HorrorFan

5 hours ago, johnjen said:

Does she sit in the hot tubs on board? If so, I'd stop that.

Wow, didn't expect to EVER see this thread again. We found out a few years after this thread started that my wife was actually experiencing a sun allergy. We are from Canada and end up in the hot caribbean sun in the winter with skin that isn't accustomed to it. Her skin reacts more than others I guess. Two fixes were offered by the dermatologist. Getting skin accustomed to the extra UV but using limited sessions of UV treatments prior to travelling. (She wasn't suggesting tanning salons). Heavy duty (50 SPF) lotion. She also prescribed some heavy duty cortisone cream of it happens regardless of precautions. 

Any idea's when the autumn 2020 transatlantics would be announced?

Absinthe with wormwood (thujone) is available and legal in the US.

Thujone levels in real absinthe are minute anyway so its kind of a moot point.

And I can personally attest to the fact that it delivers a VERY potent hangover if you over-imbibe. and you will likely never wish to drink it again. And no, it does not induce hallucinations.

http://www.wormwoodsociety.org/index.php/home-mainmenu-1/102-items/187-yes-real-absinthe-is-legal-in-the-us

Oh, and sorry, I can't answer the original question. Just wanted to clarify some misinformation.

To me comparing any AI to cruising is apples to oranges. To me a cruise is nowhere comparable to any AI resort. We all know most cruises are not AI. Aside from the value of cruising I would never consider an AI at all. I don't want to spend two or three weeks at one place, which sometimes is even in a remote location with nowhere to go outside the resort. I want my Hotel (aka ship) to drop me off at a new exciting port every couple of days. Sorry but even at ten bucks a day an AI wouldn't be better value to me.

That's fair, but many do compare them on this board and I was simply stating that they are not necessarily more expensive, and in fact, often much less expensive when you add it all up.

I don't spend two or three weeks in on AI, most people don't, but then I don't cruise for two or three weeks at a time either. Wish i could afford to.

And if you do your homework, you don't need to be 'dropped off' in some remote location for a week.

I've been on quite a few Caribbean cruises and there are lots of ports that ain't all that exciting any more, if they ever were. :)

But its great that we we all have plenty of options for vacations. Thats all I am saying.

The difference is a land based vacation has actually become a better financial investment than cruising, and the wife and I love to cruise (D+). We just got off the Oasis and while there were negative reviews but we had a blast and loved the ship, it was the overall cost that kills it. 3K for cruise, $900 airfare, $450 for 2 days in FLL hotel.. The killer, $1,400 OB bill and we really didn't buy anything. A mixed drink and a blended drink were $26 with tip, we're light drinkers but every night out dancing and 3 drinks knock on a $100 bill, add gratuities and a couple pictures and they have vacuumed another 1K out of my wallet.

We had flown to Saint Marteen in December and spent 10 days, rent condo, car, food, airfare, etc. and it was $3,000. Difference is I can go buy a bottle of booze for what one round of drinks cost, it adds up. If you look into the all inclusive resorts the price really falls below a cruise and the service and food have become comparable. I enjoy cruising but it will be a once every couple year option now and not once or twice a year as it once was.

I agree completely. Anyone who says cruising (at least on RCCL, I can't speak for other lines) is less expensive or better value than an all inclusive hasn't done their homework.

All inclusive's (unless you are talking high end resorts, which would be apples to oranges anyway) are in most cases much less expensive, especially when you tack on hundreds of $ for flights, hundreds of $ for a drink package) etc.

I love to cruise, but not enough to pay what RCI is charging these days. And their 'sales', BOGO and otherwise are laughable.

Having said that, we just returned (in March) from a 11 day S Carib on Legend that was wonderful, but it was booked a couple of years ago. Can't get prices anywhere near what we paid now.

I'll be looking at land vacations in Cuba or maybe Costa Rica for next winter.

Ok, got it.

Thanks for the advice and clarifications.

nope. you earn points as an individual.. regular cabins earn on point per night, JS and up 2 points per night. Singles paying the supplement earn double points.

Hmmm, so you don't earn points as a family. In other words, if my wife takes two cruises without me she could become diamond and I would not. Interesting.

We are thinking of booking a cruise and taking our son. We would book a balcony for us and an inside for our son. If I make the booking do we get C&A points for both rooms (double credit)? eg 7 day cruise so 14 points.

If not, could I not book the balcony and my wife book the inside separately and then we would get the C&A credit for both?

I booked Chops about a month ago for our cruise next week. We paid $32.70 CAD which is about $25 USD. Reasonable I think.

We have been to Chops twice before but the last time was about 3 years ago. We'll see for ourselves if the food and service is better or worse than it was.

From the number of people that seem to be avoiding it, we should have the place to ourselves, so the service should be excellent. :D

I think someone just answered this question. But here it is again anyway....if he phones back or his wife does, can he add another $499US onto the same account. Would it have to be a different credit card?

 

.

He can call back as many times as he wishes, with the same card. Up to $499 each time.

Renting never made sense to me, they do not cost that much and basically do not go out of style so why not just buy? They do shrink and I have needed to buy a new one every 12 or so cruises

I have a nice black suit that I did wear on our first cruise that seems to have shrunk in the last few years. So, the shrinkage factor is one reason for me to rent. ;)

Also, the only time I ever really wear a tux is on a cruise. And I didn't think I would ever be doing as many cruises as I have.

