Patricia June 16th, 2008

Hello again.

I’m finally back in the office and moving on with the 1,000 of things one does in one’s office.  I’m excited about Sea Socks ‘09 and I’ve been reading literally a ton of e-mail regarding the great, the wonderful, the bad, and the ugly bits of Sea Socks ‘08.  I’ve thought about every e-mail sent and I ask that those who have thoughts to please keep them coming as they are the only way we improve year over year.

When Sea Socks ‘07 sailed we asked for feedback and it was in response to that we tried some new things in ‘08.  Some worked and some didn’t and some ought to have worked but didn’t.  So, I offer up that every year is a learning experience and hopefully the trend is better and better.   That is why I love the feedback, even when some is hard to hear, it always makes the cruise, the group, and the experience better.

So, I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m formally calling out for anyone who has been on any previous Sea Socks Cruise and is planning on going on Sea Socks ‘09 to join the Advisory Board.  This board will be available to help plan, organize, share information, and whatnot for Sea Socks ‘09.  I’ve got some great ideas, Amy Singer and I have talked about great ideas too, but the only way this group is going to get better at this point is for me to get some help.  Here’s the part where I reach out to you and ask for your help in this.

I am looking for 10 team members, I currently have three.  Once the team is set-up, we will be working on Sea Socks ‘09 — Improved!  (Now with more help.)

• Sea Socks '09
• Comments (3)

Patricia June 2nd, 2008

I know many of you know this, but I thought I’d just let the rest of the world know…we have returned.  (Yes, I’m finally home from Sea Socks ‘08 — with the added sidetrip.)

Instead of returning to the office as I had planned, I rushed off for two weeks to help with my family as we dealt with a family death.  I’m thrilled to have been able to be there, but equally glad to be home.  I’m gearing back up after so long away, so continued understanding is appreciated. 

However, I know the one thing you have noticed that is missing that is now back — the new FIXED pricing/details page.

• Sea Socks '09
• Comments (1)

Patricia May 23rd, 2008

UPDATED: Opps — there was an error on the sailing in the online booking.  No worries, but it has to be fixed.  The sailing is from Baltimore on June 19 — going NORTH to Canada and New England.  Please forgive my confusion.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts for my current family emergency. However, in a quiet moment, I FINALLY got the booking engine up and running for Sea Socks ‘09.

The links are above at pricing & details. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Now, if you booked on the ship this year, then you need not fill out those forms.

Thank you all — and now I can’t wait for next year!

• Sea Socks '09
• Comments (4)

Patricia May 19th, 2008

Oh my — welcome home, Sea Socks ‘08ers!  Please don’t forget to add your photos to Flickr Pool called “Sea Socks ‘08″  As of this typing there are nearly 500 photos (in the first 24 hours) and they are awesome.

Now, I’ve got many people asking about Sea Socks ‘09 and I have to say the booking engine will be a wee bit delayed.  I’m having to deal with a family emergency and I’m out of the office this week too.  (For those keeping track at home, this is week three solid of not sleeping in my own bed.)  I’m keeping up with calls and e-mails, but building new engines isn’t possible in my last few hours of the day.  I am shooting for by the end of this week.  However, since I know people want to get their ducks in a row:

June 19, 2009:  Roundtrip from Baltimore.  Grandeur of the Seas going to Canada and New England.  More details on pricing and such will be forth coming soon.

• Sea Socks '08 , Sea Socks '09
• Comments (1)

Patricia April 28th, 2008

It seems that we may have friends in high places.  I wish I could tell you all the details, including the e-mail and phone numbers I have — but alas, somethings are mine and I get to use the power sparingly.  However, I have important planning information to share about your time in Seattle.

First, if you live in Seattle or are having someone drop you off, and want to wait for as little time as possible — I suggest that you time your arrival at the pier around the 7 to 8pm hours.  The idea is that the check-in lines will be shorter and the only waiting you’ll have is just to board the ship.

Second, order of boarding will be order of check-in, except for the suite folks.  So, if you are debating coming and checking in and then leaving  do it.  Check in early and then try to return to the pier between 7 and 8pm.

Curious about the Snack Packs?  Well, I’m hearing they are up-sized versions of the snack packs from the airlines — the ones you pay for.  There is supposed to be choices, plus a few bottles of water per person.  In addition, there may be cookies at somepoint in the afternoon — though I’m not sure I want to sit in the Terminal when I could be in Seattle for a cookie — but if you are just staying put, look out for the cookies (and yes, you may have mine too.)

The shuttle service from Bell St. Pier (Pier 66) to Terminal 30 runs until 9pm.  So, if you are downtown and want to get back to the Terminal 30, you ought to be able to take that shuttle.

