Kathleen

I would get to the airport a bit earlier than you normally would. You go through Canadian customs then go through American customs, so it can take a bit longer.

Vancouver has pre-clearance, so you won't need to go through customs again once you land in the USA.  

@Pattycruise thank you. Your answer was exactly what I was wondering. I have a 1 device internet package for the week. I just want to access my free Diamond day on a second device at the same time on one day. Your first scenario answers this question. Much appreciated!!

@Pattycruise thank you. Your answer was exactly what I was wondering. I have a 1 device internet package for the week. I just want to access my free Diamond day on a second device at the same time on one day. Your first scenario answers this question. Much appreciated!!

Never cruised with it, and it has been FDA approved for less than a year, so there probably aren't too many people who could answer that question for you.  However, I am a licensed pharmacist, and my recommendation to you would be to make sure it has the most current prescription label on it.(ie, not a bottle from several months ago),-- definitely do not bring it unlabeled or transferred into another container, and, if you want to be paranoid about it, a letter from your physician stating that your child uses it for the treatment of epilepsy, but that's only if you really want to cover all your bases.  When we were on a 12 night, I brought a 2 week supply of my meds in medication holders, but my daughters meds (she has epilepsy) -- 1 week in a medication holder, & 2 weeks supply (extra 1 week just in case!) in their original bottles, especially because 3 of the meds we were bringing (1 for every day & 2 for "as needed" use) were controlled substances.  Epidiolex is a schedule 5, which is the "lowest" schedule (illegal drugs such as heroin AND marijuana  are schedule 1), so I would definitely make sure it is labeled properly.

Awesome response, this is what I love about this blog.

Thank you so much for passing that along. We had tossed about those itineraries but will definitely look closer.

I was able to save $100.00 by repricing an Alaskan excursion on Royal Caribbean and $75 total ($65 on one and $10 on the other) on two Celebrity excursions. Glad I checked again. 

I was able to save $100.00 by repricing an Alaskan excursion on Royal Caribbean and $75 total ($65 on one and $10 on the other) on two Celebrity excursions. Glad I checked again. 

I was able to save $100.00 by repricing an Alaskan excursion on Royal Caribbean and $75 total ($65 on one and $10 on the other) on two Celebrity excursions. Glad I checked again. 

I'll be looking at those NE sailings.  They've been doing 11-night, round-trip sailings from Boston to Quebec, spending 2 nights in Quebec.  We did that back in 2003, and it was THE BEST itinerary we've ever done.

We just took this same cruise in 2022. We took the Haleakala sunset excursion the first night and the hike and waterfalls the second day. We loved both. 

I ended up booking a 9 night Spain/Portugal  balcony cabin on Independence out of Southampton with refundable deposit for September 2025 for just under $3000 including taxes and port fees total for the both of us, from our travel agent. Seemed like a win/win at this point. Was glad to grab what seemed such a good deal. 

This wouldn't even have phased me because it's the norm here in Philly and NJ...supermarkets charge for bags now

Stores in my state charge for plastic bags. Some don't offer them at all anymore leading up to a new law next year that bans them completely.

 

Charging for bags, whether plastic or paper, has been standard practice here in Portugal for quite some time now, so I wouldn't have batted an eyelid if this happened to me in the store on board. I always carry a reusable bag with me in my handbag wherever I go just in case I make an unexpected purchase. It's all about reducing waste and being friendly to the environment. Of course, it comes as a shock the first time you encounter it but it doesn't take long to get used to it.

Totally agree with this. I have saved quite a bit from price drops as well on air. But I book through Air2Sea and re-price that way.
However, the most discouraging thing about going to Europe this coming summer (2024) is that even though I check every day, prices came out high and have not budged at all! I don't even know how that can be? Usually, air fluctuates here and there if you watch it daily (I do), but these particular flights that I need to Barcelona and return from Rome, have not moved in the slightest. To add to that, I've been pricing out leaving from two different airports, and both scenarios, the flight pricing has remained super high. I don't know what is happening except that at this point, flights for 4 people are costing me way more than the cruise itself. Which is sad.

For what it is worth, here is what the RC marketing folks have to say: 

Tonight in the live YouTube they talked about when a ship was Dry Docked.  @Matt told them they could Google and find it.  I was working on the computer anyway and did the Googling.  Now I just need all of your people that really know fix the ones I have wrong.  Then Matt and post it and keep it updated.  Or we can just keep it updated here as a RCL group.
 
 

I ended up booking a 9 night Spain/Portugal  balcony cabin on Independence out of Southampton with refundable deposit for September 2025 for just under $3000 including taxes and port fees total for the both of us, from our travel agent. Seemed like a win/win at this point. Was glad to grab what seemed such a good deal. 

I ended up booking a 9 night Spain/Portugal  balcony cabin on Independence out of Southampton with refundable deposit for September 2025 for just under $3000 including taxes and port fees total for the both of us, from our travel agent. Seemed like a win/win at this point. Was glad to grab what seemed such a good deal. 

I’ve got $2810 for hubby and me “on hold” for Norwegian Fjords June 2025. Balcony. Waiting for celebrity to release then name a decision. 
 
I thought that price was very fair but flights might do us in lol 

I ended up booking a 9 night Spain/Portugal  balcony cabin on Independence out of Southampton with refundable deposit for September 2025 for just under $3000 including taxes and port fees total for the both of us, from our travel agent. Seemed like a win/win at this point. Was glad to grab what seemed such a good deal. 

The only down side I see is when the price drops on the UDP and you want to cancel and rebook for a savings. I’m thinking if you’ve already booked your reservations you are less likely to cancel and reprice UDP if price falls.

The only down side I see is when the price drops on the UDP and you want to cancel and rebook for a savings. I’m thinking if you’ve already booked your reservations you are less likely to cancel and reprice UDP if price falls.