pilotboy1985

Hi Everyone,

Got off Allure recently and I purchased the First Night Done Right and my intention was to use it for Chops.

I clearly should have searched these boards before I purchased, because there are reports here that Allure will only offer Giovanni or Samba.

When I boarded I went to deck 5 where you book your specialty restaurant's and I told him I wanted to use it for Chops, he said no, only Giovanni or Samba. I pushed back and he stood his ground. He told me when you buy the First Night Done Right it says "Only valid for Giovanni's or Samba". I explained to him it doesn't say that. He said if I could provide him with my confirmation where it doesn't say that, he'll let me book Chops..... Darn, I didn't have my confirmation, lol.

I feel 99.9% confident it doesn't say that when you book it, so as a heads up to future cruisers, bring your confirmation with you, and they might let you book something different. Good luck.

I ended up booking Samba for 6pm that night, but when I got to Samba he said no-one booked me and I was booked into Giovanni. So no idea what that first guy did.

On a side note, great cruise. I wish I had more than 7 days on such a big ship. Lot's to explore and lot's to do. Had a blast. :)

I like hearing that the DL is most people's favourite.

My first time as Diamond was a 15 night Transatlantic. The diamond lounge was so busy it had to take over the entire crown lounge. We went up there once and an older couple said "oh, did you boys get lost." Implying that we were too young to be up there! (Mid 20's) it also appeared to be a very mature crowd who all clicked so we never persued it the rest of the cruise.

I'm going on a cruise next week with my parents who are also diamond. We will try and use it with them. They are in their late 60's so I'm hoping that gives me some street cred.

I sailed Jewel Of The Seas in April 2016 after the dry dock. They offered me 25% but I asked for 50% Future cruise credit and they gave it to me. Looks like 25% is usually their first offer?

Not very often I see this.

Sorry our weather sucks this evening. It's very windy and rainy but it's common for us to get these storms this time of year (two weeks ago we had a similar storm)

The Casino is open in Halifax if anyone wants to gamble :)

Other than the hot tubs, there are no heated pools on Explorer.

I can confirm the pools on Explorer are in fact heated. Both the solarium pool and the main pools.

I am not a fan of how they wrecked the Centrum to put in a few short Circ-du-solei type shows.

 

 

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I sailed the Jewel after the dry dock this year and they did not "wreck" the centrum and no aerial shows were present. I think you're thinking of Serenade or Brilliance?

I sailed the jewel for the first time last December for the southern Caribbean route. While the ship itself felt too small for me,the boat was fine. I had a great cruise and really enjoyed myself, but I'd prefer the voyage class or freedom class.

The solarium was closed but they must have AC going in there because it was sometimes cooler in there than the pool deck!

Mine is for the 16th, when is yours?

Mine is Sept 29th.

Am I being greedy that I booked 7388 and my parents booked 7688? LOL. We will have two large balconies to enjoy. :D

I've sailed during Remembrance Day before (Nov 11th) and a moment of silence is held at 11am. I don't think this is an American tradition, but in Canada and I know the UK, we do this every year. There was also a lot of people wearing poppy's. I ran into Americans who thought people wearing poppy's were in a tour. It was nice to be able to share with these people the way us Canadians and Britts remember our veterans.

As another poster mentioned, Nov 11th is a paid holiday for most in Canada. I work for a Bank so we're closed that day each year.

I'm Canadian and I always select option B. It's much cheaper.

I also have a visa card that doesn't charge the foreign exchange fee so that's even better!

Living in Halifax, I've often thought about doing a TA and getting off in Halifax. However, I'm going to miss 2 nights or so of the cruise that I've already paid for. So it kind of "adds" to the cost of the per night cruise (IE, paying for a 14 night cruise but only taking 12 nights of it)

I am currently booked on this one...this is the lowest it has been since I booked (I just have some OBC I would lose so my net is still a slightly lower) I'm looking at solo interior pricing btw. Not sure about other categories

 

There has been a bit of chat on the roll call that the sailing is pretty full already and there may not be a lot of price dropping but who knows.

