hal2008

On 12/18/2022 at 4:43 PM, mets123 said:

Just stay away from the market place at Labradee. The vendors are Very aggressive

 

That marketplace is a eye opening experience for less traveled closed minded among us.

THe main building sells mainly made in china stuff.

This marketplace has authentic local stuff.

Regarding their "style" of doing business is what is commonly practised in the vast majority of the world. If these people sound bit aggressive, please do remember that Haiti is the poorest country in the world and each sale in the marketplace feeds many mouths. I bargain hard and then pay significantly more than agreed upon price.

We, in America, try to sell everything from cars to refrigerators using half naked female models and that we do not find aggressive or disgusting but a hard working desperate man pushing his own locally made products bit persuasively, we find it "very aggressive".

They blocked you from physically walking away? No, they did not. They just keep repeating their sales pitch. You could have walked away.

Why kick their stomach by scaring others in boycotting them?

On 12/15/2022 at 8:53 AM, Joseph2017China said:

I have never had the desire to do laundry on a cruise.....never

Thanks for sharing.

On a 21+ day cruise in Europe for a US based pax, a normal person would appreciate availability of laundry facility given that ship charges are pretty high.

On 12/2/2022 at 8:10 PM, Biker19 said:

You don't need to hold the stock to get the OBC - only need to show you owned it at one time.

It might work 

But T&C is clear that you need to hold it as of the sailing day 

Now, it is different matter that it is impossible to verify the ownership as of the sailing date using statement or letter from the brokerage  as you will be on board 

For all practical purposes, they stipulate that you do own 100 shares within certain days (statement can be only x months old) but once OBC is given they don't take it back just because you sold off your shares irrespective of what T&C says 

On 11/18/2022 at 9:23 PM, SusieAV8R said:

 

 

Wow!!  What a difficult time you have had!  I went online, followed the provided instructions, which included each of our 11 Celebrity cruise confirmation numbers (out to April, 2024) and, cruise dates; then uploaded a copy of my recent monthly investment statement (my account number, non-RCL share holdings,  total account value etc blackened out) showing I was a current holder of at least 100 RCL shares. Within a week or so, I had confirmation of all relevant  Shareholder OBCs.  (I expect that since all share holders are listed electronically with RCL, it would not be difficult to have a program coded to pick up sales of shares by future cruisers who have been awarded Shareholder OBCs.) 

Snailmail was a response to other poster who had issues with it.

Was suggesting him/her the easier route (without using any hyperbole) 

BTW, I never use monthly statement (it has too much other information).  One liner from brokerage house with absolutely minimum info that RCL needs has been enough.

Your "expectations" that all shareholders are listed electronically with RCL is way out of the ballpark. In USA, most securities are held in street name.

On 9/9/2022 at 7:14 AM, Biker19 said:

You don't need any of that - just buy 100 shares one day, sell them the next (hopefully on an up day) and use the buy transaction to keep getting the OBC.

RCL may not bother checking as such small OBC is just sort of marketing money for them.

But as per T&C, you need to be shareholder of at least 100 shares as of

1. Applying for OBC 

2. Date of sailing

BOTH

They ask for proof of 1.  And do not bother with 2 but in theory they can.

Also, given volatility in this stock lately, a daily move can easily exceed this small 100 OBC. (so buying one day and selling the next, does not eliminate the risk of losing more than 100 OBC and also it violates T&C)

There are smarter ways to hedge and have zero exposure and still get OBC

On 9/9/2022 at 1:30 AM, Inveterate Cruiser said:

And if you are savvy enough, you can sell call options monthly with your holding of 100 shares. This can provide you with dividend-like returns while you hold the stock and collect your OBC. 

Strategy doesnt work when stock gaps down (as it did in early  2020 or to lesser degree earlier this year). Basically, you are writing a naked put option with that strategy and agreeing to take associated risk.  Much better ways to eliminate stock exposure and still get OBC

On 10/8/2022 at 12:24 PM, LinRon3 said:

I guess we give up.  There is simply something about us that RCI does not like.  We applied twice through snail mail with downloaded application and our august statement, then once with September statement, and now through the online link given on this thread [that has up to 10 cruise entries??!!].  NO CIGAR. I read others here applying ahead for cruises months in advance?!  What's up with that since the instructions 'suggest' about 21 days in advance of one's cruise and how does one 'prove' they still own the shares?  So, we've followed precisely the instructs...as we have found them anyway.  It just has to be something about us personally?  Well, that ridiculous of course as we're all swallowed up in 'miles and piles' of datafiles.  10 cruises in advance??!! Really?!!

Snailmail is inefficient and expensive to process.

