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3Shelaghs

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Cool Cruiser (2/15)

  1. Do the math, how much cheaper is it really? We factor in the anxiety, confusion, emails, phone calls etc etc = headache. We have rented cars all over (including Australia), and learned very fast.... ash coverage in Iceland is a must, UK doesn't cover tires, load the car up with necessary insurance, forget your insurance from back home (unless in the US), relax and enjoy the freedom of your own wheels. At the end of the day whenever we ran into rental issues, it was always easier to just add the car rental insurance and be done with it. Factor those nickels and dimes into the "overall experience".
  2. My plan... all has been discussed. Funeral arrangements planned and paid for. Funeral directors card laminated and copies in wallet. Clear concise instructions printed out and in purse before leaving home. Remember to empty your safe, bring your medications with you, and have your luggage packed and delivered to hotel or take with you when you debark. Do not forget passports, credit cards and telephone numbers, travel insurance and ship information. Let the ship know where you will be staying. (they may arrange for you) Don't trust your memory, write it all down. (Our funeral director also stated that once they have all the info, they are able to deal directly with the foreign ones as much as possible). The deceased is usually debarked off lower deck prior to others debarking for day, directly to waiting coroner car, or ambulance. Family afterwards. Its all done discreetly (at least the ones I have witnessed) The following is dependant upon country rules that received the deceased body: autopsy, cremation of remains, embalming of body prior to repatriating deceased. Your travel medical may pay for hotels, repatriation, a companion to fly to you, medical bills if occurred, flights (know before you go). You will need to provide the service who accepted the deceased (usually a coroner office or funeral director) all your loved ones info, how to contact you in the city you debark in, and your funeral director telephone numbers and address back home, your flight numbers dates and times. You also need copies of death certificate, funeral home, coroner (if used) from abroad. And the flight dates and times the body is arriving at your local airport for your funeral home to pick up. They also need copies of death certificate so death can also be registered by them. Have a clean credit card prior to leaving home, and use for hotel abroad, incidentals, phone calls, photocopies etc. Worry about recouping the monies once you are at home. Your funeral home will attend airport and pick up body.Cremains are usually in specific marked boxes, and some airlines allow you to carry on flight and some go in cargo hold. You will be given specific paper work regarding this to bring on flight with you. Your airline may also give you a "compassionate flight", enquire when booking to come home. As creepy as all this is, it's so much better to be prepared (and then there are the unexpected deaths). Have I been through it.. no. But at this age we are prepared for the partner who is left behind to cope better. And once all this was done, it was a huge sense of relief. Of course we all know "the best laid plans of mice and men"....
  3. Agree with gnome12. Try the Ama Facebook page for comments about travellers enjoyment.
  4. Any news on contract negotiations???
  5. You're correct. I always get the first one upon booking, but nothing afterwards even with changes made. You must call them and request a current one to be emailed. I enquired as to why there wasn't a magic button on their phone menu to request instead of having an employee being bothered with simple calls, and they stated "policy". Possibly due to privacy issues? who knows, but it is an inconvenience. I've never had a request refused and it has always been received before I hang up
  6. It's a toughie staying on much needed caffeine free. Never knew it could be such a problem with the old ticker. Even caffeine free has a small amount. Ahh to be young again.....
  7. No problem with European water or pop, but some of us need diabetic caffeine free, thus usually have to resort to non stop water to stay hydrated. Its nice to have a variation to break up the boredom without landing in emerg.
  8. Cancelled for this reason. But as someone said, there are many other cruise lines that do not operate with this heavy handed final payment burden 1-1/2 years out from cruise. Why would fiscally responsible people hand over thousands to an unknown to make your money work for them?? I would think as times get tougher, the company will need to rethink their rules. Cheap upfront deposit sales fill the beds, but how many of them actually take that cruise? When I enquired re booking close to sail date, I was told final payment is due at that time. No deposit, just full payment. They also do not offer cancellation insurance for Canadians. Strange since most other lines do. Nor do they offer prepurchase of transfers without land portion. Some one should draw up a spreadsheet of which lines offer what. On a snowy day, by the fire, dog at your feet, start the research!
  9. Pax onboard Rotterdam at present, said no Visa needed two weeks ago in Cartagena.
  10. Quattro Romeo... did you need an electronic visa for Columbia? Mixed info on "Cdn board" re this need.
  11. Cosmo had some informative info for thong wearers, and I would think it's a two way street for other pool bathers. Like the Care Bears... Caring and Sharing 🫣 https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/health/news/a41974/are-thongs-unhygienic-facts-doctor/
  12. BOOM!! Success. Phones worked well, and web site also working. Great guy on phone. Thanks Dale.
  13. WOW!!! Beyond frustrated!! Phones not working x 1 week... one call I got thru and employee never called back with info( she didn't know answer to my request for an email of my confirmed booking) Static on lines, while waiting for someone to pick up a recording says "post 005", then disconnects, web site not working (ongoing issue), email addresses not working, chat "no one available", shore excursions "bad request", "echsupport@hollandamerica.com the email address you entered couldn't be found" (from their website!!). Holy smokes, I'm thinking of cancelling the booking. How do you pay if you can't get thru, or get a receipt of payment?? Still waiting for a confirmed booking email. Yes, I know what is owing is located on "my account" but it doesn't itemize details, only what's owing. Any ideas how I can get my confirmed booking statement???
  14. QuattroRomeo ..Luvn your running commentary. On this cruise next year... if Trudeau doesn't bankrupt us all. Enjoy the second leg
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