Lookingforfacts

But calling me a liar is okay?

I didn't call you a liar. I asked you which post contained the claim "saying I am a US citizen" would be sufficient for entry back into the US. I must have missed that post and asked you to help me. You offered a long reply. I guess i didn't read it slow enough. I still don't see the reference to the poster you "quoted". Manufacturing a statement to ridicule people who don't share your opinion isn't OK. Calling yourself a liar. Guess that answers my question. The quote isn't valid and in your world it's OK to make up stuff.

I can't offer a link which directly outlines the procedure followed if a cruise passenger needs emergency documentation to go home. We know such a process exists, the Carnival passengers were given emergency documentation so they could leave St. Maartan without exclusively saying " I am a US citizen". They may have said it, but they also had a document to show.

US citizens in the US who needed emergency documentation were accommodated.

Some quotes from the government site regarding citizens which need to travel but don't have a valid passport.

I have a life or death emergency overseas and need a passport. What should I do?a:Life or Death Emergencies involve serious illness, injury, or death in your immediate family that require you to travel within 24-48 hours to a country that requires a passport. Customers must appear in person at a passport agency for emergency service and documentation of the emergency may be requested.

Passengers who don't have a passport, because their passport expired while they're overseas are accommodated.

We strongly recommend that all U.S. citizens traveling or residing abroad keep their travel documents up-to-date. If your U.S. passport expires, you may be required to obtain a valid emergency travel document from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before traveling. In some cases, we may need to take additional steps to determine your citizenship.

An emergency travel document. Same thing that was done for those Carnival passengers.Passengers with or without a passenger better have funds available if they need to come home early. Would you like me to use your posting style? OK You can't wave your US passport and tell the airline I have a passport I need a free flight home. You can't wave your US passport and tell the hotel you need a free room. Some of those expenses (flight/hotel) might be covered by travel insurance but that might be done via reimbursement.

I think it's a good idea to have a passport. I think intelligent people can decide the inconvenient and expense of getting passports for their family outweighs the inconvenience of getting home in the case of an extremely unlikely (extraordinary) event. I don't think those people deserve to be ridiculed.

Again you want me use your posting style? OK. People without a passport will be homeless, living on the streets of a foreign country, begging for food for weeks (if not months) while they are waiting for delivery of a passport.

I'll agree the passengers with passports might be able to get home a couple of days sooner but even that claim might be a reach. Carnival passengers had no passport problems.

My statement was that the government of the country you are in will not provide you any assistance.

The Dept of State clearly states you will need to obtain a passport in order to fly back. The Consulate offices DO NOT issue passports. It needs to be obtained through the same way you get it inside the US, using expedited processes and you will have provide shelter for yourselves. The Consulate will let you use their computers to apply and to contact family/friends but they are not a bed and breakfast.

Why would you expect assistance for the government of the country you're visiting? OK I'd hope they'd give you the address and phone number of the nearest American consulate or embassy.

You claim the consulate office doesn't issue passports. I have no reason to doubt you, nor do I have any reason to accept that information as accurate.

So what? People in that position don't need a passport. They need an emergency travel document which is issued by an embassy or consulate. That's exactly what was done for Carnival passengers when their cruise ended at St. Maartan.

You may think some people have an "entitlement" mentality. That doesn't justify posting misinformation in order to support your position.

I have a passport. So what. Not everyone has the same opinions.

There are some great "deals". What does it cost to have a 3rd or 4th passenger in a cabin? Getting a passport for a child significantly increases the incremental cost.

Passengers are willing to accept some inconvenience and possible extra expense in the event of extraordinary circumstances in exchange for not having the guaranteed inconvenience and expense of applying for a passport.

Did anyone in this thread even imply saying I am a US citizen" would get you into the country? Give me a post number otherwise your comment is more then a little harsh.

I'm beginning to think these "I don't or never need" a passport arguments come from a sense of entitlement. They are unwilling to plan for the unexpected because they do not believe they should be held accountable and that someone else will need to step up and resolve their problems.

Those who pronoun that another country will assist you if need be because "they don't want you" is very naive and suggests they believe these other countries are infected with the American sense of guilt. They are not.

I don't see that at all. Going for a passport involves an expense and an allocation of time. The amount of money spent on passports is money which could be spent on vacation related expenses.

