CantanaLobo

...Is anyone else unhappy with this?

"When in Rome....". We pay the daily service charge and tip extra for exceptional service. The cruise lines are not going to change their compensation policies based on what I think.

Are other cruise lines doing the same?

Not all - you might want to look at the luxury lines like Crystal or Regent. Those bake it into the fare like you appear to want.

 

Does anyone know what wine you pair with popcorn? A white?

In the case of late arrival the cruise line should allow you to board at an upcoming port, they may even arrange for and pay for transportation.

The cruise line may allow it, but other conditions may not.

Need to fly to a foreign port and you have no passport? Not going to happen.

Is the first port a US port on a closed-loop cruise originating in a US port? PVSA is going to come in to play - you'll need to board at a non-US port.

 

So many ways to lose, so little time.

One thing about most medivac insurance is that they require the treating physician to certify that you can't get adequate treatment locally. Further, the insurance may only cover evacuating you to the nearest adequate facility, or it may cover evacuation to home. Read the fine print.

 

MedJetAssist will get you to a hospital of your choice. MedJet will only deal with transportation - they will not pay medial bills. Read the fine print.

I asked Kenny Rogers - he told me "You've got to know when to roll 'em, know when to fold 'em" :)

 

DW rolls, I just kinda throw the clothes in the suitcase. Then DW comes along and rolls them.

Looks like Carnival Sunshine returning Dec 19, 2015 - the Saturday starting the week of Christmas, when people are likely on their way to visit Grandma. My crystal ball is in the shop but I'd bet prices go nowhere but up. Are the fares going up between now and May 14 when Southwest releases their schedule? Dunno. Is Southwest going to undercut the legacies much, if at all, at that busy time of year? If I was CEO of Southwest, certainly not.

 

I'm not much of a gambler. If it was me, I'd get those tickets at USD 362, or from Buffalo at USD 329 on Delta.

... That eliminates a lot of the world of cruising...full Canal cruises..

Be creative - get on the ship in FLL, through the Canal, up to Alaska, stay on for the Alaska season, back down the West coast, through the Canal again, and back to FLL.

 

Sounds like a good closed-loop cruise to me :)

 

Humor aside, I agree with you. Making it a requirement to start and end in the same port cuts out a lot of good cruises. DW loved the Singapore->China cruise. And the full Canal. And our next cruise after the Canada cruise (also a one-way) is likely something Australia/New Zealand, probably a one-way. I wouldn't mind a B2B that got me back to my originating port, but the job won't let me be gone that long. Dang inconsiderate of them.

...

I'd want to make sure I had a GPS too, that way if there was an accident you could re-route without getting lost.

If using a GPS, keep the maps up to date. I was with a friend on the interstate when his GPS told him to make "an immediate U-turn" :eek:. Turns out the road had been realigned, and where the interstate is now was where a frontage road used to be. He said he hadn't ever updated the maps.

You'll probably go to check in and get a message that you can't, and to see an agent at the airport. That's the norm, so don't fret

This. Relax. You do not need to panic wondering what's wrong with your reservation. You do not need to call up and listen to endless repetitions of Rhapsody in Blue, only to get a CSR with barely intelligible English who can't figure out what's wrong and can't check you in either. Why can't that check-in failure message message just say "We can't let you do online check-in because we need to check your passport at the airport"?

</rant>

 

Nowadays, this "Flyer Friendly" airline has a phone app that lets you do check-in by taking a photo of your passport. You still get that uninformative message if you try to check-in on the web. Once they've seen the passport, you can then do check-in without having to show the passport at check-in if you travel internationally (on United) occasionally. They will still do a passport check at boarding. If you're infrequent, you get to do this check-in/show passport ritual more often.

... One thing that isn't in the FAQs of those sites, but which I would really like to know. I could be totally wrong on this, but why would shipping companies with those huge ships carrying thousands of containers show even the slightest interest in at most 12 extra passengers paying just around $100 a day? That must be a really tiny percentage of total revenue and at the same time a huge amount of extra costs. Extra cabins, more procedures, more paperwork in ports, more complicated insurances, people ashore for reservations and questions, etc...

It seems to me, if the ship has the extra cabins, $1200 a day is nothing to sneeze at. The booking agent deals with any shoreside stuff and takes a commission - no/minimal staff needed by the shipping company to deal with that stuff. Cost is maybe a little extra for food. No cruise director, singers, dancers, or any of the other expenses of running a cruise ship. Sounds to me like mostly profit for little effort and expense.

.... want to get an insurance plan, that will pay to evacuate us, just in case, of a major problem. ...

MedJet will help if your 'major problem' causes you to end up in a hospital. Other major problems, not so much. Is there anything specific you need covered?

