dawnvip

Doesn't hurt to ask!

Thanks for the response jelayne!

DH and I are booked on an Alaska cruise this June, but its "cruise only" this time.  We originally planned on purchasing the non-alcoholic package, but see that the Classic Drink Package is on sale during this Extended Cyber week sale for $53/day. I doubt there will be much effort needed consuming the extra $35 / day difference between the two 🍷.  My questions are:

- do the drink packages fluctuate in price very much? Does the classic package typically go on sale for lower price closer to the sail date?

- when adding the package and going to pay, a 20% service charge is added. Does this replace the 20% gratuity normally added to bar bills? I just want to make sure that I'm not gong to be charged 20% now and then 20% again at the bar!

Appreciate your help!

Dawn

Ask the passengers who tested positive in New Orleans? Sounds like the cruise line provides hotel room for isolation. 

https://globalnews.ca/news/8428272/norwegian-cruise-covid-19-cases-new-orleans-omicron/

I travelled back in September and had to use the app to get home. Hoping that the revised version is better than the original!

It is possible to enter "dummy" dates of travel to see what info is needed, but currently only possible to upload required docs and complete the details 72 hours in advance of travel.

On 11/13/2021 at 3:28 PM, scottca075 said:

 

Are the Sylvia and Best Western Plus Sands not considered Downtown?

Maybe semantics, but I consider the Sylvia to be in the West End rather than downtown. Technically though, I think you're right as both hotels are west of Abbott street, south of the harbour and north of Beach Ave (false creek).

Not much in downtown Vancouver for less than $300 Canadian (240-ish US) but sometimes the Coast Coal Harbour and Pinnacle Hotel (not the Marriott by same name) have cheaper prices, depending on dates. Both hotels are nice and clean.

In Richmond, close to airport with shuttles ar ound $100 Cad plus tax include  Days Inn, Accent Inn, Sandman and Hampton.

On 11/7/2021 at 4:40 PM, Ashland said:

Thanks for all your input but not really what I was asking about. I've done the taxi thing at this port several times before so am aware. A taxi isn't what we're looking for this time with our group....and ship transfers I know leave very early from the ship.

You may be able to arrange 1 or 2 transfer vehicles with Uber or Lyft. Other options to check out are gowithus.com and perimeterbus.com

I second the suggestion for Museum of Anthropology at UBC - one of the best museums in Vancouver. It would be easy to spend a whole day out there if you add in Beaty Biodiversity Museum and UBC Botanial Gardens and/or Spanish Banks (beach).

If you decide to spend some time in Gastown, also consider visiting the Dr Sun Yat Sen Gargens - beautiful classic chinese gardens.

1 minute ago, d9704011 said:

Sure.  Do you have any suggestions on a suitable 'anywhere' for for an out of towner to stay for an evening?

Definitely! Depends on whether you've been to Vancouver before, how much you want to do while here (hotel and dinner or see something specific?) and of course - the price point... I'd also consider whether mobility/ handling your own luggage is an issue. Last trip we took to Paris I thought to myself "public transit in Paris is probably similar to Vancouver ". Turns out the subway there is WAY less accessible.  We hoofed luggage up and down stairs, along endless connecting passages - never again! I'm not saying this will happen in Vancouver but something to consider...

Anything between Broadway-City Hall Station and Waterfront will be a good choice.

Note that the Canada line Skytrain starts at the airport and ends right next door to the cruise ship terminal (Canada Place) so theoretically you can stay anywhere along the skytrain route and catch it to the pier next day. Website for maps and fares here. 

As previously mentioned, lots of good hotels that are close enough to the pier that walking is an option, even with a large group and luggage. I've stayed at and can recommend:

- Pan Pacific (at the pier, just take elevator down to customs/loading area)

- Fairmont Waterfront (cross street from Pier, very spendy)

- Marriott Pinnacle (2 blocks from pier)

- Pinnacle Harbourfront (across from the Marriott, just as good, less spendy)

- Delta Hotel (4 blocks from pier)

- Executive Hotel, Holiday Inn, Sylvia Hotel - all at the other "end" of Vancouver from pier so less expenseive but a taxi would be required so final $ will be similar for your group.

