Safety Squirrel

April 2019 there are also cruises - full transit - with the Coral Princess or Island Princess. I believe they are doing the old locks/canal. Going from east to west and west to east.

Thank you. To all Canadians celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, may you have a great time with family and friends.

First, believe the cruise is actually 21 days, not 22. count the nights not the days. Therefore, you will receive credit for 21 days at sea.

Second, I think the voyage may actually be two voyages 6 nights from Vancouver to L.A. and then 15 nights from L.A. to F.L. Once on board you can check this. Your T.A., or you once on board can check if there is actually one or two voyage numbers for the itinerary. Two voyage numbers will = 4 cruise credits. One voyage number will equal 2 cruise credits. It's that simple. Again you do not receive credit for double days. You will receive 21 days credit.

My booking says 22 days - E910A (actually 22 nights on board)

April 11 - Vancouver

April 18 - Los Angeles

May 3 - Fort Lauderdale

As mentioned before, I booked it as one cruise although we will be dropping off and picking up passengers in Los Angeles. In any event, I am just happy to be cruising since my last cruise was B2B - 21 days - Caribbean 2017. :D Have been doing some land tours recently (ND/SD/CO/Utah/Wy) and this past June - Alaska/Yukon. Of course, many trips to Florida as oldest DS has property there.

Cheers

Safety Squirrel -

You'll earn credits based on how many legs your sailing is times two.

As this cruise is from Vancouver , but also has a disembarkation/embarkation port in LA - it's likely sold as two separate segments, along with the one long one: Vancouver to LA, LA to Ft Lauderdale, and also Vancouver to Ft Lauderdale. .

If that's the case, you'll get one credit for Vancouver to LA and one for LA to Ft Lauderdale, times two as you're sailing solo..

So, 4 total credits... If it's ONLY sold as Vancouver to Ft Lauderdale, there wouldn't be a pick-up in LA....

So, you can expect 4 cruise credits... Unless I have tour cruise pegged totally incorrect.

The cruise is being sold as Vancouver-LA and LA-FLL. I just happened to book it as a 22 day from Vancouver to FLL. So will see what my profile shows after my cruise.;) There are a couple on our roll call who are only doing V-LA and others embarking in LA-FLL. Several are doing the full 22 days as I am.

Thanks for the information

If travelling solo in a full suite you get 3 cruise credits :).

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I wish --however travelling solo in a suite is not in my budget. I am however, sailing in a B2 category balcony on Caribe deck.:D Perhaps if those numbers in the lottery came up -- then definitely in a suite!!!

And on HAL you earn extra points based on your onboard spend--which is how after just one HAL cruise I am more than halfway to two-star Mariner level.

That would be nice. :DTravelling solo and this trip the roll call is very, very slow - so my onboard spending for excursions, beverage packages would certainly add up.

NO!! If you travel solo, you get double the cruise credits for the trip. You do not get double the days. So if your cruise can only be booked as 22 days, by going solo, you would get 2 cruise credits and 22 days.

Oh well - it is what it is. :( Not going to cancel my cruise just to get a couple more cruise credits. Princess benefits are not as good as some other cruise lines. However -- this is the cruise I want and Princess does have some itineraries that I like better and looking at for future cruises.

thanks once again

Thank you for your answers.

As above, not sure what you mean by "points" or why Celebrity regulations matter. Yes, you get double the number of cruise credits when cruising solo, but the same number of nights that you actually cruise.

Many lines use the "points" system for accelerating through their loyalty schemes. On Celebrity you earn anywhere from 2 to 18 points per person/per day depending on your stateroom category.

In regards to 'points' - I have been travelling mainly on Celebrity in Concierge cabins as you get additional points from staying in regular balcony, inside etc. so that it why I used the term 'points'. I looked at the Princess website and was not sure as it listed number of cruises and number of days.

A 22 day cruise sounds like two cruises b2b. If this is the case you will receive 2 cruise credits for each leg of the b2b no matter how it is booked. It takes 5 cruise credits or 50 days to reach Captain's Circle platinum and 15 cruise credits or 150 days to reach elite.

No - this is a 22 day cruise from Vancouver through the new Panamal Canal to Fort Lauderdale (2019). Although the cruise is also picking up passengers in Los Angeles, I booked it as a 22 day cruise.

Does this mean I will actually get credit for 44 days??? If so, this would be very nice.:D

Once again, thank you for your answers.

Does Princess give double points on cruises when travelling solo? Last time I travelled Princess, we were two persons in the stateroom.

Celebrity does give double points when travelling solo and paying the same as two persons in a cabin.

Just wondering as I have a 22 day cruise on Princess and travelling solo. Thanks.

