Tree_skier

Thanks, made it home... I was on that 3:30 flight. We pulled away from the gate just a little after 4pm I typically use Alaska when flying up and down the coast and try to use Delta for all east west flights. I booked this flight only because I had credit to burn. The original plan was for my sister, with her grandson who she raises, to come down here for Christmas. We booked and paid for the tickets. Unfortunately, she couldn't get herself organized enough to get a passport before it was too late. Knowing my sister like I do, I had feared that this might happen so I booked tickets with SW because they have liberal cancel and exchange policies. They allow you to cancel and to transfer the tix someone else's SW account. Hence, how I ended up with SW credit. I still have some credit left. I'm not sure if I'm just going to let it expire or if I'll use it towards a flight later in the year. We'll see how things develop of the next while. Thanks, I needed a good laugh and that made me chuckle. I woke up this morning sick as a dog. Sinus and chest congestion as bad as I ve had in a long while. It was just a tiny little sniffle last night. It exploded while I was sleeping. I plan on being miserable for several days. So much for NYE It was interesting, when we all lined up for the cattle call boarding, there was an extra line of SW employee's that lined up opposite of us. They must have boarded over 30 pilots and flight attendants before letting us board the plane. Clearly, three days later, they still have a bunch of employee's in the wrong location.

T here is a sale going right now. For the cruises I have booked things look pretty good. The only time I’ve seen lower this year was the Black Friday sale. With Royal’s cruise planner purchases you can cancel and rebook if prices go down. I’d buy now and watch for better discounts.

Done with my trip back to WA and BC. Flight out on the 25th, as I chronicled it, was a nightmare and ended up even worse than I described. I didn’t get into Seattle until 230am. By the time I got my car rental an drove to Bellingham it was 5am. Whirlwind visits for on the 26th then across the border for two visits with family and an old friend and now I’m heading back. Sitting in Seattle waiting for my flight. Every flight from Oakland to Seattle on Southworst airlines has been cancelled but mine. They tell me it’s going for sure. I’ll believe it when we go wheels up. I have a one way car rental booked asa backup plan. I’ll cancel once I’m on the plane.

I’m late to the party but I loved this post. Sounds like this will be a Christmas to remember.

Wow, thank you for this. What incredible pictures!

They’ve announced they have found a new plane and we are supposed to be boarding any minute. I was one person away from the front of the line when the announcement came. Now I’m sitting at a new gate. There is a plane out the window so there is hope. I almost gave up but was worried that since they just announced the change before I cancelled it would be hard to get my checked bag back. it’d be nice to meet @Coralc I’m sure one day our paths will cross.

So my plans have gone awry. I’ve been sitting in the Oakland airport for six hours. They keep delaying my flight 15 minutes at a time. I’m giving up. I’m standing in line waiting to find out how get my bag back so I can just go home. I’m not sleeping in an airport which is what the gate attendant just suggested we prepare for. There is one gate attendant and each person ahead of me is taking an interminable amount of time. Please pray that I don’t end up on the evening news. 🤪

This is not true. Naturalized citizens can travel on closed loop cruises without a passport with their naturalization certificate. Non-citizens possessing a permanent record card (Green card) can travel on their green card without a passport. However, legally present, non-citizen, US residents must have a passport.

TA's don't get commission off prepaid tips or taxes and fees. Their commission is based off of fare paid.

I'm sorry you all are not well. I hope it doesn't spoil your festivities.

Oh and by the way... Temp will be in the low 50's. Now that is how you brag @BonTexasNY

Yikes! For a Floridian like yourself that could spell death! You are wired for that. You'll need to head back to south Florida soon.

Well I made it home two days ago after a long stint away and yesterday SIL and GS and I got to go skiing. It was my first time up this year and I was pretty nervous. Thankfully the my knee held up pretty well with only occasional twinges of pain. I stuck to intermediate runs and didn't do anything particularly silly and had a great time. I know that weight loss would help a lot but sadly I just can't seem to discipline myself. I've promised DW that after Christmas I'll try again. I've got two cruises booked in the near future and cruises usually derail my dieting plan. Anyhow, Christmas is upon us. We are going to Texas De Brazil for Christmas Eve dinner with friends and then joining my daughter in-laws and all of my son in-law's family at my daughter and son in-laws house for a few festivities which will already be well underway when we arrive back from dinner. Tomorrow we'll spend the morning with the kids, go to church and then I head for a flight to Vancouver to see my sister and Grand nephew. It's a busy couple of days. Merry Christmas to all. Whether you celebrate or not, I hope that 2023 is a great year and that whatever your passion is, you live it to its fullest and that every dream is fulfilled. Dave

We've never bothered selecting anything. With two cruises as diamond we have gotten four bottles of water in our cabin each time.

My last cruise was like this. It was my first time on NCL. We cruised aboard Pride of America. I chose this cruise specifically because we of the itinerary. a Hawaii cruise that embarks in Honolulu and circumnavigates the Islands. It is a very unique cruise. I have no expectation that I will ever achieve any kind of status with NCL. We cruised in spite of it. We love Royal and it's product. The loyalty benefits are a nice perk but not the reason we book with them.

Now this sounds like a very good plan. First day on the slopes for me will be tomorrow! We just got home from AZ today and my son-in-law and Grandson are chomping at the bit to get me up.

Loved my Subarus over the years and I'd gladly buy another if I was shopping for a car. I've owned two and loved them both.

I do have to admit that I find it amusing reading all the hand wringing over the sure to degraded benefits. I think that recent evidence (4,5,6 drink vouchers) indicates that change can be a very good thing. In an a possible upcoming environment where disposable income may be more limited disincentivizing your established and loyal base is foolish. I don't think they are foolish.

When booking group space through my TA I always get the full amount and the TA's price is always better than the best sale Royal ever puts on. It is a rare thing that I need to get a price reduction since booking this way.

I have 6 future cruises with Royal booked. The next two are in suites and there wasn't any benefit because of other discounts that supplanted the C&A benefit. However, of the four remaining, they are balcony cabins and all four have a discount of $226 that I would not have received had I not been Diamond. That is good value to me. Had I been platinum or emerald and not diamond the discount would be less but it would still be a discount.

I agree that outside of the balcony discount there is little benefit from the loyalty program at gold, platinum or emerald. However, the incentive to reach diamond is the incentive. If that makes sense? By the time you reach emerald or platinum you have obviously decided you like the product enough to cruise get beyond 30 nights. The product keeps people coming back, the benefits that they will achieve at diamond incentivize the loyalty.

Balcony discount saved me money at both Platinum and Emerald. It wasn't huge but it was something,.

Yes but have you had them from a flying J truck stop at 2 am. That’s a special kind of hell.

Try being a truck driver. They have to survive on Red Bull and late night truck stop jalapeño poppers.

I’m discovering that I have to watch that. Especially later in the evening. I love a good burger but it’s lunch at the latest or else I pay at about 230 am