cawags

Can us "meat and potatoes" eaters eat to Blu ?

My meat, potatoes, corn and Lima beans husband had no problems in Blu.

Did fine in Luminea also.

Carol

I also am Elite but always get the premium package. One thing I'm not seeing in this thread is the benefit of having the "all inclusive experience" where you may get something to try and never have to think about deciding if you want to spend the money.

I don't know if I drink enough to make it financially beneficial, but I do feel like it's emotionally beneficial. Besides I pay for it far enough in advance that when I'm using it, I've already forgotten the cost and it feels free. :)

We did AI resorts many times before starting to cruise. As a matter of fact one of the reasons we didn't cruise sooner was the bill at the end. LOL, We love the premium package because We also don't want to worry about every drink, bottle of water or premium coffee we drink. We also like trying different drinks and yes that does take the "pressure" away from spending the extra money. We are coffee snobs and if you don't do premium the coffee it is just swill. Between the cruise and airfare cruising is not cheap. We like having most of it paid for before we board. I'm not into a bill at the end. But that's just us. So Bobby Dee I'm with you.

Carol

This is with Delta, right? ATL is the largest Delta hub in the country. We had heard so many horror stories, but then found it very quick and efficient every time we used it. And, like you said, being in business class will expedite matters significantly. Is there a business class lounge there?

They should have a great lounge. We will find out on the way home. Even with the fire going on connection was OK. We have friends who worked for Northwest , now Delta. As long as we aren't held up leaving PA should be fine if my old legs can make it. 😉 As far as horror stories. You usually only hear from the b#^>£€#s. 😉

Carol

Thanks! Unfortunately, it doesn't look like any type of sale for our Repo.

 

Edit - I believe there is supposed to be a sale on all repositioning cruises. It just doesn't appear to be working for me online, so I may need to call in.

Isn't working for ours either.

Distance between gates should not be a problem either with an hour layover. The few times we've gone through ATL have been very smooth connections. They have a great inter-terminal transportation system also.

Being in row 1 should help also. LOL. David and I have a really good system getting off planes. One we keep our stuff organized. Grab and go! Just so the big bags make it. I really don't want to shop for clothes in BA. A month is a long time! 😉 We have only been through Atlanta once and they had a fire in one of the areas we had to pass! Interesting first impression.

Carol

I'd do the Bermuda out of Bayonne as a B2B...that allows 6 days in Bermuda. We've never been there. X seems to be the only line that stays there 3 days.What concerned me about coming into ATL is that, since that is our point of departure for an international flight, it is probably best to be there even earlier than 2+ hours. If our first flight would be late, we could be in trouble.

They tell us it's fine. We shall see. Glad it wasn't yesterday. LOL.

Only concern is distance between gates.

Carol

Actually, after several phone calls with Delta, Choice Air, and Aerolinas Argentina (not to mention literally an entire day wrangling over all this with my wife and I deciding which option we wanted to go with), I wound up going back to the nonstop with Aerolineas Argentina. The nonstop schedule was my preference from the beginning, but then I got hung up thinking about getting premium economy seats. Choice air seems to only deal with regular economy, first, or business class. That is what they told me at least.

 

Since the reviews of AA (Argentine Airlines) are indeed not very positive - at least for economy, we went with roundtrip business class since the price was only $5300 for 2 (for both nonstop flights between JFK and BA). So it actually comes out to $1325 pp per flight. So...like you...I think I did really well. We figure...how bad can business class be with them? We saw a youtube video that a guy took in business class with AA, and it looks good to me. So far my dealings with AA have been fine. The website is user friendly, and the agent I talked to seemed very helpful. So I guess we'll see what happens. Even if there is a delay - as is often reported with them - at least we don't have to worry about making any connections. If we get down to BA a few hours later, frankly I don't care since the flight is scheduled to arrive at 4:20 a.m.! I do need to check on the carry-on allowance since their website only says 1 piece, but I would think that a small personal item is also allowed as is typically the case with any flights.

 

We really debated on the Delta connection through Atlanta, but figured..why spend an extra 9 hours? There is still the 10+ hour flight from JFK to BA, plus we'd be adding another 2 hour flight from JFK to ATL and back, plus a 2.5 hour layover going both ways. Doesn't make sense somehow to add all that extra time and wind up paying 3k for comfort+ seats. For the extra $2300 we got business class and might actually get some sleep at least on the way back.