Does anyone want to know WHY we are leaving from Terminal 30 and not Pier 66?  Well, it seems that Terminal 30 is HUGE and Pier 66 is small.  This allows for more seating and more bodies to be able to wait with some comfort.

I’m being told that check-in will go until 10pm — though please don’t give me heart failure and wait that long.  This means that you ought to have plenty of time to get to the pier.

Remember, if you are parking, park at Pier 66.

If you are needing wheelchair assistance, you will have a special process to board the ship and they have a plan.  You will have a special waiting area, and will get to have one person to help you on board.

Best game plan — get to the pier check-in.  Return back to the pier by 8pm (esp if you have carry-on bags you have checked in for holding). Wait a short bit of time (bring knitting and look for other people knitting — you’ll meet people in the terminal). Board ship.  Drink adult beverages.

Note, this is the first time in a few years they are doing one of these odd boardings, but there are reasons that this will probably become more common for a few trips a year.  There may be bumps in the road, but we are knitters and we can handle it.  And also remember, if you have any ideas on how to make this process easier (after we’ve gone through it) there will be a survey to fill out.

• Sea Socks '08
• Comments (0)

Patricia April 21st, 2008

I sent the following in a mass e-mail, but in case you read the blog first, or there is an issue with e-mail, I wanted to put all of this out there.

Good Morning.

I know we are all counting down the days until May 9th and I have just gotten updated and highly important information from Celebrity regarding the boarding. The update is in the attachment, but I want to review some key details.

1. The ship will not be in port to board until 8pm in the evening. However, check-in will begin at 11am — and they will check your bags so you do not have to carry them.
2. The pier the ship will be at is not Celebrity’s normal pier and is in fact Terminal 30. This is the addres in your documents.
3. That said, if you are parking, you will park at Pier 66 and Celebrity will shuttle you to Terminal 30. There is NO parking at Terminal 30!!
4. If you are being dropped off and pick-up, tell your driver to drop you at Terminal 30 and pick you up from Pier 66.

Now for the “what am I going to do all day thing”

First, note that Celebrity is doing FREE hop-on hop-off tours of Seattle. These leave Terminal 30 every 30 minutes and details will be available at the pier when you check in.

Secondly, they will be providing a snack pack when you arrive, so you will still need to plan your food for the day — but this is something.

Next, dinner will be served when we get on board.

If you are on the SeaSocks Pre-Cruise Transfer, you will be taken directly to Terminal 30. Once you drop your luggage and check-in, I highly suggest you use the hop-on hop-off services to get into downtown Seattle.

If you are on the Yarn Crawl, the schedule is being updated — the important thing is that the pick up from the hotel will be at 11am and will include a check-in stop at the pier before crawling begins. Be flexible, and I’ll let you know more information as I know more and get it final.

Once we are on board, please note that there will be NO sea knitting on Friday night. Get your dinner, get unpacked, relax, and I’ll see you all on Saturday Morning.

Finally, I know this is a pain and the news of changing plans isn’t always fun. I’ve been asking about this for months and built plans on poor information. This ought to be final, and I thank you now for understanding and going with the flow on this one for me.

Thank you and please let me know if you have questions.

infinty-letter.pdf

• Sea Socks '08
• Comments (7)

Patricia April 10th, 2008

Yet another fine service I offer.

Ok,  I’ve got two fine folks looking to do this tour and need to round out their foursome.  http://www.shoretrips.com/common/search4.asp?rcode=PNW&lcode=JUN&tcode=004244

It happens to go to the brewery for one of my favorite beers.  If you like beer (and by beer, I mean good beer — like something with body) then you must try a little Alaskan before you leave — also available on the ship — want to ask me how I know?

Contact me if you are interested, e-mail, call, whatever.

• Sea Socks '08
• Comments (2)

Patricia April 9th, 2008

Susan was kind enough to write a ton of great questions in comments on the podcast post.  I liked them so much instead of answering in comments where I am not 100% sure everyone would see the answers, I pulled them out and will answer them in a post here.

So, how many Sea Sockers are there?

The total group is 152 people.  This includes a few knitting supporters.  I’ve even been forced to upgrade Michael’s title from last year’s “Lift and Tote Boy” to “Knitting Supporter with Toting Responsibilities.”  I’ve counted and re-counted the knitters many, many times — I know I’m making 122 bags — but some knitting supporters are getting bags — so my knitter count is around 118.

Is it too late to get in on the Friday morning yarn crawl?

Probably not.  I need to check with my supplier and will do that today.  If you are interested can you let me know by 5pm on Thursday, April 10th?

Are there “formal” nights on the cruise? (NO WAY am I bringing bulky fancy clothes - need the space in my baggage for yarn!) (If so, is there an alternate “buffet” dining choice, to avoid spending hours getting duded up?)

