Sue from Canada

17 hours ago, MamatoJack said:

I'm in Ottawa and was going to fly but AC cancelled my direct flights and the new ones would make the whole thing longer than driving so that's what we are doing now, driving. Mind you it's in May, if it was January or middle of winter, I'd probably find a way to fly. We'll be driving down the day before now and staying a bit away from the port in New Jersey for the night. I might see about going to see the Statue of Liberty while we are there as that's one of the things my son is super keen to do. I'm not sure if I could drive in New York city itself, I'm already nervous about driving in New Jersey lol. But I do think once I've done it once, I'll be ready/able to do it again. If the train was operating from Montreal, I would totally do that. It sounds like a lovely trip. The bus could be nice too, not having to actually drive myself. You are all giving me ideas. 

I'm also in Ottawa and we have such crappy flight choices to the states.  Even if you can get a direct flight to Florida in winter, AC usually changes one or both flights and you end up going to Toronto (uggg).  So frustrating.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I have two WJ credits.  One is to expire in May and the second one in July of this year.  I don't plan of flying due to current medical problems. 

If I book a flight then cancel it the next day, will I get another credit?

It seems impossible to talk to anyone at WJ right now to ask.  Frankly I don't know why there is an expiry date as my AC credit does not have one.

Thanks

If I have to complete tne ArriveCan on board ship where can I get it printed?

Maybe this is off topic but if one in on a Cruise to Alaska from Vancouver, do the passenger have to have a COVID test (by HAL) prior to arriving in Victoria?  And, would everyone also have complete the ArriveCan doc.

6 hours ago, shanni-shanni said:

Although we enjoyed our cruise ( Dec. 22, 2021- Jan.9, 2022), the stress of flying back and forth ( with 2 connections each) and the 4 covid testings we had to do just does not make it worthwhile. 

 

We are not going again soon.

At least you can sail to Hawaii and back from Vancouver.  I hope things will be better by the time I set set this August.  I can't handle all the stress with covid testing etc.

Really enjoyed your photos.  Thank you for posting the Dutch Cafe menu - first time I've seen it.  Mmmm, I love their pea soup.  Have fun.

On 12/31/2021 at 11:01 PM, LocoLoco1 said:

No Roller Coasters, no Waterslides, bumpercars or Discos. HAL is a sedate 55+ line and that why it suits us. 

And 95% of passenger are in bed by 10 p.m. ☹️

9 hours ago, pichulita said:

We are first time cruisers and really don't know much about the cruising experience so I would appreciate any input you may have about the cabin that we booked on the Volendam.   We're in cabin G2711.  I know it's suppose to have a porthole but how big is the porthole?  We're wondering if it's better to just scale down to an inner cabin if we won't have much of a view anyway and save that extra money we can spend on our vacation.

 

Also, we need to have access to wifi and wondered if the Volendam has good, free reception in the public areas or should we plan on buying the wifi package? 

 

.....and in general, what are the pros and cons of being in the cabin we are booked in now?

 

 

Go to the big box store website and do a cruise inquiry.  Have a look at other available cabins and then call HAL or whom ever you booked with and switch cabins.  I would try to get an inside or an outside cabin one deck up (Lower Promenade Deck).  Good luck.  P.S.  I love the Volendam.

What amazing photos many of you have posted.  I think HAL should create a "coffee table book" of ports and photos taken by their guests.

What great photos.  Keep them coming.  I'll have to go back and look at my folders to see if I have any to add.   Nice memories looking at them😊

To all CC'ers, Merry Christmas and may 2022 be a much better year that lets us set sail again with less restrictions.  Stay safe and think positive.🍷

Merry Christmas to all.  Hopefully 2022 will bring more of a sense of normalcy and we'll all get to cruise more.  Happy New Year🍷

13 hours ago, iancal said:

I would very much suspect that even $130. does not come close to reflecting  the real cost of processing, issuing, and forwarding a passport.

