happy cruzer

11 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

I HIGHLY recommend that everyone read the fine print of any credit card "travel insurance" to see just what it does and does not cover.  Many cards have cut back on the scope of coverages, especially the non-premium cards.  And even some premium cards have lowered coverage maximums.  To the point where separate insurance is often the better play

 

Caveat emptor.

 

 

Yes, read your policy.  Is there a travel insurance policy besides CFAR that would cover this event?  I just looked at two including the popular Nationwide Essential and they do not appear to cover it in their trip cancellation.

Not sure that many travel insurance policies will cover this event.  I just read the credit card travel policy that we use and it does not cover this event except for trip delay.

This problem is the fault of the airline and travel policies are not insuring airlines in most cases.

On 4/16/2024 at 10:27 AM, Gardyloo said:

The only recommendation I'd make given this would be to look at using Finnair via Helsinki to get from Oslo to Prague instead of BA via London.  As long as you use AA between Madrid and DFW, which would incentivize the AA RTW desk to issue the ticket, switching from BA to AY for the first segment would potentially help you avoid big BA fees and surcharges.   The total elapsed time will be similar for OSL-xHEL-PRG but will give you some time to visit the nice Helsinki Finnair lounge, while the LHR transfer would potentially be a footrace.  Plus, the HEL route would all be in Schengen, speeding things up for your arrival at PRG.  

Will the OSL-xHEL-PRG Finnair business class ticket allow acces to the Helsinki Finnair Lounge?  I read the following rule and got confused.  Thanks.

Oneworld lounge access rule states:

Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights: First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 06:00am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).

Our experience on American Airlines was that we got a refund for the fare difference due to no crew available to work the flight after a major weather event the previous day.  So what air line and what reason matters.

Well, the questionnaire was not aimed at Covid originally.  Any contagious condition, I think flu (maybe Bird Flu) and noro.  Wonder if the cruise lines bring it back based on whatever disease is happening at the time.

Does Carnival still have the health questionnaire?  If you answer it honestly that you have symptoms and they deny you boarding, then they probably reimburse you the cruise costs (not any of the other costs that your have like flights or hotels).  At least that was how it worked years ago.  It would be up to their med staff's decision.

5 hours ago, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

You will love the El Cordova just make sure to book one of the larger rooms as the small ones are really small.  I would use their parking at $40 per day is about normal.  You will find no street parking close unless you have a resident permit.  We stayed there several years ago the history of the place is amazing.  We had a large group of family and even booked the "superintendent's" suite, which was huge (dining table for ten).  My brother ended up in a "workers" room where he could touch both walls with outstretched arms.  I had a nice sized room with a living area and bedroom/kitchen but backed up to the alley with garbage trucks in the morning.  All in all it's a great hotel with lots of history.    

Thanks for the first hand report.  We do have a one bedroom suite booked.  And now we know what to expect regarding parking in our area the very most expensive parking is about $20 per day.

It is very helpful to have everyone's advice.  Thanks!

We made a booking for El Cordova in Coronado.  Is there street parking in the area?  The hotel mentions a private parking for $40/day.  We may decide to rent a car for part of the stay.

Thanks to all you experts!

We drink mainly wine and we do not like the limited wine by the glass offerings on either package.  So we take whatever is included in our booking, then carry on and purchase bottles as we go.  Every one has a different view of the value of the packages.

Also the buffet on the Radiance was not good.  Limited choices and crowded service area. 

And as noted the smoking policy vs. Celebrity.

Not a ship I would pick if another option was available.

Thank you so much we have been looking at Coronado and La Jolla.  We like to walk on the beach more than swimming in a pool.  We prefer museums/gardens to resort/spa amenities.  Smaller hotels to larger ones.  We typically tour for 4 to 6 hours then one nice meal for the day and just enjoy the beauty of California.

Any advice for one week in San Diego at thanksgiving?  Would you stay in San Diego or maybe near the beach like La Jolla?  We will have a rent car.  Thanks.

On 4/16/2024 at 10:27 AM, Gardyloo said:

The only recommendation I'd make given this would be to look at using Finnair via Helsinki to get from Oslo to Prague instead of BA via London.  As long as you use AA between Madrid and DFW, which would incentivize the AA RTW desk to issue the ticket, switching from BA to AY for the first segment would potentially help you avoid big BA fees and surcharges.   The total elapsed time will be similar for OSL-xHEL-PRG but will give you some time to visit the nice Helsinki Finnair lounge, while the LHR transfer would potentially be a footrace.  Plus, the HEL route would all be in Schengen, speeding things up for your arrival at PRG.  

It just sunk in about the Schengen countries.  We hold US passports.  If we fly BOS to OSL via Keflavik, we will do customs in Kefalvik?  then all the other countries (Norway, Finland, Czechia, Austria, Hungary, and Spain ) are Schengen so no more customs until we re-enter the US?  Also no ESTA or visas needed?  Thanks again.

Thanks.  I am starting to get it.  We'll be lounging in Europe 😉

Thank you to all for information.  I have bought one ticket i.e. RTW in business class.  Does that matter?

