drsel

can't you choose to pay by cash and avoid giving your credit card information ?

Thanks what about Princess, is it the same?

This is one of the important terms and conditions mentioned on the booking invoice by a US travel agent-- NON-US/CANADIAN CLIENTS READ IMMEDIATELY: The following cruise lines, HOLLAND AMERICA, OCEANIA, PRINCESS, MSC and COSTA now prohibit all travel agencies located in the United States from selling cruises to citizens of certain countries other than the United States and Canada, UNLESS they have a residence in the U.S. or Canada at the time of purchase and can provide documentation of such. Also, your past passenger account number must have a US address listed in the cruise line record. PLEASE BE ADVISED, if you do not meet these requirements, the cruise line and / or (US travel agents name) will cancel your booking and any penalties will be solely your responsibility, and (US travel agent) will not bear any costs or responsibilities. When you booked this reservation, you checked (online bookings) you were a US or Canadian resident and / or citizen; or you gave your booking agent (phone bookings) a US or Canadian address. If you now have a residence in the US or Canada but your past passenger record at the cruise line does not, it is your responsibility to change it, or the cruise line will cancel your booking when they check your past passenger information against this reservation and have the right to assess a penalty.

Looks like a good idea, but I'm not sure if the HAL agents will ask for any US address proof at the time of boarding. (Maybe any non North American who has sailed on HAL can enlighten us)

What if a passenger from a country outside North America books a Holland America cruise with a North American travel agent BUT His passport clearly mentions his/her address outside North America? Then how can he use the North American address of a friend or relative on the booking ? It will be completely different from the address on his passport!

If you want a high discount travel agent or you want to use the bidding site to find one, then you have to be sure which particular cruise and cabin you want. You can't just say "I want a Mediterranean Cruise, which one do you recommend?" because there are hundreds to choose from. Even the choice of cabin is your personal decision, the agent cannot decide for you. However there is a website which ranks the Cruises according to price per day including port fees and taxes. If you book through a travel agent then the cruise line has to pay that agent 10 to 16% of the commissionable base fare. In which case, the cruise line representative will not help you . you have to talk with the travel agent only

Yes you are right, she decided that she will miss the first cruise and join me for the second one. (back to back, same cabin same ship, different itinerary) But I am still trying to convince her to follow the good advice of so many on this group and give early deliveries (12 days earlier) in zip lock plastic pouches in sealed containers, so as to keep the marzipan fresh. I also requested her to make some marzipan now and taste it everyday and see if there is any change in taste or appearance over 12-14 days. Thanks everyone for your valuable advice and good wishes 🙏

She doesn't *need to*, but she wants to work so hard, because it gives her self satisfaction and fulfillment

Thanks. She is planning to miss/waste the first cruise and fly to Sydney alone to join me for the 2nd Cruise.

Okay so it's a little complicated. these 2 Carnival Cruises were booked in 2019 along with a Princess cruise from Brisbane. Both Carnival & Princess cancelled all 3 cruises due to covid. And all 3 were rescheduled for 2022. And then (only) Princess again cancelled 2022 and offered a lift and shift of the same itinerary to Mar 2023. So we had to also change the 2 Carnival Cruises to just before the Princess cruise in Mar 2023, because we can't visit Australia twice in 2022 & 2023. And then Princess again cancelled 2023 and offered a lift and shift to April 2024 with 5 nights extra thrown in for free. So we again had to transfer the 2 Carnival Cruises to March 2024, just before The Princess cruise left Brisbane to go to Tokyo. It had to be in Mar 2024, else the holiday would be too long But Carnival had a deadline for using the FCCs on cancelled Cruises and that deadline was October 2022.

I feel sorry for her because she works so hard for her money, (it's takes a lot of effort to stir the marzipan and a lot of skill for the artistic decoration) ; while I prefer to make money work for me.

The giant online Travel agents earn 10-16% commission only on the commissionable basic Cruise fare, excluding port fees and taxes. The exact amount depends on their volumes. They usually give the customer 6 to 10% of this commission as a discount or onboard credit. 10% discount or onboard credit would be given to customers booking the most expensive cabins while 6% would be for an inside cabin. So I recommend a travel agent who will give you 6 to 10% discount or on board credit out of the commission received as well as provide free cancellation and free changes to your Cruise

I am sure they will be quite okay to eat, because Christmas marzipan has lasted more than a month anyway inside the fridge; but she doesn't want them to sweat when taken out of the fridge. Easter falls during the second Cruise. See accepts orders only 20 days prior to Easter

It's only a matter of 12 days before Easter, not 6 weeks

I didn't realise that it was clashing with Easter. Many years ago we holidayed during Easter, but at that time she used to get orders only for Christmas sweets. So almost all of December we are at home for the main Christmas season

Actually her business is growing. 2 years back it was mainly Christmas sweets. Easter orders only increased this year 2023, so she expects even more orders in 2024. Since last Christmas she told me not to put any ads on WhatsApp groups anymore, because she has enough orders and limited capacity

This is what she would never do. she does not want to lose her customers to another competitor

We all need to enjoy life to the fullest BEFORE we run out of good health or time, both of which are inevitable and a certainty

Actually her mother is an expert at making marzipan and taught her everything. Her mother is available to make marzipan, but is unable to write the fine wordings and decoration which is so important for presentation. She also hires three maids to assist her, but they are not able to manage without her.

She says that she will fly alone to Sydney and join me for the second Cruise 8 days later, but 4 days before Easter. She says she can manage to deliver the marzipan orders 4 days before Easter, but not 12 days before Easter. But I would love her to be with me for both the cruises, because it will be boring to Cruise alone (1st cruise) and also a waste of her cruise ticket + $80 penalty

Yes my agent and I had a 3 way conference call with a Carnival manager. All FCCs had to be utilised /applied to any Cruise booked by December 2022 and sailing before Mar 31, 2024. Hence, in Dec 2022 I booked this Cruise in March 2024 which was the last month for using FCCs .

Good point ☝️ it is not so much the income, but the importance of giving the freshest products to her customers. If they are not fresh, it would harm her business and reputation. She gets a lot of fulfillment and satisfaction by being in demand for cake and sweet orders for Christmas and Easter, because she makes the best sweets with less sugar and more nuts

Princess is excellent, if available

You will certainly enjoy both cruises. if I were you I would try to do both of them after spending so much on airfare. however if you don't have the time, then I would choose the one which is easier on the pocket. Royal Caribbean Navigator is better than both, but unfortunately it's not available. You don't need to pay for the Carnival cheers package These alcoholic packages are more profitable for the cruise line

She couriers the orders or the customers come and pickup. She says she can't deliver marzipan eggs, bunnies etc 12 days prior to Easter because her customers need to gift them to family and friends on Easter Sunday itself. Hence they will not be fresh after 12 days, and she will ruin her reputation and goodwill