HEY HEY... IT'S TIME!!!

Another cruise is planned and you just MUST go with us.

Here is the information:

WHEN: January 19-23, 2009 (Monday through Friday)

WHERE: Sailing out of Galveston Texas; going to Cozumel & Progreso Mexico

HOW MUCH: $400.19 per person double occupancy (AND GOOD NEWS -- this includes the taxes AND port charges; please note that their might be another fuel surcharge - I am not certain about this yet approx $50) -- AND this is for the cheapest inside cabin only. When you actually go and sign up you will be given the option for other cabins with different rates. This is inclusive! Meals etc. Extra costs for excursions (optional), alcohol, gambling, and souveniers.

DEPOSIT: $50 per person, or $100 for the cabin -- REFUNDABLE. If you want to go and are still not sure about the details, you can go ahead and sign up to reserve your place. IF something happens and you cannot go, this is refundable (up to 30 days before we sail).

DEADLINES:
.............deposit -- May 6th (THIS HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MAY 21st)............ 1st payment -- $150, due September 8th
............ 2nd (final) payment -- balance due November 6th

CABIN-MATES: ANYONE you would like. You can take a family member, friend, OR stay with one of your low-carb friends. That is up to you. Cabins are for DOUBLE occupancy which means that if you don't have a cabinmate you will pay double for a room by yourself.

POST and let me know if you are considering going with us... AND those of you who went this year, let them know what a blast we had ... as if we hadn't already done that!! hahahaha

I just blogged about this today, Becky! LOTS of interest already:

http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/20...8-low.html

We are in!!! I can't wait!!

It'll be AWESOME to see you and John on the cruise, Amy! CAN'T WAIT!!!

I am pretty sure we are going this year. I really wanted to go last year but I kept putting it off. DH said if I wanted to go I could sign us up and make the plans. I will do that very soon.

Is there an option for a balcony room?

RobinM

RobinM Wrote:I am pretty sure we are going this year. I really wanted to go last year but I kept putting it off. DH said if I wanted to go I could sign us up and make the plans. I will do that very soon.

Is there an option for a balcony room?

RobinM

Can I stay in your balcony room???? Please, she said with pouty face....LOL

Counting down now. Don't forget to reply to the poll. thanks.

I just wanted to take a moment to add some information about raising the money for the cruise. My husband and I live on a very tight income. We have a small 2 bedroom 1 bath home.. older home. We have a few luxuries, but for the most part we work HARD for everything that we have. I can't just "plop" down $400 for a cruise. I have to work and save... but it is worth it to me. I couldn't afford any excursions last year, but that didn't stop me from having a blast in and around town and on the beaches.... and spent very little extra money doing that... AND had so much fun.

This will be my third cruise. The way I have done this is using several methods:
1. I had a garage sale and made my initial money for the first deposit
2. Took a part=time job one night a week at a clothing store; used the great discount to pick up some clothes for the trip.
3. My kids asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I told them to keep their money... after they insisted on doing something I said to just give me some souvenier money; they did.
4. I get a small Christmas bonus and I used that money to pay the rest of my ticket.

I mean, I worked and saved and scrimped and used creative ideas to get it all together. When you really want to do something, there is always a resourceful way to work out the obstacles. I know there were other dear friends that also worked very hard to get the money together in order to go. I wouldn't trade that trip for most anything -- I met some really great people.

I've said it before and I want to repeat, I would love to see this turn into a type of "Low Carb Convention" of sorts -- speakers, displays, friends, and fun. I hope that everyone who wants to go can find a way to go! My one experience with the low carbers showed me what a wonderful bunch of people I have come to know.

Let me know if you have any more questions about it.

RobinM Wrote:I am pretty sure we are going this year. I really wanted to go last year but I kept putting it off. DH said if I wanted to go I could sign us up and make the plans. I will do that very soon.

Is there an option for a balcony room?

