Sailor Taylor

Do you have anything booked that make sense to use cash?  

I booked one excursion that takes cash only and the price in CAD is much better than USD so I will get some Canadian dollars for that at least.  And I will get some $1cad coins just in case. 

Otherwise I think use credit cards is much more convenient.  

The best time is around 4 hours after low tide, 2 hours before high tide.   

However all times offer something different.  The best is to stay there for half an hour and watch the difference in tide. 

I remember when I used to live in Boston that you can get a real lobster for $9!  😋

55 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

The stops at the islands are very short, about 5-10 minutes, depending on how much cargo needs to be unloaded.  Propane delivery day can get you an extra 5 minutes on each island, but that's about it.  The folks with bikes are probably islanders, as there are limited cars on the islands (limited ability to transport them on and off), and you have to hump in your own gas.  Bikes and golf carts are the primary means of transport.  It may be that they are getting off at Peaks Island, which has more frequent ferry stops, so you could catch a later ferry, but it wouldn't go to all the islands.

 

The Diamond Pass run would get you to 4 islands, and likely have as good a narrative as the full mailboat run.

Thanks a bunch, Cheng!  

4 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

The mailboat run is actually twice daily, it's just that the afternoon run is typically returning too late for a cruise ship departure.  It runs daily, regardless of holidays, because its main purpose is mail and cargo deliveries to the islands, the only way these things get out there.  When islanders come to the mainland for groceries, it gets packed up at the store, and delivered to the ferry dock, and delivered on a pallet to each island.  The sightseeing aspect is just a sideline to the mail run's real purpose.

i watched the YouTube and saw people with bikes.  If we want to rent bikes and bring them on the ferry and ride them on the islands would that be a feasible idea?  

Also, would you say the shorter Diamond island run is a decent compromise compared to the main run?  

That looks nice!   

Is there Wi-Fi on the VIA train?  

On 6/29/2019 at 2:56 PM, Pratique said:

I stopped going to Red Sox games after they started selling standing room only tickets. Kinda feels like Royal's headed in the same direction. We'll see.

We were at Marlins park earlier today and the only section that's semi crowded is the standing room section that's near the park's party central.  

Being a baseball fan in Florida sucks. 

15 hours ago, Got2Cruise said:

The Fenway tour is great. Plus all the surrounding pubs are open so maybe you can catch an away game with the locals. Book the tour in advance. They fill up quickly. 

 

A word about the Sheraton rooms. They are very nice but a little on the small side. Also since it’s connected to convention center there’s transient traffic walking around so a very busy lobby. 

Talk about the tour, I tried to book 6 months ago but turned out they wouldn't let me book until 30 days prior.  I think they are waiting to see if there will be rain check games before they open booking.  I kind of hope for one but it doesn't look there will be any. The Sox will be coming back from road games and start an inter division series.  Not too exciting.   😀😅

An away game in a pub is a great idea!  👍

I just checked Hynes convention center event calendar and there is nothing on labor day weekend.  Probably why the hotel prices are down. 😅 HAL did us a favor scheduling the cruise right after labor day weekend. 

On 6/29/2019 at 4:52 PM, Alberta Quilter said:

Thanks for posting about this, Sailor Taylor.  We were already booked at the Sheraton at what I thought was a good price (for Boston).  I checked Hotwire - when all taxes were included, the Hotwire price is almost C$100 more (once I convert my original price into CAD).  I played around with the dates and the third night (we're arriving on the 31st), makes a huge difference in the per night cost compared to what you got.  So, I think we will stay with what we have.  But I'm glad I could check it out.  

 

Perhaps we can meet at the hotel prior to our cruise.

We can most definitely meet at the hotel!  😊   

The deal disappeared for a day or two after I booked but I just checked and it came back.  I will post it in our roll call and maybe some others can use it too.  

4 hours ago, 138east said:

If you’re referring to the Sheraton, it’s on Dalton Street just down from Mass Ave behind the Hynes Auditorium.  It’s part of the indoor Prudential Center Complex.  The Godfrey is on Washington St just below Downtown Crossing.  IMO not really a “go to” area but acceptable.

Thanks!  I remember that complex.  A lot of fun and extremely convenient.  

Walking distance to Fenway where we will take a tour ( too bad no home game on our dates! 😿)  and go up on the green monster.  

Will just take the T to downtown and on departure day take a Uber to the port.  

