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dkjretired

By dkjretired,
in Celebrity Cruises

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dkjretired

dkjretired

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Enjoy your day at the Palm & happy anniversary! Looking forward to hearing your impressions of if. We have been considering going there next month.

 

Hi Rich and Yhank You.

 

Royal Palms is older but clean. Small pool with Cabanas around it. Most people go to the beach but I'm not a beach person. They have a restaurant for Burgers and such. Lots of drink servers. Cab from pier was 4pp, 10 minute ride. Funny but a couple of people on cruise critic said cab driver will try to get you to go somewhere else. I laughed, it was the first thing he said to me. By the way cabs are actually shuttles and they fill them before going.

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dkjretired

dkjretired

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How "large" was your group?

 

I'm organizing things on the 10/16 sailing and our Connections Party count got stuck on 127 when Celebrity rolled out the new website. No way we would fit at the Passport Bar.

 

Thanks, and hope you are enjoying the cruise.:D

 

Our group on the the roll call was quite large, we had over 40 pages of roll call comments. Hard to tell how many actually showed up because the passport bar is open. We also had a spread sheet.

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dkjretired

dkjretired

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I've responded to similar posts here before...

 

In late 2009, I took on the task of creating two sets of name tags--one for our Sail Away gathering and a second for our Meet & Mingle [then, Connections Party]--for ~ 240 members of our Roll Call... Months before our sailing date, I posted my exact plans to the Roll Call and included a spreadsheet--updated several times--containing the carefully collected information I could glean from Cruise Critic [screen name, and often, "home location"] for edit as well as a request for first names with intent of printing all three... The name tags looked great, included a graphic, and for the most part, Roll Call members were both supportive [though often not prompt; I was still reprinting name tags hours before I left for Europe so as to capture late additions/edits] and appreciative of the effort... That said...

  • I encountered two couples who didn't want name tags printed at all; instead, they asked that I bring along blank labels/markers--which they'd fill out with their identifiers as they chose to share them--if they attended either or both events...
  • I encountered another dozen or more who didn't want their screen names printed in the interest of remaining anonymous in the presence of officers/crew should they ultimately decide to post after-cruise negatives here... Apparently--and I certainly don't share the thought; it struck me as self-important/self-patronizing--some fear potential future retribution by the cruise line/its employees...
  • I encountered another couple who criticized me for misspelling their [non-US; unfamiliar to me] "home" location... Turned out that I'd printed exactly what they'd entered on their Cruise Critic profile and never--following multiple requests for edits--corrected it... They told me that I ought have caught their long-standing error!
  • I had one couple who joined the Roll Call after I'd left for Europe [six days before embarkation] and expressed dismay--despite the fact that I'd brought blank labels/markers--that their name tags were less "professional" looking than the rest...

The Social Hostess--whom I met with upon boarding ship to share the location of our large [and it was extremely well attended] Sail Away get-together--later extended compliments for the organization of our events... I thanked her but went on to explain some of my frustrations; she understood them and went on to say that the "anonymity" issue in particular manifests itself far more often than one might expect...

 

I sincerely doubt that Celebrity will ever collect Cruise Critic screen names; to my mind, there is reason why the Meet & Mingle registration is via a link to Celebrity systems... And while there is nothing to prevent Meet & Mingle attendees [Celebrity has no real way of knowing if a Sail Away event is planned via a Roll Call] from adding screen name to provided name tags for those choosing to do so--a few pens/markers will do the trick--I tend to doubt that Celebrity will ever encourage such practice in any way...

 

For me--given the time/expense I devoted to the undertaking--it was a "one and done" experience... When it comes to human nature, I thought I'd "seen/heard it all" after a nearly 35 year career in Human Resources with a Fortune 25 corporation... I was wrong...

 

Like I said it was weird, it was a big contrast to last year on Summit with Capt Kate. All the officers were there, they welcomed us, she spoke for a few minutes, asked some questions and everyone mingled. Also was held in sky bar. I agree that don't think Celebrity will deal with screen names.

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2theship

2theship

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For me--given the time/expense I devoted to the undertaking--it was a "one and done" experience... When it comes to human nature, I thought I'd "seen/heard it all" after a nearly 35 year career in Human Resources with a Fortune 25 corporation... I was wrong...

 

I feel your pain. I took on the task once and that was enough. I spend hours and hours getting the name tags done and double checking them. It was for a transatlantic so there was a very active roll call. We had the name tags available at the sailaway and again at the Connections party. I took at least half of them home because people did not show up. On the other side of the coin, there was the guy who expressed disgust with me because he did not have a name tag. He had never participated in the roll call and I had no way of know his name but that was my fault, not his. Oh, and did I mention the fact that DH and I missed most of the sailaway and Connections party because we were handing out name tags? (Mostly DH dealt with it, he deserved a medal.)

 

On a recent cruise, someone created a template so we could print our own name tags and bring them with us. That worked pretty well because the effort was shared.

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excitedofharpenden

excitedofharpenden

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I feel your pain. I took on the task once and that was enough. I spend hours and hours getting the name tags done and double checking them. It was for a transatlantic so there was a very active roll call. We had the name tags available at the sailaway and again at the Connections party. I took at least half of them home because people did not show up. On the other side of the coin, there was the guy who expressed disgust with me because he did not have a name tag. He had never participated in the roll call and I had no way of know his name but that was my fault, not his. Oh, and did I mention the fact that DH and I missed most of the sailaway and Connections party because we were handing out name tags? (Mostly DH dealt with it, he deserved a medal.)