RobinM

YES there are balcony rooms. I will get our cruise coordinator to add that to the options when you register.

regandy Wrote:

RobinM Wrote:I am pretty sure we are going this year. I really wanted to go last year but I kept putting it off. DH said if I wanted to go I could sign us up and make the plans. I will do that very soon.

Is there an option for a balcony room?

RobinM

YES there are balcony rooms. I will get our cruise coordinator to add that to the options when you register.

Becky, thank you very much for the info. I will sign up in the next couple of days.

Robin

swatkins Wrote:

RobinM Wrote:I am pretty sure we are going this year. I really wanted to go last year but I kept putting it off. DH said if I wanted to go I could sign us up and make the plans. I will do that very soon.

Is there an option for a balcony room?

RobinM

Can I stay in your balcony room???? Please, she said with pouty face....LOL

Shari, LOL! If you don't mind sleeping on the little couch!

Personally, I could get by with just an oceanview (I think) but DH says he has to have a balcony.

wow this sounds like fun. I have never been on a cruise. Hope my DH and I can come along.

Don't forget we are ALL getting a check from the government in the next few weeks, so coming up with the $50 deposit this year is easier. Just a friendly reminder to those who think they can't afford to do this. Hope you all can come!

I'm headed on over to register! It'll be great to see everyone again.....along with LOTS of new friends! Right?!!!!! EVERYONE COME JOIN US! OBTW - Don says HI!!!!

Debbie

Is Don coming in 2009?

Yes!!!! We were thinking we would not be able to make it - but then Ailsa & Chris from the UK said they wanted to visit us here in Phoenix before the cruise, so I told Don we HAD to go. He's happy about visiting with everyone again.

For those interested in a balcony suite, I got this from our cruise director:

Dear Becky,

Good morning. For anyone interested in the balcony option, I would prefer that they contact me directly, because on the Carnival Ecstasy all staterooms with balconies are actually mini-suites and suites, and we would need to verify rates and availability at time of booking. There are a total of 54 staterooms with balconies on this ship.

If you like, I could see if Carnival will allow us to pull any of those staterooms into the group allotment. If Carnival does allow us to hold any mini-suite staterooms, there would be a full per person deposit to keep them in the allotment. Let me know if you prefer this option. Thanks.

Amélie Richards
********************************

I emailed her back and told her that we WOULD like that option, so if you need to contact her you can email her at arichards @vacationstogo.com

regandy Wrote:For those interested in a balcony suite, I got this from our cruise director:

Dear Becky,

Good morning. For anyone interested in the balcony option, I would prefer that they contact me directly, because on the Carnival Ecstasy all staterooms with balconies are actually mini-suites and suites, and we would need to verify rates and availability at time of booking. There are a total of 54 staterooms with balconies on this ship.

If you like, I could see if Carnival will allow us to pull any of those staterooms into the group allotment. If Carnival does allow us to hold any mini-suite staterooms, there would be a full per person deposit to keep them in the allotment. Let me know if you prefer this option. Thanks.

Amélie Richards
********************************

I emailed her back and told her that we WOULD like that option, so if you need to contact her you can email her at arichards @vacationstogo.com

Becky, thank you very much! I sent her an email.

Robin

I soooooo want to go! I have recently told my 4 best friends that for my 40th birthday I want to go on a cruise with them all (I'll be 35 this year!) We have a empty water cooler bottle that we put our spare change in. I am giving them each a mini-water bottle to fill at home and then dump into the bigger one. With the price of this cruise, we might be able to celebrate my 40th Birthday 5 years early! That would be so cool!

Amy - that would be wonderful if you can join us!

And to all who are interested - Amelie called me and Balcony/Suite prices are about $925 per person! I decided I was happy with my oceanview room....especially since we will have the additional airfare costs from PHX to Houston Hobby. Inside and Oceanview rooms are all very nice. Fun Fun!!!

Debbie

OUCH! More than double for a balcony room? You're never there, so why spend that much money? LOL!