winddncer

I'm impressed considering they refused to do that exact thing for my parent's cruise less than a month ago when my dad suddenly couldn't travel due to an emergency situation with his eye. (Detached retina).

 

They insisted that my parents either cancel and lose the cost of their cabin or my mom continue on their annual anniversary cruise with someone else. My sister can't go, her students have their AP exam, my aunt is already in Seattle with her twin, so I have had to juggle my pre-Finals schedule and student teaching around in order to take this cruise.

 

I'm still not sure why my parents couldn't rebook on a southbound repositioning cruise. I mean, really?

 

Get well soon so you can enjoy your trip.

Guess I'll be off-line while at sea. Crazy pricing! I'll just back up my documents & check email while in port.

We'll also be among the 500 boarding in San Diego. I'm down to the last of my packing. Does anyone know what kind of games are available in Explorations? I'm wavering on packing my travel scrabble. I've got Phase 10 and Farkle, but they don't take much room.

So, chiming in here. I sailed on celebrity a few years ago and we had a pretty good thread going.

 

Sailing Tuesday as a last minute replacement for my dad due to recent emergency eye surgery he had. There wasn't even a roll call for my cruise until last night and I finally realized something.

 

1. A lot of people are doing b2b with the Panama Canal trip prior to the repositioning/pacific coastal. They were pretty active on that one.

 

2. The average age of the cruisers on HAL is my parents age. They don't post on message boards. Dad might lurk, but I've never known him to talk to strangers on the internet. Years of working in a black hole of security. Heck, my mom doesn't even have her own email address.

 

I didn't add the roll call myself because, quite honestly, I didn't have time. While I am looking forward to my cruise, it is the week before finals and between getting myself and my fur-babies ready to go away for a week, I've also had to wrap up several grad-school projects earlier than planned.

 

Just my 2 cents. I'm crawling back into my homework cave now.

Just wondering.... how were the seas from San Diego to Vancouver?

 

I'm wondering the same thing. I won't be that far behind you. Departing on Tuesday on the Amsterdam. Almost the exact same route- We have Astoria instead of Victoria.

I'm not sure where I saw it (I'm thinking it was somewhere in the indulgences area) there was a listing for a non-alcoholic package or just a straight soda package that was $25 for $50 worth (I think). I'm almost wishing I had saved the file. I was liking the coffee card since I probably will be spending a majority of my at sea time in Explorations anyways.

 

Keep in mind, I'm also trying to wrap up 16 units of grad school before I fly south on Monday for my cruise on Tuesday. I could be delirious at this point. ;)

 

Edit - went back and looked and I had saved it. If you would like the file, email me at winddncer at gmail dot com and I will send it to you.

Thanks for those ideas. We are scheduled to only be there from 7-1 next Friday, so we're trying to see as much as we can, but also very low budget, due to my dad's recent injury and my being in the middle of an insanely intense teaching credential program that has only allowed me to work for pay on Mondays and Fridays since January.

 

Therefore, just hitting the highlights and Geocaching, which is a fee, fun way to see interesting things. I will be back someday after I finish this program and will most likely spend more time in the area. I've found a lot of things I want to do, just don't have the time.

[quote name='joeyillinois']I just noticed that the room info for the room states - complimentary fruit upon request. Is this something we will have to do when we arrive. Ask the steward or did I miss something when we booked?[/QUOTE]

Wait! Is this all staterooms? Or just the suites?

I don't mean to be invasive and certainly understand if you don't wish to respond but when you worked hotel front desk, did guests tip? DH and I always have been what just about anyone would consider generous tippers but it never occured to either of us to tip the people who check us in at the front desk in a hotel.

 

I feel awful thinking we have bypassed them time and again. :o

 

We get out of the taxi and tip the driver.

We tip the doorman who brings the suitcases into the lobby.

We tip the bellhop who brings the suitcases to our room and

We tip room service if we call for something delivered.

We tip the housekeeper who cleans our hotel room.

We tip the person who might deliver flowers or some other gift to us.

Well you get the picture......

 

I'm sorry to the front desk people who we omitted.

 

No, as a Front Desk Clerk, we weren't tipped by guests, but we were by others (preferred cab drivers tipped us for calling them directly, tour companies gave us a small tip for arranging tours for guests, and some of the local dinner shows, tipped us for booking the guests reservations). Don't hesitate to ask a clerk if you need something like that arranged.

