Airmiles Armchair Chatter

[dancin Disney style]

Cruising friends....what do you do about insurance? With any type of travel I've been 50/50 on buying it. We have emergency medical through DH's benefits and that is something we will never travel without. I'm thinking that due to the fact that we are entry level old people we should have something in place to cover us...I guess for cancellation or trip interruption, not sure really what we would need. So what do you buy and who do you buy from?

An the subject or receipts....I hit the motherload yesterday. The garbage bin at the cart return was literally overflowing with receipts. TBH, it was actually really weird. I pulled out handfuls. I went through them last night and had a pile that I will scan and a pile that is past the date. I really question why there were so many. There were a few bundled together from different stores and I wondered if it was someone who was doing the same thing, scanned and dumped them out.
Just a tip...don't use the iron to flatten out creased receipts. The paper instantly turns black. I definitely did not find this out because I did it


In other news....DD is now onboard her floating house. I got some pics at 5:15am. LOL....Wednesday when they flew down to Orlando she was texting me the play by play beginning at 2:55am. A phone on vibrate is VERY loud at 2:55am, in case you wanted to know. It is also extra loud when you have knocked it over on to the floor but are too tired to get up and silence it. So I was woken up and couldn't get back to sleep. Even if I did the texts kept coming. Anyway, this morning she has commenced a very crazy two weeks of crossover. They will have onstage rehearsals in the middle of the night, procedure training during the day, only the minimum required rest period of 6 hours and no shore leave.

 

[tinkerone]

Cruising friends....what do you do about insurance? With any type of travel I've been 50/50 on buying it. We have emergency medical through DH's benefits and that is something we will never travel without. I'm thinking that due to the fact that we are entry level old people we should have something in place to cover us...I guess for cancellation or trip interruption, not sure really what we would need. So what do you buy and who do you buy from?

An the subject or receipts....I hit the motherload yesterday. The garbage bin at the cart return was literally overflowing with receipts. TBH, it was actually really weird. I pulled out handfuls. I went through them last night and had a pile that I will scan and a pile that is past the date. I really question why there were so many. There were a few bundled together from different stores and I wondered if it was someone who was doing the same thing, scanned and dumped them out.
Just a tip...don't use the iron to flatten out creased receipts. The paper instantly turns black. I definitely did not find this out because I did it


In other news....DD is now onboard her floating house. I got some pics at 5:15am. LOL....Wednesday when they flew down to Orlando she was texting me the play by play beginning at 2:55am. A phone on vibrate is VERY loud at 2:55am, in case you wanted to know. It is also extra loud when you have knocked it over on to the floor but are too tired to get up and silence it. So I was woken up and couldn't get back to sleep. Even if I did the texts kept coming. Anyway, this morning she has commenced a very crazy two weeks of crossover. They will have onstage rehearsals in the middle of the night, procedure training during the day, only the minimum required rest period of 6 hours and no shore leave.

For us, I have never purchased travel insurance. Medical insurance always but insurance to cover the cost of the trip, no. The cost of that insurance was always so much and I figured if at some point we did need to eat the cost of a trip we would have saved that amount by not buying the insurance so really, no loss.
Having said that, we have it with our credit card as long as we pay all or part of the trip using it. I don't know that it would apply to a DCL trip as I use my US MC to pay for it and it does not include trip insurance. Maybe if I put a small amount on my Canadian MC but I really don't know. Touch wood, I've never had an issue that I need to pay for while traveling or even had to cancel a trip.
The one time things went sideways was in 2002, we were in Puerto Vallarta on a 14 day vacation at a new Riu hotel. Hurricane Kenna hit and we were directly in it. At the time 14 days away was a lot, I was still working but I was ready to go home at day 10. A bit homesick. It hit the day we were meant to fly home and I can tell you I was upset, not because of the hurricane but because we could not get home. We ended up having to stay an extra 3 days. It was an interesting 3 days for sure. We did not have to pay anything extra for that time, nothing extra out of pocket for anything.

