Canadian cruisers!!

[monctonguy]

Also, my experience is that $300 is the limit they let you put on your sea pass card before they require payment be added to it.

[phabric]

With the information from this tread about Christmas school breaks, I booked a second cruise encase the Toronto board decides to change their normal Christmas break dates. I will cancel one later when the board decides what it wants to do.

 

I have booked

San Juan - Dec 18-26 Jewel

San Juan - Dec 24-31 Adventure

 

Minister of Education provincial calendar for 2016/17 shows Dec 19-30, 2017/18 shows Dec 25-Jan 5.

 

My BIL school in the States this year worked up to Dec 23.

[Takeusawaynow]

After purchasing On Board Credit is there a way to see it on our "my cruises" page or Royal Caribbean sign in etc. ?? We did receive an email for confirmation of our purchase but I would like to see it on our account.

[Clarea]

After purchasing On Board Credit is there a way to see it on our "my cruises" page or Royal Caribbean sign in etc. ?? We did receive an email for confirmation of our purchase but I would like to see it on our account.

No way to see it on Royal's website.

[monctonguy]

no way to see it here. You can call and ask them to send you confirmation of it.

 

There will be a certificate for your OBC in your room, but I would want something to take with me in case something goes wrong.

[Takeusawaynow]

Thanks for the quick response. I won't waste anymore time looking on the website for it. Good idea to bring the email confirmation. Happy sailing.

[glu92]

Anyone have good suggestions on which sites to look for when searching for good deals on cruises coming up? Thanks so much!

[Russ Lomas]

That is really annoying. We will be missing a few days of school if they change it for my board. We'll be leaving no later than 22nd.

 

The last time the break went so close to Christmas a lot of kids missed the Thursday and about half the kids missed the Friday.

 

I don't understand why the break needs to be Monday - Friday, they could still do two weeks starting on a Wednesday.

 

I'm already thinking about what I want to do for the 2017 Christmas break based on the provincial calendar.

 

I feel the same way you do. No reason to have to have a two Monday to Friday weeks off. Break a week in half, have a full week off, then do another half week.

 

Just wish that the holidays would be formally decided upon and posted for all parents and employees earlier so that they could make vacation plans that hinge on when the school boards decides these days will be.

[Russ Lomas]

It has only been since the last contract (3 years ago) that they have been allowed to do this. Up to 5 unpaid days per year no questions asked. Prior to this they had to follow the same rules as you do...Drs note etc. If it were not for that there is no way we could do the 7 day cruises on Oasis or Allure without flying which would eat into our vacation budget significantly.

 

I had thought that it was a province wide initiative that had been put in place but apparently it wasn't. It was initially put in place to save the board money as they do not pay substitute teachers the same rate as permanent teachers.

 

We had the ability to take up to 5 days off unpaid the one year that the Ontario government decided on a wage freeze for 3 years and also added three unpaid days to the year. The following year (last year), things were back to the way they were in our Board that basically make it impossible to get a single day off without pay if you request it.

 

We just settled our contract locally and were able to get language to take up to 5 unpaid days again BUT there are restrictions...not the first week of school, not the last week of school, not during the two weeks of EQAO testing, not the weeks prior to or following the March Break.

 

It is a victory, but it would be wonderful if they would eliminate the part about the March break in the next contract. It costs me $2000-$6000 to fly my family vs. $300 to drive. Definitely would take an unpaid day if permitted to do so. Plus it would give a supply teacher another day of work that they may not get otherwise. Less to pay a supply teacher than a full time teacher at the top of the salary grid, so it saves them money as well. They are more worried that there would be too much demand to do this. Hopefully they will figure out a way to trial this in the future. Maybe limit it to the first 100 people who request it formally from the board or something?

[Russ Lomas]

With the information from this tread about Christmas school breaks, I booked a second cruise encase the Toronto board decides to change their normal Christmas break dates. I will cancel one later when the board decides what it wants to do.

 

I have booked

San Juan - Dec 18-26 Jewel

San Juan - Dec 24-31 Adventure

 

Minister of Education provincial calendar for 2016/17 shows Dec 19-30, 2017/18 shows Dec 25-Jan 5.

 

My BIL school in the States this year worked up to Dec 23.

Smart to have yourself covered both ways. You can always cancel one of the bookings. Below is the link to my school board's draft 2016/2017 calendar. Not sure which board you are interested in knowing about, but you can take a peek at the pdf file linked on this page to see what I am referring to.

 

http://www.tvdsb.ca/welcome.cfm?subpage=298647

[A&L_Ont]

We had the ability to take up to 5 days off unpaid the one year that the Ontario government decided on a wage freeze for 3 years and also added three unpaid days to the year. The following year (last year), things were back to the way they were in our Board that basically make it impossible to get a single day off without pay if you request it.

