FrugalSunseeker
-
Posts
32 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by FrugalSunseeker
-
-
Legally a Canadian does not need health insurance to visit the United States. However that would be foolish in my opinion. We are looking for options. My uncle said his friend was denied health insurance but went on his planned trip anyway. Luckily he did not get sick and returned back to Canada with no problem. This would not be a risk I would take.
-
1
-
-
For those of you following the home game. We've booked flights from Boston and we will be doing the complete cruise. I want to thank so much for the helpful replies especially from chengkp75.
When someone asks a question on this forum it is not only beneficial for the original poster, but for others that are looking for the same information on the internet.
As for the person who chimed in to chastise me for asking asking for clarification re my queries (who has posted over 25,000 posts) ,- people like you are the reason others are reluctant to post questions.
Thanks again for all the helpful comments and advice.
Fingers crossed that all goes well!
-
1
-
-
11 hours ago, Essiesmom said:
But you already know what law applies. It was explained by chengkp75 in post #8 of this thread, and acknowledged by you in a subsequent post #28. EM
I received information from the cruise line that the Jones Act applies. Thanks to the insightful posts by chengkp I now believe that this information was incorrect. Chastising me for wanting to have a better understanding of Maritime law is not helpful.
-
Thanks GeezerrCouple. I respect and acknowledge Marine law. However I believe it is incumbent on the cruise line to give accurate information. I have contacted my member of parliament in Canada for confirmation if the Jones act applies, and what Canadian Maritime law applies.
-
My next question is why does the Jones act (American law) apply to a cruise that originated from Montreal Canada with the final Canadian port being Halifax before the last two stops in America. The
-
For those following the thread. This was the response to the request to disembark early in Halifaxfrom the cruise leaving from Montreal.
We are contacting you regarding your reservations on the Holland America Zaandam. We have contacted the cruise line regarding your inquiries and were advised of the following:
Regarding disembarking in Halifax rather than Boston, we were advised that this would not be possible as it would be in violation of the Jones Act, which requires you to reach a U.S. port before disembarking.
-
if there is a silver lining to my financial faux pas it is the chances of us going on this cruise is much higher than if I realized the blunder. It is non-refundable. And I know from seeing other passengers that many are much frailer than my parents. And they go. The (presumably) get health insurance.
Had I known about cabotage laws before I would not have booked, and missed out on a potential lovely family vacation . I am less discouraged now. At worst we don't go. At best . ....we do!
-
1
-
-
Last cruise we were on, round trip from the states a couple came on the elevator with their suitcases and said they were disembarking to the port . It was a Caribbean Island (I can't remember which one) and I assumed they had family on the island . I thought it was a clever idea. Book a cheap cruise and save the price of a flight and enjoy a cruise to the island . If I knew what cabotage was I would have queried them on how much it cost them to do it . Maybe they just emptied their cabin and left . I don't know .
The thing that should have raised red flags with me is...I wondered why MORE people don't do it. Thanks to chengkp75 now I know .
there is a reason.
-
Thanks for this. As it happens my dad has WestJet world Elite MasterCard. Which has out of Province / Country insurance
-
Looks like I am getting a crash course on maritime law! Regarding cabotage restrictions---I didn't even know the word before I started this thread! -
-
I talked to my sister. She had already booked it. If we can’t get health insurance it looks like we will cancel ......we didn’t want to go to the last two ports ANYWAY! But it appears we were naive. The ticket was cheap. But non refundable. And all I wanted was to treat my parents to the experience of a cruise. I am so disappointed now...so profoundly sad. It was going to be the two sisters and our parents for a relaxing cruise on the St. Laurence seaway to Atlantic Canada. But because the cruise does not end there we are in contravention of laws. and it doesn’t seem fair.
-
Wow. This makes me think. So if someone disembarks and does not return to the ship ..even if they have advised the ship personnel...they are in trouble with the law?
-
8 hours ago, chengkp75 said:
There is a potential problem with your plan. You are planning on your parents travelling from Montreal to Halifax on a non-Canadian flag ship. That is in violation of Canada's Coastal Trading Act (Canada's equivalent of the US's PVSA) which limits coastwise passenger and cargo transportation to Canadian flag vessels. You will need to check with HAL and the Canadian Border Services Agency to see if this would be allowed. I believe the fines for this are far higher than those imposed by the PVSA.
I am glad to get information. This was totally unexpected and I am somewhat confused. As the ship will have many Canadian passengers. You are saying that because they disembark early they are in contravention of a law? You seem to be knowledgeable about the subject. Do you (did you) work for the government?
-
https://blog.ingleinternational.com/travelling-within-canada-your-out-of-province-health-coverage/
What is and isn’t covered out of province?