 

On a recent cruise, someone created a template so we could print our own name tags and bring them with us. That worked pretty well because the effort was shared.

A totally thankless task. I would never, ever take it on. You'll get a small percentage of people that appreciate it, the large majority who take it for granted as if you were being paid to do it and a very small number who will be totally unreasonable. A slice of life a cruise is with the variety of people you meet!

 

Phil

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wallie5446

wallie5446

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Thanks for the daily updates Don!

 

We just had to cancel the Nov 6th sailing, so will get our Equinox fix following along.

 

In the GastroBar there is a brown leather note book on the shelf behind the bar for guest to leave a comment.

Have a brew and tell em hello.

EW

 

Oh, congrats on #35, our #35 is today, 9/18/82

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Xport

Xport

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Show was great especially for a Jersey Boy. Standing Ovations at end and encore.

 

Another Jersey Boy here, Don; I also grew up in Essex [and later, Union] County... Though I live in the Fort Lauderdale area on a primary basis now [winter weather/taxes], I still have a place in the Morristown area and northern New Jersey will always be "home"...

 

Somehow or another, I missed this show--if then offered--while doing a back-to-back on Equinox in Europe at this time last year... You can bet I won't be missing it while back aboard in December!

 

Thanks so much for the "heads up" and recommendation... Sounds like you're having a great time; enjoy every bit of your sailing...

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dkjretired

dkjretired

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Another Jersey Boy here, Don; I also grew up in Essex [and later, Union] County... Though I live in the Fort Lauderdale area on a primary basis now [winter weather/taxes], I still have a place in the Morristown area and northern New Jersey will always be "home"...

 

Somehow or another, I missed this show--if then offered--while doing a back-to-back on Equinox in Europe at this time last year... You can bet I won't be missing it while back aboard in December!

 

Thanks so much for the "heads up" and recommendation... Sounds like you're having a great time; enjoy every bit of your sailing...

 

Wow, grew up in Irvington until College than moved down the shore and then Pa. still own our house in Jersey. I think this was their first show, if I run into them I'll see how long ther're on board.

 

They have a site on Facebook, December of 63.

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dkjretired

dkjretired

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A totally thankless task. I would never, ever take it on. You'll get a small percentage of people that appreciate it, the large majority who take it for granted as if you were being paid to do it and a very small number who will be totally unreasonable. A slice of life a cruise is with the variety of people you meet!

 

Phil

 

And loads of people are usually no shows.

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Xport

Xport

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Wow, grew up in Irvington until College than moved down the shore and then Pa. still own our house in Jersey. I think this was their first show, if I run into them I'll see how long their on board.

 

Probably quite close; what a coincidence! Until age six, my family lived in the Ivy Hill [upper Vailsburg] section of Newark--between Ivy Street and Mount Vernon Place--just two blocks east of the park and Seton Hall campus... Newark's borders with Irvington, Maplewood, South Orange, and Orange are all just blocks away...

 

With family in the area, strong ties to that neighborhood continued for another twenty years following our move to Union County; it was indeed my second home...

 

Thanks again; have fun!

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Sandtrap328

Sandtrap328

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Dinner was excellent both of us had Strip steaks. Show tonight is Summer of 63, a tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four seasons. Since we grew up in the same County as them, we should enjoy this. Also tonight is silent disco.

No, the group was December of 63. It is the correct title of the Four Seasons song most people call O What a Night. The show was excellent, but was down one cast member from when we last saw it in May.

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TommyD3

TommyD3

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No, the group was December of 63. It is the correct title of the Four Seasons song most people call O What a Night. The show was excellent, but was down one cast member from when we last saw it in May.

They had 5 cast members in May?

They had 4 last night which makes sense to me being Four Seasons impersonators.

 

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forums mobile app

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Arzeena

Arzeena

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We had two suites at Embassy Suites FLL March 2017 & have stayed there a couple other times. The hotel is fairly old, but well kept. The staff has always been friendly & polite. They cater to cruise ship passengers. The breakfast & evening happy hour are always nice. My only complaint is the elevators are slow & there are not enough of them. The only time it is really a problem is in the morning when everyone is trying to get to breakfast &/or their ship. Lots of patience is needed in the mornings. I would stay there again.

 

Sent from my SM-G900P using Forums mobile app

 

Thank you.

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dkjretired

dkjretired

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Don, where are you spending the day today? We are by the pool. I'd like to come by and say hello, since we've haven't had the chance to meet yet. We were also at Royal Palms, the 4 Seasons concert, and the silent disco last night.

 

Actually, I'm in the casino wearing a shirt that says I'm the boss. Will probably be in it tonight as I thing we!are doing buffet.

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Texed Holiday Sharing Rare

Texed

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Wasn't rag doll, it was I think walk like a man

 

Actually, I believe "Sherry" was the Four Seasons biggest hit. It was number one for 5 full weeks. I believe Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons have had 7 number ones. :)

 

Also, "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" was the fifth most played song of the decade. ;)

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youwash

youwash

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Thanks for the daily updates Don!

 

We just had to cancel the Nov 6th sailing, so will get our Equinox fix following along.

 

In the GastroBar there is a brown leather note book on the shelf behind the bar for guest to leave a comment.

Have a brew and tell em hello.

EW

 

Oh, congrats on #35, our #35 is today, 9/18/82

 

Congratulations to all on your 35th.

We celebrate our 35th on Reflection 2/25/18 !

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