Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins, Do not take this excursion offered by Princess Cruise Lines


April 13, 2015

To: Princess Cruise Line Customer Service

From:  William Paul Conley, 2979 Desert Forest Lane, Lehi, UT 84043

             Ph:  801 867 7227   Email:  billhytek@hotmail.com

             Confirmation code: 8TDMVC, Ship Emerald Princess, Sail Date

             April 5, 2015.  Number of guest in party:  6.

Regarding:  Shore Excursion, Reference number CZM310A A 01, price of Excursion, $129.95, Chichén Itzá Mayan Ruins


CZM-310 | Island of Cozumel, Mexico

 

**** DO NOT OFFER THIS SHORE EXCURSION, STOP IMMEDIATELY!****

These shore excursions given the time parameters set out on your website are IMPOSSIBLE to meet!!!

**I AM REQUESTING A FULL REFUND OF THE PRICE I PAID FOR THIS EXCURSION ALONG WITH THE OTHER 5 PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THIS EXCURSION WITH ME.**

William Conley, Grace Conley, Katelyn Conley, Liz, Morgan and Siena Nielsen.  Rooms R332 and R336.

Let’s look at the math as it relates to your website, then I will give you an account of what happen.

Before I begin, let me say that because of this shore excursion, the ship left port well over an hour late.  I am absolutely certain this cost the company additional monies. 

Secondly, I would like to let you know I specialize in time efficiency studies so I am well versed in the subject I am about to discuss.

Back to your website. Here is the detail of what your website says.

Ferry from Cozumel pier to Playa del Carmen pier

Details:

Travel time: 00:45 Transport type: Motorized Vessel

Time at site:00:05

Wheelchair accessible?:No

Restrooms available?:Yes

Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chichén Itzá Ruins Site.

Details:

Travel time: 02:10 Transport type:Air Conditioned Transportation

Time at site:00:20

Walking distance (yards):250

Wheelchair accessible?:No

Restrooms available?:Yes

Free Time at Site (minutes):20

Air conditioned?:Yes

Visit and Explore the Ruins

Details:

Transport type:Walking

Time at site:01:40

Walking distance (yards):1760

Wheelchair accessible?:No

Restrooms available?:Yes

Free Time at Site (minutes):100

Air conditioned?:No

Transfer from Chichén Itzá Ruins Site back to Playa del Carmen

Details:

Travel time: 02:10 Transport type:Air Conditioned Transportation

Time at site:00:20

Wheelchair accessible?:No

Restrooms available?:Yes

Free Time at Site (minutes):20

Air conditioned?:Yes

Ferry from Playa del Carmen pier back to Cozumel pier

Details:

Travel time: 00:45 Transport type:Motorized Vessel

Time at site:00:05

Wheelchair accessible?:No

Restrooms available?:Yes

Free Time at Site (minutes):5

Air conditioned?:Yes

Tour at a Glance

You will visit:

·         Mayan RuinsMayan Ruins

You will see:

·         Playa del CarmenPlaya del Carmen

ModerateIncludes snack

Excursion Length:
Approx. 8 hours

If you add up all the time you allocated for the excursion, you will see that it adds up to 8 hours and 20 minutes.  You indicate the tour will be approximately 8 hours. 

Right away you have a problem.  The tour was to meet at 7:20 am and we were required to be back on the boat by 3:30 pm.  If everything went perfectly (which it never does), we would arrive back at the boat at 3:40 pm.  So in a perfect world, we would arrive back 10 minutes late.

Now for reality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The website said we would have 1 hour and 40 minutes at Chichen Itza with 100 minutes of free time. Does that mean the guided tour would only be 40 minutes long?

Our group left the ship around 7 am.  We met up with the tour at the end of the pier approximately 10 minutes after we exited the ship. 

We were instructed to wait for a period of time before being released to walk to the ferry which would take us to Playa del Carmen.  We returned to the ship approximately 4:10 pm, a full 40 minutes late and there were several passengers who were behind us that may or may not have been on the excursion.  We spent approximately 30 minutes at Chichen Itza, a full 1 hour and 10 minutes less than advertised on the website.  It was a mad rush to run around and get pictures of everything before we had to be hustled back to the ship.  We were off the ship 9 hours and 10 minutes and we spent 30 minutes at the Chichen Itza and 8 hours and 40 minutes traveling to and from Chichen Itza.  UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!! We did not pay for a bus and ferry ride and to move about like cattle from one location to another. 

Here is what the time managers did not take into account on your website that you should realize reality is.

*Time at the pier.  Original meeting time of 7:20 am, several people were not on time.

