Hlitner

I have long (over 40 years) been an outspoken critic of the tipping systems used by the so-called mass market (and so-called Premium) lines. The truth is that it is entirely unnecessary, creates complications and some bad feelings, and serves very little purpose other than the desire of cruise line's to market lower prices (which are phony) while maximizing onboard revenue. Perhaps these tipping schemes are the most interesting when the cruise lines try to apply them to cultures where tipping is not the norm (i.e. Australia, the UK, etc). As one who cruises many different lines (16 to date) ranging from budget to luxury lines, we really embrace the luxury line policies that discourage any tipping! We still recall our first Seabourn cruise when I tried to hand a generous cash tip to a favorite bar tender, and she graciously. thanked me as she refused the cash (I am sure many crew members would have taken the cash). On that line (and most luxury lines) the crew are properly compensated by the company and do not work for tips! And the service/dedication of the crew on those lines is fantastic which is proof that you do not need tipping as an incentive. When mass market lines started to offer alternative dining, team-driven cabin service, and open dining schemes, the traditional tipping scheme (envelopes of cash given to a few who provided direct services) collapsed. Hence, we evolved into "auto tips," which some lines have no renamed "crew appreciation." The system is terribly flawed to such an extent that most cruise lines refuse to divulge how they distribute the money raised from that scheme. The crew is generally told not to discuss the matter (with passengers) at the risk of their job. And lately, we see lines continuing to increase "crew appreciation" amounts while, at the same time, opening soliciting even more tips via a tip line on bar invoices (after already assessing a mandatory tip of up to 20%). Bless the luxury lines that simply discourage any tipping (and properly compensate crew). Yes, we do pay more to be on such lines, but all the anxiety and bad feelings that surround tipping are gone! The next time you go to the airport to fly consider that you do not tip the customer service folks, flight attendants, pilots, cleaning staff, etc. Why not? Hank

I would caution the OP that dealing with travel insurers is, often, much more complex than one would expect. They do not just pay what you want, when you want. If you do cancel part of the trip, it will complicate things and likely cause lots of grief/axiety as you later try to file a claim. Ironically, cancelling the entire trip (as long as you can document that it is medically necessary to cancel) would likely be a lot easier in terms of a claim. If you do cancel half the trip, it will be very important to have that supported (with written documentation) by a physician, If I were reviewing such a claim, I would be very suspicious of a partial cancelation, based on medical advice. Claims examiners are suspicious by nature and saying that you are good to go for 1 week and not the other might be a hard sell. Hank

LOL. I have no idea what Hertz is charging but would think it is at least $10 a gallon!

We board the Quest next week. They gave us a boarding time about 2 weeks before embarkation and have already changed that time (via e-mail). On our prior SB cruise (Ovation) our boarding time was changed 3 times in the 10 days prior to the cruise :). In all cases we ignored the times and went to the port when it was convenient (for us). No problem boarding. I should add that we have cruised several other lines in the past 2 years, they all gave us boarding times, and they all completely ignored those boarding times. Hank

I do think the term "class" is often misused. This is no different than folks who go to a rock concert with some paying more money for decent reserved seats and others taking the cheap seats. Anyone can choose (the operative term is choose) to pay extra for the Premiere package. It has nothing to do with "class" but simply buying your way into better benefits. The problem is not about "class" but rather that Princess has long designed their vessels with main theaters that are simply too small for the normal 2 show format. In the past, we have been on some cruises when the Hotel Manager decided to add a third show to alleviate the seating shortage. Princess might need to move to a ticket system (some lines do this now) where folks need to book reservations and get tickets for certain shows. I think that truly sucks, but it may be the future. Hank

We have walked between the port and the center of town a few times. It is a nice walk, but quite long. Into the heart of town it is about 2 miles. The good news is that it is flat, you have a shopping area (with food venues) close to the port, and a nice walk along the coast line in a park-like setting (once you get out of the port area). Many cruise lines also have shuttle buses and there are also some public bus lines. Some brave souls will usually try to walk all the way up the hill to the castle (Gibralfaro). It is a fun port for walkers. Otherwise, DIY folks can ask for help to figure out the local bus system. We are not HoHo fans (you spend half the day waiting for buses) but that is also an option. Hank

We met a couple of did a relocation on a HAL cruise from Rotterdam to NYC. But, in your situation I would first contact the cruise lines that have repositioning cruises to Barcelona. There are some options including HAL, Regent Seven Seas, and Disney. These would all be in the Spring. Otherwise, your best bet is the Queen Mary 2 from NYC to Southampton (and than you need to deal with moving stuff to Spain. You would need to directly contact each cruise line and ask about how much you can ship...and at what cost. Hank

