CoCo Chat

Continental charging for 2nd bag now on some int'l flights

parrotheaddiver — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:33:54 GMT

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/check.aspx

I guess it is just a matter of time before all airlines follow along....:-(

Notice: Continental Airlines is implementing a $25 fee for customers checking a second bag when traveling on Economy fare tickets between Latin America* (excluding Brazil and the Dominican Republic) and the 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. The fee will apply for tickets purchased on or after May 8, 2008, for travel commencing on or after May 19, 2008.

Continental Airlines previously implemented a $25 fee for customers checking a second bag when traveling on Economy fare tickets purchased on or after April 5, 2008 for travel commencing on or after May 5, 2008 within the 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

Certain customers are exempt from paying the new fee and will be allowed to check second bags free of charge (bags must meet weight and size restrictions). These customers include:

OnePass Elite members
SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members
Any customer traveling on a ticket purchased in Y class of service
Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card holders
Active military personnel traveling on orders
Any customer traveling to/from Brazil or the Dominican Republic

Customers traveling with the above exempt customers are also exempt as long as they are traveling in the same reservation. This exemption will not apply to group reservations including 10 or more customers.

All customers may continue to check one bag free of charge. Additionally, there is no charge for car seats, strollers and wheelchairs.

To learn more, see our list of FAQs below.

*Pending government approval.

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

The Death of a Liveaboard: Odyssea 1

JTemple — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:11:06 GMT

Just received this email. I was on this boat last month. Sad.

Dear Associates, clients and Friends

It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of our companys decision to decommission MV Odyssea 1.

MV Odyssea 1 was badly damaged in a very bad storm on Sunday evening. As such, we will not be able to provide liveaboard services with immediate effect and all cruises chartered or booked are cancelled.

She returned safely to Manado on Saturday morning after a successful season in Raja Ampat from Sorong. There were no guests onboard when the accident occurred as we were preparing for docking. The crew are all fine and are safely back on land.

In the mid afternoon of Sunday (11 May), she was moored off Wori Bay in front of our resort (Cocotinos) in preparation for docking. During this time, the weather was turning with very strong winds coming from the north-west coupled with big waves forming and the tide going low. The captain decided that it was safer to move to a better-sheltered lagoon in Lantung where we normally go to during adverse weather such as the one we experienced on Sunday. Upon approaching the lagoon, the engines failed with attempts to restart it futile and the anchor was dropped immediately by the captain. At this point, the big waves took her closer to the reef but without the anchor securing on the seabed, she was pushed on to the top of the reef by the storm which resulted in severe damage to the hull.

Further extensive damage was done by the constant and relentless pounding of the waves while she was trapped on the reef. At first light, we inspected her and had to acknowledge that she is no longer seaworthy and beyond economical repair.

The weather has been unpredictable of late, with the cyclone in Myanmar on 3rd May and typhoon Rammasun in Philippines last week. The irony is that we could rescue others a few days earlier on our way back from Sorong but could not avoid a disaster ourselves. The forces of nature are greater than us. We had made two rescues, starting with a family in a small boat that flipped over and they were drifting for 12 hours before we spotted them. We dropped them off at their village at Kofiau and continued our return journey. After passing Halmahera, we seek an SOS call from a cargo vessel which had a broken shaft and was drifting for 4 days in the Moluccas sea. We brought all 9 of the crew onboard and continued our journey, bringing them back safely to Manado with Odyssea 1 and her crew a day later than scheduled.

We are now in the process of informing all the charterers and individuals who have booked anyone of our cruises of the cancellation. We have also set up a team to help provide alternatives and assistance to all that are affected in the interest of finding a speedy and amicable solution.

Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers will continue to provide the resort and diving services in Manado as usual, and we will keep you updated on the opening of our new resort in Lombok in August 2009. I look forward to your continuing support.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Warmest regards

Andrew Lok
Managing Director
Odyssea Asia Pte Ltd
info.desk@odysseaasia.com

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

Pretty please.....

shera — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:54:11 GMT

Can someone clean off the lens of the dock cam? Maybe it's the zillion miles between there and Alaska, but I doubt it.....I keep wiping off my computer screen, but it's not helping.

Forum: Getting to CoCo View and what to expect

Happy Birthdays

cap10randy — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:11:18 GMT

Well I see I am up to my old tricks again Forgetting someone birthday on time. So here goes .

Happy Birthday

LLBean's Hubby

5-10

Happy Birthday

Liljorgy

5-12

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

Knowledge of Roatan and CCV

InsaneDiver — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:01:23 GMT

I just joined this chat forum but have been reading posts on here for some time. I'm planning a trip to Roatan and trying to decide where to stay. Everything Ive read on this site looked great until I read the posting about the lack of marine life. I know everyone has their own opinions but who should I believe?

