I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[GZanta77]

We are enjoying this cruise but I do feel nickel to dimed on RCCL I must admit. This boat is huge and therefore full of people... So we've been doing a lot of upcharge meals to avoid crazy lines. Apparently the main buffet was so crowded yesterday they had to open a main dining room as emergency overflow. We ate at a buffet yesterday but just took food to the pool as there were no table seats.

The gelato in Marseille was great today! Of course it was also great in Barcelona and Mallorca too, lol. Tomorrow I bet it will be great in Pisa too.

We will see but I might do DCL for my 2021 Europe cruise. This RCCL wasn't cheap and we've spent a fair amount on board, not to mention the excursions. Getting close to DCL at this point I think.

Thats too bad. We have sailed RCCL many times (including Oasis during Christmas week) and I never felt the way you do about the lines or the nickel and diming. Maybe we have just gotten used to things on RCCL. We have never cruised DCL though so maybe our point of reference is missing.

That said, DW did tell me the other day that we should do a DCL cruise for our 25th anniversary...........her rationale...we love cruises...we love Disney and honeymooned at WDW....so a DCL cruise should be a perfect fit. She might be right , but I have a couple of years before I have to start planning that one.

 

[mmmears]

I haven't had a chance to skim much over the past 2 weeks because....we are buying a house! After 8 years of house hunting, we have finally found something that we like and is do-able financially (a little bit on the higher end of the budget) but it's the bay area and I feel like if we don't go for it, we'll be renting for the next 20 more years. We submitted an offer today and hopefully will hear back soon!

Wow! Good for you! As a Bay Area resident I know how crazy the housing market is here and I hear it's really tough to navigate. Good luck!

We are enjoying this cruise but I do feel nickel to dimed on RCCL I must admit. This boat is huge and therefore full of people... So we've been doing a lot of upcharge meals to avoid crazy lines. Apparently the main buffet was so crowded yesterday they had to open a main dining room as emergency overflow. We ate at a buffet yesterday but just took food to the pool as there were no table seats.

The gelato in Marseille was great today! Of course it was also great in Barcelona and Mallorca too, lol. Tomorrow I bet it will be great in Pisa too.

We will see but I might do DCL for my 2021 Europe cruise. This RCCL wasn't cheap and we've spent a fair amount on board, not to mention the excursions. Getting close to DCL at this point I think.

I'll just say that, while DCL isn't the cheapest option, sailing on the Magic in Europe is, well, magical. We did it last summer and can't wait to go back.

 

[mamathompson]

Thanks, I'm a little fuzzy on what happens after we get an accepted offer. Do you just start calling different lenders to shop around? And then choose the one with the lowest rate? Is there a timeline on when you have to pick? Each lender asks for so much paperwork that it seems to make the process of shopping around difficult.

So I'm no expert but this part was very stressful to me. I believe there was a timeline that we had to have our lender info sent in by. It was a huge hurry up and wait thing. I did have to send copies of all our documents to each lender. They all had a way to submit them online which made it a bit easier.

 

[DisneyMandC]

We've done it at booths at food and wine and flower and garden. I believe there were a few that said they couldn't do it, I seem to remember Italy and Mexico being a no go. I'm sure reports will start coming in once the festival starts. I'm sure you know but you forgo the alcohol component doing it this way, since alcohol is not a snack. You could use one of the 3 on a different drink though if it qualifies as a snack.

It can be a decent deal if you want 3 filets in Canada, or 3 lobster rolls, stuff like that. And even if you don't max the value that way, it's surely better than having them leftover in the end!

Thanks! That's kind of my plan is to try to max the value on some of the higher end snack options. Only one of us in the group is really interested in trying any of the alcohol, so he'll just pay out of pocket for that if need be. I want to just eat around the World for dinner one night with the booths so I figure that will probably be a good option and then we can mix in our actual snacks at booths that won't take the QS meal.

 

[amalone1013]

Our last cruise at Port Canaveral we had a rental car and it is a pain. Even with navigation. PC is very large and very confusing with roundabout ways and circular, confusing roads. Once you figure out where to return a rental car you then have to wait while they get enough people to fill up the shuttle. The whole process added 45-60 minutes to getting to the ship and starting the fun.

