Initial Information on the 2010 Spats...

Author Message   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 984 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 01:34 pm:    Here's an update on our arrangements. I talked with Cheryl Friday. We now have over 26 cabins signed up and paid for. Cheryl can still book cabins but as of this date, they will cost more since the ship is close to selling out (70-75%). The new rates announced by Carnival have gone into effect. However, if you book thru ITT at Patricd AFB, you get an on-board credit which has now been raised to $75/cabin. And Cheryl has arranged for transportation to and from the port for only $10 per couple roundtrip. What this means is, since you are an military ID card holder, you can park your car on Patrick AFB which saves you the $16/day parking charge at the port or $48. All you pay for transportation from PAFB to the port on Thursday morning and pickup on Sunday is $10. That saves you $38. We still don't have permission to early book at the Space Coast Inn yet. In the mean time, it behoves you to revert to a backup plan. Call around and see who gives you the best rate. Search Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Satellite Beach, Cocoa Beach, Cocoa, Rockledge, Viera, Palm Bay. All of these locations are an hour or less from Patrick AFB depending on time of day and traffic. It need not be out here on the ocean which costs more. At the intersection of US 192 and I-95 in Melbourne, the going rates for a military ID card holder is around $60/night. That could change since I believe there's a shuttle launch around that date and rates always go up for such an event. Then when and if reservations open up for space A, call the Space Coast INN @ 321-494-5428. We are also meeting at the Tides Club Officer/NCO colocated club around 5 PM Wednesday 12, May 2010. Those who care to can eat dinner in the dinning room. If you are a club member and have a club card, you get a $2.00 discount. Non-members pay menu price. We will have a cash bar and free chips and dips. The dinning room opens at 5 and serves until 8:30 PM. Please don't call or email me personally for rooms. Call the Space coast inn. This is shaping up to be a good opportunity to share space a info. Dirk and I have presentations that we will give. If anybody wants to get up and speak, you are welcome also. Email me or Dirk with your presentation ideas. We will have a computer/projector available so you can show photos off a DVD you can bring with you. Our meeting aboard ship on Friday is at 9 AM after breakfast and before we arrive in Nasseau. Thanks for your patience and support in this endeavor. Dirk and I appreciate it. We've got a few surprises planned and I think you'll all enjoy them. Good Luck   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 972 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 02:47 pm:    Ken: At the moment this price increase doesn't apply to US since we have a group booking thru ITT. However, it may for those who do not book thru ITT Patrick AFB after that date. I urge all those who are considering coming on our cruise to book by 10 March 2010. That's the date that Cheryl, our ITT travel agent must release cabins back to Carnival. That won't effect anyone who has paid a deposit and booked prior to that date. Also, we are working right now to accquire BAQ AND BOQ space here at Patrick and free parking with a nominal charge for bus transfer to & from PAFB and the Port. These additional perks will only be available to those who book thru our ITT travel agent, Cheryl. If you do your own booking, you won't be able to get these additional perks. Stay tunned for final confrimation. I went on the last cruise and believe me, we had a wonderful time and the personal contact with other SPATS on this board was both rewarding in finding out new destinations and new strategies for flying space A and making new friends was great.   Kenneth E Cantrell Member Username: Kcantrell Post Number: 42 Registered: 06-2007 Posted on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 09:08 pm:    Just a quick note to anyone thinking of this cruise, Carnival is raising prices on all cruises per email from them I got this AM. "Due to record reservation activity, effective March 22nd, Carnival Cruise Lines will increase pricing on all summer 2010 sailings." Just thought I would pass this along.   