posted 07-22-2002 09:07 PM                  

While lots of the Cats will be hibernating in the cold and snowy climates, there will be lots of Prowler Owners chillin’ differently… in the sunny Caribbean. You too can take home an envious winter suntan by joining the fun.

The Prowlin’ the Seas adventure begins in Miami on Saturday, February 22, 2003. Our ship sails from the Port of Miami @ 5:00 PM. On Sunday, we’ll enjoy a full day relaxing @ sea. For the next 3 days we will be stopping at the ports of San Juan, St. Marten, and St. Thomas followed by another enjoyable day @ sea, concluding with a stop at Nassau before returning to Miami Saturday, March 1, 2003. As you can tell, there are lots and lots of things to do and more being planned for y’all’s enjoyment insuring this is a POA National Event you will always remember.

Onboard activities include live stage productions, an ice show, a mini-golf course, a rock-climbing wall, an inline skating rink, a casino, a fitness center and 24-hour buffets to help keep your energy level up to the maximum. Of course there are several pools, lots of lounge chairs, and quality time among fellow Prowler Owners for lots and lots of Prowler stories and exchanging of ideas. If that is not enough, don’t forget the world class shopping on board plus the individual island excursions, tours, international duty free shopping, snorkeling and lots, lots more you may want to participate in.

Oh, I almost forgot, there is the famous Johnny Rocket’s Fifties Diner on board where we can make that special nostalgia rendezvous as we think of the beloved Cats we left behind. This ship really does have everything!!!

Whatever we do individually or as the POA, the Prowlin’ the Seas National Event is an event that you will not want to miss! This is not only a National POA Event… it is an International Vacation, one which can be enjoyed by more than the usual 2 participants when you Cruise in your Cat to an Event.

Our special POA rates for this seven-night cruise are:
Inside Cabin: $ 989 per person
Ocean View Cabin: $ 1269 per person
Ocean View Cabin with Private Balcony: $ 1309 per person
Ocean View Suite with Private Balcony: $ 1699 per person

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and include port charges; taxes/government fees are additional. Third/fourth persons in a cabin pay $499. Air travel can also be arranged.

Your cruise price includes your ship accommodations, planned Prowler activities, ALL your meals (room service, too), shipboard entertainment and activities. You will also receive a one-of-a kind POA Prowlin’ the Seas “Participant” memento. You will pay additional for gratuities, personal expenses (shopping), those casino “donations,” and optional island excursions and spa services.

To confirm your space at our special POA rates for these 7 days in Paradise with lots of other Prowler Owners, all that is needed is a $250 per person deposit by September 20, 2002. (those that make the deposit by September 1 will even have a bottle of wine waiting for them in their cabin). The balance will be due on December 1, 2002… What a GREAT Christmas present! If necessary, after making the initial deposit, you may make monthly payments, as long as you are paid in full by the December 1, 2002 deadline.

Suites are limited and are handled separately—so call Ben or Lynn by August 9, 2002, if a suite is your preference!

Got GENERAL Prowlin’ the Seas questions? Call Nancy & Jay Harris (Yeller Cat), TOLL FREE… 800-669-3540 or email jay@yellercat.com.

For SPECIFIC CRUISE QUESTIONS and to RESERVE your space on this beautiful ship, call the Prowlin’ the Seas Cruise Specialists Ben (Nancy’s brother) or Lynn Catalina and we will see y’all on the Explorer!

Lynn & Ben Catalina, ACC, Cruises Inc.
TOLL FREE… 888-522-7447
email bcatalina@cruisesinc.com
Log on www.cruisesinc.com/bcatalina

An event of this magnitude requires lots of professional planning, organization and experience. For this we recruited Nancy’s brother Ben and his wife Lynn Catalina, who are very experienced Cruise Professionals. We are confident that you will totally enjoy this experience whether this is your first Ocean Cruise or an experienced Ocean Cruiser.

Nancy and I look forward to seeing y’all @ the POA Prowlin’ the Seas National Event.

Sincerely, Jay

posted 07-23-2002 06:14 PM                  

WELCOME to the ultimate Prowler Cruise and glad y'all are interested in joining us for Prowler History in the making.

posted 07-27-2002 10:07 AM                  

Question 1: "If I make the $250 down payment, will I lose all of that if I have to cancel?" No, you won't, but there are some time limits. The most you will lose is a $35 administrative fee, as long as you cancel before the final payment date, which is December 1.

#2: "Why do I have to make a down payment now? Why can't I wait until January when I see how much money I have left after Christmas?" We secured "group rates and amenities" for the Prowler family. All cruise lines take back any unsold cabins at final payment date. After that time, we cannot guarantee rates or availability, but also lose all amenities associated with this group. This ship will sell out so don't gamble on space. We suggest you budget this as the big Christmas present for the family... or the winter vacation of 2003.

More Q & A as they occur.

posted 07-28-2002 07:27 PM                  

Deck 9 Ocean View Cabin with Private Balcony - baby!

posted 07-30-2002 08:58 PM                  

I apologize for the comments I posted earlier. I was not aware that the rooms are an upgrade.

I know Jay works hard at putting together events, especially an event of this magnitude.

I understand there are special Prowler momentos and events for the POA group, but what exactly are the upgrades in cabins?