 

It is a bargain at $130.

FYI - A Canadian passport valid for 10 years is $160.

10 hours ago, skatie said:

We have already paid in full for Celebrity February 12 cruise - I am sooo torn.  I personally believe there is going to be a very high spike in cases that will drop very quickly.  My son had Omicron 10 days ago and it was more like a head cold - which is what we are hearing are the symptoms vs Delta - so he's been in his room isolating and ready to come out!  Surprisingly we are living in same household and hubby and I are negative ( we had our booster 4 days before he tested positive).  This thing is going around like wildfire tho - this may be the way to end it, if, fingers crossed, its mild.   I haven't booked our airfare yet.  The AC website says that you can cancel and get a credit for future travel, but it doesn't indicate if you have to book your airfare by a certain date to get this assurance.  I had heard that was maybe over Dec 30 - can anyone confirm?

I cancelled my AC flights last week and got a credit.  The credit has NO expiry date.

1 hour ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

We hadn't booked a Black Friday fare, rather booked this on the Eurodam last month. Our original booking didn't include gratuities, just dinners, wi-fi, shore ex benefit and onboard credit, all of which we kept plus stayed in our chosen cabin.

I booked a Black Friday fare cruise.  I noticed that on this new promo that the deposits are much larger and are non-refundable.

12 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

But in this case, if Curacao is cancelled also, that is two-thirds of the cruises' itinerary.  Who wants to spend 7 days in HMC?  OTOH, what is the choice?

A lot of us would love to spend 7 days at HMC.  Seven days at sea would make me happy.

I tried yesterday and couldn't get through either.

9 hours ago, broberts said:

In my experience with connecting flights there is no good airport.

My favourite airports are:  Tampa, Sarasota, Detroit, Seattle.    Some of the worse ones I try to avoid:  Toronto, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, Keflavik (Iceland), Barcelona.

13 hours ago, loman said:

Guess i am naive as i only ever fly out of YYZ . Only direct flights to and from my destinations . And i live 15 minutes away from the airport.

I didnt realize so many people despise it . Live and learn i guess.

We glad you don't live in Ottawa.  We have a lovely airport but crap for routes and direct flights.

15 hours ago, bebe08 said:

Could you take the train to Dorval the day before and spend the night at an airport hotel?  There is a Marriott attached to the airport.  We had planned to do this for a cruise last year that of course ended up being cancelled.  

 

Another option could be the new bus service...don't know anything about it since it is quite new but according to website goes from Ottawa to Dorval. https://www.orleansexpress.com/en/

 

Good luck and happy travels

Thanks for the Orleans Express bus idea.  Did not know about this but would consider.

We get such crappy flights out of Ottawa.  I also book direct flights to Tampa and Fort L with Air Canada - Forget Westjet offering anything direct out of Ottawa. 

Avoid Pearson.  Please.  Can you find someone to drive you to Dorval airport?  How about UBER?  Train is also an option.  What about Flair Airlines?

Good luck.

3 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Please tell me why this "variant of interest" that has very few deaths attributed to it will close Canadian ports to cruising again??? Proper caution is one thing, knee jerk reactions are something else all together. 

 

 

Omicron is just like a ship passing by.  There will always be a next one.  If Omicron isn't that bad then IMO we just need to build natural immunity to it (yes, I've had 2 Pfizer shots) and wait for the next nasty little virus to head our way.  We can't keep turning life upside down forever.

Hi Jacqui.  Please delete my name from the Nov. 5, 2022 Volendam sailing.

Thanks

On 12/14/2021 at 5:33 PM, recruiter 28 said:

Ours would be $430 more pp...disappointing but we could keep the Black Friday free gratuities and gain another $75 pp OBC...not sure paying a total of $860 additional is worth it...happy some are coming out ahead.

My March 2023 cruise to the Caribbean would be approx $1,500!!!! more (going solo).  I'll keep my Black Friday booking.