Algebralovr

I recognize that it is nearly painful to purchase a 5-year child's passport when your DD will qualify for an adult one in just a few months. Many of us have been there.

I recommend that you do so anyway. The passport will be good for 5 years, and will make getting the next one easier. The passport will establish her right to a driver's license, will be the only document needed to fill out paperwork to get a job, and will let her sail no questions asked.

Being the parent of two young adults myself, (mine are 17 and 19) I've learned that them having passports really is easier.

They used them to get their driving permits as well as licenses, as the passports established citizenship as well as residency (using the envelope the passport was mailed back in). The passport established their right to be employed, even when I could not locate a SS card but had the number for one of them. Plus, it made speeding through the line upon re-entry to the US very easy the one time we took them in a cruise. Since we all 4 had passports, the customs official glanced at them and waved us on. They looked a little closer at the DL & BC people.

The one time I sent my 15-yr old across the country by plane without me, he used his passport as his ID at check in and security, since he didn't have other ID. If we have been with him, no ID would have been needed, but since he was traveling alone, he needed it.

The passport really does make life easier.

After doing a veranda, a concierge class, then an inside, my DH has decided that if the cost isn't too much more, he wants the concierge room. We liked the footstool, the better towels, and the little extras like shoe shine service. The CC room came with body wash gel, which the other rooms didn't have. We kind of liked having the bowl of fruit, even though we could hav walked up a few stairs for it.

It all depends on cost though. If the cost difference is under $15 per person per night, we may do the upgrade.

If you are formula feeding, please check with YOUR doctor about when to stop sterilizing bottles/nipples. For most children, after 3 months or so, kitchen clean is all that is needed, and you can just bring a bottle brush and some dish washing detergent along and clean in the bathroom sink. If baby is on solids, o,ease make sure to bring whatever you will need to feed, same with diapers, wipes, meds, etc.

We cruised for 9 nights in May with a friend who brought their baby. Their little one turned 6-months the day we sailed, so was the absolute minimum age to sail. This was on Celebrity. They really enjoyed the cruise, since they could leave the cooking and cleaning to someone else and focus on baby. We met them for dinner most nights, except on the nights they decided not to bother with the MDR. They loved it!

Enjoy the cruise!

You can go directly to the hotel for all park and fly packages, and it is usually less expensive.

Hampton hotels, for example, have Park and Fly on their site as an option. Hyatt does as well for the Hyatt Place line.

There are a couple of sites that specialize, and they are a good starting place.

As many have said, you have two separate issues to deal with.

1). Since it is your sailing partner's family member, your insurance may kick in. It all depends on the way you purchased your insurance. The mother of his daughter may allow him to recover his costs, and as he is your traveling partner (assumption here) yours may cover you. You need to contact your insurance carrier.

2) the PVSA does not apply since you would be boarding in a foreign company, but RCi policy may apply. You WILL need a passport, first to fly to the foreign country, second to re-enter the US since you will no longer be in a closed loop situation. Please ask your TA to call and speak to a supervisor, and your TA may need to speak to someone regarding special circumstances. You might ask for a 3-way call.

 

Since they were flying separately from us, we decided to get the 17-year-old a Passport last month, so there was no questions, as he does not drive yet and only had a school ID. The Passport came in 2 weeks, so we have that. But, the birth certificate was mailed back in a weird brown envelope, and I threw it out by accident. :(

 

Will he be ok with just the passport, SS card, and school ID, and a notarized letter from us saying he can travel with his bro to meet us?

 

We are all flying home together, but now I'm worried that I don't have his Birth Certificate, and it's too late to get one as we leave next Friday. The purpose of getting the Passport was to avoid using all the docs anyway. UGH.

The only document he needs to get to San Juan should be the passport. PLEASE ake him leave the SS card at home! There is no need to take your SS card with you, even if no passport! His school ID may be used to get back in the ship as a photo ID, but I'm not certain about that one, he may need his passport since it is the govt issued document and he doesn't have a drivers license.

The airport shouldn't require the notarized letter, but it doesn't hurt. At 16 my son boarded a plane with his passport and didn't require anything to prove he had parent permission, infact TSA told him his passport wasn't needed (he didn't have a DL either) since he was under 18. Totally weirded me out.

The passport really is the one document that fixes everything, from traveling, to getting a DL to proving right to work in the US.

Unfortunately, in the small print of their contract, Celebrity reserves the right to move you to a cabin consider equal or better. Ifiunare not happy with where they moved you to, and they refuse to move you back to your original cabin, you might see about a free upgrade.

I would like to add that if you want your insurance to cover air travel to and from the port of departure, you'll need to have that information when purchasing your insurance. As others have said, unless you have a pre-existing condition that needs to be covered, you don't have to buy travelers' insurance until you get close to your final payment due date (for your cruise).

This is only partly true. If you book a cruise and do not yet have air booked, you can often go ahead and book the cruise, book the insurance, then call the insurance company once you book your air and change your insurance to add the air. It all depends on the insurance company.

There is an entire forum here about travel insurance. I recommend you read there.

Some of you need to do some reading. The US government issues two different types of passports, the traditional book kind and a card style. Both require a photo and all the formal identity documentation to apply. The book is good for everything, including air travel. The Card is good for land crossings and water crossings, but not air crossings.

OP, your passport card that has been issued by the passport agency and allows you to do border crossings in your big truck is just find for your closed loop cruise. No other documentation will be needed.

I was told you could upgrade on board, but I've heard different answers as to cost to do so. If you think you want to upgrade, I recommend doing it before hand, just in case.