------------------
Brian K. Richardson
Hartford, CT (Wishing I was back in Palm Beach, FL) http://www.brianrichardson.net

1997 Purple W/ 1997 Mopar Trailer
TGF Metalcrafters Rear Spoiler
Splash Guards (Front + Back)
Ceramic brake pads (front)
"Cracked Ice" shimmers on rear bumpers
Magic Touch Design 2.2 Air Intake
Purple Painted Shift Plate
Trailer Leather Bra
Complete Speaker Upgrade
$15 chrome grill
2001 Prowler Ignition Key
"Drive = Love"

posted 07-31-2002 09:31 AM                  

When Jay first approached me in June about this potential National Event, my first reaction was "what a great idea!" And knowing Jay's quest for perfection and quality in everything he does, I knew that I would be working with a professional with a great reputation. Lynn & I took the time to travel to Houston and meet with Mike & Judy Krehel to discuss event plans and get their input. In every conversation with Jay & Nancy, and Mike & Judy, all stated their goal of providing a professional event that would appeal across the board to all POA members. They wanted this event to be THE POA National Event of the Winter --- like a professional organization's annual national convention, but without the added major convention fees so common to events of this magnitude.

Cruises Inc. was proud to link up with POA. My ONLY concern was that a National Event such as this normally needs to be announced a year in advance. But knowing that Jay is a work-a-holic and a perfectionist, we cut that down to only a 7-months notice prior to the event. What that does in the cruise business, however, is cut down the down-payment and decision-making process to a short time span. Cruise lines want all their money 90 days prior to cruise date, so we had to prepare a time schedule to support their deadlines.

With all that said, we pressed on. We selected the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas because of the appeal of the larger ship with its vast array of things to do, the itinerary, the best price during the peak winter months of cruising, and the reputation of RCCL. We negotiated with RCCL for the best group rates possible. We selected 4 different cabin category types to appeal to the cross-section of POA members. These included inside, ocean view, balcony, and suite accommodations. Where possible, we did not get the lower category of cabin, but opted for a category one or two grades above minimum. Doing this allows us to place guests in the better locations of the ship for nearly the same price as the lower-rated categories. This also allows us to group POA attendees in cabins in the same vicinity of each other, and not scattered throughout the ship. Listing exact category letters on a flyer means nothing to the average person, so we did not list them, assuming that we would explain this when people called us to inquire for more details.

Jay made his announcement on the POA site, and USPS mailings are going out this week.

What is included in the per person price of your cabin? First of all, your cruise accommodation and all the meals you care to eat. All on-board entertainment is included, with a couple of minor exceptions, such as ice skates & inline skates rental. The vegas-type shows are included, as is other entertainment during the day or night. Dance bands, discos, comedians, cooking and other classes and events will be offered throughout the week. A cocktail party with the Captain of the ship is included the second night of the cruise. Special private meeting rooms and private party rooms for POA's use are included, as well as audio-visual equipment.

Other things may be included by RCCL depending on how many cabins are sold for this group. For example, if 64 cabins are sold, RCCL will provide a full cocktail party with open bar. And as the numbers increase, different things may be included.

Also included in your price is an event fee. This was included to cover only part of the costs of putting on an event such as this. This fee will cover part of the costs of a fantastic special memento Jay is preparing for POA members (one per cabin), as well as other door prizes and attendee gifts that will be given out during the week.

But unlike a convention, which I coincidentally just attended last week, each participant is not being charged a large convention fee of $500, $1000 or even more. Most of the costs are being absorbed in the price of the cruise and the donations and personal sweat equity of Jay Harris and others.

With that said, are there other expenses that I may have to pay once on the ship? Yes there are. If you drink alcoholic beverages, then you will pay for them. If you like to play in the casino, you will pay for that. If you want to go to one of the special "alternative dining" restaurants, a small fee is paid by each guest. Shore excursions are extra, of course, or you may want to just hit the beaches or shops at each port. And all guests will pay a gratuity to the waiters and cabin steward, but this is a standard practice on all cruises. When you see how hard these folks work to make your week fantastic, you will probably tip them more than the recommended amounts.

We are professional cruise specialists with the largest travel organization in the world, part of My Travel Group, Travel Services International. We strive to be professional in staging events such as this, but most importantly, helping people enjoy a fantastic cruise vacation. We want to see you walk off the ship with a grin from ear to ear, wanting to attend again in 2004. Our goal is to make this an annual winter event, eventually growing to include ALL Prowler owners.

Please email us at bcatalina@cruisesinc.com or call toll free (1-888-522-7447) on ANY questions and for more details.

Sincerely,

posted 07-31-2002 04:09 PM                  

"The Prowlin’ the Seas adventure begins in Miami on Saturday, February 22, 2003. Our ship sails from the Port of Miami @ 5:00 PM. On Sunday, we’ll enjoy a full day relaxing @ sea."

To make it a little more clear, the adventure begins on the 22nd, a Saturday, sailing at 5:00 p.m.

Then, on Sunday, the group will enjoy a relaxing day at sea. The cruise starts on a Saturday, 22 February, and ends on a Saturday, 1 March.

posted 08-01-2002 07:03 AM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by MeanGene:
Cocked , locked and loaded...ready to cruise the "high" seas

Deck 9 Ocean View Cabin with Private Balcony - baby!

---

Can we get a list started of people that are going to be there.

posted 08-01-2002 08:34 AM                  

Time to get some extra deck plating and the welder...I don't need any "extra" deck (port-o-potty) holes from above. From all of us bilge rats below...congrats!

You can expect a raiding party - We take only booty!

posted 08-01-2002 09:37 AM                  

Fixumm can solve those annoying punctuation problems and spelling errors with his "new" version of software. As you know, I have included the "senior" discount and visually impaired price, just for you.

Oh, BTW it includes the "new" Navajo, Bummer/Hummer, and Chevy Nova translations as well!