Augustsunshine

I know this is an older topic but does seem like something people will look at in the future so...re Nassau

went on a ship sponsored tour to view the city and visit a bedraggled garden/bird sanctuary with parrots in little dark cages. Ok. Now back to the ship. Big line to get through customs/Jamaican security and be processed onto the dock. Fine. Lots of people lined up and a couple of guys in military type camo uniforms going along the line and asking to see people's ID. Assumed they were trying to speed the line along. NO AUTHORITIES STOPPED OR QUESTIONED THEM. Because of course they were not any kind of security personnel. I didn't realize that until I handed over my drivers license and he took a picture of it with his cell phone. Really! Even then I didn't quite grasp what had happened until a very loud and indignant Italian woman asked me why did I do that. "He's no one!!!" This tookplace in public under the eyes of Jamaican police or port security or whatever they were. The two or three guys just strolled away and talked for a while, then left. They had been approaching various people up and down the line in "secure area" in front of the ship. Just saying I wouldn't get off the ship in Nassau again.

Back from 9 day cruise. Afraid to say, good intentions not withstanding, did not follow any program whatsoever 🙄 Up only 5 pounds when I got home probably because of lots of walking. Immediately back to super strict low carb/Keto-ish. Now about 10 days later, cruise weight gone and down 2 pounds from before I left. 🎉

So, on at least some lines, gratuities given at the end of a cruise to outstanding staff have to be turned in and shared? Doesn't make me less likely to directly tip. Probably affects their appraisals in a positive way but it is disappointing.

Docking in Lerwick? This is a great thread for 1st time visitors to Lerwick and for fans of the Shetland TV series. (season 5 just announced!). Question: Has anyone done, or known of, docking at a pier in Lerwick? NCL still has it listed at a docking port and I don't think I believe it. Know things can change closer to the arrival date but I do think everyone tenders in.

Thanks HavingFun. Just what I needed. Planned on doing any tipping in krone. Just wasn't sure what was appropriate/expected.

Hi all. We are traveling to Norway on the Jade next month:hearteyes:. We have several excursions booked both through NCL and privately booked. Our past experience, mainly in the US, would be to tip guides, drivers etc. Wondering what people's experience has been in Norway. For instance, doing a bike excursion with mechanic who sets up bike for you. What about in restaurants if we do visit them. Esp. wondering about guides who spend several hours with us. If so, how much? Trying to find out if we need to bring krone for that purpose.

First name Robin. Got something saying I had been added to the group but so far it doesn't come up in my list of groups. Not sure what is going on. I will try to log in again and try once more

Still trying to join the support group. Second request just now. Now back to the excellent info I find on CC! Does anyone know if the fitness areas on ships, esp. NCL, have scales ??

Hi all! Just FYI: Flam weather today forecast to be 55Deg and sunny:hearteyes:

Well, we actually bought round trip tickets. If it is 40 degrees and raining hard we might be glad we did. 10 mile on a bike even with a rain suit right not be a lot of fun. Just a thought.

TWO thumbs up.

I am on my third elderly and handicapped family member, plus my husband was in a wheelchair temporarily on one of our cruises. I have so been there and done it all with escorting mobility-challenged people. It's a hot button for me.

 

There's absolutely no way to "sensitize" people who have no empathy for handicapped people. So, you just expect that type of treatment and be prepared for it.

 

The walker, wheelchair, or scooter goes RIGHT next to the closed elevator doors, off to one side so people on the elevator can get off. Then, edge in while the jerks are trying to run around you to get on first. Waiting for people to be polite isn't going to work.

 

I have assigned myself as "Elevator Assistant" on any cruise I am on. I hold doors, run interference, and politely announce that we have a scooter/wheelchair/walker coming on or off. I have even put out my arm to block a few of the "end run" people, reminding them there is a handicapped person that's getting on/off. I'm a pro at it, since my Mom had her stroke in 1992, and I've been dealing with her, Dad, and now MIL ever since. MIL is 94, so I may be off duty in my personal life pretty soon, but never off duty in public.

Contacted the cafe and got an email confirming our 2 reserved bikes for June! They are apparently officially closed until April but we were able to book online and got an email a day or two later confirming our bike reservations.

Hope you get to feeling better and finish this review. Love it!

While a mobilty device user does not equate to an entitlement for priority access to anything, such as a free pass to the front of the line, COMMON SENSE-although not so common nowadays- would indicate an extra measure of courtesy toward that person. Can I assist that person in some manner, such as a blocking maneuver on the pushers and shovers so that the MD user can get on or off the elevator more easily? (and likely ahead of those able bodied who push on to ride up or down one level)

 

But, one has to ask why, in this age of equal rights for a all, do women assume they have the right to board an elevator first?

Hmmmm. Don't think most do. I am a female person and I never heard of it. I also hold doors open for men if I happen to be going through first and yes, I would probably get off an elevator if there was not quite enough room for a someone in a WC or an elderly couple. Courtesy costs nothing and feels good😇

Cruise Critic members(y)

Thanks for your input. I would definitely let the tour leader know

i have heard that ticketing for the Flam Railway is essentially a two stage process. If you have a reserved ticket you must stand in line to get it validated in some way. Is it different if you have purchased a Cruise Line excursion? Is this something people have experience with. Does the cruise line do it for you? I have purchased an expensive (yes I know but the ones available from the Rail line were all late in the day) excursion for 8:20AM from NCL. The ship will be in port 8am til 8pm. I am now worried about missing the train. Can't move it to later in the morning. I am assuming that, like most ship excursions, you meet in a lounge somewhere and are sheparded off. Can't imagine people are told to go stand in line to get their ticket. Also, am seriously considering renting a bike to come down. Does anyone see an issue with this? Would NCL get upset if 40 passengers go up and 38 come back on the train:confused:

Your reply to the other poster was so helpful. I wondered if you could answer a couple of questions I had. Did you have any question about the correct route as you were coming down? I have seen a couple of pictures with sign posts. Any chance of getting lost? Also, did you rent your bike from the Cafe at the top?

I see no one ever replied to you, While I can't exactly answer your question, I can tell you what we did. We took the train all the way up to Myrdal and then rented bikes to come back down. I would highly recommend this to anyone who can handle some moderate exercise. We are not regular bikers but found this quite doable. We hiked down the beginning because it is so steep and then enjoyed biking down from there. We stopped often to take pictures and enjoy the views. Just make sure you prebook your train tickets. We took nearly 3 hours to come down I believe, you could go faster or slower depending on how much time you want to take enjoying the views. Bike drop was at the train station at the bottom of the hill and very easy!

Wow. Lots of answers. Supposed to be visiting Lerwick in the Shetlands this June. Heard it's chancy...keeping my fingers crossed!

The butterfly exhibit is wonderful but your two old might find it a bit overwhelming. A fun visit for an hour or so and it's a stop on the little tour "train"

What are people's experience for ports where the ship is supposed to tender but can't tender that day because of weather etc. Does it hover off shore hoping conditions will improve? Does it just leave for the next port? I imagine piers are booked up most of the time. It can't just show up a day early. Does it chug around and call it a sea day? Inquiring minds want to know.:confused:

How do you sign up for one of these? Can you sign up on board and where do you find out about it?

Have been seriously studying your posts. A great resource! When you took the bikes at Flam, what did you ride on? Looks like maybe a local road? Can't imagine buses going through that tunnel. Probably not a bike path but maybe. :confused:

I was hoping something like this could happen. Please also take needed supplies and aid. These lovely islands have given us so much.

So many kind and thoughtful answers. Thanks to all for your time.