Semi Retired

* a "free" member of every hotel, airline club I have preference for, and discount websites that I fell comfortable with.

* booking onboard for our Next Cruise 2 years in advance, then getting our agent to adjust price with extra discounts he finds, and he gives us extra OBC and a complimentary Specialty Dining.

* mostly book private excursion that is recommended on these boards. Only do ship excursion in sketchy ports (Categena, Columbia for example)

* don't drink alcohol, pop, juice...only free coffee. I do prepuchase online for a case of water because it helps with my feet not swelling to baseball size. (I found this trick on here....something to do with the ocean-recycle water that is served onboard)

* bypass the ship sales, shops, pictures, drink special cups, art auction, bingo, port shopping seminar. (all tempting)

Our last cruise on the Oasis B2B...1st week was $164 2nd week was $14

Note: We are Canadian, but have an agent in Miami. ADVANTAGE?...gives better perks/bonuses. The price is the same, whether you book with cruiseline, or agent in either country. It's the reputation/relationship of the agency to a cruiseline that makes the difference. PLUS, our agent is very good at looking out for price drops and specials for our booked cruises.

I know what I mean....a US dollar will cost me an extra 33 cents compared to an extra 37 cents.

And, I don't need any more cards, as we have 9 already. Probably won't be able to get accepted for another.

Cash payment for settling account?...not us, as we don't have that much on hand after spending other places. So, CC it is for settling ship account.

What I'm trying to figure out.

When you do online checkin and mark "pay by CC", your asked how you want your total to be converted....by the exchange rate RC uses, which then will be charged to your card in CDN... OR ....RC charging US to your CC and letting your card do the exchange rate. Conclusion: would bloomburg international have a better exchange than our current exchange between US and CDN?

I just answered my own question: googled Bloomburg international and US to CDN is 1.3318...then googled my bank CC and US to CDN is 1.3732. CONCLUSION: this tells me its best to use RC exchange process. With either way, I still get a 3% service charge to do the exchange.

Which is best for Canadian CC holders? Have cruiseline convert by its universal rate OR have your CC convert to its rate.

Thank you for your info. I have looked into this extensively and for us 7 ADULTS, we would like to do a flat river with grass AND a tree swamp area. (Not into being whipped around). I know both have this, but just want to understand which would be more natural in scenery and wildlife. Which area has the more beautiful treed route. I have contacted Midway and they said we could get our own private boat that will accommodate us. We initially wanted to do Lone Cabbages Twister, but I've called twice to book a private tour and they tell me to call back in a month, then in 2 weeks. I don't want ot be left hanging with no private reservation for 7 ppl., as I know a boat is more for 6, and it is hard to find one for 7 without paying for 2 boats. (one place offered 2 boats with 4 seats, but I would have to pay for the empty 8th seat). I did find a comment about someone having their boat cancelled due to "over booking" at the cabbage place. I assume its because they do cater to the cruise excursions.

We have pre-cruise days in Orlando and I have done extensive research on airboat tours. Have narrowed it down to Midway ( 30 min. north of port) that goes through the cypress trees and on St John river, that has a set routine. Or Airboat Rides Melbourne (40 min west of port) that does the lower river and the marsh bogs, which he will custom to our likes and even take us to the Cabbage restaurant. The two are in different conservation area's.

Question: which area is better (scenery, wildlife, alligators) for this? Any experiences on either operator? I made sure they can fit all 7 adults on one boat (not a 6-seater that defies the rules)

As I thought. Thanks for your inputs. I immediately cancelled my card after trying to call both numbers that were supplied. My investigating told me one was a cell # and the other was supplied by VOIP. With both, I kept getting a repeat message "this call may be recorded."

Has anyone used, or heard about Port Canaveral Transportation ? Apparently their office is on Astronaut Bvrd., near port. Are they new? I want to give link because I have found 2 transportation of this name...one having bad review (no show, no contact, no answer of phone) and with different address (which doesn't have Car Limo behind their name)

http://www.port-canaveral-transportation.net/

Check out on youtube channel of Sea Cruisers. They did this when on an MSC cruiseline'

I'm not promoting them. I just like their cruise vlogs

I rented an apartment at union st and western ave for 2 nights before my cruise. Can you guys tell me what you think about the location, it's safe?

 

 

You should be fine. There's a storage place there that has security walking around. And your right by the walkway to Waterfront.

