Magicat

We just returned from a weekend trip to Mazatlán, which is just north of PV, and found it very safe.  Looking forward for our cruise that will stop there and we have plans on getting off and wandering the centro then lunching at the Shrimp Bucket. 

We have not been to Huatulco for 18 years but friends have been there a couple of times recently with no issues.  SIL was there a couple of weeks ago and had a fantastic time.  But only you can decide on your comfort level. 

23 hours ago, loman said:

Just threaten to quit if he doesnt go for it. That should work .😂

This did cross my mind. 🤣

On 3/11/2023 at 4:14 AM, CDNPolar said:

 

I want to ask - are you currently working long-term in another country?

 

My company health insurance covers us for personal or business travel with no condition on length BUT we have to have a valid Ontario Health Card for coverage to be in place.  This means that if you are gone from the province for a extended period you would lose health coverage if this is a condition of your company plan.

I have been working here (Mexico) for 5 years now with an exit strategy in another 2.  I maintain a house in Canada, get paid in Canadian dollars into my bank in Canada.  The main point is I still pay Canadian taxes as if I were working in Canada.  As far as CRA is concerned, I am a resident of Canada (Ontario) so I still have a valid OHIP card.  Actually just renewed it last summer.  

A year and a half ago I had appendicitis and it was removed here in Mexico.  Great hospital by the way.  It was reimbursed for it by my health insurance.  

You live here?  It's not as abandoned as advertised.  

Worst thing that would happen is they confiscate it and return it to you at the end of the cruise.

A number of years ago we did a Canadian themed D-Day tour from La Havre, it was fabulous.  I hope you have a great experience.

3 hours ago, Fouremco said:

The 183 rule and the provincial health insurance out-of-country limitations probably mean that no Canadians would book for the full cruise. Of course, if they were to split a booking with another couple and do six months on, six months off, it might be feasible. Maybe this would be an easier sell to your boss @Magicat. 😉 

Thanks for the advice, but I am already working in another country for a Canadian company.  My  medical insurance covers me and my wife everywhere even when we travel for vacation.  So my selling pitch would be they can give up our house expenses here in Mexico to save costs and I will work from the ship.  Sounds like a win win to me.🤣

You should try posting to your roll call for this cruise.

4 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

Yes, but precious few of these cabins have balconies, and as far as living in the rest of the ship, you are always in public.  I personally would grow tired of that.  I am outgoing for a 12-14 day cruise, but then want my privacy.  I don't want to think that my life would be constantly around other people day in and day out.  Three years in a cabin you could barely swing a cat?  No, thank you.

Think of it living in a retirement home.  

1 hour ago, time4u2go said:

They'll eliminate it and call the elimination "an enhancement to your cruising experience".

It will be an up charge.

39 minutes ago, Noodles84 said:

per person in US$.

Cheaper than some retirement residences and at $82 per day, cheaper than most cruise lines.

1 hour ago, lx200gps said:

$US30K per year to live is a 135 sq ft cabin?  All yours, enjoy the trip ;o)

Well, you just don't measure your bedroom when you describe your house, at least I don't.  

https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/you-can-now-live-on-a-cruise-ship-for-us-30k-per-year-1.6304434

Any suggestions how I can sell this to my boss?

Last year on the Adventure they held this event called "Mingle with the Officers" on sea days.  For an hour, a number of officers from different departments would hang out by the Cafe Promenade and one could walk up and strike up a conversation.  It was unformal and really cool.  We spoke with an officer from housekeeping on the ship during the pandemic.  He told us, him and his few people that worked for him would go around the ship and run the water and flush toilets in every cabin and venue.  It would take them a week to do the entire ship turning every tap on for 3 minutes.  Once done, they started again.  Things like that we found really interesting.  Haven't seen this on recent sailings though.

We've used Air to Sea several times with no problems.  We were easily able to select the flights we wanted on the day we wanted (ie going in a day early)  Just keep in mind that if you want to select seats you need to ask Air to Sea to issue the tickets.  This will allow you to access your reservation on the airline web site.  If you wait until final payment, the seats you may want could be taken.  Or if you are not a big planner, wait until then and take what is available.

3 hours ago, melbur said:

Am I the only one that thinks specialty dining is highly over rated? Their quality has diminished also IMHO

We have thought this for a while now.  Did Chops back in September on the Voyager and it was mediocre at best.  

5 hours ago, little britain said:

@seb530 with a drinks package - you need to do approx 8 drinks a day to make the drinks package pay for itself (not a problem for any true Brit lol). However remember it isn't only booze, it covers fresh squeezed juice, posh coffees, waters to take ashore too. 

We have done a couple of experiments with this.  We are D+ and get 5 free drinks.  Our last couple of cruises we purchased beers during the day.  With a morning Cesar and mixed drinks in the evening, we still only averaged about $33. US per day.  If the drink package was around $48 we would purchase it otherwise we will pay as we go.

We did the Victory a number of years ago. It was a pretty good cruise, food was great however didn't like the layout of the ship.  It just didn't seem to flow.  Also the entertainment sucked.  The comedy guy was a racist and while he was going through his bit a larger coloured gentlemen got up and walked out. All the while being insulted by this jerk for leaving.  

Anyway, we find Royal to be more to what we like so we have stuck with them.  But the only way you will know if you like it is to try it.  If the itinerary is something that appeals to you, at the very least that will be one plus thing for your cruise.

Everyone has their favourite jeweler in St Maarten.  Ours is Kay's.  Go see Archie and he will take good care of you.  We stop in when we are in port and have my DW's rings cleaned and tightened for no charge.  Plus we get free beer.

On 3/3/2023 at 8:28 AM, Cardex said:

 

We use a European Sim card in an older phone. We use this phone as a wifi hotspot which gives us the internet, maps and video calls home on our own phones. We both leave our own phones on with roaming turned off. This way we can receive calls in an emergency. Much cheaper than paying Rogers/Bell for roaming.

Good idea however, I am finding with my current phone (BB Key2) is becoming outdated.  I cannot make phone calls in many US cities because they are upgrading to 5G and older LTE phones don't work.  I still have data but I am afraid that will go the way of the dinosaur.  

Pool is open and the bar is too.  We had the intention to get off the ship in Nassau but decided to have a caesar and watch Mary Poppins on the pool deck.  

On a trip from Montreal to Quebec city they weighed bags and were very strict on the 50 lbs limit.  Our friends had to rearrange their bags.  Train from Toronto to Montreal they didn't care.  Also if you are exmilitary your baggage allowance is unlimited.  

We have done this but have either had friends or made friends on the first leg to purchase alcohol for us and retrieve it at the end of their cruise.  And then again, we carried a 2-4 of beer on expecting it to be confiscated and they waved us through.  

Your cruise pre 2011 will still show the old point count.  This is a picture of what my past cruise count looks like at the point of change

On the old system, for example, on an average 7 day cruise, you would need 10 cruise or 10 points to become Diamond.  The new system you need 80 points.  So when they converted from old to new there was not a direct link as some people were at a level that they would not have earned on the new system,