Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Small German breakfast

This morning I awoke a little late and came down for breakfast. Our stay includes "small breakfast" which is for those on business that expense their food. Seems there is a german tax law that forbids large breakfast expenses.



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Monday, November 29, 2010

Longest flight ever

My dislike of Frankfurt went up today. After a 8hr flight we started to circle my favorite airport. After about 45 min we landed in a slushy/snow mess. As we raced to our connecting flight Heather was pulled into extra random security check. Luckily our connecting flight was delayed two hours or not so luck as two turned to three then we spent three hours onboard waiting to get de iced. Visualize a truck shooting orange gatorade all over plane.
That is a de icing.




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Frankfurt

On yet another trip to Germany. This time I and three other colleagues are heading to Bremerhaven. As we approached Frankfurt, Lufthansa's hub, I noticed we kept circling and circling. When we landed and looked outside there was 2-3" of snow everywhere. Typical Frankfurt fashion we were herded by cattle bus to a terminal far from where the plane was parked. We have to go through passport and security control so the odds we make our connecting flight are 1in 100 odds in my bookie book.




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Thursday, November 25, 2010

Back in Orlando

I spent a couple weeks back in Orlando and had a relaxing Thanksgiving. The team onboard is still working long hours even on this American holiday.The ship is going through Sea trials where they run the ship to its maximum capabilities.  I hear they are up near Sweden and the Seas are very heavy. 

While I was home I went back and added more details and pictures to my blog.  Please go back and review my last trip.  I also realized that if you searched on Google using the ship's name my blog was in the top 5 blog results. It is not my intention to become a source of information. I write this blog so my friends and family can see what I am working on.  Even that is obscured by the secrecy of the ship build.  So the reason you are seeing numbers in words is to throw off the search engines; seems silly I know.


Soon I will be off again for a longer tour.  Follow this link to a website that tracks vessels, this will take you to the Dr3am.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

My first 777 flight on US947

I was upset when I found out a leg of my journey switched to a United flight; I got over it when I noticed it was on a 777.  Then I saw that Seatguru.com does not rate the 777 very high in comfort. The website says there is no feet storage. If that is true I will be miserable. Full flight and I am on the window.

Post flight rant - Not only is there no room to stow gear at your feet there are no power ports and the chair does not lay down at all. This was a "Lufthansa purchased flight" but United cannot compare to Delta and Lufthansa.  It is sad that the newest Boeing airplane can be so basic and similar to the 767.  To make it even more miserable I got a fraction of the points I normally would of received.   


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Amsterdam train

Amsterdam train station info for Sally and the kids

There is normally a train that goes from Schipol airport to amsterdam central station. Due to construction that route is closed. You must route through Dievenchtrie. This requires careful review of the train map and route time sheet.

The kiosk for buying a ticket takes credit cards but not amex. Credit cards require a pin. We chose >same day-second class-full fare-good for today-not non-stop fast train. Total cost from schipol to AC was €3.70 each.

Next you look on large yellow board for schedule. Your ticket will not tell you anything about you train,gate or route. Find chart that has your route in large bold print at top. This should have the names of your first and next stop. If train does not go to AC you need to find connecting station. We changed at arena station going into town. Schedule goes by time, day of week and type of train. It will also display platform You now proceed to the correct platform. We had to ask security for where the platform is. There were many.

Before you board the train look at your ticket. The tip should have a date time stamp. If it does not get it stamped at yellow machine on platform. $35 euro fee if it is not stamped.

Once on train watch the station names. They do not always call them out nor are the signs easily visible from the train.

I high suggest going to train website beforehand.




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Saturday, November 13, 2010

Amsterdam at night





View down a canal



A parking garage full of nothing but bikes. The bikes overflowed in and around the area


This is a public urinal for men.  All you do is cozy on up to it and pee away. One of my female colleagues walked right next to a man using this urinal before she realized what he was doing!  


What a crazy city!  I only was able to get into Amsterdam Central after 7PM.  The train stops at midnight so we had to leave before 11PM.  I lived in New Orleans for a year but it was in my territory for five.  I know how crazy Bourbon St is but Amsterdam has 15+ Bourbon streets and the crowds are larger.   I cannot imagine partying all night there.  