Thanks once again Martincath:)

I had read the articles about the hotel being sold and Vancouver not wanting more and more high rises by the water etc. Was interesting to read about Howard Hughes (I had previously read a bio. on HH - towards the end of his life -- very strange man, if not mentally unstable.)

The new reviews regarding rooms tend to be more positive. Reviews about the older rooms not being renovated -- not as good. Quite a few from people who attended conferences; however, they said their rooms were nice. So I will request a room in one of the renovated rooms and hopefully with also get a room with a view other than the city.

Thanks for the tip about the HoHo buses/trolleys. My granddaughter and I used not only the HoHo buses but public transportation to get to Capilano etc. I had looked up some tours on Viator as I used them previously in Europe. A couple of the ones I was interested in were for a minimum of two people, so once again, would be paying twice the advertised rate. Will keep looking.

These days I am not much of a walker for long distances - so will use alternative methods to get to my destinations.

As I have six+ months to look at possibilities, will keep on looking. Our roll call is pretty dead so not hopeful that I can tag-a-log with others while in Vancouver.

Thank you Martincath

I was last in Vancouver April 2015 when I completed my Hawaiian cruise on Celebrity. At that time my youngest granddaughter joined me as she had just completed her spring semester at university. We did the usual outings: Granville Island, Capilano Bridge, Grouse Mountain, ferry to Victoria & Butchard gardens, Robson Street, Yat Soo Yun Chinese gardens, Ho-Ho bus, Spaghetti Factory, etc. (I had previously visited Vancouver as a child and also my parents retired in Vancouver after my dad served in the military for many years).

This time I was just thinking of going to Granville Island, Stanley Park and taking the Ho-Ho bus to re-aquaint myself with the city. I fly in two days before my cruise. I will be hoping for nice weather rather than rain but unfortunately we cannot control the weather.

Yes -- I have to pay the solo rate for the cruise so the cruise hotels are o.k. for me price wise. They will pick me up at the airport and from the hotel to the cruise.

Ratings for Bayshore Inn have been both positive and negative. I always take some reviews with a grain of salt -- just like some cruise reviews which focus on the negative only and not how lucky we are to be able to cruise. I have looked up nearby restaurants and there seems to be a variety.

As I have a Starwood (Westin) hotel card -- will look at possible room overlooking the bay etc. and on a higher up floor rather the city view/lower floor.

Once again, thank you for your comments:) - they were very helpful, especially with regards to walking distances to some of the more popular places to visit.

Martincath

I have seen some very good information from you on these forums. Regarding hotels, you and others have made some good suggestions.

I was wondering about the Bayshore Inn (Westin) as that has not been mentioned. It is one of the hotels that Princess recommends if you book through the cruise line. I know that cruise hotels are more expensive for two people, however, I am travelling solo. Travelling in April 2019 on Emerald Princess.

Thank you for any comments that you may have about the hotel.

Yes! Yes! Yes! The one lady so annoyed people say "upgrade" she must be miserable

Yes to quote Fishywood on another thread about an upgrade

A complimentary upgrade from a balcony cabin in one of the least desirable locations to a Caribe balcony just one category below Club Class, seven months before the cruise? Would be downright miraculous. I'd bet the farm this is an upsell, not a upgrade--note how the OP put it: "possible upgrade".

Only question is, how much is the upsell offer? I assume the cruise is a 14 day full transit.

It was a complimentary upgrade... not an upsell. I wonder where her 'farm' is to take advantage of her bet:rolleyes:

Wow!! Have you bought a lottery ticket lately??:D:D

No -- guess I should have.:(

When I posted -- I did not actually realize that the free upgrade was to a much better balcony. Now - even more excited for the cruise. :')

A complimentary upgrade from a balcony cabin in one of the least desirable locations to a Caribe balcony just one category below Club Class, seven months before the cruise? Would be downright miraculous. I'd bet the farm this is an upsell, not a upgrade--note how the OP put it: "possible upgrade".

 

Only question is, how much is the upsell offer? I assume the cruise is a 14 day full transit.

See above post. It was a complimentary upgrade. It is a full transit - Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale - 22 days. :D

Hi everyone

It was a complimentary upgrade - see below. Being on CC, I had seen posts that the balconies on Caribe were only partially covered. It was not until people posted on my thread, that I understood that it was a larger balcony and the portion covered was similar to other balconies. I am so happy that comments posted were very positive about Caribe.

Needless to say that I am very happy about the complimentary upgrade and I am taking it. I do not know if it made any difference but I booked directly with Princess as my TA retired.

In any event -- I am very happy :D:tropical-drink:and will enjoy a virgin pina colada sitting on the balcony.

Thank you for your comments.

Thank you for your help. I will certainly take the upgrade.:D

Received an e-mail today about possible upgrade in balcony.

