em-sk

7 hours ago, Fouremco said:

Yikes! That's not the answer I expected. Ah well, a flight she won't soon forget. 😇 

Faro is not a major business center in Portugal. That traffic would be heading to Lisbon or Porto. 

The vast majority of people flying into Faro are going to be heading to a beach vacation.  Charter or not, it will have the save vibe. 

19 minutes ago, catlet said:

Canadians like to talk about weather, family, travel and avoid discussion of Health care and politics. Sports like curling, hockey vs football, soccer. Crown Royal not bourbon. Caesars not Bloody Mary's. Temperature when it's too cold to swim, wear shorts, need a sweater. 

We also like maple syrup, and are offended by the imitation corn syrup.  

8 hours ago, broberts said:

 

I think it more likely that the preboarding test will be accepted as the entry test. 

 

 

Did such passengers not have to complete paper arrival declarations before the app was introduced? 

 

Nobody has to install the app on a phone. One can use any browser enable device to complete the form online. A receipt will be emailed. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html

 

And frankly if a foreign visitor us not willing to complete a simple questionnaire, I'm quite happy if they don't bother visiting.

It has been a few years since I have done one of these repositioning cruises.  The practice with NCL at least was they collect the Canadian customs declaration card in LA.  

The cruise line sends all the information to Canadian customs ahead of time.  In Victoria, there are some PA announcements on the ship for the people that Canada customs want to see in person and everyone else is cleared with the ship.  The border control people in Victoria are not checking individual passports.   Anyone Canada has a problem with would have been electronically flagged and given to the cruise line before the ship is cleared.

Next day you arrive into Vancouver as a domestic journey from Victoria and there is no passport control of any kind.

Educated guess would be the Canada and the cruise line will use the same pre-departure test as the basis for entry.  The cruise lines and the Canadian authorities have been reviewing all the cruise line COVID plans for weeks.  We will now for certain when they make the announcement. 

11 hours ago, LB1955 said:

Considering the current appalling behaviour of the Russian invasion of the democracy in Ukraine I hope all cruise lines cancel ports/excursions in Russia.  Canadians and cruise lines should in no way support the Russian economy.

Given Canada, UK, US and Europe Union have finally agreed to block Russia banks from using the SWIFT computer network, that will put an end to cruses stopping in Russia. 

Without access to the SWIFT network banks are unable to transfer money internationally.  Without SWIFT the Visa, Mastercard, AMEX cards have now stopped working in Russia.  No way for a cruise line to pay any port fees etc.  No one is going there.

7 hours ago, kluv2cruz said:

Thanks all… i do have a Canadian TA. And I think even if I book a sailing then cancel, it falls off the table. I don’t think husband will get on a celebrity ship before expiry and they won’t let me use it on my upcoming celebrity sailing with a friend as it’s in DH name. I have some work to do - need to pin down exactly how it arose. I know it’s flowed in and out of about 3-4 cruises which is muddying things. Thanks. 

Some times the third person in the cabin gets a very deep discount.  If you booked three people and one backed out at the last minute that does not stop the other two from enjoying their cruise.

12 hours ago, broberts said:

Would it make a difference if a Canadian TA was involved?

If you purchased it through a TA in Canada then Canadian laws would apply as the transaction occurred in Canada.  If you used it to buy a cruise and then subsequently canceled my guess is Canadian laws would apply but not certain.  

Most provinces also have insurance programs that the TA are forced to pay into that also provides some level of protection not certain if this case would apply.

20 hours ago, kluv2cruz said:

Does anyone have wisdom about Consumer Protection and whether FCC are like a gift certificate or canceled airfare that’s gone into a travel bank which is illegal to have an expiry date in Canada?
 

Seems to me this is my money I paid for a cruise and it can’t just disappear with an expiry date, but I don’t know where to look for information to support this. I’m in BC and I know BC consumer protection act prohibits gift cards from having an expiry date.

 

Thanks for any wisdom. Mine are Celebrity. Cross posted in Celebrity area too.