The look you get when you go into your local bank and say "I'd like to buy some loonies" - priceless. :). Actually, the AAA office should have Canadian currency in 'TipPaks' containing USD100 of Canadian currency if you just need a little. I don't know what exchange rate they use.

We booked an excursion in Canada for an upcoming cruise. He'll accept US dollars or Canadian dollars at par. At the current rate USD100 = approx CAD122. So I can either give him USD100, or I can convert approx USD82 to CAD100 and give him CAD100. Let me think about this. :rolleyes:

 

They're not doing us any favors when they accept USD. We get the local currency - either before we leave or at a local ATM. We can usually estimate what we need fairly well and only end up with a few stray bills or coins. Memories of vacations past - we've got a nice collection of currency from around the world. We use USD in the Caribbean since we don't really buy much with cash there except the odd souvenir.

 

When using a credit card don't use dynamic currency conversion (DCC) where they charge your card in USD. It's another way they dip into your pocket. Also make sure your card has a 0% Foreign Transaction Fee.

... I will try Princess sometime soon. HA I was waiting to try when i am a little older. I am 58...

From what I've read on the Princess forum, post-final adjustments are hit-or miss depending on the CSR you get. I've read that HAL is more consistent in applying their policy. I've also read NCL is more generous with post-final price drops. I'd suggest you read the HAL and Princess boards about post-final prices drops if it's important to you.

 

I'll always call for price drops post-final to see if I can get any adjustment. If they say no, it's no big deal - all I've done is spend a few minutes of my time. If they say yes, lucky me. The cruise lines seem to handle the issue a little bit differently, and it's easier just to call them then trying to find out who has which policy. But I don't get upset if they tell me there's nothing they can to.

 

Honestly, they're big corporations. They could care less if I never sailed with them again. They're not trying to punish anyone, they're trying to maximize revenue. Different lines choose to achieve that differently. You may (or may not) be blown away by the product Celebrity provides vs NCL. Then you'll have to decide if going on another Celebrity cruise is worth putting up with the Celebrity post-final policy.

 

As far as HAL being for "the nearly dead", we were on a Princess Alaska cruise and seemed to be playing tag with a HAL ship getting to the various ports. It looked like HAL had pretty much the same mixture of young couples, families, and older folk as were on the Princess ship. That was due, I believe, to the fact that 7-day Alaska cruises tend to attract the same demographic regardless of cruise line. I think if you pick a 7-day HAL cruise, you'll get a younger crowd than a 14-day or 21-day cruise if that's important to you.

 

BTW, our next cruise is on HAL, and I'm only 55. Gonna enjoy ourselves regardless. Maybe I'll rent me a scooter so I fit it :) And you kids get off my lawn :)

... How can you justify their high costs? ...

The question is vague. Do you mean:

1. How do you justify what the hotel is charging?
   
2. How do you justify paying what the hotel is charging?
   

Naturally, you will get answers to both questions. As others replied to #1, market conditions. The answer to #2 depends on how different people value different things. As mentioned, some things include closeness to port, shops, the managers reception, free breakfast,want a Hilton family property, etc. We each need to justify the expense to ourselves or stay elsewhere.

I came on trying to figure out if I should book Choice Air for our Med cruise in October. I've been watching fares and tonight Choice Air is $400 less pp than the same flights on AA.

 

They're the exact same flights I'd book on my own and I have the option to select seats. I also will be buying travel insurance.

 

in a nutshell, can someone please tell me why I shouldn't use choice air? I've read other posts where folks say choice air changed their flights but I wonder if that may have been at a time (if that was the case) where one didn't know the airline? Wouldn't I get a confirmation number I can double-check on the AA site?

 

Thanks- Appreciate the insight!

If you could provide some vital information associated with the fare rules for the Choice Air tickets, I'm sure the folks here on the forum will be able to help you:

1. Do the Choice Air tickets say something like AA ONLY in the fare rules? If the flight gets cancelled, hopefully AA has alternative metal to get you where you want to go before the ship leaves because they won't put you on a partner.
   
2. How about NONCHG? If you suddenly realize you connections are too tight - sorry, can't just pay a change fee plus fare difference - have to buy a whole new ticket.
   
3. Anything like ONLY VALID IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CRUISE in the rules? If you cancel the cruise you can't just fly to the port and spend the week in Barcelona (or wherever) playing tourist.
   
4. What is the fare class - that's one determinant in the pecking order for re-accommodation if things go pear shaped like delayed/cancelled flights due to weather or mechanical. Becomes important if there's only eighty available seats on flights that will get you to the port on time and you're at the bottom of the list of a 120 people.

