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Post by Forum Administrator on Aug 6, 2013 18:48:02 GMT -5
Nickie, you are right. We don't need to bother a 90 year old man with this problem. It also would be best if we didn't drag Ray's name through the mud here on this forum. He has done a lot for Waltons fans in the past, and he is a good friend of many of the cast members. I don't know what happened with this cruise, and I wasn't there for the December 2011 event, so I can't really comment on it. You are all free to form your own opinions based on what you've experienced and what you have heard. But I don't want this forum to be a place where we slander someone's good name.
And I repeat, please don't bother Earl Hamner with this.
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Post by Jan on Aug 6, 2013 22:33:25 GMT -5
Brenda has given very good advice to follow. No one knows what really happened with the cruise I was involved with. I don't even know all the answers..... and probably never will. After the initial shock wore off, we chose to learn from it, get over it, and move on, as badly as it hurt. All I do know for certain is this: There never were enough fans signed up for this cruise after more than a year in the works and none of us knew that. It was allowed to drag on way too long before we were all notified, making the fall so much harder for all involved.
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Post by cinlou on Aug 7, 2013 19:35:15 GMT -5
I feel so bad that this cruise has been cancelled. I don't know what to say because I knew I could not attend. However, I still feel bad about those that had such high hopes to attend then be let down.
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Post by reckless on Aug 21, 2013 10:36:14 GMT -5
I did attend the 2011 Homecoming in New Jersey and it was wonderful to sit in an audience of walton fans and actors watching not only the film but personal cast video footage of behind the scenes at the filming of The Homecoming, equally great was the on stage interview with the cast members. I also went on the 2000 cruise with Carolyn Grinnell and other fans, that too was a class act but as far as I recall Carolyn was not formally involved in arranging that cruise. From what the cruise company have said the failure of the walton aspect of the current one is the fact that well over a hundred walton fans who said they would go failed to materialise, hardly the fault of the crusie company, let alone Ray Castro. From a business point of view the crusie company held on as long as they could waiting on these 100 plus people before taking the decision to give the genuine bookers the opportunity of backing out. Personally if I was going on the trip I would have been happy to have just Ronnie Claire Edwards but obviously that would not suit all fans. I suggest that a rereading of Carolyn Grinnells excellent 16th October 2012 message on the subject will help clarify who organised what. Also a visit to the crusie website has a satement from the lady who set it up explaining how it came about.
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Post by JeriJet on Aug 21, 2013 11:05:04 GMT -5
Having spent a good deal of my corporate working life organizing different types of events at various venues, I know one learns something new with each event.... both the organizer and the attendees. I painfully developed more comprehensive contracts, right down to dining service (NO! -- corporate executives will NOT drink coffee out of styrofoam -- china, please!!) Attendees learn to laugh at mistakes made.... however, when one's pocketbook is affected, it's just not fair.
I'm sure Carolyn has gotten better and better with each event.... and, hopefully, Ray Castro will never let something like this happen again! His next contract will be negotiated differently.
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roger
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Post by roger on Aug 21, 2013 21:48:59 GMT -5
I would beware of anyone who attaches his name to a major event, then fails to offer an apology or explanation when the event gets cancelled.
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Post by Jan on Sept 24, 2013 21:47:25 GMT -5
I have had one busy summer and absent from the forum for a while. It is good to have life slow down a bit and check back in with everyone again. I just want to say I have never had a finer travel agent than the one involved in the now defunct Walton's Appreciation Cruise. She has been wonderful to work with from the inception of the cruise, and is still making sure her few remaining clients are well taken care of. She was the one left with all the explaining to do and has been the ultimate professional, extremely apologetic and understanding of all our feelings. There are now only 15 of us Walton's fans left going on this cruise, some coming all the way from the U.K. We cruise three weeks from Saturday. It won't be quite the same as expected, but my husband and I are determined to have a good time nonetheless. I am hoping we get a chance to meet up and chat with some of the other Walton's fans on board.
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Post by dagmargermany on Sept 25, 2013 4:17:53 GMT -5
Jan, I wish you a wonderful cruise - even though without cast members - and a lot of great impressions and fun. Have a safe trip and I hope you will share your experience with us later.
Dagmar
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Post by Brenda on Sept 25, 2013 10:44:32 GMT -5
I think it is great that you are making the best out of an unfortunate and disappointing experience. I hope you have a wonderful time.
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Post by daniela on Sept 25, 2013 11:12:38 GMT -5
Have a great time Jan!
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Post by ForeverWaltons on Sept 25, 2013 11:26:16 GMT -5
Jan - So glad to hear that you are planning on taking lemons & making lemonade out of them. I know that you & your husband will have a great time. I sure hope you are able to meet up with the other fellow Walton fans & make some wonderful memories together. Please let us know all about the cruise when you get back. Be safe on your travels & take care. ForeverWaltons
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Post by Jan on Sept 25, 2013 23:25:11 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind words and good wishes, everyone. I am actually getting excited about going even after all that has happened. Now, if a hurricane doesn't start brewing in a few weeks, and the Norwegian Gem makes the trip out and back without any major problems, all will have turned out as good as it possibly could.
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Post by JeriJet on Sept 26, 2013 5:47:05 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind words and good wishes, everyone. I am actually getting excited about going even after all that has happened. Now, if a hurricane doesn't start brewing in a few weeks, and the Norwegian Gem makes the trip out and back without any major problems, all will have turned out as good as it possibly could. Jan, I remember that you've been on other cruises over the years -- will this one bring you to new places? Or, will your enjoyment come mainly from being on the high seas again and basking in the Caribbean sun? Curious because my older sister frequently goes on cruises, and she really doesn't care where they're going!
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Post by Jan on Sept 26, 2013 15:44:55 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind words and good wishes, everyone. I am actually getting excited about going even after all that has happened. Now, if a hurricane doesn't start brewing in a few weeks, and the Norwegian Gem makes the trip out and back without any major problems, all will have turned out as good as it possibly could. Jan, I remember that you've been on other cruises over the years -- will this one bring you to new places? Or, will your enjoyment come mainly from being on the high seas again and basking in the Caribbean sun? Curious because my older sister frequently goes on cruises, and she really doesn't care where they're going! We have been on two previous cruises, Jeri Jet. Our first was a three-day cruise with the Walton's to the Bahama's in '99 and then a 5-day Canadian cruise to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in '0l, shortly before 9-11. I still remember seeing the Twin Towers as we sailed out of New York Harbor that late July day. I just love to visit new places, be it by air, land, or sea, so touring the islands is what I am mostly looking forward to, although it's pretty darn enjoyable just being on a cruise ship. The evening shows are generally very good and we love to meet new people, too. So, I guess I'm like your sister, I'll go just about anywhere. No, I am not a sun worshiper any longer after a scare with skin Cancer twelve years ago. (And, to think we used to lay out in the sun all plastered with baby oil when I was a teen in the '60's makes me shudder now!) My husband isn't real happy with the change in cruise plans and is afraid he won't have enough to do to keep busy for nine days now that the Walton's are gone. Yes, this cruise is taking us to four new ports of call neither of us have never been to before: Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and then the Dominican Republic.
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roger
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Post by roger on Sept 26, 2013 16:15:57 GMT -5
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