Earthworm Jim

33 minutes ago, millybess said:

https://docs.vikingcruises.com/pdf/Transfer-Request-Form_2020.pdf

Yeah but that form says to use it "If you are arranging your own air and purchased an airport transfer from Viking", which to me implies you should already have purchased the transfer before you use the form.

On the other hand, the link to that page from MVJ says "To purchase transfers from the airport to your ship or hotel because you have arranged your own air travel, please complete and submit the Transfer Request Form."  Which, in direct contrast to the form itself, sounds like it's a way to purchase your transfer.

So who knows. I'll probably just wait a few days for the rush to die down and call them instead to be sure.

16 minutes ago, millybess said:

We received the same email today. The email states that if needed you can arrange for a Viking transfer from Venice to Chioggia. I believe this can be done through MVJ. 
 

Can it be done through MVJ? I couldn't find a way, and the email states to contact the reservations desk to book a Viking transfer.

On 11/11/2022 at 1:45 PM, tidecat said:

Smells like a charter to me.

A 6 week charter? It's not impossible I guess, but seems an unlikely scenario.

44 minutes ago, thunderingherd11 said:

I have read recently that there is over a 50% chance that Norwegian is going to have to eventually file for bankruptcy.  This could happen to more than just them.

This link posted in another thread says Carnival has a 53% risk of bankruptcy:

https://www.macroaxis.com/invest/ratio/CCL/Probability-Of-Bankruptcy

17 minutes ago, Island Dog said:

I love Carnival, but wish they would simply just raise their prices to cover inflation, as every other business seems to be doing, and keep the experience I enjoy.

That's the crux of the problem and the big question: Would raising prices generate more revenue, or less because fewer people will cruise?

And I believe they have to do more than cover the cost of inflation. They need to become more profitable to pay off their debt, not just keep up with inflation. Put another way, the status quo isn't working for them financially, so they have to do something different.

6 hours ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

Yes, I believe that was the point.  Insurance against the unexpected with a high expense makes financial sense. But, self insuring for low cost expenses you can easily absorb also makes financial sense. 

True. If it was only the cost of your actual trip you were insuring, self insuring would make a lot of sense. But unless you're one of the lucky few who's health insurance is good enough to cover you overseas (Medicare doesn't), including medical evacuation, you have the tiny but very consequential chance of having a 5 or even 6 figure overseas medical bill. And how many of us can afford to self insure that?

On 10/17/2022 at 11:05 AM, Joebucks said:

Throughout life, insurance is a massive loss for 99%+ of society.

 

Of course it's a loss for the vast majority of people. That's the whole idea of insurance, shared risk. Everyone pays a little so the one person who needs emergency medical care and evacuation isn't stuck with a $50,000 bill.

On 10/19/2022 at 6:46 PM, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Lots of folks wait to buy insurance until closer to the sail date, often the cancellation fee can be less than insurance so it makes sense to wait. This is a valid point though in these times, buying insurance earlier and making sure it has coverage for default is probably a good idea for any far-off cruises. 

Insurance from a third party, not Carnival. Is the trip insurance Carnival offers backed by them, or is it a third party insurer whose finances are separate and Carnival is just the middle man? If it's the latter that might be OK, but the coverage vs. cost of Carnival's insurance isn't very good anyway. So you probably want to look somewhere else regardless.

10 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Carnival ships are sailing again, aren't they? A new ship is about to start sailing. Hell yes the worst is behind them.

While that statement is accurate, I don't know how reassuring it is. While having no ships sailing was definitely worse, an already struggling cruise line heading into a recession is bad too. But the Covid part is looking up, at least for the moment.

19 minutes ago, fyree39 said:

I lost money when Crystal Cruises went under, so I'm gun-shy. I have a B2B on the Mardi Gras for 2024 and I'm wondering if I should cancel. I'll lose money due to the cancellation period, but wouldn't lose the whole shebang if they do go under. I'm remaining positive, though, for the other cruises I have booked and paid-for.

Another factor is how a possible bankruptcy goes. Would they be going out of business, or just restructuring?

20 hours ago, ray98 said:

No offense....if you are asking that question it would be wise to speak with a financial advisor before diving into a company with financials as poor as Carnival so they can explain the risk factors.

