NMG318

On 8/3/2023 at 8:08 AM, NMG318 said:

My cruise mysteriously disappeared off the app 6 weeks ago. When we try to "+ Add Journey" it tells me the cruise does not exist. The cruise still shows up on the Princess web site and they assure me I am still booked. The funny part is that it happened to my sister as well who is on the same cruise. Numerous phone calls and waiting (a number of 3-5 business days) with no resolution from their techies.  Last time we called, they seemed frustrated with us because we called back on the 5th business day to check on the status. I guess they needed a couple more hours... on top of the six weeks... and it still isn't fixed... so another 3-5 business days.  Good news, we still have some time before the cruise. 

Two more weeks and two more 3-5 business days have gone by with no resolution.  Now waiting another 3-5 business days for them to respond...except they never do, I have to call them.  They (for the 4th or 5th time) have escalated (what ever that means) the issue.

My cruise mysteriously disappeared off the app 6 weeks ago. When we try to "+ Add Journey" it tells me the cruise does not exist. The cruise still shows up on the Princess web site and they assure me I am still booked. The funny part is that it happened to my sister as well who is on the same cruise. Numerous phone calls and waiting (a number of 3-5 business days) with no resolution from their techies.  Last time we called, they seemed frustrated with us because we called back on the 5th business day to check on the status. I guess they needed a couple more hours... on top of the six weeks... and it still isn't fixed... so another 3-5 business days.  Good news, we still have some time before the cruise. 

For those cruising to Antarctica this season, we passed a large iceberg in the Bransfield Strait, Antarctica Peninsula aboard the Coral Princess on 27 December 2019. The iceberg was 2800 meters long and 1850 meters wide and was creating its own micro climate. We made several passes on the iceberg and when I took the video (linked below) the iceberg became, at times, partially obscure with fog. I believe you will most likely be able to witness this amazing scene if you make it into the Bransfield Strait.  When we initially encountered the iceberg, the sun was out and the views were incredible and photographs and video don't really do it justice... you have to see it in person to fully appreciate it.  This is a 360 video so you can move the view 360 degrees with the mouse. You can fast forward through the video to view the different clips.  

The ship was due to pass some beautiful glaciers at around 7:00 pm.  Because of these knuckle heads, it was delayed by over 45 minutes which messed up the dining schedules for hundreds of people.  You are right Bgwest, the Captain should have left them behind.  It would have been a 10 hr car/ferry ride to the next port of Punta Arenas... if they could have found some to take them.

Three Passengers aboard the Coral Princess were 45 minutes late and almost got left in Ushuaia, Argentina on New Years Eve. One of the passengers got there shortly before the others and pleaded with the crew to wait for the other two. He was able to stall the ship long enough for the others to arrive.

https://youtu.be/JkbNkKe_VfU

I think some monkey business is happening as well on the 6 Apr 2019 sailing, Empress of the Seas, to Cuba.  If you try to book that same cruise today, the itinerary is different than what I booked.  RC customer service  tells me the itinerary hasn't changed... so why is the web site different??  Final payment is due 27 December... I expect an email from RC on 28 December:)

6 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

Would you like your thread title changed to reflect the proper date?

Got it thanks

I was planning my private excursions for the upcoming 6 April cruise on the Empress of the Seas.  I went on the RCL website to double check the itinerary for that cruise (as if I was looking to book that cruise) and I noticed the itinerary is now changed.  Instead of Miami-Sea Day-Santiago de Cuba-Sea Day-Cienfuegos- Sea Day-Havana-Miami, the web site now shows route in reverse, Miami-Havana-Sea Day-Cienfuegos-Sea Day-Santiago de Cuba-Sea Day-Miami.  I called RCL and they indicated they had not received any itinerary changes and nothing had changed.  They said they were updating their website and it was probably wrong.  If you are on this cruise and have private excursions planned, stay tuned! 

Has anyone been to or know anything about the Anastasio Cárdenas Cigar Factory in Cienfuegos.  

Time to bump this up to keep everyone informed.

4 hours ago, Oakman58 said:

Excellent time-lapse!  Thanks for sharing.  Perhaps some day I'll do a PC cruise in one of the mega ships that have to use the new locks.  To be honest I think the old locks with the locomotives (mules) are much more interesting.

I took the liberty to make your link clickable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQjg6qhGT-c&feature=youtu.be

Thanks for making it clickable.  I thought that would happen automatically. 

