daisy-mae

1 hour ago, Fouremco said:

Assuming that your ship entered these waters, even though you never tendered to HMC, you are considered to have visited the Bahamas.

 

NEXUS doesn't have its own definition of what constitutes a "visit", but when in doubt, I'd always recommend including a country. It certainly won't hurt your application, and avoids any possible need to justify why you failed to include a country.
 

@Fouremco - thanks for confirming my assumption. As it turns out, the point is moot since I had already listed the Bahamas because of an earlier cruise (just found out when finalizing the application).

One more query - the following wording gave me pause:

" Do not include countries you spent less than 24 hours in for a stopover to continue to your destination."

I assume this would apply to air travel. However, I can't help but wonder if each port of call could be considered a stopover or does a cruise consist of multiple destinations? (Just passing time on a rainy day...)

8 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

It would be the same thing as flying over a country, you are in its airspace 

would you count that 🤔

I wouldn’t 

Except that you are not hovering in the air over the country.

If a stop at the Cay was scheduled, and a manifest was registered (even if the island technically belongs to the cruise line) then the intention was to drop anchor (which is what was done) and arrive on land by tender.

Thanks for all the answers. One more wrinkle - the ship did not call at Half Moon Cay because of high winds. However, we were within the 12 mile limit for the Bahamas where we stopped for part of the morning while the captain weighed our options. Did we, technically, visit the Bahamas?

I think I know the answer, but will ask anyway, in case someone has some insight.

We are about to apply for our Nexus card renewal and must list all of the countries we have visited in the past 5 years. On a recent cruise we did not disembark in Jamaica. However, since the cruise manifest must list the names of all passengers as well as their passport information, are we deemed to have entered the country? And would CBSA have a record of our visit? We want to be as accurate as possible to avoid jeopardizing our renewal.

I guess it depends on the type of group. The cruise mentioned in this. article could have been a hoot.

500 Newfoundlanders wound up on the same cruise. They had a time. (msn.com)

1 hour ago, highscar said:

I bought 6 packs of tonic at several bars.  Just make sure they don’t give you diet by mistake.   It was about $20.00 per pack.   they were the small cans. Ridiculous.  

If you wait until happy hour you can purchase cans of soda for half the regular price. The same applies to beer. 

2 hours ago, Navybikermom said:

When I was on the Prinsendam, one of the entertainers (Melissa Manchester) had a small dog with her. It did not have a vest on. I didn’t see it in the dining room, but did see it in other parts of the ship. I wonder if entertainers have a different rule set? 🤔

We were on a Celebrity ship with a magician whose performance included two identical dogs (make one disappear then the other reappears). He explained that the jig was up when passengers saw him walking both dogs at the same time. I don't think he took them into the dining room.

16 hours ago, Shippy said:

I think my original point has been lost.

I was trying to stress how wonderful the offers have become....

Just wondering how you access your offers? I used to receive offers in the mail with a list of eligible cruises. Now all I get are emails that mention offers but direct us to the HA website, where no such list appears. Is there some way to see a list without doing a mock booking?

30 minutes ago, Shalandara said:

 Yes, I signed a slip if paper charging me the corkage fee.  But, the fee never showed up on my statement...
 

If you check your statement again you might find the corkage fee displayed as a bar charge (I think ours was the Billboard) on day one or two. I did not get a sticker on my bottle and kept it in our stateroom for pre/post dinner sipping.

13 hours ago, oakridger said:

Thank you @RuthC, @3rdGenCunarder and @TiogaCruiser!  I think you have talked me out of a Lanai Cabin.  It may depend on how full my bank account is at the time of booking though!   I don't have anything pending on Volendam at the moment so any decision can wait.

 

~Nancy

A good second choice might be an ocean view cabin on the promenade deck. While you would not have direct access to the deck, there are enough openings to provide an exit to the outdoors. Although you would not have your own chair, I suspect (although I can't say for sure) that you should be able to secure a spot for at least part of the day. We sailed in a promenade ocean view cabin on the Maasdam, and I had no qualms about slipping out onto the deck in my pj'sand robe for a breath of fresh air before turning in for the night.

