ILOVEHI50

That is what I did.

I had 300 refundable and 150 non-refundable from booking my next cruise. I cashed out close to $200 USD. I used it for my drive back to the airport and then deposited it into my USD account at home.

 

Guest Services looked at my account and confirmed because I had spent more than my non-refundable, I could get the refundable back.

 

Also, don't book your next cruise on the last day, because it takes time for the OBC to get onto your account, and you might miss being able to cash it out.

We just got off the Brilliance last Sunday. I booked a couple future cruises while on board. We already had $300 on board credit from booking this cruise last December while on another cruise. We had my time dining; so the gratuities were already paid, and we generally don't spend a lot on the ship. I requested that the credit be applied to the cruise I was booking. They said they needed to get approval; but check back later that day. It ended up not being a problem.

I decided that I wanted to book a second cruise, and did that on the last day. I asked again that the credit be applied to the cruise I was booking (just like the cruise I booked earlier in the week), not the current one I was on. I was told no problem. I did get a print out, and the last day I cashed out the on board credit we had not used. Well guess what when I got my bill the morning we were to get off the ship, the $150 credit had been applied to the current cruise that morning. Guest services said it was non refundable, and they could not do anything.

I was going to just call up and deal with it when I got home. Before we left I saw one of the girls that worked with the future bookings, and told her of my problem. Even though they really were not open, she pulled up the reservation. She was able to get everything straightened out. At least I think it is straightened out. I am going to wait and see what my credit card gets charged. There should be a slight charge. We had about $3.00 we owed; but I requested the $10.26 cash refund of the port fees from missing Bar Harbor. I did not want to chance losing that. We should just around $14 we do still owe.

So, yes I agree do not wait until the last day to book that future cruise; because if the credit gets applied after midnight. You may be out of luck. I was very fortunate the gal was near her station talking to another customer.

Thanks so much for posting the pictures of Bar Harbor. We did miss this port yesterday. The fog was too thick to get tendered. It was very thick pretty much all day. The weather in Portland was wonderful. It's been great in Saint John today also. Hoping for the great weather in Halifax too. Still not much color; but it was decent near Portland.

I guess I need to find out how they will refund port fees for Bar Harbor. The friends with us have thought the food has been great so far in the main dining room. For the person that asked. Escargot the first night and again last night. Scallops in between.

Here's a site with current foliage conditions:

 

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/projects/fall_foliage/index.shtml

Thanks for all of the replies. Thanks so much for the map of the colors. It indeed looks like it is a little later for the color this year (from what I've been told). I am one of those folks that likes to over think everything. I know whatever we decide will be great. The weather is suppose to be around 70 and sunny; so touring Portland may be the best option this time; since we probably would need to drive further than I would want to in order to see a lot of color.

Thank you, I'm so ready to get on this ship. It looks like our weather will also be good this coming week. I'm at lunch now, and then only 3 more hours of work. Headed straight to the airport.

Inland on US-302 west from Portland is a nice scenic ride (once you get away from the city), and takes you by Sebago Lake.

 

Or, about 12 miles from Portland on US-302, you can opt for US-202 to the northeast, which has the advantage of allowing a faster return trip to Portland, using I-95.

Thanks so much. I did look at the map today. The Inland on US-302 is what I was originally thinking. Still not 100% sure; but at least I have something to go by.

We will be in Portland Oct 12th. 7 am to 6 pm. The weather looks like it should be fantastic for mid October. Warm and Sunny. I am looking for opinions. Peak season appears that it is late this year. Trying to see great colors, and get some nice pictures. I do have a rental car reserved, just over a mile walk from the ship.

Option 1. Cancel the rental car, and just walk around Portland (we've never been there before).

Option 2. Keep the rental and drive along the coast. If so, which direction?

Option 3. Keep the rental and drive further inland. Suggestions on where to go.

I would like some good lobster; but can always get it at the other ports also.

Thanks in advance.