Assume the family is taking a closed loop cruise and is driving to the port. The cost of a passport for kids is a significant % of the cost of the cruise.

The United States wouldn't allow citizens to use the "closed loop" exception if the US government wasn't willing to assist passengers who require emergency documentation in order to fly back due to unanticipated extraordinary circumstances. Expecting emergency assistance is expecting exactly what you're entitled to receive.

My wife's battery failed on her insulin meter. We wound up paying something like $10 for a $1-$2 battery in the Bahamas. My memory is it was a J battery. Didn't even try to buy one on the cruise ship.

Anything, excluding your passport (and VISA if applicable) can be easily replaced either on board or at port. It will cost you a few $$$ extra but not the end of the world.

Come to think of it any prescription meds might be an issue.

edited to add the cruise was more then 10 years ago. I might be off with regards to the cost.

There is obviously malpractice and insurance fraud, and then there is reality.

 

If one takes a prescription medication that is non-controlled and for which the dosage is X unless symptoms worsen, and then it's Y, the doctor (in my experience) is going to prescribe for Y and over time the inventory of the drug does accumulate. If one has to pay a high co-pay, this can be advantageous; if one cruises for longer than 90 days at a time, it can also be advantageous.

 

Maybe for some kinds of pain medication. Medication for conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, blood thinners, drugs for mental conditions, antibiotics, birth control.........all need to be taken as prescribed by your doctor. I wouldn't count on a doctor writing a script for 2 pills a day but verbally telling you to only take one pill per day. You'll save on your copay but your copay is based on a maximum of a 30 (usually 90 day for mail order supply).

At this point, we are not planning to move to a ship, so it is not an issue for us. I was just raising the issue in case anyone thinking of moving to sea might have this problem.

.

I didn't think you were but it sounds like you take B2B2B cruises. The issue can affect people who are going to be gone more then 2 weeks. I didn't know if my suggestions might help you. It still might help another person reading this thread.

A real problem is people taking controlled drugs which can only be dispensed with a one month (or less) supply and which vacation exceptions are not available.

Another problem would be perscription medicines.

 

My wife is on one that is quitte expensive, so the insurance company only authorizes one month at a time. They have co-operated when we are on 45 day trips by appoving two months before we left. Not sure how it would work to get 4 or 6 months at a time.

You might check and see if this is one of the drugs which is considerably less expensive overseas. Can you order 3 month supply mail order? Your other option is to have the medicine sent to a port. See if you can use your insurers mail order program. Have them ship to a temporary address. You'll have to pay shipping costs but they might (should?) be willing to ship early so you'll have the medicine on time. You might be able to get approval for a 3 month supply but I'd be shocked if you could get more. Arranging to have the medicine shipped is probably the best solution.

My pharmacist told me the trick is to have your doctor write the prescription for twice the number of pills per month. Insurance objects to the timing of the refills, not the number of pills. Also, there's a grace period of about five days so I make sure I get my prescriptions refilled at 26 days for several months running. That accumulates enough extra pills so I don't have to request a vacation override.

Most doctors won't write a script telling you to take 2 pills a day but then verbally tell you to take one. It's not only insurance fraud but can lead to malpractice issues if you take the medicine as prescribed (listed on the bottle). It won't work if the medication is available in a strength double what you take and if the pill can't be split (capsule).

Some mail order programs will let you order a refill of a 90 day supply after 60 days. Relatively easy to to build up a vacation supply. An increasing number of popular medications are going generic. Prices may be lower then your copay. I doubt your suggestion will help Paul. It's an expensive drug and requires approval. I'm sure the insurance company is aware of the correct dosage.

PL only guarantees double occupancy. You could be assigned a room with one double (full) sized bed without even enough room for a rolling bed.

PL will let you bid for more then one room. If you win you'll get the number or rooms you bid for, in the same hotel.

Many (most?) US hotels are non-smoking. PL is clear a non-smoking or smoking room is not guaranteed.

PL is also clear if a hotel isn't able to meet your special health needs PL will issue a refund and cancel; your reservation. This occurs if you need a handicap accessible room and one isn't available or if you require a non-smoking room, for health reasons, and one isn't available.

