airboss1998

Thanks.  Decided to uber to seaport and rent the car, and return it there.  Then uber to port.  

Have to fly into BOS the day before the cruise for a meeting in Plymouth.  Wondering if it might be easier to find something that I can return near the cruise terminal, rather than dropping at airport and Uber to port (Saturday morning).

Experience/thoughts?  Thanks.

53 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 A red flag would be if they had us wearing gas masks like on the White Island excursion. . I would not have gone. 

Probably what I was thinking when I wrote this.  Hindsight is 20/20.  Maybe this thread will provoke others to take a pause before hitting the 'buy excursion' button.  I'm not sage, but my entire (professional) life has been about risk management.

3 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

The documentary was very careful not to point the blame. Probably for legal reasons. The cruise ship that had an excursion on the island when the volcano was Ovation of the Sea. The couple whose lives are ruined for life says they would never have done the excursion if they had been informed of the risk.They claim they were not.  White Island is owned by a private company whose whole business was tourist excursions so the companies  economic interest was to do the tours. The tours were popular and lucrative to the local economy. So I would say the cruise lines responsibility was incidental. In my opinion the private company that owned the island was primarily resonsible. Also In my opinion the the NZ government should have prohibited those excursions. 

I was aware of the ship, and purposefully crafted my email not to point at RCI.   There are a lot of culpable parties, just. wonder if we consider the risks.

My daughter and climbed the falls in Jamaica (Ocho Reis, I think).  As I doing it I thought 'if I slip here, I'm going to break something.  Why am I doing this?'

So, we had some weather 'bomb' here in the midwest tonight (42F to 10F in two hours) and we were surfing Netflix.  The wife ended up with The Volcano - Rescue from Whakaari.  VERY interesting show.

I AM NOT trying to stir up trouble, not pointing at any particular cruise line, but it raises some interesting dialog.  In this case, off the coast of New Zealand, cruise ship passengers, and other tourists, were caught on a small island when an active volcano erupted, 22 deaths.  I assume there were lots of safety briefings, liability releases, etc., but sometimes I wonder if we truly consider the risks.  It makes me wonder if the cruise companies are really responsible or insulated from retribution.  One newlywed couple, the husband spent a month in a coma in a New Zealand hospital.  

Last month, in Costa Rica, we drove 2.5 hours in torrential rains, on a busy highway, and I could only think that I hoped our driver was well trained.  I don't live life in fear, but I might do my homework a bit more after seeing this film.

Sad story, but interesting documentary.

7 hours ago, Sea42 said:

If you're not in a Neptune suite or higher, unlimited laundry is a good way to use non-refundable OBC.

Thanks, we get that due to star level.  I'm going to ask if we can pre-pay some excursions, then re-book them when onboard.

So now I'm begging to wonder how to spend the $750 in OBC we're gonna end up with?  Gratuities are already included, and I don't really want to wait until we get on board to book excursions (I guess maybe we can get on day 1 and try to cancel and re-book excursions to use the OBC). We can buy a wine package, and specialty dining, plus some drinks.  But I don't see it being $750.  We're not spa people, and I don't need overpriced HAL bling.  Hmmmm.

thanks, sounds like we'll forgo the HIA and just pay for the drinks we want.  We did that on our last cruise, as we needed $1500 in onboard spend to make our next star level.  (we still don't understand that calculation, as we got twice as much on board spend credit as we think we should have....)

Okay, headed out on 21 day cruise.  Part of booking while on the last ship was $400 OBC ($200 each), and free gratuities.  I wouldn't normally but will likely add Have It All - did the math and it's a decent deal...

Here's my question - we got $400 OBC for booking, $100 OBC for paying off the cruise a couple of weeks early, and $250 for stock ownership (total of $750).  Since we got free gratuities, and we have no idea what we'll do for excursions, is all that OBC 'non-refundable'.  And/or, can we book Have It All once we get on the ship and charge it against OBC?

Thanks.

12 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

The deadline is Dec 13th  not Jan 13th  . 

Yeah, thanks, fat fingered it.  Have it on calendar for DECEMBER 12.

16 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

HIA maximises the number of days credit much better than on board spend.  Presuming you were on a 14 day cruise, then with HIA you will be credited 14 days 'spend' credits.  For On board spend to be a similar level you would need to spend $4200 to earn the 14 days 'spend' credits.  14 days is the maximum that you can earn on a 14 day cruise. HIA on a 14 day cruise costs $700 (each for first two occupants).

A suite would give another 14 days.

To my way of thinking a suite and HIA would gain optimum number of 'days' at the best price.

My understanding is that HIA, included as part of the cruise fare, does not increase credits. Perhaps adding it HIA after booking counts as onboard spend?
 

From what you’re  writing, are you stating a verandah, with HIA would get 2 credits per night?   I’m well aware of the benefits of suite life, thanks.

23 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Not really understanding what you are saying.  They could always get you whatever you want as long as you give them your cruise card to charge.  I see no benefit for them doing it free of charge because it’s going to need to be changed somewhere.

13 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I am assuming she means they were given totally free non-Al beverages 

that is correct, sorry I was not more explicit.  For the first 11 days they asked for our room card to get us specialty coffees, and the occasional soda. On day 12, they said they were ‘included with the cabana’.