And with resource shortages everywhere, understandable if RCL is not jumping to give away money especially when they make it so easy online.

Instruction "suggest" at least 2-3 weeks before sailing. Doesnt mean you cant do it months in advance.

In reality, they have done processing even with 4 days to go before sailing. They just request 2-3 weeks to give them slack.

On 10/5/2022 at 9:43 PM, SusieAV8R said:

RCL Shareholder benefits are now combinable with other benefits.  $250 OBC for sailings 14 or more nights; $100 OBC for sailings 6-13 nights;  $50 OBC for sailings of 5 nights or less.    Your snail mail may not be arriving where intended?

It is combinable with many other discounts.

But not combinable with those specific ones listed in the T&C

However, that doesn't mean you can't find deficiency in RCL IT and get away with it

(someone upthread mentioned how they were able to get this OBC with casino discount even when T&C clearly states that it can not be)

On 10/9/2022 at 12:02 PM, shellunderwater said:

Ka-boom!

 

Yes, I sell covered call options on RCL and SPY.  Then I use the proceeds to buy more SPY.

 

But, that's all a different story.

I am sure you understand the risk you are taking by doing so(for a company that is not that in great financial position)

Just think about doing this in Jan 2020.

To get any decent premium income, you will have to set strike substantially below your purchase price.

Mathematically, covered put is same as selling naked put.

There much better (no risk) ways to handle this financially if sole purpose to buy RCL shares is to get 100 OBC.

Are taxis/shared van available again for ride to Hip Street?  

RCL offers an excursion from Falmouth to Gip Street, Falmouth Margaritaville and Bliss Beach.  Has anyone taken it recently? 

I am not going to scream by typing in bold but can't stress enough to call ASAP but with plenty of patience.

Ridiculousness of 5 year old in different cabin by himself will actually make most agents wanting to rectify.

You shudnt have to pay a single penny more than what you originally agreed

But be prepared for the following and then continue nudging them for better resolution (remember they are in weak position PR wise for assigning 5 year old alone - an obvious computer glitch) 

1. They can give you two interiors (may not even be connected but nearby)

2. They can give you one outside and one inside across the hallway or very closely

Of course the desired solution is two connected rooms and while inventory exist, they will do it. 

On 8/22/2022 at 3:30 PM, Giantfan13 said:

We are far from being able to just go and do what we want money wise, but sometimes you have to do what is best for you. We are older seniors, and we have two large suitcases and a couple of smaller carry ons and just the thought of hauling them around is daunting. So, that said, we pre booked a taxi, probably at a higher rate, but they will meet us at the arrivals and help with some of the shlepping. For us, it was more worthwhile than the lesser cost of finding a taxi and getting all our stuff out to it.

 

Cheers

Len

Make sense.

Very reasonable tradeoff

More agile folks with less luggage  may prefer to buy the "small" daypass and take the very comfortable train (not metro) from airport to central station, just walk outside and take the convenient bus (included in ticket from airport) which drops you right outside Marriott 

Marriot is one of those rare hotels in center of Copenhaggen that is truly air conditioned.

Tripadvisor information on most hotels is wrong.  Most hotels have air cooling (a ventilation system allowing minor cooling/heating). Even 5 star hotels like Radisson Royal doesn't have true AC.

Normally, you don't need AC in Coppenhaggen but lately summer is getting uncomfortable with climate change at least on few days/nights every year. 

Silja line ferry ship appears in one of the interesting photo taken by Agnes in Stockholm archipelago.  Two ships appear to be perpendicular to each other 

Coincidentally, my travel mate took almost same photo at same spot few weeks earlier.

Archipelago sailing is the real highlight of Stockholm port.  Those birthing at Nyanashan are missing out on it 

On 8/22/2022 at 2:49 PM, Lane Hog said:

Glad you're so "helpful"...   

TSA is nothing for those of us with Precheck.  I'd take 100 trips thru TSA vs. doing proctored testing with a toddler.  I'd rather go to a physical site and wait offsite for the results.

Regardless, it's a dumb requirement to keep for a four hour visit to Victoria in the evening hours when we probably won't even leave the ship.  But Covidian theology dictates otherwise...

Do you want to get into competition for listing out what you label as "dumb requirements" that US expects from Canadians and other foreigners?

These are well publicized rules known in quite advance and cruise lines are just following those policies.  Proctored testing with a normal behaving toddler is not as challenging as proctors encountered so far are extremely polite and patient folks. 

Btw, there is no compulsion to take sailings that involve Canadian port.   Much cheaper to stay home glued to that  "news" channel. 