The Priceline bidding is only good if you do not have any needs that have to be met. As stated before they only guarrantee one room. If you are traveling with a friend or a child that you do not want to sleep with, then you could be disappointed. The other thing is they will not guarrantee a non smoking room. We didn't know this and my husband has a lung condition and he cannot bear any smoke or odors. I got a hotel room and then dialed the hotel directly to request the non smoking room and was denied. They were adamant that the only rooms they had open were smoking rooms. I called Priceline and talked to a manager and he agreed to refund the room price, which is rarely done, and since then we just book a room that we know will meet the health demands.

Aerocar lets you reserve a specific model or vehicle type. The charge is $25. Their website lists Lincoln Stretch Limo.

People in this board seem to be using the train with an occasional poster grabbing a taxi. I suspect very few posters have reserved a stretch limo.

Maybe one of the Vancouver posters can comment on the overall reliability and reputation of of Aerocar.

Does it matter to you if the driver puts a suitcase in the front seat with him?

You're looking for a once in a lifetime experience. Pay the extra $50 for a meet n greet.

Pay the extra $25 to reserve a specific vehicle type (stretch limo) if that's important to you.

I'm not suggesting you need meet n greet but am suggesting it's part of the experience you're looking for.

The OP is comparing an obstructed oceanview cabin with a balcony cabin. Some obstructed oceanview cabins are a good deal. Between lifeboats. Some give you a view of a lifeboat and not much else. A better question is if an obstructed oceanview cabin is better then an inside cabin.

Another very happy Dyea Dan customer. He won't wait very long for late customers. Not fair to those who come on time. He doesn't require pre-payment. I suspect some passengers who sleep late and knowingly skip the trip don't call.

Dan provides his cell number. Call if you can't find him or if you're going to be a few minutes delayed.

One person in our group had a wheelchair. He split us up. Got a second driver with a van. He thought we'd have a better time.

Cruise lines sort of have a sense of humor when they find liquor in your luggage. You make a trip to the "naughty" room to get your luggage and you get your "contraband" back at the end of the cruise .

Although customs doesn't normally do that much of a search they really don't have a sense of humor. You may wind up with paying $$$ for not declaring the liquor and/or have it confiscated. They may not be happy if they find an unknown amount of an unkown liquid in a rumrunner flask.

I'd transfer the stuff to the flasks after you arrive in Canada. You have 9 adults. You're allowed 18 bottles of wine or 10l of hard stuff. That should be enough to get you to your first port. The wording on the customs declaration given to us on the plane wasn't clear if the limit was 1.5liters of wine and 1.14 liters of liquor or if it was one or the other. It's one or the other.

This board has been great, I've been reading it periodically for the past few weeks in anticipation of an Aug 29 embarkation.

 

There will be a large group (9 adults 1 baby) taking the Amtrak up from Seattle that morning (Sat. Aug 29th) that will need to get to Ballantyne Pier. I know a limo is obviously recommended and that High End charges $39 for trips to the piers from the airport. Any idea about coming from the train station and/or if they take that many people? I can always just shoot them an email as well.

 

Second part, a few of us would be planing on bring some rum runner flasks (http://www.rumrunnerflasks.com/flasks.aspx) with us on the cruise. Obviously it's cheaper for us to buy the booze in Seattle. Any idea if the customs at Pacific Central Station would have any problem with that?

 

Thanks again and I can't wait to see Vancouver. We are staying an extra day on our return to see the sights.

 

-Liz

is a (new?) type of cruise air from RC. It sounds like passengers will be able to select published fares as well as cruise line consolidator fares online and will get their flight information immediately.

http://www.national-anthems.net/forum/article/rec.travel.cruises/785879

I'll let the experts evaulate it but I'd be surprised if it doesn't have most of the same "issues" that currently exist with cruise air.

I want to thank Putterdude, Urban Trekker (and others) for great information.

I'll second the suggestion of groups of more then 2 using the $39 limo service from the airport.

We used a taxi. There were only two of us. We each had one checked bag and one carryon roller bag plus a personal bag. One bag wound up going in the front seat with the driver. Two passenger groups got a cab quickly. There was a line of groups of 2+ waiting for available larger ("van") taxis.

