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Colors of Canada Cruise 30 Sep - 10 Oct 2017 on MS Zuiderdam
Latest Update Available
Ahoy Cruisers: This is Update # 5
Barney, Dan and Pam
Buckner, Dick and Trish
Conley, Will and Kathy
Connolly, Jim and Linda
Fishburne, Joe and Ginna
Glass, Bob and Dawn
Goodell, Gene and Sharon
Harpold, Mike and Elaine
Kammerdiener, John and Ellen
Kremer, Judy
Lionetti, Don and Bobbi
Urette, Mike and Karen
Witherspoon, Gene
Update # 1 was posted
on 8/21/2016 and we emailed Update # 2 on 4/18/2017. Update # 3 was posted on
6/11/2017, published only to attendees as we no longer publish to the entire
class. Update # 4 reflected a few cancellations and with this Update #5, I am
sad to report that Denny and Kathryn Lenhart have cancelled due to his medical
challenge. If you are missing any of the 5 Updates, the original Flyer, Notes
and Details, and the Insurance Sheet, Don is prepared to send.
So with twenty four
participating, three adjacent tables of eight would be ideal.
Main reason for this
note is to report that Bob Durnan credited our ship board accounts today with a
$150.00 per cabin credit.
Don't hesitate to
email or to call Jim, Linda, Don or Bobbi should you have any questions.
Looking forward to seeing
you soon,
Jim Connolly and Don Lionetti
(772-492-9787)
(813-281-2133)
Ahoy Cruisers: This is Update # 4
Barney, Dan
and Pam
Buckner,
Dick and Trish
Conley,
Will and Kathy
Connolly,
Jim and Linda
Fishburne, Joe
and Ginna
Glass,
Bob and Dawn
Goodell,
Gene and Sharon
Harpold, Mike and Elaine
Kammerdiener,
John and Ellen
Kremer, Judy
Lenhart, Denny
and Kathryn
Lionetti, Don
and Bobbi
Urette, Mike
and Karen
Witherspoon,
Gene
Update # 1 was posted
on 8/21/2016 and we emailed Update # 2 on 4/18/2017. Update # 3 was posted on
6/11/2017, published only to attendees as we no longer publish to the entire
class. The above roster on this Update # 4 reflects a few cancellations; Bob
and Priscila Hardiman, Gary and Button Hyde, and Frank and Joan Rauch are unable
to join us. If you are missing any of the 4 Updates, the original Flyer, Notes
and Details, and the Insurance Sheet, Don is prepared to send.
If you haven't already
done so, you should do On-Line Check-In. Start with your Cruise Vacation Outlet
Confirmation from Bob Durnhan. Scroll down about halfway through the document
and click on "Holland America" in the Cruise Liners matrix. Then you can start
the check-in process by entering your last name and your Cruiseline Reservation
Number (which is highlighted in green on page one of Durnan's
confirmation). Enter only the last six digits after the dash. Then follow all
the prompts, eventually leading to boarding passes and luggage tags for you to
print. This should be completed at least 30 days before embarkation to avoid
delays getting on board at the port.
Let's talk about
excursions. First, there's no requirement to go on any excursions; many enjoy
remaining on board or just doing self-guided tours at each port of call.
Alternatively, there are some comprehensive (and expensive) excursions you may
wish to consider. Suggest you review what is offered as part of the check-in
process.
To supplement the
excursion notes we included with our last update here are some thoughts:
Click here: The Top 10 Things to Do in Boston 2017 - Must See Attractions in
Boston, MA | TripAdvisor
You can go to
tripadvisor.com and put in a city name and they will tell you the best things to
do in that city. Also see
Click here: Boston Tours | Boston Trolley | Old Town Trolley Tours
and
Click here: Boston Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour with Harbor Cruise 2017
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In Bar Harbor consider a lobster
lunch at one of several restaurants at this quaint little port.
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In Halifax the extravagant
excursion Zuiderdam offers is a coach visit to Peggy's Cove....picturesque
overload (in 3, 3.5, 5 and 5.5 hour versions)
Click here: Halifax Free Walking Tours (Nova Scotia): Top Tips Before You Go -
TripAdvisor
as an alternative.
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At Sydney, Nova Scotia the
principal attraction is the Fortress of Louisbourg, much like Colonial
Williamsburg. Long bus ride and a lot of walking.
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At Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Island you could consider a coach tour to Anne of Green Gables (in 3.5 and 5
hour versions).
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At Quebec City we have a whole
day. Explore this web site:
Click here: The Top 10 Things to Do in Quebec
City 2017 - Must See Attractions in Quebec City, Canada | TripAdvisor
As a minimum we should have a nice lunch in the Historic section (will recommend
a few choices on board) and do a hop on - hop off tour of the old city.
Click here: Quebec City Hop-On Hop-Off Tour 2017
At each evening's
dinner we are all booked in the Main Dining Room on adjacent tables of 8-10 so
we can talk about the next day's events.
Don't hesitate to
email or to call Jim, Linda, Don or Bobbi should you have any questions.