 

[dancin Disney style]

For us, I have never purchased travel insurance. Medical insurance always but insurance to cover the cost of the trip, no. The cost of that insurance was always so much and I figured if at some point we did need to eat the cost of a trip we would have saved that amount by not buying the insurance so really, no loss.
Having said that, we have it with our credit card as long as we pay all or part of the trip using it. I don't know that it would apply to a DCL trip as I use my US MC to pay for it and it does not include trip insurance. Maybe if I put a small amount on my Canadian MC but I really don't know. Touch wood, I've never had an issue that I need to pay for while traveling or even had to cancel a trip.
The one time things went sideways was in 2002, we were in Puerto Vallarta on a 14 day vacation at a new Riu hotel. Hurricane Kenna hit and we were directly in it. At the time 14 days away was a lot, I was still working but I was ready to go home at day 10. A bit homesick. It hit the day we were meant to fly home and I can tell you I was upset, not because of the hurricane but because we could not get home. We ended up having to stay an extra 3 days. It was an interesting 3 days for sure. We did not have to pay anything extra for that time, nothing extra out of pocket for anything.

I like that perspective. I would typically think the same way. I'm not at all up on what coverage is provided by my credit cards. I've finally settled on booking for November and going through Redtag to redeem some miles. I'm going to pay OOP for the flights and might redeem a few miles for the hotels. I want to get it booked today. Just the way I roll....the price has gone up $300 as the lower level cabin is no longer available. So the question remaining is do I use my Amex Cobalt or the BMO AM card to pay? My feeling is that the Cobalt card will give me more insurance. It also gives me the option to redeem some of those points towards this trip. I suppose a little more research is now in the plans for today.

 

[ottawamom]

@ilovetotravel1977 Did they post the AM for the August 9-11 promotion for you when you contacted them. I still haven't seen anything on the 3 accounts I watch. I don't want to chat/call if all they are going to say is wait!

 

[cari12]

Did a chat this morning for the Aug 9-11 earn AM 3 ways promo. Joyce said there is a delay on this one but they should post by the end of next week.

 

[dcessford]

@ilovetotravel1977 Did they post the AM for the August 9-11 promotion for you when you contacted them. I still haven't seen anything on the 3 accounts I watch. I don't want to chat/call if all they are going to say is wait!

I chatted them today to add my 200 as I had not got them yet.Got the 200 right away.

 

[hdrolfe]

I know I did that 3 for 200 AM offer, trying chat but it's a long wait for an agent so not sure if I want to waste more time waiting on that or just try next week. They shouldn't promise to post so early if they aren't actually capable of following through. But I do want those AM.

Edit to add: I waited, and they posted the AM for me. It was about a 30 minute wait on chat.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

I got both accounts added right away.

I had a 10 min wait for my account and an HOUR wait for DH's account.

 

[tinkerone]

I know I did that 3 for 200 AM offer, trying chat but it's a long wait for an agent so not sure if I want to waste more time waiting on that or just try next week. They shouldn't promise to post so early if they aren't actually capable of following through. But I do want those AM.

Edit to add: I waited, and they posted the AM for me. It was about a 30 minute wait on chat.

I chatted them today to add my 200 as I had not got them yet.Got the 200 right away.

Was it 200 AMs? I thought it was 250 but I could have dreamt this.

 

[hdrolfe]

Was it 200 AMs? I thought it was 250 but I could have dreamt this.

200 AM for the offer to earn 1 AM from 3 different methods.
250 AM for earning 1 AM from 3 different online shops. Those won't post yet.

Does that make sense? There is a post on page 1881 with the details on the 200 AM one for reference.

 

[tinkerone]

200 AM for the offer to earn 1 AM from 3 different methods.
250 AM for earning 1 AM from 3 different online shops. Those won't post yet.

Does that make sense? There is a post on page 1881 with the details on the 200 AM one for reference.

Thank you, it does.

I just did a chat with AMs and spoke with Joyce. She said I had to wait, they are aware and it would be posted soon. She wasn't giving an inch. Now, I sit back and wait.

 

[bababear_50]

Good Morning

A warm breakfast to warm us up.
Have a great Day!

Hugs Mel

 

[juniorbugman]

Today I will be spending the day processing tomatoes (making salsa) and cooking all my apples from my trees. Going to try to make apple mincemeat, apple sauce and apple pie filling. Yes I have that many apples. Sadly this will be the last year for my trees as our resident dog seems to think that she can eat them and one of the trees looks like the leaning tower of Pisa.

 

[bababear_50]

Today is my day to clean and organize the garage.
No heavy lifting just point and tell the sons where to put everything.
I am so glad my youngest came over a few weeks ago and helped me weed the garden.
Canning can be such a huge process but yields a wonderful result. Have fun Judy!
Hugs Mel

P.S.
Almost out of Gas so I just decided to pick up a $50 Canadian Tire Gas Card and get 20 bonus Airmiles.

