iluvcruzin

On 1/3/2024 at 11:22 AM, pinklucky61 said:

I usually stay in Biloxi pre-cruise and arrive at Fulton around 9am.  Considering staying in NOLA next cruise due too Monday embarkation. (traffic will be heavy)  Does Fulton allow check-in day before cruise? Hyatt right next door, their parking cost is $35.

I stop and see my sister in Gulfport on the way and do a couple pre-cruise days in NOLA.  In the past I have purchased the duration of the hotel stay and the cruise .  I drop off my luggage at the hotel and park the car in the garage.  Next time I see it is after disembarkment and being shuttled from the port.

Has anyone had issues with booking on valuetrips?  I have been trying since the end of December.  I didn't get a response for a week so I emailed them through the site.  That didn't produce a response either.   I emailed them directly and they responded a few days later saying they never got my information.  That they had availability.  I tried again.  Filled in the request.  No response.  I emailed them with a screen shot.  No response.  Yesterday I tried one more time with an email.  If I don't hear anything I guess it's a no go.

It was never like this any other time I booked with them.  I need to get something locked down as I need it for early March. 

Just wondering if others have the same difficulty.

Specifically looking for an update on the Constellation.  I understand it works on other ships.  Not interested in converting to chips or buying promotional credits.

Anyone have an update on cashing out on the Constellation?  I have $900 OBC and everything else is pre-paid.  I've been to the ports a ton of times.  I'm ok splitting it up over days but what's the strategy?

I've been on other ships/cruiselines  where I just add OBC to my casino account and cash out at the slot machine.  I'm ok if I have to do a few spins to show activity.

I found it on my everyday card and it is good until 8/31.

10 hours ago, tannes said:

We are cruising in Sept. on Adventure on a New England cruise and we board prior to the 72 hours before our arrival in Canada.  I am not sure how this will be handled?  Obviously unless one has internet connection this would have to be submitted somehow on the ship.

 

I was on a Disney cruise back in May that started in Honolulu and ended in Vancouver.  We filled out the ArriveCan 72 hrs prior to embarking the ship (not arriving in Canada).  They checked to ensure we filled it out as we were boarding the ship (like what someone else noted above - the QR code was checked for the flight). 

1 hour ago, flamingos said:

And that's why they won't do it again.  🙂

They got rid of the old system because people were doing 3 day cruises to move up the ranks faster than the 14 day cruises.

I don't know when the last one was offered but I have a cruise next month which the double points apply.  But I don't care honestly.. Like the perks aren't like WOW to begin with.

8 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

There is lobster tail night in MDR usually the last formal night of a 7 night cruise.

Taking a tail back to your cabin may work if fridge gets cold enough to store it overnight.  Then take to WJ or MDR and ask for them to heat up on grill with their eggs benedict.

I highly doubt their Health guidelines would allow to take food back to the kitchen the next day, reheat it and serve.

2 hours ago, gnome12 said:

The host of this forum isn’t necessarily the host of the roll call. reporting a post doesn’t mean there is necessarily anything wrong with it, it is letting a host know something. 

It shouldn't make a difference which one.  I have know some of them since the days of AOL Keyword cruise so this isn't a new concept for me.   It's just not as easy as it used to be to reach out.

I am looking for a Host to respond.  Not looking for help from a poster.  Thanks anyway

40 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

Go to the first post in the roll call. At the top right are 3 dots. Click on that, and select Report Post. Even if you aren't the OP, it should be possible to get it fixed.

There is nothing wrong with the first post which is why I didn't want to report that.  I thought a Host could just go in and fix it by reading this post I added.   I was requesting assistance from a Host and didn't know another way to contact one directly.

Is it possible for one of the hosts to change the name of a rollcall?  Under Celebrity Constellation one was started with just a Date as a title.  Dec 2 2022.  Is this something only the person who started the roll call can change?  Or can a host add the ship name to it to make it easier to find?

On 10/24/2021 at 2:06 PM, Ashland said:

Price out the new Marriott Airport at Dania Beach. Pretty good reviews for this new hotel.

Comp shuttle to their hotel. $15 to the port.

