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katmu

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Posts posted by katmu

  1. 36 minutes ago, Puggy13 said:

    I was looking to refare under this promo, had old Plus package but the plus package under this promo now includes the premier items, premier now has an additional $50 obc. Is this right?

    I noticed the same thing on my sailing.  The Plus and Premier are backwards.  I’m waiting for my CFP to get back to me as I’m thinking this is a website glitch.

    • Thanks 1
  2. On 6/30/2023 at 4:58 PM, Aquahound said:

    Thank you for the heads up.  For flights into and out of Alaska, I always recommend trying to book Alaska Airlines first. 

    What are your thoughts on 1 stop on Alaska vs. a nonstop on Delta?  Getting ready to book our flights for 2024 in a few days.

  3. 1 minute ago, CruiserN1 said:

    I am rehabbing a hip injury and can't walk very far wearing anything other than tennis shoes/trainers/sneakers without aggravating it. We leave July 14 on Crown to Alaska. Will there be an issue if I wear athletic footwear to the MDR for dinner? (Not trying to start a debate about proper dress, just want to make sure I'm prepared).

     

    Do you possibly have some all black tennis shoes / trainers? If they are fairly plain, i don’t think anyone will be looking at your shoes.  I have a mobility issue and am limited with footwear myself, as are many others.  Go and enjoy your cruise.

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  4. 49 minutes ago, SbbquilterUT said:

    If you are flying in Europe, be sure to look at airline luggage limits as some will weigh your hand luggage or measure for size.

    For my trip in February, I will have one non-Delta flight on KLM.  It will actually be my first time flying business including the flight from AMS to BCN on KLM.  KLM has the following for allowances on their website for business which are a bit more generous than for economy.  I should be well under that.

     

    In Business Class, you’re always allowed to bring:

    2 items of hand baggage, each with a maximum size of 55 x 35 x 25 cm including handles and wheels;

    1 accessory (such as a small handbag or laptop bag) with a maximum size of 40 x 30 x 15 cm.

    Your hand baggage can have a combined weight of up to 18 kg.

     

    I do sometimes fly economy airlines in Europe like easyjet, but in those cases I prepay to check my second bag.  

  5. My next Princess cruise in February will be my first in Europe.  I’m planning to pack carry-on only.  I’m trying to understand if cruises in Europe do tend to be a bit dressier than those based out of the US.  I’m thinking of wearing wool trousers, a silk blouse and jacket for formal night.  Would that be dressy enough?

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  6. My Princess cruise that is ending in Rome in February is showing a debark tour that would drop you off at Fiumcino.  The tour is St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum, only you don’t actually tour the Collosseum:

     

    Disembarkation day offers a wonderful opportunity to explore Rome on a guided walking tour, highlighting key sights. A scenic 90-minute motorcoach drive from the port of Civitavecchia includes such exciting landmarks as Castel S. Angelo, Circus Maximus, Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum. A stroll brings you to spectacular St. Peter's Basilica, regarded as one of the holiest and the greatest of all churches of Christendom. Michelangelo's famous "Pieta" masterpiece is located inside. Following your tour of the Basilica, enjoy free time to shop for souvenirs at St. Peter's Square. 
    The tour concludes at Ostiense Train Station or conveniently at Leonardo da Vinci airport (FCO) for flights departing after 5:00 p.m.  This one is showing $179.95 for adults.

     

    There is one other debark tour available for $229.95 focused on the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s only that tour would drop you at Ostiense train station and not at FCO at the end. Disembarkation day offers a wonderful opportunity to explore Rome on a guided walking tour, highlighting key cultural and historical sights. Your tour's first stop is the spectacular Vatican Museum, a complex that houses one of the most impressive and varied collections of art in the world. Visit the famed Sistine Chapel, home to the masterpieces of the great artist Michelangelo. Step outside into the fresh air and stroll through St. Peter's Square, a striking plaza that frames the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica. Located on the site where St. Peter was martyred and buried, the basilica holds 60,000 people and is regarded as one of the holiest and the greatest of all churches of Christendom. Enjoy the majesty of the Basilica from outside, as your Guide provides a thorough explanation. The tour concludes at the Ostiense Train Station.

