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omeinv

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Everything posted by omeinv

  1. While there is concern in for Mazatlan, and the airport there has been closed as a precaution, the violence thus far is in other cities in the state of Sinaloa. That being said, I would expect that Mazatlan will likely not be visited by cruise ships until/unless things resolve. However, it is not correct to say "Mazatlan being destroyed". Harris Denver, CO
  2. Well, all's well that ends well. One dumb guy has actually called Celebrity when he did this. It's me. I'm one dumb guy. Harris Denver, CO
  3. The contract has a clause specifically allowing Celebrity to cancel bookings that were made after an error in pricing. That, combined with the lack of any tangible damage means a full refund is all a person could hope to recover, and Celebrity has already granted that. Harris Denver, CO
  4. @Lovey Life As someone who is constantly checking prices on my own booked ruises, the first thing is to make sure that the website didn’t switch the dates you were looking at. Generally, there will be more than one available date for sailing, and the website will point you towards the least expensive option. More than once I have made the mistake of ending up on the wrong sailing. If that’s not the problem, try to book it through to a courtesy hold. If it does not allow you to do it, that would indicate that your room is truly not showing available, even though it might be listed on the deck plan. If it does allow you to make a courtesy hold, put the hold in, and then tomorrow either call your travel agent or Celebrity and find out what is going on. Harris Denver, CO
  5. The Australian ETA has always been $20.00 AUD. Harris Denver, CO
  6. Well then it's great! Harris Denver, CO
  7. Seems like the best proof that there was a pricing error is that, even with a 10% discount, those who booked at the error price are unwilling to consider the cruise as one they'd like to take. The fact is, that the offered 10% discount is a pretty good remuneration when the only loss is "dashed hopes" of getting a screaming deal. Otherwise, those who booked get a full refund, which is all they are out, and all they are owed. For all the complaining, and allegations that "the law" says this, that or the other thing; the first hurdle to overcome would be proof of damages, and no one suffered any - again unless they'd like to argue "disappointment" is a damage. Harris Denver, CO
  8. @flygirl2 It's pretty simple ( better than you're envisioning apparently). First, once aboard, check if it will be possible to stay in the same room for both cruises. In normal times, ships are fully booked and there's no chance. However, with ships not yet sailing at capacity, you may get lucky. If you do have to move, you can leave your things on hangers, and your stateroom attendant will move them. Your other things, you put in your suitcase/s and the attendant will move those as well, you do not debark with them. At a US port, you will have a couple options, both of which involve you physically leaving the ship. One is to go out as if LA is a port stop. You will be issued a Transit Pass, probably on the day before your arrival back in LA, and you'll take this with you. You will use that to bypass the line of new cruisers, and that gets you back on the ship. The other is to go to the assigned back-to-back meeting area. This is if you don't want to go out in LA. You will be escorted off the ship for the formality of complying with CBP requirements, and to get the ship count to zero. It can take as little time as walking off to the terminal and back, or there may be a 15-20 minute wait. As the first leg of your back-to-back comes to a close, you'll be invited to the back-to-back meeting. Attend and all will be explained. At the meeting you also have two options: first, sit there but do not pay attention, then ask questions receiving the same information that was already covered; or second do pay attention, and then be amused at the people asking questions inability to pay attention. 🙂 Harris Denver, CO
  9. I'm wondering if they're adding it to itineraries over holidays, or times when they've had perhaps a lot of demand they may deem frivolous (I'm thinking spring breaks and so forth). I imagine when there are a lot of kids aboard they might get a lot of orders that tax the capacity of the food service staff. I just updated the app and checked all these cruises: Millennium Feb 23, Solstice April 23, Edge November and December 23, and Millennium April 24. All still show only the late night charge. Harris Denver, CO
  10. Send me an email (the link is in my signature). I've got Catherine's WhatsApp number, but I don't want to post it publicly. Harris Denver, CO
  11. On premium wi-if, calling, generally works well. However, if the overall Wi-Fi signal is poor, it will not. Usually that means there will be a period of a few hours where calls will not work. I do not believe you could call at all on the basic Wi-Fi. Harris Denver, CO
  12. Was just on infinity for 40 nights, and in addition to the outlets described above, I was happy to find an additional US style outlet in the space behind the TV. I was able to plug in my multi-USB charger there, and the shelf below made a great place for all the electronics that needed a charge. This was ain a standard balcony room (6035). I have no idea if all rooms have it, but it's worth swiveling the TV to have a look. Harris Denver, CO
  13. The water will be colder than the Caribbean, and wetsuits will likely be necessary (PV for sure, Acapulco unless you're very cold tolerant). The Pacific has greater biodiversity than the Caribbean, but that's on the macro scale. Particular sites you get no guaranties. I've not dived either Acapulco or Puerto Vallarta. A lot of people I know have dived in Puerto Vallarta and like it it fine, but I've not heard anything that indicates it's amazing. I know nothing about the quality of diving in Acapulco. If you contact Oceanos Dive Center in Guadalajara (https://oceanos.com.mx/?fbclid=IwAR0O-w_cZUfYa5LnEh__igB4a4p5k5RU6sCGD23YsaQAmu29OWGJbEy3Ayo), they're frequently running trips to PV, and could give you the name of the dive operator there that's good. The only thing I can advise directly is to avoid Vallarta Adventures. They're part of a chain throughout Mexico, and I've had bad experience with them in Cabo, and have heard of many similar stories from their various other locations Harris Denver, CO
