mcrcruiser

There are scooters that you can purchase which are very light & even collapsable  with a remote switch & you can pull it like luggage .  Another possibility is  a light scooter weighing only 40 lbs that can be lifted . 

If this is of interest just look on line for collapsable electri scooters  .Scooter rentals can Be several hundred per trip . Taqking several trips  they can easily own one 

3 hours ago, Mary229 said:

There are a couple of other national parks out there.  https://www.nps.gov/state/ut/index.htm
 

I have been many times if you have questions.  Early May should be nice weather and lower crowds. 
 

order your senior annual pass here.  https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm

Mary yes we have already been to Zion & Bryce National Parks . Capital Reef is a bit iof a task to get to ,so this tie we will skip it . We are focusing on Arches & Canyon Lands as well as Dead horse State park which we understand is spectacular  &  much closer . We have 6 nights in a Marriott hotel booked ,so we should get to these 3   for longer looks . 

We both carry the senior life time National park  cards .23 years ago I bought mine is the museum in Ketchican Alaska . National Park service was running it at that time . My wife got hers at Cabrillo National Monument ,end of Point Loma SD .At the time we got ours they were just $10 each .Now we hear they are $80 each .Still a buy for life time entry 

Thanks for the information . .We are headed to Arches & Canyon Lands National Parks . Near Moab Utah in early May 2025 . We also know of a State Park there that over looks the Colorado river rapids .  We have a off road type SUV  4 wheel drive so we can get closer to  the  images .for picture taking .  We already booked our Marriott Hotel  in Moab ;as  the hotels are selling out way in advance now . We will be  in the parks area for 5 days . We do know that the GypsyApp sells compalete directions for cell phines  booth of those National Parks 

We decided to do the above vs another Alaska cruise ;as we have done 5 prior Alaska cruises ,

FWIW in May 2025  Coral Princess has a 7 day  Repositioning cruise from their San Pedro pier in Los Angeles area that is very comprehensive & gets to  Vancouver ,BC  on May 2nd ,2025 .what is  very nice about that cruise is the long day in Vancouver Island & stopping in Astoria  Oredon . both fabulous ports . We  had done these many times,so the reason for our land trip vs the cruises . May 3rd or 4th Koningsdam id doing the inside passage & imo \holland does the best Alsaka cruises with Naturalists aboard  her ships

Does any one know if there is a web site like cruise critic just for land trips ?

TIA

On 5/17/2024 at 8:46 AM, MisterBill99 said:

The AMEX Offer is back, this time it's $350 off $1200, expiring 8/31.

 

The $1200 does not need to be on a single transaction, they say "one or more purchases". It does not need to be on a new reservation and can be booked with HAL directly or through your travel agent, so long as they process the payment through HAL (and I'd never use a TA who did it any other way). In the past, I believe it's worked on purchases of OBC and excursions made through their website, but you'd need to check one of the old threads.  It does not work for onboard charges.

 

Here are the terms:

 

Spend $1,200 or more, get $350 back
Holland America Line
Expires 08/31/2024

 

 

DETAILS

Get a one-time $350 statement credit by using your enrolled eligible Card to spend a minimum of $1,200 in one or more purchases of cruise reservations online at hollandamerica.com, via Amex Travel, or through your preferred Holland America Line travel adviser by 8/31/2024. See terms.

