Wendy The Wanderer

Good to know. I didn't know there was dedicated parking at the Ft Lauderdale port.

The parking garage is right across from terminal J, literally. Just a note, however. On our return to Miami, we were docked at another terminal (The NCL one, can't remember the letter), so had to take a shuttle bus from that terminal over to the parking garage at J. Other than that glitch, parking was painless.

When we did Alaska we brought two pairs of binoculars so we wouldn't have to share. That's when I bought my lovely newer binoculars, for that trip. My 50+ year-old Bushnells held up, but the new optics were far superior.

I think that's true, Concierge only. But the ones we've had a couple of times were really pitiful, so my advice is to bring your own.

Oh wow, fingers crossed for you. A lot can happen in ten days but it's not looking good right now.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if parts of the Trans Canada Highway is closed. And the RM goes through Kamloops, which although I don't believe it's at risk, it must be darned smokey, and the route to the east probably go right through some of the areas of active fires.

I got a prescription mask years ago, and it's done well by me, worth it.

In the past we've told our TA that we would be amenable to an upgrade. Got one once, a great deal, but rare.

I admit I didn't even know there was an upgrade button. As far as I know, you will never just be bumped from a booked cabin by a GTY. In my small experience with upgrades, it's usually 2-3 weeks before the sailings that these offers are made, and you must accept quickly because they are popular. Presumably they might offer you a free upgrade if they really needed your cabin for a GTY, not sure about that.

We stayed at the Biltmore in January pre-cruise and loved it. It's about a 20 minute ride from the airport, so I suggest a cab or Uber. Ditto to the port.

In January we did this, but it was refundable OBC.

I would make that assumption, yes. Wraps and sweaters for the ladies, a jacket for the gentlemen. My husband hates suits, but he wore a blazer every night on Splendor last winter and was very glad I packed it.

I thought so! I know Seabourn uses it a lot, and they seem to have more passengers from the U.K. Coming from Canada it may not be too bad either, in the winter, but from the States it looks like a real pain. The lack of offered hotels I guess is a problem for everybody.

We're still wintering in Florida, so can drive to Miami or Fort Lauderdale. We did this last winter and did a wonderful Splendor Southern Caribbean. My husband hardly set foot off the ship, so it could have been a "cruise to nowhere" for us. No Air is important at this point in our lives. We did a wonderful Seaborn itinerary before Covid that was round-trip Montreal. We took the train there and back. I admit we prefer Regent, and Splendor was absolute perfection.

Just as another data point, our ill-fated 2021 WC was going to cost us just under CAN$160,000, for a standard balcony cabin (not concierge.) Plus a non-use air credit of $3,800, which brings it to close to $165K. It was going to be 119 days long. Just looking at the 2024 WC, which, granted, is longer, 132 days. Standard G cabins is ~CAN$122,000 per person. I.e., over CAN$240K. To be fair I'm not factoring in any discounts for SSS or other special offers. But still, that's ridiculous. And too long, btw.

Yes, agreed. Glad we got our 'licks' in when prices were more reasonable. I remember one particular cruise we took several years after 9/11 when the per diem for our standard balcony cabin was about $400pd/pp.

Granted we're at or near the end of our cruising "careers", but I find Regent's latest prices just breathtaking. Regardless of whether or not one can afford it, I can't get my head around this level of spending. I frankly wish they would take excursions out of the equation, but that's obviously not going to happen. Haven't done SS, but too bad they've gone the same way.

No. In fact your luggage should always have those tags on wherever you travel. These paper things are just like the ones you get on your luggage when you fly.

I was going to mention that. I'm pretty much done cruising I think, but frankly I found the waste of all those pleather cases and cloth bags kind of offensive. I'd prefer everything to be electronic, including printable luggage tags. (Guess I could have complained about the Radisson/Regent pins--they used to give them out to all repeat cruises, you know. Another big waste.)

Somehow I've often thought that it would be nice if the activities were more diverse on TA's. But I'm not sure what I can imagine. Ballroom dance lessons come to mind. Wine or food tastings? Anybody got any suggestions?

Especially right now. Although I admit we got into a submarine in Aruba with no qualms (other than a bit of claustrophobia). Plus I've been in several semi-submersibles with no fears. Not sure I'd do either now.

Where are the bicycle tours operated? As for submarines, the best diving conditions to see wrecks that I know of would be in Georgian Bay, since the waters are very clear. But still, obviously no reefs or such. But the scenery in Georgian Bay is spectacular, so I would try to find some kind of excursion either on the water (canoeing?), or hiking. Killarney Park has great hiking trails.

You were lucky then. Weather so far this summer has been up and down like a roller coaster. Hot and muggy, rainy and cool, smoky as all get out. It's nice now, but getting hot again.

Sorry, that was a typo. I meant a GS, the suite the OP mentioned.

Yes, and the big penalties were clearly only for the RS.