We were on a HAL ship (and I'm gonna be skimpy on details as I don't want to get someone in trouble if they were doing something 'wrong') last week, two week cruise.  On about day 11, our Cabana server mentioned they had maybe gotten a new beverage manager and that they could now get us (without a drink package) bottled water (cans), sodas, and specialty coffees from the Explorations Cafe (Crow's Nest).  

For a specific reason (trying to maximize shipboard spend to make our next star level), we did NOT purchase Have It All, so we were paying for morning Lattes, etc.  If this is indeed a new policy, it does factor into getting the drink package or not.

Anyone know anything concrete, seen anything in writing?  I didn't push the issue, but don't want to be the 'I read it on the internet' guy.... lol

4 hours ago, crystalspin said:

That would indicate that, like the AARP cards, they are not going to be recognized as cruise or travel expenses as far as my Chase Sapphire CC. Thanks for the information; we will pay outright with credit card for the protection. As far as OBC/excursions etc, it probably isn't worth the trouble to pursue the 10% bonus...

 

I do remember that when I bought HAL gift cards in October, every field had to be typed in, no auto-fill!

Good point.  It looks like the AARP deal is .1% better, but you also lose the extra travel Ultimate Reward points.  Guess I'll buy the gift cards from HAL before Jan 13.

On 12/1/2022 at 10:33 PM, Red Haired Lady said:

Not sure which Chase card you have. My Chase Sapphire Preferred Guide to Benefits says a portion of the trip must be charged to the account. I have paid about 60 percent on the card and 40 percent using gift cards. YMMV.

Ditto.  We did the deposit on our most recent cruise, and paid the rest with gift cards.  According to Chase Sapphire Reserve terms it covers the trip.  Of course, one never knows until you try to collect the claim.

Has anyone experience with both parties in a cabin owning shares, and getting TWO OBCs?  Someone on a FB group is claiming both husband and wife have submitted and received TWO OBCs.  This seems contrary to what it says on the sheet published by Carnival.

2 hours ago, rochelle_s said:

 

I think perhaps you have misread their perks. It states that benerage cards are excluded from the discount. 
 

Mariner Society Benefits

 

Rochelle

 

 

 

You are 100% correct.  I read what I wanted to read and missed that EXCLUDED.  I'd say THANKS, but now I'm dejected.  I knew we got it on the Sommelier package, and just kept dreaming. 

Oh well, at least they'll be paid for with gift cards that got me a 10% bonus.... some small item of saving.  

On 2/22/2022 at 3:43 PM, jkrislc said:

Since there's no discount offered on the beverage cards any longer, is there any benefit to purchasing them over gift cards?

 

Could you elaborate on the 'no discount offered on the beverage card'?  I've never bought one, but considering it.  As a lowly 3-star Mariner, according to the Mariner Society webpage, it does say we get a 25% discount on the cards.

In my mind, while the drink wouldn't be discounted, I'd get $250 worth of drinks for $187.50.

Also, can someone explain the room charge for an $11 drink?  (I tried to look an old statement, but they don't come up on the Navigator app, and I had Have It All on the last two cruises).  Is it $11, plus some tax, plus 18% gratuity?  So an $11 drink is really $14-15?

Thanks.

Thank to the original poster, as I was headed here to post the same thing.

Looking at an 11 night in Jan 2021, at roughly $4200.  Granted this includes free gratuities, drinks, dinner package, so we expect to pay something extra for that (but it was only $300 more than without the extras).  Even if I drop that to $3900, last Feb we paid $1500 for a 7 night in the same cabin type.  Simple math would say 11 nights, using Feb 2020 rates would cost roughly $2400, not $3900-4200.

11 hours ago, capriccio said:

The Fort Lauderdale airport is within sight of Port Everglades.  If a driver takes 30 minutes to get there you have been taken for a ride! 😂

That would be true.  What I should have said was '30 minutes from getting your card scanned off the ship, to get your bags, customs, uber to baggage drop off - 30 minutes'.  Better?

I use Uber, ask for a bigger vehicle.  Get off, early boarding, you'll be at the airport 30 minutes later.

On 5/8/2019 at 12:26 AM, rkacruiser said:

Nieuw Statendam:  the couple next to my table ordered this item.  The presentation surely is unique and they seemed to enjoy it.  Would what I observed encourage me to order it?  Absolutely not.  It's pretentious.  Healthy?  Certainly not!  Why would I choose to begin to fill my stomach with a breakfast related item prior to enjoying a Pinnacle Grill dinner?

I’ve read everything now (disclaimer: I don’t do a tuxedo for gala nights) - bacon, PRETENTIOUS!?!?

Ship leaves in 6 days, appears there's still some availability.  Wondering about calling to ask about an upgrade (willing to pay a little) the day before?  Would that have to come through our TA, call a reservations person at the cruise line, or wait until we get onboard and ask guest services?

Just curious if anyone has stories of success?

Dropping off a car at Hertz, need to get to the ship.  I'm aware of busses, but sounds like a switch from city bus to port bus is required.

Anyone know about a local taxi or shuttle option, door to door?  The other option (less optimal) is to drop the car at FICO and Rome Cabs to the ship.

Just booked our first TA and are BIG fans of the retreat Cabanas.  Anyone with suggestions/thoughts on weather/suitability on the crossing (October 31 - November 13).  There were days on the Southern Carribean/Panama Canal that the winds were pretty brutal, but it was alway warm enough.  Wondering about winds and temps during the crossing.

Thanks.