 

We just settled our contract locally and were able to get language to take up to 5 unpaid days again BUT there are restrictions...not the first week of school, not the last week of school, not during the two weeks of EQAO testing, not the weeks prior to or following the March Break.

 

It is a victory, but it would be wonderful if they would eliminate the part about the March break in the next contract. It costs me $2000-$6000 to fly my family vs. $300 to drive. Definitely would take an unpaid day if permitted to do so. Plus it would give a supply teacher another day of work that they may not get otherwise. Less to pay a supply teacher than a full time teacher at the top of the salary grid, so it saves them money as well. They are more worried that there would be too much demand to do this. Hopefully they will figure out a way to trial this in the future. Maybe limit it to the first 100 people who request it formally from the board or something?

 

Hi Russ. I agree with what you were saying. The hardest part would be figuring out who gets the day off at peak times, such as seniority VS first on the list etc. You have an important job, and it would be nice if there was a way "help out" in these unique situations. Your point is valid for many reasons. I'd hate to be the one organizing the logistics but the theory is a good one.

 

Did you get any riding in over the holidays in Michigan, Windsor etc? I thought I heard the Byron bump opens today or tomorrow. Sure hasn't been a great year for skiing. It makes the countdown to cruising day much easier though. :) I hope you all had a great Christmas and holiday break.

[Ourusualbeach]

We had the ability to take up to 5 days off unpaid the one year that the Ontario government decided on a wage freeze for 3 years and also added three unpaid days to the year. The following year (last year), things were back to the way they were in our Board that basically make it impossible to get a single day off without pay if you request it.

 

We just settled our contract locally and were able to get language to take up to 5 unpaid days again BUT there are restrictions...not the first week of school, not the last week of school, not during the two weeks of EQAO testing, not the weeks prior to or following the March Break.

 

It is a victory, but it would be wonderful if they would eliminate the part about the March break in the next contract. It costs me $2000-$6000 to fly my family vs. $300 to drive. Definitely would take an unpaid day if permitted to do so. Plus it would give a supply teacher another day of work that they may not get otherwise. Less to pay a supply teacher than a full time teacher at the top of the salary grid, so it saves them money as well. They are more worried that there would be too much demand to do this. Hopefully they will figure out a way to trial this in the future. Maybe limit it to the first 100 people who request it formally from the board or something?

 

Our board has the same language regarding restrictions except the March break and Christmas break portions. Similar topic but does your board offer the 1 year sabbaticals. Ours offers it. You take 4 years pay and they spread it over 5 years and you get the 5th year off. Might be nice closer to retirement age.

[Russ Lomas]

Our board has the same language regarding restrictions except the March break and Christmas break portions. Similar topic but does your board offer the 1 year sabbaticals. Ours offers it. You take 4 years pay and they spread it over 5 years and you get the 5th year off. Might be nice closer to retirement age.

Yes, our board does offer the 4 over 5 option where you can take a sabbatical for a year. It also offers another one I am told where you can do similar and only take off half a year. Not sure that my DW would permit me to take a year (maybe half a year?) off work. Could be doable once the mortgage is fully paid off, but then we have 4 daughters to possibly put through post secondary education at that time too. A 5 month sabbatical to cruise, winter in Florida, and do a few ski vacations sounds like a wonderful idea to me though.

[Russ Lomas]

Hi Russ. I agree with what you were saying. The hardest part would be figuring out who gets the day off at peak times, such as seniority VS first on the list etc. You have an important job, and it would be nice if there was a way "help out" in these unique situations. Your point is valid for many reasons. I'd hate to be the one organizing the logistics but the theory is a good one.

 

Did you get any riding in over the holidays in Michigan, Windsor etc? I thought I heard the Byron bump opens today or tomorrow. Sure hasn't been a great year for skiing. It makes the countdown to cruising day much easier though. :) I hope you all had a great Christmas and holiday break.

Hello Andrew,

Long time no chat. It could be difficult and I can see how the board would worry about it, but other boards, such as Ken's (ourusualbeach) do it and they seem to be able to manage. Hopefully one day it will become a reality.

 

No flow for me since July in Ohio. I had Soaring Eagle booked but they closed it for repairs/upgrades and it has now been down for over 3 months. They say they will have it up soon, but who knows.... I had planned to travel to ride in Windsor twice with the other person we chatted to here online but the first time, they closed it for repairs 2 days before we drove down. We were planning to go in December after they emailed me telling me it was open again, but 2 days before we went there, we called to ensure things were good and were told they were doing boogie boarding only til after the New Year. Opens up this Saturday for stand up again, but I am busy. Not sure when I will get to ride again.

 

Hope you had a great Christmas with the family and I am sure we will run into each other again one March.

[moopetguy]

I'm on board Grandeur right now. There has been a change of policy with respect to OBC. The casino said it changed about 1-2 months ago. Guest Services said it changed 2 cruises ago.

