AOS 9/12/04 Anyone out there?

[IBCAR18]

Good afternoon everyone. This time last week Stan and I were departing out hotel for our flight home. Wished we were all still cruising!! We still have not heard from Kerri & Todd. Hope all is well on their end. Dying to know what they thought of NYC. Let us hear from ya'll once you get settled back in. Have a great day............Michelle.

 

[me&eric]

Hey everyone,
What about Gatlinburg Tennesse for the spring? We could rent a huge cabin. Lots to do there and beautiful scenery.
Melissa

 

[Jibace]

Melissa,

Ally and I love the idea of Gatlinburg. Coincidentally, I was just looking at a vacation guide for the Smokey Mountains last night and was looking at Gatlinburg. We would love to rent a cabin and hike, fish...maybe find some horses and Tamra can teach us horseriding.

I'm definatley in for this and will probably want to go anyway even if the Island Hoppers opt out and go somewhere else. I was looking at some websites and it looks beautiful. I would love a week in the Smokey Mountains. We went hiking at Glacier National Park and it was awe inspiring...if we rented a large cabin and just took day hikes it would be great. There was a website talking about a 60-foot double waterfall.

I got your e-mail and can't wait for the picture CD, sounds great.

When are we going to Gatlinburg?????????

Rich

 

[me&eric]

Rich, I hope we could convince everyones else. Its is beautiful there and the national park has the most breathtaking views I have ever seen in my life. They have tons of REALLY nice cabins that would sleep many couples and they are VERY nice. They have everything you need in them all your brings are your clothes. The one we rented was awsome ! We went in January and it snowed. So pretty but it was very difficult to get up the mountain as it wasn't plowed. I know it cheaper at certain times of the year but in the fall its the best for the foliage.
Come on everyone lets try Gatlinburg!!!!
Melissa

 

[Jibace]

You had me at "Hello"

 

[me&eric]

LOL!!!!!!!

 

[me&eric]

Michelle.................... you , Stan,Eric and I could carpool to Gatlinburg! We could meet everyone there!!!!
Melissa

 

[Jibace]

Melissa, either post those sites here or e-mail them to everyone, they are great. We would probably need the 4 or 5 bedroom cabin depending on how many couples and who brings cildren. Ally and I would love to go in the fall when the colors are changing and the air is brisk and cool...but not snow.

We could all plan on being a chef for one night and making their favorite meal to share with everyone. Or we could go simple and make pots of chili or cheeseburger soup (excellent cold weather soup with chunks of burger and melted cheese...hhmmmm)

Okay, enough dreaming, back outside to finish taking the Chinaberry tree stump out. Now I know why they call this tree the Chinaberry, because it's roots go all the way to China.

Onward, to Gatlinburg!

 

[me&eric]

Thats a great idea! I forwarded the sites to Michelle to forward on to everyone as I don't have the list of everyones address at work. Rich there are tons to choose from thats only a sample I sent you.
Don't break your back digging or the balcony will be out of the question for Ally!
Melissa

 

[rock0994]

Gatlinburg sounds good in the Spring/Summer. I like the idea of a large cabin.

As for the cruise - Dave is unable to get anytime off starting Thanksgiving - New Years since its his busy season. We were think ing August, September or October... We may take Taylor - I wish she had someone in her age group to go with.

I will check in later.
Cheryl

 

[piercetc2]

We must be on same wave length- I thought about Gatlinburg for our island hopper reunion- would be a fabulous trip! If we bring kids, individual cabins may be needed to accomodate us all?
Cheryl, does Taylor have any "best friends" whose parents would pay for her to join you on the cruise so Taylor would have a cruizin buddy her age? We did that once- my friends parents paid for her flight and spending money- plus they could pay the 3 rd/4th person cabin rate - I bet you could find a little friend that would love to go with you! So Thanksgiving is out for 2005 cruise, right? Looked at prices today online- summer prices(aug.) is like minimum 500 more per person - for example, a cat. L on mariner of the seas for aug 7 is 1112.00 for 1st /2nd and about 872.45 for 3rd /4th person in an inside cabin- ouch! Compared to Mariner cat L on oct 2 for 562 for 1st/2nd and 324.85 for 3rd /4th - have to add insurance to this- if get travel guard on your own you pay less than if buy through cruise people- should be like 45 per person for travel guard last time I checked. Will email sites to check out prices if you want me to.
We have done a trail ride in Smoky Mountains near like Dollywood? It was breathtaking scenery- lots to do- horse back riding, fishing, hiking, go -cart tracks, white water rafting , little shops everywhere and many other cool things to do! It is definitely a something for everybody kind of place!!!!
Will check in later tonight-
Tamra

 

[rock0994]

Tamra, That’s a good idea to have a friend with us - my only concern is at that age - what if they want to go home.... Email the website info - It looks like from the prices we would go in September again...
Who else is planning on cruising again next year.. I know Melissa and Eric... Michelle and Stan? anyone else.....

Melissa or Rich - Email me the info on Gatlinburg. Do they rent cabins for the weekend?

Well I need to do my Tae Bo tape - get ready and go to work.

I will check in tonight.
Cheryl

 

[IBCAR18]

Good morning Island Hoppers. Melissa, Gatlinburg sounds good to Stan and I. Yes, we can carpool!! That would be fun. I'll forward your emails to everyone for viewing. Kerri & Todd....are ya'll home yet? As far as cruising next year.......yes we are......but to Alaska this time. We have done Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean the past 3 years and now want to explore Alaska. That of course does not mean we wouldn't go with ya'll. If we can get a great deal on whatever ship ya'll decide on crusing on we would consider it for sure!!!!!!!! Let me go forward Melissa's emails to ya'll.........check back in later. Michelle.

