I had won a cruise lottery certificate on a previous cruise and used it towards a credit on the repsitioning from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale on the Eurodam. I came very close to cancelling this cruise. The Hal Cert Depaertment was very frustrating to deal with. I originally booked an HH guarantee hoping to upsell to a Balcony but the prices were way too steep. About six weeks before sailing the balcony prices dropped to $100.00 below what I had paid for an Ocean View Guarantee and I inquired about an upgrade to a VH Guarantee since the price had droppped. The Ocean View Cabins dropped to the cash value I paid so my certificate was worth nothing and I was subject to claim $800.00 on income tax. If you are on HAL ship and buy the Win a cruise lottery ticket it is subject to income tax and it is more aggravation using it than it is worth. The Win a cruise Bingo is not subject to Income tax because you can win up the $1200.00 in Bingo and not be subject to income tax.
About 14 days out I was assigned an H Cabin. 5 days before sailing I was offered an upsell from an H to a VB cabin for $199.00 per person so I took it. I was still paying more than what was fair but this was a sanity upsell.
We took a red eye on Air Canada leaving the West Coast on Saturday Night that connected through Toronto unto Quebec City. I would have like to have taken the Friday night Red Eye but due to the Canadian Thanksgiving the price of the ticket was twice as much leaving Thursday or Friday Night.