I think you need to look at where the certificate was issued and the transaction occurred.  If it occurred on the ship then your likely protected by consumer law in the country of the ships flag.  Panama, Bermuda etc.  In the case of Celebrity most of their ships are registered in Malta.  I don't know what protections exist in that country.

Best bet is seeing if they have extended them or else doing a booking and changing it when you get closer to knowing what to do next.

On 2/19/2022 at 1:47 PM, Travel Lady in CT said:

I saw a reference to a "3 ship or mega ship" day. How do you know what ships will be in port when you arrive?

The pdf is at:  https://www.portvancouver.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-Cruise-Ship-Schedule-DRAFT-as-of-Feb-15-2022.pdf

Port authority web page is at:  https://www.portvancouver.com/cruise/cruise-schedule/

Obviously cruise ships can make changes however that is currently what the port has as dock bookings. 

On 2/17/2022 at 11:32 AM, Sherme said:

I booked Atlanta - Vancouver, with a connection in Toronto.  When I made my original booking, I chose flights so that I had over 3 hours in Toronto.  Yesterday, Air Canada emailed me to inform me that my flights had changed.  I noticed that I now only have 1 hour and 15 minutes in Toronto.  I called Air Canada, as I am worried that this is not enough time.  I was told that it's more than enough time.  I hope they are right, as I don't want to miss the connecting flight.

It should be.  

Air Canada has hourly flights between Toronto and Vancouver.  Most of the flights on this route are between 190 and 450 passenger aircraft. If your inbound is late, they have a lot of options to rebook. 

13 hours ago, Kirsten T said:

 

There's also a page describing the reverse, and it's basically the same process. Not sure we can do it in an hour and a half with elderly parents, but boy it's a LOT cheaper than United...

 

 

If you are concerned about traveling with elderly parents after you book your flight drop their assitance e-mail an e-mail with your flight details and tell them your parents have difficulty walking long distances. ( acmedical@aircanada.ca or 1-800-667-4732 ) and how many people in the group.    They will put a note on the file and have an agent with a golf cart meet your flight and help expedite getting you through the process to the connecting gate.   

Toronto is a very large airport. 

5 hours ago, cdn_tbird said:

I was looking to book the flights to FLL or MIA for our Nov. cruise and noticed that for either route one of the flights is on a 737 Max 8. Wondering how people feel about flying on a Max 8. I've done a ton of flying especially in my last job so the logical side of me says it's no big deal but then the irrational side thinks of the stigma.

 

 

I would not be any more concerned than any airline.

Boeing fixed the issues.  The US regulator redid their assessment.  The other regulators (Europe, Canada etc.) would normally accept each others certification.  They did not in this case and also did their detailed assessment.  This is now probably one of the most well reviewed aircraft design flying.

Both AC and WS are solid operators with a strong safety program and culture. 

On 2/19/2022 at 7:37 AM, swimmerboy said:

Hi Canadians,

The link to the Portuguese govt site order of yesterday:

https://dre.pt/dre/detalhe/despacho/2181-b-2022-179423775

I dont know how to read Portuguese but it appears that Canada has joined Brazil, the US and UK.

Would someone who reads Portuguese confirm.

Thanks

For what it is wort, Clause 1 says the following are permitted entry for essential and non-essential reasons.....  Then lists a number of countries including the European Union and countries who vaccine certifications are accepted the European Union.  The last entry (e) on the list lists additional countries that are treated the same way that includes the US, UK, Brazil and Canada.

Basically Canada is now permitted entry for non-essential reasons.

6 hours ago, dawnvip said:

@em-sk lie flat seats are available on most of the wide-body AC aircraft. Not available on A319/321/321, Rouge branded, or 737. 

I'm not positive, but don't think there are any Rouge aircraft going to Europe at this time, so OP should be on a wide body.

Agree the food and service in business class is usually excellent.  We flew to Paris last fall though and were disappointed that the service was limited due to covid need to reduce contact. 

