SerenityMovie.net

[shinytrinket]

This will probably make the organizers shudder, after just getting the cruise behind them, but folks keep coming up with ideas for the *next* shiny event (Train Job, etc.), so I thought the topic ought to have its own thread.

Mine is slighter tamer than a cruise or train ride, but my travel buddies and I agree that we really enjoyed San Diego and would love to return to explore it further. A Browncoat event in a central location like the Courtyard Marriott would be fun, with all the city has to offer just outside the door.

Just a thought for future contemplation. Now go on and hibernate, everyone!
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Claudia
>^..^<

[Julesong]

Both Seattle and Portland are absolutely gorgeous in the summertime... Or how about Vancouver, BC? That'd make it convenient for Jewel and perhaps Nathan, too.
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[impalergeneral]

Vancouver? Now you're talking!
I was there a couple of years ago, and it's a fantastic place. I still hope to be there when the Olympics come to town in about 26 months, but why wait until then?
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[ria_oaks]

Thirded on Vancouver! Us Vancouver Browncoats don't bite, I swear. XD There's a decent sized group of us (~200 on the Meetup Group) and I'm sure they'd all be excited to have a convention so close to home. And it's a beautiful city, biased though I may be. If you enjoy the outdoors in any way, then it's great - lots of hiking/skiing/kayaking/etc. Come visit me on scenic Bowen Island (right off the coast from West Vancouver, a 20-min ferry ride); I'll host a mini-shindig and we can watch Serenity or episodes at the cute little theatre on the island. ^__^

I also like tdbrown's Train Job idea, in part because of the proximity to me lol... and the Rockies are beautiful - I drove through them with my parents when I was 7 or so, but that's it. I'd love to see them again. Otoh, not much to do on a train...

[Tonya J]

I like all the suggestions so far (Hey, train job! Instead of being trapped on a cruise ship, the BDHs and LDHs can be trapped on a train with us) but someone, somewhere was saying something about a ski resort off season.

But how about during ski season (isn't there a winter hiatus at some point in TV land?)? BROWNCOATS ON SKIS! Hot toddies and hot chocolate in the lodge. Ahhhhhhhhh.

Either that or go the totally opposite direction. Browncoats in Hawaii!

[ria_oaks]

[wrpnwft]

While Vancouver sounds lovely, (I've been there and want to return someday) I like the whole cruise thing for several reasons: all meals paid for and food available anytime, free room service, no parking, not your typical con, all events close, contained environment more conducive to more intimate gatherings, not standing in lines to get into panels, time with BDH's unlike most cons, variety of spaces within one, choice of being together or not, yet not getting lost before dinner! Private room withing walking distance anytime (unless on an excursion)

I find myself thinking of the logistics of a gathering of Browncoats in a city environment in numbers greater than the cruise, because face it, those who didn't go will want to be part of the next event! Arranging transportation to sight see, getting reservations in restaurants, etc. I'm all for someone organizing a city event, but my feeling is that it is basically going to be like one of the cons, only with sightseeing thrown in. When you take into account the cost of a hotel room, parking fees, food, the cruise is a bargain.

IMO, all the other event ideas sound like great fun, I think they would make for wonderful 'reunions' for us cruisers. Just my 2 cents.
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"I ain't looking for help from on high. That's a long wait for a train don't come" Mal

[wrpnwft]

Another thought, with a cruise, you can budget within a couple of hundred dollars. Your costs are fixed. It is somewhat easy to predict how much you will want/need to have for other spending. With a land based event, you are going to be constantly putting expenses on plastic, or reaching into your wallet to pay for things. I found that we were able to plan well for this, and have not always had that experience with other vacations.
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"I ain't looking for help from on high. That's a long wait for a train don't come" Mal

[ria_oaks]

I agree with you on a lot of the points - I really loved the intimate feeling of the cruise and how we were always around the BDHs. Also def liked the whole 'room/food is already paid for' thing. I'm not sure if I'd do another cruise, though... maybe. It was a lot of fun. But I did get a bit seasick and the cruise part itself was a bit dull (the Browncoat events were a blast, but when I wasn't at those I didn't know what to do. Maybe if it'd been warmer I would've been at the pool more...) I don't know. I like a smaller, more intimate convention - and I think the idea of a bunch of us staying in, same, a ski lodge, would maybe recreate that. Not sure about guests, though. I don't know, I'm open to lots of suggestions. And maybe different people will organize different events so we'll have choice.. as it is, I want to start looking at my convention options for next year (the cruise was my first real Browncoat one). So I'm just gonna wait and see.

[Jetflair]

I really liked the controlled costs, intimate but not too intimate setting, and the fact that the only travel time between "hotel room" and "event" was a walk down the hall. I'd do a cruise again in a flash - Starfury really turned me off to land-based cons and cons in general. Not saying I'll never go to another con, but I'm thinking non-traditional is the way to go.
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[adonnenwen]

Now didnt we all agree before we got off the boat, that the next one was going to be a cruise and it was going to be near/in australia

LOL
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[Julesong]

Although I liked the idea of a Seattle/Portland/Vancouver event, I've got to backtrack and go back to the idea of a cruise being my preferred venue. Fixed cost, room and board included, etc. I'd go on another Browncoat cruise in a flash.

