Debbers

Now as a Brit I think our cash strapped NHS could learn some lessons here regarding billing for use of our system by foreign nationals. As far as I am aware its. Pretty much free , totally irrespective of the treatment, services , or medication required to all.

No. Our American son, who lives in the UK, reports that emergency services are offered gratis, but otherwise there is a cost (unless the patient is an EU resident, for now at least). I don't know how the cost compares to any other medical costs. When he made got his visa to work in England, DS was required to pay a lump sum into the NHS to make up for all the years he hadn't lived there and paid in.

there are a couple of truly nasty replies to the OP here.

Amazing to see some regulars around here who can't disagree with the OP without being incredibly rude.

I don't see any rudeness in the responses. The OP was very direct and emphatic in her complaint, and many of the responses have been equally emphatic, but I would not say rude.

Worth EVERY penny.

Mine:

http://www.colehaan.com/zerogrand-wingtip-oxford-ironstone-suede/D44059.html?dwvar_D44059_color=Ironstone%20Suede&dwvar_D44059_width=

 

My husbands:

http://www.colehaan.com/zerogrand-wingtip-oxford-black-black/C20719.html?dwvar_C20719_color=Black-black&dwvar_C20719_width=

Do you wear them with socks? If so, what weight sock? They really are pretty.

Hurtigruten is not exactly known for its Haute Cuisine either, nor for its high standard of accommodation nor great on-board entertainment

Not speaking for the poster, but I can't imagine anyone books Hurtigruten for food, entertainment, or luxury accommodation. We booked for the itinerary (fjords, islands, villages, green mountains), which gave us a pretty good look at Norway in 12 days, and a price lower than a comparable land-based trip. We found dinners to be good, and lunch and breakfast to be monotonous (smoked fish! again and again and again!), the entertainment laughable (and it was a musical duo, not a comedian), and the accommodation clean and comfortable, but spartan and tiny. Drinks were amazingly expensive--we shared a beer once or twice. But we had a great time and enjoyed the trip. It's a different kind of cruise.

We have booked our fifth Oceania cruise, which will qualify us for Bronze status. $200 OBC, huzzah! My question is when/how we will see this credit. Will it be applied to our final bill automatically?

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I could not find it using the Forum search. Many thanks.:D

"Many of us find the decor on Oceania to be elegant, understated and charming."

As my grandmother used to say, "Everything in a room needn't revolve and play music".

Precisely my feelings! The R ships' decor is formal and gracious. If I could afford it, my home would be much the same, and stuffy I am most assuredly not! (OTOH, when I see passengers putting their feet on the R ships' lovely sofas, I want to swat them--so perhaps I am stuffy after all.)

We're still in Guarantee mode for a PH on our June 21 TA. Of course I am hoping the fairy will award our patience with a Vista or Owner's Suite, but a fat bribe to downgrade would not come amiss.

Because they don't answer the phone. Have tried twice. However, I apologize for asking on here and will not do that in the future. I am just excited and was trying to start a dialogue with folks that may have stayed there.

No need for ruffled feathers; it was only a suggestion. I had no way of knowing you had tried.

On a TA, you will spend more time in your room than on a port-intensive cruise. You will appreciate the extra space.

Why not phone the hotel and ask?

I am so grateful we did so much tavel in Eueope in th e years when it was so easy, there was litle anti Americanism

This isn't anti-Americanism; it is retaliation or repayment in kind for what the US is doing to nationals from certain EU countries. From what I gather, cruisers will not need a visa for EACH country visited; rather a blanket visa (not unlike the ESTA that the US issues) will be needed for the first EU country visited. For us, on this year's cruise, that would be Portugal for our stop in Madeira. Port stops in Spain, France, and Italy would be covered by that one visa.

As others have said, this is unlikely to take effect soon.

As others have stated, introduction of pests and disease can decimate agriculture, a huge and obviously important industry. I know from experience the heartbreak of leaving salamis and cheeses in France and Italy, but my personal pleasure counts for nothing in comparison with the harm that could result from selfish rule-breaking.

My advice is always: Bring back all you want, but eat it first.

well the railroads were built to transport CARGO, not people. so it is efficient, just not for passenger trains. Amtrak is always the first train bumped in favor of the coal cars.

Which is why the tracks are bumpy and the trains can't go very fast. In addition, European trains are heavily subsidized by the governments. Try getting an Amtrak subsidy through Congress.

I told him last night that I've made the executive decision that we will fly in the day before, maybe even 2 days before if I feel like we need to.

