mississauga

Nicole, Part 5 a good read as usual. Thanks!

Nicole, Thanks for Part 4. Can't wait for the rest of the cruise review. You do a great job!

I've actually checked into one-way rentals, but they charge an arm and a leg to pick up at one location and drop off at another. I think it was around an extra $300 or so the last time I checked (last year). So that's an extra $600 or so both ways, and that's still more than the week of the car and the parking by $100-$200, depending on where the car is being parked (Florida ports have much cheaper parking the Port of Manhattan).

 

I thought that was probably the case. When we've done 1 way rentals in California, it's much more expensive than if you return it to the place of pick-up. Florida however doesn't have that but of course, you are driving from Illinois. Here's a suggestion, although we've never had to park a car while on a cruise. Try asking the rental car agency in your port of cruise if they will let you park your rental from Illinois while you're on the cruise. Have you tried that? I'm all for saving $$$ whenever I can and it seems like such a waste to pay parking for a rental ( different if it's your own ). Just a thought.

Great review Nicole! Don't keep us waiting!!! ;)

It's a lot of work so we should be patient. It'll be worth the wait as Nicole does an excellent job. Just finished reading her Jan.24 cruise.

Nicole, for a 23 year old, how do you manage to get so much time off from work to take all these fabulous trips? ...and more planned for 2009 !

Is it not possible for you to rent cars one way? Is it more costly renting one way twice? Seems such a shame to pay for rental when you're on the cruise and to also pay for parking.

Nicole,

While waiting for Part 3 of your current cruise, I thought I would go to your blog and read about your Jan. 24 Miracle cruise. I am having difficulties going backwards from one part to another. After reading to the end of one part, I have to scroll up to find the beginning of the next part and never know when to stop. Am I doing something wrong? Is there an easier way to find the beginning of each part? I guess you can tell I'm not a usual blog reader.

Excellent! Can't wait for the other parts, especially about the cruise. Thanks for taking the time out to take us on the whole adventure with you.

What a wonderful read! I could not leave my computer until I had read to the end of your postings. How lucky am I to have stumbled upon your thread.

We're planning a land vacation to Maui in May so thought I would go to the ports of call to read up on what others had to say about Maui. Boy, what a surprise I got when I opened your thread. I took this similar cruise ( on the M.S. Patriot ) back in 2001 for my 25th anniversary and it was so nostalgic reading about your adventures on the POA and the Hawaiian Islands. We also honeymooned in Oahu for 2 weeks back in 1976 so your pre and post cruise also brought back great memories.

Thank you, thank you....it was like reading a good book that you could not put down until you read it from cover to cover.

Did you post this on the NCL board? I for one would never have thought to come to the Port of Calls to read up on a cruise on the POA. There are so many negative postings out there about NCLA that this thread would certainly give people a different view.

We did our first Princess Cruise last December, and got our passports (blank) and pins on the last day. We'll take them on the next cruise, in December this year, but I'm not sure what benefits we get from them!

No benefits....just nice souvenirs

I was told I couldn't get one for the first cruise that it was only for number 2 and higher. Is this wrong. I would really like it.

You should be able to get a generic one from your Captain Circle Hostess on your next cruise.

I got my stamp on my 2nd cruise! How do I go about get a stamp for the 1st cruise I took? We were on one of the short cuises aboard the Caribbean Princess in May. I tried to see the Cruise Circle person, and also called and left a message for her. She was never at her desk when I would check during the entire cruise, nor did she return my phone call. Would really like to keep my passport and have it complete. As I am sure I will be going on many more cruises (the next in Janauary!) The cruise bug has bitten hard!!!

The Captain Circle Hostess usually has hours posted of when she is on duty at her desk. Go and see her on your next cruise. The hostesses usually have stamps of all the ships/distinations. Since captains change about, she may not have the one with the signature of the captain on your particular cruise. She does have generic Princess stamps so you can fill in the pertinent info from your cruise.

We are going on our 5th Princess cruise in May .. and I have Never seen much less received a passport or stamp. What am I doing wrong ??

You are not doing anything wrong. It should be in your cabin on embarkation day. It's usually with a card to welcome you back. It's the Captain Circle Hostess' responsibility to have all these welcome back cards with stamps written up and then they are given to the room stewards to put in your cabin. Go and see your hostess on your next cruise and she can give you a passport and all the stamps you are missing ( they might have to be generic ones you can fill out if she doesn't have the one for your particular cruise(s))

Thanks for a great review. Sounds like it was a cruise I would have enjoyed. Not only was it a maiden voyage but maybe one of a kind on the Jade. I think I read somewhere that the Jade will stay in Europe year round so you got to cruise on the only Trans Panama voyage.

Can you tell me how long it will take to get from the cruise ship pier to the Vancouver airport. We'll be arriving on the Carnival Spirit next Sept on a Wednesday morning and my husband thinks we will have no problem getting to the airport for a 12:15 flight. (I'm a little nervous about that but Gee! wouldn't it be terrible if we missed our flight and were stuck there for a day.:D

I appreciate all the wonderful info on this thread even though we aren't planning to stay and enjoy the city this trip. I have bookmarked some of the links posted here for future reference. Thanks for any assistance.

 

Helabama

You shouldn't have any problems making a 12:15 flight. Do self disembarkation and you get to get off early. It is very organized at the pier for taxis and a ride to the airport should cost you about $30 Canadian. It's only about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic.

How many have came across an American whom works on board a carnival ship?

 

In my 4 cruises i have came across only 2 or 3. One worked in the Casino, and the others i believe were in the camp carnival.

Other than on NCLA, most Americans and Canadians have the staff jobs, like you said and also as part of the cruise director's staff, golf pro and shops. At least, that 's how it appears to me on all the cruises I have taken.

Does anyone know how much car rental is in Vancouver?