Kilnwood

Based on all your posts, I called a travel agent who had been recommended to me by friends who frequently cruise with Holland America. In fewer than five minutes I had a cabin in the category and location I wanted for the 26-day cruise at a price significantly lower than what I was seeing on the HAL website for the two cruises combined.

Thank you so much!

Welcome any insight you care to share. Last Monday I found the Oosterdam 26-day Mediterranean and Passage to America sailing from Venice on October 15, 2018 on the HAL website. In certain categories there were very few cabins available. I am wondering the reason for this given the fact that the sailing date is 17 months away. Thank you for your input.

I am planning our second cruise for May out of Port Canaveral, last time we used a carnival PVP and now I was looking at the different options under find a cruise on CC? What is the difference between the two? I am not asking for recommendations or pvp names, ( I learned my lesson) just not sure What the difference is, and if one is better. If you do a travel agent can you still use the carnival site to book excursions and fun shops? Thanks for the help!

Placed a 24-hour hold on four consecutives cruises with a PVP Monday night. Called the TA Tuesday afternoon. The total price for the four cruises the TA quoted was over $1500. less than that quoted by the PVP. The deposit quoted by the TA was 40% less than that quoted by the PVP resulting in about $650. less going out now as a deposit for the four cruises.

It turns out the PVP didn't give an Early Saver discount nor a Past Passenger discount--and didn't know there was a 50% reduced deposit promotion in effect until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday....

The "frosting on the cake:" No OBC from the PVP on any of the four cruises; $200. on each of the four cruises from the TA!

Am currently about to log off after researching and booking shore excursions for the first of these four cruises on the Carnival website. Can't offer you a comment about the Fun Shops part of your question because I haven't tried, but after I complete researching and booking all the shore excursions, I will try the Fun Shops online.

In the end I'd suggest you do what is comfortable for you. I'm just sharing my recent experience in the hope it will give you some additional food for thought. Please don't forget there is a world of difference among TA's, and as with anything else in life, some are great, some are good, some are not so good, and some are horrible....

Enjoy your cruise!

On Tuesday we booked four consecutive cruises on the Freedom in February and March. In addition to a great price for each cruise, we find ourselves with a generous OBC for each cruise; it's generous to us because we don't drink or gamble. DH is a "connoisseur" of wristwatches, and he's wondering if anyone reading this knows what brands the gift shop on the Freedom stocks and would be willing to share that information.

My recommendation is to fly into Hobby (HOU), closer (40 vs 71 miles).

 

There are only 2 hotels downtown, The Tremont Hotel and Harbor House, on port. Both are very nice and sister hotels to The Galvez on Seawall Blvd.

 

Hotels are on 45S entering Galveston (low end) and Seawall Blvd., facing the Gulf between 20th St. and 61St. Restaurants are located along Seawall Blvd., with numerous, locally owned in the downtown area.

 

Most hotel sites have a map showing location.

 

The island is 2 miles wide (at its widest) and 32 miles long. The area for you is town from 20th st to 61st st, Haborside to Seawall. Galveston's areas are all mixed with only the downtown area a true business area. Harborside is all industrial and Port related except between 20th and 25th St. with restaurants on the Port side and across the street from The Strand.

 

you can find more information on galvestonhistory.org, Galveston.com and numerous travel sites.

On Tuesday I booked four consecutive cruises in February and March, so we'll have three days between cruises to "explore" Galveston where neither of us has ever been. Would you be willing to offer some suggestions from your personal viewpoint on "seeing and doing?" We are golden seniors, DH walks with a cane, and while we're not shoppers, per se, DH is a "wristwatch connoisseur" and I am a "footwear enthusiast;" we both love gadgets....

I need a dress intervention - 6 in the last 3 weeks! Nothing fancy, all casual dresses from Old Navy and Ross :p

 

Also got 2 pairs of sandals and 2 swimsuits last month - my cruise is not until Oct! Guess after 6 months of Winter I just need some stuff to remind me Summer is just a couple of months away...it snowed yesterday :eek:

 

P.S. - Did I mention I bought a watch on Friday and an underwater camera this morning from Amazon.

