gaylemh

28 minutes ago, Lady Hudson said:

Hey, Gayle!  My sister has never had a problem before either.  Who knows — maybe if she called back she would have gotten a different answer!  Are you cruising soon?  We will be on Vision in August and then the Greenland cruise in September.  Hope to see you soon.  Katherine 

I've been cruising a lot.  Did 18 in the past 12 months.  I'm leaving for Texas on Saturday for a B2B Presidents's cruise. I have 4 booked on Oasis this fall, Masters cruise in November, then back to my home away from home Anthem for the winter.  Hope to see you on one soon.

1 hour ago, Lady Hudson said:

So — I am going on a 9 day cruise with my sister because — the casino folks would not allow my sister to book a solo balcony cabin.  So as a solo you are denied a balcony cabin even though you received an offer.  If my sister took an inside instead it would have been ok.  Strange.  

I have booked over 60 cruises through the casino solo from balcony to owners suites and never had a problem.  The only time there may have been a problem was when they had that weird offer this year that was only for the casino player and you had to pay for the second person. I didn't get that offer so I don't know for sure, but solo's did have to pay for the second person.

wrong post

Is there any whale watching or boat tours in Halifax in July.  Planning to bring my 2 grandsons on Liberty 4 night cruise next year.  Is it warm enough on the ship for them to enjoy the slides and pool? 

Has anyone had any actual experience using a car service to get to the airport after the cruise? I’m not interested in shuttles. 

What is the newest/best hotel near the airport to stay night before cruise with a late arrival?  

Which is the best side for viewing the inside passage coming from Seattle? Starboard or Port?  Also any recommendations for hotels in Seattle? Nothing fancy, we will only be sleeping there the night before with a late arrival.  Something that has a dining room or late room service after 10 pm would be great.

Has anyone recently been to Emerald Beach?  Are there restrooms, chairs and umbrellas available?

13 hours ago, mets123 said:

I found the casino to be very cramped very smoky. Just my opinion, please don't flame me.

I agree.  It was very cramped.  If someone was sitting at a slot, you could barely pass behind them. I also hated the stools instead of chairs with backs at the slots.  Very uncomfortable if playing for a long time.

You have 25 upcoming cruises and 3 canceled cruises

11 minutes ago, texasreb said:

Gayle, do you think we can combine this offer with an already booked cruise for an upgrade ? This newest offer for me showed no cash value. It did include 7 day balconies, and 5 day JS.

I just did it for a September Oasis cruise.  I had a balcony with another offer and changed it to a JS with the new offer. You will lose the original offer if it has already expired.

3 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

I just got off the phone with CR.  They would not price protect the current <cancelled> offer.  She said that there will be a new offer code coming to replace this offer but they will be at prevailing rates.  I cancelled the current booking. The new offer will be for select bookings between April 1 - Sept. 27 2021.  We'll see, I guess...

That's probably the same offer that I see putting in my canceled reservation number.

53 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

It doesn't look like, from the list that comes up, that they will price protect.  Not sure what good that list is...

 

I upgraded to an OS and none of the options on that list are above a JS.  None of the 7 night cruises are above an OV so not sure this will work for me.  Too bad...I had such a great upgrade price on this one.  I was hoping to keep it but may just have to L&S or cancel and get a refund.

You can't L & S a comped cruise, even if you paid to upgrade.  I wish you could, I would shift my Comped JS NYE cruise to next year.

2 hours ago, texasreb said:

Also it just over-lapped other offers I have or sailings I have booked. Still might be useful.

Thanks

Me too, lots of cruises I already have booked with other offers.  I had a comped JS for NYE on Anthem that I used an instant certificate I got on the 3/8/20 sailing on Anthem.  The best I can do with this offer is upgrade a cruise I already have with a balcony offer to a JS. Not quite equal to a comped NYE cruise in a JS.

3 hours ago, Cannavaro said:

Offers are still the new shortened ones on older smaller ships; cant say I blame them as its anyones guess on when a 7+, TA, TP will ever sail again. Yet they have some liberty and independence 7 day Itineraries. 

It depends on your status, when you last sailed and what offer you had on your canceled cruise.  I had JS and Balcony sailings on 7 day cruises on a few different ships including Oasis, Symphony, Liberty, Explorer There may have been a few others.  Lots of 4-6 night sailings and a couple of 8 and 9 nights.  I had a NYE cruise comped on Anthem in a JS that was canceled.

They didn't do this for the canceled November cruises.  

7 hours ago, BND said:

Totally expected.  I'm not even sure our May cruises out of NJ will happen as one is to Canada and the other to Bermuda.

I think there is a good chance that Oasis will be sailing out of Bayonne in May, but I don't expect to see Anthem this winter/spring at all.

