TWO WEEKS (roughly) !!

[Danno]

Little over two weeks Jill and I set out for Bermuda, or Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland...whatever happens, happens. How bad can 7 days aboard Zenith be even if we never set foot on land :p .

 

I've been working on our "new" boat non-stop for over a month...it really has made the time fly by... I hardly noticed until my TA called and said my docs were in :D .

 

Air Canada has made a complete mess of our travel plans (not X's fault)...they cancelled our return flight home and moved us to the first flight the next morning. Our lodging is our problem or we are welcome to sleep in the terminal (really, that's what they said!!)...so I 'm flying to Toronto, Jill is driving (she has meeting the day before...and we will both drive home upon our return. I'm paying for 2 people, on two return flights...I'm getting one person, one way and a $100 bill to park my car, my gas, and a 4 hour drive, times two. I just wish this miserable airline would go under and get it over with....:mad:. It's really not the money...it's the whole Air Canada attitude..."you don't like it? Tough!! We're a monopoly in your market and we don't care what you think."

 

I have been lurking here...but because I have 27' of sailboat and NO experience I spend a lot of time researching the boat systems on the net...cruising is starting to look very cheap along side owning this boat...I'm thinking of asking Carl to be first mate...I miss Carl ;) !!

[tbelian]

It's really not the money...it's the whole Air Canada attitude..."you don't like it? Tough!! We're a monopoly in your market and we don't care what you think."

 

 

ROFL!.. Danno, are you sure your not talking about a cruise line, not an airline? Perhaps even Celebrity? LOL!...

 

Remember I said a boat is a hole in the water you pour money into.

 

Have a good trip just the same.

[Danno]

Just ask me why I try to fly from Toronto to our cruise departure point with anyone other than Air Canada...the only reason I booked this useless airline is that I could connect from our home town. I should have know better.... :cool: .

[reggierail]

VIA Rail/Amtrak has service from Toronto to Penn Station in New York. The scenery this time of the year is spectacular along the upper tier of New York and along the Hudson River.;)

 

Reggie:D

[excitedofharpenden]

Danno

 

It's interesting. I had friends from the UK who flew to Canada with AC. I had heard some very poor reports about them and asked how they get on. They were very complimentary and I was surprised. You have confirmed to me what I thought. I know they have been in trouble, but am not sure of the latest.

 

Reggie, I am a cruise junky know, but would love to do a trans-Canada train trip in the future. There was a holiday program here recently showing the sights. Awesome!

 

BTW nice to see both you and Danno on these boards. You have been missed!:)

 

Phil

[Danno]

I think the "on board" people at Air Canada try to do their best...the administration at this airline is primarily a mix of government appointed patronage hacks, and people who have washed out at other airlines and have somehow found a home with Air Canada.

[reggierail]

Danno

 

It's interesting. I had friends from the UK who flew to Canada with AC. I had heard some very poor reports about them and asked how they get on. They were very complimentary and I was surprised. You have confirmed to me what I thought. I know they have been in trouble, but am not sure of the latest.

 

Reggie, I am a cruise junky know, but would love to do a trans-Canada train trip in the future. There was a holiday program here recently showing the sights. Awesome!

 

BTW nice to see both you and Danno on these boards. You have been missed!:)

 

Phil

Hi Phil;)

 

I flew AC from LAX to Toronto several years ago and everything about the flight was simply marvelous. It was a TA FAM sponsored by AC, VIA RAIL, CP Hotels and Tourism Quebec. We were upgraded to first class and got to spend a few hours in the Maple Leaf Lounge. WOW, what a nice lounge. The booze and snacks flowed freely but I'm sure they've tightened up on that recently.

 

I have traveled almost 250,000 miles by rail in the US and Canada. The trans Canada service on VIA Rail's "Canadien" is the finest rail experience of all my rail travels. I was very pleasantly surprised at the beautiful scenery through Ontario and was simply blown away by the Canadian Rockies. My trip was in early May and the coming of Spring was just awesome through the whole trip. I'd love to do the trip again in the fall and the winter too. I've also done the "Skeena" which runs from Jasper to Prince Rupert on the coast of British Columbia. That train runs in daylight from Jasper to Prince George and then continues the next morning to Prince Rupert.

 

Reggie:D

[excitedofharpenden]

Very different to TAP Air Portugal. That was the first and only time I was scared of a stewardess. The "here catch" attitude with the meals was somewhat disturbing!