BBM

I don't leave home without it!

Let's hear another "Amen". Talbots is my "go to" store for pants, tops,shorts, coats, jackets and especially shoes. They are the only store where I can order online and shoes will fit 99% of the time. Everytime they have one of their 40% off one item sales, I worry they are going out of business. They are more classic than Coldwater Creek and the quality is very good...so hopefully they will be around for a while.

BBM

Agree! Had read in one of the business magazines at the beginning of 2013 that Talbots would be going out of business before the end of the year, but that didn't happen so I remain hopeful.....

Thank you! I live in a community with 45% of the population over 70, so I find a bunch of my silk scarves at the thrift shops. Beautiful vintage scarves from the 1940's-1980's for $2 each. My mom had a gorgeous peacock scarf in the 70's that she thinks my younger sister has now. Lyss does not wear scarves, so I am going to attempt to persuade her to give it to me. I may have to swap one of my Calvin Klein jackets for it, but it will be worth it. :)

 

Lisa

BBM

Go for it, and please post a photo when you get it!

Thanks y'all for the compliments. Mousey, I love vintage silk scarves. I have so many that I could probably wear a different one for two months before repeating. I live next to a town that has over 40% of the population 70+. The thrift shops there are a gold mine for vintage clothes and accessories.

 

I also love pins, earrings, and of course hats. I saw a fantastic vintage hat stand at an antique store, but it's not for sale. Bummer. Now I am trying to find one I like to add to the corner of the room. And it will be painted blue. There is not much I can't do with a can of spray paint, some contact paper, and fabric. Luckily Walt is great at wood work and has a dedicated workshop in the basement to construct my ideas.

 

Today it is raining, so I won't be able to spray paint. Humidity is way too high for it to dry correctly. So, perhaps we will go to JoAnn's and Michael's and browse for some more do-dads. :D

 

Lisa

BBM

You would have loved my mother! When she died 20 years ago at 80, she had 204 silk scarves running the gamut from Hermes to Macy's with everything imaginable in between.....

I still have all of them except for a handful that my niece (my mother's only grandchild) couldn't live without: Needless to say lots of what's remaining go cruising too!

Am enjoying this thread immensely!!

I used to buy a lot of clothes at Penneys, but not so much nowadays. Used to love getting their catalogs. When I look on their website, whenever I see something in tall sizes that I'm interested in, they are never available. I'm 6ft tall and Penney's was always one of the best places to get tall sizes as they had tall and ultra talls. I wish more retailers would carry clothing for us vertically gifted ladies!

BBM

Love this description!

I always makes note as to what I used and didn't use on any given cruise/land vacation. So I now know exactly what it is I can and can't be comfortable with or without.

 

I traveled through Europe with a huge, heavy duffel bag, a large rolling suitcase, and a large tote. I had no problem. Getting on and off the train wasn't a problem because there were plenty of people that were willing to help. So it really was never an issue. I don't know, these are things I never stress about. I know it will all work out, it always has and all my cruises/land trips have been awesome regardless of how many suitcases I take.

 

Now that I've traveled all over the world, I've narrowed it all down to a large rolling suitcase that I check and a large tote bag that piggybacks onto my larger suitcase. This works for me. I've had no problem with this configuration while traveling on trains, plains, buses, or cars.

 

Only you know what items are important for you to take with you in order for you to be comfortable and happy.

 

I hope it all works out to your satisfaction and that you have an awesome vacation!:D

BBM

Amen!

Ditto to what Toddcan said. We too have two garment bags, one wheeled and one not wheeled, and have never had an issue with them as far as keeping the contents from wrinkling or being mishandled. But we do put dry cleaning bags over each item which really keeps shirts, pants, etc. well pressed inside the garment bag.

BBM

Has always worked for me!