I posted a YouTube time lapse video of the transit of the Panama Canal aboard the Norwegian Bliss enroute from Los Angeles to Miami (13 November 2018).  I put three pictures at the beginning of the video that I took as we went under the Bridge of the Americas.  We went thru at low tide in order to clear the bridge.  We were told that we were going to go under at 0330 but we ended up going under at 0240.  Fortunately I got up at 0130 and went up on deck.  I use to live in Panama and crossed over that bridge hundreds of times and did not want to miss going under.  There were a lot of people not happy that they missed it.

https://youtu.be/AQjg6qhGT-c

one idea go to the glass blowing factory for something different

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I’m not a smoker but I want to get DS a couple cigars as a “gee my mom went to Cuba and all I got were these cigars” gift. Do I need a portable humidor or will they be okay in a baggie or plastic ware of some type?

They would be ok for a short time just in a baggie. I usually transport mine in a baggie with a humidifier pack. You can get them from amazon for a few bucks or at your local cigar shop.

Just a reminder for those purchasing cigars in Havana to stay away from the La Triada Cigar and Coffee Shop (the cigar shop at the old fort where they have the worlds longest cigar). THEY SELL FAKES! The safe place to buy authentic cigars is at the Casa Del Habano in the Hotel Villenueava near the Havana Port.

Besides the hot chocolate in COCOs, is there any other hot chocolate options available? I did not see it on the Starbucks menu.

wow. i just checked hubby's as i got him all singles. i have them stored in some "portable" humidors. all clean. i am looking forward to returning to havana soon and this shop. thanks again for all your great advice. i am assuming the shop you visited at the fort is the one "at the lighthouse" that my guide was talking about.

The "lighthouse" is actually a different place than the La Triada and I don't know how legit they are at selling authentic cigars.

went to the store at hotel villanueva and got some great deals! actually, i found it on my own after some searching and questioning of locals. lmao. ok then. antonio was fabulous in helping me pick out what my friend and hubby would like given their palate. got a small box of the elusive montecristo no. 2's. he was impressed with my knowledge of cigars and also my command of spanish. they do NOT take credit cards...i asked. however, i paid for some with usd which he took adding in the 13% exchange rate he would have to pay to convert it at his bank. i was glad to do so. will visit here again next time i am in havana. now that i am home and re-reading this post, i am glad to find out it was the store you found! our guide was trying to take us to "the lighthouse" but i politely refused his offer and went out on my own. i could not remember where you said the fakes were, but the lighthouse is near the fort so i am assuming perhaps this is the same place.

Glad you found the Casa Del Habano in the Hotel Villenueava. As it turns out not only did the La Triada Cigar and Coffee Shop sell me fake cigars, they were infested with insects. Note the holes in the cigars. Apparently these are made from the tobacco beetle.

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thanks for all the links to the articles and for the lively discussion on discovering fakes. will be there next week. do you know if they sell portable humidor packs? i am taking plastic bags, but am thinking i need packs also. any recommendations on this?

I don't know if they sell portable humidor packs. You can get those at your local cigar shop or Amazon.

Do you have brands/types that you recommend?

 

 

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Check this article out.

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/ten-cuban-cigars-to-buy-now-18383

That’s a nice selection.

Can you confirm that you can use US credit cards when making purchases in the Casa del Habano stores.

Maybe as much as 200 cigars. 8 boxes or so ?

 

 

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I used cash. I don't think they take credit cards. Those pictures were taken at the Casa del Habano in the Hotel Conde De Villenueava, about a block from the port.

If you buy single cigars how do you know if they are fakes? Also do they sell small sampler packs? If so about how much are they?

Some of the fakes are really good fakes and unless you are an expert or have really done your homework it is really hard to tell the difference. If you shop at the Casa del Habano stores you are less likely to be sold a fake but not guaranteed. They do sell some cigars in smaller boxed quantities. They cost 15 -50 CUCs or more.

Figure I should bump this up to make sure everyone who is interested in buying cuban cigars are fully informed about La Triada selling fakes.

The following pictures are the box of fake cigars that I bought from La Triada.

These pictures are from a legit box of cigars for comparison:

Note the differences in the health warning in the lower right corner on the top of the boxes. The fake box did have a 3D hologram and the “Republica De Cuba” label on the left, however, it was not placed at the correct distance from the left edge (3-6 mm). Also, note the differences in the serial number on the front edge of the fake box compared to the real box. As I mentioned before you can go to Habanos.com and check the serial number to authentic boxes. On the bottom of the real box, the letters were etched into the box vs just printed letters. Also note the price tag on the real box vs none on the fake.

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NCL got our visas even though we did not go on one of their excursions. We paid $75 and they gave them to us as we were boarding.