*Time to walk from the meeting location to the ferry.

*Time to board over 200 people on a ferry, waiting for the very last person, who is traditional late to board.

*Time sitting waiting for the ferry to depart.

*Travel time was not 45 minutes but 50 minutes, we had to wait for another ferry to leave the slip before we could pull in.

*Time for 200+ people to get off the ferry and find the tour operator. 

*Time stuck in a line waiting for everyone to arrive from the ferry.

*Time to walk a half a mile.  The website said the walk was 250 yards, not true.  If you have very old people or people who can’t walk well, this walk can be very slow.

*Time to board 100+ people on buses, waiting for the very last person to board.

*Time sitting waiting for the bus to depart.

* A two hour and fifteen minute bus ride.

*Time to exit the bus, walk towards the entrance of the park, receive tickets for the part, and walk to the entrance of the park.

*There was NO time to use the bathroom after a long bus ride.

We had 30 minutes at the park.  5 of the 30 minutes were taken up looking at a map of the park, leaving us 25 minutes to explore the park. 

(we did not have 100 minutes of free time and we did not have 1 hour and 40 minutes at the park)

*We were told the bus would leave promptly at 12:15 and we needed to be at the two fir trees by 12:05 and if we wanted to finally use the bathroom, we needed to do that before 12:05, which we did, considering we hadn’t had the opportunity for nearly 3 hours to use the bathroom. I was with 5 women and the woman’s bathroom was very crowded taking extra time.

*So now it is 12:05 and we sat around waiting for everyone to show up.  We spent nearly as much time entering the part and exiting the park as we did in the park.

*Time to board the bus and ride back.

*Time to get off the bus.

*Time to walk back the half mile back to the pier.

(There was not 20 minutes to spend looking around Playa del Carmen as advertised.)

*Time for 200+ people to receive their ferry tickets and aboard the ferry.  At a very busy busy pier.

*Time sitting on the ferry waiting for it to leave.

*It took 52 minutes before we docked.

*Time for 200+ people to exit the ferry.

*Time to walk back to the ship.

*We did not have a single second to shop.

AS YOU CAN SEE BY MY ACCOUNT OF THE DAY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO OFFER THIS TOUR AND HAVE PEOPLE SAFELY BACK ON THE SHIP BY 3:30, IMPOSSIBLE!  STOP OFFERING THIS TOUR UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT A BETTER PLAN OR GIVE PEOPLE A MORE REALISTIC PICTURE OF THE TIME AT THE PARK.

What and who suffered.

We did, we were exhausted traveling 8 hours and 40 minutes.

Our time at the park was only 30 minutes.

We had not time to ship at either pier.

We all had to use the bathroom and didn’t have sufficient time to even take time to use it.

We did not book a 30 minute tour of Chichen Itza.

Nearly everyone I spoke with complained about the tour and the amount of time at the site.

The guide was beside himself.  He apologized over and over again for the lack of time we had at the site.

He blamed it on Princess and said we had to be back at the boat by 3:30, as it was, we were 40 minutes late.  The guide indicated he needed at least 2 – 3 hours to give us a proper historical tour of the site.

Our day was ruined.  Our children were grumbling and it seemed everyone was upset with Princess. 

We did express our displeasure with the shore excursion desk and we were given a 50% discount.  We are requesting a full refund. 

I hope this letter was helpful.  The last thing you want is more upset clients and that is exactly what you will get if you continue to offer this tour.

Lastly. I believe I understand why you wanted us back by 3:30 pm. That seems to be a very short period of time at a major port of call. 

If princess is part of some larger company that owns other cruise lines.  I would highly suggest you tell the other lines not to book this tour or they too will have other very angry customers.

I look forward to hearing back from you as soon as you can.

 

Sincerely

 

William Paul Conley

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

I lost 14 pounds on a 12 day cruise, find out how.


