hcij2015

I disagree. It is not my experience that few verandahs have guests on them for sail aways. Sure sometimes more than others but the impression you are giving is there are 'few' guests using their verandah.

 

 

 

I agree. On my cruise there were people on most of the

balconies. We were chatting to one another on sailaway.

I watched the sailaways for a very long time before I joined

Cruise Critic (the sailaways was the reason I joined) and it

seems to me there were lots of people on balconies on all the

ships, and the camera zoomed in on many of them.

Not in most non-US ports. In most non-US ports, turn-around day looks like any other port day as far as the in-transit passengers are concerned.

 

Thank you Ruth.

So to make sure I have this right - that means

you can stay in your cabin or go ashore, without having

to check in to whatever location they assign for in transit people?

You get an in transit card, right?

There are always questions about turnaround day at Port Everglades, when your first 7 day segment ends and your second week is about to begin. I know we had questions, and if you're doing a back to back or Collector's Cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, this might help.

 

A few days before your sailing ends, you should receive an envelope that contains your in-transit passes as well as written instructions about what to do on the day you return to Port Everglades.

 

Our dear friend, Poohby Joe (who guards our wine when we're out and about) is shown here, holding our in-transit cards.*

 

 

*I know someone's going to ask the question, so here's the answer. Poohby's in-transit card is very small and it's in his pocket. He has to report to a different room for immigration purposes. Huskerchick and I are American citizens, while Poohby Joe is a citizen of the Hundred Acre Wood. As such, he holds a UK passport.

 

Speaking of locations for immigration -- Here's a link to a scan of the procedure. We're staying on the ship, so we don't have to get off. This is a but different than I've seen reported here before. Bear in mind that the process could change as it is subject to modification by the US authorities.

 

http://www.evernote.com/l/AFg14MS4uZ1MV5tgQME559W2U8j8rlE35YE/

 

This is great information, thank you 4 posting it.

I also see clarification of the fuel bunkering policy and

smoking on outside decks - I only mention it because I recall a heated exchange on here a while ago about smoking areas during bunkering. Your

notice said no smoking outside during the entire stay in FLL, which

I am guessing is a whole day?

I wonder why some passengers at other times had to go through immigration and customs when they were only going back on the ship.

Is it the same system in all ports when you are doing a back to back?

Or just FLL. Thanx.

Absolutely true, perhaps more so for our son. He is continuing to speak to anyone that will stop and listen about the school visit and comparing that to the huge yachts he saw in Cabo.

 

DH and I will only take them out of school for a vacation if they will learn something and they will be more open in their thinking.

 

I cannot think of a finer education 4 young minds

than travel. Their experiences will last their lifetime.

Its exactly that it's posted here. Hal gives out the incorrect information

 

Oh no! I just took a look at the H A L Dress thread, there are

2 posts saying totally different things. See what I mean?

I followed something similar to the advice in the first one.

It was fine.

I bet you know a lot more than you are letting on:D.

 

Thanks for the compliment, but I really wish I

did know more.:)

I'm learning, but I found things on board HAL ships are not

really as posted here, especially the dress code;).

Perhaps that is because the specific line "cheerleaders" do not try to spin positive posts, but they will seldom accept anything negative about their beloved line. And this is an issue on each cruise line board.

 

If I post on the HAL board and complain that the A/C in our cabin did not function properly (it was always hot) there will be quite a few "cheerleaders" that will say something like, "our cabins have always been fine." Of course this is truly irrelevant to the person that had bad or no A/C...but they post it anyway. If somebody complains that they were always served luck warm food, others will say that they always had hot food. Again, not relevant to the person that had the too cool food. And it goes on and on

 

Hank

 

You have some very good points. But, on the other side

of the coin - I am definitely not a cheerleader, I don't know

enough to be one - but it is good to know that not all cabins

have the same problems. I wish those posters would let us know

the cabin numbers so we can know which to avoid. I do know that I

had a very good cruise on one of the ships that someone else found

terrible, though, and I liked the food, where they did not.

I came into the thread just to find our what

HOA is.:o Fortunately managed to figure it out

in the first post. Good info followed.

[quote name='Crew News']Congratulations on your aft-wrap staterooms. They are highly prized for their huge balconies with great photo opportunities, hot breakfasts with Room Service is just a short elevator ride away, and short elevator rides to both the MDR and Lido Restaurants.

