I remember "meeting" you on your Key West saga.

I think you should stick with sailing locally, in Summer seasons only!

:)

Enjoy!!! So much for your subtropical Florida weather though. We have been SO cold down here!!!

Have a wonderful time Carol - wish we were there instead of in this snow!!

My son had a funny conversation with his cabin attendant.

 

DS: May we please have the bathroom toiletries? I'm Diamond.

 

CA: Oh, those are for Diamond Plus.

 

DS: I thought that they were for Diamond, too?

 

CA: Well, Diamonds can have them........if they ask for them.

 

DS: Ummmmm....may we have them, please?

 

CA: Certainly! I'll go get them.

Didn't know of this. So any diamond member can ask for it? what do you get?

Have fun!! so glad you made it!:D:D

Enjoy it. Glad you were able to make it.

Can you say "drama"?!?:eek:

Whew!

Greetings to the kids -- didn't know our DD's shared December b'days, too...

We're off to (hopefully not too frigid by the time we get there) Orlando on New Year's Day... and I hope to avoid flight drama since we're flying out of Dulles (so DS can start classes upon our return; DD and I will drive home)... I'm afraid the backups in the New York area airports will continue right through New Year due to the thousands of cancelled flights...

So glad you made it! I'm sure you will have another awesome family cruise. It's so much fun now that the kids are grownups, isn't it?

xoxo

D:)

Here we go again!! Another "Carol" cruise adventure. :D ;) :p :D

Glad you made it and hope you have a wondertime...Happy New Year!!!

***

Great that you made it!!

Hi Carol,

Really glad you made it, I know you must be thrilled too!

Have fun. And when you get back, and Sheila gets back, we "must" get together.

Annieeee