Looking forward to
seeing you soon,
Jim Connolly and Don
Lionetti
jconnolly61@sbcglobal.net (772-492-9787)
dmlionetti@aol.com (813-281-2133)
Bar
Harbor Halifax
Cruise Excursions
Rest of Cruise Ports
Travel
Insurance
First and foremost, please check your passports. Expiration date must be at
least six months beyond our return date from Canada. So, for this cruise your
passport expiration date must be March 10, 2018 or later. You can download a
DS-82 Renewal Application form from the Deparment of State web site if
required.
To remind, the due date for final payment is July 1, 2017. You will find the
amount you owe on the Cruise Deposit
Confirmation email that Bob Durnan sent to each of us. Call him at 1-800-797-4635, ext
129 (or 407-283-2676, cell). You may pay by credit card or check.
Although there is no requirement to buy insurance, doing so can protect the
total cost of your cruise as well as airfare should you have to cancel before
embarking or should you have a medical problem during the cruise. See the
Insurance Information paper
we provided with Update # 2. Also, am attaching here a Travel and Leisure
magazine article, Everything You Need to Know About Travel Insurance.
Both the Connolly's and Lionetti's received an email from Holland America on
6/2/2017, Subject: Before You Sail, Book Shore Excursions.
hollandamerica@em.hollandamerica.com
This is a good site to browse. We suspect we got this solicitation because we
did on-line check in. To supplement this information, we are attaching Notes
written by friends of the Lionetti's about some of the same ports they visited
seven years ago. Also, have attached handouts on Ports of Call from Holland
America from this 2010 Cruise.
If you haven't already done so, Update # 2 covers how to do On-Line Check-In.
Should be completed at least 30 days before embarkation to avoid delays getting
on board at the port.
At each evening's dinner we are all booked in the Main Dining Room on adjacent
tables of 8-10 so we can talk about the next day's events.
Don't hesitate to email or to call Jim, Linda, Don or Bobbi should you have any
questions.
Very best wishes to all,
Jim Connolly and Don Lionetti
jconnolly61@sbcglobal.net (772-492-9787)
dmlionetti@aol.com (813-281-2133)
With just over three months until we embark aboard MS Zuiderdam on Saturday, September 30, 2017 in NYC we assume that everyone has
firmed up their plans to get to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal at 711 12th Avenue
(at W 55th Street), NYC. The Connolly's and Lionetti's are flying to
Newark (Liberty) Airport (EWR) and will cab or Uber to the port. Alternatively,
you may wish to buy airport transfers from Bob Durnan for $109 per
person (Airport to ship in NYC for $75 pp, and from ship to airport in Quebec is
for $34 pp.) By using a cab or Uber in NYC we will avoid the $75 per person,
and are considering the same in Quebec to avoid the other $34 per person.
Zuiderdam should be ready for boarding starting at
11:30 AM. If you are using transfers from NYC airports, those motor coach
operations begin at 11:00 AM. Holland America says these busses will be
departing every 30 minutes or so.
The Lionetti's and Connolly's have booked their
October 10 flights home from Quebec City.
If you haven't already done so, on-line check-in is
available. Start with your Cruise Vacation Outlet Cruise Deposit Confirmation
that you received from Bob Durnan. Note the Cruiseline Reservation Number (high
on first page in Cruise Package Details) highlighted in green. You will use
only the six letters/numbers after the dash. Then, a few pages down in the
Cruise Deposit Confirmation, click on the blue "Holland America" button in the
On-line Check-in Matrix. This takes you to a Check-in and Luggage Tags page.
Then, just make entries required and follow the prompts. At the very end you
will be able to print luggage tags. Even if you don't have all required
information, the software saves all your entries for when you return.
Our next update will contain info and recommendations
on excursions you may wish to book for our ports of call. At evening's dinner
we are booked in the Main Dining Room on adjacent tables of 8-10 so we can talk
about the next day's events.
Don't hesitate to call Jim, Linda, Don or Bobbi
should you have any questions.
Very best wishes to all,
Jim Connolly and Don Lionetti
jconnolly61@sbcglobal.net
(772-492-9787)
dmlionetti@aol.com
(813-281-2133)
NOTES AND DETAILS The 2017 Colors of Canada
Cruise for the West Point Class of 1961
Purpose.
This summary augments our Flyer,
“Come Cruise With Us on the MS Zuiderdam,” briefed and distributed during the
Business Meeting at our 55th Reunion. The Flyer and these Notes and
Details were thereafter emailed to our class roster.
Overview.
USMA ’61 has successfully sponsored
past cruises…..the Caribbean and Alaska with Celebrity Lines attracting 96 and
104 participants respectively; and a Viking River Cruise on the Danube for which
we “bought the boat” and sailed at virtually 144 capacity. In addition there
have been other informal ’61 river cruises. This proposal again puts us on a
medium sized, deep-water ship but, this time, sailing from NYC through Boston
and Bar Harbor, then into ports of call in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and
Saguenay, before arriving at beautiful Quebec City. We arrive there at 8 AM,
have the whole day and evening in the historic city if desired, and return to
the ship for the night before departing the next morning for home. The entire
voyage should expose us to magnificent fall foliage.
Prices.
