• New Home Port

    8/27/200910:11:46 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    We are finishing up the last details of the new GalaxSea office. We are down to painting . . . . . . and laying the floor. Both of which should be done by early September. Our target date for the switch over is looking like October 5. During the daily activities . . . . . . . we are expecting to be on limited phone and internet service, but if all goes well . . . . . it shouldn’t be more than a few hours.

     

    In the midst of that, we are also working on GalaxSea’s 20th anniversary cruise. As you know . . . . . . . . we will be celebrating aboard the Carnival Dream the week of April 3 – 10th. I realize how difficult that week may be for some . . . . . . as Easter Sunday falls on the 4th of April, but we thought it best . . . . . . . as many of the kids are on spring break at that time.

     
    If anyone may be interested, let us know. We are holding space . . . . . at the moment . . . . . . but we were just informed from Carnival that there will be a price increase to take effect the first week of September. If you are undecided, but thinking about it . . . . . . give us a call. Your deposits are completely refundable until December . . . . . . . there is nothing to lose.
     
    Jumping back to our move-in date . . . . . . we will be christening our new home port in early October . . . . . so be watching for that date.

  • But It Could Have Been Worse

    8/18/200912:54:59 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    I thought it might be interesting to tell a story . . . a true story . . . about the only time that I . . . . . and many in the cruise industry . . . . . ever heard of. But, first I will take you aboard the ship. The s/s Norway . . . . . the largest liner of it’s time . . . coming in at 70,000 tons. Long and sleek with 2 funnels cutting through the Caribbean sky. The last of the romantic ocean liners features elegant ballrooms, spacious spiral staircases and teak paneling throughout.     Indeed . . . . . . . a grand lady of the seas.

    Back to my story about the WDFM

    We were sailing aboard the s/s Norway for our annual GalaxSea Cruises national meeting. At these meetings, we would work hard . . . . . and play harder. During the 7 night cruise, we would attend 3 eight hour sessions before finishing up with a 3 hour recap. Aside from that, we were let loose to enjoy, socialize and relax.

    During this cruise of the mid 90’s, the WDFM (Women Dairy Farmers of the Midwest) had been annoying us, other passengers and the crew. Most of these women . . . . . . . . and I am simply stating a fact . . . . . were well over the 200 lb mark.                        And there were 600 of them!               A third of the ship!              They knew they were big women as they would herd themselves throughout the ship chanting . . . . . . . . and I kid you not . . . . . . . MOOOOOOOve Over. That was fine . . . . . until we hit midweek. As far as I know . . . . . this has never happened before . . . or since. The entire ship . . . . . . every lounge . . . . showroom . . . . restaurant . . . . . storage bin . . . . . and crew bar . . . . . . . . were out of beer.      Not a brand of beer.      All beer!   The MOOOOOOOers of the dairy farmers took care of that in less than 4 days.

    But it could have been worse. The herd . . . . . lucky for us . . . . . . didn’t MOOOOOOOve onto the dance floor to do the Cha Cha Slide.               3 hops now. 

     

      

  • Your Next Free Gift

    8/15/20098:35:48 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    How much are you willing to spend to save a little? Every Wednesday (senior citizen day), I ask that very question. The parking lot at the grocery store is overfilling . . . . . . the checkout lines are becoming longer by the minute . . . . . . . . and the tension at the register is mounting as 1 woman is counting out her $8.12 from her change purse. 1 dollar, 2 dollars . . . . . . 8 dollars . . . . 5 cents . . . 10 cents . . . do you take this coupon . . . . . 11 cents . . . . . . "oh my – I have to take something back." Afterwards, it’s like a procession as they head across the parking lot to the Captain D’s for a 4:00 dinner. Yet, it’s a day of social gathering . . . . and for some . . . it may be the only day they get out. So, let them enjoy their day.

     

    Really . . . I’m kidding. I am a senior citizen myself . . . as are most of my friends. And after all, it is 10%. I see younger people fighting each other over school supplies and clothing during “tax free weekend” . . . . and that’s only for 7%.

     

    Back to my question. How much are you willing to spend to save a little?

     

    A friend of ours . . . was just mentioning to us how much time he wasted in line to save $6.00 off of his $60.00 grocery purchase. We all chuckled . . . . . . and then we remembered a story involving him.

     

    For background information, I will tell you that Carnival Cruise Line offers extra benefits to any guest reaching platinum status . . . which is 10 cruises. Some of these benefits would be . . . . first boarding privileges, gifts in your cabin, front of the line service while aboard ship and much more.

     

    My friend had decided to travel with us during our Baltic cruise recently and some of these platinum benefits would serve well . . . . being a lengthy trip . . . and with longer than normal lines expected. But he only had 6 cruises to his credit and the Baltic cruise was coming up in less than a year.

     

    A plan had to be formulated . . . . . so he comes into the office. “I can take a fall break cruise with the grandkids . . . . . . . . and a November cruise with my wife” he says. But that’s not enough . . . . . . . . that only gives him 8. The Baltic was coming up in July . . . and time was running out. “I can take my daughter in April”, he says. Perfect! That makes 9 . . . . and when you walk aboard the ship in England for your 10th cruise, they will hand you your platinum card.

     

    You may think he would be excited about the gifts . . . . the no lines . . . . . . the guaranteed excursions . . . . . or dining privileges, but you may be wrong. Our friend is most excited about the free laundry. Yes . . . . the free laundry service . . . . . and it is indeed one of the best benefits. Leave your clothes on the bed before dinner . . . . . and they will be returned – washed and folded – the next morning . . . . . at no charge.

     

    So how much are you willing to spend to save a little? Maybe a few thousand dollars . . . . . as our friend . . . . . . to save a $13.00 laundry fee? Possibly.

     

    I will be seeing him again soon, and I will mention the extra benefits for “Milestone” (25 cruises) to him. It will be hard for him to resist the $20.00 free entry into the slot tournament or the drinks with the Captain at his private party. Only 15 cruises until he reaches Milestone status.

     

    Call us and we will see how much you can save on your next free gift?

     

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