kerryincork

Another rule you should instigate :

No climbing on balcony furniture

Not allowed on the balcony without an adult present

The only people who fall of balconies are people who are trying to fall off balconies.

We also prepay as I like to pay as much up front as possible. We then tip extra for exceptional service.

I don't think you have a cabin boy. But you can tip your cabin steward whatever you want. I think your tips are included with the fare but we usually tip and extra $40.

Yes

They usually have 2 exits. One for excursions and one for everyone else.
For everyone else you will be told where to collect a numbered ticket. They then call out the numbers for the tenders.

There will also be those who have priority, these guests are generally brought to the front of the queue to board the tender.

This is all explained in the newsletter you received in your cabin the previous night.

Lots of airport hotels offer free shuttle from airport and to the port in the morning. You could get 6/7 hours sleep 😊

They don't care. This happened to me one time and my cruise buddy lived in a different country.

I too am going on the New Years cruise so I hope they repair the ship soon.

I have never found it a problem

A volcano exploded a very rare occurrence. You are much more likely to be killed in traffic accidents while on a tour. But people don't consider this to be a risk.

I don't understand stand this at all. When ever I cruise we each have our own account. I always use a credit card for my account and my travel companions either uses their own cc or a cash account.

We've never had a problem of Cross charging.

We are all under a single booking which I manage. I put in my cc details and check 'do not link account'.

I don't think it is reasonable for RC to assume everyone on the booking is going to use a single CC when the other guest. After all the mother is not a dependent of the son.

The son should definitely speak to the mom about spending /charging.

It's because a high percentage of the population were not vaccinated. It is very sad, thousands of people have had the measles and at least 60 people have died over 50 were children under 4.

Last i heard the government instituted an emergency vaccination plan & 89% of the population are now vaccinated. It takes 95% take up for heard protection. So hopefully they will have it under control shortly.

22 days to go. Very excited 😊🎉🍸🍸🍸

Sorry I forgot to mention that you should have gotten your port fees, taxes and any excursions etc. You paid returned to you.

I have read here what happens is that you visit nurse/medical officer who makes the decision. But if you answered truthfully on the health form you might have only had one yes (if you had a temp). The second part of the health form about vomiting and diareah you would answer truthfully no.

I have allergies that can make me cough/wheeze/sneeze etc. I was worried about being stopped but I asked and they said that's not they were looking for.

I am not sure if they give you a denied boarding letter or something as I think you can claim on your insurance.

What ever you do don't give them your debit card details. You can use this at the end of the cruise to pay off your account.

As people have said if you pay in (which is OK) you just have to close your account on the last night. All you have to do is keep an eye on the queues and jump in when it is less busy. This will probably be around dinner time or when a show is on. It's not the end of world if you have to queue for an hour.

On MSC you set up your payment method on Board so no one in the port will be asking for credit card details. If anyone asks just tell them you are going to service desk to pay with cash.

You can nominate cash as your method of payment. But if you change your mind they don't let you switch to credit card method. You have to queue at end of cruise to settle account.

If you are positive you won't spend anything why don't you link your credit card? That way if you decide to buy an ice-cream you won't need to stand in line for an hour to pay your account?

it's safe if you use a credit card (not a debit card)

what fears do you have that you don't want to use cash /credit card?

You only need a photo ID ie drivers license, you don't have to bring your passport. But what i do is use a water proof pouch that goes around the waste.

I always test it before use.

if used for a phone I double bag it in a zip lock bag.

There are two air ports that are classed as Barcelona Airport. One is about 25 min away. The other is about 1hr 30min. Just check you know which one you are flying to 😊

I often bring my pillow, just to hotels though. I haven't brought it on a cruise though because I am afraid I will loose it.

If you are worried about being left by the ship, may be invest in travel insurance instead with coverage that includes expediting travel docs? Though you would have to read the small print, as you would probably have to prove that you weren't being reckless and missed the ship.

My travel insurance includes cover for luggage, missing the ship, repatriation, emergency money and expenses for emergency travel documents. I will have to read it again soon, but I think it covers missing flights as well.

I missed my cruise a couple of years ago due to weather delays and they paid out for my hotels, air line covered my flights and I caught up with the ship. 🛳️😊

I wouldn't know how you would anchor it, unless you have a stand for it.

Also you would have to bring in to your cabin when not in Use. You are not allowed to leave anything on the balcony unattended.

I generally book between 12 to 6 months out. You are coming in to the summer. It's more about choice of accommodation opposed to the price. So if your budget is $100 per night per room you will have a lot more choice the further you book out.

You want to stay in very popular location which are not really impacted by seaso. The prices generally do not get cheaper, just less choices.

though I would say mid-week prices would be cheaper than weekend prices. So if your route is not set in stone I would compare weekend prices of each location and start planning your stay with this in mind.

If you have connecting flights through USA then you do need it.

2 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

I am in a profession that when strangers hear, want to share or "pick my brain".  So, no, I don't share.  

I perfectly understand. When I was in my 20's, I always got asked 'where I came from really?' because they never believed my actual answer. I came up with alsorts of nonsense answers. But now many years later I still get asked the same question but it doesn't bother me anymore.

And about work, I don't tell people who I work for, though I happily tell them what I do. They quickly get a glazed look in the eye and move on.

What annoys me about the comments on here are the 'nosey parkers who can't take a hint', are very negative, and in the real world as they are described here very rare. I take an interest in people. I would consider myself an excellent conversationalist, easily able to note when I have wondered in sensistive territory and able to steer back in to safer waters.

I don't sit a dinner table with bright light shinning it peoples eyes demanding they tell me all. Its meant to be a light conversation that passes the dinner hour by..

.

2 minutes ago, frantic36 said:

 

 

 

So in order not to offend you when you ask questions about work on first meeting we have to just answer rather than make a joke about forgetting about work and change the subject. Got it.

I didn't say you had to answer or anyone else. I might not even ask, there might be a more interesting conversation taking place.

I do think asking what people do comes up naturally when you're having a conversation with someone for over an hour, which is about how long a meal would last for.

I do wonder at the people you're talking to when you seem to interpret a simple question of 'So what do you do back home? As some kind of attack or a deep dive in to your personal life. When a simple "oh I like to garden" or "I am truck driver" or "I am a librarian' would be a suitable reply to a casual conversation.

It might start a conversation about gardening. Or I might say oh my dad drove for a living too what type of truck do you drive. Or 'who's your favourite Author? Do you really think those questions are too personal to answer?

You could even make something up or even say "actually I don't like talking about work. What are you going to do after dinner?"