rodndonna

I'd agree with 81Zoomie - that is generally what I do - take a look at what happened for pricing on a similar cruise for 2025. I like to use Cruiseplum (not a booking site so we can mention it) to track pricing patterns. This is a snapshot of a similar cruise departing Dec 6, 2025. It looks like late in 2024 things started to change with pricing. Balcony and below pricing seemed to go up (or sell out) and cabins above that (spa and suites) all seemed to drop in price. Of course - who really knows .. but at least it gives you some history to look at

MSC has just announced cruises from La Romana starting late Dec 2026 and into 2027. They're pretty family friendly

You can get cruises from Dominican (NCL,Costa), Barbados (MSC), Panama (RCL), Martinique (MSC) ..... As mentioned - you may need to use a better search tool. Try Cruiseplum (not a booking site so can mention it here on CC).

As mentioned - you just need to scan your boarding pass to enter. Your boarding pass (at least the printed) actually states "Invitation Lounge/Salon" - so you know you're good to go! Another nore - we have 2 cards - one is free second hardholder - and originally I was showing up as just a guest to te lounge with hubby (primary cardolder) getting me in. we inquired at the Customer service and alhtough she was surprised - she read this was the case. It irked me that if I was flying alone I would not provided lounge access. Loing story short - nexr trip we linked my Aerioplan card in and I now seem to have proper Lounge access 🙃

Based on how much has changed in the last 2 months .. projecting what the situation will be like 9 months is pretty tough. I would say at least wait another few months to your final payment to start thinking about it.

We were just a couple of days delay for our HAL and Princess stockperk requests last year.

Indeed - just checked facebook - sold out somewhat instantly ...so hopefully more cabins to come. See lots availability from New York still - so there is space.

My "guess" is this might end up being a trial for MSc to have departures form Halifax. Similar to Europe - MSC supports departures from multiple ports - so it looks like this one is loaded primarily in New York, then comes to Halifax where it would embark more passengers before heading on it's TA journey. Just speculating ..but that is what I think might be happening.

It's not on MSC's site anymore (last I checked) - but could see it earlier this morning on the ".ca" MSC site. It is on cruisetimetables though - 🙃 https://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-from-halifax-nova-scotia.html

I could see it earlier this morning .. and now it's gone 🙄 Hoping it is something new that is just being loaded into the system 🤔 Edit: It does appear on cruisetimetables as an embarkation from Halifax cruise. so that is a good sign

Thanks for posting this. I was unable to find it elsewhere but can see it on MSC Canadian (non US site). I'm quite excited about the potential of a TA from Halifax!

Well - Not TD Visa Infintite Priviledge as I just checked (our card). It is only good for 4 days at 65 years old but can be topped up although not sure if there is a that 15 day limit (it isn't stated but perhaps is there when you go through the process to top up) At 60 I will be revisiting all this in 5 years 😉

We've used our TD credit card for London transport, no extra charges.

Do you mind if I ask - were the family members travelling with you or was this is a case of not wanting or being able to travel while a close family member was in a difficult illness. If you are not comfortable elaborating (too personal) I understand. What I have always wondered is the "what if's" as it would pertain to an immediate family member (say mother for example) being hospitalized and in ICU as an example. I've always assumed we are not covered *unless maybe it's clearly palliative?)

Gotta love nature - Apparently even this Canadian Goose got the memo on the "Elbows Up!" 😄 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/canada-goose-bald-eagle-burlington-bay-brawl-1.7473477

We were on a Celebrity cruise out of Miami the first week of February. I will say that "it" came up more than once, and will when people realize you are Canadian. What helps is it generally comes up with an apology. That being said, we have cancelled our March cruise as it's just not the topic of conversations I want to have while on holiday so we've replaced it with a land vacation. It's a bit like sailing as we came out of Covid. There are just topics that will be discussed and we were just enjoying the relief that all the Covid discussions had finally subsided.🙄 We have a European golf cruise in November, Still undecided on that one (bigger deposits on the line and it is a "bucket" trip)

We've sailed Marella as well (pre Covid) in Europe a few times with good experience. Celestial is another option "cost friendly" option in Europe with more limited itineraries.

Correct - it is a perk of being a "cardholder" - so you just need to be cardholder. \ Any travel insurance the cards offer (depending on the card) requires you to book with the card.

We had the TD Aeroplan Visa but since upgraded to TD Aeroplan Priviledge (for the lounge and other perks) You just have to be a cardholder to get the baggage. When your aeroplan number is attached to the booking it is automatic. In cases where it somehow is not (I recall once - maybe coming back form the DR) and we submitted a simple on-line claim to AC on return and was quickly reimbursed.

Hoping they infill with the more demand flights - had a hard time getting good flights for our land trip to Mexico. No last minute deals this year ...🫤

Before security with our regular checked bags. We fly on Saturday so will be interesting to see it plays out with the new rules

We flew last month and took AC up on the offer for free checked bag - we were given a tag that was specific to Carry-on (it had a bold CON as part of the label or something like that...). That means they would in the system know what you checked in as normal baggage and what was checked as Carry-on. Whether that would show up or be looked at as you are boarding at the gate not sure. Pretty sure on our flight they offered free Carry on while checking in to everyone - as it was least amount of carry on I have seen on a flight in many many years.

As a rare outlier .. being folks that were flying "day of" on our flight Toronto to San Juan was what guaranteed they could only book direct flights for us. Of course that comes with obvious risks which we were willing to accept. I guess the early you fly (more time wiggle room) you open up more options for indirect flights and long layovers. As you say .. in the end it comes down to what price is getting quoted for the flights and are you willing to accept whatever flights it gives.

That's a thing here (Southern Ontario) as well. I noticed our neighbours (whom I don't really know) Jeep had a few ducks on the dash - and I though - "Oh - I guess they cruise and that's where they put the ducks they found" but then I noticed them on another Jeep and had to look it up on the interweeb.

Great - thank you!