bionicbeacher

Received a notice from our Bank....the Bank of Montreal that as of Feb 2, 2019 they will no longer accept, Any form of Travellers Cheques for any currency.  This may be old news but I thought that it was worthwhile passing along....For those still having a cache of travel checks tucked away for future use.....it appears in Canada that the major Banks have shut down or are in the process of shutting down the acceptance of Traveler’s Cheques.  Their suggestion was to go to a Currency Exchange....however, they are not near as plentiful as the Banks were and I am assuming that there will be a good sized fee involved to do so...

Anyone travelling to a Canadian Port or City should keep this in mind for future travel .....only in  Canada Eh!

Cheers

Ken

Hi and thanks to everyone who provided some input for me.....I have taken your advice and changed flights.

I sat for 50 minutes with a phone glued to my ear before an operator came on the phone.....I was able to redo 4 bookings for ourselves and friends in the space of 8 minutes....

Thanks again for your guidance.

Ken

Good morning everyone....we have a bit of a Flight dilemma as our Carrier has moved our flight up 1 hour and 20 minutes out of Laguardia on Oct. 15th.....our flight is now 11:05 AM. .......the ship docks at 7:15 am and we need to be at the airport 2 hrs in advance....being 9:05 am

I googled the driving time and it states 24 minutes from the pier in Manhattan to LGA......therefore we would have to be off the ship with luggage and into a cab by approx 8:30 or preferably before.

Would appreciate any comments from anyone in the know......prefer not to take our own luggage off ......in these circumstances does this seem possible/doable or should we look at changing to a later flight if at all possible

Would appreciate info from anyone who has disembarked early for similar reasons in Manhattan and traveled to LGA

Thanks

Ken

Thanks to everyone for their input....unfortunately we are not in the suite. Category .....my wife says that she will make sure that her Kindle has some new books to read while onboard.

Thanks again

Ken

We were on the Regal Princess recently and they have inststalled new TV's but with Princess Remote controls which did not have access to Closed Caption. My wife is deaf and uses CC to enjoy movies, shows and other programs.

I would like to buy a couple of DVD's for our upcoming voyage that contain CC built into the Disc...hence my question about bringing my own DVD's

Would appreciate any info from people in the. Know.

Cheers

Ken

Hi everyone,

 

My apologies if someone had already posted this - I searched but didn't see it listed.

 

Anyway, I saw a Princess Facebook post that advertised $150 in OBC to celebrate Canada's 150 celebration! It's combinable with Sip & Sail and the Red, White, and Blue sale. I emailed my PVP (sorry, forgot what they call them here!) and she added it to our booking!

 

Can't turn down free money! That will almost pay the grats on our 6 day wine coastal next year.

 

Hope some others can take advantage too! :)

 

*******************

 

Celebrate Canada Day with Princess Cruises! In addition to great offers during Red, White + Blue Sale and Sip + Sail, our Canadian guests can get up to $150 USD FREE onboard spending money per stateroom.

 

 

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Thank you for taking the time to post this information....even though we recently had made Final Payment on our cruise in October ......we were still able to take full advantage of this bonus offer.

Thanks again......

HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY CANADA

Ken

We will be in the Port of Saguenay on a Friday in early October.......rather then go on a pre arranged tour we would like any info on what we could do on our own (8 people) immediately off the ship. Considering our passenger manifest is about 3000 + Crew......and we have to embark at 1:30 for sail away.....are there private people there willing to take us to a few sites......is there a Hop On / Hop Off Bus available.....is it a walking browsing area?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.:)

Ken

4774Papa and iancal - Thanks for adding to the thread...very helpful information! Tigre and Iguanzu Falls would be terrific additions to an itinerary, I think, if someone had an extra day or two or had already seen the main sights of BA. The biggest challenge in a city like that is narrowing your choices in the time you have there :)

If you have a full day to yourselves while in Buenos-Aires and have possibly seen the city sites before.....I would highly recommend the experience of a tour taking you for the day to the Santa Susana Gaucho Ranch.....sometimes the ship offers this as that is where we hooked up with it....however it's only a taxi ride for those arriving earlier or staying later in Buenos Aires.

Below is a link that will get you started on this journey.

https://www.viator.com/tours/Buenos-Aires/Gaucho-Day-Trip-from-Buenos-Aires-Santa-Susana-Ranch/d901-5674SSGAUCHA

It was a fun day for all...except for the poor horse that had to carry me on his back (LOL)

Hope this helps.....