---

OFFER TERMS

Enrollment limited. Must first add offer to Card and then use same Card to redeem. Only U.S.-issued American Express® Cards are eligible. Limit 1 enrolled Card per Card Member across all American Express offer channels. Your enrollment of an eligible American Express Card for this offer extends only to that Card. Offer valid for cruise reservations booked between 5/17/2024 and 8/31/2024 for any departure date, directly with Holland America Line online only at US website hollandamerica.com, by calling 1-877-932-4259, via Amex Travel, or through a Holland America Line travel advisor. Valid only for reservations and any additional purchases booked at the time of initial reservation purchase. Excludes onboard spend, gift and services, Denali Square, McKinley Chalet Resort, Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services, Cancellation Protection plan, online shops, formalwear rentals, charitable donations, and any standalone purchases paid for separately from initial reservation. Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands. American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. is acting solely as a sales agent for travel suppliers and is not responsible for the actions or inactions of such suppliers. Certain suppliers pay us commission and other incentives for reaching sales targets or other goals and may provide incentives to our Travel Consultants. For more information visit www.americanexpress.com/travelterms. California CST#1022318, Washington UBI#600-469-694. Offer is non-transferable. Valid only on purchases made in US dollars. Limit of 1 statement credit per Card Member. You may not receive the statement credit if we receive inaccurate information or are otherwise unable to identify your purchase as qualifying for the offer. For example, you may not receive the statement credit if (a) the merchant uses a third-party to sell their products or services; or (b) the merchant uses a third-party to process or submit your transaction to us (e.g., using mobile or wireless card readers); or (c) you choose to make a purchase using a third-party payment account or make a purchase using a mobile or digital wallet. Purchases may fall outside of the offer period in some cases due to a delay in merchants submitting transactions to us or if the purchase date differs from the date you made the transaction (for example, the purchase date for online orders may be the shipping date). Statement credit will appear on your billing statement within 90 days after 8/31/2024, provided that American Express receives information from the merchant about your qualifying purchase. Note that American Express may not receive information about your qualifying purchase from merchant until all items/services from your qualifying purchase have been shipped/provided by merchant. Statement credit may be reversed if qualifying purchase is returned/cancelled. If American Express does not receive information that identifies your purchase as qualifying for the offer, you will not receive the statement credit. Limit 1 enrolled Card per American Express Card online account. The enrolled Card account must be active, not past due, canceled, or have a returned payment outstanding to receive the statement credit. Any benefit earned from this offer is in addition to the rewards (i.e. Membership Rewards or cash back) earned as part of your existing Card benefits, but your ability to earn spend-based rewards for the purchase will be based on the amount after any statement credit or other discount is applied. Amex Offers are available for varying and limited periods of time and are dynamic and personalized. If you navigate away from the Amex Offers page, you may see different offers when you return. For questions regarding your Card Account, please call the number on the back of your Card. By adding an offer to a Card, you agree that American Express may send you communications about the offer. POID: K7VF:0001

What is the AMX  CC that you are getting $350 back from AMX ?  We have only the  blue AMX CC & would get $260 for $1000  ;but ,we like the $350   AMX credit rebate  .Is your AMX CC   one of the free ccs or do you pay a yearly fee /

Thanks in advance for your reply

The Cash back credit is not on my Hilton Honors AMX credit card . I would say non of the co branded AMX CCs have the   offer of cash back 

We have 2 AMX CCs  .The 0ne that has the offer is the Blue AMX  card ,Spend $1000 at HAL intil 8/31/24 & get back $250  .Read all the details 

20 years ago we would have done this long cruise when we were in our mid 60s . Just too long now for us to consider  in our health Truly a wonderful itinerary 

20 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

Hi Cliff! I missed the recent discussion myself... So the answers are Yes, January 2026, the Zaandam. And the answer to a question you didn't ask: 93 days!!! or about three times the length of time I would consider being away at this time in my life. 

We did find out that the cruise was in the 40K range price wise with 2 deposits one first $5000 & then a 2nd deposit of $10,000 b/4 final payment . This is for s HH category window blocked  201 sq ft handicap cabin . Not going to happen . although the cabin is in back of the ship lower promenade ,so walking outside is easy  ,still too high a price for that long cruise . Princess had one March 2026 for 54 days R/T San Pedro World  Cruise Center ,LA  but not a handicap cabin to be had   .That one was in the $20,000 range for  a balcony 

We may re entertain the 35 day cruise of & when Koningsdam or another Pinnacle class comes to SD  in the future & book it really early 

We are searching for a round trip San Diego   to New Zealand or Sydney Australia   .Does such a cruise exost & if so when does it sail  ?

 TIA 

11 hours ago, USN59-79 said:

It is a 1949 Packard.

Ray

 Packards were excellent cars back then 

4 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

You might want to consider the March of 2026, 54-day sailing on the Island Princess.  This voyage is roundtrip Los Angeles.  We are booked on this one.

 

 

We knew of that cruise but there are no handicap balcony cabins left on that cruise .We checked months ago 

It does not have to be one cruise line if that is a problem .We are flevible for more than one cruise line 

2 minutes ago, dog said:

When

We are retired so it can be any time 

We are looking for a cruise from LA to New Zealand or Australia spend a week or tqo in one of those countries & then take a Princess ship back to LA ,Calif  . Princess at one time did have that type of combination  on the Majestic Princess . Tried Princess on the phone but reaching a off shore person who does not have a great deal of experience id frustrating  .Can any one help with this request .We need a handicap balcony cabin  on both directions ? 

Thanks in advance for any good information about doing these 2 cruises 

7 hours ago, HamOp said:

You're Old!  (me too)

 

 

Yup had that done back then . Wondering id that car facing us was a old Packard  or Hudson . Those were the says with the ice cream counters making ice cream sodas ,Malteds &  ice cream sundaes  . ticket to the movies was 12 cents . "Those Were the Days "

On 5/17/2024 at 10:16 AM, Mary229 said:

If you wait until the very last minute to pay for a cruise you alleviate all of these issues.  I do not pay a bill until it is due.  I assume 60 days out I have visibility and I am willing to lose a little money.  I live differently than most people so I would not expect others to do as I do. Hey, I went 30 years with no health insurance and sleep well every night.  