54 minutes ago, texasreb said:

My Dec cruise was an 11 nighter. You can be sure they won't offer that again. I do have some 7 night balcony offers. Just not thrilled about this mess. 4 already booked for next year.

I have had 7 cancels in 2020. Likely my Jan 3, 2021 will cancel too.

I'm not sure if you are aware, but if you go to your offers page and put in your canceled December reservation number, instead of your C & A number, there are offers to take it's place.  

10 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

My offer only has short cruises with the exception of a couple out of Galveston.  I've already done 2 in April out of Galveston so not doing any more.  Will probably pass on these offers.

I'm passing up on this one too.  Some good offers out of Cape Liberty, but I already have cruises booked for June, July and August.  If I could have combined one of the cruises for a B2B i would have used it, but none of the dates work.

On 9/4/2020 at 2:32 AM, Ashland said:

We've also enjoyed the WPR...bus up and train down. We booked directly with Chilkoot.

How long is the train and how long is the bus ride?

10 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yes, the casino sure has been sending out some very nice offers.     I have 6 cruises booked so far and 5 of them are from casino.    Their marketing team definitely knows how to get us all onboard and in the casino 🙂 

I was shocked earlier this spring when they offered cruises for any number of nights.   I booked a 12 nighter on Anthem for December, just hope it actually sails as I doubt we will see unlimited cruise night offers from casino anytime soon. 

I am stuck on my selection for either Radiance on June 25th or the Quantum for June 28th.    I personally love the itinerary for the Radiance but my DH doesn't do well with 12 to 15 hours of airline travel.   No direct flights from PHL< EWR or JFK to ANC so we will probably do the Quantum as we can fly direct from PHL in 6.5 hrs.    Much easier on him and I always hate layovers. 

I found direct flights from EWR to Vancouver for the Serenade sailing 5/23 on Air Canada.  5 3/4 hours going - 5 hour flight for return.

35 minutes ago, OHCruisinDad said:

 

I agree these are great offers.  Our problem is trying to fit one of these into an already busy schedule but I'll do my best to make something work.  I haven't been in Alaska since I was there for work back in the early 1980's and my wife has never been there. Our original thinking about Alaska was to do a cruisetour but this is too good of an opportunity to pass up.  I wonder if I can use an FCC for an upgrade?  That and airline e-certs or miles and this is a win-win vacation.  Just need a big slot win to cap it off.  LOL

I actually canceled an Oasis B2B that I had good deals and certificates on through the casino.  I always wanted to go to Alaska and with a JS offer that I was able to upgrade for a reasonable cost to a GS was a no brainer, over going on a B2B for the 10th time to Coco Cay.  I've used a FCC for an upgrade on a different cruise, but it has to be used when you actually book.  I have points on my CC to use for my business class flight and hotel also.  I'm just hoping the price of the flight will go down.  A slot win would be nice!!!!  My friend was also able to get the 10% Signature discount for her cabin.

13 minutes ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

@gaylemh Congrats on the decision!  I personally think, from an itinerary standpoint, you made the right call. While Serenade may not be as new as a Quantum class it really is a great ship for Alaska!!!!  You can see the landscape from virtually every public room on the ship and the exterior dining area behind the Windjammer is great for scenic viewing with some shelter as an alternate to your amazing GS balcony 👍

 

I have stayed at the Marriott Pinnacle and the Coast Coal Harbour. Preferred the Marriott.  I would love to have stayed at the Pan Pacific and if you can get rooms there at a rate you are comfortable with it really is the best pre/post hotel as it literally sits on top of the Canada Place cruise terminal and has dedicated elevator access.  Really, any of the hotels within a 3-5 bock radius of Canada Place are an excellent choice. 

The flight I'm looking at for the return is at 12:30.  I could either come home the same day as the cruise gets back, but was thinking about staying for a night, if there is anything great to see close to the airport or cruise terminal.  Any suggestions?

Just wanted to let you know, I ended up booking the Serenade for 5/23, after I did some more researching.   I was able to upgrade to a GS for a reasonable price, and found a direct flight going and a one stop flight coming back with only a one hour layover.  My friend was also able to get a balcony for only a few hundred more than Ovation, and no direct flights, but she said OK.  

Now, I'll probably have lots of questions for when I get there.  The first being where is a nice place to stay the night before and the night after the cruise?

4 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

Awesome !!!  I completely agree that it was too rare an opportunity to pass up.

See you in the casino!!! It will be nice to finally meet you.

1 hour ago, RFerrington said:

We just booked 23 May Serenade.  We snagged an upgrade to the 2 BR Ocean View Suite (no balcony).  I think it will be perfect for Alaska !!  I don't recall ever seeing an Alaska cruise on the casino comp list before.  This was an awesome opportunity.

I booked the same cruise, but upgraded to a GS. I'm not crazy about flying, but I couldn't pass this up.