Alberta Quilter

@Minkangel I checked with my friend again. He has not met your parents but he said “the Captan said again yesterday that all passengers made it back, no exceptions.”

I've been communicating with someone onboard and was advised that all passengers made it back on board so I'm sure your parents are safe. Maybe that will give you some comfort. Hopefully they'll be in contact with you soon to let you know directly.

Wow, thanks so much for posting your pics and telling us about the trip. If you want to, I'd love to hear and see more.

I'm not Kazu but yes, there is a small elevator to take you to your room, and down to the breakfast room. The luggage elevator, that I think Kazu was referring to, was a short escalator so that you could "walk" your luggage from the street level, up the few (I think about five) steps to the lobby level of the hotel. It was a cool thing to use and I'm sad to hear that it's gone. We, too, loved the Banks Mansion when we stayed there in 2018. It was lovely to see the pics and relive our memories. Thank you, Kazu!

I’m interested! Please tell us more and post more pics! I’ve been looking at something like this for several years, though Adventure Canada. I didn’t realize the embark/debark was by zodiac! How did that go?

Thank you for your live thread! It's been nice getting to know more about you, and revisiting ports vicariously through you. Saguenay is my favourite port; just love the people there and how friendly they are.

Maybe double check to make sure the deposit you paid is refundable (or not). That might be why the cruise was cheaper. But that's a guess on my part. I hope you'll enjoy your cruise!

Murphy's Law! Since you had them, you didn’t need them.

@cruisemom42 did you use/need the rain pants? Glad you had a great time!

The only times I’ve seen reduced prices on shorex is when HAL offers it as part of a promotion when you book the cruise, usually in Jan/Feb. But I don’t think they’ve had that promo since Covid, especially now that they offer HIA with a shorex component. And, to be honest, the reduced shorex were never the popular tours. I agree with the others, book what you want now to make sure you get what you want.

My understanding is that turning off the auto gratuities means that the individuals you give cash tips to are not allowed to keep them; they have to turn them in to the "pool". If you keep the auto gratuities in place, the individuals you tip, over and above the auto grats, may keep the additional tip. I personally would keep the auto grats in place and tip only if receiving service above and beyond the usual service. Yes, it is a lot for five people; but all five of you are eating the food, using the facilities, sheets, towels, watching the entertainment, etc. As for the difference you're seeing, are you in Canada, by chance? Because I've been caught by that before; it's the exchange rate in my case.

The thing is that the conditions today have little to no bearing on conditions in a week or two. Conditions have been changing on a dime all spring/summer. I wouldn't let it stop me from going, though, because it might be totally fine where you are (unless going is detrimental to the local residents).

It worked for me using Safari but not when using Windows 10.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned above is the Clock Museum. Just a little museum, with lots of stairs but interesting and great views from the windows and roof top. My friend and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you for sharing your review.

Yes, please.

@bobpell Did you have any luck? I'm wondering if I should pay to join AARP, just to get the OBC...

I don't think so. Liverpool is the first port on the itinerary posted in the first post. They're just going there via the north rather than the south. I've had route changes like that before; that Captain also said that one cannot rely too much on the pretty picture of the route.

According to this thread, in the Canadian forum, passport renewals are being done quite quickly, even without expediting the process. Perhaps you do have time to renew the passport before sailing? Even if you do have to pay extra for an expedited passport?

Yes, the standard cancellation penalties apply to hotel/transfers if cancelled after final payment. I had that happen years ago for a hotel booking. The closer one is to sailing, the higher the penalty rate.

FF is higher than H/HH. I think you'll be fine.

But don't you want your neighbour to get the coveted CO tote bag?!!

Could they book the HH guarantee and then purchase Club Orange to get the upgrade? We did for an upcoming cruise. Got a much better cabin, still an OV, and it's assigned.

I don't have any issues with it either; I cannot eat two entrees. I think they should have the extra charge for additional entrees in all specialty restaurants.

Seems odd to me that they’re discontinuing the extra entree charge in the PG but not in Rudi's or Tamarind. Of course that would indicate consistency, which we all know, HAL isn’t!