willing292

We were in the Med on Rhapsody last year and really enjoyed it. The smaller ships are great for getting into smaller ports. Fewer passengers means the ports are less crowded as well. The ship was in fine shape.

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We spent four weeks on the Rhapsody last year and loved her. Easy to get around, good staff, friendly staff, and good food.

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Last year, our flight into Venice was delayed approximately one hour by fog. You never know what travel delays there will be.

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I believe theses cabins are located in what used to be public space, such as a library. Hence the big windows and different size.

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Hi folks,

 

I searched this thread and didn't come up with too much information (threadbare? ;)).

 

The main thing I found was that if you book in USD, you can purchase RCI's "cancel for any reason" insurance. I'm not sure if that's still available but regardless, it's not relevant to my upcoming sailings which are booked in CAD (and I'm certainly not going to rebook them in USD at the prevailing rate).

 

What's your current recommended provider of travel insurance if the cruise is booked in CAD? RCI? CAA? Other?

 

Assumptions: ignore any travel insurance provided as a credit card benefit and also don't consider emergency out-of-province medical insurance (I have excellent medical through my employer).

 

Mainly I want insurance to cover perils such as a sudden pre-trip medical issue for a travel party member or a serious medical issue with an immediate (non-travelling) family member that would preclude travel, a flight delay or cancellation that prevents my party from getting to the ship on time (assume one might not always use ChoiceAir), trip interruption, or RCI changing/cancelling the sailing (including for a charter).

 

Those are the big things I can think of off the top of my head. There are probably more. There are also little things (inconveniences) such as a lost/delayed luggage allowance.

 

Thank you!!

I use Johnson Insurance (Medoc) as they coordinate with my health benefits from work. They are relatively inexpensive, and good to deal with. I pay monthly for annual coverage.

Need some more tips for those who've used their nexus / global entry. I just got mine. I read the stuff on the website but want to make sure I know what I'm doing.

Flying out is pretty easy from what I understand. I'm flying out of YUL and into MIA. My cruise is out of Port Everglades.

So here is my understanding for when I'm flying back to Montreal. I have to pre-print out my declaration forms and fill them out before I get to the airport. I have to fill them out for my kids aged 5,7,and 9 too correct?

My confusion is for when I am disembarking from the cruise. Are their forms that I have to print and fill out as well? Is there Iris Scan at Port Everglades?

 

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You need to visit the nexus website. How to use the card depends on your residency. I don't think children under 16 need nexus cards. They just go with their parents thru the nexus line.

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Ok ! Thanks for that.

 

On the Visa helps too. Then I have a month to pay it off instead of one lump sum . And get some points too. Somehow doesn't seem to hurt as much! Lol.

 

 

 

My bank seems to always add on an extra fee when I actually do the exchange at the bank....( ends up being almost $30 more then what the online currency exchange app says) . I deal with CIBC.

Banks usually add between 1 and 3 % for a service fee.

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We. Did the ships tour and it was worth every penny. When you arrive at the sanctuary, make a beeline to the koala picture spot and beat the crowd.

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RCI told us not to book a flight before 1130 am.

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I just booked a terrific price at KLM. Choice air was higher! Other times, choice air has been the way to go.

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I sure hope our money improves soon.

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Unfortunately no.

 

 

 

The exchange rate for OBC was 1.10 until last Jauary. There are different exchange rates for different things. This exchange rate has nothing to do with what your gratuities are.

 

 

 

The exchange rate for gratuities hasn't been that low since bookings from several years ago. I think you will find that if you call Royal and ask them what your gratuities would be they will be in the 1.26 to 1.29 range

Based on my experience, the rate of exchange used to calculate my gratuities, has been the same rate as that used on the date I paid my deposit. This has nothing to do with OBC or shore excursions..

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So would that mean if my exchange was 10% at the time of my deposit, that I can add gratuities now at only 10%?

 

 

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Based on my experience, yes. I had a couple of cruises booked when the Canadian $ was worth more. The rate of exchange changed for the worse. When I asked how much my gratuities would be, they quoted and charged me the lower rate, which was less than the US $ amount they state. I paid up pronto!

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I sure wish we could get the 1.10 deal on OBC that was happening a while ago! I called today - still at $140 Canadian to buy $100 OBC :( I can do better than that on my credit card, assuming our dollar doesn't go completely south in the next couple of weeks.

