Kitty Ellas Mom

I mean if it shifts enough that it wasn't going to Bermuda but was hitting the Canadian ports instead. I follow the NOAA site all hurricane season but this is the first time I'll be on a cruise in this area so maybe I didn't know the right way to ask. The question is, where else might we be routed to if they can't cruise up the coast of New England and Canada? I  realize cancelation is also possible.

Just wanting to plan ahead a little re packing. I'm on the Sept 19 sailing of Caribbean Princess 10 day departure from Brooklyn.  Is Bermuda the most likely place we'd be rescheduled to if they have to redirect us? I really don't know but I've heard about Bermuda cruises becoming Canadian ones. Thanks for any info. Just wondering if I should pack more beach stuff. I'm also wondering if we'd be unable to embark from Brooklyn but I know that is very TBD. 

27 minutes ago, Rubyfisch said:

I flew on Air Canada out of Montreal to the US last week. I saw nothing that looked like an automatic sizer, nor did I see anyone get questioned about their carry luggage. And we were on a full flight on a small plane.

 

Also, you should consider downloading the Mobile Passport app - it can really speed up things at preclearance in Montreal if it's crowded.

Thank you for mentioning the app, I forgot to ask!  I had read about that.  I definitely want to do that.

To answer some other Q, I will have one checked bag and one carry on.  The reason I'm so worried about my carry on is that I want to fill it with all my souvenirs and favorite stuff, so that if my checked bag goes missing I won't lose that stuff.  I could check the carry on, but I'd much rather have it with me.  

Thank you, I had not thought about that part of the forum.

42 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

I believe they are flying  YQB to IAD  via  YUL 

so they will need to pre clear US  Immigration/customs in YUL

Yes this is accurate.  I thought about taking the train to Montreal instead and not having the connection, but decided that mixing different kinds of travel in one day was too much for me.  I'm traveling solo and to places I haven't been before, and I tire easily on travel days.

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

They have automated sizers  now  so maybe that is what they are concerned with

 

Automated carry-on baggage sizers

To ensure that your carry-on baggage will fit onboard, we have introduced automated carry-on baggage sizers pre-security in the Montreal (YUL), Toronto (YYZ), and Vancouver (YVR) airports. These new, touchless machines are easier and faster to use than the metal sizers. Please make sure that your carry-on bag complies with the sizing outlined above to avoid having to check your carry-on bag at the airport. Note that any non-compliant baggage will be assessed and is subject to applicable baggage fees.

 

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/baggage/carry-on.html#/

Yes, this is what I'm worried about.  I started reading articles, and threads on Reddit, about this as soon as I found out about it.  I don't want to spread misinformation, b/c I wasn't there, but people were saying they sometimes turn those on and check every single bag on a flight as people are, I suppose, getting on?  I will admit I have a hard time understanding the process, as I haven't seen these automated sizers in action.  This was the first I ever heard of automated sizers (they called them digital in some places).  I had a carry on I used for international flights for 10 yrs but its handle broke in Feb so now everything I own is that 22" height that is .5 too tall for Air C.

I did order a different carry on bag last night which I'm pretty sure is the right size b/c in the ads they made a huge deal about the dimensions, they weren't just an afterthought.  This is a relatively cheap bag to get me through this trip, although I do like the look of it a lot.  I really love an international carry on on the Travelpro website, and we just bought some other luggage from them for one of our kids that we like, but the one I love is currently sold out.  I really hope they get that back in stock b/c I'd buy it in a heartbeat. The one I purchased that is 1" too big is a hard shell and I am beginning to think I may have gone wrong by choosing that anyway, although I like the idea of a hard shell for checked baggage.  I may keep the checked bag I purchased.

Thanks, that puts my mind at ease.  I am hoping for a nice, fun first day instead of a lot of hassle.  That is why I booked through Princess.  I am well enough traveled that I could probably find my way to the 2 attractions on my own, but I decided to be shepherded the first time.

Based on what I'm reading about tenders I think I should allow more than an hour, unless they have my excursion group meet together. I read some bad reviews of my excursion where the tendering was a mess. But, that seemed to be an isolated incident. Most reviews didn't mention the tenders at all.

16 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

The CB is too big to port.  All tenders take you into the middle of the town.  Lots and lots of youtube videos on this.  Is your excursion one by the ship or on your own?  If on your own, do you have Elite Status?  