I get what you're saying, but if they're only buying 100 shares they're only risking ~$700 or so. Less than the price of a cruise for 2.  I don't know how much it would cost for a financial consultation, but you know what they'll tell you: As an investment, it's rather risky and there are better places to put your money. Is it worth a maybe $100 (??? I really have no idea) consultation on a $700 roll of the dice?

On 10/9/2022 at 4:38 PM, RoperDK said:

I am an Alabama football fan so I attached a Bama ribbon.  Easy for me to locate and I got a lot of Roll Tides, too!

Good idea! No one will steal that.😉

Another theory: Years ago on one of Carnival's sister lines (Princess) our cruise had a noro outbreak and returned to our home port 2 days early. Princess rearranged our flights to be 2 days earlier for us. (We must have had input and approval on this, though I honestly don't remember)

Perhaps Carnival just wants your Pre-Check info so they can include it if they have to rebook your flights for you due to hurricane or other issues?

Years ago we were on the Carnival Miracle due to return to Tampa during Hurricane Katrina. They decided to divert to Miami instead and bused us back to Tampa. Which actually worked out OK. Carnival was pretty organized. Though that route did force the ship to squeeze between Katrina and the coast of Cuba, so we were within 90 miles of the eye at one point. But even that wasn't as rough as you'd expect.

Iirc, it turned out the Port of Tampa was open after all, because as we know the storm headed toward New Orleans. But by that time they had already committed to go to Miami.

2 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Have you heard of a single instance of this happening or are you just spreading FUD?

Lighten up Francis. I wasn't saying it happened. Just speculating on possible motivations one might have to swipe your S&S card. You make it sound like I'm a member of the Illuminati trying to intentionally mislead people.

I led with "In theory", and had question marks after each of those theories, so I obviously wasn't trying to claim these had definitely occurred.

And no. I don't think picking up your card at your cabin is a big deal.

2 minutes ago, notplatinum said:

Another non important topic

Huh? The security of your Sign and Sail account is non-important? I could see it if you said my concerns were unwarranted. But non-important?

4 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

And it preserved the value of FTTF so people kept buying it vs. going to their cabin early anyway since they already had their S&S card. 

 

 

This part of it is going over my head. What's the connection between whether you get your S&S card in the terminal or at your cabin and FTTF? If people can get to their cabin earlier than they are supposed to, what's the difference whether they got their card in the terminal or it's waiting for them at their cabin?

2 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

The keys are in a sealed envelope. There is nothing in the rooms until the guests pick up their keys and start moving in. So there is no incentive to steal the keys. The most they'll get away with is a life vest or towel.

Well, in theory they could run up charges on the card. But you'd have to look vaguely like the person (not likely) or do something where your picture isn't an issue. Withdraw cash at the Sign and Sail kiosk maybe? Could you use it in the casino? Though the casino wouldn't be open yet.

On 8/12/2022 at 5:40 PM, Thrak said:

... so you must use the ArriveCan app. Period.

Not exactly true. You do need to fill out ArriveCan, but it doesn't need to be via the app. There is a website version for people that don't have a smartphone. They suggest having a friend or relative do it for you, or use a library or hotel computer if you don't have a computer either.

https://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca/en/welcome

Just off Grand Princess Alaska Northbound, August 3 thru 7. Crew was almost always wearing masks. Occasionally someone might have a mask below the nose, but not often. 

Passengers compliance walking around the indoor hallways was pretty high, say 70% maybe. But once people were seated in a venue, more people took masks off. Particularly if the venue wasn't too crowded. 

I didn't notice any difference in compliance late in the week. 

1 hour ago, PrincessLuver said:

Just in Icy Straight and it is basically the Princess Cays of Alaska.  Totally fake and a rip off port from what we experienced.  Much rather have done Skagway.

I imagine the beach vibe is somewhat less than Princess Cays.😉

According to this article, in addition to Royal and Discovery canceling their upcoming Skagway stops, which were already mentioned in this thread, Grand will cancel their July 30th call there and will go to Sitka instead:

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/cruise-pier-Skagway-closes-due-to-rockslide-risk

That's disappointing. I'm on the Grand the following week so I assume we'll be canceled too.