 

Also Hyatt Place on 10th Street one of our go to pre-cruise hotels.

 

ValueTrips schedule opens soon for 2023 they usually have good pricing on the Hyatt or price out directly with Hyatt's membership.

FLL transportation to their hotel for $2.00 per room reservation.

The Valuetrips site shows 2021 rates.  Are they still in business?  I don't see 2022 rates listed.

2 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

Nobody really knows until cruises resume.  Yes, unfortunately, smoking is allowed in the casino.  Do not be fooled by the “designated areas”, because people walk around the casino with lit cigarettes and they are not stopped.  The casino stinks of smoke and even on the no smoking nights, the casino smells of stale smoke.  Celebrity banned all smoking indoors many years ago and HAL is slowly phasing it out of their casinos, too.  I sincerely wish that Princess would just pull the plug and ban all indoor smoking.  The new covid safety protocols may just be the catalyst to do so.  One can only hope.

Or at least have a small humidor room fore or aft on a lower level away from the major public areas.  That would be nice for the masses. 

22 hours ago, ChuckRambo said:

It is sometimes strange encountering those with whom you do not agree. 

 

I am not interested in taking an experimental vaccine. If that prevents me from taking part in future cruises then so be it. 

 

I would also not enjoy a cruise where I was forced to wear a mask. Or “social distance.” Or do anything other than what I have always done onboard prior to this idiocy. 

I get what you are saying.  I'm sure you are ok with waiting it out a few years until you cruise again.  You are not alone with that thinking.    But it will be at least a couple more years before we are out of this pandemic.

I took the offer of double deposit back in early June for a September cruise cancellation.  They finally applied the FC. 5 months later.  I have a 10 day that will get canceled. Not sure what I will do this time.

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

That is the most ridiculous thing that I have heard. My wife and I are 8yrs apart in age. I'll be 60 in December. We also sail with our children who are 25 and 28. Some day we may have grandchildren we would like to include. 

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 39. I guess juvenile type 1 diabetics should just pack it in. My 88 yr old father has better blood work results than I do.

Read the guidelines.  In no way is it saying they are separating family members.  This is about protecting people in high risk groups.  And it's a "guideline".  Not mandated.   Hello... there is a pandemic going on. 

Sounds like you are just whining here as if this is something permanent effecting you and your future cruise plans.  That I find ridiculous.
 

I've had a few cancellations this year, and did a L&S for a November sailing I had because I was tired of the cancellations.  I'm just waiting to see when cruising starts back up.  I plan on booking something this fall but only after they start sailing again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

30 minutes ago, Snit13 said:

How about those of us who are 80+ and ready to sail the oceans blue, still.

I would say that without a vaccine, you are in a high risk group.  And it would be wonderful for you to be back sailing the ocean blue but not without restrictions to ensure your safety.  This Covid thing is BAD.

Here is the article I saw on the subject a few days back.  https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/EU-issues-guidance-for-cruising-return?fbclid=IwAR1g907n5wFwQ9B7NfNZ67A6QjgYu7qCzrXu-Dn7zSlWdb5QlyCE3av1imk.

Here are the guidelines - https://www.healthygateways.eu/Portals/0/plcdocs/EU_HEALTHY_GATEWAYS_COVID-19_RESTARTING_CRUISES.pdf?ver=2020-07-01-115942-557

This only applies if you cruising in the waters of the European Union.  If not.. then it doesn't apply.

The age factor comes into play based on inclusion of the high-risk group. 

As long as the pandemic continues, special precautions may be applied to passengers and crew belonging to high risk groups. Passengers in high risk groups including people over 65 years of age or people of any age with underlying medical conditions (chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases and immunocompromised individuals) should be advised to visit a doctor for pre-travel medical consultation to assess if they are fit to travel. Activities and services on board cruise ships could be organized according to age group, so that older individuals are separated from other age groups. 

