m steve

and they said they were closed on Sunday. I have contacted the concierge to help me find one that is open. We are looking for an upscale place, not a crepe shop.

and booked the Auberge St. Pierre. I noticed many restaurants are closed on Sunday .

but not Cozumel. They actually book local guides who operate under their name. I will use them again in Roatan. They take a small deposit and then you pay the balance to the local guide.

especially if you have boxes or large bags. You can turn those in and if you have a bottle in your carry on it will probably not be collected except with NCL. Be sure to check out the close out store on street level for some super prices as well as the special price board for high end purchases upstairs.

we will not buy any more chotskas, magnets, t shirts and definately anything that can't fit in the suitcase, ie no rugs.

as it's quite reasonable in the Med. Not the fake yellow coloring but actual threads. Also when we were in St. Martin last Feb there was a new jeweler there from Santorini and he told us the prices he charges on Santorini were much higher than he was offering in STM.

You turn your boxes in at security for HAL but if you have a bottle in your carry on, they don't usually collect it. And it's delivered back to you on the last cruise day by your steward.

I bet they take it to a bar and sell it back to you.

HAL, Princess and other Carnival owned ships all allow some smoking like on balconies while X, Oceania, Regent and others are severely restricted. So it's easy to make a decision if smiking is involved. My partner smokes so that limits us as well as those who want to avoid any smoking. That's why there's vanilla and chocolate.

Lack of restrictions makes a lot of difference. Never walked down a passageway filled with smoke on any ship. Some people have vivid imaginations. They make stuff up like Glenn Beck does with news.

I'm impressed that a school teacher planned so well to be able to take these upscale cruises. I decided not to pursue teaching in my sr. year at college and went into sales. I guess you were more frugal in your savings plan. I just lived as high as I could when it was pouring in. I am happy your are not one of those hedge fund millionaires and have actually contributed to society rather than bleeding it.

There will be more people to book on the luxury cruise lines and I like the demographics of HAL and would not want to be sailing with a bunch of overpaid Hedge fund 20 somethings. We just had our first cruise in a deluxe suite and really felt HAL did a great job of catering to us with the Neptune lounge and their concierge staff.

the cost is significant especially getting a veranda cabin. And not paying airfare to Barbados which usually rums over $500 pp.

there are definalely better lines to sail than HAL but for the price I think they deliver a very good product and never have had a problem with the food. Some items are not to my liking and I don't order them. After 7 HAL cruises I am usually satisfied with most things and if something isn't right, I note it on my comment sheet or talk to a person in charge of that area. I guess it's like choosing a resort. A Hilton or W or Sheraton can deliver a very good experience but it's not a Ritz Carlton or 4 Seasons and the cost is a lot less. I surely would like to stay in the last 2 or sail on Silversea or Cunard 1st class but I can't.

and that helps them plan any changes (please don't bring up the smoking issue here) and they can use this information to correct problem. They also read CC Hal threads regularly as do many of the CDs and Food and Beverage Managers.

emphasizing the dress for the day. Not just formal or casual. If the staff enforced the dress it would work. If anyone hits the Maitre D' for trying to offer a jacket or suggesting another dining venue, security should take him to his cabin and restrict him for the balance of the cruise. He obviously does not belong cruising with civilized people. HAL seems to get a better class of cruiser but there's always some slob who won't try to comply and the rest of the passengers should not be subjected to their behavior. That's why we don't sail on Carnival any longer. HAL is not upscale like Silversea or Seabourn but priced so we can afford to cruise several times a year and enjoy ourselves. $500 a night pp is just not in my budget being retired. The only thing HAL could improve is their itineraries as they are so repetitive year after year.

I don't think HAL prices are much different than in the past. We are getting a real deal this coming week but by Jan. prices are back to where they usually are. I also don't think they are lowering their standards but changing some things to improve the cruise as well as the boottom line. The HAL demografic seems to remain the same with older, more experience cruisers making up the majority of guests and each cruise the Mariner brunch seems to get bigger, now being offered twice that day.

The only things that seem to change are the number of cabins the steward team must handle and the smaller inventory in the duty free shop. I'm not sure how they do in the luxury jewelery store as I rarely see anyone in it and the prices are very high. I guess they are hoping for a big winner from the casino to come in.

Not the more popular Tortuga shops. Their rum is actually Appleton from Jamaica. I don't know where BBD is actually made. I see it only as a conversation bottle on the bar but much prefer Mt.Gay extra Old.

A Taste of Celebration. You can buy it online at ecookbooks.com for 40% off list price and free shipping.

the immigration officer couldn't spell the name correctly and wrote it down as Ryndam. That's what happened to many European anmes during the great immigration.

weren't from NYC where bed bugs are epidemic. We live in Florida and our Palmeto bugs can lick any little bed bug.

at either pier. Just walk out to the mall in front of the pier. Their main store is in town.

make sure the carton says Class A. for real US cigs.

are set prices. Negotiate on jewelery and perhaps linens if you are buying a lot. So shops have bonus packs w/ perfume and liquor like minis or canvas bags. Riise and Dynasty at Havensite are best for liquor and deliver to the ship. Riise and Supreme at Crown for liquor. Sometimes there's a special price for quantity or buy 2 get 1 free.

I used to shop there but they were no longer there if Feb. Golmahars was overpriced compared to other places.