However, next time I'd really like to make sure that we have enough preplanning with the cruise line to ensure that we have a specific space set aside for us where we can all gather and get together at any time. It was difficult not having a specific gathering place.

The Alaskan cruise (Holland America) I went on previously had a group of quilters who had the library and card room all to themselves - their quilting racks all set up 24 hrs a day, and where they could get together whenever they wanted. Granted, I don't think they numbered as many as we do/did (what was our count? 200?), but still, if they managed to get their own rooms I'm sure we could.

And I'd certainly be willing to pay more for the cruise if it meant we'd have those meeting spaces. I do think it's that important.

[MikeTMC]

When Tony suggested the next cruise head for Alaska, I came up with the marketing tagline:

Browncoat Cruise 2: Out to the White (grin)

[Heather]

If we do go for another cruise, might I suggest any cruise line other than Carnival next time? I have to say, if it hadn't been for the Browncoat part of the cruise I wouldn't have had a terribly good time at all on this cruise - a far cry from the last cruise I was on.

Their problems were many and varied, but my biggest hassle was their appalling segregation of the smoking and non-smoking areas. Most of the non-smoking areas were so filled with smoke that I had considerable difficulty through most of the cruise, with respiratory problems the entire time. By the end of the cruise, even my hubby (who is almost completely insensitive to smoky atmospheres) was complaining about the level of smoke.

I certainly didn't experience anything like that degree of discomfort on the Caribbean Princess, and someone (was that you, TD?) talked about Royal Caribbean being entirely smoke-free in the interiors, and more sensible about where they located the exterior smoking areas. The only thing that saved me on this Carnival cruise was that most of our Browncoat activities were in the Cole Porter Lounge (once you'd held your breath through the Gatsby's bar at the front, it was fine once we got the doors closed), and in the dining room or the conference room (again, so long as I wasn't near the front where the smoke from that Gatsby's bar roiled down the stairs).

Apart from the whole not-being-able-to-breathe issue, although we had plenty of our own events going on I checked the Carnival Capers each day and most of their activities didn't seem particularly interesting - or were held in one of the smoky rooms or were along Elations Way which was right next to that open-plan casino and which I had to pretty much race past with my breath held if I wanted to get through without having an asthma attack.

I'd heard that Carnival was kind of 'meh' when we were deciding which cruise line to go with on our first cruise last year, and this experience really bore that out. So, please, anything other than Carnival next time.
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Fox cancelled it? It must be a good show.

[Tammy]

Caribbean might be a good place to go. We get a big discount on them at my office, so I'm sure they would work with us if we had a group of several hundred. I'm guessing we'd have closer to 300 or 400 this time around . . .

And someplace warm! Not in Dec again, because just before Christmas and bad seas/cold weather, was not all that fun! Maybe in the spring? March? April?

Carnival was a bit gaudy and I'd be all for trying out a different (bigger?!) Cruise line - even if I have to pay more for it. Won't matter if the ship is bigger (more for us to do when there are no Browncoat events we want to attend) if we have a designated meeting place/room.

[Julesong]

Holland America is a wonderful cruise line, too, but pretty expensive.

From what I recall, almost all the ships are actually the same size. They use the same hulls. What's different is how many cabins/people they pack into the same space. The same hull used with Carnival ships would be used with Holland America ships, but only with half (or fewer) as many people aboard, basically. It makes a big difference. It also probably makes it a bit easier to get a meeting space designated for groups like ours.

Having been on an Alaska cruise in July previously, I'd like to say that the trip was absolutely GORGEOUS. It was, however, still fairly chilly. I'd rather have the cruise go to a warm climate.

I don't believe there were any interior smoking areas on the Holland America cruise, either. Although I used those Carnival smoking areas, I, too, was unhappy about how much second hand smoke was being "shared" to non-smokers. Being from the Pacific NW, where smoking is an entirely outdoor activity and most smokers (at least the ones I've been around) are fairly considerate of others, I was shocked to find there was smoking indoors on the cruise.

I would be willing to pay more for a different cruise line, as well.

I was really pleased that there was a non-participatory rate for our cruise - thank you so much for that, guys! My husband, while he enjoys Firefly/Serenity, is not the total Browncoaty geek that I am, and he had a wonderful time on the cruise relaxing on deck, spending hours reading his organic chemistry and microbiology textbooks. It was perfect for him.
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[Julesong]

[Heather]

You know, I just read back over my post and it almost sounds like I had a rotten time. Truly, I didn't. I had a blast and wouldn't trade out a single minute of my time on the cruise. I'd just like to be able to do it again without having to suck on my inhaler six times a day. I'm all for smokers having places to go. I'd hate to see someone deprived of their fix for such a long period - but I certainly like my smoke free areas to be truly smoke free.

