iancal

1 hour ago, hallasm said:

European regulation 261/2004 is very clear when it comes to flight delays or cancellations - this applies to all flights within the EU (plus certain other countries) and flights to and from the EU.  Flights to the EU, however, only for airlines established in the EU, while from the EU it also applies to non-EU airlines.
Many airlines offer a voucher for double the amount of the mandatory compensation.

Our understanding is this compensation schedule also applies to EU based airlines on flights from North America to Europe.

For us, this means there is a consumer protection advantage to select and be ticketed on a Lufthansa, KLM, TAP, etc when buying air from  North America to Europe  rather than from a NA carrier such as Air Canada or United. 

We recently experienced a seven hour delay on a one way Transat flight from Faro, Portugal to Toronto.  We claimed 600euro compensation each.  Transat has agreed to send us a cheque for $1570 to satisfy the claim for two tickets.

WHAT we found interesting is that this consumer protection extends to EU based carriers on flights from North America to Europe. 

So...if we had been delayed on our TAP flight from Toronto-Lisbon/Madeira this compensation schedule would have been applicable.

For us this is an incentive to book (and be ticketed)  with EU carriers such as KLM, Lufthansa, TAP, etc rather than AC or other NA based carriers.

We have been doing carry on for the past 12 years since retiring.   For convenience and for physical ability reason.  We combine cruises with independent land travel.

Our late June return flight from Faro, Portugal was delayed for 7 hours.

In accordance with the EU regulations (that were handed out on paper when we finally boarded), we were entitled to 600Euro each in compensation for the delay.

This week, five weeks after we submitted the claim to AIr Transat, we received an apology and were advised that a cheque for the full amount claimed was being processed and mailed us.

Very pleased.  We were expecting some pushback or at the very least the offer of a credit instead of a cash payout.

6 hours ago, Tak8 said:

Less luggage sounds nice, but I wonder how do people handle the souvenirs they buy.  I've been to the Caribbean many times, so I don't really do much shopping, but I've done 1 British isles cruise and want to do another in the future.  For those packing light where do you pack your gifts and items you buy for yourself?
 

When we downsized from 3700 sq feet prior to retirement we decided that we no longer needed to accumulate any garage sale or jumble sale items.

We don't buy anything.  Well DW bought a pair of sandals in Portugal last month but that was an exception.  Nor do we bring back gifts.  No room...but the reason is no desire.    Our children live in different cities...they do not want the trinkets either.

Makes for some interesting looks at customs and immigration when we come home after 9 weeks.  And once after 7 months.  Nothing to declare.  Other than sometimes an uneaten bar of chocolate.

We do always have the option.  If we wanted to bring something back bigger than a pair of earings I could bring it back in a bag as had luggage vs carry on.   We travel with a small, collapsible nylon bag (one of those TA promo items)  that we use for the beach and poolside.  Also use it to carry a few bottles of locally purchased wine on to the ship.

Since retiring 12 years ago, per covid we would do two 7-9 week trips per year.  Many included a 10-14 day cruise.    

We have only done carry on, international size, on each of these trips.  It works for us.  Not for everyone of course.    We were in Portugal this past May/June.  So glad we did carry on.  No issues with lost luggage.  Taking trains was a snap.

For us the trick was buying the bag first, then prioritizing.  We stopped with the liquids, shoes, and just in case items.

GO!

As the advert says....just do it!

You might not be able to do it next year or the year after.   

If you do not you, your son, and your daughter and families will regret it.

Make some memories.

When we cruise, where ever it happens to be, we could end up tipping in CAD, EU, GBP,  or AUD, etc.   And more than once we have tipped a person in multiple currencies because that is what we had.

It depends on whether we have enough of a tip in that currency and frankly whether we want to get rid of excess currency.  

I really do not think the recipient cares. The ships go to many countries and the crew change money to send home in their home currency or buy things in foreign ports.

There is nothing particularly special about either CAD or USD.   Money is money. Given the choice of 20 CAD, USD, AUD, EU, GBP....I would take 20 GBP all day long even with any FX fees.

Just tip well for good service.

6 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

This is one of the reasons that people use TAs. Let them do the telephone holding.

Exactly.  Really why bother with all that nonsense?

The currency does not matter.  The amount matters.

One of my cousins, in his late sixties, was in hospital ICU on a ventilator for just under  weeks. He was one of the lucky ones.  18 months ago.

Another cousin, in her early 60's was in the hospital for two weeks with covid.  She had many underlying health issues. Five months ago.