 

I'm just glad it is booked and done. Did it through choiceair. I had to really be a bit persuasive to get them to do what I wanted, since initially they gave me some grief about not being able to book comfort + seats (had we gone with Delta), but then magically after she put me on hold for awhile she came back and said they could do it, but then of course we opted out of using that flight schedule anyway. The whole thing with the Delta flight being codeshared with Argentina airlines seems to create some issues since the flight is on an Argentina plane, so as a result it's impossible for either I or choice air to even call up a seat map. I will not book any long haul flights without knowing right away what seats I have. I had to go into the AA website and basically register for the flight up to the point where payment was requested and THEN I was able to check out the seats. When I saw that the business class section was nearly filled, we decided enough was enough and so called choiceair again and booked it. She still couldn't give me seats - so I was actually about to change my mind one more time but then suddenly she indicated that the seat assignments came through. I was rather relieved at that point, since I really did spend an entire day on the whole thing.

 

Still not done though. I found out that X does not provide for any transfers between the airport and hotel if arriving prior to embarkation day. I have to contact the hotel directly. I don't understand why they can't build this transfer into their pre-cruise packages, especially since we're using one of the hotels they work with. Oh well...that should be much easier than deciding on flights. This whole trip had better work as planned after all this! A nice relaxing (non-flying) cruise to Bermuda is looking better and better! As I get older, I'm starting to like travel arrangements to be simpler and less complicated. This trip is neither, at least thus far.

Glad you worked it out. I've been thinking about you. We aren't big on layovers or changing planes, but for this trip and the price we got out of Harrisburg we will chance it. A little concerned about our 65 minute layover in Atlanta but it should work or ChoiceAir will be getting us there since we booked through them. 😉😉 We still need to work out the transfer to our hotel in Buenos Aires. We are staying at the Hilton.

As far as a Bermuda cruise, driving to New Jersey was nice but we find 7 nights to short a time. Felt like it was over as soon as it started. LOL.

Carol

Changed my mind about the flights. I talked to choice air, and also Delta. I didn't book yet but need to very soon - probably tomorrow - since the comfort+ seats are limited on at least one of the flights. Instead of the nonstop with Argentine Airlines (I read too many bad reviews about them), I'm opting for 1 stop through Atlanta out of Newark. JFK has the same flight itinerary but Newark is closer to us and thus a bit cheaper transportation cost to airport. I did price Business on the Delta flights but the total cost came to like 12-13k. I just can't make myself do it for that price. So now hopefully choice air can book everything without any problems.

Boy am I glad I booked our flights to BA when I did! Business class 12-13k! So about 6k one way. My $3,500 for 2 one way was a bargain! LOL.

As far as Argentine Air you must have read the same reviews I did. Didn't give me a warm and fuzzy even after I talked to friends who flew them. That was one of the things that made me check on flying from Harrisburg. Saves us from having to hire a car service to the airport.

Good luck getting them booked.

Carol

Hi Carol,

 

Funny about the premium booze package...LOL Hey...whatever gets David on board with the trip, right? Re: Australia...I'm definitely planning on that one. The trip I like is with Collette called (I think) "The Complete South Pacific". 27-28 days in all. That is really far to go so I can't see doing Australia one trip and then NZ another. I'm near certain we're going to do the Antarctica trip. I think I'll call choiceair tomorrow and see if they can help answer some questions I have. I'd like if they can tell me seat availability since I was planning on simply tracking the flight cost and seating for awhile, although I suppose unless they are really having trouble filling the plane that the price won't drop much if at all. I at least want Delta's version of 'premium economy'. We did that last summer on a flight over to Stockholm for a Baltic cruise with RCCL and it was amazing due to having access to the first class lounge in the airports. It is so unfair what the people sitting out at the gates do NOT get. In the lounge we had any kind of drink you could want, hot and cold food, nice comfortable chairs, and then best of all was the private and extremely quick security line. Not sure why I'm telling you all this since I suspect you've had all this already anyway with flying business. Still, with only premium economy I never expected that level of amenities. It sure does spoil you REAL quick.

Last August we got to JFK way early. Deltas lounge is great! We had food drinks and comfortable seating. We have a 3 hour layover on the way home from Miami so we will get to try out the delta lounge. We only have 65 minutes on the way to BA so probably no lounge. Tight but hope it works. We've also been put in the short line on checking pretty often even when not flying business class. We have friends who work for the FAA and I said something to them. They said because of our age. Works for me. LOL.

I have a friend did Australia and New Zealand and somewhere else in January. Gone about a month and loved it not sure who their tour was with.

Carol.

