VTX-AL
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Posts posted by VTX-AL
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Ship cabins can be small and clutter easily, and often don’t offer a lot of hanging options for towels and jackets. However, most cabin walls are metal, which means they’re also magnetic. Before you embark, head to your local hardware store and invest in a few magnet clips and hooks. This will allow you to hang extra wet bathing suits, and help you stay organized as you clip daily itineraries and other important documents to the wall. Remember, these are things you're better off not packing on your vacation.
However, don't try to hang your case of wine on the magnetic hooks .... it is too heavy ! :p ;p
...VTX-Al
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Leaving on a cruise tomorrow and I am having pain in one of my teeth. Has anyone used a dentist in Aruba?
Can you not get to see your own dentist, on an emergency basis ?
...VTX-Al
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After our first Panama Canal cruise I suggested to Princess that they drop the Aruba stop. Of course, they didn't and we stopped there again on my second cruise through the Canal. IMO Aruba is a total waste of time. I would rather have spent the extra time/day in one of the other ports.
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Well, as the originator of this thread, I am obviously not overjoyed at the briefness of this stop, however, I would never agitate for it to be eliminated entirely. Rather I would much prefer it to be a normal 10-12 hour stopover, as most other ports are. A short stay is better than no stay at all ! I also now understand the PVSA implications of the Aruba stop, thanks to several previous posters . :)
...VTX-Al
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I'm looking at behind the scenes tour on Island Princess. How much is it?
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Princess calls their tour the "Ultimate Ships Tour" - costs $150.00, if I remember correctly, and is well worth it , in my opinion. Plus you will receive a bunch of goodies that have almost the value of the cost. You sign up for the tour at the Passenger Services Desk and it is advisable to do that as soon as possible after boarding as spaces are limited and usually go fast.
...VTX-Al
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If you dont like the stop, because it's too short or some other reason, either don't book the cruise or stay on the ship.
There is always one snarky responder ! I did not say or mean that I didn't "like" the stop. Quite the opposite and I would "like" to have been able to spend additional time there in Aruba. And incidentally, the cruise is 21 days with stops in seven countries, so Aruba is nice but not the only reason for this particular cruise.
And to the others: thanks for the informative responses, which help me understand why Princess "bothers" with such a short stop.
...VTX-Al
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Sailing on the Island Princess this month from Fort Lauderdale, through the Canal and ending in Vancouver. The first port stop is Aruba with a five-hour stay. So, we get off the ship, walk into downtown Oranjestaad, maybe grab a coffee, drop some cash at the closest tourist trap, and then, allowing for a reasonable buffer before sailing, it's about time to return to the ship.
So, the question is: Why does Princess even bother with such a short port stop? Surely there's not much time for even a short excursion, beach visit, etc, re-fueling the ship can't be needed that soon either. Guess we will at least be able to say that we have "been to" Aruba ! :rolleyes:
...VTX-Al
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Have you checked Roberts Hawaii?
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We did this excursion in the spring of 2015 (off a Princess ship) with Roberts. Tour was fine, the only downside was we were in a big 40 passenger bus. If doing it again I would hunt down a tour operator who uses smaller van-type vehicles. You have to be sure to check out their "get you back to the ship on time guarantee" tho !!!
...VTX-Al
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In order for Mrs Wink's forehead tat to rhyme , it should have said "Layol to Rayol" !!! ;p
...VTX-Al
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Excellent!! Wow, thank you so much. That is most helpful. Even if we decide to drive up the night before, we can make our way to Canada Place early....pay to store our luggage and walk around. Great information. Again, thank you!
We used this "Cruise and Stay" package for our last cruise and recommend it. Includes one night hotel, restaurant voucher, free underground parking for duration of your cruise and one-way taxi from hotel to cruise terminal.https://www.coasthotels.com/hotels/bc/vancouver/coast-plaza-hotel-and-suites/package/cruise-package/
...VTX-Al
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Not on Princess. The only way to get priority boarding is to be Platinum, Elite or in a Suite.
Also Club Class minis are priority boarding.
...VTX-Al
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We are/have considered all the above. Our cruise is on a Sunday...April 30. We have about a 3 hr 15 min drive from our home. In theory we should have enough "padding" in our commute time (11hrs) that a delay in traffic/border crossing should not pose an issue in getting to the pier before the boat sails.
I originally planned to get there around 10am check our luggage and begin the boarding/check in process. However, the mom wants to leave at 5am.
I also called our cruise line and they insisted that there would NOT be anyone there to check our luggage prior to noon. AND once we checked our luggage we had to immediately go through the boarding process.
We are considering storing our luggage for a fee at the cruise terminal.
We are also considering a stay/park hotel. Actually found a good deal that included free shuttle. However, my sister, who is also traveling with us has to work the day before we leave. This puts us on the road at a very high traffic time (adding 1hr 30min!) and I am simply NOT a night person. lol. Really trying to avoid driving at night. But this is still an open option.
BTW: I am the one doing the driving and simply prefer an early AM drive.
With getting there potentially between 8:30-9am. I just really need to know if there is something we can do close to cruise parking to kill time prior to checking in????.....
So, if anyone knows if the parking at Canada Place is within walking distance to "tourist" activities/shopping/eating. That would be great!
You will be right downtown in the main restaurant/shopping area of Vancouver, and it is all very "walkable" as long as your party is reasonably mobile. However, depending on your definition of "tourist activities" such as Stanley Park, Granville Island, etc, etc, not so much as far as walking distance goes. Transit and taxis readily available.
...VTX-AL
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Something to do with the "distant foreign port" aspect ?
