Alaskanb

1 hour ago, Alaskanb said:

We are also doing this now. GeoBlue is age dependent so I think we are now priced out of that.

 

I had a look at GeoBlue today for our next trip. It was much more reasonable than I expected --we are 72 and 80. I put in dates 1 day ahead of our trip and 2 days after the return --just in case! So from Oct 17 to November 4 with a $100,000 medical coverage and $250 deductible it came to $565 total for the two of us. 

1 hour ago, Tedferg said:

Another factor is your age. We used to use insurance companies other than Princess Insurance, better coverage and less expensive. Now that we are in our 80's Princess is much less expensive. How does age affect GeoBlue?

We are also doing this now. GeoBlue is age dependent so I think we are now priced out of that.

11 hours ago, slidergirl said:

I desperately need someone who is going to be in Rome for a night to volunteer to go to dinner at Armanda al Pantheon for me.  As I was eating my buccatini in spicy marinara sauce, I realized this summer will be the first time I've been in Italy and not had a dinner there!!!  Reservations are absolutely needed - this is a small place.  BUT, you won't be disappointed.  

We will be in Armanda in early November. Just waiting for reservations to open up. 

Just following along. On the Island in late October. 

You are not able to make changes on-line? 

3 minutes ago, nini said:

Also, what you posted has your flight arriving on May 7th. Is that really what you want? I did a mock booking and did not have a problem.

I saw that too. You may have no choice but to cancel the first flight and rebook. I would also check into non-EZ air flights.

One use of the app is to store all the pre-cruise documents like passports etc. In the Dine My Way section you can make dining reservations for the main or specialty dining rooms. I find it easy to use but others have lots of issues.

16 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

I'll start with - it's partially my fault. I'm not in the habit of looking at the Travel Summary. My bad. My cruise leaves in 52 days (so past final payment). I book online with Princess & then transfer to a TA. Due to our ages (75), I always check the box for Platinum Insurance. I've checked for outside insurance many times and it's just too darn expensive. I received the email from Princess that notifies that you have the insurance.

 

Now for the TA's mess. She sent me several invoices (I changed the cabin several times for a better location) all the invoices show the premium for the insurance. When I looked at the Travel Summary yesterday, I noticed where the insurance is notated it said "Not Purchased". WHAT!!??

What I've done so far:

1) I immediately sent the TA an email and asked her to check on this issue. She sent back that it was "OOPs her fault", never happened before...yada, yada, yada. Claimed that she tried to get Princess to put the insurance back on and failed. She said she'd mail me a check for the insurance. That looks to me like I paid Princess even though I didn't get it.

2) I called Princess and after a hold of about 5 minutes 😲, (I won't go through the whole story here) but he was either sick or drunk and not paying any attention to my call - I hung up in frustration.

3) sent an email to Customer Relations, begging for the insurance to be reinstated.

 

Is there anything else I should do?? What would you do?

FYI: TA is in my "never use again" bin.

Call Princess again. Each agent is different. Be prepared for a very long wait.

Look at GeoBlue for an estimate of their insurance

Contact Steve at https://tripinsurancestore.com

Alas no IC but they do have a Patisserie for specialty coffees etc. I am wondering if they will have specialty coffees available on room service as they do on the Majestic.

No idea about smoking areas. 

12 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

During the worst of Covid lockdowns, I believe LHR had consolidated all flights in one terminal – that would help.  But when we flew in September through November Delta was at T3 and British at T5 – which are quite a long distance apart – so we decided to stay over each way at the airport hotel nearest our next flight.  The Sofitel is very convenient to T5 and has a nice restaurant.  The new Hilton Garden Inn at T2/3 is really at T2, and although those terminals are very close together the pedestrian route between them is long and convoluted; it's even more confusing because there are no signs for the Hilton and most people you ask think you're talking about the older Garden Inn in Hounslow!  Not an airport to make a close connection.

Thanks. We have done that before -- it can be quite a trek at LHR. We are on AA flights run by BA and have arranged for wheelchair service. Will just keep watching to see what's going on. 

7 hours ago, Scottee25 said:

 

We have several things in common with you. We are also staying at the Albergo del Senato and have an early morning flight (7:05AM) out of FCO next May. I received many of the same messages you are getting about moving my hotel to something next to the airport. No matter how many time I reiterated that I would not be moving my hotel to one next to the airport for that last night (We have one of the Penthouse Suites at the Albergo del Senato and I am not giving that up! 🙂 ), the recommendations that we move kept coming. Others had some very good advice (like cruisemom) that at that time of the morning, we would be lucky if our airline had anyone working the counter by 5AM. So getting there much earlier than that would simply mean we would be waiting until the counter opened so we could check our luggage. We will probably leave our hotel around 4-4:15AM just to be on the safe side but will coordinate with our hotel the night before to ensure that we have a ride waiting for us at that time in the morning. We are also flying business class so our check-in line is sure to be shorter than others. However, if what others have told me holds true, your check-in counter will not be staffed before 5AM. Therefore, leaving around 4-4:15AM should definitely get you to the airport by 5AM. 