We will be on the Eurodam in November so looking forward to your opinions.[/quote]

I am going to disagree with you based on my experience.
We switched from a side Neptune to an aft wrap one on our
trip to Alaska, and I wished after we had kept the side one.
I thought the whole balcony thing was over-rated, and it would
have been nice to be closer to the Lounge where the concierge is.
It was OK 4 going to dinner, but a very long walk to entertaiment.
I would not book one again, but if it was offered at reduced price I
might take it. So aft wrap is not good 4 everyone.

My grandson who had sailed on HAL twice, the last cruise 12 years ago, received an email from HAL today concerning "Special Fares" for Europe. Listed in the Special was the 35 day Voyage of the Viking; inside cabins reduced to $4,999 !

 

We are Five (5) Star Mariners and did not receive the email. Then I went to HAL's website and under "Special", the VOV was listed but for $6,999 for an inside cabin. I then selected "Details" and there it was; current Fare $7,799, special fare $4,999; over 30% reduction in price.

 

This is why we either wait to the last minute to book a HAL cruise or sail other cruise lines.

 

Oh dear. I got that email today.:o

Canadian here.

Oh, and another one called Private Fares for Alaska.

Congratulations but don't complain it took 20 cruises. :D :D Yours aren't even all HAL.

 

I've been on more than 80 HAL cruises and had 2 offers through all those cruises. ;)

 

 

You have said many times you only cruise in Neptune Suites.

I imagine it would be less likely to get an upsell from there.

Captain Mercer usually winds up his blog at the end of each World Cruise

but this year it ended very abruptly on April 23rd in the Azores.

I agree with the poster who noted that the captain must have the patience of a saint, as anyone who follows the WC blogs would figure.

Wonderful photos.

Thanx so much for sharing.

:cool: Well, bless your heart..... :)

 

When a young man/woman decides to go for a career at sea and they choose a cruise ship life, they elect all that involves. It is business entertaining in most cases but not all. ;) If it is such drudgery why do that continue to invite us again?

 

 

Wow. I have read enough on this website to

know that your "bless your heart" is your way of

trying to insult me. I am surprised at you.

 

You validated my point about officers hosting a table - it is work, not pleasure.

We often have been seated at a table hosted by a Senior Officer for Mariners Brunch. I always enjoy and appreciate that. :)

 

 

I wonder if the Senior Officer enjoys it, though.

Perhaps a duty rather than a choice.

I took this on Ryndam ("S" class ship) last spring:

 

 

On Vista ships, I've seen the sign that KK posted.

 

Dave

 

I am in email contact with a friend on the Westerdam right now, so I asked her to check.

She says there is no sign saying No Jogging on the promenade deck at all.

So I guess it depends on if there are cabins under that deck or not.

Bread pudding was a recipe of necessity during my

childhood, due to rationing and food shortages.

So bread pudding was a delight and I still

really enjoy it. I don't care if anyone else

doesn't like it - there's foods I don't like but I don't

wonder why others do.

I have used different travel agents 4 years

4 land vacations and now cruises. Never had any problems.

Always return my calls or emails promptly, and no extra

charges. Got me a nice upgrade 4 my cruise too.

So if 3 laps around the bigger ships

equals 1 mile, what is it around the smaller

ships (ie Ryndam)?

If there are no cabins below, as on some

of the bigger ships, and no signs saying

"No Jogging", then I believe you can.

I read that here some time ago.

Nearly there. I was thinking that we were by-passing Canada Place and going to the industrial port for a few minutes until the ship turned. I had no idea that we would be docking behind one of the large Princess ships and a Celebrity was on the other side. I do have a picture of that but forgot last night to upload it into Shutterfly. So there will be one last post.

 

But I did want to thank you all for following along with me for so long. I have appreciated each and every comment. It was an amazing cruise and one I hope to repeat.

 

An amazing cruise and an amazing

photo-journey for us. Thank you so much.

This, with the other Sailaway Gang thread, has been

fantastic to follow.

The poor dead horse is still

being flogged.:eek:

Anyone know?

 

(deleted, wrong topic)

What a great wrap-up to an enthralling

thread.:) Your dogs look very happy

to be in their own beds.

I just don't understand what all the fuss is about.

It is up to the Pinnacle Grill Manager, surely. Who are we to dispute it?

I would not concern myself with who paid what, and

who saved 25% or 50% on a $10 lunch or $29 dinner.

The diners filled the space, and likely ordered drinks.