Cruise NOTES!

NOTES FROM THE AHS BAND CRUISE MEETING

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2005

BEHAVIOR: MR. ROWE

	*Students and parents signed two behavior contracts*
	*Band director’s decision is final*
	*Represent AHS as a community, school, and band*
	*Must be with a partner AT ALL TIMES*
	*Marching band bus procedures/rules apply to everyone*
	*If fellow classmates are “goofing off,” you could be just as guilty*
	*Must meet with chaperones at designated place and times*
	*Must be in rooms at designated times*
	*Rooms are only for those occupying those rooms*
	*Lights out; must be ready to get up in morning and perform*
	*There will be some open time, but still must be with a partner*
	*No whining*
	*Have fun*

STUDENT LIABILITY:MR. ROWE AND MRS, P.

	*Ship staff will report concerns/issues to chaperones*
	*Chaperones will then speak with group and director*
	*Adults and students are under the WCPSS rules on this entire trip*
	*Minor/Passenger is liable for fines, penalties imposed by another country if they caused a problem. (in ship’s document booklet that students signed)*
	*Minor/Passenger is responsible for damages and must reimburse cruise line (in ship’s document booklet that students signed)*
	*Instrument Liability – an individual responsibility; could be covered by homeowners; not the ship nor school responsibility*
	*No refund if not back on ship and left. Must pay for own transportation home.*
	*Chaperones must not be kept waiting for meeting times; other travelers are on cruise and timetables must be followed.*

PACKING: MRS. P.

	*Add music to packing list.*
	*Do not fold up music; it must go on stand*
	*Do not need to bring music stand; students will be notified if they need to bring one*
	*Medicine – put in carry on and not suitcase. You must dispense medicine to yourself; chaperones cannot give medicine*
	*Thursday night luggage will be placed outside the door. Make sure you keep clothes for Friday and toiletries to shower in the morning.*
	*You will get luggage tags at school prior to departure*
	*Large instruments will get tags for storage in a separate room by Musical Festivals.*
	*You must bring your instrument; no instrument and you spend your trip with the chaperone doing what the chaperone wants to do*
	*Have cash ($20) with you on the bus for when you stop to eat*
	*Luggage needs to be stored right away on the bus.*
	*Label all luggage*
	*Remember space is at a \premium on the bus and on the ship.*

BUS INFORMATION: MRS. P.

	*Sign up for bus in band room March 9 – March 16*
	*Print name and no nicknames*
	*There are no extra seats*
	*Do not have to be on bus with chaperone*
	*Do not have to sit with those in your rooms on the ship*
	*Bus does have TV*
	*This is your sleeping time; so quiet is necessary*
	*Bring a pillow and blanket to sleep with; these will stay on bus and not go on ship*
	*Can eat on bus so can bring food; chaperones will not clean up after you*
	*Get on the bus when the luggage is stored at school and stay on the bus.*
	*When at port, stay on the bus until directions are given*
	*Check in with chaperone before boarding the bus and show your ID*

EXPENSES: MRS. P.

	*You will buy your Sea Pass once on board as a group. Sea Pass will also be key to room; key similar to hotel keys*
	*There is unlimited water from dispensers and lemonade and punch, but not bottled water*
	*Prices for various items listed in the agenda*
	*American money is taken in Nassau*
	*All credit cards taken except American Express*
	*Sea Pass only good for cruise related expenditures*
	*Can use a credit card in Nassau; some of the market stalls will only take cash*
	*Keep cash with you and on you in a secure place if you are using some cash*
	*CocoCay will not have much to pay for, but there are some shops so you may need cash for that*
	*Remember what you buy and the size; it has to fit in the luggage you brought with you*
	*Chaperones do not need to carry your purchases*
	*Check giftcards.com to get prepaid cards*
	*The cruise takes an imprint of the card and card is returned to the passenger*
	*Some excursions are not finalized yet, so cost may vary. These can be up to $54.*
	*Can return to the ship to eat when at Nassau if chaperones are in agreement*
	*Cruise ships have been renovated; there will also be activities such as teen areas, rock climbing, water park on island which is about $15*
	*Can use a visa Gift Card at their island and a debit card*
	*Excursion fees will be paid out of the on board accounts*

OTHER INFORMATION FROM MRS. P., MR. ROWE, AND AUDIENCE

	*Forms were signed at meeting; those absent will sign forms prior to departure from AHS*
	*Be on time for departure and ready to board bus*
	*Mr. Rowe will check with administration about leaving cars at school during the trip*
	*Cell phones do not work on ship nor do calling cards*
	*No DVD players need to be brought*
	*Rooms do have TVs*
	*When you set up your account, you will be with chaperone and room mates*
	*Students who did not get shirts and pins will get them prior to departure*
	*Cruise documents include a $300 liability per passenger*
	*Mrs. P. has all medical insurance information with policy numbers. There does not appear to be a problem with treatment and medical insurance on the cruise.*
	*Chaperones will hold the documents*
	*Eat breakfast Friday March 25 prior to ship departure as you will not be eating until much later*
	*A phone tree will be established for parents staying home to notify about arrival times, etc.*
	*If you eat lunch in the dining room, more formal dress is required*
	*Captain’s Dinner is Wednesday and more formal.*
	*Shore Excursions will be either morning or afternoon. You may not get to do some excursions as other passengers may have chosen them too.*
	*All cabins are interior cabins*
	*Guard will be notified what to wear and when they will perform*
	*Keep music in folders*
	*Mr. Rowe has posted the times for practice for the cruise performances. Wednesdays and Friday from 2:30 – 3:00 in the band room*
	*You can go to the Royal Caribbean website to see where your room is located*
	*When you go on an excursion, you may not be with your assigned chaperone, but you will be with a chaperone at all times.*
	*Pack lightly*
	*MUST BRING A PHOTO ID IN ADDITION TO PASSPORT OR BIRTH CERTIFICATE*
	*Emergency Phone number 1-888-724-7447*
	*Play well, Represent AHS well; and have fun.*

AGENDA FOR THE AHS BAND CRUISE MEETING

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2005

Behavior
*reminder—students and parents signed 2 contracts

Packing
*pack light—1 suitcase, 1 small carry-on
*money—cash-2 meals ($20.00)
onboard account-shore excursions (up to $54)
drink package-18 and older is $6 per day ($24)
17 and younger is $4 per day ($16)
a 15% gratuity is added
cash or travelers’ checks—Nassau (shopping, food-can return to ship to eat)

Cruise Documents
*EVERYBODY must bring a photo ID in addition to their passport or birth certificate
*Guest Information Form—have all been completed online
*Bahamas Immigration Card—check tonight for accurate information and sign
*Cruise Ticket Contract—sign tonight

Buses
*sign up starting tomorrow (Wed., March 9)
quiet—this is your sleeping time on the way down (be considerate of others)

Itinerary
*be at school at 12 a.m. on Mon., March 21 (update to 11:00 PM Sun)
*check in with chaperone
*store luggage and get on the bus—no loitering
*When we get to the port, stay on the bus until you receive directions on what to do.
*meet with chaperone at All designated times
*On Friday morning, be sure to eat breakfast.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER
1-888-724-7447
$7.95 per minute (same cost for students to call home)
Sovereign of the Seas
March 21-25, 2005