Thread: Nonrev Correspondent - Phoenix

I have taken cruises on RCCL, Princess and Holland America and found that all of them have the possibility of upgrading to a nicer room. The last time I travelled on RCCL, they didn't upgrade me but I had a room for 4 and there aren't many of them on the ship. I know when I have been upgraded it was done upon arrival at the dock because I did not get assigned a specific room in advance. Last time (on Holland America) I booked an inside cabin (the cheapest one available) and was upgraded to an outside one with a big window and a real bathtub instead of just a shower. We were very excited when we opened the door.

I will say that the food on RCCL was not nearly as good as the other two cruise lines I've been on. While still pretty good it didn't touch the elegance of Holland America or the variety of Princess and they would not be my first choice in the future.

Have you checked your pass bureau? Some of the helicopter tours have interline agreements. They leave from grand canyon airport (north of flagstaff) and can be a great deal. Otherwise it is a pretty expensive way to sight see. Tours of Flagstaff? Totally unnecessary. IT is a pretty small town and, if you stay there, be aware that the train runs right through town and there are no hotels where you won't hear it. If you are staying inside the park, try to get a reservation at the Bright Angel Lodge. There are no interline rates but it is right on the edge of the canyon. Very rustic.

The fall is a great time to see the canyon because most of the tourists come during the summer. The leaves change and it gets cool up there.

If I can help you further, let me know.

m0loch,
I don't know if this is of use to you but Scenic Airlines offer staff standby rates on their tours from Las Vegas ( I paid USD 60 a couple of years ago ). You get a flight from the North Vegas airport to Flagstaff ( over the western end of the Canyon, but not into it ), lunch on arrival in Flagstaff and then a Coach trip to the Grand Canyon with about 4 hours there to investigate. On the day I went we had about an hour delay on the flights which meant flying back to Vegas at dusk which gave great views of the strip from the air.
Contact Scenic at info@scenic.com to get current rates.

Whoops .. confused myself there .. the flight is of course to Grand Canyon Airport and the lunch is had there...

Sunrise at Logan
Donna I'm planning a trip to Maine. Unfortunately the best flights leave me with a 5 hour layover at BOS, and since I can't sleep in airport chairs, wondering if you (or anyone)
has any suggestions on what to do in Boston at 6AM, I'm assuming the bars are closed.

Keep'em flying

Edited post--excellent speller, poor typist

When I lived in NYC we would do day trips to Boston. They consisted in taking the train from the airport to downtown. Touring the State house and Faneuil Hall and other history sites. Then we would have seafood for lunch. Then we would take the train back to the airport, all in about 5 or 6 hours. Just walking in Boston is a historical treat.

Coyne thanks for your reply. It suddenly dawns on me that asking a question about Boston in the "Phoenix thread", wasn't one of my wisest moves.

Then all of a sudden it hit me:
I should have hung that ceiling fan higher.

Keep'em flying

Sorry that I didn't answer sooner. Been a little crazy around here I don't have a clue what one might do in Boston at that hour of the morning. None of the usual tourist haunts would be open. I guess you could go downtown and just walk around, maybe go to Cambridge and walk around Harvard Yard (which would be open), maybe get some breakfast down by the water or over at Fanueil Hall. Not much to do that early. Sorry.