Thank you so much --that's what I am thinking too! If you remember please report on how that goes. 

Firstly, has anyone flown this route? Any advice?

Secondly, we will be staying at Albergo del Senato for 2 nights. Our flight, in early Nov, currently is scheduled to depart at 7:50 am. I assume we will need to be at FCO about 5 am. What time will we need to leave the hotel? 

Also has anyone any experience with wheel chair service from check-in to gate at FCO with British Airways / American Airways.

Thanks so much --FCO is a new airport for us.  

59 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Sorry to be a pooper, but cruising is the worst possible way to explore anywhere. Yes, you get a flavour, but you only see locations near the cruise terminal. 

How can you visit London, Madrid, Ayres Rock, Moscow etc on a cruise. 

Decide where you want to go, and don't be constrained by the need to cruise there. 

Strategic planning and pre/post cruise stays is key for us. Yes it has been possible to visit all the places you mention while cruising if you plan well. 

Never. Staff have asked us to mention them specifically in the post cruise evaluation. It helps them to get promoted. 

Sad isn't it. 

We are also at that point in life and for our next cruise we will be in accessible cabin. 

6 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Quite true. And it's a good idea to know whether your devices only need an adaptor or whether they also need a converter (that is, they are not designed to switch currencies).  Most modern electronics do not need a converter, but some hair appliances, unless they are designated a 'dual voltage' will need one. 

 

One other thing about European hotels that surprises a lot of American tourists:  in hotels in Europe face cloths (e.g. "wash cloths") aren't generally provided because (I gather) Europeans don't use them.

 

My UK SIL calls a face cloth a flannel. 

12 hours ago, iamaqt2 said:

I work in a hospital, have been vaxxed 3 times, have to do a daily screening for work, and have had 2 surgeries this year in the hospital requiring Covid testing.  I have chronic allergies, and one of the daily screening questions is do you have a stuffy or runny nose.  Employee Health told me to start answering no to quit triggering the system.
As long as they test negative, have been vaccinated with a booster,  and bring the letter from the physician stating they have clearance to travel because the recurrent issue is resolved, I'd answer no.  It just isn't worth the extra aggravation.

So many of the questions could be answered yes by a person with perennial allergies. We answer no in such cases. 

Discovered my review of our trip in 2017 -- very precovid! 

We prebooked a taxi from the cruise port to the museum -- it was pouring down and chilly and a local holiday. The museum was packed! There is a designated taxi phone in the museum so it was easy to get our next taxi and go to a lovely pub for a meal. 

On 9/23/2021 at 9:33 AM, Oceangoer2 said:

You are such a travel expert...really appreciate your help and knowledge.  Would have trouble with DH hiking...back issues.  Trying to choose excursions he can manage and if it's walking, he won't mind waiting at a local cafe while I explore.

Us too! Quite a challenge deciding what to do.

I think I recollect you or someone else mentioning Armando del Pantheon . We will be staying at the Albergo del Senato for 2 nights on Oct 31 and Nov1 and thought Armandos would be a good close choice. We are both having walking issues so are making plans around that. I now know that those dates are holidays so am wondering how that will also affect our choices of what and where to eat or visit. Any suggestions will be wonderful.

Would love to do that itinerary --the Coral is a lovely ship. 

1 hour ago, Tedferg said:

BTW the bad reports about MSG are wrong. It was a prank by one doctor betting another doctor. I forget the details - perhaps Google can expand on this.

Interesting reads.Thanks. Basically it is regarded as a safe additive but some people may have a mild sensitivity. 

8 hours ago, tplombardo said:

Day Four

It just keeps getting better.  A day of calm seas and our first port.

Decided to check out the Hollywood Conservatory (adults only) this morning.  Warm location with great views and a warm pool for those who came to Alaska to swim.  Up on Deck 17 forward.

Weather in Juneau was accommodating.  Sure it was lightly raining much of  the day.  But the temperature was in the high forties with no wind.  So, a rain resistant jacket with a hood sufficed.  We've already done the headline excursions.  So, today we walked to the Alaska State Capitol and enjoyed a tour.  Then right across the street was the Juneau City Museum.  We learned a lot.  High recommendation for both.

This evening we had dinner in the Harmony dining room.  A delicious five course traditional Chinese dinner.  Perhaps because we were in port until 10:00pm, the venue was operating at maybe 20% capacity.  The food was excellent and the service outstanding.

Do you know if they use MSG in the food at the Harmony restaurant? Thanks