 

We skipped Newport on my voyage because the Captain deemed it too dangerous to tender.  I did tender in Bar Harbor.  I am elite and it still took me a little less than an hour from checking in to getting off the tender with a 20 minute ride.  We had priority boarding.  Took our group before all the others.  Someone had told me they had waited in the dining room for a little over 90 minutes. I gave myself plenty of time to get to my independent tour.  Left the cabin at 9 AM for an 11 AM tour.

 

If you are on a ship's excursion, they will gather you in a location and you will have priority boarding on either one of the outgoing tenders or one just for your group.

I'm on a Princess excursion. It's my first cruise  so I have the least status. 

And I did have a tape measure. 

I had to go online because I went to 6 stores and found nothing small enough. I don't have time to keep going to stores. That's why I'm asking for specific recommendations. 

I'm nervous about my flights home.  I am taking the Amtrak to start my cruise in Brooklyn, so won't need to deal with the airlines until the end, but I don't want a bad end to my cruise. 

I am 1) worried about luggage size, with Montreal's automated sizers, as I've done tons of research only to purchase a bag that just got delivered that is 1" too deep (10" deep instead of 9), b/c amazon's dimensions were wrong.  So I'd love advice about where I can get an international sized carry on that meets Air Canada's standards of 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches, and will also meet the standards that most of my USA domestic flights have, which is 22 x 14 x 9. 

I am unaware of if Quebec's airport would give me any leeway.

2) So I'm worried about Montreal b/c I heard I have to go through customs there, to include picking up my checked bag and having it rechecked.  I've never in my life experienced this during a layover.  I deliberately got the longest layover I could get, which is 2 hrs.  I will get there around noon Montreal time.  Will my carry on bag have to go through the automated sizers?  If it matters, I am traveling business class (but I probably won't always, so I want a bag that can go internationally to many places, and everything else I own is that 22" height).

Thanks for any information. Tis is also my first time traveling Air Canada. The first flight is AC Rogue and the 2nd is a codeshare with United.  I recently traveled United and am aware of their very small size for a personal item.  I will likely travel with them a lot in the coming years so I. bought a United sized personal item bag.

40 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Recently off the CB.  On sea days, LOTS of people milling around with no place to go.  But you would find that on any ship.  Just where do you expect 3000 to 5000 passengers to go?

 

Air Conditioning in the MDR was downright cold.  Needed a sweater/wrap every meal.  There were hit and miss cabins that had AC issues.  

 

Only one elevator that needed a repair.  That's better than most ships.

 

Food can vary by passengers.  I thought it was good for me.  Rarely visited the Buffet.  Love the Crown Grill.  The new menu in Sabatini's is better than the old.  

 

Tendering is a huge problem.  But is the same for every ship.  

 

Bottom Line:  I did not see any major issues on the CB.  With packed ships across the fleet, you are going to run into issues with any Princess ship you choose to cruise on.

Re: tendering, I was wondering about that.  We only have one tender port, but it is my first ever port, and I have a 10 am excursion.  This is Newport, RI.  I am thinking to be out there waiting to tender an hour or more before the excursion time.  Is an hour enough?  I am able bodied and can handle whatever the tender situation is.

Well I thought this was all settled and then received my luggage today.  The international sized carry on was 10" deep, not 9" as amazon advertised.  I am so, so angry.   It says 10" on the tag on the bag. Now I have to do an amazon return as well as everything else I have to do to get ready.  How in the world could they make a carry on luggage that deep when most airlines only allow 9"?  It's hard sided so I don't dare try to fit it in.  This was Delsey Helium Aero, with glowing reviews all over the net.  I guess I'll probably get that smaller London Fog, but it was enough smaller all around I'd lose a lot of packing space.

1 hour ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Hmmm...interesting.  How are you trying to access?

 

1) Desktop/laptop/tablet/phone

2) If phone, what type (iPhone or Android?)

3) What browser are you using?

4) Can you properly log in using the app? (username/password or booking number?)

5) Have you cleared history & cookies?

6) If using the app, have you uninstalled/reinstalled?

 

These types of details can make a big difference in getting this resolved.

I typically use my Macbookpro and use Chrome.  This works for almost everything else.  I have to use my name and booking number to get into the app on my Galaxy phone.  But I know I need to uninstall and reinstall it, I just haven't taken the time yet.  It still thinks I'm going on my canceled cruise from 2022, in some places, even though I was able to check in with few issues for the current cruise.  It is confused b/c I was very close to going last time, all checked in, and had to cancel for an emergency.  But on my computer it just.....doesn't work right.  Maybe half the time.

I forgot to mention that people complained about having to line up for just about everything. But I expected that anyway.  

