mom says

Your title appears to be misleading/confusing. It would seem that your complaint is not about taxis at all; since you noted that taxis were available and were allowed quite a long wait time in the port. It seems your complaint was about prebooked car services. And not in all ports, but only with the port of Barcelona. And even then, it seems to have been an unforseen incident. At least I've not seen previous reports that a delay in disembarkation there is a common occurrence. Stuff happens, but I don't think that warrants a warning against using car services at every port.

NO!!!!! As the PP pointed out, an adaptor only allows you to connect your US device to a European electrical outlet. It does not alter the voltage. To change the voltage from the 220-240 supply to the 110 capacity of a device, you need a CONVERTER. If you plug a 110 device into a 220 outlet you will fry your device and quite possibly cause damage to the outlet and wiring. Your electronic devices should be dual voltage, so they are safe to use abroad. Leave any single voltage 110 devices such as hair dryers or curling irons at home. Any drugstore will sell dual voltage travel appliances that you can bring with you.

You're not wrong.

So, a single occurrence where the problem cleared up within an hour, bottled water was provided when you asked for it, you were offered OBC, you now know what likely caused the issue, and you are still stewing about it?

I think having a packing list that is regularly updated is a very good thing. We've done that for many, many years. The trick is not getting blasé about it. Check off each item ONLY as you put it into the bag. DH managed to leave BOTH of his swim trunks sitting on the bedroom chair on our last trip. So time and too much money spent buying a pair once the omission was discovered. Make a list and check it twice.

Depends. If we are just doing a warm weather getaway during the winter (in lieu of an AI resort), then I don't care. If we are in the Caribbean I'm likely to just stay on board anyway. But if we've picked the cruise because if an interesting itinerary, then the more ports the better. I can rest up when I get home.

For most cruisers, I'd agree. But have you seen some of the people on cruise ships? Some still can't find their way around the ship on their own after a week. So, yes, there definitely are people who unfortunately need to have someone with them at all times. Or have a tracker on their person.

It is my understanding, from previous articles and threads, that of course there have to be certain people in the hotel who can access the safe. The safe can malfunction. Codes can be forgotten. Guests may have an issue requiring assistance for various reasons. BUT only a very restricted number of people have this access; usually management or security. The likelihood of theft from a locked hotel safe is small. Less likely than being pickpocketed or robbed, or simply losing something while out and about. The alternative would be packing everything, ALL THE TIME in a moneybelt under your clothes. In over 40 years of international travel, I've never had anything stolen from a hotel (or ship) safe, nor has anyone I know.

BTDT, got the t shirt. We had free time in a Mumbai market and we all managed to get back to the pre arranged meet up point at the appointed time, so I'm not sure why you think that would be difficult. Maybe for the directionally challenged?

If you are afraid to take a taxi, how do you plan on getting around Rome to sightsee? Do you understand enough Italian to use their bus and subway system? Or do you think you can walk everywhere in Rome?? I highly suggest you get a good guidebook for Rome (or for Italy if your cruise will visit some other Italian ports). I can recommend the Rick Steves guidebook. In it, there are good sections on how to use all the local modes of transportation, including taxis. For starters, print out the name and address of your hotel on a card or piece of paper and give it to the driver. How simple is that? As for hotel cost, give us an actual price range. My definition of moderate may be very different from yours.

Just stay with the group and don't wander off. If you are given free time by the excursion guide, you'll be given a meet up place and time. Go there.

If you want a fairly comprehensive list of hotels in a city, then using a 3rd party site is a good place to start. I use booking.com, because they only allow reviews from people who have stayed there using their bookings. It also allows you to use the various filters (options) to narrow down the number choices. Plus it has a map that you can click on to see all the hotels in a specific area. Once you have picked a hotel, you can either book through them OR just go to that hotel's website and book directly through them.

Click on the link. It will take you to the Italian ports forum (section of the Cruise Critic website). Right under where it says Italy Ports there is a blue box with Start a new topic. Click on that, give it a title, then ask your question.

RCI springs to mind for the activities your Grandsons would enjoy; but I'm not sure the size of the ship and the large passenger number would be a good fit for you. A compromise would be Celebrity. It doesn't have the amusement park things of RCI, but does have an active youth club. Plus, Alaska cruises are so busy they won't have a lot of free time on their hands anyway. It may be a bit of a step down from your usual choice of lines, but I'm afraid those lines would bore the daylights out of kids (or adults who want a more active on board experience).

Depending on the size of the ecv, it may not even fit through the door. Have you checked the availability of an accessible cabin? An ecv would fit in one of those. I'm surprised to hear that the ship would permit ecvs being left in the hallway, as it would present a big obstacle for both passengers and crew, and a safety issue. You might want to ask this on the disabled criuise forum: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/114-disabled-cruise-travel/

We tip taxis and porters like LHT28 does. For shuttle drivers, a couple of dollars. We always get US $ before leaving home, and make sure to have plenty of small denomination bills for tips and small purchases (for Caribbean cruises).

Specialty dining

In one of the articles I read, the funeral director who arrived to pick up the body stated that beverage cartons were stacked outside the cooler, IIRC. In any event, the beverages are all in containers, and wouldn't be in direct contact with the body, which was inside a body bag; so it's not as if there would be a contamination issue.

People dressed up for dinner. And the Senior Medical Officer seemed to hit on every pretty woman in sight.

Pretty sure that's SOP on all lines.Just how long to you think they should hold on before releasing them for sale? It's way past final payment.

You do know that show, which has been off the air for 37 years, was fiction, right?

I hope you realize just how massive such a spreadsheet would have to be, since inclusions or prices vary greatly according to type of fare, class of cabin, class of ship, and itinerary; not just cruiseline. It's not a one size fits all even for Flatbush Flyer's touting of his beloved one and only O. I've never seen such a chart.

We were on the Crown right after she came out of dry dock. I saw no evidence of any recent refurbishment.

Yes, you can buy a carton of cigarettes in the ship's duty free store. It will open once the ship reaches international water. You can use OBC for any on board purchase.

It appears the mods have had a busy time deleting offensive posts. Can we kindly remember that we are speaking of a deceased person who was someone's beloved family member, and refrain from inappropriate and disrespectful comments?