stag

13 hours ago, BND said:

... The amount of time it takes to stop and turn around as well as most people aren't seen when they go over so no way to mark where they fell.  ...

Large ships cannot "stop and turn around" like a car. The captain usually performs a somewhat like figure-8 maneuver with cruising speed.

20 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Pro tip - don't pay your cruise off until required.

Excellent tip! 

Decades ago we booked a cruise directly with another cruise line. At that time, deposits were always refundable. In order not to forget the final payment, we paid in full 2 weeks before the deadline. A day later, something came up that we would cancel the cruise. We called the cruise line to find out if we could cancel the cruise even though we were prepared to lose the deposit. The answer was no, we only could get 50% back. Lesson learned. Nowadays, many travel agents requested the final payment a few weeks before the deadline. I assume that once the final payment is made, the cancellation schedule would be applied.

9 hours ago, wrongwaywatson said:

We are flying to Chicago and really 11:18pm were our only options.

Please note, large ships must observe the tide when going into Canada Place. And, you must clear the US Customs at the Vancouver Airport.

I told EZAir give me back the total fare so that I can book a flight by myself. They'd only return the total fare in FCC with such condition, as the final payment was completed.

6 minutes ago, ldubs said:

Did the cash refund offer accurately reflect the difference in flight costs?  If yes, then it seems thy are offering you a bonus in FCC's that have strings attached.  If that is the case and I didn't like the FCC conditions, I would opt for the cash refund and consider myself made whole.      

 

I personally would have a problem if Princess offered a cash refund that is less than the difference in the two flights.  

FCC is not the bonus. FCC+cash  should be the fare difference.

There should be a refund from EZAir due to class difference. The total amount was split into small cash and large FCC that was offered by Princess.

In 2021, we moved a Crown Princess booking to March 2023 due to the threat of Covid. We also booked with EZAir a direct Business Class flight from Calgary to LAX, and with the airport transfer to ship. In mid 2022, our TA notified us that Air Canada cancelled Calgary direct flight. We were routed through LAS, no problem as things happened. 3 weeks ago, we made the final payment. The next day, Princess notified our travel agent that Air Canada cancelled the LAS flight. Now there is no flights that Air Canada could take us to LAX within reasonable timeframe. The only alternative is to book a direct flight with West Jet. Since West Jet do not offer Business Class. There is a refund on the airfare. I don’t know when did Air Canada cancel the LAS flight. But we were notified 1 day after the final payment that is somewhat questionable.

Princess offered a smaller amount in cash refund and a larger amount in Future Cruise Credit for the fare difference. Here is the catch on FCC; we must book a cruise by the end of this month, e.g. in 2 weeks, and the booked cruise must sail by March 2023. How can we apply this FCC as we are still sailing on Crown Princess in March 2023. Our TA escalated this issue but could not get resolution.

We have been Elite passengers at least 25 years ago. We still have a long way to be the top 3 passengers at the show. Yet, we have been invited to the top 40 passengers party. There is no way to treat loyal passengers with this behind the glass FCC.

We usually took a taxi that went in from Gate 8. When I checked with Google map for Gate 10, someone posted a message "Did not let me in". I am not sure if he is a legitimate passenger or not. Here is the link of the message:

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Dock+Gate+10/@50.9041392,-1.4272745,15z/data=!4m15!1m7!3m6!1s0x48738957be152909:0xa78c5a6a4cda71f0!2sSouthampton,+UK!3b1!8m2!3d50.9105468!4d-1.4049018!3m6!1s0x0:0x76f2acb5a0aa72a0!8m2!3d50.9043003!4d-1.4172851!9m1!1b1?hl=en

I believe they start at 5. We've never gone there for many years as we always eat early dinner.

On or before the turn over day, you and your in-laws should receive the second voyage cruise cards. If you decide to treat Barcelona as a regular port day, you can use the first cruise card to exit the ship but cannot return the ship before a certain time, i.e. 11:30 (plus or minus). After that, you board the ship using the new card, bypassing the registration line. You will go to the same cabin. Your in-laws will go to a different cabin. No time is lost.

You could end up an Obstructed Balcony room like this (Anthem):

When you arrive YVR, you will meet the Canada Border Services Agents. Walking from the gate to the counter could be long depending on where your plane docks. You'll show him/her you passport as well as the ArriveCan info, answer a few questions, then you'll go to pick up the luggage and out. The agent could also randomly send you to have Covid test. Last month, we were picked to have PCR test. Since your time is tight, you don't fool around with other transportation. You should take a taxi to pier that will take 45 minutes. If there are multiple ships leaving Vancouver, you have to find the right counter to get your boarding documents cruise cards, etc. This is not Ft. Lauderdale, you won't see your ship for a while. Then, all passengers of all ships must converge to see U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents as now you are leaving Canada entering the United States. I think I had to drop my luggage into the X-ray scanner. Perhaps someone could correct me. A few years ago, we stuck in the US Border Protection area for 1 hour. Good luck.

I have not been to Coral for over 15 years. From my memory, the retractable covered pools are fresh water and heated.

What goes up must come down. If you miss the view on your way up, you'll see the view on your way down.

While doing armchair cruising, I noticed there are balcony pulpits E125 and E130 on Royal and Regal, only on Emerald Deck. I am wondering what they are for.

On 4/8/2022 at 7:13 AM, BekkaW said:

First a disclaimer, I am not on this cruise 

 

Last year we had antigen tests for RCI cruises in Europe, antigen tests are also accepted by RCI in the US and currently accepted for entry by most governments (US, Australia as examples)

 

So I don’t see why it wouldn’t be acceptable for this cruise 

It worked last year may not work today. Windows change often. one year ago there was a window of 72 hours. Several months ago, the window was shortened to within 2 days. Now, SPAIN Health said, no more than 1 day.

I know what you mean😇. Depending on where are you going, you often can get free connection at the pier. Or buy a beer at the local bar, a big Mac, etc. and surf.

Crystal is a very nice company. I feel very sorry for the crew.

18 hours ago, DEBCAT65 said:

Also, how many passengers does it take to make a profit?  We are on Navigator this weekend, capacity is 4000, just over 900.  Our daughter sailed a few weeks ago and only 540 on board.  It has been a great cruise, but not sure how they can continue at this capacity.  

Profit is nice but cash flow is more important. Take a look at Genting Hong Kong, the parent company of World Cruises and Crystal Cruises. They have assets but lack of cash to pay the bill. Each fill up of fuel may be couple million dollars. Navigator cannot make profit from 900 passengers for sure, but the cruise fare can pay the fuel bill for the time being.

While checking different RCL ships, I found there are ships not in revenue situation since last year. For example Voyager of the Seas is currently at Brest of France with the first revenue voyage on April 15. These ships are worth at least 500 Million each. Obviously RCL thinks it is more economical sitting idle than generating cash flow. 

Any thoughts?

Has anyone tried B2B this year from Florida on different ships. If so, how do you get the PCR test on the second leg?

Even if you take the PCR test on the day before you board the ship, it will take at least 2 days non-stop from Fort Lauderdale to Aruba and Curacao. You'll miss the 72 hours threshold.

Cruise ships have been going to Cayman for more than 50 years almost daily. I am wondering why there is no pier.

Looks delicious

We cancelled all 2020 cruises and requested 100% deposit back. Now Celebrity is working on our 2021 cruises. They started cancel the spring cruises, either refund 100% of the deposit of give 125% future credits. If we take the 125% credit and one of us or both die before the cruise, do the deceased lose the credit or the credit money is passed to the estate?