ZYDECOCRUISE 2007 FAQs -- Page 2 ON THE CRUISE: 10. Info/Schedules - WHEN YOU EMBARK, PICK UP YOUR COMPLETE ZYDECO / CAJUN EVENTS SCHEDULE ON BOARD AT OUR HOSPITALITY DESK: Location of our desk will be on Lido Deck near the glass elevators. 11. ITINERARY AND SCHEDULE CHANGES: As always, we ask you to BE FLEXIBLE if there are any additional schedule changes, they will be posted on a board at our Hospitality Desk daily, so you’ll need to walk by there regularly. Watch for the events schedule to be posted online VERY soon we’re working on getting final confirmations before posting feel free to email Carol if you have specific questions in the meantime. There are no dance or crafts classes scheduled on Port Days, only on our At Sea days. YES! We will have a Mardi Gras Costume Contest the last night of the cruise! You can bring one or make a crafty mask on the ship many chances t o WIN! 12. Cabins- no, they're NOT as big as hotel rooms! They have twin beds but they push together in most cabins. You'll be fine - how much time will you be spending in there, anyhow? See the brochure for your specific location and other cabin features. Check your tickets and make sure the cabin you are assigned to is exactly what you thought you were getting! Switching cabins once you arrive will be impossible to do as the ship will be completely sold out again. Call the Travel Machine NOW if you have any questions about your cabin. 13. Dinner seating procedures- Carnival is going to allow us to have group seating arrangement in the dining room for dinner. We will have an area with “Zydeco Tables” where we all can sit together. This is highly unusual for any cruise ship to be this flexible for dinner seating. There are a few rules! NO SAVING SEATS please assemble your group together at the dining room entrance just before 8pm so you’re ready to go in all together. They need everyone to sit and eat at the same time or it messes them up badly. Be good, please! 14. Bands' Shows- Bands will play on alternate days. Afternoon dance times vary depending on when we get back from port. The proposed schedule is for full shows every night and shorter ones like the "Sail Aways" from ports. Bands and musicians are rotated so you can hear it all, and so they get a few hours off, too. You will love it -- No one has EVER complained of a music or dancing shortage. We already know there is a schedule conflict with the big Carnival Deck Party on Tuesday night so there might be some changes just for that one night only please be flexible -- we’re working on it! The 2000+ guests that are NOT part of our group want some space too (geez!) 15. Our Group- We will be around 550 people. We can't provide you with a list of who's going, because many people have requested we not publish their names due to privacy issues. This year and on the last 9 cruises, our group has been very well balanced male/female. BUT - not every single person attends every class or dance, especially as the week goes on and people get their fill. Many of the moves being taught are not partnered moves, so there's lots to learn for anyone at any level. MANY on the cruise are EXCELLENT dancers and/or dance instructors; I am quite sure there won't be a problem having good dance partners for the ladies. Ladies, it's sort of up to us to get the guys away from the bar or casino and out onto the dance floor. DO YOUR PART! You'll have classes for all dance levels with several different instructors. There are classes when the ship is at sea, but you don't have to attend them all if you don't feel like it. We will have some non-zydeco classes as well, like Washboard University and fun MARDI GRAS ART CLASSES. Watch the web site for details. Printed copies of the schedules will be available when you get onto the ship, and posted at our Zydeco Cruise Hospitality Deck 16. Dance floors- We will be dancing on composite tile flooring in the afternoons, wood decking most evenings, maybe some marble tile, VERY short-pile carpet, maybe some metal flooring as well. It’s the variety pack. Be flexible, have some fun! The dance deck setup on Carnival is VERY DIFFERENT than the past 2 years on NCL. We will be dancing around a few more tables (they’re bolted down to the floor on the aft deck), next to a pool and hot tubs, and maybe on some varying deck levels. It’s different, but we’ve had plenty of fun 5 other times on Carnival including 2 times on this same exact ship. Every ship’s deck plan is different, and it’s always going to be our job to work around whatever’s there. Evening dances are all outdoors on the decks. Be flexible if it rains, please we can’t dance on wet decks for safety reasons. BRING COMFY SHOES THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW ARE GOOD! Remember that feet tend to swell a bit in hotter climates and bring several pairs of broken in shoes. Save new ones for LATER. 17. NEXT YEAR: The Travel Machine is the exclusive booking agent for Zydeco Cruise 2008 -- if we have one. As of today, we don't have any final details for you yet. We're working on it! You'll get first shot at the best cabins during our pre-sale SPECIAL deal on the ship. PLAN AHEAD! The cruise industry has changed and there are no ships large enough for us from New Orleans. We seem to have a great time on whatever ship we sail on from ANY port, but we’re sorry that (at least in 2008) there is no way for us to return to New Orleans -- yet. 18. SHORE EXCURSIONS: You can sign up in advance online RIGHT NOW if it’s still before the cutoff (sorry we don’t have that date yet). You will be FINE signing up once you get on the ship as long as you don’t wait too long! See www.zydecocruise.com for details. There is a Shore Excursion desk on board and they can help you and answer all your questions. 19. OTHER STUFF YOU HAVE ASKED US ABOUT: The Internet café is excellent on this ship. We are not REALLY allowed to sell any merchandise this year on board and we are truly sorry about that!. Yes, they have a very fantastic spa and also an exercise room to counteract the killer desserts. There is a small supper club called The Point and there is info available on the ship. All other food is free. 18. AFTER THE CRUISE: We will have shuttle and luggage transfer info on the ship. Galveston is really a very nice waterfront resort spot if you have some time to check it out or have dinner before or after the cruise. Great seafood restaurants and some fabulous architecture! Did I miss anything? Feel free to write to me (zydecocruise@aol.com) with questions. THANKS for your continued support, from all of us who have worked pretty darn hard for 10 years in a row to bring you the ORIGINAL Zydeco Cruise. See you on the ship! Remember - Don't MISS THE BOAT - Plan ahead! Carol Schreitmueller, Executive Producer: Zydeco Cruises 1998 through 2007 Seattle, Washington