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Off the ship

I went to sleep at 12:30 AM as we passed Leer. The crowds were enormous along the river as the Dream completed her conveyance. I fell asleep listening to Disney show tunes blaring from the open deck speakers. I can remember hearing the main ship horn a few times through the night. At 4:30 I awoke to a loud vibration. After awhile I decided to get up and peer outside. As I arose I felt as though the ship was listing. When I pulled the curtains in my PJs I saw multiple camera flashes from across the river. The crowds were still out and the thrusters we going full blast. I later learned we were going under a bridge and they leaned the ship to clear it.

We made it to Eemshaven by 9am Saturday.  I had little time to view out but what I did see is windmills far out on the horizon. This port makes the offshore wind turbines which are built complete and towed out to sea. Until you see one on the ground it is hard to judge their size.  We passed a single blade and it seems the bus took a minute to drive by it.
We are on our way to Amsterdam next.  On a bus with about 20 others. Imagineers, Character actors from Disneyland Paris the Shoreside Communication team and us.




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Map of Delfzijl, Netherlands

This is my current location 6:30 AM Saturday during the conveyance down the river Ems. If you look at this map you can follow the river we traversed.  Leer, Weener and then our starting city Papenburg.
.

http://maps.BlackBerry.com?lat=53.32660&lon=7.00403&z=7&label=Delfzijl,+Netherlands&city=Delfzijl&country=Netherlands



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Friday, November 12, 2010

Map of Weener, Germany

This is my current location, stop laughing.

http://maps.BlackBerry.com?lat=53.11253&lon=7.37032&z=3&label=Weener,+Germany&city=Weener&country=Germany



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Thursday, November 11, 2010

D1sney Dr3am Begins Journey to Completion During ‘Conveyance’ on River Ems

The following was taken from a shippipedia.com.  It is a very well written article regarding the next step for the Disney Dr3am. 