In accordance with the Canada Health Act, medically necessary health care services are typically covered when travelling within Canada. In other words, if you become ill or have an accident in another province, your hospital and physician services will likely be covered. However, additional services, such as an ambulance, hospital transfer, or transportation back to your home province, will not be covered. If you have access to private group insurance (e.g., through your employer), check to find out whether you have coverage through your plan. If you want to avoid paying for these services out of pocket, you may want to consider purchasing medical insurance through a private insurance company.
-
The sad reality is cruising is for the segment of people that can afford it. Being able to pay for a cruise is not achievable for those with modest incomes, not when the insurance is included. A Canadian cruise with only Canadian ports would be ideal. And my parents did go on one. http://ontariowaterwaycruises.com/ the five day cruise was more twice the price of what the 7 day cruise I was thinking of doing with only 5 ports. They enjoyed their cruise, but it was not the cruising experience with professional entertainment and activities like a large cruise company offers.
-
Sadly. I think the dream of a cruise with my parents is just that. A dream. A shame. They would have loved it. But I see now the risks.
-
I just wish there was a totally Canadian port cruise available. I am sure my parents aren’t the only ones with the health insurance issue. As Canadians we have free health care. If a cruise from montreal that was only cAnadian ports. It would be very popular with elderly Canadians. Alas, I couldn’t find one that is affordable.
-
Good point. Never thought of that. But I think we will weigh that risk. I think this is the only way my parents can cruise. If it looks like the ship won’t dock in Halifax I will get online and pay the expensive insurance for the days the ship is in American waters. Also if a storm is brewing we can disembark a port earlier in Canada. Thanks foe your input.
-
Hello Folks. I am an avid cruiser and know my elderly father and his wife would love the experience, but they are in their late 80s with significant pre-existing health issues such that travel insurance outside Canada is not attainable. My idea is that I take them on a 7 day cruise from Montreal to Atlantic Canada and leave the ship when we land in Halifax. They would experience 5 of the seven day cruise omitting the final two stops in the US. We have family to visit in Nova Scotia so we would spend two or three days there and then fly home. Thus they could cruise without leaving Canada. Has anyone done this? A plus is that the Holland American cruise is very affordable when compared to others. We will get the cheaper interior cabins so the vacation is affordable.
-
My husband and I are 53 and 58. We bought our "starter" home 30 years ago, intending to move up on the property ladder. We never did due to financial set backs which we have since overcome. My husband is a very talented man and has fixed up the old farm house he bought (we still have 3 acres of the original farm, the town has grown around us), and it is fine for our needs.
But it is not an "age in place" type home with different levels and bedrooms upstairs. We thought early in our marriage when we were "old", we would have a comfortable new home.
I pored over home designs when I was younger dreaming of my red brick georgian home of my dreams.
Now the thought of a new build exhausts me.
I met a wealthy women on a cruise this year. She told me she was selling her ocean front home, (that cost her 20,000 a year in property tax)---because she told me she would rather spend that money cruising!
Our property tax is much less. It made me think.
So we are staying put.
For now at least.
-
Wow, I hear you fellow Canadians. I remember when I had my first cruise started cruising in 2012. When we were close to par. The last cruise I went on was a Canada at par deal with NCL. We got a good deal for a MSC cruise out of Miami Dec 8 and I was discouraged about the high cost of Miami hotels/airfare.
We found airfare to Fort Lauderdale was cheaper and we got at Fort Lauderdale hotel--Ramada Plaza for two nights , for 100 dollar CAD a night (book two nights..get a discount).
My ideal hotel would be in the Art Deco area of Miami, but until the CAD strengthens, I can't afford it
-
I made this google map of a self-guided walking tour of the Irish links of Havana
I wrote an article about fascinating links that Havana has with Ireland in this article published by Celtic Life Magazine
https://celticlife.com/the-cuban-celtic-connection/
I have more pictures here of the Irish points of interest in the walking tour. http://musicaceltaencuba.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-walking-tour-of-irish-havana.html
Havana is the most fascinating city of the Caribbean. It is great that more tourists can enjoy the history and culture of this special place.
-
I've found I LIKE inside cabins,
- maybe it is all the years I worked as a shift worker and loved sleeping in a completely blacked out room. I would rather sail more and stretch my budget with inside cabins.
I have booked balconies, when cruising with my friend who prefers them. And the next cruise is a balcony, only because the price wasn't much more than the inside price.
For my husband and myself I have booked a balcony this coming February for our anniversary.
I have booked a solo cabin for an NCL cruise next May.
-
1
-
Canadians who can’t afford Out of Country insurance
in Disabled Cruise Travel
Posted
The cruise line will not cover the insurance. And yes, it is only two ports in America. I want to thank the person who suggested the credit card insurance available and my father will be covered. We will get appropriate insurance for his wife, or we wont go.