Yes, I use a wheeled garment bag, and I check it.

Happy Cruising!

If you book Early Saver and see that the military rate is cheaper and you are eligible for military rate then YES you can price match to the military rate.

 

Once Early Saver always Early Saver. Therefore if you see another credit opportunity you are eligible for then you can apply for that also.

UBM

And we are talking some very serious money here.....

For those of you who do your own booking and may not be checking prices on a daily basis, you may want to consider a Google search for "Cruise Fish" and signing up so you automatically receive an alert when the price drops (to include the introduction of a military rate).

HAPPY CRUISING!!

It has been suggested that this group/forum may be better suited to fall under our Special Interest Cruising forums.

 

Upon speaking with the community manager we have decided that it would be a good fit. In a few days I will be moving this forum to the new heading. I just wanted to give you a heads up. I will let you know when I make the move.

 

Happy New Year !

BBM

Thank you so much!

Thank you for your service to our country, Kara!

DH and I have never sailed on NCL, and after reading your post, we never shall.

We are about to embark on the Carnival Splendor "Around the Horn" for the second time in four years--and we could never have afforded these voyages if it weren't for the deeply discounted military/veterans discounts!

In 2009 we were aboard for 49 days, February 3 will be the beginning of 48 days. When we booked on Valentines Day for the three sailings in 2013, the military/veterans rate was not available; we booked "Early Saver." In the middle of November, Carnival offered a military/veterans rate, our TA (a specialist in military and veterans discounts) filed for the discounts, and we saved $3048. on the three sailings for our category (6B, unobstructed oceanview midship)--to us that is serious money.

In 2008 we were aboard the Sea Princess for 29 days circumnavigating Australia, and Princess issued a $500. OBC based on military/veterans status.

We're looking forward to returning to Australia in 2014, we're booked on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas, and our TA tells us RCI will offer a military/veterans rate closer to the sailing date.

If it would help, I'll offer the observation that in the past we've gotten the military/veterans rate when it first becomes available which seems to be after final payment is due for any given cruise.

HAPPY CRUISING!!

Go to Tierra del Fuego National Park.

 

Keith

BBM

Not to be missed!!! We were there when we called at Ushuaia in February 2009, and we can't wait to return on February 27.....

Angel by Thierry Mugler, Be Delicious by DKNY, Green Tea by Elizabeth Arden, and Happy Heart by Clinique(?)

Thank you all for sharing! I have picked up some new ideas from your posts.....

HAPPY CRUISING!!

What cruise line and in what part of the world will you be sailing? This information may be helpful in answering your question.

Stay away from these gonniffs! They are overpriced, high-pressure mills whose merchandise can be of questionable quality.

 

Avoid them like the plague!

BBM

Totally agree with everything you had to say--and LOVE your choice of words! It's been many a year--and many a mile--since I heard the word "gonniff." Brings back fond memories of growing up on the north Jersey coast (Allenhurst).....

HAPPY CRUISING!!

I expect to be in Rome in the middle of October and will check out the USO based on your recommendation.

Thank you for your service to our country!!!

The Carnival Splendor is repositioning from Long Beach to Manhattan. There are three cruises involved (B2B2B):

February 3, 2013, Long Beach to Santiago

February 20, 2013, Santiago to Buenos Aires

March 3, 2013, Buenos Aires to Manhattan

Although there isn't a military discount currently being offered, if you book on the EARLY SAVER rate, you can score the discounts as they become available.

We are using the same travel agent who scored us such a great deal when Splendor repositioned to Long Beach from Fort Lauderdale in early 2009, and she told me today that she will keep checking for the military discount and credit us the difference when it becomes available. She believes that if it is not offered before Veterans Day, it will be offered then (that's when she scored us a practically giveaway price in 2008).

I check "Military Cruisers" every time I log on, and I'll post back here as soon as I learn more in case anyone is interested. If you have the time available, please consider joining us: There is an active roll call already!