 

[dancin Disney style]

So I just tried calling Redtag to book the cruise and redeem some miles. It’s not available through them yet it is through DCL directly and Costco. Very nice agent even looked it up on DCL…funny though she couldn’t see it. Then she logged in as an agent and again not available. Very strange but it is what it is. Now I’m trying to very quickly process my options. I think Costco just because I will get a $300 gift card back after travel. At least it’s something. I can reduce costs issuing AM for flights and hotels. Appears to be my only option.

I’m in a flap over this as one cabin popped up last night at $400 less than what I was looking at. Then this morning it was gone. Now it’s back and I want to grab it.

 

[mort1331]

So I just tried calling Redtag to book the cruise and redeem some miles. It’s not available through them yet it is through DCL directly and Costco. Very nice agent even looked it up on DCL…funny though she couldn’t see it. Then she logged in as an agent and again not available. Very strange but it is what it is. Now I’m trying to very quickly process my options. I think Costco just because I will get a $300 gift card back after travel. At least it’s something. I can reduce costs issuing AM for flights and hotels. Appears to be my only option.

I’m in a flap over this as one cabin popped up last night at $400 less than what I was looking at. Then this morning it was gone. Now it’s back and I want to grab it.

If its what you want and there,,,its not going to get cheaper, history says

 

[dancin Disney style]

So I just tried calling Redtag to book the cruise and redeem some miles. It’s not available through them yet it is through DCL directly and Costco. Very nice agent even looked it up on DCL…funny though she couldn’t see it. Then she logged in as an agent and again not available. Very strange but it is what it is. Now I’m trying to very quickly process my options. I think Costco just because I will get a $300 gift card back after travel. At least it’s something. I can reduce costs issuing AM for flights and hotels. Appears to be my only option.

I’m in a flap over this as one cabin popped up last night at $400 less than what I was looking at. Then this morning it was gone. Now it’s back and I want to grab it.

I think it’s some sort of glitch. It comes and goes. I wondered if someone had it in their cart so I waited and it came back but an error message comes up when I try to book. You are right, it’s not going to get any cheaper and I feel fairly confident that nothing will come up under DD’s discount. The two November dates that are the lowest price don’t have many cabins left.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Persitance is the key! I have rechecked that cabin repeatedly today. It was there, not there, there, not there....all day long. Every time I would try to go forward with the booking I got the error message. FINALLY....it went through on the DCL site. I currently have a 24hr hold on it. That gives me one more day for DD to check for a discount, for DCL to offer one (doubt that) or for another cabin to become available.

After placing the hold I sat down with a pen and did the full math yikes....I'm looking at $6700 for a one week trip. Next thought was....I've got a few things in the house that need to go, and been half a''ed trying to sell for a while. Time to get serious and clear things out!

 

[tinkerone]

Persitance is the key! I have rechecked that cabin repeatedly today. It was there, not there, there, not there....all day long. Every time I would try to go forward with the booking I got the error message. FINALLY....it went through on the DCL site. I currently have a 24hr hold on it. That gives me one more day for DD to check for a discount, for DCL to offer one (doubt that) or for another cabin to become available.

After placing the hold I sat down with a pen and did the full math yikes....I'm looking at $6700 for a one week trip. Next thought was....I've got a few things in the house that need to go, and been half a''ed trying to sell for a while. Time to get serious and clear things out!

I hear you on costs! I've learned to hold my nose and just dive in. My DIL has expensive holiday tastes but a job that permits it.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for a discount on your cruise. You never know since the bookings for Destiny continue to open up tomorrow, they may want to quickly discount what is still available on other ships. We can dream.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I hear you on costs! I've learned to hold my nose and just dive in. My DIL has expensive holiday tastes but a job that permits it.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for a discount on your cruise. You never know since the bookings for Destiny continue to open up tomorrow, they may want to quickly discount what is still available on other ships. We can dream.

Have you ever stayed on deck 2? Had I booked a week ago I could have had deck 9 which would have allowed us to stay out of the elevators. The thought of trying to get from the bottom deck to the top in the elevator My knees will let me walk down but not up. The good news is that the cabin is right between the mid and forward elevators so we can use either. Oh well…it’s my own fault for waiting. Things like this usually happen to me.

Even if you were right about discounting other ships it wouldn’t happen tomorrow before I have to pay. I’m already having second thoughts about spending this much on one trip. If it were 9-10 days it would be ok. I haven’t even factored in spending money yet. Could I isolate myself to my house for the next 82 days, never spending a dime outside of regular bills?