I am looking for a winery tour for our cruise next year. Do you have a company that you can recommend?

Hi....we participated in a Winery Tour & Lunch & Tasting that was arranged by another party directly with the Winery staff.......our tour was in 2013 when we docked at Montevideo, Uruguay. It was called the Varela Zarrantz Winery located some 100 hectares of land approximately 15 to 20 minutes drive from the Pier...and our tour on that day was for around 14 people.....the Winery arranged for transportation to pick us up at the pier.....a partial drive of the City.....coastal drive which was very surprising ...beautiful and scenic ...and the infrastructure was quite nice and modern.......on arrival we were shown the vine yards, the processing plant, the storage facilities.....then we were escorted into the basement of a 100 year old farmhouse where a table had been set up for all us. For the next couple of hours we had lunch of cold cuts, various cheeses and quiche pies along with an ample assortment of wines to savour with our food.....afterwards they gathered us all up and took us back to the pier.....it was a very happy drive. (LOL)

http://www.varelazarranz.com/?lang=en

Just above is the link to their Website.....they arranged for the transportation and as the Winery is a family run business ....members of the family conduct the tour on site and attend to everyone's wine needs during lunch.....the cost in 2013 was $55.00 US per person paid at the site on the day of arrival at the Winery.

Enjoyed immensely.....hope this helps anyone looking sor something similar to do in Montevideo.

I believe that's similar to the direct AC flight that I was looking at that arrives at 1pm (obviously I would have to fly in the day prior and stay in Valparaiso overnight). I would absolutely LOVE to hear about your experience if you could please come back and post afterwards!!! I believe that's the one direct flight I am looking at. I could book the 1-way flight with Aeroplan points if I pay off the cruise well in advance to get the points in time (assuming they don't sell out of Aeroplan rates before then).

 

I also noticed several tours in Viator that include either direct transfers from Santiago airport to hotel in Valparaiso (or Vina Del Mar - anyone stay there? Looks like a "nicer" place to stay but unsure how far from the port and how easy it is to get to?), OR transfers with winery tours on the way. Has anyone used those? Unsure how it would work if the flight is delayed or anything as I assume the shared transportation/tours only run at set times.

 

 

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I see you are from Toronto.....Vina del Mar is like Scarborough is to downtown Toronto.....for the most part quite a bit more upscale then most accommodation you may find in Valparaiso.....the Cruise terminal is on a main thoroughfare in the middle of Valpo....and easily reached from Vina del Mar .....just as if you would be driving along Kingston Rd in Scarborough connecting to Lakeshore Rd to the bottom of Yonge St....hope this helps

Just a reminder that US citizens (and OP is probably one since his/her address is Kentucky) need a $160 per person Brazilian visa even if only entering Brazil for a day trip. I am not trying to dissuade anyone because I agree that the views from the Brazilian side are jaw droppingly beautiful (and in my opinion better than the spectacular ones from the Argentine side).

Excellent point.....I missed the fact that the Cruise begins in BA and Brazilian ports will not be involved at this point...nice catch....Ken

We are wanting to visit Iguazu Falls before our cruise in Jan out of BA. Has anyone used Buenos Aires tours. http://www.buenosaires-tours.com/Iguazu.htm ? Looking at a 5day/4night tour with them which includes 2 nights in Iguazu and 2 nights in BA with tours in both, plus all the transportation and transfers. Many have said that this is very easy to do on your own but we like that idea of someone else taking care of everything for us. Thoughts please!

We did Iguazu and BA using a guide and I can't imagine doing it on our own....not a lot of English spoken in the jungle area of Iguazu....plus it is very helpful having a guide when crossing the border into Brazil to see the Falls from the opposite shore...please do not even consider going to Iguazu without going to the. Brazilian side as you would sincerely regret it forever and a day in my opinion.....we have been to BA twice and used a guide on a very long and hot day....the second time we did it on our own.....using taxi and walking

The tour guide was very helpful in getting us across the border in a reasonable amount of time.....