We were motivated to find an
excellent cruise at good value. Holland America Line (HAL) offers the itinerary
shown on the flyer, in a range of prices ($235pp in cruise, port taxes and
government fees are included). You should explore the HAL website at
www.hollandamerica.com to view staterooms in the categories priced. Single
occupancy prices are very high and will be provided on request. But, best option
could be to find a partner and leverage double occupancy prices.
Reserve
Your Stateroom. Call Bob Durnan at
the numbers on the Flyer. He will personally handle our reservations and
cabin selections. He typically works 6:30 AM – 1:30 PM Sundays through
Thursdays. Go to this web site Click here: Holland America Deck Plans to help
you discuss a cabin selection with Bob. A deposit of $600pp is required. It is
completely refundable should you have to cancel before final payment due date.
Please book by 30 June 2016 to guarantee prices quoted and to get your preferred
stateroom. We will email a roster of attendees and will update it periodically.
Meals.
All will be assigned a table for
(first seating) evening meal, and our West Point tables will be all together,
each of us will be free to sit at any of our Class of ‘61 tables. You will be
finished in time to make the 8:00 PM stage show. Dress is casual except for
three dress-up nights where coat and tie are suggested. No tux required any
longer. Breakfast and lunch meals are at times and venues of your choice. Again,
see the HAL web site.
Rebates.
Once we make our final payments, any
discounts based on the number who commit will be prorated equally among all
participants as stateroom credits.
Other
Expenses to Anticipate. After final
payment on July 1, 2017 you will be able to reserve desired Excursions on the
Holland America web site. You will be able to get boarding passes on line and
register your credit card (for shipboard expenses) and provide passport data.
Passports must be current, and be at least six months from expiring as of our
last cruise day. Finally, at cruise end, gratuities will be collected, typically
from your shipboard account with your approval.
Insurance.
You may wish to purchase an insurance
policy to refund payments made if illness precludes travel, and to cover any
medical expenses should you fall ill while cruising. Jim and Don will
investigate offerings at www.usaa.com and through www.travelexinsurance.com, a
company Bob Durnan recommends, and at www.insuremytrip.com. Details will be
provided by email to all considering participating in this “61 event .
Transfers.
NYC airport to Ship, and Ship to
Quebec airport can be provided by HAL for $109 pp. If you plan to drive to the
NYC departure pier you can save $75pp of the Transfer fee, but parking nearby
can cost $30 per day. Best option, if you are close, is to be dropped off.
Questions.
Welcome any time. Call or write:
Don and Bobbi Li Jim and Linda Connolly
813-281-2133 or
772-492-9787 or 813-404-9467(Cell)
812-606-8586(Cell)
dmlionetti@aol.com
jconnolly61@sbcglobal.net
TRAVEL INSURANCE
This
Information Paper supplements the Flyer (with Notes and
Details printed on reverse) briefed at our 55th Reunion in
May, and distributed the following day to all classmates by email.
As
promised, we are providing here details on insurance options for
consideration by those planning to participate in the cruise.
You
may wish to consider purchasing travel insurance to cover your costs for the
trip should you have to cancel for medical or other reasons after final payment
is made. Remember, you may cancel for any reason up until final payment and get
your full deposit returned. Also, should you fall ill (or be injured) during
the cruise, travel insurance can cover medical costs, and can even reimburse for
“Emergency Medical Evacuation or Repatriation.”
USAA. Appears the most price-competitive travel
insurance. For those who are members, go to
www.USAA.com,
sign in and, using the pull down menu for PRODUCTS, select INSURANCE, then
ADDITIONAL INSURANCE, then TRAVEL. Doing this will take you to the TRAVEL
INSURED INTERNATIONAL web site where you can get a quote by entering your State,
Trip Dates, Destination, ages of travelers and the cost of the trip. The cost
you enter can include contract amount with Cruise Vacation Outlet/Holland
America, air fare and/or driving expenses. You will then see the price for each
of three levels of coverage (Plus, Basic and Lite) and exactly what is covered.
If
you were previously a USAA member or previously eligible, you may be able to
rejoin.
If
you purchase within 30 days of booking the cruise/making the initial trip
deposit, pre-existing medical conditions are automatically covered. If not, a
60 day look back period from the date of insurance purchase applies.
TRAVELEX.
This is the company that Bob Durnan recommends. To do comparison shopping, get
details on line at
www.TRAVELEXINSURANCE.COM.
Entering almost identical information, you can get a quote for their three
levels of coverage, and details on what is covered. Similar to the above, you
can get their pre-existing condition waiver by purchasing a plan within 21 days
of initial trip deposit.
INSURE MY TRIP.
This web site (an information resource) at,
www.InsureMyTrip.com
lists many companies providing trip insurance and, with submission of trip
dates, cost of trip, etc., provides prices and coverages, an excellent basis for
comparison. They don’t sell trip insurance per se, but do list each
company web site should you wish to purchase.
Questions welcome. Call or write:
Don and Bobbi Lionetti
or Jim and Linda Connolly
813-281-2133 or
772-492-9787 or 813-404-9467(Cell)
812-606-8586(Cell)
dmlionetti@aol.com
jconnolly61@sbcglobal.net
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