I am confused between ticket and trip?

Totally off topic, but really did not want to start a new thread with such a dumb question:

Never been in any of the airport lounges.  But I will have business class tickets purchased through AA and no advantage status.  We usually get to the airport 3 to 2 hours before a flight just because  🙂

Could we visit the lounge pre flight for food and/or beverages?

This would be in August, Finnair Oslo, Finnair Helsinki, IB Budapest, AA MAD then later AA DFW and AA (CUN)

General and/or specific advice appreciated.

And yes I will use FlyerTalk, etc. once I get smart enough to look for specifics.

Yes, the airline will refund to who paid for the ticket.  We had a business class flight cancelled and had to take a flight the next day in econ.  The difference was refunded to Celebrity.  It took about 3 months for the refund to be credited from Flights by Celebrity back to our credit card.

Do all the Edge class have the beautiful walking track?  That and the 4 MDRs are what we enjoyed the most on Edge.  However we did notice that the bars especially the Martini Bar were crowded and that was on one of the early cruises after covid with only 1/3 passengers.

I guess we will go on whichever ship is sailing where we want to go :0

Virgin will not have the white table cloth except in one restaurant.  And thought that the service was good but very casual.  It does not match going back to traditional style cruising.  Only one ship in the Caribbean and often doing shorter cruises.

Op might try some of the premium lines when they sail in the Caribbean like Oceania or Seabourn.  The cruisers skew younger in the Caribbean.

But really don't think you can find the traditional experience any more.

Ok, I am replying to mayself 🙂

I think I caught a good flight on Icelandair.  BOS OSL for $500/person in Economy Standard (yep in the back).  And got DFW to BOS for 8.5k miles/person.  I booked it; just got concerned that prices/awards would go up on me. Will use those incoming miles later.

Thanks for advice from everyone.

On 4/24/2024 at 12:40 PM, Gardyloo said:

One big drawback to Alaska's program is that they don't allow multiple partners on one award - either Alaska + 1 partner or the partner alone.  So itineraries like American to London then BA to Oslo don't show up.  

 

However, there are numerous open flights from DFW to London in business class in August using AS miles; the OP would have to purchase a cheap one-way connection to Oslo from London.  

More info about the cheap one way connection Oslo from London.  Is that on SAS?

Looks like I may not have my 75000 reward until June.  So do I book something now and save the miles for later??  I need to be in Oslo before my RTW starts at 1pm Aug 27.  Don't want to miss that first leg.

5 hours ago, ilovesalchows said:

This is where FinnAir awards come in handy.

Yes,  I am about 2 months from getting my AA miles on the Citi AAdvantage card.  The option of using them on FinnAir looks pretty good.

Love seeing all the options everyone is posting.

Ticket is purchased.    AA RTW was great; got flights that did not show in the OneWorld tool.  Got the flights that Gardyloo recommended.  All in for less than 12,000 business class for 2.  I be back bugging everyone for recommendations for dfw to osl in Aug.  🙂

Planning on using the same combination of Chase Sapphire and GeoBlue Trekker,  when should we buy the GeoBlue Trekker policy?  We already have a deposit on the cruise and will buy airfare soon but the trip starts in Aug of this year. 

Also if your US medical insurance provider changes during the travel period does it affect the GeoBlue Trekker policy in anyway.  One of us may go from a private policy to Medicare during the time. 

Thanks to Steve and all the other great poster for being a great resource.

On 4/16/2024 at 10:27 AM, Gardyloo said:

The only recommendation I'd make given this would be to look at using Finnair via Helsinki to get from Oslo to Prague instead of BA via London.  As long as you use AA between Madrid and DFW, which would incentivize the AA RTW desk to issue the ticket, switching from BA to AY for the first segment would potentially help you avoid big BA fees and surcharges.   The total elapsed time will be similar for OSL-xHEL-PRG but will give you some time to visit the nice Helsinki Finnair lounge, while the LHR transfer would potentially be a footrace.  Plus, the HEL route would all be in Schengen, speeding things up for your arrival at PRG.  

Points well taken and will be pursued when I call in to AA. 

Have been caught up in the credit card stuff.  The Citi AAdvantage was approved but needed to see the terms and conditions in writing.  Took over a week to arrive in snail mail.  No mention of miles bonus.  Called and they will now send that seperately via snail mail.

FYI (many may know this already)  the new cards typically come with a fairly low limit about 13500.  So purchasing the RTW tickets may be difficult.  Then I pursued the Sapphire Preferred card thinking I would get that bonus on a card with a higher credit limit.  We have a sapphire card (very old and nice high limit) which I am the authorized user on per the first call to Chase.  Applied for Preferred and was denied.  Called the reconsideration line and told I was denied because I am a Secondary card holder not the same as authorized card holder.  No way to drop off the sapphire card, would have to cancel that card totally, reapply which would possibly lower our credit limit, take 30 days, etc.  Tooooo much hassle.

So getting close to resolving cc issues, to start the RTW ticket purchase.

So we will stay with our current cards plus the new Citi AAdvantage for the bonus miles.  More later.