Air Canada has retired some Rouge 767 or and the remainder are being converting into all cargo aircraft. Those are not in passenger service anymore.

The remaining Rouge aircraft (Airbus 320,321) don't have the range for Europe. 

The OP will end up on a Airbus A330, Boeing 787 or Boeing 777.    Air Canada purchased all the 787 and 777 new and most of the A330 new in Air Canada configuration. 

There were a couple A330 they picked up from Singapore Airline or TAP Air Portugal.  Those were not as nice as the AC layout, but I think during the covid slowdown they were all refurbished to a standard Air Canada layout.  

19 hours ago, Bertie Doe said:

We flew out of LHR on 4th Feb, our temperatures showed up a small flat screen. Another temp check when we flew from Cairo to Aswan on 6th Feb, to board river cruise boat MS Saphire. So far so good but when returning to London from Cairo on the 13th Feb, the Cairo temp screen at boarding control was swithed off!!

 

Yesterday the NHS Track & Trace system showed we were in contact with a C-19 positive. All 3 flights were Egyptair A320s. The last flight was about 90% full, so that will cost the NHS about 165 Rapid Antigen test kits. Fortunately our first (of seven) RA tests proved negative.

 

I know temperature testing isn't fool-proof but identifying the Covid Positive victim earlier, would save a lot of anxiety and cost. Of course, this could be a one-off tech glitch but if anyone returns from Cairo in the next few weeks, could they please report back? Thanks in anticipation.

Some countries are big into doing these checks others not so much.  Including pre-covid.

If you have an elevated temperature it can easily be controlled with over the counter cold medication.  

Having a high temperature indicated your sick with something.  Not having a normal temperature does not indicate your healthy.

On 2/13/2022 at 5:48 AM, jhenry1 said:

Ugh

That doesn’t sound good.  We have never flown AC but they had the best flight to Athens we could find from Austin Texas.  Hope all works out.  We are in business class.

We usually fly American, United, or BA which now has a direct flight once a day from Austin. 
Anything we need to know about AC?

Air Canada business class is very good.  On par or better than most other North American or European airlines.   In business class the seat open out to a flat bed so you will get some sleep.   

Meals are subjective.  I have never had an issue with the Business Class offering.  

If you collect points on United, you can put you united frequent flyer number on your AC flight.  

Air Canada has some "Rouge" branded aircraft.  These generate most of the complaints as they are used on vacation routes competing against discount carriers and have dense layouts.  None of the rouge aircraft have the range for Toronto to Athens so will not not be on one of these. 

Toronto is divided into two terminals and  each terminal is divided into a domestic, US and international concourse.  A bit different than the US but very similar to how this are done in Europe.  Air Canada and their star alliance partners (United, Lufthans etc) are in one.  WestJet and their partners (Delta, Air France, KLM,  etc.) are in the other.  

Coming from the US you will have a very basic document check and be directed into the international concourse.  Bags will automatically transfer.  

Coming back if your also transferring in Toronto you would go from International to US (bags are automatically transferred), you clear US customs in Toronto and arrive at a domestic gate state side.  

On 2/10/2022 at 3:27 PM, BellaB50 said:

I would like to take a Baltic capitals cruise.  Flying into Copenhagen generates a single entry Schengen visa for Canadians and Americans.    After visiting several Schengen countries, this cruise visits Russia which is a non-Schengen country, then goes on to visit other Schengen countries, returning to Copenhagen.  All of my research says that, if you leave a Schengen country, that uses up your “single entry” from your visa, so, if you leave Schengen to visit Russia, in theory, you can’t get back on the ship because it goes back into Schengen territory.  Does the fact that you don’t need a Russian visa if you only take a tour mean that, technically, you didn’t exit the Schengen group?  Do you need to get a double entry Schengen visa to take this cruise?  If so, where do you get one?  Do cruise ships have special rules that override the Schengen rules?  Spent hours researching this with no luck at all, so thanks for any help you can give me.  Bella

They are likely to clear the entire ship back in.  Anyone on the ship the authorities have an issue with would be called down and handled as a special case.   