16 hours ago, martincath said:

Probably one of the Espana towers - they have a website that's not owner-restricted login only, so you can read up on the amenities in case you fancy using the pool etc. - or Firenze Tower II the other side of Abbott. Either would be ideal for use of the Costco Elevator - just beyond the lower entrance to Stadium/Chinatown station - instead of Google directions. Once up top, Dunsmuir to Howe for getting to the pier, Coal Harbour etc. on foot without needing to go through Gastown.

 

Sightseeing-wise, with a day and a bit and not knowing what you like or don't I'll point you to Tripadvisor for the biggies - since there's 6 of you, maybe have everyone look over the Top Attractions list and choose their top 3 or so, compare lists, figure out who overlaps with whom and then split up! If you don't have free calls here, the citywide internet works perfectly well for messaging - look for #VanWiFi broadcasting all over downtown - to keep in touch and coordinate meeting back up for lunch etc.

 

A bit of very-local info about your immediate surroundings: T&T supermarket in the circle of Keefer Place is a good spot for interesting snacks and even some hot takeout food as well as mostly-Asian groceries extremely close to your building. Abbott from Pender to Cordova is definitely a bit scruffier these days - but you might find some of the business on it convenient (e.g. Nester's your nearest Western supermarket, or London Drugs) and it leads up to Water Street which is peak tourist 'souvenir central', all Ye Olde Fake History with iron lampposts, cobbles, and the Steam Clock (that doesn't run on steam) put in during the not-very-historic 1970s. The whole of Gastown is pretty scruffy at the best of times despite some fancy stores - but it's not stabby! You will see street-people around and might get asked for spare change a lot, but you're not at any significant risk of mugging.

 

Visiting Chinatown - the Sun Yat-Sen garden is absolutely top-notch, rear wall is on Keefer, entrance is just off Carrall down an alley as sometimes the square off Pender is gated these days due to racist vandalism of the location. Be sure to grab some photos of the rebuilt original gate and the new huge Millennium Gate on Pender (you can cut through the International Village Mall on the way to or from your building, the doors next to the ABC Store are right next to the gate). At the back of the mall, look way up, at the rooftops the far side of the Gate on the north side of Pender and you'll see a pretty unusual sight - a totem pole on the roof terrace of Swachays Lodge (native art sold on ground floor, no more food these days unfortunately).

 

A few interesting historic buildings nearby if you're into architecture - Sun Tower at Beatty/Pender was briefly the tallest in Canada from 1912 until 1913 (the previous record holder, the Dominion building, is also close by at Victory Square - it was actually the tallest in the entire British Empire in 1910!) and on more the opposite end of record-setting, the world's narrowest commercial building is at Carrall & Pender, Sam Kee, worth a photo too (2 storey, window bays above the street, Jack Chow insurance is current tenant).

 

Granville Island is most easily reached from the Plaza of Nations stop about a half mile away (Map here - stick in your building address for directions, since it's on the lower level it should route you appropriately). GI is mostly shopping, much of it food and some very quirky indy stores, both kiddy-focused and adults-only (booze rather than smut!) - if you see a show you like the look of at any of the theatres/comedy venues, it's a LOT quieter in the evening than daytime (pretty much every sightseeing tour bus stops on GI, so it gets mad busy from mid-morning through lunchtime to early afternoons before the tourist levels reduce).

Thanks for taking the time to give me all this info martincath! Much appreciated.

17 hours ago, nini said:

@MamaStang What do you mean by "Our friend's balcony was underwater most of the time"?

I knew that Deck 0 balcony deal I got was too good to be true.

3 hours ago, martincath said:

While I assume you're not keen to advertise your exact location, if you let slip the name of the building I can give you a heads-up about choice of route from the front door to places you want to go

 I don't know the building name, but it seems to be just north of the Rogers Center on Expo Blvd. (Though it doesn't have an Expo Blvd address). Google Maps advises going Abbott to W. Cordova to Canada Place.

We are arriving 2 days before the cruise, so we will have  1+ days to see some of the Vancouver sights, if you have any you particularly recommend. I didn't even know I wanted to go to Granville Island, but it sounds like maybe I do.