Some cruise lines probably share similar hulls, but I know our last cruise was on a much bigger boat. It carried 3000 passengers and 1000 crew, and we got balcony staterooms for about $750 per person for a 7-day cruise. So bigger doesn't generally mean more expensive, at least. In fact, on that cruise our itinerary was being mirrored by a Carnival cruise, because whenever we reached a port the same Carnival ship (can't recall its name) would turn up about an hour later. Ours definitely dwarfed it. Not that I'm saying size is a necessary thing - a small boat like the Elation is fine, so long as I can breathe.
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Fox cancelled it? It must be a good show.

[Heather]

[Julesong]

I also wouldn't mind a 7 day cruise.

And, just to mention it... I love our dogtags! They're super shiny! I haven't taken mine off yet, in fact.

But I'd really like to have readable ID badges with our names on them next time, because I'm still trying to sort through who is who in my mind. I really need to have a name on a badge to go with a person in order to remember who they are, and I know I can't be the only one. They don't have to be expensive badges, just something that shows our names to the Browncoats around us.

[mmmusings]

I was looking at pricing for an Alaskan cruise and inside rooms were around $800 per person. Balcony and fancier rooms book fast on Holland America lines so that's something to consider.

We'd be TOTALLY up for an AK cruise (the idea of traveling out of Seattle appeals a great deal to us) but I don't think I'd have to spend TOO much time convincing my husband to go on a Caribbean cruise!
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Michele AKA The Muse
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DTI Team Has DTI Again! Thank you for such an AWESOME time on the Browncoat Cruise!!

Thank you, CA Browncoats/Actors/Dealers/Sponsors for an AMAZING time at the Browncoat Back Up Bash!!

[Julesong]

That's another thing... Carnival doesn't have many balcony rooms compared to other lines. Next time we'll definitely be getting a room with a balcony!

A nice, warm, Carribean cruise sounds nice...

[mmmusings]

[crazygolfa]

Another Cruise would be shiny!! I would go anywhere with fellow Browncoats.
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Faster! Faster would be better.

[RachVG]

Yes please to the Carribean. I'd much rather that than Alaksa.

[Julesong]

There are also coastal cruises, I've found. Begin in LA and go up the west coast, ending in Vancouver, BC. That could be a nice one.

[marajade29sm]

sigh.

i miss you guys.

[Kyrax]

I'm totally cool with the idea of another cruise, though the Train Job does sound like fun too.

I agree with the "Meh" towards the silly Carnival organized activities, but at least they were there as options during our down times. And another thumbs down at the number of smoking areas that we had to go through to get anywhere. I'm not crippled by smoke, but having dealt with parents and an ex-wife who smoked I'm trying to stay away from it as much as possible (and one of the tests during my hospitalization showed a stable mass in my chest, so more fun Doctor visits to see what that is are to come). So I agree with those who didnt like fighting out way through smokers to get to Browncoat activities or put up with it just to hang out in the casino.

This was my first cruise ever, so I can't compare to other lines or ship setups. A bigger boat would be fine as long as we get the services that we need, which as others have mentioned would include a regular meeting area dedicated to us, larger facilities so that we could all get together for a viewing party, etc. I'd also like to see our group acknowledged by the cruise line, like in their newsletter, as it was I felt like we were sort of under the radar as if Carnival didn't want to admit we were aboard. Who knows, maybe there were more browncoats on board than just that one guy from Sacramento, and we didn't know it.

On a subject that I do care about, I'd like to encourage whoever is going to organize another event to find a facility that is more handicapped accessible. If I'd not been able to stand on one leg, I would have had an exceedingly difficult time on this trip. Many of the doorways onto the deck had high thresholds and others had doors so heavy that I'm sure I wasn't the only person who had a hard time opening them. Even along places like Elation Way there were constant water-tight door lips that I had to slow down to get over in the wheelchair, making trips from one end of the boat to the other harder than they had to be. I found myself planning trips between the Atrium at the front of the boat and the meeting rooms at the back to avoid unnecessary bumping over these things. And don't get me started about the Dining rooms - they were literally 90% inaccessible for me and other wheelchair users. The Dining Room that we used at least had a single ramp up to the main area to give me access - the other one had none. So lunch for me had to be in the Lido deck cafeteria (Tiffany's), as the formal dining rooms were either inaccessible or their buffets were in places I couldn't get to. While several staff offered to get me a plate, I prefer to pick what I want myself from a buffet (and didn't like the huge portions that these well intentioned folks would give me). And the publicly available restrooms were almost totally unavailable to me (exc. the one near the middle elevators on deck 9 (off of Elation Way) due to narrow doorways, tight corners, etc. So my general rating of the accessibility of the cruise was a C+ - they tried and did make minimal effort to take care of me, but some of the decisions and logic were flawed.

Finally, yes to going somewheres warm! I enjoyed this trip, particularly the one warm day in Cabo, but would have enjoyed it more had the weather been warmer. With all of our great Browncoat and Whedon ("is my Master Now") t-shirts, it'd be nice if we could wear them more openly. The Canadian Rockies Train idea sounds like fun too, but it probably doesn't have the meeting facilities that made the Cruise so much fun. I liked being able to meet different people at different times, or randomly in the hallways and other public areas of the ship. Heck, that's where I met Mrs. Rhodes.

[Julesong]

[Julesong]