Reunion Cruise Part II

Continuing the discussion of the possibility of a Reunion Cruise Part I

A cruise could be nice, but I question the seating arrangements for the number of people that attend. My vote is for the Great Lakes area. You see, my husband won't fly, and he would have to leave now to get drive to Alaska. Also, a cruise might be too costly for us. Baltimore was our first reunion, and we hope we make the list for the next one.

Joyce

I think a cruise would be great. It would be that costly if you figure that includes transportation, all meals and lodging. Only other cost would be if you had to buy at each port of call.

Either way, cruise or land we try our best to be there.

Based on the various comments to date, here's how I interpret them.

1. Not everyone cares for the cruise idea. Some folks just prefer staying on terra firma for the majority of the time.

2. Many folks are still clamoring for the Great Lakes location, probably because it was considered for the last reunion.

3. Cost - whether land based or water based expenses can vary taking into account accomodation, season and activities.

4. Location - Whether N, S, E, W or MW most folks will have a lengthy drive, flight, etc.

Although I've only attended one reunion it appears that what collectors want is a pretty nice place to stay, good food, a certain amount of free time to socialize and the opportunity to see lighthouses. No matter the cost or location, when the time comes, most will choose to attend. Sure you can't please everyone 100% in all respects but I'm sure the HL crew tries their best.

You forgot to mention, Mombo, that when Kim polled the collectors at Bill's Seminar in Rosemont, that it was well over 200 for and one against a cruise. And when Kim asked who had been to the last reunion the same number of hands was raised. Most had been to at least two reunions, when Kim asked if anybody had been to more than one reunion.

It was almost unanimous in favor of a Cruise Reunion.....

Didn't forget. Wasn't that just what got this thread started? Well I abstained at the Rosemont vote Paul so guess there were 202 present? Is that a representative sample? Are the participating forum members? (We could ask using the new poll feature!) I guess in order to get an accurate number HL'd have to canvas all the Society members?

Well over 200 isn't 201... it probably was closer to 300 people in the seminar that responded and that is a very good sampling since they are the ones going to the reunions... that would be close to a third of the people at the last reunion.. I think that is what caught Kim's attention... the number of people that had been to the last reunion and almost unanimously in favor of a cruise...

5. The South is still waiting their turn for a reunion. So far two northern Reuions. The Great lakes would make three.

Even though we're from the Great Lakes (Meeechegan), we could support a Reunion in the South, yeah.

How about frequency ..... is an annual reunion a bit too much???? Every other year, I think would make it a little more special!!

Dan

A cruise is great the location is not critical as long as there is a steady stream of lights and it's not COLD!. Florida would be cool and there are many lights to see There must be time to eat, visit and sleep (2 day cruise or week cruise?). Can the ship actually stop at some of the lights. I think it is called docking instead of stopping. So, could the ship dock at some of the hard to reach lights?

Chuck:D

My question about an Alaska cruise is how many lights could be seen and how close could you get to the lights with a cruise ship, I am thinking your not going to get all that close to any lighthouses with a cruise ship.

Bottom line for me is if the Reunion goes to a cruise my family will not attend. I do not wish to be trapped on a boat for two-three days doing only what is available on a cruise ship. If this is the way it is going to be then count me out. If I wanted a cruise I would take one. There are to many associated costs and planning contingencies related with cruises that would exclude many people that might only be able to attend a weekend reunion format. I think this whole push for a cruise personally stinks and I don't understand the need for it. What has been wrong with the first three reunions that all of a sudden we need a cruise? If you want to take a cruise take a cruise and leave the reunion alone!!! One other thing, for those of you fortunate few 200 that went to Rosemont it's nice to have a known event annually at the same location isn't it?

imho

Actually I wish the Regional in the Midwest would move around rather than be in the same place... say maybe Grand Rapids MI, Detroit MI, St Louis MO, Louisville KY, Columbus OH or Nashville TN, allowing the people in those areas a shorter drive..