And now, I would be paying $50 for an extra bag to fly in every time. So when you add it up, it just doesn't make a lot of sense for me to buy one.

I rented one online on Monday for a cruise we have coming in March. No problems.

I'm not doing a transatlantic, but I can't see that being the issue.

We've only been to San Juan once, on our first cruise I think. It was one of our most memorable ports to date. We just wandered the old city , did a little shopping, explored the forts, had lunch, all on our own time.

We had a great day.

I just called back as well and got $300US for $330 CDN. I had a bad feeling about that last guy I talked to. He had me on hold a long time while he was typing. :)

ARGH! I have been trying to convince hubby for days to buy the OBC now but he kept saying to wait until the last minute. Serves him right!!

 

That is a 26% exchange vs the 10% everyone got before. I hate men... LOL

I don't have a lot of faith in the guy I was talking to so I am going to call back and see if I get the same quote again, just to be sure.

I just tried to purchase $300.00 US and was quoted $378.00 CDN.

Its a tough call. Arriving at 9:45 am obviously gives you plenty of time.

On the other hand, something more catastrophic could happen (like a snowstorm) and that few extra hours won't make much difference if your flight doesn't get off the ground. Leaving a day earlier might not either, but if gives an extra buffer.

I ALWAYS fly in a day early now, after a harrowing experience on our first cruise. We were flying in the day of the cruise (from Toronto btw) and we had a departure time of 7:00 am which 'should' have been plenty of time, but we ended up, for reasons we never did hear, not departing until 11:00 am. I know the delay was not weather related though, so you just never know what might delay a flight. Yeah, it was WAY too close for me.

We did make it, but barely and not without a LOT of stress. That's not a good way to start a vacation. Whatever you decide, have a great trip. :)

Hmmm, I booked Chops on Legend OTS on Jan 12, and it was $32.70 CDN. And the $CDN is lower considerably lower than the $US.

I think someone mentioned this before - I have bought some of this OBC. But right now, my onboard payment options are set to "Credit card". If I want to take out US Cash on the last night - should I set up my account as "Cash" ?

 

I'm not to thrilled about standing in line on that last night settling my account, so I was thinking about doing it the day before- getting US Cash (not a credit back to my CC), and then letting the final day charges go to my credit card on file. Not sure if that's possible.

I don't want to steer you wrong as I don't know for sure. But, I have mine set up as a cash account and as pxy_cda hinted at, I will go down the second to last night, and settle everything up, get any leftover cash out and let the last day go on a CC. If that can't be done then I will settle the last day, on the last night if there is any outstanding balance.

I bought $250 US the other day and then thought I might use more since it is an 11 day cruise, so I phoned this morning and bought an additional $200 US for $220 $Can, so it is still the 10% exchange right now.:D

I just bought $250 US for $275 CDN.

Thanks for the tip. :)

Not sure if this will help, but found this site and info...

http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/things_to_do/cruise_vancouver#5

 

 

US Direct Program - Smooth Sailing for Americans cruising to Alaska

The Vancouver-Alaska Cruise Experience is a breeze for US passengers since Vancouver's International Airport and Vancouver Fraser Port Authority launched a "US Direct" strategic initiative. Designed exclusively for US citizens and permanent residents, the program pre-identifies arriving cruise ship passengers, whisks them through immigration and onto a bus, direct to their same-day departing Alaska cruise ship. Their luggage is delivered automatically from airplane to stateroom.

US Direct allows passengers arriving at YVR to transfer directly to a same-day-departing cruise ship by participating in expedited immigration and customs clearance process. US Direct also works in reverse. Passengers arriving on a cruise and flying out of YVR on the same day disembark the ship and are transferred directly to YVR by participating in expedited immigration and customs clearance process. Upon arrival at YVR, these passengers enter the airport through a designated cruise passenger facility. US Direct is designed to maintain the sterility of domestic movements between US arriving cruise ship passengers and departing US pre-cleared flights and vice-versa. The program does not apply to passengers who are planning a pre or post stay in Vancouver. The program is targeted to passengers who have already planned to be transferred directly to their same-day-departing cruise ship upon arriving in Vancouver or the reverse to their same-day-departing flight at YVR.

Using that it sounds like you still have to clear customs and immigration, so the US Direct Program isn't likely to help in this case.

We planned this surprise vacation almost a year ago and had never heard of about being denied boarding because of an old DUI in the US.

Not that this means much, or answers any of your questions but a DUI is a criminal offense in Canada, and you have a criminal record. Whether it is 3 years or 13 years doesn't really matter.

We were told if you have been denied entry into the US you will have real problems ever gaining entry in the future.

Best solution was to get a pardon and records cleaned.

The best of luck.

Not only that but now that passports are a must, and they get scanned, I suspect that information like criminal convictions will light up the screen every time.

There was a time (before you needed passports at US-Canada borders) that something like this would never be spotted at the borders and therefore not really a problem unless they asked you outright. Now, with passports and electr9nic scans that information is (probably) there whether they ask for it or not.

I wouldn't risk going and being turned away. Take the advice here, and check with the Canadian consulate or Canada customs. Maybe ask your TA who to contact.

Has she seen a dermatologist?

No, it is usually clearing up when we get home. And it did this time, especially with the Benadryl, and she also got some cortisone cream on the ship that seemed to help. Its just a weird thing every time we cruise, and that it doesn't start until after Labadee. Might just be a coincidence, who knows.