ChinaShrek

I noticed HAL has a microbrewery tour for Victoria. Is Victoria known for its beer? I might take that tour if you guys have good beer.

How much is HIA now if you add it on after booking?

This is great to know and I don't see why people would book cruise only non-refundable.

Does Dan Schneider work for HAL?

I hope everyone who complained about missing the Production Shows attends them and does not complain about them on here. When HAL tried something different, many people weren't happy. So now HAL is responding. I do not cruise for the entertainment. I cruise for the itinerary. I just want "something" to watch or listen to at night.

I guess I do not understand the purpose of playing and listening to classical music. Yes, I understand if they are performing in a concert hall or auditorium or closed off room on a ship then the audience should be silent. However, if they are just performing on a deck somewhere or at dinner then people should be allowed to talk. I see classical music as background music and prefer it that way.

I think a lot of people who avoid Carnival really want to avoid children.

Is a virus not an option?

I have had several aircraft changes over the years but that was always done weeks or months before the flight. Nevertheless, I am not entitled to an refund due to a seat change. I can cancel and get a flight credit. Of course, Southwest doesn't even guarantee a specific seat!

Still a better deal if you are traveling solo, no?

I have been thinking about this situation but I am wondering how is this different from the airlines If you purchase a seat on a flight the airline can move you to another seat without asking you. This happens if the crew needs it or if there is an aircraft change. In fact, you are not "guaranteed" your seat, just transportation. How is this different from cruise ships? Maybe we are just paying for transportation?

Sure, but if I check-in I'm hungry and that's when I want to eat. It's like going to Olive Garden, if there is a wait, I don't stay.

Yes, my TA notified me that they have to call when making a payment with a Gift Card with HAL. She also said it makes more work for them. LOL

I always feel Carnival does this on purpose so people will not go down and complain about the gratuities and have them removed early on in the cruise.

Not for my free casino cruises.

I am suggesting that the passenger demographics are becoming more similar over time. I was on the Carnival Pride last month with only 160 kids on the ship out of of 2600 passengers, This was an 8 night cruise. I had dinner every night with retirees in their 70s and 80s who were great to talk with. Many of them very wealthy (but frugal). I have also been on HAL ships packed with hundreds of kids running around.

HAL is not an adults only line. Everyone should know this. Some cruises will attract large numbers of families and kids. HAL is actively marketing to these groups. However, longer itineraries will have less kids and families. HAL is also marketing to refined adults. HAL and is really not much different from Carnival now. Some Carnival cruises have very few kids and older couples while some HAL cruises will have tons of kids. This is how a cruise line stays in business.

If I have MyTime Dining, I expect to be able to check-in and eat a few minutes later. Okay I'll give them 10 minutes. When I check-in, I'm hungry and want to eat now! Any wait is a discomfort.

Yes, but if you check-in for dinner there could be a 60-90 minutes wait (depending on the venue). No line, perhaps, but still a wait.

I was on this same Christmas cruise as you and you keep bringing up how crowded it was, It was not that bad. There were a ton of kids on the ship but it was easy to hide from them. I had a wonderful cruise!

Does Virgin have casinos?

My next one is out of Iceland on the Nieuw Statendam in July. I'm so excited.

We had a snow storm here in Maine today. I'm getting more than a foot. Sigh

Well, yes, but I don't always "lose" that much.

I am slightly worried if they move to a spending model. What if someone gets a "free" room from the casino? How would I get credit for the room cost? What is the real room cost on a "free" room?