Is it advantageous to buy tickets for HOHO online, or can we get a deal by just walking off ship towards Fishermans Wharf. In New York, we noticed deals being offered for the HoHo, which were competitive to what I paid online before arriving there.

Have you tried a hotel near the station that you stay before cruise and offers parking while your away? They usually offer shuttle service too.

Try Hilton Garden Inn. Sign onto their website for Hilton rewards just to get the cheaper pricing. Better than 3rd party websites. They offer free breakfast too.

Motif Seattle is nice too.

Both near downtown sites and good price for the area, between 250-270

Also, while searching hotels on their website for "deals", The Crown Plaza has a deal for "Canadian Shoppers", $189 - $260 (depending on dates) that include parking during your stay and breakfast for 2. Its close to most downtown sightseeing.

I did a lot of searching for our upcoming cruise. Booked at Comfort Inn and Suites, 1/2 hr drive up Aurora Ave (#99) from downtown. Include light hot breakfast, free parking for $148 CAD. (since we're coming from Canada, didn't want to go all the way to airport area). Then, closer to sail date I watched pricing and found a good deal at Staybridge Suites in the Lake Union area, which is the area I actually wanted to be. It was $220 CAD, $15 parking with a full hot breakfast and free shuttle to and from anywhere we want to go within Seattle Downtown area. So we are visiting Pike Place Market day before cruise. This place also has a nice rooftop terrace for you to relax and enjoy the view of Lake Union and downtown.

Our flight doesn't leave until 3:30 pm and we were thinking of taking a tour of the city for a couple of hours before heading to the airport. Does anyone know of tour companies that will store luggage? We would have taken RCI's shore excursion but they will only accept passengers who are flying after 4:00 pm.

We try to visit Pike Place Market every time we're in Seattle. Its 3 unique floor plans of different shops and entertainment. You can easily spend 3 hours there.

YES, go to Viator and search: Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour by Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.

It is available, with good reviews.

The Hop-on-hop-off Bus is good. You can book it through Viator. Then you choose when you want to go. You'll find a couple hoho companies offering this, with discounts, when you get off the ship.

We drive along 1st ave, one block up from Pike place St.. and find a guy holding parking sign. He guids you into a lot and you pay $15-20. We also have a handicap sign, so will do the circle around in front of market a leat couple times. Sometimes a guy see us and directs us to a space that really isn't for parking.

Hate to burst your bubbles, but I AVOID the hand sanitizer (soap & water is best). It's logic...you force your body to not recognize germs and the outcome will be your immune system will become weaker in defending off germs. Outcome...you will get sick faster and easier and more often. I also avoid railings, door handles, people looking or sounding ill. And I have NEVER gotten sick. It's the time of year you travel. There is a "sick "season, Oct-Mid March. Also, I avoid leaving my house 2 weeks before a cruise. I don't visit the Dr office at this time either (sick ppl handling everything). If I need to do an errand, I wash my hand with soap and water as soon as I get home.

My DH was in the navy for 15 yrs, on a small confined (under deck, no windows) ship for weeks on end... and he never got sick either.

I've done HOHO bus in New York to get around to interesting sights. The one in San Francisco goes by the GG Park. I get the bus ticket on groupon for a fraction of price. Is this a good option?

We have done a tour with ship, just so we have something to do before flight, and it gets us and our luggage to the airport on time. Usually, ship won't sell you a tour if they know its not going to get you to the air[port on time. We like the layed back, casual restful time on the bus before getting to airport.

We spend time in Seattle often. Another good option is to stay downtown and enjoy the sights and sounds of Pike Place Market. you can spend a lot of time there without getting bored. Then take an airport shuttle or tram to the airport.

Hi there, I see you are on the Explorer in Sept. I sailed with you to Alaska in 2014. I will look for you in Sept. We are coming into Seattle two days early. So ready.

Hi!

Yes, the cruise that I didn't make it to the Meet N Mingle because of a migraine. I may not remember everyone, as there we're some medical issues at the time. It was a cruise for me to relax and forget about stressful stuff.

Are you signed up on the roll call for this Explorer cruise?

Yes. And all the tour companys have given a schedule of leaving around 10:00am and getting back around 7pm. So that gives us plenty of time, as we dock at 9am and leave at midnight.

We have been to San Francisco many times. Would like to do a Monterey/ Carmel tour. We are in 9am-midnight. Is there a good company to do this for cruise passengers? There is no excursion with the ship.