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 971 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Monday, February 22, 2010 - 02:39 pm:    For those of you who are considering going but haven't taken the big step of putting down a deposit and signing up...CONSIDER THIS!! I put down my deposit and signed up last fall. My lovely bride and I will have a cabin with a balcony on the main deck. Some of you may be familier with the website, www.cruisehotsheet.com. They are currently showing my cabin at the following price per person/per day: May 13 Carnival Sensation Bahamas Port Canaveral, FL $439/3 Days/$146.33/person/day That comes out to be $438.99 before service charges/fees/port charges, etc. The rate I'm paying thru ITT @ Patrick AFB (our cruise co-ordinator) is: $370/per person. AND this includes a $50 per cabin on-board credit and the coffee and danish meeting for our group. Again, the more the merrier (and cheaper our cruise will become because of additional perks). I am working on getting a block of rooms at the Space Coast Inn (PAFB billeting) and $5-10 per couple roundtrip transportation from PAFB to the Port and back saving you the $16/day parking fee at the port. AGAIN, these are added incentives available ONLY to those who book thru our SPATS Cruise booker, Cheryl Dietrick at ITT at PAFB. Just thought you'ld like to know.   Roger Curry Senior Member Username: Rcurryastro Post Number: 754 Registered: 05-2008 Posted on Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 11:56 pm:    Thanks, Barry, I'll try to do that. Roger   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 935 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 10:24 pm:    Roger: I suggest you post again on the thread looking for a roommate and contact Cheryl again and tell her you're willing to go and double up with another single if she gets a request.   Roger Curry Senior Member Username: Rcurryastro Post Number: 748 Registered: 05-2008 Posted on Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 02:49 pm:    Maybe it is time to bring up this topic again: I would like to go but not if I have to pay for a private cabin. There was also some discussion once about a get together just before the cruise that could include those folks not going on the cruise. I would certainly support this if it happens. Roger in Jacksonville, FL   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 934 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 08:18 am:    MORE INFO on the 2010 Cruise in May: Cheryl, our contact at PAFB ITT tells me if we get a good response, Carnival will consider giving us a free cruise voucher for every 15-20 people who sign up. This can then be applied to take some money off of all those who have made a deposit. Carnival will also throw in a voucher for an on-board ship credit. And they will provide us with meeting space while we are at sea for a meeting. This includes depending upon the time of day...coffee and donuts or iced tea/juice, and pastry. However, if very few folks sign up, the perks dwindle. So your increased support gives us more for our money. If you have any questions, please call Cheryl Diedrich direct at the Patrick AFB ITT Mon-Fri at (321) 494-4155. Space A communication thru Dirk's website is wonderful...but face to face conversation with fellow SPATs exchanging strategies and sharing "War Stories" is a thousand times more fun. Ask anybody who has gone to one of the annual picnics or on the 2007 cruise. Look at the happy faces in the photo of those who were on the 2007 cruise! Do they look like they didn't enjoy it? Just my 2 cents worth on the subject.   Roger Odiorne Member Username: Rlodiorne Post Number: 38 Registered: 04-2009 Posted on Saturday, September 19, 2009 - 07:42 pm:    Hope this is successfull. We are not going to make it this year, but would love to see this happen in 2011 or 2012 so that we could join in.   Garee Michael Harrison Intermediate Member Username: Gareemharrison Post Number: 114 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 11:59 am:    When is our next payment on the cruise due in at Patrick AFB? Carol Harrison in Ocala, FL   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 2105 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 - 02:42 am:    Folks, I am not against using the ITT office, it is just my nature to check every site I have before I sign up for anything. I know that Dirk & Barry have put work into this and I think this is very nice of them.   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 893 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 - 02:09 am:    Phyllis: I believe we also get a $50 on-board credit per stateroom and meeting space with refreshments. And the more who sign up and make a deposit, we will get added perks. Last time we got fruit baskets as well. If everybody went thru Vacations to go...the early birds might get good locations, but none of the perks. Those who waited a month or two might not get good locations or might have to get more expensive rooms since nothing was blocked as in a group reservation. And as Dirk pointed out...by booking now you have the facility to spread out your payments making it easier to pay over an 8 month period.   Dirk Pepperd Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 905 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 11:01 pm:    There are a few reasons that the cruise I booked is a bit more. 1. They have blocked a number of rooms for our group. 