We've rented both times with Alamo and we did miss the turn and have to go around a block in June but other than that it was pretty easy. We haven't had to wait for a full shuttle, this last time they took just us over to port. For us it has been an under 20min experience from coming over the bridge to Canaveral to being dropped off at the ship. Last time picking up a car after was less fun; most of that was everyone was already stressed due to BIL and then we had to wait almost 15min for our car, on top of the normal check in time... because the agent checking us in did not go pull the car around like the rest of them were doing... And with everyone stressing, that 15min felt like an eternity.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Summer is nasty here though.

It's been terrible the last couple days. We had a little shower come through yesterday afternoon and the humidity got even worse afterwards. I need to run a bunch of errands after work tonight and am really not looking forward to it.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Guys...how is this even possible???? Bonvoy! That’s how...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/cswsof/_/exicr4r

 

[havaneselover]

It's been terrible the last couple days. We had a little shower come through yesterday afternoon and the humidity got even worse afterwards. I need to run a bunch of errands after work tonight and am really not looking forward to it.

Yeah, I’m happy to be in Northern Michigan. It’s beautiful here.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Guys...how is this even possible???? Bonvoy! That’s how...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/cswsof/_/exicr4r

What even...

Yeah, I’m happy to be in Northern Michigan. It’s beautiful here.

Forgot you were missing out on this misery! At least the temp is dropping down this weekend.

 

[Albort]

Guys...how is this even possible???? Bonvoy! That’s how...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/cswsof/_/exicr4r

a reason i havent touched my Bonvoy balance is for that reason...
have been leaning towards hyatt instead.

 

[amalone1013]

Arggghhhh. Tried to call Chase to unlock my account. Got told I need to call the branch I opened my account with for online verification

 

[amalone1013]

HUCA got me that I need to go in branch with TWO forms of ID and then the banker has to call them Think they will take a Chase CC as ID...? I know they used it when opening my account originally. Ugggghhhhh what a pain.

In other news, I know I don't earn points/night credits with a 3rd party booking from Marriott, but do I still earn bonus points on charges to the room like eating at a restaurant?

 

[afan]

Can we still PC a cfu to a csr? Got it jan 18.

 

[amalone1013]

Can we still PC a cfu to a csr? Got it jan 18.

I did my Freedom to CSR on 8/6

 

[amalone1013]

Yep, mine came on Friday - only a week from approval! Crazy fast for Citi. I've met the MSR already (mortgage and refundable stuff) but have to wait until 9/10 to see if my points post (#3). Argh the waiting...

Hope you had a fun trip!

My statement doesn't close until 9/17

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Bummer. That could be. I didn't think of that. I was hoping it was the new off peak pricing even though I was not optimistic that the Swalphin properties would get it.

Thats what I thought it was for since it starts in a month. I don't know if we will ever see that lower rate since they seem to think the property is worth 50k points + resort fee but they really should off off-peak pricing since they put it on Priceline so cheap so often, and even direct it can be had pretty cheap at times.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Can we still PC a cfu to a csr? Got it jan 18.

That's January of 2018 right? Not Jan 18th, of this year? If so, you should have no issue PCing that to a CSR You also might not get charged the AF for 2-5 months then too!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I need help on how to use my UR's/free night certificates! I can get points...I just have a hard time spending them sometimes.

First two nights of our December trip we are homeless. We fly in late Friday night (11:30 pm) and then check into AKV-Kidani Sunday. But I need to figure out where to stay/what to do Friday night and Saturday night.

Which option?

1. Check in Friday night and either use Hyatt free night or Marriott free night certificate. Check out next day and pay cash for night at CBR. (cheapest on property I can get that sleeps 5). Go to WDW Saturday and Sunday.
2. Check in Friday night and stay at Marriott's Cyprus Harbor Villas Friday night and Saturday night. Rooms look huge, have full kitchen, and resort looks okay. I could use the free night certificates for both mine and DH's Brilliant so no out of pocket cost. During Saturday we would just hang out; I guess if motivated could drive to Epcot or something. Has anyone stayed there?
3. Check in Friday night to Hyatt/Marriott by Universal and use free night. Then Saturday use UR's and stay at Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino. HRH would be 23,266 UR's and Portofino only has club level at 32,600. We would then go to Universal (part with more UR"s) either Saturday afternoon and Sunday or just Sunday. Which one of the two hotels/options for those who have been there? (I apologize as I know this has been addressed before but I don't remember).

We last went to Universal 3 years ago. Girls love Harry Potter but for the most part we were underwhelmed and figured out that we are absolutely a Disney family. BUT they want to go again and using UR's on it makes sense. Since Disney was taken away I pretty much have just been cashing out all the UR's and not made a redemption other than a night June 2018.