 

[piercetc2]

I just looked at a cruise- addicts group cruise- mosaics or something like that on this site- oct 15? mariner of the seas out of port canavarel- rates were not bad. Also, here on this site, a place to get quotes from many cruise agencies including the ones I emailed you guys- may be a way to get a great rate- to find it, look on 1st page (home page) of cruise-addicts and its right there at top of page-
has anyone decided on a ship yet? Did you all get the sites I emailed you to check pricing for next yr?
Let me know if I need to resend!
More later
Tamra
Michelle- hope you and stan come with us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we have done eastern and western and southern too so any itinerary is fine with us- as long as the place has a beach that is-

 

[mom2MCI]

Hey Island Hoppers..

Nasty rainy day in West Virginia today. A great day to get a lot of my work caught up. We love the cabins in Gatlinburg!! Gatlinburg is a lot of fun. A great place if we are all going to be bringing our kids. Let's do a big cabin so we can all stay together!!

Now, that we are talking about a cruise for next year we are definately doing the Disney cruise in October. I just have to check on more thing and I will be booking it later this week. We are going to do the 4 day cruise and then spend a week at the resort on land. I think we are going to have to pass on joining all of you next year, but do want to do the reunion!!

Well, off to finish supper and get everyone out the door for evening activities!!

Jodi....

 

[rock0994]

Hi Everyone!!

Tamra- Mariner of the Seas sounds good to us - Is it 3 islands and 3 ports? I think were going to book with just Dave and I - we can add Taylor later if we decided to make it a family trip. I am still waiting on my sister to see if she is planning on taking the triplets on the Disney cruise - we would like to take Taylor on that cruise again.

Michelle - You and Stan have to go with us!!! To save money - we may go with a basic room - skip the balcony... We have to have our coordinator with us on our cruise!!!

Its cold in Michigan today... I am not ready for fall/winter...

I will check in later tonight.
Cheryl

 

[jcdld]

Evening everyone,
I think it would be safe to say my hubby would vote for Gatlinburg. He's a big hunting/fishing fanatic so it would be right up his alley. I am game for anything that involves the Island Ho's. Thanks Rich.
Dave makes many great dishes. I am good at salsa, guacamole, and crepes. Obviously we ate out alot when I was growing up...but I will be glad to make any of these items if Gatlinburg is our destination.
Have a great night all, Jill

 

[piercetc2]

We are going to have a blast in Gatlinburg! I can make jambalaya- but i can't spell it- also green beans, mashed potatoes, lowcarb cauliflower, portobello mushrooms, spinach artichoke casserole- Brad grills the chicken, chicken wings, steak etc........ will bring some recipes so can do a variety !
Cheryl- the mariner does an eastern route- 3 sea days and 3 ports ( nassau, st thomas, and st. maarten) or a western route - 2 sea days and 4 ports ( labadee, ocho rios, george town grand caymen, and cozumel) Did you happen to check out the cruise addict group cruise going on this ship on oct 15? the prices looked pretty good- balcony for like 750 each, ocean view in the 650 range? and inside for like 550 range. Still would like to get a quote from this site- says you ask for a quote (once a date is chosen) and about 15 agencies bid to give you the best rate- would not hurt to see what they offer- if i get a chance to do some more research this week, will try the quote request and report back to you all. You may want to do this for your disney cruise too?
Jill- we love salsa and guacamole- have you had rotel dip? have you used lawry's guacamole seasoning in your guac.? it is the best ! Rotel dip is a cheesy version of salsa- spicier than queso though-
Hope many of us can go next year on both cruise and gatlinburg- one of the agencies I emailed does "happy hour" specials and sometimes offers up to 200 off a cabin and various other things like that- happy hour may be on tues.? i can't print the name here but maybe they will let me do this- www.c_uc_n.com use and r in one blank and an o in the other- will see if they zap me for that?
more later
tamra

 

[hookedup]

G'day - we're home.

How's the stubby holders going???

Just a quick one, as I'm still getting used to resuming my Title of:

Mother, Employee, Maid, Executive Chef, Educator & Financial Controller

I think it's going to take a while. Home the day before yesterday, a day at work yesterday and at home today. Just back from the beach with the kids - yes they missed us and we missed them - great to get
cuddles and kisses again.

Got back safe & sound - the rest of the adventure went as planned.

I'll fill you in more in the next couple of days or so.

Rich - we went on a 4x4 Safari in Dubai - I have some sand from Al Madam Desert - you can email me you're address and I'll get it off in the post for your friend. Just had to get some for her.

Rich, thanks for the photos too - I got them when I got to work yesterday - it was great to see them and everyone's faces again.

Anyone else who's got them organised yet - would love to receiving them too.

If you give me a couple of days I'll get some posted too. I promise.

To everyone - you're all great and thanks for making our trip memorable!!

Kerri

 

[IBCAR18]

Glad to hear the Kerri & Todd made it back home safe. When you get time Kerri, I want to hear about your trip to NYC. What you thought and what ya'll did there. We are definetly in on the Gatlinburg deal.....just tell us when. I'll make my famous Brunswick Stew and cornbread.........ya'll will love it!!!!!! If Tamra finds us a deal on the Mariner......we can possibly do it too next year. We will see. Hope everyone has a great day. Still working on mailing out pic's to all. Chat later!!!!! Michelle.