They will be providing information to passengers that are over 65 to consult with their Doctor before traveling - recommendation for passengers over 65 years of age to consult with their medical care provider to obtain advice on their ability to travel;

There is verbiage about limiting interactions among passengers. - 

In order to limit interaction among passengers, among crew, and between crew and passengers, it may be possible to divide passengers and crew into cohorts with appropriate numbers of people. Each group could be given scheduled times for food service, embarking and disembarking and participating in some on board activities. If it is not possible to maintain separate cohorts/groups on board, cohorts/groups should be maintained for shore based activities. Interaction between each cohort should be avoided as much as possible.


There is nothing that says they will split families up like if a husband is 65 and his wife is 64.    But what they are trying to do is make it safe for those that are in a high risk group.   These are guidelines.  They use the word "could".     

 

You don't have to worry anymore. CLIA extended the band on cruising into September.  https://cruising.org/news-and-research/press-room/2020/june/clia-announces-voluntary-suspension-of-cruise-operations-from-us-ports

Disney updated their website.  I hope you get 100% back.

I think it's a manner of timing and select sailings.  Because the email I received back then noted the ships and sail dates. It didn't include any sailings past May.    

You might find information out on other Disney boards if others received emails.  I think you need to receive that in order to avoid penalty.

Not all cruiselines are being flexible.   For example if you have a non-refundable deposit on Royal Caribbean,  you lose that should you cancel.  The only option to get it refunded is if the sailing gets cancelled.  They offer people to do a Lift and Shift where you could move your booking to the same time frame (within 4 weeks)next year on a comparable sailing.    I have a TA booked for November 1st and a lot of people took offer to move to next year because they didn't want to lose their deposit. 

Not sure about Princess.  They cancelled one of mine in September because Canada extended the ban through October.  They just offered double deposit towards a future cruise.   But I've read stories of people still waiting after 90 days to get refunded from their cancelled cruise.  Yikes.

Disney refunded the port charges for our cruise the day after they announced it was cancelled.  We decided to take the 125% offer as we could get a 100% refund if we don't use it in 2 years.

14 minutes ago, Blindbat78 said:

I asked for credit in full for future. Disney offered a future cruise but with 20% fee charged. Most cruise lines have relaxed cancellation fees. 

What the heck?  Did you ever get an email from them about temporary adjustments to the cancellation policy?  I wonder if they stopped doing that?  Or maybe it wasn't for all sailings?

In mid-March, before they decided to cancel our cruise, they sent us an email with select ships and sail dates listed (Ours was in it).  In the email, they noted they were doing a temporary adjustment to the cancellation policy and that it would be a 100% credit.  It didn't say anything about a fee.  The time to use the credit was within 15 months.    This email came about 6 weeks before sail date.   Some people on our sailing took the offer but didn't say they paid a fee.  

 

2 hours ago, Blindbat78 said:

Riding it out was the original information that DVC gave me in March. If I hang in and wait for them to cancel, and by some chance they do sail, I will forfeit all the money and points. Disney should be relaxing their cancelation policies like most other cruise lines. Shame on them!!

 You wouldn't lose it all if they sail if you are willing to take a future cruise credit.   You should have up until the day before embarkment to decide.     If you are willing to cruise in the future, you might be able to go that route and apply the 100%.  It's like riding it out and taking the 125% future credit.  I imagine they are still offering that option.

This is sort of like the airlines.  You can't get a refund unless they change the flight or cancel it.  They want you to take a credit towards future travel.

On 6/9/2020 at 7:46 PM, Jo and Rob said:

What is your favourite cocktail included in the drinks package?  Does it include sparkling wine?

Lemon Martini

Disney is real slow on making decisions to cancel cruises.  I had one booked for May - Hawaii Transpacific.  It was only a couple weeks out before they finally pulled the plug. Prior to that, we just had to wait it out for weeks even though Canada closed its boarders to ships.  Disney wouldn't update their website but once every few weeks.  It was quite annoying waiting for the decision.

Right now they did an update June 8th.  Odds are will be another 3-4 weeks before they extend the dates.  With the bans on travel still in place for those entering into the US, I'm not so sure they will be ready for cruising in August.   I had a September cruise get cancelled last week on Princess if that's any indication of probability.  I would ride it out and wait for them to cancel.