I'm on a Canada / New England 10 day on Caribbean Princess in 1.5 weeks.  Obviously I did a lot of research before finalizing my booking, but someone on my roll call just posted that they read the recent reviews and they weren't favorable, so I unwisely read them.  Now I'm worried about things like AC being broken and propulsion issues (but I know in Canada it might be more of an issue if heating didn't work).  I've been on CC long enough to know that a lot of ship reviews are negative, so I take it with a grain of salt, but I'd like to know what people who've cruised recently on the CP think.  This is my 1st cruise so I don't have another ship to compare it to.  What positives and negatives should I expect, now?  I am mostly just looking fwd to a break from my responsibilities at home (I'm traveling solo) so it would be hard for the ship to seriously displease me, although inadequate climate control would be a problem.  

I've had this password issue for as long as I can remember with Princess. It's become so bad that I know that the 1st time I try it almost always won't let me in.  Maybe 50% of the time it lets me in on the 2nd try.  If it repeatedly doesn't work I give up and try again later.

Update:  Thanks to everyone for all the responses.  I ended up getting a 19" Delsey hardsided carry on and the matching medium sized checked bag.  I'm not sure how I'll like hardsided luggage but wanted to give it a try.  With a large # of kids leaving for college soon if I don't like it someone will take it.  I also fell in love with a soft sided set from Travelpro but that one is currently sold out.  If I don't love having a hard sided luggage I may give it to one of my kids and get a soft one again.

Thanks all.  I did find today that nothing at the mall worked b/c every carry on was at least 22", and I needed something 21.5" or less.  I did find a Delsey hardshell one on amazon that I like but I'm going to sleep on it.  I do see the advantage of having a soft sided one too, but that is what I've always had and I wanted something that would better protect things.  

I'm about to purchase new luggage b/c ours is more than 12 yrs old and doesn't glide like today's suitcases do (and some of it broke on my last flight).  I'm looking for hard shelled and medium price range.  My question is, what works best for a cruise, as I know you need to store it in your cabin.  I'm thinking of having one airplane carry on size suitcase and one of the smaller type airplane checked bags.  It's a total 14 day trip and I plan to do laundry at the half way point;  have not decided if that will be me doing it with the machines or paying for Princess to do it.  (Cruise is Caribbean Princess 10 day Canada / New England.)

I'm taking the Amtrak train to get to NYC for the departure so I have to follow their size rules and then going home on Air Canada and United.  I know the dimensions for all of those.  But, I am buying luggage for the long term so any advice is welcome.  I've tried to make a list of all the airlines I have flown or think I"ll fly but it got tedious.  I really wish there were one standard size. 

Also has anyone had trouble with Amtrak not allowing the larger size suitcases, as they don't have any checked baggage service on my train, only carry on.  I read a lot on the net that they just allow anything, not worrying about sizes, but I don't want to get caught with too big a suitcase at the station.  

3 hours ago, declansdad said:

It will be muddy, the rocks and trails will be slippery. Wear something with good support, a good tread and is easy to clean.

So, don't bring water shoes?  That is what I was thinking when someone else suggested what you wear to the beach.  But I can see how this could be more slippery due to rocks. 

I'm thinking of a very old (but serviceable) pair of sneakers that I'd just throw away before getting back on the bus (having extra shoes with me).  I don't know if that's overkill or not though.  I don't know how muddy they will be getting.  Maybe I could just wash them off and then throw them away when back onboard the ship.

I'm going to Hopewell Rocks when the tide is out and we can walk on the ocean floor.  What kind of shoes should I bring?  Something completely disposable like very old sneakers, or something else?  Any other tips about walking around?  I am solo so won't have a travel companion to lean on, literally.  

Very basic question:  it's my first cruise, on Caribbean Princess.  I always carry a bottled water with me (or some kind of water container).  I have the Plus package, I think (perk from my travel agent, I can't remember the specifics).  Will I be able to tell my steward to stock me up with bottled water?  Or is bottled water no longer on Princess ships?  I remember hearing something about a cruise line not having it but can't remember which one. Thanks for any advice.  I am all for refillable bottles but am loathe to use anything like a water fountain b/c of germs.

On 7/22/2023 at 7:51 PM, Haljo1935 said:

I may have missed it in here and the map on their website is blurry so not much help - can anyone tell me how far the station for the Maine Narrow Guage Train is from the cruise port?

I haven't been there, but when I checked google maps it gave me a 1 minute walk from the cruise terminal to the narrow guage train.  Can someone tell us if that's accurate?  If it is I'm going to change my plan to include the train, as it's so close.....