Kelownabccan

A few weeks ago we were on it.....ship arrived at about 9:30 ish.....might have been faster but another HAL ship there so second in line up......got off about 10:15......then had to take a shuttle to the main entry area and shops....took another 20 min as trying to unload two ships at the same time....

so a crap shoot for you....would not book anything before 11 I would think

9 hours ago, Mary229 said:

That’s wonderful.  After 45 years of marriage to a non-dancer I would love to put my dancing shoes to good use. 

LOL....we used to know a dance host that went all over the world dancing with women.....he just raved about all the fun he had......not sure if Cunard....thought it was HAL....but that was years ago.....now a days....who knows who you would have to dance with.....anyways another reason to sail on Cunard......

Thanks to all who gave me interesting topics to "mull over" about Cunard....still thinking about the one to the Canary Islands in February.....will let you know if I put down a deposit...will keep my eye open for sales or some sort of perks.....

23 hours ago, buchanan101 said:

Won’t have 3 weeks unfortunately. Was thinking 2 days each to and from Vancouver and 4 days at Banff/Jasper or LL. I know not ideal.. and it’s supposedly 8 or 9 hours from Vancouver to Banff could be done in one day with 2 drivers… Not retired yet so can’t take 3 weeks! Or even 2 as would like to spend sometime in Vancouver. 
 

Wow....looked up via rail to Jasper from Vancouver......19 hr train ride and want over $3000 for a sleeper cabin with meals.....far too expensive for one day.....yikes.....just drive....for fly into Calgary or Edmonton and drive less.....from Van to Jasper or Banff is a two day drive.....or a very long one day.....

8 hours ago, buchanan101 said:

Planning a Vancouver and Rocky Mountain road trip for next Autumn! Haven’t been for 45 years…

 

Back then took overnight normal train from Vancouver to Banff. Doesn’t exist now - only the very expensive Rocky Mountaineer which takes ages and is for tourists only. 

 

I see why flights to London aren’t much longer than to NYC - great circle routes and all that. 

Why not look at this site.....the new Rail one for Canada.....

Do a trip to Jasper....stay for a day or two and go on to Edmonton and fly home from there....Jasper is just like Banff.....and less touristy...lol...

https://www.viarail.ca/en

Ah.....QC....Quebec city......lol....have done the Eastern seaboard a few times....in the Fall for all the so called colors....haha.......NYC to Montreal....and return

Kelowna has no direct flights to major places....have to go to Calgary or Vancover first

D&N....thanks for the tips....usually I take a dark jacket and slacks and long sleeve shirt on cruises....wear on the plane and then do not have to pack....haha....and a tie takes no room.....then stash in the cabin and wear when I have to....easy....peasy

2 hours ago, dock said:

Why don’t you consider one of the cruises from NYC to QC. Cheaper and shorter flights. 
 

 

Well not sure what QC is but from here to NYC is over a 6 hr flight....so what the heck....3 more to Britain as only about 9 hrs.....lol.....flying time ....not including the layover.....it seems to be a marathon to go anywhere......even from here to LA last week was 6 hrs  including stops....

Went on  the computer and watched a few videos that people have done while cruising on the Mary 2....a true ocean liner....not a cruise ship was the general theme.....and very elegant....would be nice to go back 25 years in time to our first cruise when the ships were mostly all like that with the gala nights and most people "gussied up"...lol........could not believe the library on the ship.....that is an area that most ships do not have now....no one sits and watches the world go by and reads much anymore.....just stare at phones....haha....the last cruise we did  the Panorama never got any wifi package....did not miss it....

Suppose if the price is right may give it a try as do like to wear my suit and wife loves her dresses....although flying to Britain in February is sill pretty expensive from Canada.....and we do get free luggage perks....a bonus.....but still lugging large cases is still a pain and hard on us....

Interesting comments so far.....I mentioned the Carnival one as we had just done it last week with the grand kids..my wife and I must have been the oldest ones going down the water slides in races against the kids.......actually was quite impressed with Carnival  as we usually do HAL or Princess.....and have also done lots of other lines also.....We have taken a large suitcase on long cruises and used the laundry so not a big thing to dress up and be smart casual....lol.....do wonder if it might be tooooo much of "dress up" and dancing as one other poster said.....we still love the disco....fondly remember the 70's....haha.....

Will keep looking ....sounds like a cruise line to try once anyways.....

Thanks for comments to "wet my whistle"

Nibbling at the February 15th Queen Mary 2.....going to the Canary Islands......have never been there ..and the itinerary looks interesting......

not sure if It is for us as may be too "formal"....we just got off the Carnival Panorama with the grand kids and had a blast....water park and all.....and we usually travel "carry on"   luggage on cruises so dress up nights and gala affairs may be too much to pack....lol.....

Any thoughts appreciated....February in Canada is pretty cold....

Did some research.....we only need an evisa for two countries.....Vietnam and Cambodia.....easy to do on the computer and print out.....

I guess you could just stay on the ship and not get off.....but not for us....want to see some of the culture....

We are on the Noordam for a 28 day cruise in Asia.....Tokyo to Singapore.....looks like a couple of countries the ship visits require a visa.....get them by ourselves or let HAL do them????.....any suggestions....Thanks

Ha ha......my wife says I am the dot dot dot writer.....Thanks ....

Wow.....had a great time.....did a family cruise and booked three cabins....two balcony and one inside across the hall from on of the balcony ones aft on deck 7.....very nice location.....quiet and not lots of traffic as only 5 cabins from the end of the hallway.....boy was the room steward a super person.....chatty, pleasant and did a fantastic job....seemed to have a radar system....knew when you were gone and snuck in....lol....