On 2/11/2022 at 9:30 PM, cantonoh1753 said:

I really wanted to take a train - I heard it was great. 

 

We will be in Seattle to visit friends, and then we will need to get to Vancouver for the cruise (hotel on Sunday, cruise on Monday).   

 

We could fly,  but doesn't sound like much fun compared to the train idea..... 

 

I did find the link for the bus - $45pp, one way, Seattle to Vancouver 

https://www.cantrail.com

If they restart the train Q1 then that is sometime over next 6 weeks.  I would book it, worse case is it is replaced by a bus.

However given the direction things are going I would be surprised if the train is not restarted.  

I would do the uber from Pacific Central Station (where the Train to Seattle depart/arrives) and Canada Place. 

You could also do public transit. However the line that services the airport (Canada Line) using different railcars with luggage racks.  The Expo Line that services Pacific Central does not.

On 2/7/2022 at 4:51 PM, edgee said:

I know that during cruising season, a few rental car companies have booths just outside luggage collection area at Vancouver cruise port so disembarking passengers can easily pick up rental cars. We did this about 5 years ago. However, now when I go to websites of rental car companies and try and reserve a car for this summer in Vancouver, the only locations offered are at best a few blocks walking distance from the cruise port. Any suggestions of companies that have the cruiseport location posted on websites so one can make a car rental reservation? Thanks!

If your looking at a map just above the cruise ship terminal is the east hall, just next to is the larger west hall (the big square pier).  

Located in that building is also the sea plane terminal.  Here is a list of rental cars that service sea plans.  You may want to try giving some of these companies a call and what they say about a pickup at the cruise ship terminal.

https://vhfc.ca/rental-cars/

19 hours ago, Fouremco said:

That thought had crossed my mind too, but the Visit Portugal website is available in 10 languages. Those that I checked, starting with the French version and including the original Portuguese, all say the same thing. While I don't read or speak Portuguese, it's easy enough to compare it to the English version and see that they say the same thing.

 

I – ACESSIBILIDADE

1) Chegar a Portugal por avião

PORTUGAL CONTINENTAL

PERMITIDO
- Países da União Europeia ou de um estado associado ao Espaço Schengen (Liechtenstein, Noruega, Islândia e Suíça);
- Brasil, EUA e Reino Unido;
- Países com voos autorizados para viagens não essenciais sob reserva de confirmação de reciprocidade: Arábia Saudita, Barém, Chile, Colômbia, Coreia do Sul, Emirados Árabes Unidos, Indonésia, Koweit, Nova Zelândia, Peru, Qatar, República Popular da China, Ruanda e Uruguai, assim como as regiões administrativas de Hong Kong e Macau e ainda Taiwan,

No caso de países não referidos são apenas permitidas “viagens essenciais”, ou seja, as que permitam o trânsito e a entrada em Portugal por motivos profissionais, de estudo, de reunião familiar e por razões de saúde ou por razões humanitárias.

The Portuguese is a fairly direct translation into the English. 

The one point of ambiguity is it is (transit)  or ( entry ......  . Or if the restrictions apply also to transit. 

Someone catching a cruise ship within a day or two of arrival is transiting the country.  They happen to be changing modes of travel.  

Canada for example through the entire COVID travel restrictions generally has not stopped people from transiting Canada when their stay was as short as possible to facilitate the transit.  That has applied to Americans from Seattle using YVR.  It has applied to French nationals transit Canada by Air and Ship to reach the two collonies off NFLD.

If Air Canada does not have an issue, I would use that line of argument on arrival in Lisbon.  You are there only temporally and will transit to cruise ship that will be departing very quickly.  Under those conditions it is very unlikely they would force anyone to leave the country imediately.

