FATJACK

I got the same email! Here's a thread about it: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2365028&highlight=privileges

 

Thanks for the link. It looks like I'll pass, but now I'll have to spend the time trying to explain to my spouse that we will have better things to do than attend to including doing nothing.

My wife, granddaughter, and I will be taking a four night cruise out of Vancouver this October 18 to San Diego. I just received a notification from HA stating that by visiting with a Holland America Line Privileges Concierge we would receive a free gift. Does anyone know what this program is and what the free gift is? Any information on this would be welcome as I would like to make wise choices as to how to spend my valuable time on such a short cruise.

Good to know. If they never asked questions for whom you were carrying the 2nd bottle, I should be fine. Worst case scenario I get the bottle back the last night, right? I plan on bringing wine home from Europe anyway (2 bottles allowed by customs).

 

You can bring more than two bottles of wine back to the United States from abroad. The duty that would be due on the extra bottles is something like only $.30, yes 30 cents a bottle. It has been my experience on returning more than five times from Europe with a case or more of wine is that because the duty due is so little, customs have always just waved me through. Just make sure that you do declare all items. I now realize the above poster is from Canada, so check other persons from Canada experience.

Do any of you bring on a plane your 2 bottles of wine in your checked luggage? We will be flying out of DC to Rome, HAL transportation to the ship, not sure if we will have time to purchase at the airport in Rome. :eek:

 

I have brought back many bottles of wine from Europe in my checked luggage with no problem, but I have never brought any wine to Europe. As a back up, there should be plenty of time to pick up a couple bottles of very good Italian wine from the many stores in Civitavecchia.

A quick word of warning on shipping wine independently of your checked luggage. Some states prohibit having alcoholic beverages shipped into their borders. Most shipping companies know the rules.

No limit as long as you pay duty. Just make sure to factor in the transportation costs of getting them home.

 

My wife and I have brought more than a case back several times without every paying a duty. I do make sure to declare everything and have always been waved through customs in a very dismissive manner as if they couldn't be bothered. But if Customs was to crack down, I still would be willing to pay the $3.60 duty for a case of wine.

 

I do limit my wine to higher quality purchases. I have just one bottle of 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva left from my last trip.

I have brought a case of wine back from Europe several times through different airports and once on a Holland America TA. Although I always declare the wine at customs, not once have I been required to pay any duty on the excess bottles of wine. I think the duty on a bottle of wine is just 30 cents or so and it is not worth the time for custom officials to fill out the forms for such a small amount of money. As far as Holland America goes, at check in to avoid the corkage fee, have Holland America hold and store the wine for you and it will be returned to you the last night of your cruise.

 

I have always packed the bottles in my checked baggage and have never had a bottle damaged in my many trips with wine. We always travel business/first class (award tickets) where there is a ample baggage allowance.

I was able to book the cabin of my choice for the four night October 18 cruise from Vancouver to San Diego by calling HA directly.

What price do consider reasonable?

One can also request that Holland America store your wine at no cost for return on the last night. I brought back two cases high quality wine on my last Trans Atlantic cruise from Italy and had Holland America store it. I have just one bottle of a Riserva 2001 Brunello left.

We took a TA cruise from Venice in 2011. We were late in departing and because we had a comp dinner we missed part of a very special departure port. If I had to do it again, we would have skipped or try to reschedule the comp dinner.

For those who don't travel light(I usually have a couple cases of wine), there are taxis available for all locations at the dock.

In a couple of South American countries, the U.S. Dollar is the official currency.

Porters, Doormen and Bellmen. As a former bellman working my way through college after the army, I now find myself allergic to luggage. Been to Europe a dozen times and still travel heavy.

I was having the same problem and my computer person had me restore my computer to an earlier date and after doing it, speed improved greatly.

What is wrong with having a choice. You have different choices on airlines, hotels, cruise lines, restaurants, where you live and many other choices in life. It would be a shame if we had to settle on the lowest common denominator and had no choice on the person who decided what it was.

Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar for it's official currency since the year 2000. Their coins are very similar to U.S. coins except they have different local heads of state instead of U.S. presidents.

Thanks all for the advise. Unfortunately the entire ship has been chartered for the cruise I was interested in (Pacific Costal on 9/25/16). Back to the drawing board.

My wife and I are considering booking the Penthouse on the Zaandam for a seven day cruise with our daughter and eight year old granddaughter sleeping on the foldout sofa. Interested in any comments as in that they would be getting the added benefits of the suite, the Penthouse does have an additional powder room, and (I'm not sure of our Mariner status) if our/any Mariner status might give us a reduced or free 3rd or 4th person in the room.

In the United States, the travel agent has to enroll and pay a fee to American Express to offer the American Express Platinum Advantages.

You should have no problem using either card except the chip less card at locations not manned, such as ticket machine at a rail station or gas stations, where there is not an attendant. I always take at least one back up credit card and ATM card. Except for the AMEX card (presently not required), it would be wise to let your card companies (both credit and ATM) when and where you will be traveling abroad.

For those independent travelers the Brig ticket includes includes unlimited travel on Rome buses, metro (subway), and trams (streetcars). For an additional cost, there are several "Fast Trains" direct from/return to Rome that does include either a first or second class seat, these tickets because of the guaranteed seat do not need your ticket to be validated and the Brig ticket can't be used on these trains, but for an additional cost you can purchase an unlimited pass in Rome good for the same public transportation available with the Brig ticket. These "fast trains" can be reserved in advance and are very good for passengers arriving or departing a cruise with luggage.

The best information I have found on transportation between Citavecchia and Rome is located on the top right corner of the Rome Forum of the TripAdvisor.com web page.

Just make se you notify your ATM/credit card bank as to when you are traveling and to what countries.

 

I have traveled to Europe, Central and South America, Mexico and Canada and have never had trouble using my non-chip ATM or credit card. When using my ATM card, I do try to use it at a bank with a lobby and not one outside.

In the many times I have brought wines back from Europe, I have never lost a bottle and all of them arrived home in much better shape than I. I usually buy quality Italian wines such as a brunello where you can save as much as 50% or more off even the COSTCO prices. Never have I paid a duty/custom fee because the duty on a bottle of wine is only thirty cents and cost for the custom officers to fill the required forms exceed the duty collected. I still declare everything to prevent being dinged.

Ahhh. So we could pay an extra $4000-$5000 for business class and not pay shipping for a case of wine. Sounds like a good idea :). And one does wonder how well some airlines would handle that case...but I guess one could always stick around the airport (after the flight) for a few hours to file a damage claim.

 

Hank

 

I have yet to pay $4000-$5000 for a Business Class Ticket on our last six trips to Europe since 1998. We have been able to fly free or upgrade using Frequent Flyer Mileage acquired using either American Express Platinum Business or Delta American Express. We send the wine, usually a case or more, in our checked baggage.