I also briefly thought about using UR's for Sea World but I think they would rather do Universal.

DH is sick of me asking him and the trip is a surprise Christmas present for the girls so I can't ask them (not that they would be much help). Thanks!

How about Friday pm at the airport Hyatt and then move to one of the other places...US if you are doing that or CBR if you'd rather have the extra time at disney...for Saturday pm.
Personally I'd do the Hyatt/CBR combo and let Disney move my luggage for the 2nd resort change.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

@Haley R just adding on to what @amalone1013 said about parking....just Googled and on sight parking for a 7 night cruise is $136 at Port Canaveral. If you park further away in a private lot you will find a cheaper rate but will have to deal with a shuttle bus and perhaps less security for your vehicle. Remember you will actually be paying for 8 days on a 7 night cruise. Here is an informative website: https://cruisefever.net/port-canaveral-cruise-parking-cost-tips/

Our last cruise at Port Canaveral we had a rental car and it is a pain. Even with navigation. PC is very large and very confusing with roundabout ways and circular, confusing roads. Once you figure out where to return a rental car you then have to wait while they get enough people to fill up the shuttle. The whole process added 45-60 minutes to getting to the ship and starting the fun.

Our preference is having Uber/LYFT drop us right at the check in point for the cruise. $100 rt with tip > hassling with parking and shuttles.

Enjoy your visit with the 'rents!

Definitely don't do a rental car. Dropping off was fine. DH dropped me, the kids, and the luggage and we checked in for the cruise. He went to return the car and shuttle back. All was well.
HOWEVER, after the cruise we had to wait FOREVER to get on a shuttle and then wait FOREVER again for our turn at the rental counter. And DH is presidents club at hertz so shouldn't have to wait at all, but these are podunk neighborhood rental locations, so apparently skip the counter doesn't apply.
I will never do a rental car to cruise again.

 

[Alexle2007]

Just got back from 5 nights with a Busch Gardens/VA Beach trip. I'll try to do a full hotel report in DISChurners. Thank god for the reddit news thread so I could keep up!!

We flew JetBlue direct BOS-RIC. Used miles from JB biz cards. Drove from RIC used Priceline and paid cash (using CSR for protection) for car rental. In hindsight I could have used URs for this! I had a boatload recently deposited from CIP#3 for both DH and I. We stayed at a basic Hampton Inn (Historic Williamsburg downtown) near BG. Free breakfast which was nothing great but adequate. The hotel was friendly, the room was kind of run down but we literally used it to sleep and shower. Prob wouldnt stay here again as there are many options in the area. The rate was super cheap $102/night. Friends paid OOP and we used URs (CSR 1.5 rate). I am currently in love with Hilton though. I earned a ton of points this trip!

Kids loved BG. It was surface of the sun hot (determined WDW in the summer will be a never for us). Humid to boot. But lots of shade and the water rides cooled us off. Loved that the adults could get decent craft beers (in Germany and Irelend) and walk around. Plenty of good coasters the kids enjoyed and the lines were minimal both days (Wed/Thurs). @Alexle2007 we all loved Anna's pizza thanks for the rec!

I paid $55/person for a 3 day pass from Groupon. What a deal!! That included Water County so we popped in there Friday. Water Country was very busy but we did a couple cool water slides and headed out there to VA Beach. Drove about an hour (some traffic delays at a tunnel) and checked into the Hilton Garden Inn VA Beach Oceanfront.

I know VA Beach doesnt get a ton of love and there is definitely a bit of a seedy vibe. But my kids LOVED it. The beach is huge and not rocky, water is warm, good waves, saw a ton of dolphins. We couldnt' complain! Would go again for sure! The HGI was really nice. They had a great pool and a restaurant call Lager Heads in the lobby that was decent. Next door was a great restaurant and beach side tiki bar called Tortuga that we enjoyed. Loved that the Gold Hilton members got free breakfast. They gave it for both rooms even though I booked 2 nights using UR's and one using Hilton points (friends rate was cash) and I booked both rooms. They gave us free breakfast for both rooms (2 adults/2 kids) all 3 mornings. It was a $100 value daily. And the food was really good! A good hot buffet plus made to order omelets, pancakes or french toast.

In churning news I applied and was autoapproved for Hilton Surpass! No pop up for me though DH still appears to be in pop up hell. I'm psyched for the free night. I wanted the Aspire but I figure I'll wait for an upgrade offer for it instead.

Yay! So glad you tried it and enjoyed it! We will definitely go back! Did you get the limoncello cake?