 

However, driving the hotel shuttle back and forth to the airports of Orange County, CA was where I received a majority of my tips. Most people were very kind in tipping.

We usually give $1 or $2 and it is always appreciated. As the others have stated its totally up to you where you do it or not but be quick as they are not lingering with a hand out expecting anything.

 

 

Having worked in the hospitality industry in my past, both hotel front desk and concierge/shuttle driver. I remember the days when the difference in a tip made in whether or not my dinner consisted of ramen noodles. I never expected it, but it was totally appreciated. I am very conscious now of how much difference that little bit could help someone else.

1. Also White Spot at 12th & Cambie; slightly further but only a couple of blocks from Canada Line's Broadway/City Hall station. Alternate for similar food is Moxie's in the Sandman on Georgia (1/2 block away). Are you 100% tied to WhiteSpot, because in a foodie town like Vancouver you can do better. Tons of inexpensive places in lower Robson near your hotel.
   
2. Robson Street (as provided), plus alternate options in Waterfront Centre (across the street from Canada Place), one level below street level.
   
3. $10 max, or Skytrain is $2.75 from Stadium Station to Main Street Station. However, Main Street currently requires a special train which at that time will only run every 10 mins or so. Probably a taxi is best
   

 

I'm not tied to white spot, but this is my parents trip that my dad can't go on since he just had major eye surgery. He promised her White Spot. She likes the salmon burgers. Got hooked on them on the BC Ferry on one of their last trips. The rest of us don't do seafood, so.....she gets her White Spot. We're not real big foodies. Too many health issues in my fam. (Food allergies, Food reactions, cholesterol, diabetes, etc) We tend to find things we like and stick with them. My job on this trip is to make sure mom still gets to enjoy herself. Especially after the past month of doctors appointments, treatments, and surgeries. I'm just trying to squeeze as much into my day as possible.

 

Does anyone know if Costco (pharmacy) carries Drixoral or if I need to find a regular pharmacy to get it? They stopped selling it in the states a few years ago and I'm just about out.

Hey all,

 

Leaving on a somewhat surprise Pacific Coastal in a couple of weeks with my mom and looking for must do caches in Astoria (only there a few hours) Vancouver (1 day) and Seattle (1 day). I don't have as much prep time as I would like this time due to Grad School end of semester commitments.

 

Thanks for your help (I hope) :cool:

Greetings fellow cruisers!

 

My mother and I will have 1 day in Vancouver post cruise in May. Staying at the YWCA hotel near BC Place. Buying a day pass for transit.

 

1. Nearest White Spot with transit access.

2. Nearest Timmy's so I can get my double double.

3. Approximate cab fare from the YWCA hotel to the Amtrak station. We have to be at the station at 5:30am to take the train. (Yes, the train not the bus.)

 

Thanks for the help.

If you are only in SF for the day, it really depends on the amount of time that you have.

 

Are you there as a port stop or embarkation/disembarkation? Gray Line tours has an 8 hour Napa/Sonoma Tour. $80

 

If you have the time, they also have an 11 hour tour of Monterey/Pacific Grove which includes 17 Mile Drive. $90

 

Again, it really depends on how much time you have.

Is there an easy and reasonable way to get to Butchart without having to do the Cruise shore excursion? Any help would be appreciated.

 

When are you going to be in Victoria? Try CVS Cruise Victoria. They operate the shuttle from Ogden Point where the Cruise Ships dock in Victoria to the Downtown area, then you can transfer to their bus to the gardens. $47 dollars US (i think) and includes admissions.

I have tried for a week, with every re-bid possible, but when we are in Seattle it is peak summer season.

 

2 rooms for 2 nights at 4 star

July 9-11, 2009

Started at $80, everything rejected up to and including $105

$110/nt accepted at the Westin.

Priceline

 

Not just a peak for summer, but many groups are going to Seattle in July. Big Vet conference in Early July. There was an article in the paper here this morning about how some eco-groups are trying to get the "fish throwers" banned from throwing the fish for the tourists. They have been booked for a private event for the Vets.

Date: August 21, 2009

Number of nights: 1 (post cruise)

Hotel: Westin Seattle Downtown

Rating: 4 star

Area: Downtown Seattle

Site: Hotwire

Winning Bid: $84

Taxes & Service Fees: $18.51

 

Whoo Hoo!