A tip about the Sheraton...wonderful hotel and view and as the previous person mentioned very close to the three walking trails on the Argentinian side....take lots of water with you when on these trails....and also the Sheraton kicks you out of your room extremely early....so if your flight is in the early evening....a bummer trying to store your luggage for the entire day and into the evening...good time for a mini tour.....Ken

We will be flying into Santiago and wonder how many days we should stay there as well as Valparaiso. What tours did you do in Santiago and which ones in Val[araiso. Hubby wants to get into the Andes and I'd like a winery or two, sampling food and seeing some sites. There will be about 12 of us give or take 3 more. One woman has some mobility issues so walking distances is a problem.

 

Thanks

Jane

Hi...have been to Santiago three times staying for at least a couple of days pre Cruise each time...with regard to Tours in Santiago we found the cost to be approx $40 to $60 pp....the problem that we found in this city of 5 million plus that through the week the roads are very congested...if you are staying in a hotel along the Av Providencia?(sp))....I would thoroughly recommend using the Subway system.....it's clean, fast and inexpensive. ....the red line takes you east and west in the city and the yellow line takes you north and south.....at a approx a dollar per person each way

Your hotel can generally arrange for you to be picked up at the airport and also for the transfer from Santiago to Valparaiso

We visited the San Cristobel monument, Mercado central, the Plaza d'Armas......the Pedestrian only street......walking/shopping street (no cars allowed) and the famous Artisan Market all by using the subway....there were 8 in our group and overall we saved quite a bit of money.....if you need any further info feel free to contact me at janken at csolve dot net and I will do my best to answer your questions....Ken

Thank you for your response.....I was hoping it would be 7pm instead of 8.

Ken

Hi every one....we will have late dining on our up and coming Cruise on the Crown Princess.....which starts at 8:15 pm......do they have an early show time at 7 pm ....thank you, Ken

Greatly appreciate everyone,s input.....I just didn't know where to start ....with this information I now can find something to our liking. Thanks again for taking the time to answer my question....very considerate of all of you. Cheers, Ken:):)

Would like any and all input for reasonably priced Hotels in San Diego where breakfast is included if possible and Shuttle service to the Cruise terminal is available......Thanks, Ken

My granddaughter and I just got back from a week in Jordan (and a week in Syria). We did Petra with a private guide.. Instead of walking back from the restaurant at the end, he had arranged to have mules meet us and we rode out the back way where our driver met us with the car. (30 $JD for all 3 of us). This was the 3rd time for me in Petra and I saw some things I had not seen before as we went all the way through the site instead of just around the theatre. My husband has artificial hips and the last time he was there it was a difficult walk doing it by all walking both ways. The hints about using the available carts, camels or mules are all good options...just don't miss Petra.

Grothj ....This is great information. Can I ask how you arranged for the private guide. Did you do it through the Internet or from other sources...

I would appreciate knowing how you made contact with your private guide. If you don't mind sharing this information with me I can be reached at kjway303 at yahoo dot com

I fall into the same category as your husband with a full replacement right hip and a partial left knee and after walking for awhile and prolonged standing my joints start talking back to me in no uncertain terms.:eek:

Ken

Hi Ken and Jan: I was there in Jan, 2009 and at that time the chariot was a round trip only, although I am certain that if they have an empty chariot or an empty time slot, they will take you one way! I really don't remember what the round trip chariot ride was for two people because our tour guide made all the arrangements for us. The camel from the restaurant was about $15 US and like everything else, the price was negotiable. the Bedouins were very friendly and very kind to us and have a marvelous sense of humor. I may be foolish, but I determine what I think is a fair price and if they come close to it, I pay it. This is the primary source of income for these people and I don't like to take advantage of that, but that's just me. I know others who have gotten these rides for much less and some who paid double what I did.:D However, you make it through the Siq and the rest of Petra, do it. It's unforgettable.

Hi Hydrokitty ....this is great information and I hear what you're saying about the final bottom line....

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond to my question.:)

Cheers

Ken

It varies based on how far you go. USA currency is fine as are Euros or British Pounds.

 

They will never be happy how much you give them. Just negotiate.

 

Walk as much as you can because you will see and learn much more.

 

And it's much better taking a tour or a private tour with a guide.

 

Keith

Hi Keith...many thanks for the input.

Ken

We are going to Petra next year ...it is our hopes to be able to walk the walk :eek:...both ways.....in the event that we have to hitch a ride by Chariot or Camel :D.....what form of currency should we have with us to cover this eventuality.

Any idea of the costs for a "One way" ride ? :confused:

Cheers

Ken & Jan