Yes, there are two formal nights on the cruise.  While there is a buffet for casual dining should you wish, I would suggest that you pack so black slacks or a skirt, a shirt of some sort (yes, when I was on this ship, I wore a ‘dressy’ tee) and a shawl.  I happen to know for a fact that one of the ladies last year wore sweatpants and a tiara — while I like to dress up a little, I’m all for the yarn packing.  Think double duty — like you can wear the same dressy outfit twice; you may really like your tablemates thus you might not want to miss dinner with them; and you need only be ‘dressy’ during dinner and may change for “Sea Knitting” afterwards.

And, any more hints about 2009?

Oh how I want to talk about ‘09.  It actually is painful not to.  However, I’ve pledged to keep my mouth shut.  I will say this, if you think you want to be in on ‘09, book onboard in ‘08 (I’ll tell you every thing the morning of the 10th of May).  You will not only get your pick of cabins and such, you will get an onboard credit that you can’t get otherwise.  This is the hint that the next cruise will be on a ship in the Celebrity/Royal Caribbean/Azmara family.  Helpful? No?  Sorry — a month and you will know all.

UPDATED:

The fabulous Sharon asked other great questions:

Quick question - when we have a shore day, for instance in Ketchikan, the agenda shows 9:00 to 3:00, is 3:00 the time we must be back on board, or is that the time the ship actually leaves?  What is the absolute time in Ketchikan, Juneau and Victoria that we must be onboard so we don’t “miss the boat”?

Those are the actual times we are to be in port — thus you will be expected to be back on the ship about 30 prior to this time.  I would watch the daily program from Celebrity to confirm that these times don’t change and that I’m not telling you something wrong

And Aunty Nin says: 

if you’re planning to run Saturday’s registration from 9am to 10PM, you may want to recruit someone(s) to give you potty breaks (grin)

Um — see my point about my am and pm?  9am to 10am — thank you very much.  Also for Sharon too, Gamma is only on Deck 3.  Ignore that I tried to move it to Deck 3.

I promise this is MUCH better than my original draft — there was SOME proofreading.  Alas, again — just human, right?

• Sea Socks '08
• Comments (2)

Patricia April 9th, 2008

(Aunty Nin will like this post.)

If you don’t listen to the podcast Michael mentioned, I strongly suggest you read the document packets that are heading your way.  I can tell you that nothing we talk about in the podcast isn’t IN that packet — but there are a ton of pages to read. 

Also, because I know a few of you are anixous, I’m attaching the schedule to this post.  This is the full  schedule — yup, the whole thing.  However, it is SUBJECT to change.  It is subject to corrections (like when Aunty Nin reads it and realizes that I don’t know my am from my pm).  And it is slightly more updated than the printed copy in your packets — sue me, I got a little cut and paste happy.

I know there is wonder about the materials list — guess what — it is on the LAST page of the agenda. 

Finally, there are TWO pages for May 9th.  One is if you are in Seattle on May 8th and the other is if you are arriving on May 9th.  I’m very confident that you are all able to figure out what applies to you, but if you have questions, let me know.

(Ideas on packing your bags will be appearing here shortly — but fair warning, think about an empty bag….just saying.) 

Ok, I know I may sound a little snarky here, and I really don’t mean to.  I’m truly as excited (if not more) as all of you and can’t wait for my work to be done so we can enjoy the cruise together.  I’m slightly more than halfway through the documents going out in the mail, I expect to be done tomorrow with a few going out on Friday.  Once that is done and I pack up the goody bags and ship them off, I will publish a HUGE sigh — promise.

 seasock-agenda.pdf

• Sea Socks '08
• Comments (3)

Michael April 8th, 2008

I’ve just posted Episode 106 of The Mail Buoy, you’ll find it here.  All of you probably know this already because I’m positive that all of you are avid listeners!  Heck, we were recently named The Best Podcast produced by us ON THE ENTIRE INTERWEBS!  Which means that you’re doing yourself a distinct disservice by not listening to the show!

For those of you who haven’t had a chance to check out Episode 106 you really are going to want to - after our news segment we reveal the SeaSocks Agenda!  Many of the details that you are all so eagerly awaiting are discussed this week - but we’re not giving everything away.  We still have some surprises in store for all of you.

For those of you who are about to subscribe or listen to the show for the first time, there are several options available to you.  We’re listed in iTunes and if we’re not already we’ll soon be in the Zune Marketplace as well.  If you do a search for The Mail Buoy in the online sections of both programs you should be able to find the show.  We’re also listed in most if not every podcast service on the internet.  Plus you can download the show or listen to it right in your browser by following the link at the top of this post.

BTW if you haven’t heard it yet, check out Episode 105 too.  It has nothing to do with SeaSocks but I think it is probably one of our best shows ever…

• Sea Socks '08
• Comments (4)