The average weight gain for a person on a 7 day cruise is 7 - 14 pounds, so how did I lose 14 pounds on a 12 day cruise?  I actually went on 2 cruises back to back, a 5 day and a 7 day cruise in the Caribbean.  I set sail at 209 pounds and at the end of the cruise I weighed 195 pounds and cut 3 inches off my waist.  At 6'1'' inches tall, 209 pounds is not over weight for me but I wanted to lose some inches around my midsection.  I work out 6 days a week at home and enjoy eating, but December caught up to me and decided it was time for me to start my weight lose program aboard the cruise ship.  While everyone else was gaining weight, I was shedding it at a pace of a little over a pound a day.  So what did I do differently than most people on a cruise to help me lose all that weight?
Let me share with you my secret.  First you need to know that I have been on several cruises in the past and each time I lose about a pound a day.  I have figured out a cruise is an excellent venue for a weight loss program.  Everything you need to lose weight is on a cruise ship.  So here are my 7 secrets to lose weight on a cruise.
1. I made a decision that my body was not going to own me and that I was going to own my body.  I made a decision it was time for me to start losing weight.  I choose to stop drinking diet soda's, Monsters and other drinks that contain caffeine (with a minor exception of black and green tea). I choose to eat sensibly and be consistent with my workout routine.  I choose to get up and move and stay moving and involved.  We all choose what we eat and drink and what activity we engage in.  I wanted to think consciously about those choices and start making healthy choices. I went on a cruise knowing I would lose weight.  My goal was to lose 18 pounds, I ended up losing 14.  So my first decision and goal was to use this time on the boat to start a healthy routine in multiple areas of my life.  
2.  Drink plenty of water with fresh squeezed lemon throughout the day.  I also include tea with caffeine, honey and lemon in the morning at breakfast and with dinner.  I stayed away from alcohol, coffee, soda of any kind and stuck with lemon water throughout the day.  A person needs to drink half their body weight in ounces each day to help facilitate the release of  toxins in the body.  Drinking water also keeps you hydrated in the hot sun.
3.  I used the stairs and walked the stairs everywhere I went on the ship.  I did not use the elevator even a single time.  This keep my metabolism working and was a great little workout throughout the day.  My mother told me that when I walked up stairs to skip a stair to help build up my quad muscles, smart woman. So as I walked the stairs, I skipped a stair and I walked briskly.  This mini burst of exercise gets the heart pumping.  You may find yourself winded, just carry on, in the end you will benefit.
4.  I exercised 10 of the 12 days on the ship.  My exercise routine lasted 1 hour and consisted of both cardio and weight training. 
Three of the days were pure cardio and I spent my time on a recumbent bike and watched TV.  Three of the days were pure weight training using free weights and the exercise equipment.  The other four days were a combination of weight training and cardio.  I don't live to exercise, I exercise to live.  I enjoy spending time in the gym and sweat from my body helps release toxins and salt which helps reduce water weight.
5.  While everyone was sunning themselves each day, drinking and eating I got involved and choose to get involved in the daily activities provided.  I call it "get up and move and get involved."
Each day the cruise line gives you a daily planner with dozens of events, activities and fun things to do.  Instead of lying around, I choose to do as many of these activities as I could each day.  I scheduled my day to include as many events as I could and participated in many of the tournaments.  This lasted throughout the day until midnight.  When you are busy, it gives you less time to think about food.  Bottom line, stay busy and involved.  Many of us each and drink because we are bored. If you lounge around each day, guaranteed, you will be bored.   I spent very little time working on my tan by laying around. 
6.  While on shore at various ports of call, I leisurely walked as much as I could.  I must admit, I did not go on any of the tour opportunities the boat offers and choose instead to go to the beach at 4 of the 5 port of calls.  I enjoyed splashing around in the water and used my time in the water to do a little water aerobics. 
7.  Last but not least, I ate sensibly.  Let me share with you what I ate.  For breakfast I ate 6 slices of watermelon, 2 cups of fruit yogurt, 12 prunes and 3 figs, a 4 egg omelet with bacon, ham and cheese, a cup of tea with lemon and honey and a glass of water.  Occasionally I would substitute the water melon for other fruit choices.  I did not eat lunch and around mid day I would have some kind of snack.  I enjoyed pizza, desserts, ice cream and frozen yogurt cones.  Dinner was wonderful.  I dined on 1-3 appetizers, 1-2 entrees and 1-3 desserts and again, a cup of tea. I only finished the protein in my dinner and enjoyed tasting multiples of each food group, not finishing most of my choices.  I also ate bread before the meal, no butter.  I was plenty full after both breakfast and dinner.  I choose to eat the early dinner so I would have the balance of the evening to work off what I ate.  I did not snack after dinner and did not eat again until breakfast around 10 in the morning.  As you can see I did not starve myself, quite the opposite, I was pleasantly full throughout the day.  The food on a cruise is amazing.  There are so many choices right before you that you don't have to prepare.  Choose wisely and you will see the weight just melt off.   
A cruise is the perfect place to break old habits and start new ones.  Think of it as an incredible weight loss center.  Just think, no cell phones, no email, no texts, no one telling you what you should or shouldn't do, no one questioning you as to why you aren't in your typical routine.  A cruise is a perfect venue to start the new you.  When you arrive back home, your friends and family will notice a difference in you and maybe they will be inspired to cruise with you.  In order to make new habits, we need to break the old ones,  what better way to do that than on a cruise.  
So there you have it, 7 tips to help you lose weight while cruising instead of gaining weight.  I choose to use the cruise as a way to have fun and lose weight.  Each of us gets a choice on how we use our time on the boat.  The next time you cruise, I hope you find these tips a helpful. Isn't it time for you to book your cruise?