If you don't collect points for any of the above hotels, check out stayvancouverhotels.com for some good deals. They are a reseller, so no cancellations possible, but they do have good prices and often include a $100 prepaid visa, ticket for events, etc,  for each room so the savings can be significant.

The idea of staying at Granville island  or elsewhere in the city really depends on whether you've been to Vancouver already and what time you're arriving. If arriving late and just planning on getting to the pier next day, then stay close. If you've never been to Vancouver, stay close to pier as there is lots to see and do within walking distance of the pier (it is literally in the centre of the city).  

On 8/10/2021 at 6:27 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

So do I only need a Cordon Pass Sanitaire if I want to visit a bar or restaurant in France?  If I stay in the ship's excursion bubbles am I OK 'undocumented'?

You will likely need the pass sanitaire for entry into any public venue bringing together more than 50 people as indicated here: https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19

Museums and cultural sites like castles/archeological/markets will all ask for pass sanitaire. Not sure if a ship's excursion group could be exempted from that?

DH and I are booked on AmaLyra September 9 Paris and Normandy. Not possible to book bike tours until we're on board. Fine print on the website says Please Note: Guests may sign up for guided Bike Tours once on board the ship. Your Cruise Manager will provide more details on board and will assess each guest to ensure they are physically able to participate. Because the health and safety of our guests is the utmost importance, our guided Bike Tours are capacity controlled. Safety helmets are provided and must be worn by every participant. 

DH and I are also booked for AMA this fall and haven't seen anything about restrictions on leaving the boat - that would be horrible! 

Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment!! DH and I are also on AMA this fall, and are also on a weight loss journey. We like club soda as mixer ourselves and expect to find that on board. I can't say for sure but kind of doubt diet 7Up will be available as I can't remember seeing it on any other cruise line. Fingers crossed!

Just booked our express train tickets (including the shuttle) for October!

Thanks to all for this thread, I was looking on Viator for transfer options from Civitavecchia and found their express train ticket offer of $40. But there is no return info, and calling the 1-800 number was useless. 

For the previous poster who was wondering how many ships will be in port on a given day, use this:

http://app.cruisetoports.com/how-busy-is-the-cruise-port 

Enter the port and date combination you're interested in, and voila!

Just found out our cruise is now heading to Antigua, and we'd like to rent motorcycles or scooters for the day to do some exploring on our own. Are there operations close to the port that have 2 wheeled options? Any idea how much? The only operator I could find on-line is Cheke's and it gets pretty horrible reviews. No issues driving on left or narrow roads, as we've done it on other islands in the past.

Hi Snow, I also noticed that the activity level is REALLY low on CC (maybe everyone moved over to another social media site?) as there are only 8 ppl on my roll call which leaves in 2 months!

Sorry I can't comment on which tour to take, my previous trips to San Juan have been about visiting the old town and El Morro. Please let me know what you end up doing and how it went!

Dawn

I will be in St Kitts November 2017 on Carnival, and am looking to dive there, so I will report back with reviews when done.

We rarely do the cruise excursions, find better value and service booking direct. DH and I have dove St Thomas, St Lucia, Cozumel and Roatan without the ship's help.

We just got back from Vietnam. Transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang airport for two of us (arranged by hotel so including their commission) was $20 US.

I agree with above post, see if you can barter with a driver to take you for the day to Hoi An, China Beach and Marble Mountain. Full day car and driver shouldn't cost more than $50.

We just got back from Vietnam and Thailand.

We paid $30 US for a 5 hour tour in Hue which included guide and driver (not entrance fees). Tips were greatly appreciated but not expected, so tipped the guide $6 and driver $4.

Thailand is much more expensive than the last time we were ther (10 years ago) so expect to pay double for the same type/length of tour from Vietnam. Again, tipping isn't usual but is greatly appreciated. We try to tip somewhere around 10% split between guide and driver but its totally up to you and your level of satisfaction with the service.

Hope this helps.