 

Patti

I was on the Jewel TA this April and the price of the April 17 independence TA was $599 USD per person. I wasn't ready to commit at that point so decided to wait, now it's $200 more. (Only reason I'm looking to book in USD is because I have a future cruise certificate that is booked in USD.. I normally do all my bookings in CAD)

What TA are you price checking?

Independence April 2017 (Florida - Southampton)

Hoping to take it if the price goes down a bit.

I was on top of the farmers market at around 4:30pm for the sail away at 5pm (which turned out to be closer to 5:15) what a lovely ship.

I heard on CTV news this morning it set a record for the most passengers on a single ship to ever dock in Halifax.

I just wish it docked at Pier 20 or 21 (where the Holland America was) as the view from the top of farmers market would of been awesome.

I just tried the same thing but the website still shows only 30%, not 35%, for all three of our cruises booked in 2017 and 2018.

I was having the same issue, However on the left hand side I chose my residence as Nova Scotia and then the discount displayed. So make sure you update your providence of residence.

Been price checking a TA in April, the Canada Sale did drop it by $90 per person.

Not to disparage Sydney, but we found it quite lacking for a cruise port. But that is the city itself, there are quite a few things to do if you get out of the city. Rent a car and go, but for the city itself, and no disrespect meant to our posters from Sydney, it just wasn't one of my favorite places.

 

Cheers

 

Len

No offence taken. My moms side of the family is all from Sydney and I live a 5 hour drive in Halifax. In the past 8 years I've gone to Sydney a total of TWO times.... There really is very little to do.

That being said, it's a lovely place to just relax, rent a car, and take things slow.

Where is the Memorial site?

 

Laura

It's 2.6 KM (I think about 1.5 miles) from peggys cove. I don't think I'd walk it, but if you have a car, as you leave peggys cove take a left at the stop sign, you'll see the swiss air memorial on the left and a peggys cove gift shop on the right.

http://www.novascotia.com/see-do/attractions/swissair-memorial-site-peggys-cove/1636

Sydney is a lovely little city but unfortunately I feel it's one of the quietest tourist cities. Charlottetown, Saint John and Halifax have more things to do. However make the most of your trip to Sydney by walking the waterfront and you could even visit the cole miners museum. My grandfather worked down in the mines for years.

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g609110-d1539376-Reviews-Cape_Breton_Miners_Museum-Glace_Bay_Cape_Breton_Island_Nova_Scotia.html

I believe Peggy's cove is worth it. As a local I'm forever taking out of town friends there and they all really enjoy themselves.

I should mention while it is a bit of a drive, it's a lovely one ( more picturesque if you take the 103 and exit at exit 5. There is a maple factory there and about 15 minutes further down a lovely gift shop that has the house exterior painted beautifully) while you're in Peggy's cove stop in at the Swiss air flight 111 memorial site. It's a peaceful place.

So it's more than just Peggy's cove, there is lots to do on the route there.

Resident of Halifax here.

We have the pink busses as well which offer tours. I'd suggest taking the Harbour Hopper while you are here. It's not a hoho but a great land and sea tour of the Halifax port area.

I just checked the Royal website and it looks like the OP is on the September 23, 2016 cruise, which calls in Victoria on September 29.

 

Not sure which cruise you're on, as I don't see any Explorer cruises departing on Sept 27 in either 2016 or 2017.

Nope, I messed the dates up this time, lol. I leave for Seattle on Sept 27th and hence why I had that date stuck in my head. I wish I was old enough to call that a senior moment.

I have 7688 next month for the Pacific Northwest cruise. Excited for all the room on the balcony.

I also have 7688 next month on the Pacific Northwest cruise. :)

What an awesome experience for you should you get to be close enough to see them! I've seen Queen Elizabeth twice in my lifetime: once in Toronto and the second time here in Calgary. I will never forget both of those occasions. :)

I also seen the Queen in Calgary when I lived there. I think it was 2005.

They are scheduled to be in Victoria on September 29 when we'll be there. I would love to know where they will be to catch a glimpse. Fat chance, right? I guess we just follow the crowd :-)

I'm on the explorer Leaving Seattle on Sept 27th but we won't be in Victoria until Oct 7th. Did you get the dates wrong?