I have read about some people saying that Captains Club might be giving bonus points to people in the OPs situation. It might be worth a phone call or email to the Captains Cub explaining your situation, and asking for bonus points so that they are Elite for that long one to Sydney, nothing may come of it, but it never hurts to ask!

Hyatt has a policy of meeting any price in their own hotels that someone else advertises. You can call the toll free number on Hyatt.com and tell them you are requesting their best rate guarantee. It does need to be a room only, not combined with a car or anything like that. Their guy on the phone needs to be able to go to the website and book it while you are on the phone with him.

According to my TA, Celebrity doesn't usually charge more for port taxes if they go up after you make your reservation, but also doesn't always provide a refund if they go down. For the cruise we have planed in the Med next summer, we noticed that there was a difference in taxes between our booking and my Mom's, which was made later. We were basically told, "too bad". OTHH, we did get a small refund back on one earlier this year.

If you are paid in full, I would not expect them to charge you more later once you are fully paid.

If the room is next door or across the hall from your room, having her in a single may not be an issue.

I second the idea at checking into a suite! If you can stand to have her in your room, that is.

Failing that, have you already paid for the MIL? If so, does your daughter have a friend who could go with her to keep her company? I do love the idea of having the inside room and then doing a speciality for one night to celebrate.

I have heard of a few instances where the assignment was not made until the last minute, but it doesn't happen often. It is stressful, but on occasion, they give you your assignment at check in. Likely by that 4-day mark, but later can happen.

Us, this is going to be a problem. With different names on the BC and DL, you have no proof that your BF is a citizen and entitled to be in the US.

There must be a legal document somewhere that did the name change, or he should never have received the DL in that name.

It sounds like that 7am is the same day they are supposed to board the ship to cruise. That isn't really 10 hours of time extra, it is at most 6, and possibly less. Boarding will begin about 11am, and all aboard is usually 3pm or so.

If there is a delay, there might be serious trouble catching the cruise.

I highly recommend that they fly in the day before, allowing a bit extra time in case of problem.

Go get'em Roz!

I'm sorry that you didn't receive your usual service on the Princess ship.

All the other lines have pulled out of California this year. It is interesting that Princess chose to put a ship that is obviously worn to represent them when they are pretty much the only game in town.

I recommend you check out Cape Air, a commuter flight company.

If the smoke bothers you that much maybe you shouldnt be cruising. As far as the "peeing in the pool" analogy. That has to be the dumbest thing I have ever read on these boards. I used to be a smoker. Yes it stinks. But Im not going to let it ruin a vacation. Im sure not going to be the person to "Tattle" on someone either. How old are you anyway? Are we still in elementary school?

The peeing in the pool analogy is actually a perfect one. Some of us are seriously bothered by smoke. It is a medical thing. In my case, I will cross a street while walking to avoid a smoker on their own lawn, or if I get stuck behind a smoker while walking. I live for the day when my employer finally prohibits smoking on the property as so many have done.

So, yes, I will continue to call guest relations, housekeeping and security when I encounter a smoker lighting up where they shouldn't. I can't wait until Celebrity gets rid of the smoking areas by the pool and the mast bar, and restricts it to the top, aft on one side and the 5th floor port spot, or maybe even gets rid of smoking altogether.

It isn't 'tattling', it is protecting my health. The smoking rules are printed in black and white, and people who don't follow them should pay the price. If you want to smoke, sail HAL or some ship that welcomes it, not X.

The entire month of March is considered spring break by someone. I know of schools that always take the last week of March, and some that always take the 2nd and 3 week of March, so there is a reasonable probability of there being young people on board at any point in the month. The question will be the actual age of the young people.

Roz,

Enjoy your time away in 10 days. We all know what a year you have had, and that you have all in order.

Sounds like Brenda will be all set. You'll probably have to encourage your son and neighbor to take her on a few extra walks to take off the extra chunk from sleeping away the days on the couch. I'm sure she will be glad to see you and Horton when you get home, much refreshed.

I appreciate you all trying to help me on my first cruise with a dog. Should I leave my dog behind while in the main dining room on Carnival? Celebrity's dining rooms are very crowded. There would really be no room for her.

Take the dog with you. I thought I read on here that the lines prohibited leaving your partner dog alone in the stateroom at any time? Their reasoning is that if you leave the dog in the room, you must not really need it, so why did they allow the dog on the ship?

Yes, the dining rooms are crowded, but they can still move you to a table where you and your SD will be comfortable.

You're right...the tower rooms are Hyatt Pier 66, which is a nice hotel, but we can't touch the rooms there at a decent price. Thanks for the tip on location using priceline -- I wouldn't have known about the beach zone. We definitely don't want to pay $70 in taxi fare. I want 4 star at a 2 star price! LOL

You might search for Hyatt Stay Certificates online. I was able to purchase the stay certificates for $115 per night and they took them at both of the Hyatt Place hotels in FLL. The prices on e certificates vary based on the class of room, so you'll need to do some research, but if you can find the certificate code online, you can make the reservations then purchase the certificates after you know what you need.

Thanks for the advise, all.

MCI is about 5-6 hours away. STL in about 2 hours away. Plus, I think I can leave my car with someone inSTL and not pay parking. Hopefully, at least!

As of right now, I went ahead and booked the STL to FLL flights, but I'll keep watching for price drops and keep an open mind about PBI. The non-stop STL to FLL has a magic all its own. I used WN points to book, so it is easy to adjust if the price drops.