MrMorgan

Thanks for replying, Joey. She has reviewed my channel and seems really interested in accommodating my wishes. I guess I'll just wait and see what she comes up with, and who knows, maybe she will offer me a competing rate out of the blue. She has already been so unbelievably accommodating, I guess I wouldn't be surprised! That's why I have a guilty conscience that I'm not staying at one of her resorts! Or, maybe that's just the good old Catholic guilt kicking in...

Hi Alveys (and anyone else who has first hand experience with this subject), We will be in Vegas in a few weeks and while there, I want to take a lot of footage for my "Very unOfficial Travel Guides" series on Youtube. I am planning on getting footage of several different hotels to make like a "Guide to Hotels on the Strip" and have contacted several resorts to ask about getting access to the pools and maybe a few minutes to film in the rooms. Some have not responded, some have given me access to their electronic press kits, and I am very excited about what's happening with the MGM properties. A totally friendly woman from the PR Department for all the MGM resorts has been in touch several times to ask me exactly what I want to film and to actually help me get it organized. I have been EXTREMELY thankful, told her that I am willing to show up wherever and whenever it is convenient for her, and that I would be grateful for even access to one of the resorts on my list, (I asked her for 3 specifically). OK, so that's all the background and here is my actual question: After all the time she has taken to help me, is it wrong or impolite that I am NOT staying at an MGM property? (We're booked at Planet Hollywood because we got a really good deal which is less than any of the MGM properties. She knows this.). Do you think it would be useful or polite if we changed and stayed at one of the properties she represents, (even if that means spending more money?). Do you think it would be easier for her? I mean, she already seems more than willing to help, but I just wanted to get someone else's thoughts on the matter.

Hanno! I'm totally confused... How did you get that last picture of Wodan? The last time I was at Europa Park, (on the TPR Trip), there was no structure where you must have been standing. Is there something there now? Well, obviously there is, but what?

That story is just unbelievable! First, they try to cut her off and monitor her drinking... then, after the family complains, she gets hammered and falls and cuts herself. Of course, it's tragic that she died, but this whole story is just... well, for lack of a better word... wacky!

Yes, count me in, too! I would totally be up for that, and whoever came up with that idea deserves employee of the month and a passenger cabin for the rest of their contract!

OH my gosh I lovvvved that show! It is seriously the only television series I have ever watched every episode of. Not Friends. Not CSI. Las Vegas! I was also totally bummed when they ended it. Anyways, back on topic. It's a good thing they are relocating this ride because it truly is the best coaster in Vegas. Maybe they'll put the station next to the Bella Petto pool? Will Mary be training in the ride-ops?

Our very first cruise, (4 nights on the Monarch of the Seas), was booked through this package. We opted to stay at the Sheraton Four Points, which is one of the "partner hotels, and all in all it was an amazing deal. Our 4 nights on the ship and 3 nights at Universal during Halloween season ended up being considerably LESS than what a week at Disney would have cost, and it was basically a peak season.

Ahhhh! I see. Looks great to me!

Wow! I wonder if they are going to build a viewing area for the splash down pool. I can't think of another major coaster with a splash down where it's not in a well seen area, but on Shambala it seems to be hidden.

I still can't get over how miniature Dragon Kahn looks now! The new trains and paint job are sweet, though. I'm kind of "out of the loop", (pun intended). Have there been any updates with artwork for what exactly the theming will look like around the tunnels, etc? I'm still curious to see how they are going to spread the theming out over this huge ride and make it all make sense.

To me, $85 still sounds quite steep. When you think of how many park admissions cost less than $85, I find it hard to convince myself to spend the money for 2 1/2 hours of fun. It looks really wild, and I dare call it a credit, but I just couldn't justify the price. Kind of like the waterpark at Atlantis in the Bahamas if you're not a hotel guest. A cool experience if you can somehow get in for free or at a greatly discounted rate... or if you are rolling in dough and money is not an option.

I found Naples to be absolutely disgusting and can't imagine wanting to spend another day there, (unless it was purely to give the place a second chance.) Pompeii made up for it though! If you want to see more of what I mean, check out this video: *edited to fix video link, (which I seem to do wrong every time!)

YES! I agree with you one hundred million thousand percent! One of the nicest things about being on a cruise IMO is that your cel phone DOESN'T work! If I'm always looking at my phone, or texting, or checking my mails, it just doesn't feel relaxing or like "vacation" to me!

Sweeeeet! Now I see how they are going to fit it all together, and this is obviously more exciting than the original design. I'm so happy I was on the TPR Mini-Europe Trip back then when we visited the park because I can't imagine ever having gone there on my own. The Klotti-coaster is so crazy!

Love these pics! I've always found this coaster kind of fascinating. It's not one that many people have ridden, and how odd that it has such a short operating season!?! Cool pictures of it being rebuilt on the spot. Thanks for taking the time to post!

OK, annnnnd, back to talking about fun things. Question: Is it always "night" inside the Tranny Studios Park, or do they sometimes make it "day"? It looks like the ceiling is painted with stars and stuff, (and I love the cool atmo), but I was just curious if it is ALWAYS dark inside.

Trip Reports like THIS are what TPR was founded on! This is all sorts of awesome.

Oh, and by the way, we also got a free Savanna view, just like that without even asking!

And it seems like yeeeeears ago!

I have a (non Concordia related) question: Has anyone ever been on a cruise where someone got left behind??? I recorded this video of 2 people returning late to the Mariner of the Seas while the whole ship watched and booed them, but we waited almost a half an hour. Now that I've been looking around, I realize that people get left behind quite often! What happens then? How do they get their stuff? (edited to fix video link)

Cool! Thanks!

Really? Can you see it on Google Earth? If so, can you tell me where to find it?

My initial thought as well! Seriously though, based on what has been said/reported, here is my slightly educated opinion as to what happened. Issue with power/electronics/etc. causes ship to wander off course without too much notice due to Captain and crew. Ship hits rock and rips open gash Titanic Style. Multinational crew and Italian officers have issues coordinating evacuation and passengers who had not yet completed a muster drill don't know what to actually do (no one bothers to call a mayday either). When the full extent of what's happening is realized, the captain makes the smart move of steering the ship towards the shore to try and save people that he knows will end up in the water. This will be fascinating to follow and find out what really happened! Very CSI-Italy of you This is exactly what I was thinking, too, but then I read the rest of the thread... I have another interesting theory. I wouldn't be surprised if they say the captain was under the influence as a sort of P.R. clean-up procedure, (regardless of the truth). I mean, he is definitely out of a job anyways! If the G.P. thinks the captain was drunk, that is sort of a reasonable and forgivable explanation for something like this to happen. People who may have been scared of cruising or had doubts about the safety will think, "Well, there is no way this would have happened if the captain wasn't drunk. This won't happen again." But, if it sounds like the captain was on the bridge, not drunk, doing his job, everything was normal, and this STILL happened, I think that is REALLY bad P.R. for cruising altogether. Know what I mean?

And hey, the Med is a great place to cruise, especially if you are in to "culture stuff". What are your ports of call? We did a 2 week Med cruise last April on the Mariner and it was one of the best vacations of my life! Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Israel. Amazing.

Good point! Although, Europa Park is really becoming a world contender this year!