 

 

 

However, I paid my gratuities (in Canadian dollars) and they are charging $17.44 pp/pd CDN for gratuities, which works out to 1.292 for the exchange rate. That's a great exchange rate!

 

 

 

We did some math on the shore excursions, to try to figure out the exchange rate they're using. It's one of the only things you can see prices to compare. You can download a shore excursion brochure in US, then compare to the price in the Planner. Consistently 1.36 yesterday between the brochure in US and the CDN prices in our Planner.

 

 

 

I was trying to decide on whether to book Wonderland at $66.64 Cdn, and couldn't find out how much it is on board. They don't publish the on board prices anymore, you can only see what it is in your planner. So at $66.64, that's $49 US. That makes sense, since everything in my planner today works out to even dollar amounts if you use 1.36 as a conversion rate. Drink package - $65.28, or $48 US, Chops - $57.12 or $42 US.

 

 

 

So current exchange rates, as far as I can tell -

 

 

 

OBC - 1.4

 

stuff in the planner - 1.36

 

Gratuities - 1.292

 

 

 

Actual cruises, no idea, I haven't done that math.

 

 

 

Not sure of the logic there.

Gratuities are usually charged at the same rate of exchange as you paid your deposit.

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One of my favorites smoked salmon. On our last 2 cruises I had to ask for it and they brought it out to me. Hopefully they are not phasing it out.

And whom did you ask for it?

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Changing from a polliwog to a trusty shellback happens when you cross the equator. Crossing the international dateline means you lose a day, or conversely, have the same day twice.

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So if I was to pre-pay mygratuities up here in Canada would it be at par in Canadian dollars or would they tack on the exchange rate. So for example, its its $13 US per day on board, would I pay $13 CDN if I pay now or will it be approx $16 CDN (because of the horrendous exchange rate).

 

 

 

Any Canucks out there that can chime in on this?

It will not be at par. Sorry.

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Yes Mariner of the Seas, just found out that no visa is required for Cdn's visiting Malaysia. Doubletree Hilton Johur has it for Myr340 per night, w/c is $104 cad by estimation. This is startin' to look good [emoji4]

 

 

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But you want to make sure that the transportation there and back will be feasible. I believe there is a bridge at the border, and traffic can back up.

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Check out the hotel at trip advisor. Are you sailing on mariner of the seas?

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As luck would have it, there's no roll call yet, maybe it's too early. I was testing the prices, cheapest i can get is $336 per night w/ hhonors discount. If Holiday is at least 20% cheaper then i will take Johor out of the equation. They don't have a rail system from the airport like, Tokyo no?(assuming you've been there too)

 

 

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There is rapid transit, I've only used taxis which are cheap or walked. When s your cruise? I would book the hie now, as no deposit is required and you can always cancel later. Or the price might even drop.

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Thanks i might have to do that, seems like there's a lot of bases to cover. and Visa for Canadians huh? I found the hotel prices at Johor feasible hence, i asked. If you can recall, how far is the airport to the pier? like Ft. Lauderdale?

 

 

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From the airport to the pier depends on the time of day and the amount of traffic. There's no shortage of vehicular traffic in Singapore. We stayed at the holiday. Inn express Clarke

Quay, as it was quite reasonable in price for Singapore. It was a ten minute cab ride to the cruise terminal.

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So if I was to pre-pay mygratuities up here in Canada would it be at par in Canadian dollars or would they tack on the exchange rate. So for example, its its $13 US per day on board, would I pay $13 CDN if I pay now or will it be approx $16 CDN (because of the horrendous exchange rate).

 

 

 

Any Canucks out there that can chime in on this?

I've always had exchange added on. It was quite a bargain when our dollar was worth a little more!

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Has anyone stayed pre cruise in Johor Malaysia then crossed the border to catch a cruise in Singapore? Sorry, really don't know where to start.

 

 

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You might want to try posting this on the roll call for your cruise. I have sailed out of Singapore, and that is where we stayed pre cruise. You might need a visa for Malaysia, and also the traffic at the border can be pretty bad at rush hours.

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Prices will change if you are looking at them in Canadian dollars.

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I asked for it at dinner, and the waiter said I'd have to pay for it. I don't think he wanted to put out the effort to get it.

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