I HAVE GOOD NEWS! I was able to finagle a group reduced rate at the Hampton Inn. Those of you early birds will notice on your hotel reservation (in the mailing along with your ticket) that the rate for each of us has been reduced to $109.00 plus tax, a nice savings from the original quoted price. Most of us were quoted $149 at the beginning because we didn't have an organized group ready to book right off the bat.
MORE GOOD NEWS! I got the word just today. We'll have a free cocktail party while on board! I was sweating this one out as we have a small group and I didn't know if we would qualify or not.
Right now, I don't have the date, time or which beautiful lounge we'll meet in, but have a PARTY we will! Bring on the chocolate martinis, James, stirred, not curdled.
I've requested the party to be on a sea-day prior to a non-formal dinner so we don't have to be stiff and gussied up and all that.
The FReeper Cocktail Party has always been one of the MOST FUN FReeps Ahoy events going way back in time. On this purposely laid-back voyage, it's the ONLY planned event.
The cocktail party is where we draw a name out of our FReebooter Booty bag to get a winner for the famous and always-hilarious "gag gift" prize.
It's another doozy this year, folks! Wait and see. You'll ROFLYAO!
Here's also where we can sit and schmooze with each other up close and personal in some gorgeous, dimly-lit lounge while the panorama of placid Caribbean rolls by through the picture windows.
AND ALL THE DRINKS AND SNACKY-POOHS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR ONE SOLID HOUR!
A special note to the three winners of our Early-Bird-Booking Incentive prizes (the Dalereeds, the JCParks and the Greybeards). On embarkation day, you'll find your on-board cash credits already in your ship accounts and you can start wild spending right away, LOL.
Back to more mundane things.......your ticket packet will contain stick-on luggage labels. Be sure to write your cabin number BIG, bold and black on each one (at home before you leave).
If you have more luggage than labels, the Red Cap at the curb in front of the terminal will have extras to give you.....just have a pen at the ready to fill them out.
In your ticket booklet (on coupon 7), you'll see some charges listed in a column. Pay no heed, you've already paid anything listed there....this is just how they break things out for their own records.
Your ticket booklet, your hotel reservation (if you're arriving on Friday), your photo drivers license, your original birth certificate (or a photo copy with ORIGINAL raised seal), or your up-to-date passport should be kept together and placed AT THE READY in one of your carry-ons. DON'T PACK THEM IN LUGGAGE THAT WILL BE TAKEN FROM YOU RIGHT AWAY BY THE RED CAP AT THE TERMINAL! Oh, man, I don't even want to think about that.
I think we're getting good to go, maties.
Be still my freeping heart!
Bahama Mama
Our tickets came today also, I guess it's time to think about getting ready.