sanger727

The discussion is useless without knowing more about where the OP is going. If they are going to Europe and staying in the EU most of the trip, it probably would be wise to get some Euros. If they are going on a cruise where they change countries every day, there is really no point to it. We typically get money out of ATMs when we arrive. I did pre-order some Japanese Yen prior to a trip once because we were concerned we would need cash upon arrive to use the subway to get to the hotel. It probably wasn't really necessary. Everything there was easier with a credit card. But since we were there a few weeks, it wasn't difficult to spend. If we were immediately leaving to go to on an asian cruise, we probably wouldn't have had the chance to spend it.

Can you imagine the lawsuit if a passenger had a major medical issue and died onboard because the ship refused to let them off to be hospitalized. Even if they have to pay the fine, that's a drop in the bucket.

Just my 2 cents. Australia is too large for it to be efficient to be seen by cruise. Plus you would completely miss the outback. I would do the cruise around New Zealand and then fly over to Australia for a land trip if you are tight on time.

The situation is unfortunate, but as you said, uncommon. I've been on many international flights and the only time we had a bag miss the plane was when there was a tight connection in Atlanta do to our first flight being delayed. We had to run to make the plane and weren't surprised our bag didn't make it. They delivered it to our home the next morning so no big deal. I do think you all should have gotten on with your trip though. If they felt the need to stay near the aribnb you could have gone on without them. And really, if the airline can't tell you where your bag is and when it will make it to you, just continue on and purchase some clothing for a couple days. It sounds like you were returning to ghent each day. Either request that the airport hold the luggage there when it arrives or let them drop it off at the aribnb.

Yes, that is exactly what I said.

There's a difference between payment and a bribe. My job tells me that if I show up for work for the next two weeks they will give me money. Not a bribe. Our entire economy is based on agreed for payment for services offered. The bribe is when there is already agreed for payment for services offered (daily grauitity) and then additional money is offered upfront with a wink wink and request for special treatment. I don't think in the case of the cabin stewart that this is a bribe. Now, if you offer a bartender a tip upfront and request to get something without paying for it; that would be a bribe.

We did Hawaii to Vancouver in 2018 and considered Carnival, Celebrity, and Royal. Once the "perks" were factored in and compared against a drink package with Carnival - Celebrity was cheaper. Royal was much more than either of them.

We have had this happen before. You won't get Carnival to help you unless you can show the TA went out of business. If the agent is part of a larger agency, definitely call the main agency number and escalate the situation to another agent or a supervisor.

It may have to be a b2b2b. I know you can do Canada to Hawaii + Hawaii to Australia + Australia to Bali. (not on Celebrity though)

We always try to book direct with local tour operators. Look at the ports of call board and tripadvisor.

Not discounting your experience. I've traveled throughout Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. I've never once had a hotel hold my passport. It seems very odd to me that you had that experience.

I'm really surprised to hear that from and Australian. Of course you are going to do whatever you feel good about. Personally, I equate tipping in advance with waving a dollar bill to get a bartenders attention. Showy and little off putting.

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The price sounds a little high but it's impossible to know without knowing more about your booking. Did you get the free at sea? Are you in a balcony cabin? Inside? Suite? Is this in the summer or in an off season? My experience with travel agents is not finding much better prices with them. But you could certainly find a lower priced cruise. For me it would just come down to whether you want to go on this cruise badly enough to pay $600 per day.

Turn them in so the hotel can get the information or turn them in and the hotel holds onto them? I did an escorted tour in Peru in 2021 and all the hotels took down the information from our passports, but no one attempted to hold them.

I’ve taken multi country cruises. Multi country escorted land trips, and traveled on our own. the cruises are unique before they have to clear the vessel and immigration when entering a new county. So, if you are in the EU snd have a stop in Turkey; they will collect passports for immigration purposes. That was you would have to go through a full blown immigration process where ever passport is checked. Whether traveling on an escorted tour or DIY, you will be entering the country as an individual and will need to retain your passport.

I don't know whether this is meant to be true only in Europe. But this certainly is not true in the US. I've been on cruises where I was charged tax on free at sea drinks.

People on the cruise booked a cruise that went to those ports. For everyone that wishes it would change, there are more people that booked that cruise because they wanted to go there. They would probably suggest that the cruise could stop there and you can stay on the ship if uncomfortable. Or simply transfer to a different cruise altogether.

Just FYI in case this happens again. If you wanted to remain unreachable, you still could have. If you go to your settings -> Messages -> you can toggle "imessage" off. Then it will no longer attempt to get or receive imessages, just SMS texts. As long as you are in airplane message, SMS texts can't be received.

Seating you when you come to the restaurant. Being pleasant and friendly. Taking your orders, bringing your food, and topping off you drinks is "doing their job". From what you described, they went above and beyond their job and provided excellent service. I would have tipped extra. I think what you tipped is reasonable for what they did.

glad to hear you could get a refund. Good tip. I always read through the refund policies on independent excursions. Even if you don't change your mind; there's always a chance that the ship will miss the stop or be too late for you to make the excursion. I don't book independent excursions without a pretty generous refund policy - and really try not to book ones that want payment upfront at all.

If you excursion finishes at 6:30 AND then it takes 20 minutes to walk to the port you would arrive at 6:50. If there is a 8:00 sailway, all aboard will usually be at 7:30. No, 40 minutes is far too close for me for a private tour - especially a plane. It's one thing if it's an excursion by van or bus. If it breaks down it's easy to send alternate transportation or to get a cab. There are so many mechanical or weather issues that can delay a plane. I would take this one through the cruise line.

I don't know if they changed anything; but technically speaking; being connected to Carnival without the internet should never have allowed imessages to go through. Sounds like a technical glitch. Perhaps they fixed that.

Generally speaking, cruises won't allow you to board if you aren't allowed to get off in the ports. There's no "free zone" on the ship. The ship still enters Mexican waters and goes through Mexican immigration. I don't know if you can cruise with your green card only. But you can either cruise with it and get off in Mexico; or you can't get off in Mexico so you can't cruise.

We ran into this on a Hawaii cruise. The cruise before had left from Australia and ended in Hawaii. My cruise started in Hawaii and ended in Vancouver. The menus from the cruise before were still used on mine. Drink prices were higher but so was the drink package limit.