My niece and husband, in their early 40's, just got back from a week in Bermuda.  Both with covid.  His is mild, hers is the opposite.   She is very ill.  One week ago.

We, in our late 60's, both had covid.  More cold like for us.  Not an issue.

The thing is when it comes to medical advice or opinion I would not rely on anyone for advice or opinion except your physician.

Just because I had not serious covid effects does not mean that the person next to me will contract it or if so it will be as mild as my experience.

The only cruise we have booked direct with the cruise line in the past 15 or  years was booked with RCI.

And only because booking this last minute cruise directly with RCI's Sydney, Australia call center was priced 30 percent less, adjusted for currency, than the best North America price that we could obtain from our TA. 

 I emailed an Australian on line TA but got no response within five hours so I went the direct route for fear of not getting a balcony cabin.   The RCI CSR pulled up our details immediately...no issues whatsoever.

We always check travel vendor prices on different in country web sites.  Sometimes there are surprising price differences.

Other than that we have never felt the need or recognized the slightest benefit to dealing direct.  The opposite is true.

We took an Easyjet flight  from Funchal to Lisbon in June. 

Keep in mind that you will not have to deal with customs or security.  Walk off, no issue.  In our case straight to the subway and train station.

Not certain if you will be able to change going through security though.  Should not be an issue in Oct.

On 7/29/2022 at 10:43 AM, MillbrookMom said:

Thank you.  We may look at flights in and out of Athens and would do a few days on one side of the cruise there.

We very much enjoy Med cruising.  But...we also like venturing out on our own in the islands.  Traveling by ferry with no set schedule other what when and where we have to be for our flight home.

Both are great experiences, but they are different experiences.  We often try to combine them now that we are retired. 

 We have had three one week stays on Crete over the years.  Hoping to go back this fall. We start in Piraeus  and work our way south to Crete. 

 Another pre or post option is a quick, inexpensive flight to Cyprus for a week or two.  Very different experience.

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

If one believes in the industry, if one believes in an investment one has made in the industry, what one must do is to "hang tight".  Granted that the "seas" are more rough than they have been.  But, for those who have been long time investors, patience and confidence in those who operate the companies will find "smoother seas".  Why wouldn't they?  Do they want their stock options to become worthless?  

The challenge with stock options is that they typically have a vesting date AND an expiry date.  And a strike price.   Or PPU grants tied to very  specific financial targets.

If the stock is under water at the option strike price/expiry date   they have zero value.

Next cruise we book will be with a different TA.  Our former TA left the business.  Don't know what we will do......shop around or perhaps a big box.  Certainly will not bother booking direct.  No percentage in that for us.  We do our own research.  Our trip, so in the end we are responsible.

She saved us money.  She saved us time.   She gave us recent customer feedback from ships we were considering.  She was incredibly responsive.  When I worked she respected my time and we worked primarily though email.  Same when we were retired and travelled. She conquered time zone challenges through email.   The last one she arranged while we were in Sicily.   Sixteen hours later we had confirmation, a quote, and a detailed invoice  for a last minute Med cruise plus cruise air home from BCN nine or ten days prior to embarkation in Rome.

More than once when we asked her to book a last minute cruise she said ....wait until next week I believe the price will be better.  Or...she would say .....you know XXX cruise line have an unpublished special fare on the same itinerary, same time, great ship.   Are you interested?   Or...yes I can call my contact and hold this late booking cabin until 5PM my time in order for you to lock in air.   

At the end of the day it was not only  about the 8-12 percent discounts off list.  It was about the service, the insight into our preferences, and her integrity.   

I hope that she is enjoying her well earned retirement.

21 hours ago, pdmlynek said:

 

 

I agree with @carlmm, @WESTEAST, and @bennybear, and would like to add the following:

 

Mykonos is a very popular tourist destination, including celebrities.  It is overrun with tourists.  There are about 60 beaches, including the organized beaches on the western half of the southern coast.  You'll need to be comfortable figuring out the bus schedules on how to get to the beaches or rent a car; taxis as pretty non-existent.  

 

Santorini is also a small island, and also extremely touristy as Mykonos.  The towns of Fira and Oia on the cliffs above the caldera are one of the most photographed sites in Europe.

 

Personally, though, I like the Ionic Islands, of the WEST coast of Greek mainland, including Corfu and Kefalonia (listed as "Argostoli" on itineraries).  If you are beach connoisseur, you'll likely find the beaches even more picturesque than in the Aegean. The weather is also not as hot. And the scenery is also nicer.  But that is just my view.

Agree.  We did three weeks in the Ionian Islands pre covid.   Stopped on a cruise a few years earlier.  DW wants to go back...