 

You can't withdraw cash at the casino any more. You can't withdraw it from Guest Services either, UNTIL the last full day (that is, the day before you leave the ship). However, there is no limit.

[glu92]

I'm planning on booking a cruise now, does anyone know if it's better to book in CAD or USD considering the Canadian dollar is so depressing now..

[Ourusualbeach]

I'm planning on booking a cruise now, does anyone know if it's better to book in CAD or USD considering the Canadian dollar is so depressing now..

 

Book in CDN. The dollar unfortunately is most likely not done falling. That way you are locked in and can take advantage of buying the OBC.

Edited January 7, 2016 by Ourusualbeach

[Ourusualbeach]

I'm on board Grandeur right now. There has been a change of policy with respect to OBC. The casino said it changed about 1-2 months ago. Guest Services said it changed 2 cruises ago.

 

You can't withdraw cash at the casino any more. You can't withdraw it from Guest Services either, UNTIL the last full day (that is, the day before you leave the ship). However, there is no limit.

 

Will the casino give you voucher slips for the machines? This has been reported on other ships as well.

 

If they give you a voucher slip you just insert it into a machine and then hit the cash out button and then cash out at the casino cashier. Not ideal but a good workaround.

[moopetguy]

I'm planning on booking a cruise now, does anyone know if it's better to book in CAD or USD considering the Canadian dollar is so depressing now..

 

My suggestion is to check both currencies. You can visit the site and it'll start by assuming USD because U.S. is the default location. Then change the location to Canada and search for the same itinerary; it'll then list prices in CAD.

 

My sense (based on limited past experience) is that there is an advantage to booking in CAD because RCI offers a better effective exchange rate when you book in CAD. Just pulling numbers off the top of my head but maybe something like 1.35 vs 1.44 right now.

[moopetguy]

Will the casino give you voucher slips for the machines? This has been reported on other ships as well.

 

If they give you a voucher slip you just insert it into a machine and then hit the cash out button and then cash out at the casino cashier. Not ideal but a good workaround.

 

They will offer chips for table games or vouchers for the machines. But I'm a bit shy to do that now based on my interaction with them...I think they'd get a bit pissed off that I am trying to circumvent the system :(

 

I'm okay with waiting until the last day as long as I do in fact get all my money back...

[glu92]

My suggestion is to check both currencies. You can visit the site and it'll start by assuming USD because U.S. is the default location. Then change the location to Canada and search for the same itinerary; it'll then list prices in CAD.

 

My sense (based on limited past experience) is that there is an advantage to booking in CAD because RCI offers a better effective exchange rate when you book in CAD. Just pulling numbers off the top of my head but maybe something like 1.35 vs 1.44 right now.

 

right now it's $3182.00 CAD and $2460.49 US for 3 people in the smallest category room. I am thinking I should book for 2017 instead considering how expensive last minute bookings are.

[phabric]

I have done this over a couple of days on Princess and HAL with no problems.

 

Go to a slot machine, find a penny or 25 cent machine, put your sail card in the slot, open a casino account -Bank with your birthday date and a PIN number. It will ask if you want to take money your from cash account (sail account) or Bank (your casino account), it will ask how much, take your OBC money from your cash account (sail account) to play a few turns, cash out, your money will go to your casino account - Bank, then take your sail card to the casino cashier to cash out your casino account (Bank) with sail card and PIN number.

 

If you leave any money in your casino account - Bank it MUST be cashed out by the last night.

 

They can not say anything as you have played the slot machines.

 

Any money taken from your sail card at the casino slots shows up on your account as Casino, just like if you had purchased something from one of the ship's stores or bars.

 

Doing it this way, you can have a credit card on file and not have a cash account on file or put a credit card down after taking all your OBC out.

Edited January 7, 2016 by phabric

[Cruise Junky]

right now it's $3182.00 CAD and $2460.49 US for 3 people in the smallest category room. I am thinking I should book for 2017 instead considering how expensive last minute bookings are.

 

I don't want to influence you but I got two price alerts tonight on two Celebrity cruises I'm watching. Canadian pricing went up 7% tonight. If X is doing it, I wouldn't be surprised if RCL is adjusting prices soon.

[Funbobby68]

Just tried to get OBC limit to 499.00 at ten percent exchange rate fellow on the phone confirmed I received email confirmation and while still on the phone I look at the invoice and was charge 698.60 . I questioned and he confirmed exchange rate is 10% , after questioning their math skills , and being put on hold for a few minutes they come back to me with Canadian dollar is devalued on the international market........NO KIDDING. They are refunding tonight charge will try again tomorrow

[glu92]

I don't want to influence you but I got two price alerts tonight on two Celebrity cruises I'm watching. Canadian pricing went up 7% tonight. If X is doing it, I wouldn't be surprised if RCL is adjusting prices soon.

 

thanks for the tip!!