We are a HOT Topic on Roll Call!

We'll probably be up to page 32 by the time we're about to board the ship in November!!

Ok Jan and I are a GO for the MINT cruise.


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

Jim and Masaki: So glad the two of you, along with Jan and Amanda will be with us! This group could be as big as VOF by the time it gets here!

Welcome Jim and Jan! At the rate that this group is expanding, maybe we should just rent out one of the restaurants full time? :D

Masaki

Reading the roll call list has gotten Keith and me very excited. We really do feel like we know ya'll.

So - we hope to book this MINT trip and invite my parents (in GA) to join us!!! We'll sign in if it becomes official!

Ash <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

YEA!! YEA!!
Hope you and your parents can join us!! The 4 of you will have a ball!

Here is an unofficial roll call. No order here just as they come to mind. Anyone else??

Todd
Todds friend Lisa
Suzanne
Lawrence
Sheri
Petlover
Maskai
JHP and hopefully daughter
Marna Lou
Adrenn
IUjawbreaker
NH cruisers
Ngaire
Jim B
Mary Ellen

Well 24 for sure.

There are a few couples playing around on the sidelines that I think will be joining us when the dust settles.

Ngaire: Ken?????? Joanna

I only put one name per couple. Do you REALLY think I would go anywhere without Ken. Who would carry the bags and entertain the ladies???

Did I miss where Ray and Penny said they are going?

I guess that was wishful thinking. I was just doing this from memory and scanning the thread Ray had posted here. Perhaps I am trying to create the Power of positive thinking. Perhaps I should add Marty & Erika, JoAnna and Tony, John and Kimmi, Jack and Kathy, Karen and Mark, the dancing Burns etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.

Jim - I'm going to post a reply to your post in the MINT thread on CC over here instead ... it's too hard to keep track of the thread in both locations. We've decided that we're going to drive down from Sacramento on the day before to make sure we don't run into any snags along the way (told you guys we were paranoid!). We booked a room at the Westin LAX through Priceline for $60/night (thanks Todd for that suggestion!).

Masaki

GREAT WORK MASAKI! What a deal! Expedia shows that at $159/night.

Masaki:
Great! Thanks for telling me.
Thanks to Todd we are interested in the Westin or had thoughts about Sheraton Los Angeles Harbour since it would be real close to the pier.

Todd - the Westin web site listed that night at $129 with a AAA discount. We still WAY came out ahead with doing Priceline (my 2nd time bidding too!) I also love BiddingforTravel.com. :)

Jim - tell me about the Sheraton! Have you stayed there before or know more about it?

Masaki

Deleted....I was getting MINT and Las Vegas roll calls mixed up.

Masaki:
No I know nothing about the hotels.
I have looked at them on the internet and that is all.
We stayed at the LAX Hilton last year on the Paul Gauguin cruise. We thought it was ok.
I guess our thoughts were to get closer to the pier the night before. No big deal.
I was hopping to get an idea of where most of our group would be staying just for fun.

By the way Happy belated Birthday on the 12th.

Jim, I am going to bid on Priceline (perhaps via Todd if it challenges me too much) for the LAX Westin (and Heavenly Beds!). We will arrive after dinner time, and will have a slight jet lag from the east coast, so decided not to get to the pier until the next day. I have e-mailed Masaki about perhaps sharing a van to the port. Let me know if you will be staying at the Westin so we can coordinate.

Olivia,

I sent some detailed instructions on how to bid Priceline for LAX for a 4* property. You will get the Westin as that is the 4* inventory Priceline has at LAX....with Heavenly Beds!!!!! Bid $60 and you shoul dget it on the first try....if not, contact me.

This sounds like something Jan and I would be interested in.

Olivia - "You've got mail!" :) Sounds great - will be fun to get together at the hotel even before the actual cruise! You definitely should be able to get the Westin for $60 since I got it for that rate on that night.

Jim - join us at the Westin! ;)

Masaki

Booked at the Westin for $60! Now on to air reservations.

Masaki and Olivia:
Help me with booking at the Westin .
PLEEEEEEASE!!!

Jim:

1. Logon to Priceline.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. Let me know.


Oh...and I think you will like it!

What Todd said ... :)

Masaki

Thank you.
Masaki:
I'M IN!! Westin LAX the 11th.

Okay, at some time in the future, JimB, Masaki and we will arrange for a transfer van to the port to get us on in time for early embarkation and lunch on the ship? Can't wait for this cruise, just like all the others I have planned before! Anyone else out there (as there are many on this cruise)?

Oh I want to go too! Maybe I should Priceline a night.....I don't want to miss out on any fun.....I guess another option would be to meet you guys for dinner on the 11th.

Not a bad idea Todd!!

Todd - where are you guys staying?? With you being the official LCT cheerleader for the Westin LAX, I would have thought for sure that you were staying ....

.... you know, just as I'm typing this, I think to myself, "wait, where is Todd from again?" and I look up to see Sherman Oaks. ....... :o

OK ... but still, Todd, it'd be great fun to have you hang out with us at the Westin. :)

Masaki

Yes Masaki the LAX Westin is about 16.5 miles from my house. I will think about both options :banana:

Gee Todd.
We really need your help at the Westin.
We won't even know who to call to come and get our large group and take us to the ship.

Jim-

I have not figured out how I was going to get to the ship. I wonder if staying the one night at the Westin and arriving there by Taxi and then carpooling with you guys from the Westin to San Pedro would be cheaper than taking a private sedan from my home???? I will have to look into it. I think we have a little less than 8 months now.

Hey Westin gang....if I had a large enough vehicle I could shuttle you but the chances of me purchasing a greyhound between now and November is not likely.

You might contact: www.xpresshuttle.com (or call them at 1-800-427-7483). You will have a van to yourselves.

I just called that number and they quoted me $59 per person for 6-7 people. Does that sound a bit steep? I hardly think a cab for two would be $118, but then, I'm not from LA!

I agree.
That sounds really steep.
I wonder if the Westin has more than one shuttle
that could be hired away from the airport run to take a group like ours to the pier.
Do they do things like that?

Okay, it just didn't sound right, so I called again. Now they tell me that from the hotel to the pier is $69 total for 7 people (in case Todd joins us). Sounds good! I will see to booking it as time of the cruise nears

Sounds like a deal!

Now that sounds much better!!!!