    • Like 1
  7. 12 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

    Why do people keep admonishing the OP about wanting roomy luggage?  That is his question; why do we need to know why, or telling him not to pack so much?  DH and I enjoy having tuxedo, dresses, etc. on a cruise that we would not take for a land vacation.  Maybe OP has medical or electronic gear that must be taken. It's none of our business. Just answer the question.

    I can certainly understand the OP wanting to take a large bag even if that is not how I personally pack myself.  Part of the fun of cruising has always been the special dinners onboard in addition to the excursions, so cruises are definitely different than packing for a land based vacation.  The one thing the OP might want to keep in mind currently if flying to a cruise would be to also have a carry on with some essentials including at least a change of clothes in the event the larger bag is delayed.  

     

  8. 22 minutes ago, slidergirl said:

    I like the Cotopaxi because of the colors.  No one can mistake it for theirs😉. Plus the colors make me smile.  
    Working in hotels, I’ve had a lot of experience with spinners.  Personally I can’t stand them.  I end up doing them like a two wheeler.  I took one on a trip and it bounced and tipped all the time, usually bouncing on my sneakers.  Big black marks where it happened.  

     

    I can appreciate the colors, for more extroverted people.  I am generally the sort of person when picking out clothes that would ask “Does that come in navy?”.  Black is the backup choice as everything seems to come in black.

    • Like 2
  9. On 7/1/2023 at 12:54 PM, slidergirl said:

    REI may have the Patagonia and Cotopaxi.   They are having a sale now, so happy hunting!

     

    Well, I was partially successful yesterday.  REI did not have the Patagonia in stock but the time I made it there after taking my car in for service, and then stopping by Luggage World and TJ Max but they did have the Cotopaxi.  I liked the size but the colors are a bit too loud for me.  I do see that online it comes in an all black version.  I’ve ordered the  top three contenders for the backpack to try out at home.  I’ll report back if I go with the eBags, Cotopaxi or Patagonia.

     

    For the smaller roller bag, I ended up liking this one instead of the spinners.  I tried probably 10 different spinners from TravelPro, Briggs & Riley, Samonsite, and a couple of other brand I’m not remembering.  The store had an area where the carpet transitioned to tile with a lip and the rollers didn’t seem to handle that well, so I can’t imagine them doing well in Europe.  

     

    https://travelpro.com/collections/platinum®-elite-soft-side-collection/products/platinum®-elite-regional-carry-on-rollaboard®

    • Like 1
  10. 4 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

    Don’t bypass places like TJ MAXX, Marshall’s, Burlington, and dept. store luggage dept.  my best hard side roller bag was steeply discounted at a dept. store.  EM

    There’s a TJ Max and Marshalls near Luggage World so I’m planning to stop there on my outing tomorrow.

     

    Burlington and and the mall will probably have to wait until Sunday.  I have time until my first trip so I want to look at my options.

     

  11. Thank you for the great suggestions.  The ebags Motherlode jr, Patagonia MLC 30 liter and Cotopaxi are all about the size I’m looking for.  I’m going to try to get to REI and Luggage World tomorrow and take a look at a few.  I know they won’t have the ebags but hopefully I can look at a few others.  

     

    I might also look at a smaller roller bag like the Samsonite or a couple of the Travelpro ones that are 19” or under. I know TravelPro also still makes ones with 2 wheels but I want to try them both to see what I prefer.  

  12. I think my biggest complaint with the backpack is the shape.  It’s sloped at the top so I feel that I’m losing a fair amount of space.  I do use packing cubes so those help a bit with the structure. If the underseat bag had wheels, I would carry a smaller travel backpack for my other bag as I don’t really want two bags with wheels.  I would like the option of being able to attach the two bags together somehow.  Overall, I am working on packing even lighter than I have in the past. I know I don’t want a hard shell precisely because I often take the aisle seat, and the aisle seats are more likely to have some sort of obstruction under the seat.

