cmich068

While I didn't do my interview at YUL, this context may be helpful. The NEXUS interviews at Canadian airports are a two-part process now. The first is an interview with Canadian agents. You need to have an appointment for this one, walk-ins are generally not accepted. You do not have to have a same-day flight. The second is the interview with US agents. This one must be completed after the Canadian interview (doesn't have to be same day), is only available by walk-in, and must be done prior to a same-day flight to the United States as it occurs inside the pre-clearance area of the airport. If you can get an appointment at YUL for the first interview, and leave enough time to clear the second interview before your flight, you can conceivably clear the entire process in the same day. Appointment availability is the key limitation here.

Carnival, in contrast, just brought back a limited late night snack offering in their buffet because the Pizza was too popular and they couldn't keep up with demand. I still remember when Royal used to have late night burgers and hot dogs in the Solarium Cafe on the Vision class ships. How times have changed.

Saw an unconfirmed rumour yesterday that Porter will soon be announcing non-stop flights from YOW to both FLL and MCO, to start this fall. Something to watch for!

Renewals (and new applications) are kind of like playing an elaborate game of roulette. Sometimes you get approved in a few days, sometimes in a few weeks, sometimes you wait 18 months, sometimes you need an interview, sometimes you don't, sometimes they say you do but then say actually you don't.... etc

There's no reason not to use YYZ Express if your flight is eligible for it, worst case scenario you can always opt for the regular line or any other line you are eligible for.

Last time I did this, it was pre-pandemic but we paid about $1000 each round trip with Air Transat. I'm sure it's more expensive now.

WhatsApp will work without any special effort. To connect to Wifi Calling with Bell/Virgin you need to spoof your location so it thinks you're connecting from a Canadian IP address - so using a VPN or similar.

Royal's complementary food options are already in the dumps compared to the competition, especially outside meal hours. So completely not surprised they're thinking about getting rid of what remains. My last few cruises have been on Carnival and Celebrity, I am doing one more Royal Caribbean cruise this winter just to secure Diamond Plus status before they change the qualification criteria, but honestly don't know if I'll be coming back after that. Was already getting frustrated with all of Royal's cutbacks and that was before COVID and everything that has happened since.

You can get one-stop, but honestly I find Toronto is a pretty competitive airport for flights to Europe and I've never found Buffalo to be better priced. If anything people from Buffalo drive up here to get cheaper Europe flights on airlines like Transat, etc. The real savings potential is from US domestic flights because you don't pay the various taxes and fees that you do flying from Canada as an international arrival, though these days with the dollar its not necessarily savings either.

Just got back from a two week trip away and found the exact same thing with parking rates Normally use Value Park Garage but went with Park N Fly Valet this time and fantastic experience, no waiting for shuttles and car was ready to go when we got there. For $400 savings, would do it again in a heartbeat.

Wifi Calling will work outside Canada as described on this thread if you are a Rogers or Fido customer. Bell, Telus, and their discount brands block the use of Wifi Calling outside Canada, and while there are some ways around this if necessary it won't work for what is being described here - using wifi calling via a foreign esim.

I did Oasis once in 2010/11 and that was enough for me, but it's also long enough ago that I can't remember exactly why I didn't like it. So booked Harmony for this winter, and will give it another shot. Suspect I'll end up agreeing with the points in the first post here.

No issue using the NEXUS lane when over the limit as long as it's declared and the importation is for personal use. If they want you to pay duties they'll send you to the office.

To answer OP's question, check your province's liquor board for pricing. Eg for Ontario, the LCBO's website has import costs listed here for casual importations (eg bringing it with you): https://www.lcbo.com/content/lcbo/en/corporate-pages/about/aboutourbusiness/importing.html CBSA will collect those fees on your province's behalf - also keep in mind if you enter Canada through a different province than where you reside, you may have to pay that province's duties rather than your own (so if you fly FLL-YYZ-YVR, you'll be importing to Ontario at Ontario rates, even if you live in BC).

There's no disadvantage to applying for renewal as soon as you are permitted to (1 year before expiry at the moment), you get the same 5 year extension regardless of when you get approved.

Just to echo others - confirming I've been able to update my passport online without an issue, as outlined on the CBSA website. But if you do want to update it in person - you just have to walk in to a NEXUS or Global Entry office and they can do it for you without an appointment, so no big hassle. We had to do that when my wife updated her name and got a new passport (as name changes can't be done online) and took five minutes, tops.

I've only done the newer Carnival ships but I find them to be a nice change from Royal. Wouldn't hesitate to do either.

Central Park Balconies ending in 229 or 629 are the double width ones - so yes, 11229 is one

1) 10 day quarantine is only mandated if you test positive on arrival on a random entry test or otherwise declare at the border that you have COVID - if you test positive at any point unrelated to the border, you fall under provincial rules instead which more often than not mirror the CDC guidelines rather than having force of law 2) it is legal to depart Canada in a private conveyance (eg personal vehicle) while under quarantine. You are only restricted from using public transportation eg planes, trains, buses.

Practically speaking, the Public Health Agency of Canada will maybe call you to ask why you didn't do the test, and if so you will advise them you have left Canada, and then they'll drop the whole thing.

Honestly I usually just book Beck Taxi or similar to get to the airport for very early morning flights. Usually comes out cheaper than the car service flat rates given the lack of traffic etc.

I think the Wise Prepaid Card is the closest thing to the old Stack card now. I have one but full disclosure haven't used it yet so can't give a personal experience. I did look into the CIBC Conversion card that others have mentioned but I don't think the exchange rates and fees were any more competitive than just using my credit union's debit card.

I think you're right, but if the cruise line is asking for it, path of least resistance etc.

Pick Entry by Marine, Country of Original Departure Canada, Port of Entry Vancouver, use the same date and time for embarkation and arrival in Canada, then pick your ship, enter cabin number, and go through the rest of the prompts. It's clumsy because ArriveCan was not designed for this purpose but the government still saw it fit to require it to be used for departing cruise passengers.

Global Entry cards can be used for priority security screening at Canadian airports, but not to enter the country. NEXUS is the joint US-Canada program that allows people to use Global Entry lanes/kiosks to enter the US, NEXUS lanes/kiosks to enter Canada, plus TSA Precheck and priority security screening. Plus the fee is half of the Global Entry fee. The downside is the interview availability is a complete mess after years of them being shut down.