On my first day with the shower I turned the red dot handle and no water came out. For a minute i was thinking I needed to get redressed and wander down the hall in my pajamas searching for the cabin guy.. Then I realized there was another knob on the left side that controlled water flow. I would not have mentioned this embarrassing moment except I heard someone else in the ship saying they did the same thing. So if you are new to this ship class, left knob fir water.

 

 

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Thanks so much for this tip. I don't recall this on the other ships I've been on. Once again, thank you for taking the time to post while you're on your vacation.

I too am looking forward to following you all week. We will be on the ship next week. Thanks so much for taking the time to post a review and photos.

I like a cabin that is nearest the aft of the ship, and one of the higher decks; but I do not want to have public areas right above me. I want to be able to get as many steps as possible. I am not one to work out in the gym; but I do get my exercise walking. Rarely do I take the elevator; so I get several steps taking the stairs.

The price is less than an inside cabin.

I just cancelled a cabin that I had booked for some family hoping they would join us. They will not be going; so I have now released the cabin; if anybody is interested. Price is really good.

I used LMT (link) to book the Crowne Plaza right by the port. I think the hotel is pretty good. Reasonably priced too.

I second this. We used them last year to book the Crowne Plaza and used them again this year too. My daughter is leaving on the Oasis tomorrow and they are staying there tonight. Big savings over booking direct and other hotels in the area. It is the one that is a 4 Star Hotel near the Airport. If you call the toll free #, they will save you money over the price listed on the website and also confirm what the hotel is.

75 Days until we're on the Rhapsody of the Seas. Final payment was due today.

I have used that site for years but something seems to be different lately. There always was a listing at the bottom of the page that showed all of the price changes but that isn't there for several of the cruises I have been looking at and I know prices have gone down. It was interesting because many times prices would go down but several months later they would go back up to the original price. When you put your pointer on a price in a cabin category, it also use to show all of the price changes along with the date. Now, most of them list the the actual date (like today) even when there is no change.

 

I've been watching a cruise and the prices have come down - the Princess site shows a drop on the first page, right under the currrent price BUT this site is only showing the current price not the old - higher price.

 

So, what I'm trying to say is that it hasn't helped me at all the past few months. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

Have any of you joined (can't remember the cost) but if you have, do you think it is worth the cost of membership?? thanks

Hi, What I found on this site is that if you click on the current price that you are looking at it will give you the chart you are talking about. I have not joined; but it did seem like it was very reasonable. I've been able to do a lot of research and it looks like what I'm hoping for may be coming in the next couple weeks. If it doesn't I'll be happy with what I've got; but saving some money would be great.

GTY cabins aren't offered on every cruise and they also aren't always offered in every catagory when available. It's a marketing tool used to move inventory relative to Supply & Demand. Also GTY bookings aren't always the best price deal either..... the cruise I'm on GTY's were actaully costing more than if one just selected a specific cabin in that same catagory.

 

The Alaska Cruise you're considering is in PEAK SEASON so waiting for a price drop and or a GTY catagory may not be to your advantage... only you can decided if you want to run the risk and wait to only be further priced out of the cruise.

Thanks for all of the replies. We do have the cruise booked already; so that is not a problem and we did get the lowest price offered; since this cruise has been offered. I'm just hoping that we can save a little more money. All of the cabins do not need to be together; so I'm not concerned about that part. Since 3 of the cabins are the lowest category, location really does not matter either to those 3. We'll just keep checking the rates everyday and hope gty might become available. Thanks again and I really appreciate everybody's help.

Hi, Thanks for posting this information. I checked out the site and I think this will be very helpful the next few months. Can I please get a confirmation of what the % is. Is it sold or unsold? The reason I ask is because the cruise I will be on is the lowest %; yet the prices have only gone up and there are no gty cabins available. All other cruises on this ship now have gty cabins available. They are currently offering 55+ discount to bring the cost down; which did help my parents. I am looking at the Rhapsody to Alaska for August 3rd out of Seattle. There will be 5 cabins in our group; so changing dates is not an option at this point; but at least 3 of the 4 other cabins would love to save the money with a gty cabin. Thanks in advance.