These are the kind differences greatam, waterbug123, and the rest are pointing out. The issue with Choice Air is finding out what the specific fine print (fare rules) is for the specific ticket you are buying before you buy the ticket. If you don't have that information, you can't make an informed choice.

 

Some percentage of the time that fine print won't matter, some percentage it will. How much are you willing to save to have those encumbrances in the fare rules? Nothing wrong with saying "That stuff probably won't happen to me, I'll risk it to save $XXX". BTDT. But it's with the knowledge that I am *not* getting the same ticket I would get from the airline, and planning accordingly. If Choice Air is close to the airline price, I'd buy the airline. $400 PP saving would be tempting for me. Everyone needs to make their own "choice".

 

Just an FYI, with travel insurance you typically have to pay and then get reimbursed. If you need to buy a last-minute airfare, you might need a credit card with a hefty limit. The fine print for each policy determines specifics about what they provide. If reading airline fare rules doesn't make you blind, the insurance description of coverage surely will.

Here's what Cleveland does to a mother being stupid with her child. Or was she being "naive"? Calling it naive makes the injuries not count apparently. Or do we call it naive when nothing bad happens, and stupid when injuries occur?

 

As the great philosopher Forest Gump said: "Stupid is as stupid does".

What do you mean by "when we try to change flights"? Do you already have tickets and are trying to change them? Are these Princess "Flexible Fares"?

I think it's fair to call the behavior of someone who gets up from their seat during landing to use the restroom as being stupid. I don't understand that poster's objection.

Agree with you. While having two children grow to adulthood in spite of our best attempts at raising them, I've had the occasional stupid moments (none the topic of this thread). Stupid moments go with the territory of being a parent - no one's perfect. That doesn't excuse the fact I was stupid. The important thing is to realize it was stupid and don't do it again, or better, don't be stupid in the first place. If this thread keeps someone from hauling their kid down to the lavatory during landing, I'm more than willing to be called nasty.

... I am amazed you cannot spell the word "aisle" correctly...

I was more amazed by the ignorance and arrogance displayed by an instructor at a US institution of higher education. Or perhaps I shouldn't be. Classic ugly American: "ends up exporting your sick currency (in change)". Translated: I want my change in US currency in any country I visit. I apologize to any non-US CC members. We're not all like this.

This is my reply to Icelandair review site. I hope it is helpful.

This is absolutely the last time I will ever take Icelandair. You make it very difficult to change seats, move into a comfort section from Cabin--$800 I was told!! Your attendants clog the isle for up to an hour hawking "duty free" over-priced regalia. Your stop off in Reykjavik ends up exporting your sick currency (in change) to the rest of the world. You are not just cut rate, you are cut throat! ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!

 

John Hudelson, Asso. Professor

 

Wine, Recreation and Tourism Program

 

Central Washington University

Depending on the ticket you buy, changing tickets can get to be expensive (true for any airline). Did you pick Icelandair for its price or or its amenities? I'd bet the former. Be careful of the cheap (and not so cheap) cruise lines - they hawk gold-by-the-inch, bingo games, art auctions, and other methods of trying to make a profit. Was it a surprise the aircraft stopped in Iceland (what was the name of the airline again?), or are you upset that you received change in the local currency? The later has been true in any country I've been to (if they'd even accept dollars). And what does that have to do with the airline?

 

Methinks you have unrealistic expectations of tourism for the masses. You don't get Champagne on a Budweiser budget

Found it it: "Premier Access priority boarding: Be among the first customers to board, or take your time and use the reserved blue carpet line at any time"

This describes the United cattle chutes. A link on that page describes who is in which group.

...As to the airline boarding rules, they are what they are, and each passenger should endeavour to follow them. That being said, if I missed my boarding turn, my conscience would insist that I line up at the end and wait my turn. It doesn't matter that I paid more or less. A little common courtesy goes a long way.

If I was in F/J, or an elite, my conscience would insist I take advantage of a defined benefit and board whenever I feel like regardless of the people lined up in groups 2-5 (United). Since I'm not, I line up at the end of the appropriate queue. I don't get upset with people who take advantage of a perk. No different than elites or suites on a cruise ship getting preferential treatment as a defined benefit.

 

""I'm in Group 1, thank you" was a fairly mild rebuke. Some of the elites can be unpleasant towards the unwashed masses who dare question them. Also no different than a cruise ship :)

... we will be on a 7 day cruise on the Oasis of the seas (rccl) going to the western carribean.

 

... I still end up doing laundry on board.

Royal has no self-service laundry. We tend to take more luggage if the ship doesn't have a self-service laundry.

What in the world are you talking about? Did I miss something?

I think Fairfield Nana was objecting to the mother being called stupid.