PAPENBURG, GERMANY, Nov. 12, 2010 The Disney Dr3am cruise ship departed the MEYER WERFT shipyard today on its conveyance down the River Ems, traveling from the ship s inland birthplace in Papenburg, Germany to the North Sea at the port of Eemshaven, The Netherlands.  The journey began with a firework display as the ship passed through the first sea lock exiting the harbor, completing yet another milestone as the ship moves closer to its maiden voyage on Jan. 26, 2011, from Port Canaveral, Florida.
The conveyance process is a unique maneuver for ships built by the MEYER WERFT shipyard, the only place in the world where this process occurs. The journey involves moving the ship some 26 miles down the winding River Ems.  In some areas, railroad bridges have been dismantled with sections lifted out to allow the ship s passage.
With the conveyance of the Disney Dr3am, we have reached yet another milestone for the third ship in our fleet, said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line. It won t be long before our guests finally experience the inspired innovation and extraordinary creative content that makes this ship so magnificent and so unique. From an exhilarating ride on the AquaDuck to dazzling stage shows and exquisite French cuisine at Remy, the incredible offerings on the Disney Dr3am will delight everyone who steps aboard.
Tens of thousands of local residents lined the shore to see the Disney Dr3am and some of its new and innovative features, like the AquaDuck water coaster, which winds around the ship s iconic funnels.
All of us at MEYER WERFT and throughout the community of Papenburg are very proud to see this Dream ship through its historic conveyance, said Bernard Meyer, managing partner of MEYER WERFT. As the largest ship this yard has built, our entire community feels a tremendous sense of achievement and a deep connection to this exceptional vessel.
Prior to the conveyance, the Disney Dr3am underwent its float out on Oct. 30.  For the last two weeks, testing on the ship s functional features has taken place in the MEYER WERFT harbor, while work on the interior areas continued.  As the ship concludes the conveyance, it will move into what is known as the test-and-adjust period, departing Eemshaven for sea trials.  After sea trials, the ship will travel to Hamburg, Germany for a short final dry docking.  The ship then returns to Bremerhaven, Germany, for the delivery ceremony in which MEYER WERFT will officially deliver the Disney Dr3am to Disney Cruise Line.  Here the ship will welcome its remaining crew members before departing for its home in Port Canaveral in Florida.
The Disney Dr3am is the first of two new Disney ships being built by MEYER WERFT in Papenburg, Germany.  The Disney Fantasy is also currently in production and is scheduled to set sail on its maiden voyage on April 7, 2012.
Disney Dr3am Innovations
Known for establishing the family cruise market when the Disney Magic debuted in 1998, Disney Cruise Line continues to build upon this success with a focus on the legacy and heritage of The Walt Disney Company s most known assets master storytelling, world-class entertainment and legendary guest service. In addition to all of the features Disney Cruise Line is known for, the Disney Dr3am will have several new notable innovations for guests to enjoy.
  • AquaDuck, a first-of-its-kind water coaster, is an exhilarating, high-speed thrill ride that combines all the ups and downs of a roller coaster with all the twists and turns of a water slide.
  • Magical Portholes offer a virtual window to the world for inside staterooms, with a real-time view outside the ship where high-definition cameras feed live video to each stateroom.
  • Enchanted Art immerses guests in Disney storytelling and looks like other hanging art pieces around the ship, but is actually a framed LCD screen with technology that recognizes a guest is present.
  • Remy, an exquisite top-deck restaurant, only for adults, with incredible ocean views and French-inspired, gourmet cuisine by two award-winning chefs.
New Itineraries
With the addition of two new ships, Disney Cruise Line is able to more formally expand its itineraries to new destinations, including Alaska, while continuing to offer cruises to some of the line s most popular itineraries.
The Disney Dr3am will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Fla., while sister ship Disney F@ntasy, is set to sail seven-night alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries, also from Port Canaveral, beginning in 2012.  The Disney Magic will continue sailing seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises, before returning to the Mediterranean for another summer of cruising in this region in 2011.  The Disney Wonder will begin 2011 by repositioning to the West Coast of the U.S., sailing seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises from the Port of Los Angeles, while spending the summer sailing first-ever Alaskan itineraries from Vancouver.
Based in Celebration, Fla., the Disney Cruise Line experience is focused on providing a setting where families can reconnect, adults can recharge and kids can immerse themselves in worlds of fantasy only Disney can create.  Most recently, the company was recognized as the top cruise experience by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.  Disney Cruise Line was voted the No. 1 cruise experience in the magazine s 2010 Readers Choice Awards in the mega-ship category.

http://www.shippipedia.com/disney-dream-begins-journey-to-completion-during-conveyance-on-river-ems/

Long hallways

According to the statistics this ship is 115 feet longer than our Magic class vessel. You need a Segway to get around this monster.  I wore out my Clarks.  


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Telling sign?

This is the main icon in the hallway carpet.  It shows our three home ports along with the four vessels.  Read into it what you want.

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Moving on up!

8 days in a hotel; 11 days in a crew cabin and now two nights on deck 9 in a guest room!  Wow I was given the small room and it is huge!  The guest areas are slowly getting to be accessible so it is exciting getting into areas the yard was in control of.



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IMG00318-20101111-0904.jpg

I wish americans would ride bikes as much as the Germans.



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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Laundry night

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Texas River Ranch

Believe it or not we are at a texas ranch 15 miles from papenburg.



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Friday, November 5, 2010

Ship appears close than it is

Dropped off David and Melanie then the car has to be moved to the other side of the yard.  It is an easy 1 mile walk.  The ship is so big it always seems to be closer than it appears, especially in the cold rain. 


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I did the unthinkable

Working late



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Thursday, November 4, 2010

From the yard entrance gate 1

1st time I have been through this gate since float out.  It was amazing driving the little Skoda Favia underneath the bow.  

Finally got off the ship

Crew have been joining the ship in large numbers totally changing the dynamic of the ship. We have been buried with work. 1st night this week we have eaten dinner outside of the yard cafeteria.
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Monday, November 1, 2010

Pic of Papenburg canal

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Linssen Yachts Center

Today I am at the Alte Werft hotel helping human resources and crew office check-in 100+ crew. The hotel was the old shipyard. It is cool to see the old equipment left in place.
Outside the hotel is the canal and across it is a yacht sales center. These yachts look like they are built for the North Sea!



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