Fellow MINTers,

What is the easiest way to determine which (if any) of the Mega-ships will be in OUR ports of call?

Hopefully we will avoid most, but I am not betting the house on it.

Thanks,

Anthony

Except for the canopy tour, I wasn't really planning on leaving the comfy confines of the Mariner. :D

Lawrence - I think you will LOVE the canopy tour. I had a blast on the one in Costa Rica. Pictures, please! All the best, Anne

Suzanne and I plan on doing the margarita excursion! :D :D :D

Anthony, Karen, marc and margo are great at finding the sites for cruise terminals and getting to their calendars.

Love your new avatar. Those children are precious!

Olivia,

Thank you very much for the kind comments.

Anthony

I need your help!!
I just about have the better half talked into the 11/12/04 Mariner cruise but have some questions.
1. Which airport is best to fly into?
2. If we have to fly in a day early where would you recommend staying?

Jim,
The closest airport is Long Beach which is a very easy airport to get in and out of. Jet Blue is a great little airline flying in and out of LB.
The other airport which unfortunately is more of a zoo is LAX...but, it is only about 25 minutes from the San Pedro Pier (technically I guess it is called L.A. Harbor) where we'll disembark. There are shuttles which are easy to catch from either airport. My guess is that unless you're on Jet Blue, the fares into LAX will be less expensive than Long Beach airport.(especially on something like Southwest Airlines)

As for hotels....can't help much there. I think some have stayed at the San Pedro Hilton. Gil was going to be staying on the Queen Mary (yep, the original) in Long Beach for one night before he had to cancel his Mariner cruise next week.

Hope you can join us!

JimB-

Sent you an email on the subject.

Lawrence-

You need to do Parasailing in Los Cabos followed by the Margarita tour!

Where is the canopy tour?
Thanks Todd and Marcie for the information.
Will see what happens.

The Canopy Tour is in Puerto Vallarta. It is a Ship Shore Excursion, but many of us are thinking about booking it privately. Here is one such agency:

http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/english/canopy_tour.html

IT IS A GO!!!
Jan and I WILL be joining you on the Mint cruise.
Hope Ngaire can do her magic.

That is GREAT news - so looking forward to meeting you. It gets better every day we will have a wonderful group aboard.

Ngaire
Did you get my email I just sent??

Noticed my picture disappeared.
Must have broke the camera.
I sent it to John again.

Yes, Jim I got the email.

I think we are up to high 20's now lots of GREAT people!!! This is about the size of VOF - we should have another dinner up in Portofinos like we did on VOF that was really great.

Welcome, welcome. welcome....

OOOps, Perhaps I am assuming my partner in crime, (I mean, co-hostess Sheri), and I may be appointed to be welcome wagon for this cruise? If so we could carry on with our task ( :D ) as social "directoresses".

I am sure that everyone will be delighted to retain the "hostesses with the mostess".

Suzanne, I think you and Sheri are highly qualified to continue this tradition!

No one could fill your shoes!! You and Sheri are the BEST!!!

Jim, I'm so pleased that you and Jan will be joining us!!

How many are going now??? I am guessing close to 30.

I think that is about right Todd I counted 27 but may have missed some.

WOW! That is up there! Is that about as many as VOF?

I think the VOF was low 30's. By the time MINT arrives it will be more than that. All started by YOU Todd, we should make you PRINCE or something for the cruise.

Karen, can you find a crown befitting of a prince? I know Prince Todd talked me into this with little effort. One of my daughters (25) may even join me, I have been telling her about our travel group. She thinks we are crazy (chicken margarita excursions, canopies, people stealing shoes and doing pole dancing)....I guess it would seem strange.

Vive de largo el Rey!!

[img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgDNApcVMBS!ID!I8ntAD9XpNIJbG10L*Z62gpY3faj9uYlG4cW!l*JchEFE6*WNiEfd*hV9Es04nMS0zZ!eFx3mGKrPuwE5H3YOGaka5yXpozOwwr973w/TODD%20OLE.bmp?dc=4675452016200111467[/img]

AH THERE IT IS - The famous MINT Ole Sombrero Todd (aka Todd's Prince Crown!)

I always suspercted you were of royal blood, Todd

Karen:
How do you and Todd do these wonderful pictures?
They are so funny.

Todd;

Talked to Jan last night and the canopy tour sounds like something we would be interested in doing. Would you please keep us informed about your thoughts on it.
Thanks

11/12/04 Mint Cruise
02/22/04 Norwegian Dream
02/15/03 Paul Gauguin
03/22/80 Commodore MS Caribe

I got worried.
The Mint cruise went to page two and I just could not stand it!!!!

Yes let's not forget about the MINT cruise!

Just got a email from Ngaire's assistant Jennifer
with my booking number and cabin assignment!!
YEA !!!! That pretty much makes it official huh?
Deck 9 mid ship cabin #931.


03/22/80 MS Caribe
02/15/03 Paul Gauguin
02/22/04 Norwegian Dream
11/12/04 Mariner "Mint" Cruise
02/2005 RSSC "somewhere"

Congratulations Jim!! It sure sounds official to me! Looks like a perfect location! Don't forget to come visit those of us in steerage on deck 7 :banana:

Jim - what Marcie said! :cool: Congrats on a great location!

Masaki

Masaki:
Would you please tell me how to get a good price on a room at the Westin LAX.

Jim, don't forget there's always the Queen Mary in Long Beach. They have decent room rates M-F...especially in November.
http://www.queenmary.com/

If you're going to stay at a LAX hotel, there's NOTHING there unless you go into Manhattan Beach or Marina Del Rey (both near by) where there is nightlife and lots of restaurants. If you're just going to eat in the hotel and go to your room and crash then I guess it doesn't make any difference.

Jim B - for a good price at Westin LAX - try Priceline - its the only 4* in the LAX zone that has ever been reported (Sheraton, Hilton, Radisson are all 3*s). The magic number these days appear to be $60 a night. See http://pub210.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddinglosangelesareadisneyland for details.

(Have not booked it yet), but our flight choices look like they get into LAX around 6:00 pm
(It is pretty limited from Montana).
We would probably want to get to the hotel, check in, go have a couple of cocktails, have dinner and get a good nights rest.
Also thought that it could be a nightmare trying to get close to the port that time of day.

I like the cocktails and dinner idea Jim....book the Westin on Priceline:



1. Logon to Pricline.com
2. Click on "Hotels" icon.
3. Click on "Los Angeles"
4. Put in dates in 11/11/04 and date out 11/12/04 leave one room as is then click "next"
5. Click on the "LAX" area only go "next"
6. Click on "4 Star" only, bid $60, put your name in etc. I think it will ask you to set up an account at some point, but this is it.

You will get the LAX Westin. If it says something like LAX hotels go for $200/night, do you want to change your bid say NO.