2. The rate includes taxes and port charges. The rate for the Vacations to go does not include taxes. 3. Like you mentioned the amount to get their rates would have to be paid all at once where ours can be paid for over the 8 months. 4. The more people that sign up for the cruise gets us more perks and will probably lower the rate even more. If someone is looking for the "best deal ever" they may be disappointed if they have to pay a bit more to book on our cruise. I think that people that want to go will realize the value is in getting to go an have fun meeting other SPATS on a 3 day cruise instead of a 3 hour picnic.   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 2102 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 02:23 pm:    I'm not trying to be hard to get along with, but I think I found this same cruise for less money. The way I see it the one I found is $70 less perperson for an inside room. I got this from Vacation to go web site. If this is the same cruise you could save some $$, but would have to pay for it at all at one time. 3 nights departing May 13, 2010 on Carnival's Carnival Sensation Brochure Inside $699 Our Inside $279 You Save 60% Brochure Oceanview $789 Our Oceanview $319 You Save 60% Brochure Balcony $889 Our Balcony $399 You Save 55% Brochure Suite $1,049 Our Suite $579 You Save 45% The prices shown are US dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. They include port charges but do not include airfare or (where applicable) airport or government taxes or fees. If this is the same cruise, I think they can come up better price or I would book with someoneelse.   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 877 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 04:39 pm:    Roger: Contact Cheryl at Patrick AFB ITT and ask her to start a list of singles wishing to share a stateroom on the cruise, and thus make it cheaper for everyone. This includes doubling up where say 4 single ladies or four singel men share a stateroom. That makes it even cheaper. I've already put down my deposit for the cruise. Cheryl says the more people who sign up, the cheaper it will be for everybody. For every 15 people who sign up, Carnival will give us a credit for a room. That cost we can divide by how many people who make a deposit and refund the difference back to the cruise participants. But we have to sign up NOW!!! And the added advantage is that signing up now, you can spread the payments over a longer time making it easier to pay for the cruise. Carnival will also give each cabin/stateroom a $50 on board credit. And we get the use of a lounge for a get-to-gether with free coffee and danish. If we get a real large participation, the cost of the cruise goes down for everybody and instead of coffee and danish, we get our own mini-buffet with hot ordurves, etc. I implore all of you who think you might want to go on the cruise to make a deposit and sign up now... #1 to get a good cabin/stateroom and #2 make the cruise cheaper. All deposits are fully refundable up to the closing time of the cruise signup in March per Cheryl at Patrick AFB, ITT. Call her if you have any questions...she's very helpful and user freindly.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 2828 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 01:52 pm:    Dennis, Cheryl at Patrick AFB ITT is working the cruise (not billeting) and Roger is asking about sharing a "cruise" room (versus a a private cabin and not a billeting room).   DENNIS D HUDOCK Member Username: Dhudock Post Number: 13 Registered: 10-2008 Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 11:43 am:    OK you two, now I am getting a little confused! Cheryl at Patrick AFB ITT? Is she working with Billeting or with Carnival? And if with Billeting, how can you make a room reservation almost a year in advance! Roger I think you are talking about the Cruise not a room at Patrick "RIGHT"! DHudock   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 868 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Monday, June 08, 2009 - 02:42 pm:    Roger, you need to contact Cheryl at (321) 494-4155 and ask. I'm sure something can be worked out, but you need to ask her or post something here. Remember, If you ask for a beautiful blonde or redhead who likes traveling and has a trust fund...it may not happen...he he he he...just kiddin'.   