We lucked out.....6 days of hot sun and hardly any wind....even the day out of LA.....only poorish day was the last one heading back with a wild wind from the north and cloudy....so was fairly chilly.....even shut down the rope course and the bike race thing.....even the water slides were shut for a time....the water was cold....haha....

Food was great....loved the prime rib and lobster night....had both...lol.......figured the cost for the 7 of us in a normal restaurant would have been over $400 just for that dinner......so really good value ........even my 8 year old grand daughter had food she had never tired and loved it....frogs legs for "heavens sake" one night....the 6 year old...chomped on the squid one night and loved it also.....

My wife and I actually were very surprised how much we liked the ship and the activities...as normally would not have picked this ship or cruise line but with the family they wanted a splash park and lots to do for the kids......we did not have the drink package but bought the new "wine Package" for 5 bottles....the wines we could pick were very good....no problems there....and brought two more on with us....so never really short on a drink before or with dinner.....

Lucked out as with seven people gave us table 412 a round one....right at the window over the stern.....that was one of the best tables we had ever had on a cruise.....and the waiter...wow.....great and funny....he loved the two small kids....reminded him of his at home waiting for him to finish his contract.....no complaints there....got the table by finding the head "restaurant guy" the first day we got on and he organized it for us.....had early open seating.....5:30 ish....

Being from Canada....we flew into SNA....lovely airport and stayed overnight on Friday and then organized a shuttle from hotel to port and then back to airport on the Saturday morning......getting off the ship....super fast....did early get off with carry on.....got in line at 8;30.....at the parking lot to be picked up at 9;15....could not believe how fast it was....got to SNA before 10 and only bad part was having to wait 3 hrs to get our planes.....

will try to answer some questions if I have time....lol.....being retired and all.....Thanks Carnival for a great time.....

Yes...there are sports book places to bet in the casino

Just off the Panorama ....for April 13 to 20.....it was a family cruise....had three cabins.....we were really impressed....great food and lots of fun....AND....we are old grandma and grandpa ....and two grand kids....they had a blast and even me going down the water slides.......6 days of straight sun and heat.....only cold day was the last one back.......now as to getting off....all I can say was WOW.....did early get off with just carry on......left ship on the gangway at 8:45....in the parking lot at 9:10....super fast....there was no hold ups with the gangway....must of happened later????....and we are just normal RED card cruisers......

11 hours ago, jsglow said:

OK, I noticed just now that this is a Looooong Beach departure on Panorama. Understand that Arrival Appointment times are STRICTLY enforced out there. It literally doesn't matter what one's Priority Status is. If your paperwork says 1:30-2p, you WILL stand in that queue outdoors. I have no experience with showing up later than one's scheduled appointment if everyone wants to ride the same shuttle bus but I can tell you as a Diamond that I've been told to 'kindly stand in the 10:30a line sir' and I've sailed from there a half dozen times. Your friend is unlikely to even enter the building before 1:30p. Food for thought.

Thanks...for the warning....the rest of us are not going to wait.....lol.....he is young so too bad and will wait......as they say...."the early bird gets the worm".....haha

2 hours ago, jsglow said:

I'm assuming the 'slow poke' is an adult (or couple) with a separate cabin. Your prompt group can board with them. They can't accelerate their position in the queue and board with you.

Yep....a single adult who always seems to poke along....has his own cabin.....so looks like the rest of us will get on as soon as they let us and he waits....a lesson to be learned...maybe...lol

Well....not that positive for the "slow poke" for registering later....will see what happens when we get there....he may have to wait while we get on and enjoy lunch...lol....

We are a group of seven ....5 adults and 2 children.....six of us did our cruise docs early and picked a arrive at terminal 12 to 12:30  and got a boarding group #D05.....the procrastinator  waited  days later and got the leftovers....Arrive at terminal 1:30 to 2...and boarding group G06.....

Will they let the slow poke get on with us as a family group.....or will he have to hang around in the terminal until his group called...

How does all this work anyways....any tips.???  as I bet we all arrive at the port before noon from the hotel....we are all in one shuttle service van...

Thanks

On 3/21/2024 at 4:13 AM, vwgolf2 said:

I've just found out that my provider (ID Mobile; I'm British) does not offer a US plan so I intend to switch off data roaming mode for the whole of my stay. The only time I'll use my phone is when I can connect to wifi in ports, bars, hotels etc. 

 

I may need to make the odd call in Miami, though, so I have wondered; would I still need to type +1 in front of numbers if calling a US number? And similarly, would they need to type +44 in order to call me?

See if you phone has esim capability....they you can buy a package that covers the country you are in and get data....I use Airalo

🫠great news.....same here bad flights if miss the 1.30 pm one.....lots of time....to get to John Wayne airport it seems....

noticed the ship arrived before 7:30 this Saturday....like that....lol.....hope the same for our cruise in a month......

Noticed this morning the ship in port by 7:30 or earlier.....so getting off by 9:30 ish probably would have been a go.....lol...

booked a shuttle service for pick up between 9:30 and 10 ish.....

was getting worried about the 9 am arrival time for ship....

3 hours ago, notscb said:

Depends on which order the last cruise went on. If they did Mazatlan/PV last, they might be in at 9am. If they did Cabo last, they might be in a bit early.

 

If you do arrive early and get off the ship, I'd recommend getting an uber XL or above- a lot of drivers know that folks need transportation from the port and aren't willing to accept standard Uber rides. Shuttle services also might monitor for the arrival time if you find the right one.

Last stop is Cabo....so maybe early....funny no ones knows arrival times....must be a data base somewhere to look at arrival times.....strange