54 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Quick edit- NcL postponed their release until the 9th. The market never looks kindly on this move. This is relevant to CcL stock because all 3 trade in sync. 

Absolutely. 

The reaction is usually what is the problem?  Or...is there a problem?

Is there a disagreement with the independent CPA's over what the numbers should be or how the numbers are presented/reported?   Or is it to do with the notes to the financials?

Do they need more time to craft an announcement or to complete a significant financial deal?   

Or time to spread more  lipstick on a pig?

Could be none of the above, could be nothing.  But imaginations tend to race in an industry environment like currently exists. 

Very much a personal decision.  We are late 60's/early 70's.  Both vaccinated. We have had covid but it was mild.  More like a cold.  Others that we know have not been so fortunate. 

We love cruising and often combine it with land trips.   We recently started traveling again.  Independently in Europe for five weeks. 

 We are not even considering a cruise at this point, let alone shopping of one.   For many of the reasons mentioned above.  Not the least is potential quarantine on the ship.  

Many others are not of the same opinion.  There is no right or wrong answer to this.  Only the one that you are both comfortable with.  At the end of the day that is all that really counts.

We flew Aegean from Larnaca-London.  Direct   We belong to Star Alliance.  We routinely get points credit for our Aegean flights.   

There are several daily direct BA flights Larnaca- London. 

They tend to be more expensive than Aegean.  We have done numerous Olympic/Aegean flight.  We like them.

There was also a direct Larnaca-Paris flight.

When we fly in Australia on Jetstar we are allowed 7KG.  That limit includes the carry plus any other items such as purses.  

If your  total is more than 7KG you have to pay more.  Only to a max of 14KG.  Anything over and you have to check.  Size limits as well. 

On our last trip two of three domestic flights had an agent stationed at the boarding area, with a scale,  checking any carry on that appeared to be over the weight or the size limits.  Surprising how many had to pay more or check.  It was less expensive to check than it was to pay for carry on in excess of 7KG.    

Air Asia does something  similar.  Our experience is that there never seems to be carry an overhead storage space issue on either airline.  And boarding is much smoother.

When we fly in Australia on Jetstar we are allowed 7KG.  They weight the carry on AND anything else that you place under your seat-purse, etc.    

If your carry on total is more than 7KG you have to pay more.  As I recall more than the cost of checking it.  Only to a max of 14KG.

On two of our last three domestic flights there was a Jetstar agent at the gate with a scale.  Checking those who had checking in on line and re-checking some others.   Surprising how many had to pay more for carry on  and/or had to check their bag.   

Air Asia  does the same at some of their hubs.   Agent with a scale positioned before you pass though security to reach their section of the airport.

When we fly in Australia on Jetstar we are allowed 7KG.  They weight the carry on AND anything else that you place under your seat-purse, etc.    

If your carry on total is more than 7KG you have to pay more.  As I recall more than the cost of checking it.  Only to a max of 14KG.

On two of our last three domestic flights there was a Jetstar agent at the gate with a scale.  Checking those who had checking in on line and re-checking some others.   Surprising how many had to pay more for carry on  and/or had to check their bag.    Air Asia sometimes does the same with an agent and a scale positioned before you pass though security to reach their section of the airport.

1 hour ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Now now, don't hate the player, hate the game :-).

 

IMO, Day traders aren't the problem. Market manipulation by the big guys makes things very sketchy, 

The daily volumes tell the story.

2 hours ago, aeraen said:

I think we are all forgetting the biggest killer of formal night: baggage fees.   Back in the day, airlines allowed 2 full bags each.  That allowed for at least one garment bag per couple, which kept our nice suites and dresses unwrinkled.  These days, with a single suitcase costing up to $60 each direction,  dressing up like we're at a Hollywood premier is far too expensive.   A nice sweater and slacks travel better than beaded gowns. 

Cost of checking bags was not an issue, not even on our radar, when we decided to go casual years ago and forgo dinner in the MDR on formal nights.

It all seemed so incredibly artificial to us.  Since retiring, we have absolutely zero inclination to drag along Mr. and Mrs. Dress Up clothing for five of six weeks of pre or post cruise independent travel.

Besides.....from what we started to experience formal nights have been going downhill for years. From the food through to the service and the entertainment.   IF the cruise line no longer puts any effort into it why do they expect their customers to do so?

If formal nights were important to us and if part of that was expecting everyone to conform or those who do not to stay in their respective cabins for the evening we would not be selecting a mass market cruise line. 

  This is precisely  why they are called mass market cruise lines!