Your B2B sounds great....4 weeks. That is a bit long for me though. Australia and New Zealand are very high on my list but the tour I like is close to 4 weeks and I just hate to be away that long due to needing someone to water my large collection of houseplants and also the animals are in the kennel whenever we're away. I actually looked at a Mardi Gras cruise but decided against it due to the craziness that you refer to. I'd like to do the Canal also sometime, though that is certainly not at the top of my list. Antarctica has always been way up there, but I do have many reservations about it and still debate on canceling it at times. For one thing, we'll be crossing what is often the roughest body of water on the planet - the potential is there for gale force winds and very high seas. People have actually gotten thrown out of bed if things get really bad, dining room shuts down, etc. Factor that in with my propensity for motion sickness yet and it could make for a miserable and yet very expensive trip - at least part of it anyway. So we'll see. I think I will commit to it and see how things go. This trip is NOT high on DW's list at all...she's willing to do it but would much prefer to go just about anywhere else. So I kind of feel guilty about that also. Like I said...lots of ambivalent feelings. Once I book airfare though, then it's a much bigger commitment. Have to decide soon.

Australia is one I'm kicking around. If I'm flying that far it will be 4 weeks. We are very lucky. No plants but we do have 6 cats. I have a friend who stays at the house with them. Don't know what I'd do without her!

I don't have issues with motion sickness but I did find out this year I have to be careful of altitude. We did a road trip and our time in Lake Tahoe was rough. Machu Pichu is not on our list for that reason.

David acts like he isn't thrilled by these trips but he comes home and tells everyone else how great it was. LOL. I promised him last year when we did the British Isles cruise that we would fly business class and he would have the premium booze package. 😉🍸🍷. It worked. We met great people, had an excellent time and he's going again.

Part of the reason for this B2B is only one brutal flight. We actually considered driving home from Miami. Found flights he's happy with so we are flying home.

Hope you decide to commit and enjoy Antarctica.

Carol

I can't speak for all types of cabins but I do know that balcony doors can be opened between certain sky suite cabins. We were on the Reflection this spring in a mid-ship Sky suite. The balcony doors on both sides of our cabin balcony were open when we boarded. We had the room steward lock them immediately since we were sailing by ourselves and didn't know our neighbors.

We have 2 aft cabins booked for November and were told they could be opened up.

Carol

Yeah..you did really well with locking in the price at $1750 pp. That is pretty amazing for business class. I always heard 4-6 months out is a good time to purchase international airfare, but a travel agent I had for many years said that it's basically a crapshoot as to when is the best time to buy. I don't want to wait too much longer since I'm not able to see what seats are available, so that just makes me a bit nervous, especially now that I have the flights pretty well picked.

 

What is the cruise you're doing that involves going to BA? I don't believe you are doing the same one I'm on. I'm sure you mentioned it along the way but I don't recall.

We are doing a B2B. Buenos Aires, around the horn. Up the other coast and through the Panama Canal to Miami. 3/5 to 4/2. I am really looking forward to this. The Canal was always on my list. I figured with the cost of airfare we were doing it all. LOL. David is concerned about his liver 😉. We were also booked for the 2/19 Rio Carnival leg but after much discussion we cancelled that leg. Rio and the crowds were a major concern for us. Kept hearing that Carnival is like Mardi Gras on steroids. Don't think so!

Antarctica sounds amazing.

Carol.

Carol,

 

The 5:55 p.m. departure by any chance? How long ago did you book this? And did you book it as a Delta flight or as Aerolineas Argentinas? I don't doubt you got it much cheaper than what I'm seeing...which is over $1500 pp in economy.

Yes we are the 5:55 to ATL. It is all Delta flights. We booked back in May when the flights were first released. We paid $1750 PP for business class through Choice Air. MDT/ATL/EZE. My travel agent was really impressed with the price I found. I feel like I am being paid to fly from Harrisburg. LOL. We only booked our flights to the cruise. We end in Miami so I booked that later directly with Delta.

I wasn't sure I wanted to use Aerolineas. I had read some not so good things about them. Have since talked to people who used them and they were Ok with them. So who knows.

I am a big price watcher. Flights. Cruises. Hotels. Our May Bermuda cruise,I was able to get a suite for what I had originally paid for Aqua. (After final payment).

In general I have found booking international flights seem to be the cheapest when they are first released. We paid a small fortune for our flights to Amsterdam last year, 6 weeks out.

Carol

BTW. Just checked Choice Air for the price and it's now 3500 PP for the same connections. I think I got a real deal. 🎉🎉

You said you were looking at a Delta flight out of JFK. You can look at the seats on Delta's website and know what seats are available.

We booked using Choice Air one way Delta business class. I booked as soon as it came in the window. I was able to change my seats on the delta website as soon as I had the reservation number. Got the best price using Choice Air. Also got the best price flying from Harrisburg to Atlanta to Buenos Aires. Cheaper than I could get the Atlanta/BA or JFK/BA direct Same flight is now double what I paid. Glad I didn't wait.

Carol.