Booked - Aloha - category BE (A243)

Upgrade - Caribe category B2 (C305)

Aloha Deck has full covered balcony whereas Caribe (I believe) has partially covered balconies.

As this is a full transit -- would you stay on Aloha or take the upgrade to Caribe with partial balcony. Would appreciate pros and cons for each balcony.

Thank you.

Is bottled water included with the soda package?

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

No - bottled water is not included - you must pre-order (12 per case) at least three days before your sailing date.

Hi! What are the prices of mocktails (i.e. virgin pina colada)? Trying to decide if I want the package as I do not drink soda. I have already pre-ordered several cases of water. Not a coffee drinker so drink basically drink water, however, enjoy a mocktail when I am on a cruise.

Will be on the Emerald from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale through the new canal in April 2019. 22 days and 9 or 10 (assuming we will not be going to Nicaragua) days at sea.

Thank you for your help.:tropical-drink:

Hi folks, hubby and I have only sailed Celebrity (7 different times--Med/Alaska/Carib) and we don't see any options for Spring 2019 Panama Canal with Celebrity. I think we want to do the full transit (I hear that's the best way to go although it takes more of my vacation time). For you experienced cruisers out there, what cruise line would you recommend and why? We live on the East Coast of Canada, so I think flying out West to embark might be a better option. I am 52 and my husband is 59 and we are both active. Welcome all feedback and thoughts. thanks in advance![/quote]

 

Look at Princess- April 11, 2019- full transit, Emerald Princess starting in Vancouver (22 days) or you can embark in Los Angeles a few days later. I last sailed on Princess (Emerald also) in 2009. Since then have always cruised with Celebrity. Like you, could not find a Celebrity cruise so decided to try Princess again. Will be interesting to see the difference as with every cruise line/ship there are posters who like or dislike certain things. I am going with an open mind although I will certainly miss some of the Elite or concierge perks.

I have used CAA, RBC, President's Choice, Travelguard.

I have used the above except President's choice. There is a company called "Medi-Quote" in Winnipeg and Calgary that I have used for the past several years. They look at different insurance companies, your medical history and what you require, i.e. I always make sure that I have enough insurance in case I need a medi-vac from the ship.

Three years ago Travelguard doubled my premiums and no change in medical history or age bracket. So we switched to another company with same benefits.

FYI - I was caught up, unfortunately, in the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting a few years ago. My West Jet flight was re-routed back to Montreal and then Toronto. I was staying at the Embassy Suites and had no trouble getting reimbursed for one night through the interruption part of the policy. Then to make matters worse -- I ended up with bronchitis on a 21 day B2B -- again no problem getting reimbursed.

If you google 'Medi-Quote Insurance Brokers' - you can see if they offer their services in your province.

I have been following this post. As you can see, I am Canadian. Canada has posted the following advisory

Nicaragua - AVOID NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL

Avoid non-essential travel to Nicaragua due to civil unrest, which has been occurring throughout the country since April 2018.

When I was renewing my annual medical insurance, the agent asked if I would be travelling to any countries listed in Canadian advisories regarding non-essential travel. FYI - she advised me that if we did stop in Nicaragua and I went ashore, if anything happened to me medical wise - I would not be covered. However, if I stayed on the ship (Emerald), my coverage would still be valid.

So, if this advisory is still in effect, reluctantly I will stay onboard. It was one stop that I had not been to and was looking forward to it. I realize that something happening while on a shore excursion (ship or otherwise) is unlikely but I will not take the chance.

This is just a FYI post and not one to start a discussion on whether the port is safe/unsafe, or to get into a discussion on insurance.

There is no right or wrong answer.:)

When I travel solo, tend to do ship excursions. On one of my roll calls - there was a private tour 'hiking through the rain forest' - so I was not up to that so did not join. If on a roll call, I look at the activity, amount of walking etc. and then decide if I can ask the group to join or if I would be a hindrance to them. Some roll calls are very active and some not active at all so that is also a consideration for me.

When travelling with family, my son books private tours whenever possible and I usually go with them. However, a few tours he booked on various cruises were too strenuous for me so I booked a ship's tour.

There are pros and cons to both. Yes, some of the ship's tours can be more expensive but travelling solo I tend to prefer ship tours.

I've read on the Princess web site that there is something equivalent to the PBP without the alcohol' date=' but I've never seen it presented in a format where it could be purchased.[/quote[/size']]

 

I wish they would have something like this. I am used to Celebrity and the Premium Non Alcoholic package which covers everything non-alcoholic i.e. bottled water, specialty teas/coffees, mocktails etc. It is so much easier. Going on Emerald next cruise so have pre-purchased 5 cases of water. Will have to see once on board if coffee card will be of benefit to me.

 

Very surprised that Princess does not have this (at least according to when I log in to my reservation).