Roger Curry Senior Member Username: Rcurryastro Post Number: 512 Registered: 05-2008 Posted on Monday, June 08, 2009 - 03:37 am:    Will Cheryl at Patrick work to pair up singles? I would like to go but a private cabin almost doubles the cost for a single. Roger in Jacksonville, FL   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 861 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Monday, June 08, 2009 - 01:27 am:    I remember the cruise we took 2 years ago. It was alot of fun. And now that we have the opportunity to do it again this time with some lead time, it should be lots of fun again. You now have the opportunity to stretch out the cost. For example, $697.52 minus the initial deposit of $100 = $597.52 or $37.35 per week per person for the least expensive cabin. Cheryl Diedrich, our travel consultant at ITT, PAFB has told us if we get a good response early enough, the cruise line will allow us extra perks in the form of a shipboard credit, a private lounge to hold our get together and other allowances. Ask any of those who took the cruise 2 years ago and I'm sure they will agree it was a fun trip. You can even plan your trip to include a stop a day or so before at AF lodging @ Patrick AFB. Its possible to leave your automobile at Patrick and take a taxi or public transportation to and from the Port, thus saving you a little extra money over parking at the Port. And with the busy launch schedule between the Air Force and NASA, there's the possiblilty of either a shuttle or rocket launch around the time of the cruise. The last Shuttle launch took place a few hours before the scheduled sailing this last time. This could happen next May as well. And remember, the earlier you send in your deposit, the better selection you have to choose for a cabin location. I urge you all to contact Cheryl at Patrick AFB ITT ASAP.   Bill Docekal Intermediate Member Username: Bill_d1 Post Number: 73 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, June 07, 2009 - 03:57 pm:    We enjoyed the Carnival Sensation cruise from Port Canaveral to Nassau on 17-20 May 2007, which was organized under the auspices of Dirk’s Space-A group as the official “2007 stateside get-together”. There were 16 of us as I recall: Dirk and his father, Carol and Mike Harrison, M/M Barry Cantor, M/M Leonard Self, Barbara and I, and 3 other couples (1 was active duty). Our group had two reserved, adjacent tables for the evening meal, and the couples switched places at some of the meals to get to know everyone. We also had an open-bar cocktail party sponsored by Carnival where we all gathered for the group photo. There was plenty of leisure time on our own to enjoy the shows, pools, other meals, and time in port at Nassau. During the “business meeting” at the NAS JAX picnic on 16 May 09, my recollection is that the pros and cons of a stateside picnic vs. a cruise for the “official 2010 get-together” were discussed. Several points were mentioned: (1) planning and organizing a picnic is a lot of work for the local attendees, whereas a cruise is essentially “zero workload”, (2) our last two get-togethers (at Scott AFB and NAS JAX) were picnics, (3) the 2007 cruise was enjoyed by the attendees as previously mentioned. Dirk then asked for a show of hands of all interested in a cruise as the official “2010 stateside get-together”. I recall seeing maybe half of the 70 or so folks at the picnic raise their hands. I know one couple who is looking forward to the cruise. My fellow Texan from San Antonio, Dan Schultz, sent me an E-mail and said “We're also ready to start on travel arrangements for the cruise out of Port Canaveral to Nassau next May, good rate Dirk arranged. “   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 4705 Registered: 04-2005 Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 05:59 am:    Damn, even on Ships there are different Category's. I thought it only applied to Space A.   Dirk Pepperd Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 889 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 09:34 pm:    Team, It took me a few weeks working with the POC from Patrick AFB to get the rates and itinerary figured out. I will be doing a separate web page but for now here's the initial information. The ship departs from Port Canaveral on Thursday, 13 May 2010 about 4pm (you need to get there about 11:30 for lunch!) and arrives back in port on Sunday, 16 May 2010 at about 7am. The cruise info is detailed in the link below: http://www.carnival.com/Itinerary.aspx?embkCode=PCV&itinCode=BA0&durDays=3&shipC ode=SE&subRegionCode=BH&rateCode=PCD&sailingID=52908&sailDate=5/13/2010 We did this same cruise two years ago (May 2007) and had a great time! The rate includes taxes and port charges: Category 4b Interior: 2 people - $348.76 per person Category 6b Ocean View: 2 people - $378.76 The first deposit of $50 per person is due on 1 Jul 09 but I'm sure she will work with us on it. A second payment of $100 per person is due on 20 Oct 09 with the final payment on 1 Mar 2010. I know some people wanted to try to have this at Norfolk but this will be much more enjoyable. Contact information for the POC at the Patrick AFB ITT/Sato Office is Cheryl Diedrich at (321) 494-4155. As soon as I get the web page up I will let everyone know.