Double check your credit card. Some credit cards (many Capital One cards) don't impose a fee for foreign currency. Charging most purchases, and accepting retail exchange rates made more sense then converting money. Even the 7-11 accepted $1 US as $1.10 Canadian. My local bank has a $10 service fee for converting less then $300. I decided I'd be better off even if US money was accepted at par.

Are jeans and a polo style shirt OK in restaurants? Would I be better off wearing dockers?

I'm going on a cruisetour and I'm packing a tux. It looks like I may not need anything in between a tux and jeans.

My ship is the Coral Princess, (Monday 7/13). What is a good time to get to the ship? Sounds like the lines at the ship are long. I think I'd rather get on the ship early rather then late. Is 10a too early?

Like most visitors I plan on spending some time in Stanley Park. Fish House is located in the park and offers an Entertainment Book discount. Is that a restaurant to consider? Is it a typical overpriced, mediocre restaurant that caters to a captive audience?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hotel-deals/939684-fairmont-hotels-employee-friends-family-promotion-valid-until-dec-31-09-a.html

I'm seeing rates as low as $139 Cd for Fairmont Waterfront

It's a friends and family rate but at least one poster in the thread seems happy to meet "new friends" via PM.

Not sure how long this will last. Jump on it if you have interest. No pre-payment and normal cancellation terms.

I am not sure how you are going to be traveling to and from the bridge but it you are using transit you are going to need 45/50 mins in either direction and allow yourself at least 2 hours at the bridge. Here is a transit link for your convenience:

 

http://tripplanning.translink.bc.ca/hiwire

Looks like Capbridge is offering (limited) complimentary shuttle bus service from downtown.

http://www.capbridge.com/rates_information/getting_here.html

http://vancouver.entertainment.com/discount/Capilano_Suspension_Bridge/coupon/02509278025RED00166889EPC00496999PRD00000001.html

There are two books, one for Vancouver Island and a more expensive book for Vancouver.

Vancouver aquarium, Vancouver Lookout, Stanley Park Horse Drawn Trolly...I figure I'll break even if I use one or two coupons and get a good deal if I try a restaurant. Stonegrill is listed. Book wouldn't have made sense at full price.

I'm considering getting the Vancouver Entertainment book. It has BOGO coupons for the Capilano suspension bridge and a couple of things in Stanley Park.

Am I likely to use any of the restaurant coupons?

The cruise hotel rates look decent, until you read the fine print and realize the price that's quoted is per person per night. Princess has $60 per person loaded into the rates to cover transfers from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the ship.

in case I can't get a PL or Starwood points reservation. I checked BFT and it looks like many (most?) of the successful PL bids were made a few weeks in advance of the stay. My DW won't be happy not having any reservation months in advace, let alone weeks.

Days Inn Vancover Downtown or the Ramada Downtown (West Pender Street) seem reasonable choices. Failing Starwood I'd hope to get something better on PL for $125-$170.

Are they equivalent or is one a better safety net? I'm looking for 2 nights, July 09.

I think I'll have enough Starwood points, otherwise I'll use Priceline. I'm willing to trade off exact location in exchange for saving a few dollars. Looking to spend some time in Stanley Park. Probably some combination of Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain and/or Lynn Canyon. It looks like bus/seabus service will get me to any of the popular attractions. I can't see any reason to rent a car or take a tour bus. Going next July so the free shuttle bus at Stanley Park should work.

It sounds like the city is more compact then the map seems to imply. How long is the walk from the Westin Grand to Stanley Park? Looks like that's the longest walk in the combination of attractions/hotels. Cities like NY, Washington DC and Las Vegas look compact on the map until you find out how long each block is. I don't mind walking.

Shopping and restaurants are a lower priority, although I'm sure I'll do both.

Cruise next summer. Choice is

Westin Bayshore

Westin Grand

Sheraton Vancover Wall Street

Staying two nights. Based on reading the posts in this thread it looks like all 3 are in safe, reasonable locations.

Any preference? How long a walk to Stanley Park, a Sky Train Station or the Sea Bus waterfront station. Obviously Westin Bayshore is walking distance to Stanley Park but the other distances aren't as clear from the maps.

Every hotel site seems to imply you're a short walk from everything.

It looks like mass transit does a good job getting to popular destinations. I can't see any reason to spend the money for a bus trip. Looks like the bus won't save much time vs public transportation but give me the flexibility to stay longer or leave sooner.