Mary true non of us are clones to others . We are now in our mid 80s & things definitely changed from ehwn we were in our mid 70s  .As we age we are less likely to take on risks of any kind  . It is just the natural progression in life 

3 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

That is what I do.  The. I pay with Aarp gift cards to a comfortable level.  All other spending is AARP gift cards.  That’s what you do when money is inflating, find ways to save and pay as late as possible because dollars are less valuable with each passing day.  Buy with the cheapest dollars you can

  There are potential hazards  with the AARP gift cards ;such as not being able to use them because of illness ie  . Additionally ,the AARP gift cards that once were a 10 % savings now are only 8& savings .Then adain ,there is no savings & a potentail big loss if a person finds they can no longer use those AARP gift cards  .As people get older they need to look at the possibility of illness that prevents them from cruising & thus using AARP gift cards which are non refundable . Every thing we all do from time to time has a down side not just upside 

Here imo is the best way to save  .when on a cruise get the future cruise deposits then book a cruise that is in the early bonus area of time  plus the Mariners bonus ,AARP on board credit  & any other OBC that a person can qualify , Seems to me that is truly the best way to get better pricing . Then ise 100 share od CCL stock to get more on board credit . 

10 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Hey are paying down as fast as they can and good for them, they could behave like Washington and buy more junk instead but that doesn’t alter the terms of the debt 

 

as to you buying big deposits we keep telling you to buy FCDs then you never have a large sums of money with the cruise line. I never pay more than $600 deposit for both of us

Yes future cruise deposits are the way to go for sure ;however ,you can only buy them when on the ship  .We do understand we can cancel them at any time if we are not booking a cruise & get back the money . So yes you are correct the down side is far less with FCDs  

I see the risk not in price increases as much as I see more risk in the high deposits HAL requires . when they do a $1 deposit for a day , that is vhump change but when we shel out $1200 or $700 for deposits . We have one cruise Jan 2026  with a $1200 deposit  .One cruise is now completely paid for & one 7 day cruise we have $700 deposit . The only way around that is toi  book on board a ship with the $25 deposits for a future cruise

40 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I think they have locked in their rates.  

Mary CCL is trying to buy down their higher interest rates with cash flows . On other words some of their debt is  now at a lower interest rate  . However , that does not mean if rates increase what will happen . It is imo  truly a craps shoot . If the deposits were placed in a neutral escrow it be safe but CCL uses those deposits in advance of you or I taking a booked cruise . Seems to me it is one sided  & that side is with CCL  . It is what it is if any one wants to nook out a  cruise . Safety is only if  booking  last minute ;however ,the downside to that is the cabin selection . In our case we must book early because we must have a Handicap cabin  .so we get stuck waiting it out . 

 There is a big difference in taking land vacations unless it is a all inclusive . Land vacations you are not tying up large dollar amounts for a long period of time . 

The main problem today imo is having a lot of monies tied up into  long term deposits . No earnings on that money & what are the guarantees the cruise line is going to be  un business come time to cruise . I hope that crosses peoples minds . It is not just the higher cabin prices but ,the inherent risk  factor .  

Very recently Jamie Diamond CEO of JPMorgan chase came out with words like 8 % in interest is not out of the question . Should that occur what would that do to debt laden cruise lines ?

14 hours ago, Mary229 said:

It was clear that prices were going to go up everywhere so we bought cruises for 2 years out to lock in the old rates.  Now I have a twofold strategy, I either buy when it is first published to take advantage of the early booking bonus and the early Mariner bonus or I wait until it is close to sailing and try to get a last minute deal.  Worse than the cruise fares are the international airfares. 

Not only that Mary but ,if we  were flying today I would only want to fly in a airbus not a Boeing plane because of what is going on at Boeing these days 

20 minutes ago, Gunther1 said:

In a word, yes.  

 

We had to go on a cross-country road trip in March and April of 2000…….at one town, we bought gas for $1.10 a gallon.  

 

Simple supply and demand :(.  It’s the American Way 😉.

Yes you could get gas at low cost then  .back in the 50s I bought a gal of gas for .19 cents  .what gets in the way is inflation . Now my gas in San diego county at the Carlsbad Costco is $4.86 per gal    But gas prices van be lowered by opening up huge deposits in Alaska & elsewhere in the USA  along with more pike lines to get it to the refineries the quickest . 

 will we see $1.10 a pal I doubt it but I like to see $2.50 per gas; once again & we live in tax high California