 

Cruising: The Perfect Place to Start Anew

A cruise is the perfect place to break old habits and start new ones. With no cell phones, emails, or texting, and none of the responsibilities of home or work, it’s your chance to refresh, rejuvenate and recharge. 

That’s what I did anyway. I just got back from cruising and, I have to say, I feel like a new guy. Healthier physically and mentally. And you can, too. Everything you need is right there—food, entertainment, solace, activities, spa, new friends. Well, the list is endless. So while you’re traveling the high seas in style, here are some tips to get you started in freshening up your old self. 

1. Make a pledge to shed (weight)! Sounds like an oxymoron. I mean, seriously, who loses weight on a cruise? But it’s not only possible, it’s not that hard if you plan a little.
The average gain on a seven day cruise is seven to 10 pounds. Ouch. But I went the opposite direction—I lost 14 pounds and three inches off my waist! While everyone else was gaining weight, I was shedding it at a pace of more than a pound a day.  So what did I do differently than my fellow passengers? I made a promise to myself: no extra pounds! That’s right-- I made a decision that my cravings and lack of willpower were not going to own me. But to do that, I had to rethink how I was going to make that happen. Which brings me to point number two…

2. Drink, drink and drink some more (of the good stuff)
Water and unsweetened teas were my friends and kept me feeling full and hydrated. I added lots of fresh lemon and honey to spice it up. Plus lemon is a great detoxifier. I stayed away from all sodas, including diet sodas, juices, coffee, energy drinks and, yes, alcohol. I know that sounds painful, but it works like a charm.

3. Move!
I used the stairs and stayed away from the elevators. It kept my metabolism working and was a great little workout throughout the day. My smart mom once gave me excellent advice:  When walking upstairs, skip every other step. It helps build up quad muscles. Dang, I love the stairs and, I promise, so will your body.

4. Exercise
Every ship I’ve been on has a great gym and workout classes. If that’s not your thing, walk the outdoor track around the ship and take in the beautiful ocean and scenery. Throw on a pair of good shoes and walk if that’s the best you can do. The important thing is to exercise every day. When you select tours, try and pick options where you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Every time you sweat, you’ll release toxins and salt, and that’s a very good thing. Aim for an hour of exercise each day. That doesn’t mean it has to be all at once, but it certainly adds up. 

5. Get on the scale
Weighing yourself every day helps you notice any gains while they’re small and easily corrected. It’s a lot easier to lose two pounds than 10.

6. Sign up for shipboard activities
While it’s tempting to join the others who are endlessly sunbathing, drinking, playing roulette, reading and eating, get involved in the daily activities. Look for ping pong tournaments, basketball games, and dance contests. Not only are they fun, you’ll meet new people and burn calories. Also try classes on upcoming ports and excursions, trivia contests, and ship tours. When you stay busy, you have less time to walk past the buffet line and grab cookies and fries. Plus, doing stuff is way more fun anyway.

7. Get off the ship and… walk!
If you’re not doing an excursion, get off the ship and explore by foot. This is actually my favorite way to explore a port of call. Grab a guidebook so you see the best attractions at your own pace. On a few of our ports, I simply got off the ship and got in the ocean and spent an hour swimming and jumping in the waves. It was my own little heavenly water aerobics. (It’s pretty hard to swim and eat at the same time. Bonus!)

8. Eat wisely
When you’re surrounded by a 24-hour buffet, this can be tough. Except it doesn’t have to be. For me, breakfast consisted of fruit, yogurt, and protein (like eggs). After a big breakfast, I skipped lunch, but ate a midday snack. I indulged on dinner, with appetizers and dessert. After a day of exercise and sensible food choices, hey, I deserved it. I was done eating by seven o’clock. In my opinion, going to bed with an extremely full stomach is pure misery.

9. Unplug
Put that phone and laptop down. I promise you, the world won’t stop spinning because you aren’t texting and emailing. Your investments won’t implode and your house will still be there when you return. Taking an electronic break is manna for the soul. You’ll feel amazingly “better” after just a day. Stress and anxiety will vanish in a snap and you’ll enjoy your cruise far more.

Yes, you can enjoy a cruise, lose weight, start new habits, and have the time of your life. Doesn’t that sound like fun?