It was a lot more than 200 BTW..

What, no Indianapolis?????

That would be great for you Paul, Rosemont and a Regional every year! I would be happy just to get a signing.

Sour grapes on my part but honestly there are those of us that aren't so fortunate.

Once again keep it simple and can the idea of a cruise.

imho

Ooo-weee
Ooo-weee baby
Ooo-weee
Ooo-wee baby

Old man rhythm is in my shoes
It's no use sittin' here cryin' the blues
So be my guest, you've got nothin' to lose
Won't you let me take you on ... another bus tour?

puhleeeeeze

If the boat don't fit on land you'll sit.
I say go for it - anchors aweigh!

T

Tim you change identities faster and more often than a chameleon.

Maybe we need a limit on just how OFTEN Saints create new and mysterious identities.

First,
a cruise would be okay only because I have never taken one. But it would only be okay if the costs worked out. We saved up for a couple of years to attend the last two reunions. If a cruise is done and costs to much, we won't attend.

I agree with Sean on one BIG point. The regional events are great if you can attend one. For those of us in non-lighthouse areas, we have to hope for a Bill or Nancy event for a signing and a chance to share our thoughts with them. A regional event won't be staged in an area without lighthouses. Until this year, I had no shot at a gold piece either.

It may sound like sore grapes, but I buy HLs like everyone else, support LHs like everyone else, and should have the same opportunity to attend a regional event in OUR area like everyone else. A reunion in our area would make no sense and I understand that. But the regionals should move around and include ALL areas not just areas with lighthouses.

imho

but on the inside its still that same saintly humor ... LOL :->

chardonnay ?

Let's all "Cruise" to MICHIGAN for the next reunion!!!!!!!!!!!!

Something to think about. A lot of people talk about the costs of the reunion. Ok, think back for a moment at how much you spent on your last vacation. If you really think about it when you add the cost of lodging, food, gas, trinkets and any other entertainment costs associated with a vacation, you probably spent just as much if not more than the reunions cost. HL does a fantastic job of lodging, feeding and entertaining reunion attendees for an affordable price. Plus, you get goodies for free that if you had to buy would make your normal vacation costs skyrocket. If you compared what you spent at Disneyworld/land for example, you probably spent more on that type of trip than you did at a reunion. I am no Vanderbilt (but would play one on tv if asked) but any vacation worth taking is normally something you save for anyway. Now, I am not including visiting relatives and staying at their place as a vacation because that is not really a vacation, that's just visiting family. HL gets a bad rap on the forum sometimes because of the cost of the reunions, how often they occur, how many people they can handle, and especially where it is. I personally don't care where or when HL has a reunion. This is a wonderful thing they do that they have no obligation to do for collectors. I cannot think of another collectable line that treats its hardcore collectors so well. HL is in the market of creating and selling collectables, not entertaining collectors and taking them to fabulous locations. As far as Rosemont goes, you forget, this is a TRADE SHOW for HL and other collectable manufacturers and dealers that also has a public part to it. HL needs to be at this tradeshow every year and has no control over where the corporation that runs the trade show offers it.

Ok, time to get off my soap box for now.

I am at the ready when and if HL decides to offer another reunion.

Sanibel, I don't disagree with the thoughts in your post but from my conversations with staff and observations on "dealer days" at Rosemont, I think the only reason that Y & A goes to the expense and bother of attending trade shows such as Rosemont is for the collectors. I don't think that the company does a lot of extra business at the shows but they do enjoy the weekend days when the collectors are there. As we have stated many times before, there is no company that does as much for it's collectors as Younger and Associates.
Jim
Johnson

After attending the last reunion I think one of the highlights was the cruise to see lighthouses that I couldn't see if I drove to a site. I would love to see a cruise, or maybe several options for cruises, at the reunion. I think that the cruise should take you to at least some places that you may only see during a "special" event like a reunion, so that you will have "special" memories. A Florida cruise to see the off shore skeletal towers and only lights visible from the water is what I would like. In the Great Lakes there is a variety of lighthouses that you can't get to via car, and this fact alone would be "special".