52 minutes ago, ALD18 said:

In the context of the cruise lines, I wonder if the ships will still dock in the Azores, or any other Portuguese ports, but just not let Canadians off?  Might they ban future Canadian passenger bookings and cancel Canadians already on the cruises that are to stop in any Portuguese ports? That may be another logistical hurdle for them to handle sorting who can and cannot get off..........

Sounds like the more recent wording is Canadians arriving from Canada. 

That would only apply to the Air Canada, TAP and Air Transat flights from Canada.   A good percentage of people on those routes are people visiting family which is permitted.

In the 1050s when my dad emigrated from Portugal to Canada he sailed from Lisbon to Halifax.  Those routes don't exist anymore.

On 2/12/2022 at 2:45 PM, Tango99 said:

It’s highly likely that TAP airplanes, the flagship airline for Portugal, may be deployed elsewhere in Europe. Or there aren’t enough connecting flights with the major partners who may be involved in getting Europeans out of potential harms way in Kiev. The pandemic has reduced the number of commercial aircraft in service. It will be a long time before there’s a return to normal. 

Hi-Fly (also based in Portugal) usually does those types of flights.  Hi-Fly also does those those types of flights for the Canadian government when they needed to repatriate Canadians at the start of COVID or from war zones.  

On 2/9/2022 at 9:58 AM, dgc2861 said:

Thank you so much! There is no collecting your baggage at the layovers, correct? Only at your destinations?

Thanks!

You don't touch your bags in either direction in Toronto.  The computerized baggage system takes care of all of that.  The customs officer scan your boarding pass and the system shows him/her photos of your bags.  They can hit one button to have the automation automatically release the bag to the connecting flight and another to bring them up for inspection.  Vast majority of people they never bring them up for inspection.

You clear Canadian customs in Toronto and you clear US customs in Toronto.  

Your Toronto to Vancouver is domestic and you will arrive into a domestic gate in Vancouver.

On arrival In Pittsburg your flight will be treat as domestic.  No special customs or inspection. 

On 1/17/2022 at 9:36 AM, onelegcraig said:

Anyone have experience of Springhill Suites by Marriott?

 

Not that one but I have stayed at Delta Hotel by Marriott a number of times in Quebec City.

Delta Hotels use to be a Canadian hotel chain that was taken over by Marriott a number of years ago.  Mid-to-upper-end market without being over the top.   I have never stayed at a bad Delta Hotel.  Given the build layout the rooms do have weird shapes, but that is ok.

I have stayed at other Springhill Suites, but not the Quebec City one.  They remind me of a Delta but all suits. if that makes any sense.

On 2/2/2022 at 6:32 PM, JBCall said:

If I understand this correctly that the cruise ships need to have their plans reviewed 45 days before they enter Canadian waters.  

Does that mean the plans for the Caribbean Princess arriving April 6 will need to be submitted by February 20th?  Won’t Princess need to know testing requirements before then?

It sounds like they have to submit for review/approval 45 days before.  There is probably a dialogue that will happen between the regulator and the cruise line once there is something on paper to look at. 

Currently there are testing exemptions for ground travel between Alaska at the lower 48.  There are also exemptions for people making international connections in Canada that will be leaving with 24 hours.   

So who is left are Canadians that may be arriving by ship and those tourists planning to stay in Canada more than a day or two.  

On 2/3/2022 at 12:27 PM, Fouremco said:

I'm still of the opinion that the requirement to provide proof of a COVID-19 negative molecular test result or proof of a previous positive test result taken between 10 and 180 days ago will be gone by time the Alaska cruise season begins, or that an exception will be made for cruise passengers and crews members.

 

If not, in the scenario you describe, there would be be no problem entering Canada and following the quarantine protocols. This would be an excellent example of where no fine would be levied as the passenger would have no option. 

Many passengers will be exempt from the testing on flying in and departing if you apply the same rules as international air connections of people driving between the lower 48 and Alaska.   Those types of travels are exempt.   I could easily see exempting passengers flying into Canada for a cruise those that will leave Canada with 24 or 48 hours.