10 minutes ago, Cat J said:

You must have been on the same cruise as me 🙂  Was this in Feb.?  I thought the guy said he was a 5 star but maybe I mis-heard him - 

Yup - same cruise. He may have said 5 star (I lose track after 4). I agree - the captain was very tactful.

49 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

50 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

 

I can’t say I have noticed that anyone is quoting mariner status to be lofty...  I think, where warranted, quoting status can be helpful to clarify a point.

 

 

 

During the Q & A at the captain's talk on the Niew Statendam recently, a passenger prefaced his rant by quoting his 4* status, then went on to complain about an issue relating to guest services. The captain very diplomatically responded that he would meet with him later to try to sort things out. Shortly thereafter another guest started his comment by stating that was NOT a 4* and was met with applause. I think that demonstrates the general sentiment as it relates to status boasting.

29 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

A friend was 2 star and got in one time and not the next. 

That would be a great opportunity for a manager or the maître d to show a little flexibility, rather than embarrass a passenger. A little kindness can go a long way in cementing loyalty.

47 minutes ago, FrankieSue said:

  The Lido buffet is served indoors, not outdoors.  

So I guess that you have never grabbed a tray and ventured out back?

I'm going to insert a discordant note. As infrequent cruisers (compared to many regulars here) part of the excitement on embarkation is seeing our stateroom and exploring our new surroundings. And after escaping the winter cold, we delight in dining "al fresco" on the pool deck.

The last thing that we feel like doing is sitting in a dining room when the outdoors beckon.

Could it be that there are other like-minded folks who have collectively contributed to the lower attendance?

6 hours ago, lx200gps said:

We just renewed my wife's card and the full refund to the charge was automatically credited back to her credit card within two days.

Just curious - why the refund? Is renewal free of charge?

44 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Wonder if  you can buy a glass of wine at the Happy Hour 4 to 5 PM & bring it into the dining room  for easrly dinner 

I've done that on two cruises with no issues. 

10 minutes ago, Real NHDOC said:

They leave room service menus in the cabin but no pen to fill them out with?

 

 

How difficult would it be to simply pack some writing materials along with all of the other assorted paraphernalia in preparation for a cruise? It's not like a pen takes up valuable luggage space...

Even though we have cruised Celebrity in the past, we would not even consider trying their newer ships due to the lack of true balcony cabins.

6 hours ago, kazu said:

 

It they have the table in place and want to charge - there is no escape.  the X-Ray machine tells them all and if in doubt, they check.

 

 

There was a young man at the table near the scanner when the operator mentioned that I had a  bottle. He didn't seem to be paying attention and appeared to be surprised when I approached him to pay. I likely could have just kept walking (but rules are rules...)

I was charged $20 for a bottle of wine in my carry-on two weeks ago at Port Everglades. 

2 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

 

 

I am a slow walker, due to knee replacement.  I keep to the right always.  What I find frustrating is people coming up  behind me and not saying something like "coming up behind you"....etc.  

 

 

A s cyclists, when approaching someone walking (or cycling) in the same direction we call out "passing on your left" (or right, if the person is on the "wrong" side.

9 hours ago, Btimmer said:

We bought several of these on a past cruise and they were mailed direct to our home so we didn't need to pack them home.

Did the cruise line arrange for shipping? Where would one find that option?

We disembarked on Sunday - our survey arrived a few minutes ago.

On 1/29/2024 at 9:38 PM, Ready2go11 said:

When the flowers were delivered to my room the next day, they brought the box for the vase (they even put a sticky note on the box to tell me what it was for), so I was able to take it home. In the box it easily fit in my suitcase nestled in with clothing and there was no issue with getting it home safely with no breakage. 

Thanks for the tip, Ready2go11. After reading this thread I was eager to order myself some "cruise" flowers for the first time. The arrangement was beautiful, and I knew enough to ask the florist for a box in order to take my Delft vase home. It's a lovely souvenir.