11 minutes ago, 138east said:

The Sheraton is fine.  If you get bad weather, there is lots of inside space in the Pru Center and Copley Place.  Personally I like that location better than Washington St.

Oh yeah, I really like the Back Bay area and it's more fun for a true first timer.  It's just we used to live in Cambridge and have been to Back Bay many times but we hardly ever went to the downtown area at all. 

When I mentioned the hotel change to hubby he said is that the one next to Mass Ave? 

All right, newbie question, and I hope this thread is a good place to ask, but how I do report to HAL and Princess that I have 100 shares?  How do I get my obc?  

When it breaks down to categories like that it is more limiting than obc for general use.

Unless there is a discount there is really no financial advantage to buy it for yourself.  

I went in this morning market order on the open at slightly under 44.98.  

Was going to buy earlier but hubby works for a financial institution and he has to report any stock purchase before we can buy and he didn't get around to report it until last night. 

Guess we didn't lose. 😁

I just purchased 100 shares at 44.98 this morning with my Roth Ira account.  Should be in time for my Sep HAL cruise. 😁

I am overall optimistic of Carnival's growth in the long run. 

And yep, you want to maximize your Roth IRA account.  Any gain is tax free since ROTH fund is after tax money and you already paid tax.  

As a general rule use Roth to buy more growth stocks and use traditional ira to buy more mutual funds. 

I finally upgraded my Amex card to Blue Cash Preferred and will see.   I have always wanted to because of the higher cash rewards offered by the Blue Cash Preferred card but never got around to do it, until now.  If it comes with more perks then even better.  

Don't think it can help our Canada New England cruise which is already after the final payment.  But sounds like it's a great deal for others!  😁

I took the hot rate and it really is Sheraton.  😁  I would have liked Godfrey better for its location but Sheraton is good too. 

I canceled Yotel.

2 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

What do you mean by "HAL agents?"  And independent TA? I'm not sure that a TA is a HAL agent in the true sense.  Certainly you are not referring to a HAL PCC, who will not give discounts.  And why do you think it is "a great benefit" to first book  with HAL and then transfer to a TA?  Incidentally, I believe the time to transfer has been shortened to, perhaps 60 days?  Not sure about that since we never book initially with a PCC.

Yeah I meant independent TA's.  

I like having a large window to transfer for the flexibility.  I lock in the room and then shop around for a TA.  Also I prefer to transfer to a TA when it's relatively close to the sail date and I am close to 100% sure I won't cancel.  

Just checked out this card.  The sign on bonus is pretty cool but the rewards are not that tempting.  

I have the blue everyday card (no annual fee ) and I can't find it.   Anyone else with the no annual fee card getting this offer? 

I am buying today or tomorrow.   

I have a HAL and a Princess cruise coming up and that along will justify the effort.  

4 hours ago, 138east said:

Hotwire says it will be the Lenox, Hotel Commonwealth, or the Langham. And if you look at “details”, it says the last person got the Hotel Commonwealth.  Also, it says it’s .2 miles from Fenway Park, which makes the Commonwealth most likely.

 

Anyway, at $138 it’s a steal regardless of which hotel it is.

i think you found a different one.  The one I am looking at says 4 star Hotel in Copley Square Back Bay, $105, and after priced out $262 for 2 days, checking in 9/1 and checking out 9/3/19.   

i have been sitting on my hands for while checking prices, I already a room booked in Yotel that comes with free cancellation and I think I may jump on this one and cancel the Yotel.  Yotel was a good deal too but still $100 more for 2 days. 

I found HAL and Princess great to book through travel agents.  Does HAL still allow transfer any time before final payment?  It's a great benefit to be able to do that. 

Some other lines don't make much of a difference when booking with agents but HAL and Princess agents can always give 5% to 10% discount plus some perks.  

1 hour ago, 138east said:

My experience with Hotwire is that they quote a base price and add any taxes and fees to create the price they quote you.  If you like the final quote, you buy it.  If you don’t like the final quote, you don’t buy it.

 

What  date are you looking at?  Back Bay/Copley?  What makes you think it is the Sheraton?  There are a bunch of similar hotels in that area.

So basically if there is a resort fee It's likely included?  I read the fine prints and they are saying that hotels may charge other fees.  

The dates are Sep 1 to 3 this year.  I think it's Sheraton based on that bed choices and rating score all match Sheraton.