We're flying on Air Transat, a Canadian Charter airline, to London - Heathrow this summer. We've booked their Club Class-business seats which are quite comfortable. Much more roomier than WT+ on BA that we've used twice recently.
With this airline you get to choose your seats when you book the flights and only pay a deposit at the time of booking.
Also, reconfirming car rental and other plans at this time.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Baltic cruise friends coming to Toronto
I am looking forward to meeting up with our friends who live in Sedona, AZ when they come to Toronto in the fall.
I've booked The Grand Hotel in Toronto and made reservations for dinner at the 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower for the evening when Toronto will be all lit up.
Can't wait.
I've booked The Grand Hotel in Toronto and made reservations for dinner at the 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower for the evening when Toronto will be all lit up.
Can't wait.
Stonehenge
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090621/Stonehenge_solstice_090621/20090621?hub=TopStories
Link takes you to a new's story about Stonehenge.
We will be stopping by there on our way from Southampton to Bath, when Clive picks us up after the 12 night cruise.
Link takes you to a new's story about Stonehenge.
We will be stopping by there on our way from Southampton to Bath, when Clive picks us up after the 12 night cruise.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Royal Princess - fire onboard
I just read about the Royal Princess canceling this week's cruise because of a fire in the engine room.
Passenger's are being compensated and flights home are being arranged from Egypt.
This is one of the scary things about cruising. Fortunately, no one was injured and the ship was close enough to port to deal with the matter safely.
My thoughts go out to the passengers and crew onboard.
Update: I have heard that there was a crew member who was affected. I do not have details.
All passengers were accounted for and taken to Cairo while flight arrangements are made. They are being compensated and taken care of by Princess. The next cruise is also canceled while the ship gets repaired.
Also heard that a smoker set fire to her wastebasket on the Crown Princess (the ship we are sailing on next) and she was put off the ship. There are only certain places on a ship that smoking is allowed, and I stay away from those areas.
Passenger's are being compensated and flights home are being arranged from Egypt.
This is one of the scary things about cruising. Fortunately, no one was injured and the ship was close enough to port to deal with the matter safely.
My thoughts go out to the passengers and crew onboard.
Update: I have heard that there was a crew member who was affected. I do not have details.
All passengers were accounted for and taken to Cairo while flight arrangements are made. They are being compensated and taken care of by Princess. The next cruise is also canceled while the ship gets repaired.
Also heard that a smoker set fire to her wastebasket on the Crown Princess (the ship we are sailing on next) and she was put off the ship. There are only certain places on a ship that smoking is allowed, and I stay away from those areas.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Price Drop
We've booked a 14 night Princess cruise from Southampton return called the Med. Adventurer for 2010.
The price is more than double what we are paying for this year's 12 night Br. Isles cruise, so we'll have to see if the price drops enough for us.
This means we have our TA call Princess and ask for the new price, keeping our cabin/booking the same.
Today we just saved $375 each on the price drop. Don't know why, but this agent said our booking had to be canceled and she'd rebook us. Same cabin, but a lot of paperwork for her.
All set.
The price is more than double what we are paying for this year's 12 night Br. Isles cruise, so we'll have to see if the price drops enough for us.
This means we have our TA call Princess and ask for the new price, keeping our cabin/booking the same.
Today we just saved $375 each on the price drop. Don't know why, but this agent said our booking had to be canceled and she'd rebook us. Same cabin, but a lot of paperwork for her.
All set.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Final Payment Made...Br. Isles Here We Come
We made our final payment for the cruise on Tuesday and printed out our Boarding Passes for the ship on Wednesday.
Plans have been confirmed for the Meet & Greet I am arranging for 125 of my cruise message board friends. I will contribute 2 door prizes (probably wine) and also invite the crew---possibly the cruise director/staff and the captain may wish to attend. It is a rather large group this time around.
I have another month to go before I have to pay for our flights.
Trying to decide on Heathrow to London hotel transfer: dot2dot, black cab, hotel arranged private vehicle. We just can't see ourselves lugging the suitcases/carry ons on the tube, train or bus this time around.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
British Isles Cruise 2009
Our British Isles trip is all planned but final payments are coming due next week.
Princess cruises will want our final full payment and at this time we will have to purchase trip cancellation as a precaution. Up until this point we could cancel without any penalty or loss of deposit. This is one of the best options for booking so far in advance. We do this to get the cabin we like on the Grand class of ships. And we put our deposit down with a FCC (future cruise credit) which we bought on board the last ship we sailed. This is a reduced deposit of $115 Can. vs $600-$900 deposit per person.
Off to check our plans and excursions.
Princess cruises will want our final full payment and at this time we will have to purchase trip cancellation as a precaution. Up until this point we could cancel without any penalty or loss of deposit. This is one of the best options for booking so far in advance. We do this to get the cabin we like on the Grand class of ships. And we put our deposit down with a FCC (future cruise credit) which we bought on board the last ship we sailed. This is a reduced deposit of $115 Can. vs $600-$900 deposit per person.
Off to check our plans and excursions.
California Here We Come....2010
I've been looking at hotel possibilites in the San Diego area. Looks like we might be there 4 or 5 nights and spend the other 2 or 3 nights in Los Angeles for our spring 2010 trip.
One of the hotels I've considered wants full pre payment now, and I don't want to do that. If I booked the hotel 2 months earlier, no pre payment is required. So, I'll wait and also look at other possibilites.
I am looking forward to visiting family and friends in the area and maybe even taking in a baseball game.
One of the hotels I've considered wants full pre payment now, and I don't want to do that. If I booked the hotel 2 months earlier, no pre payment is required. So, I'll wait and also look at other possibilites.
I am looking forward to visiting family and friends in the area and maybe even taking in a baseball game.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
California Here We Come....2010
Used our ff miles to book flights to California for spring of 2010. Would you believe the business seats were gone, so we're going economy again. 4 &1/2 hour flight isn't too bad. This trip will be after Easter & Canadian tax season.
We are considering a rental car for the week to take us to visit family & friends in San Diego. It's been a long time coming.
We are considering a rental car for the week to take us to visit family & friends in San Diego. It's been a long time coming.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Free Resources From Great Britain
For information on Great Britain I sent away for a few brochures and received these in the mail.
I have also used the www.sloweurope.com website run by Pauline Kenny.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society...a novel by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Mary Ann Shaffer writes, " If nothing else, I hope these characters and their story shed some light on the sufferings and strength of the people of the Channel Islands during the German Occupation.
It was a perfect book to read just prior to my visit to St. Peter Port, Guernsey this summer.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Travel Trends 2009
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/travel-trends-2009/article1134818/
Link to some travel trends for 2009 & 2010.
The photo is of the full body scanner, like the one we went through in Las Vegas recently.
Had no idea it was looking under our clothes. Ummmm.
Went through something similar about 5 years ago in San Juan, P.R., but it went puff.
I hear they are getting rid of the puff ones, as they are too expensive and too many problems maintaining them.
In Las Vegas, they did not ask us, but there was a sign that said you could opt out of the scanner for a full pat down.
Link to some travel trends for 2009 & 2010.
The photo is of the full body scanner, like the one we went through in Las Vegas recently.
Had no idea it was looking under our clothes. Ummmm.
Went through something similar about 5 years ago in San Juan, P.R., but it went puff.
I hear they are getting rid of the puff ones, as they are too expensive and too many problems maintaining them.
In Las Vegas, they did not ask us, but there was a sign that said you could opt out of the scanner for a full pat down.
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