  13.  

    I need a new underseat, or personal item bag.  I generally fly on Delta.  My next cruise in February will be out of Barcelona and ending in Rome where I will have a few days on both ends of the cruise in hotels.  I have another cruise booked to Alaska next summer.  I will be taking another carry-on size suitcase for both of these trips.  I have been using my work backpack but I would like something a bit more structured that could hold at least a day or two’s worth of clothes.  

  14. 17 minutes ago, sciencewonk said:

    I have noticed that while there are people in all age groups that enjoy classical music, the demographics tend to skew a little older.  For some reason, it looks like more people start to enjoy classical music as they age.  For myself, I was a music minor in college and have studied and enjoyed classical music since high school (I'm now in my late 60's).  I hope HAL continues with classical music in some form or another.  On our recent 34-day transpacific cruise I spent at least 3 out of every 4 days in the LCS.  The quartet on that cruise was outstanding.

     

    I think at least for my kids their appreciation of classical music began in middle school as they both attended a fine arts magnet school.  Students were required to learn an instrument but also to performances by our local orchestra and other professional artists.  

     

    I do agree that in general the audience for classical music tends to skew a little older.  I think as with travel, classical music is something that with more exposure many younger people gain new experiences and appreciation.  It sometimes starts small with one artist or piece of music.  

    • Like 2
  15. 11 minutes ago, travelfool123 said:

     

    I believe it was 29". It just seems like looking at the one I got (29" seems small).  It doesn't matter if it's soft side or hard.  I had soft side for years and it worked as long as it's big enough.  Someone said "this post was meaningless".  To me it's not, or I wouldn't have posted it.  I just want to get other people's opinions.  Don't need to be smart about it.  By the time you pack day wear, night wear, shoes, etc. it gets full pretty quickly.  

    If you want to stay with a 29” and stay with a name brand, you might start with a line like the TravelPro Max Lite 5 softside.  It comes in a 29” spinner that should still be fairly light for that size at around 8.5lbs.  That line also has several other roller bags, totes, and hard side bags available if you want other pieces.  It might also be good to go to a luggage store at check out some newer pieces to see what you like and don’t like. This bag should run around $200.

     

     

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  16. 2 hours ago, travelfool123 said:

    Enough to handle enough clothes/shoes, etc. for a 10 day cruise and 2 day pre-cruise.  

    What size was your old set?  25”?  29”?  Some people can pack enough for a 10 day cruise and 2 day pre-cruise in a carry-one while others would need a 29” checked bag and a carry-on for the same trip.  Do you prefer hard or soft sided luggage?  The questions are meant to better understand your requirements so people can make better recommendations for you.

    • Thanks 1
  17. 2 hours ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

    I learned a lot from a YouTube site called "Tips for Travellers." Yes, the British spelling of travellers. He has hundreds of very impartial videos covering just about anything you can think of relating to cruising. Just a suggestion, but I found it very helpful. 

     

    I would agree with this advice.  I find Tips for Travellers to be the most impartial of the YouTube channels.  He has sailed nearly every major line and hosts a weekly Q&A session where he answers viewers questions as well.

  18. 2 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

    This OZ/NZ presentation was more informative for me than the Princess US webinars. It did peak my interest somewhat although not enough to book Sun. After reading about onboard experiences I’ll decide whether to book or not.

     

    At the end a question about coffeemakers shown in artist renderings was asked & I’ve read posts asking this question. He said that all suites will have them but as of now he thinks it would be upon request for other cabins. Whether there will be enough for each cabin that won’t be known until the ship sails. My guess is they will not have enough for each cabin or they would have them in every cabin.

     

    I can see the coffeemakers being one of those things where they eventually need to add them to all of the cabins, or wouldn’t there be an uproar?

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