I notice that Doc seems to have a lot of info about Roatan and Coco View. Is Doc a good resource?

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

Doc Radowski

DiveBoy — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:59:17 GMT

I don't know if this was posted before, but the official word (from the lips of Liz Wayne) is that doc radowski (sp?) will be coming back to work at Cocoview.

Power has been out at least 1x/day, really messing up internet, otherwise I would have posted ongoing events. Best cool sighting -- two sailfin blennies about 15 feet from the dive platform towards the shore in about 3 feet of water.

Seahorses on every dive, and it must be sharpnose puffer mating season, because there are zillions of them everywhere.

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

How (not) to get thrown off of CoCoChat

Doc — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:56:18 GMT

How to get thrown off? Better said... how to play nice :)

Basically by not violating the common rules of any message board, if you are a bit unsure of a post, then don't hit the button. If you want to read more, see the TOS (terms of service) at SCUBABoard.

Annoying is okay, as long as it's on point. Scutt has crossed the line a few times.

Repeating harangues that go nowhere is not okay. We had issues with Jose on that one.

Personal attacks are out You shouldn't say, "Joe, you're an idiot". Instead try something like, "Joe, that statement of yours sure sounds kind of idiotic" . See how that could work?

General statements of racism, etc . are out. To quote Joliet Jake in the Blues Brothers: "I hate Illinois Nazis". Blondes still seem to be fair game by concensus. Me? Being a blonde haired (was, anyway) Polska of vague Jewish heritage, I am rather mixed up by all of this stuff. Just be nice, dammit.

Speaking of bad experiences at CCV is not prohibited. Certainly not. All observations are welcome. Just understand that 99.9% of all visitors, not just those here on CoCoChat, walk away very pleased. If you really saw a gap in process or a misrepresentation, lay it out, chapter and verse. There is nothing in the world that can't be improved. CCV may read this board, but if you have an issue, it would be much better to contact them directly for action. CCC is not connected with CCV in any way. Always be very specific with anything you post here, and you can always later clarify or explain prior posts that may have been misinterpreted here. Try to read the complete thread.

Please jump in and play! We have a 48:1 visitor to registered member ratio daily. Please, get a user acct ID set up and say Hi! Tag off to the thread "When you're coming to CCV". Say something!

Here is a great reference: http://gprime.net/flash.php/postingandyou

Forum: Tips on using this message board

Scuba Diving Cat

cap10randy — Thur, 08 May 2008 19:27:30 GMT

I hope this opens up for everyone. try it out. I am block from youtube.com were I am at right now.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bScOj4e0bOQ

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

1000

melanie — Thur, 08 May 2008 03:34:22 GMT

I tried this once before and didn't get a hit. At this point, watching the new divers join the board, I'm forced to do it again. I'm betting (with myself unless someone chimes in) that the 1000th chat board member will joint between August 10-15.

If Scut and Rutt are the men I think they are they'll take the bet and make sure I don't win it...there are ways.

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

got my pink tags...

mayjong — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:50:03 GMT

first timers , finally got our tags and are scheduled to arrive (from Costa Rica) on June 1st...
i know to attach our tags when we leave Costa Rica, do we need to contact anyone at Cocoview with our arrival time? we booked through Roatan Charters...
thanks!!!

Forum: Getting to CoCo View and what to expect

CocoView Photo

MontyChandler — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:50:19 GMT

Finally got my print up on the wall - so I can keep fresh in my mind what I look forward to.....

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

It's that time again

cap10randy — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:48:59 GMT

It's Happy Birthday time

Happy Birthday

Beth (Luvtodive)

5-5

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

Saba

watergirl — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:05:35 GMT

Can anyone tell me about Saba? I am planning to travel there 4/09. I like the idea of having activities topside. Thanks

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

Haaaaa folks . . just wanted to say . .

Zorrr2 — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:48:21 GMT

The water is WARMMMMMMM . . . the rooms are COOOOOL . . and its soooo nice down here !!

If you may have noticed . . Boat number III has been comadered by "Iron Moraty & Bloody Jack Flint (and crew) " for the next TWO WEEKS . . ARRRRGH !! Soooo good times will be had by one and all !!

Hope all are doing well . . .

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)

Birthday time again

cap10randy — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:04:18 GMT

I bet you were betting I would forget to announce our Birthday wishes on time didn't you? Well here goes.

Happy Birthday

Larry (Larsch)

5-3

Happy Birthday

DiveBoy

5-3

Forum: Managerie (tutti-carta) (anything goes)