...VTX-Al
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MUTS are the same on all ships, correct? Is there a place on the Princess website that lists them, month by month?
(Seems like there should be :) )
I have seen this question, or one very similar, a number of times here on CC. Makes me wonder, do folks actually choose which cruise they book based on what movie(s) are scheduled onboard ?
...VTX-Al
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This is why, in response to a question or statement, you will often see many folks replying and all saying essentially the same thing. They just want to gets their post count up !:confused:
...VTX-Al
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Hello folks! We are so exited to be on "Harmony of the Sees" April 1 - April 8 !!!!
Please share your experience to reply to my question:
We booked a regular stateroom with ocean view with window. From you experience is there any way we can get a free upgrade to room with the Balcony ( of course based on the availability) and what the best way or person to ask?
Thank you for your reply
Wishfull thinking!
...VTX-Al
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There are many reasons including flight times and hotel check out times that may make it difficult or impossible to follow the suggested arrival time. Most hotels require check out at 11. Even if you drag your luggage with you to have lunch before proceeding to the terminal' date=' you'll often be there before your designated arrival time. If you do a flight in with Princess transfers, you'll often arrive before your suggested time--I suppose Princess could hold people at the airport and put you on a bus that departs at the "right" time, but they don't do that.
And regardless of assigned time, we are typically on board several hours before that time. However, you need to be prepared to stand in line and wait at the terminal if you show up early.[/quote']
Agree .... hotel for our next cruise check out time is 11:00 am, hotel is maybe 10 minutes from cruise port, Princess suggested boarding time for Baja deck is 2:00 pm. So we either "kill time" somewhere for about 3 hours or we head to the port earlier and stand around and take our chances.
...VTX-Al
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We've had a Swiss Army knife held in security for the duration of a cruise, detected when the luggage was screened on board. My husband got summoned to the 'naughty room' 😂. It had so many uses, cork screw, tweezers, scissors etc, needless to say we leave it at home these days ☹️.
This post made me curious, so I just checked my Swiss Army Knife (quite an elaborate one, with lots of items like yours). The main blade is 2 1/2 inches in length , so it is "legal" for Princess purposes, carried on-board in checked luggage. :)
...VTX-Al
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I knew that one as my name is on the list.
OK ... sorry about that, obviously I didn't check the roll call before responding :o. Good luck with your search.
...VTX-Al
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We are on the Island Princess Panama Canal Cruise departing Ft. Lauderdale on April 19th. When we did the Mediterranean Cruise a couple of years ago in the afternoon of the st sea days they had a craft event. Does anybody know of they still do this? Hubby is looking forward to it. For me I'm bringing my knitting to get together with other knitters.
Check our this roll call for your cruise http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2220895. There is also a Shutterfly link once on the roll call for crafts knitters , etc , folks
...VTX-Al
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You can find all the spa offerings on the Princess website c/w costs. You can pre-purchase or purchase on board.
...VTX-Al
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Some friends b ought T3 in Quebec City without a prescription. She simply wnrt to the pharmac y counter, asked for the nuumb er ofttablets she wanted and bought them.
First of all, your post stated "in Canada" which implies All Of Canada coast to coast to coast - again , completely and totally WRONG.. Secondly, codeine is classified as a narcotic in Canada and as such, is a federally controlled substance.
Having said that, I also know from personal experience that it is possible to obtain T3 (and probably other substances) from a pharmacy when a person runs out on a visit to a different town or province, but it does require a phone call to your home pharmacist ( which you may have to or not have to pay for), in order to confirm that you have a valid prescription for. Anecdotal evidence aside, I guess it is possible that a sympathetic pharmacist might decide to "bend the rules" a little for a visitor in distress, but I wouldn't count on it happening !
And incidentally, here in B.C. currently there is a big push on to severely limit the quantity of narcotic pills , including T3, that doctors are allowed to prescribe, due to the alarming number of the narcotics that are finding there way on to the streets. Again, I speak from personal experience as a result of my required treatment for arthritis pain remediation.
...VTX-Al
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In Canada you can buy many codeine products over the counter for headaches (think Tylenol 3) for backaches try Robaxacet 8, cough medicines. However, don't try buying Neosporin over the counter in Canada, that requires a prescription. The price is much cheaper too.
This is COMPLETELY incorrect . Here in British Columbia, Tylenol 3 and all other products containing codeine require a prescription and Neosporin is over the counter. I use both of those products, especially T3 on a regular basis for arthritis.:(
...VTX-Al
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We were on the Regal for 3 weeks, starting Jan 22. We inquired about the signup procedure at Passenger Services during week2. Were told to come back to Pass Serv by 11:30 at the beginning of week 3, because they couldn't schedule until the ships calendar flipped to the next cruise. After having to leave the ship for Custom Immigration, we were probably the 30-40th folks back on, there was no line at Pass Serv, and it was a few minutes after 11. Upon inquiring about the Tour, the dude pulled out a 3 ring binder from a drawer and said the Tour had been fully booked since last the previous Friday. Therefore, the ships clock is irrelevant, and the reservations are not made into the ships electronic scheduler. In my opinion, to get on a Tour you have to be someone special, or extremely lucky, most likely the former. I doubt that I will ever attempt this again.
You don't need to be "someone special". What you need is to head directly to Passenger Services as soon as you initially board the ship and get your name on the list, and the sooner you do that the better your chances are of making it. It is a "first come, first served" system.
...VTX-AL
cruising with an ileostomy
in First Time Cruisers
Posted
.... and , although it might sound obvious - take your supplies aboard in your carry-on !!
...VTX-Al