  14. Just a couple weeks ago I dove with Dive St. Maarten, which is sort of the reincarnation of what used to be Octopus Diving SXM. The day I was there the conditions weren't great with a fair amount of current, and fairly murky water. The location is good, at Bobby's Marina, which is reachable by either a vary short cab ride, a 20 minute walk, or the water taxi. If you take the water taxi make sure you tell them you want to go to Bobby's Marina, as only the small boat goes there. Their website is https://www.divesintmaarten.com/. St. Thomas I don't have a good recommendation for. There really isn't any diving worth talking about in the San Juan area. Harris Denver, CO
  15. Please, do yourself a favor and go n with Gypsea. Catherine and Abel are fantastic, and you’ll arrive as a customer and leave as a friend. Mahahual has great Diving, and lots of sites that will be really good, while staying within the bounds of a Discover dive. Harris Denver, CO
  16. Sucks for Holland America guests. 🙂 Harris Denver, CO
  17. They have to. They can only call it a balcony if it comes from the Balcony region of France. 🙂 Harris Denver, CO
  18. @eanselm if you look on the “Scuba and Snorkeling” section here on Cruise Critic (https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/24-scuba-and-snorkeling/) you will almost certainly find recommendations of several dive operators at every port you’re going to, where you can book these excursions independently. Since diving typically is scheduled in the morning, you really won’t have worries about getting back to the ship; you’ll get better dive sites; and save money. In the alternative, use the link in my signature to email me. There are very few Caribbean ports that Celebrity sails to where I don’t know someone in the dive business. Harris Denver, CO
  19. For a day in Bonaire I recommend VIP Diving. They’re not the cheapest, but they do provide true valet service; and - assuming your certified for Nitrox - they include nitrox in the price. My friend Daniel Groener is back there for the winter. Ask for him if you go there. For Curaçao, Hans Pliej at CURios2Dive can set you in. He’ll provide port pick up and return, and you’ll have a great, stress free day. Harris Denver, CO
  20. The operator for your ship sponsored excursion in Aruba will almost certainly be Red Sail (http://www.aruba-redsail.com/). If you're somewhat cold tolerant, you can probably do without a wetsuit in Aruba. The last time I was there for January, the water temperature at depth was 78 degrees (F). As early in the month as you'll be there, I'd expect the water to be a bit warmer. I was comfortable in just swim suit and rash guard. Otherwise, you could rent a wetsuit I'm sure. If it were me, I'd bring my own gear. However, you could easily just bring your computer and mask, and use rental gear for everything else, to save the packing hassle. This would be especially true if you're only diving in the one port. Harris Denver, CO
  21. Baby Shampoo cut 50% with water. Harris Denver, CO
  22. No tumbler. All soft drinks are served in the aluminum can, along with a glass with ice; unless you request the Can only. This is true in bars, poolside and in restaurants. They’ll gladly give you a sealed Can if that’s your desire. Water comes either in aluminum or glass bottles depending bn on the brand, no plastic bottles. Room service and mini-bar beverages are not included in your beverage package. Harris Denver, CO
  23. That sounds like Buddy Dive for sure. VIP doesn’t do any boat diving. I join your positive opinion of Dive Friends. We use them for tank rentals when we are there on non-cruise Bonaire trips and they’re great. Harris Denver, CO
  24. Mac, It sounds like the Pedernales Wreck. You’re exactly right calling it a “wreck/debris” site. The Pedernales was a lake tanker, that transported oil from Lake Maricaibo, Venezuela to Aruba for refining. During World War II, she was struck by a German torpedo midship. She made it to Aruba, where she was repaired by cutting away the midsection, where the damage was, and re-joining the fire and aft sections; making a shorter ship. The mid section was dumped where you dove, and between being used as a naval gunnery target, and storm damage -exacerbated by its shallow location - only the structural pieces remain. Harris Denver, CO
  25. @jbrinkm First, while Cozumel has excellent diving, it's not a super choice for a Discover Scuba. The diving that makes Cozumel famous tends to be deeper than is suitable for a Discover Scuba. That being said, you can still do a great Discover Scuba there, if none of the other ports on your cruise are more suitable for you. I'm thinking you have 4 people, since you mention two teens. I'm assuming two adults as well. This is a big advantage for you since it's the maximum group size for one instructor, on a Discover Scuba. Also, your desired time might work to your advantage, because it sound like you could schedule your dive about the time most shops are finishing their morning two-tank dives. They might look at it like an easy way to schedule something without it interfering with their primary business of the day. My first thought is Paradise Divers. They do a lot with all levels of divers, and would probably be able to work something out for you. I have no idea if they could pick you up at a beach club, but their shop is adjacent tot he Hotel Cozumel (Wyndham) which isn't far from the cruise ports. If they can't help, come back and post more. I probably have other options that would work. Harris Denver, CO
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