A thought to ponder. Why not have a "cruise" that goes from one land location to another. You can see lighthouses on the way, and can have landlovers tourist attractions also. I don't think that where you start is where you have to end. Recently we took a boat trip in the Juan de Fuca and got to see Burrows Island, which is only visable by water. This was something "special" for us, and I will remember it as much as I did the last reunion.

Even though we saw 32 lighthouses before, after & during the last reunion the one that I wished we had gotten to was Thomas Point. This was because I don't know if I will ever get a chance again to see this one (to many lighthouses, to little time). My idea on a reunion is make it "special", make it a trip of a lifetime, and make it something that only a dedicated collector, or affectionato will appreciate. Our first reunion was a very "special" event and I hope that the next will be equally as "special".

Just a few thoughts on a reunion cruise to Alaska. I just returned home Sunday night from an Alaskan cruise. We had 38 in my family celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Alaska was absolutely beautiful! We had sunshine in every port for the entire week. These were the first sunny days they had for the past month. The scenery is better than you can imagine. Glacier Bay is a must see location. We took a seaplane and flew over Misty Fijords National Monument. Words can't describe how beautiful a location this area is to see.

Here is my downside to an Alaskan cruise for a reunion:
1. We didn't see very many lighthouses from the ship. Maybe if it was pre-arranged, you could view more.

2. The weather! We were VERY lucky that it was sunny every day. That is not the norm. Most of the time it is rainy and you wouldn't be able to see many lighthouses through the rain and fog.

I'm all in favor of a cruise for the next reunion, but I'm not sure if Alaska would be the best location to have it in. IMHO

Well....It looks like a divided nation...From my knowledge (not too much), If it's going to be a cruise, the only logical place would be from the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. They have alot more to offer down there with variety of ship sizes, easy port in and out, close to the airport, available lighthoues for viewing like: Cape Florida, all or any of the reef lights, Key West, and other lights in either the Carribean or Peurto Rico. The only other solution I could think about is cruise out of either Miami or New York down or up the coast and then out to Bermuda and back or I know Boston has a cruise that leaves Black Falcon Pier every spring that travels up to the Nova Scoatia area for 3-4 days. Hey...That's just one man's opinion..... :rolleyes:

In addition to the other positive comments here a cruise would enable us to experiance lighthousing at night from a mariners point of view. Perhaps we could have a contest aboard ship. Identify the light by the flash pattern at night. Could be fun and a lesson of sorts for us non mariners and coasties.

Let's consider the downsides to a Reunion Cruise:

1. Danger of listing over when 950 lighthouse nuts rush to the starboard side to see a lighthouse.

2. Need to return to the starting point at the end of the cruise.

3. Not being able to get a Cruise ship close enough to a lighthouse to get good photos.

4. Possibility that you will be in the dining room, bar, or casino when the ship passes a lighthouse.

5. The infirmary could run out of dramamine.

Here's a quarter, get a bigger boat.

Nah... have buses pick us up and drive back along the opposite shore ... guess that would be the Canadian side.

Here's another quarter, get a longer lens. (You thought this hobby was cheap? hah!)

Versus what? Not being on the boat at all because there was no cruise? Bzzzzt 10 point deduction for straw man argument. vbg

The bar running out of scotch and beer is probably a bigger liability.

HL claimes they can't find a hotel in the entire GL region that will accomodate a reunion - here's their opportunity.

Go Cruise go,
St. Runamuck

Hi Everyone!
I'm SO excited about a cruise for the next reunion. I don't care where it goes to. It would just be nice to be on vacation and see all of you again! Hopefully it will be in 2004 since we are getting married next year. We can't afford to BIG expenses in 1 year unless of course we win the lottery between now and then