runnergirl1979

No reason to be rude, martincath. It would be impossible for me to keep track of Air BNB regulations in YVR as I do not live there and would have no reason to know even if I did. What I posted is correct for the moment. In fact, I booked this suite last summer and was unsure if we would even be able to stay there due to possible regulations being put on Air BNB units. I had to wait until April to find out for sure if we would even be able to stay there. Being rude to me for simply trying to help a fellow traveler find out about my experience is not cool.

^NB: unfortunately that looks like an illegal rental so will be no use to someone visiting next year. As of April this year business licenses are supposed to be placed in every AirBnB listing; pre-existing clients have a grace period until August 31st, after which AirBnB have agreed to enforce the rules by pulling all short-term rentals without a license number and refusing to allow new ones to be placed without the license number. Unfortunately for these folks, since their rental unit sounds like a separate downstairs apartment with it's own door they will not qualify to be allowed a license - you can only rent your own primary residence, or an individual room inside it, and you need to prove it's the primary residence to get the license.

 

All separate apartments (basically if there's a locked door between basement suite and upstairs, and a door to the outside) will remain illegal for short-term rentals, and with the fines set at $1000 a day it's going to be a seriously brazen move to pretend you only rent for 30 days minimum then let folks 'move out early.' The good news for visitors is this means every AirBnB from Sep 1 will be required to have fire exits including safety plans showing them posted on-site, have extinguishers & good quality smoke/fire detectors which are tested each year (and documented), get records audited and unit inspected on request by city officials, display a paper copy of their license in the unit, and generally be verified safe and fit for habitation - for us locals it means a crapton of units going back into long-term rental stock which we have a serious shortage of and no more condo unit rentals against local bylaws, as owners of condos must prove the bylaws allow short-term rentals before they'll get their licenses (and since these are publically-available, if they forge their own it's easily discovered), and no worries that your renters are subletting via AirBnB as anyone renting needs proof that their landlords have OKed it.

Definitely not 75,000 songs on Millennium. :)

Janice, the Air BNB we stayed at (https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/13157169?location=168%20E%2039th%20Ave%2C%20Vancouver%2C%20BC&s=dPz6NXGL) was perfect. Helpful hosts that were there but left us alone. Walkable distance to Queen Elizabeth Park, quick drive to Superstore for groceries. It was a bit far from downtown stuff but was great overall!

quote=waverley7;56145848]I'm going to be looking at Air BNB for next June. When do you go?

I haven't started looking yet, just booked the cruise this morning. Always nice to speak to someone about where they stayed.

Janice

Yes about White Spot! Kids loved the Pirate Pack. Recommended by local friends of mine. Not fancy. Kids are asking to go back but no White Spots in Tennessee!

They had karaoke a couple nights on our sailing a few weeks ago. No idea for an answer to your second question, but the binder with song selections seemed pretty lengthy to me!

We had a fabulous time at karaoke the last time we sailed with Celebrity and are planning another 14 day cruise in Feb/March 2019.

I have 2 questions:

1. Is karaoke still alive and well with Celebrity?

2. Who could I contact to receive a list of the karaoke songs available on the cruise? (I have a list from 2015, but I'm sure they've updated and added new material since then).

Much thanks for everyone's help...... Al

Celebrity does have this because I just received an email about it the other day (Monday?). We currently have an outside cabin on Millennium but got the email to bid on a balcony cabin or a family veranda. I bid what I would be okay with paying as it only charges the first two passengers (we are traveling with our two children). If we get it, awesome. If not, that's fine.

We are staying here at this Air BNB. https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/13157169?location=168%20E%2039th%20Ave%2C%20Vancouver%2C%20BC&s=dPz6NXGL I will report back after we stay this summer.

We reserved an Air BNB as the hotel prices were pretty outrageous! Our Air BNB is $179 Canadian dollars a night. It's 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. We are a family of 4 three nights at a Mariott Residence Inn was $380. While I realize we could have found a cheaper hotel, the Residence Inn provides a bit more room, free breakfast, and a kitchen so we felt the difference in cost between Residence Inn and a traditional hotel room was justified.