8 hours ago, SellN4U said:

I notice RCI no longer provides recommended tips for stateroom attendant, server, assistant server, etc.  Does anyone know what those are?

 

On a very recent sailing, GS was promptly handing out the printed sheet.

Do not know if all ships are doing that at their GS desk or not 

7 hours ago, SellN4U said:

I was on a recent cruise and asked GS what was the recommended tip for cabin steward and he refused to give me an answer and said tipping is up to the guest.  I told him I find that weird considering they came up with an amount they charge people in the beginning per day and asked how they determine how much to give the cabin steward.  He still wouldn't answer. Years ago we tipped cabin steward, server and asst server. If matre d did a good job of helping us, giving recommendations for ports, etc we tipped them too. Of course bar got tipped per order.  I'm curious if the cruise industry is cutting staff pay and spreading the tips out over a larger group of people.

That's very strange.

On a very recent cruise, I asked GS and they immediately produced a printout showing how tip is broken up.  Nice lady even offered up suggestion unsolicited that if you want to redistribute, you will have to reverse the whole pre pay thing with her and then hand over envelopes (like old times) to each category.

I think it is just too much hassel. Just easier to give extra to people you want to give extra without taking it away from anyone. 

3 hours ago, wayne_trisha said:

Where are you getting free tests these days?

In addition to suggestion by Another_Critic above, most private health insurance plan will cover 8 tests per month per person through prescription part of the coverage.

1. With 3 days given to test, it is easy to do test in comfort of your home/hotel. It is less hassle than overdone TSA screening.

2. If fear of testing positive is forcing people to be careful in the week/10 days before the cruise, then the test requirement is actually doing the job from the public health point of view

3. False positive - Highly unlikely - in fact almost rare - to get false positive with antigen test. And if you indeed believe that you are that rare category of false positive, no one stops you from doing second test.  In fact. the biggest uselessness of these tests is that with BA.5, you get false negative easily.

Testing will most likely go away soon as Cruise lines dont care much about public health perspective. But until then if people are indeed more careful because they are scared about testing positive then unintentionally, testing requirement is doing its job :))

16 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

I agree that pre-cruise testing is one of the biggest hassles to cruising. Covid is everywhere and here to stay.  Most of America has moved on, but the cruise lines are scared to death of media scrutiny with the threshold of "outbreak" being so low.  All they need is some media outlet's headlines of "covid outbreak and skyrocketing cases" on a cruise ship.

In absence of any regulations, Cruise lines like any other businesses are run per feedback given by their internal PR/legal/Marketing teams. 

Trend seems to be towards relaxation and sooner or later that will happen in absence of any unexpected developments. 

On 8/15/2022 at 5:21 PM, Tatra603 said:

So you can fly into Greece without a test, but you have to take a test to leave on a cruise ship.

This makes no sense.

Does anyone know whether the port authority have any plans to rescind this ridiculous rule?

Why are you surprised?

So many countries (at least 2 dozen that I can confirm easily) have that exactly same requirements.

Whether right or wrong, the general perception of cruise ship to  non cruising public (and hence politicians representing their constituents) is that  

1. Cruise ship is petri dish of high concentration of virus (true but it  is true for fly, norovirus, step throat, etc., too)

2. Cruise ships bring covid to their community (true only for otherwise well isolated islands)

Ridiculous rule?

May be 

But when was the last time you posted about having to take off shoes at TSA for general travelers?

10 hours ago, LakeTravisJK said:

Why are they getting locked?

Lots of folks are on the edge of their seats awaiting changes/updates in policies. We come to CC to get the latest info.

If folks stuck to what they claim (information exchange about current covid policy and known confirmed changes), we would be fine 

Problem is people love the anonymity tha social media provide and and try to lecture even experts based on twisted truths or outright lies their favorite "news" channel has spam them with.

And these people end up violating policy clearly outlined in Red banner at the  top on every page.  

Are crew members still wearing masks or has that become optional for them?

Thanks 

At time of your sailing, were the crews still masked or was it optional? 

11 hours ago, orville99 said:

Actually, what Carnival said to the analyst community this week was that new bookings this month exceeded the number of new bookings in the same month in 2019. Not entirely sure where "doubled" originated.

Lol. 

Many countries have emigration (USA does not have it, so it confuses many Americans)

Four lines for most people at Schiphol

(Data points from DL one and sky priority not useful to rest of us)

1. Drop bags (and BP if applicable)

2. Security

3 emigration (also called passport control)

4. To board the plane (this is of course optional.  You can always board last after they issue final alert)

On 8/16/2022 at 9:12 PM, traveling moose said:

I caught Covid hiking

Hiking gave you covid?