There you go! Nicely done. I bet he married you because you take care of these things so nicely. :D

Thunderstorms delay flights. Rarely do they cancel like winter stuff.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Horner, but always enjoyed his posts. RIP.

 

Are you saying that you're doing the steward's work, so you don't need to compensate him? His pay depends largely on the gratuities, as you know. If he finishes your nice, neat room quickly, it's not as if he can make extra money somewhere else. You are cutting into his income, and his family will feel the effects.

Ortanique is where we dine before any cruise. Seasons 52 is OK--it's a better class of chain restaurant, with a menu designed by some corporation. No comparison, IMHO.

I . I know it's a hassle and some people accept the presumably small risk to have their 2 or 3 year old ride unsecured in a vehicle.

Yup, it's a hassle--like most other aspects of being a parent. We don't sign up for an easy time; we take on the responsibilities to protect and bring up our children as best we can--not in the easiest way possible. I salute you for continuing to use booster seats for your wee ones.

Williams berg is one giant rip off... do not go to the visitor center and pay $$$$ for what is a bus ride... go to to the parking lot my the town and walk in there is no entrance fee.... you will pay 30 to 60$ for a 10 min bus ride. Drive in park, walk around for free and you will see a few boarded up buildings, a lot of colonial flavor shops and some half baked exhibits...with poorly informed remployees playing colonial....pretty sad It was a huge disappointment unless you want to see a crass cash machine at work.

rather head ofer to York Town National Hoistoric park and James Town.....its authentic, not commercial and 10 times better.... and jusrr a few miles away....

It's hard to type while trying to pick my jaw up off the floor, but wow! Where to begin!

First off, your admission fee covers bus transportation but also admission to the historic buildings and museums. Of course you can park where you like and stroll the beautiful historic area for free--we have done that often--but to get the most from a visit, we buy the tickets and engage with the interpreters. Visitors to the gunsmith can learn about 18th-century weapon-making; a trip to the bakery or printery will give you insights into the way Colonial artisans plied their trade. Stop at the House of Burgesses to see how the Colony of Virginia was ruled, and to learn that at various times Virginia, theoretically, extended west to the Pacific Ocean, north to the Great Lakes, and south to Georgia. It was big. A visit to the Governor's Palace will show you how the powerful expressed their political and military power, while a visit to the quarters of enslaved people will reveal the hard foundations of a hierarchical society. The interpreters are very far from being poorly informed; they have spent years studying both their crafts and their characters, and many have advanced degrees in their subjects.

All this without even mentioning the wonderful museums, full of priceless treasures and artifacts; the cutting-edge scholarship and archeology; period musical and dramatic performances; and the lovely gardens and grounds.

I agree that visits to Jamestown and Yorktown are essential to an informed view of history--they are two legs of the Historic Triangle. They are authentic in the sense that they have not been rebuilt and "repopulated." Colonial Williamsburg has, according to the best and most rigorous scholarship, and is both deeply educational and truly pleasurable. It's costly to visit because it's costly to run. But to call it a crass cash machine is most unfair. And I say this as a proud (and a little envious) Marylander.

We've booked a PH3 GTY on Sirena for June 21, and of course check at least daily to see how PHs are being allocated. Usually all three PH categories are listed as Waitlisted; however, from time to time one PH2 turns up as Available, and it's always 8006.

Why this one? Is there something wrong with it? It's not a location I would choose (too close to the elevator), but otherwise what could be the flaw?

Of course I will happily accept whatever PH is assigned to us, but we are curious about 8006.

How about if you don't have a US passport? For instance a now adult born in the US who never applied for a US passport. Now they live in Canada and have traveled to the US countless times on their Canadian passport?

A passport is analogous to citizenship. A person may have dual citizenship and, hence, two passports. But how would a US citizen obtain a Canadian passport? Are you assuming that person is a dual citizen with only one passport? I suppose that's possible.

Except People with LEGAL British Citizenship and Passports are being BANNED from entering

Likewise, people with student and work visas are being denied entry. Ditto refugees who had already been thoroughly vetted and given asylum visas. Ditto permanent residents with green cards. It's shocking.

A Federal JJudge ruled those with valid visas will not be held.

People are nonetheless being denied entry, despite their legal status as residents. It's disgraceful.

Reduce huge amount of junk mail and lower prices. Terrible waste.

It's definitely a waste of paper, and requires me to make extra trips to the recycling bin. However, Oceania's business people have clearly decided that incessant mailings are good for the bottom line, or they would not do them. What do such mailings cost? I have no idea, but I can't imagine that stopping them would save us more than a few bucks on a cruise.