 

Flew Virgin Atlantic in May to Orlando and loved it. Now that seems to be a company that knows customer service, both in the air and on the ground. Seems fairly simple to me. Make the customer feel important and they'll come back.

 

Phil

[excitedofharpenden]

Reggie, you have whetted my appetite for this trip even more! Thanks for the info. I will do it before too long. Perhaps I need to tie it in with a cruise from Vancouver:cool: :cool: :cool:

 

Phil

[Danno]

The AC thing was just an aside...my chance to vent and encourage anyone who has a choice to fly any other airline!!

 

My tickets are here...my son is home for 4 months...we're healthy...AC aside, life is good.

[tbelian]

My tickets are here...my son is home for 4 months...we're healthy...AC aside, life is good.

 

It's nice to see that someone has a true basis for what's important in life. Have you read the Summit thread? <G>

[KCSungirl]

Danno,

 

My dad had the same thing happen to him two weeks ago on AC flying from Prince Edward Island. However, since AC canceled his afternoon return flight home and booked him on a flight the following morning they gave him hotel vouchers. I am not sure why AC is not giving you a hotel voucher???? Since AC changed the schedule and you had prior plans, they are responsible. Good luck, Sungirl

[Danno]

They won't even let me cancel my flight because they are offering me the next day flight and as per thier fine print all they have to do is make a flight available to me, and they are...no refund. AND I DON'T CARE !!! I'm going to have a great holiday, even if I have to walk to Toronto!!

[Tatka]

Hi Danno,

 

1) Congrats on Canada win.

 

2) Congrats on your upcoming cruise..Hopefully you will be lucky like us (we managed to sail on Zuiderdam between Charley and Francis and have a great weather!!!)

 

Have fun!

 

Natasha

[tbelian]

AND I DON'T CARE !!!

 

But you should care sir. It's a tragedy of paramount proportions. Imagine, the gall, citing the 'fine print' and saying thats all they have to do !

 

You need to call them every single day, and get just sick over it ...

(sarcasim intentional) :)

[Ichiban Nekko]

Shame about AC. It used to be so wonderful. After experiencing the 'thrills' of airlines like domestic CAAC in China in the 80s, it was wonderful to come home and bo on board AC (after kissing the Vancouver tarmac in both official languages - bien sur). And some of the stuff south of 49 can be quote interesting unquote. On our first cruise, our Delta flight from Washington Dulles was delayed for a couple of hours. Why? Well, do you think it would be helpful if the flight deck and cabin crew went to the correct airport? Apparently, they didn't think this was terribly important and showed up at Washington National and then had to organize their way out of a paper bag to get to Dulles. Added to that, the flight was overbooked and they didn't have enough meals on board!! The flight attendants gave up their meals for passengers. It was quite a dash in Salt Lake for the connection to Anchorage, but we made it. Just. Unlike the lady we met on the plane coming home from Vancouver who missed the first 2 days of her 7-day Gulf of Alaska cruise. That's when we learned the very important cruising phrase, air deviation. We didn't know about Cruise Critics and all the great info its members share at that time but we are certainly appreciative of it now.

 

In any event, we wish you & Mrs. Danno a wonderful cruise on the Zenith!

[reggierail]

Reggie, you have whetted my appetite for this trip even more! Thanks for the info. I will do it before too long. Perhaps I need to tie it in with a cruise from Vancouver:cool: :cool: :cool:

 

Phil

I'd be happy to put it together for you. North American rail travel is my specialty and I am, in fact, also a Canada Travel Specialist. My e-mail is in my sig.

 

Reggie:D

[Danno]

Hi Danno,

 

1) Congrats on Canada win.

 

 

Natasha

I found it so nice that Wayne Gretsky was VERY direct in pointing out that our hockey success of late was a direct result of the job Canadian minor hockey has done in adjusting our skills training priorities over the last 20-30 years...I wonder if US basketball will heed the warning we got in hockey, 30 years ago (USSR/Canada Super Series)...somehow with the attitude of basketball players in the US, I doubt it??

 

I got my docs in my hand....they smell SOOOOO GOODDDDD!!

[cruzingduo]

Danno did you sign up for the Connections party for yourself and Jill? If not, please do so because we need 25 signed up to have the free party and we only have 14 people enrolled so far.

 

Thanks, see you on the Zenith!

[Danno]

I signed up months ago...so we are amoungst the 14.

 

Email me at my address below if you want to meet somewhere if the party doesn't happen...as I say it is apt to.