Hi Carol,

 

That is interesting. So far I'm not seeing much difference in price between expedia searches and what I'm finding on choiceair. What is really driving me crazy about them is that the website does not show the same flights each time. I understand their need to apply a filtering system that automatically weeds out any flights that would not be suitable for the requirements of the cruise departure and arrival dates and times, but I fail to see why a nonstop flight would not show up that arrives the day before embarkation. The flights I'm most leaning towards for the February cruise do not show up at all. I wrote to them and asked why this is and simply got a reply indicating that I need to call them to reserve the flights I want.

 

I'm not sure I really want to spring for business class. We had it once as a free upgrade, and it was pretty amazing (having never had it before), but otherwise it just goes against me to spend like $2500 pp for a long haul flight.

 

I don't think I looked into flying out of Harrisburg...thanks for mentioning this. I'll check it out. I have no problem with a connection but we do like nonstop the best for longer flights.

 

Keith

I never would have thought Harrisburg would have even been in the ball park. I feel like we are being "paid" to fly from Harrisburg.

I have to book business class if I want to get DH to go at all. Business class and premium alcohol or no cruise for David. 😉 That's my boy!

Carol

Due to the stated purpose of them being that if something does screw up, they have a dedicated team that works to reroute your flights to the best of their ability to get you to the ship - rather than having to do that legwork yourself. I have no experience with how efficacious this actually is, but that's the whole point of air2sea. I only ever used them once, and everything went smoothly, so as I said I have no idea how the emergency situations are actually handled.

We usually drive for direct flights. Just on a whim I checked flying from Harrisburg, 20 minutes from home. We have Harrisburg to Atlanta to Buenos Aires booked through celebrity's choice air for our South America/Panama canal cruise in March. Price was great Business class. It was actually cheaper for Harrisburg/Atlanta/BA than Atlanta/BA direct. Go figure. First time using the cruise line service. Only needed one way. This is with Delta. And when I booked, the airfare was much less through the cruise line than booking with Delta.

Our return from Miami to Harrisburg was the same price with Delta directly or the cruise line so I booked that part with Delta.

Carol

Done 3 and 3 booked for 2017.

Carol

Escargot in the MDR and pastries from Café Al Baccio (sp).

Cheese Danish and sticky buns.

Carol

We are doing a B2B in March on the Infinity. Same cabin both legs.

Hope it goes quickly as there is a group of us touring that day.

I'm getting so excited 28 days at sea! David hopes his liver survives.

We keep getting different answers as to how it's handled. I'm guessing ship and port of call are the reason.

Carol

On our Bermuda cruise in May we had a bunch of OBC. Prices were regular Apple prices but there was limited selection. I was looking for the iPad Pro 9.7" and they didn't have either of the iPad pros.

Carol

Any suggestions for a good red wine (Cabernet) in the premium package?

I have had the premium package on all 3 of our cruises and I am a Cab drinker. Have had many good ones on board. Different choices on all 3 cruises. Ask for recommendations. The last cruise we were with "wine snob" 😉 🍷 friends and she was very happy with the selections.

Carol

HI all!

 

 

cawags ~ you're right to be excited, Cuba's an exciting place, probably like no other.:D

 

Chimo!

 

~ Jo ~ :)

My darling husband had no "interest". So I'm going with a friend I met on a cruise last year. His loss. As well as a couple from Alaska we met on the same cruise.

This is a place I have always wanted to see. And so did our cruise friends. 😉

Another thing to be checked off from my bucket list.

Carol

Also interested in overnight for Montego Bay cruise. Looked into Holiday Inn Sunspree since it's close to airport. Can't find cruise port on map for Montego Bay but presume it's close to downtown. Any body know?

 

Also wondered about experience with paperwork for US citizens. We're booked on December 2016 cruise and were told our required documents would be provided with tickets. Any comments?

 

Very excited to finally be able to go to Cuba.

We are doing this cruise in January. We are flying in 2 days prior. We are staying at the Hilton Rose Hall. I'm planning on hiring a driver to take us from the airport to the hotel and the hotel to the cruise port. Have used various drivers over our many Jamaica trips.

We are also very excited to go to Cuba. 🎉✈️🚢😎✈️

Carol.

I upgraded prior to my first cruise by calling myself since my TA didn't want to do it & said I could do it once I boarded. Since I wanted everything done prio & called & had no issues I

 

 

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Thanks. I will give that a try. I don't want a bill at the end. It adds up quick.

Carol.

What type of sale Carol? I have yet to see one of the drink packages have the daily price lowered.

Last August it saved us about $200 on our premium beverage package on a 14 day cruise. I think it was a percent off. I also snagged a sale for my first Bermuda cruise a few years before.

Someone on our roll call had seen a post about it. It was only for a short period of time.

I just keep adding it to my cart to see if it goes down again. Our cruise is a repo so no perks. We have until March for our South America B2B. We don't have a lot of on board credit, so I like all our perks taken care of before we go.

Carol