One of the posters thought that the Van Wyck exit to Atlantic Ave is closed or has issues due to construction. Since I am aware that there is a JFK- 7:11 complex inside JFK (about a mile from Federal Circle) I started looking at this option. Much to my surprise, it does show-up on my Map App as a 4 min drive (using the internal JFK Cargo Rd) from Hertz. My thinking is we will just deal with it as circumstances unfold. If we get to JFK a bit early, and the stars are aligned, I might drive over to that 7-11 Sunoco station. Otherwise, we will just follow the advice of some posters and turn in the car and let Hertz charge us for the fill. We will also take a look at the Atlantic Ave exit, on the fly, and decide if that looks like a good option. I am one of these independent travelers who likes to know the options, but can than be flexible depending on the moment. I noticed today (online that not only is their construction at T1 but also some new construction at T5. Sounds like JFK might be a mess for the next few years. Hank

It is difficult to offer advice since the OP seems to have a good understanding of the situation. The business model of the huge mass market ships is to "maximize onboard revenue" to which many here do like the nickel/dime term. One can certainly control their budget by taking advantage to what is included and avoiding most things that would incur extra cost. We also agree with the other poster than you might want to also look at options for Princess. But, if your group includes some teens (and younger) they would likely enjoy the amenities found on the mega ships of RCI or NCL. Another possibility is MSC which is somewhat different than RCI and NCL. With NCL you can generally book the "experience" that best meets your needs. Their ships are gorgeous, but they can feel crowded and seem to be a love it-hate it kind of line. Hank

Lets put all in perspective We have long recommended the Rick Steves books, primarily for fellow DIY/independent travelers. But we always added a caveat which was to generally avoid his restaurant recommendations. Muchj of his advice and excellent walking guides are simply about the major and most popular tourist destinations. Nothing wrong with that and it is what most travelers (especially first time visitors) expect. Go to Rome for the first time and you will probably want to go to the Vatican Msuesms, St Peters, Coluseum, Piazale Roma, etc. HIs books do a good job telling folks how to get to these places, the hours,and some decent tips. Also keep in mind that major tourist sites are not just "overun with American tourists" but are often crowded with tourists from all over the world (including many Europeans. When folks ask DW and I where to go in Paris (a city we know very well) we can give them lots of suggestions, but most first (or even 2nd) time visitors want to go to the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Notre Dame, the Louvre etc. I can certainly tell them our personal preference for the Musee d'Orsay...but that place will also be packed with tourists/art lovers. Even the lesser known Marmotten will be crowded..year round. Lets be honest, many of the most popular tourist places are crowded because they are good places to visit. We can certainly advise somebody who has no interest in the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc, but that is what most folks want to see! Going to Barcelona for the first time and not seeing Sagrada Famila might be considered a crime! And yes, that place will be packed (year round). The reality is that when you want to see the famous places you will have lots of company. Yes, there are ways to enjoy less touristy places, and very well seasoned travelers will tend to seek out such places. But if we told many travelers to do as we do, they would be very unhappy and complain that they "missed too much. My only complaint about Rick Steves is that he has yet to publish guides on much of the world outside of Europe. Hank

I am going to be somewhat contrarian when it comes to HoHo buses. If you simply want to visit a few places, such as Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, it will save you both time (and usually money) to simply go to those places via public transit or even a taxi. HoHos, while they do have some advantages, will oftee mean spending signifiicant time just waiting for the next bus (once you debark). You are generally going to pay around $30 (for one day) to use the HoHo. Public transit costs a small fraction of that price and even a taxi (to a couple of places) will likely be less money and much faster. Hank

I believe that is only for residents in the immediate area of the park. We have been inside that well manicured area :). Kind of unique in NYC as it is truly a private park. The sad news about that area is that the Grammercy Park Hotel is now closed (it could not survive COVID) and will likely be converted into more condos.

Should be DD and grandkids. DW would probably love to have a place there so she could see the grandkids every day 🙂

All that being said (about Uber) apparently there is a Port Authority rule that Uber may ONLY pick up riders at the Terminal Arrivals area. If they pick up anywhere else they are subject to fines. You have to love NYC :).

Really? Didn't think most Uber drivers would want such a short haul and would likely turn down any pick-up at Federal Circle. As to Hertz, it has been awhile since we dropped a car at that location, but I do not recall they (or the others we have used) offering any kind of direct transfer. We have always been forced to use the Airtran...which is normally fine except for the current situation vis-a-vis T1. Hank

That is fantastic news. If true, the ship should have no problem getting to Copenhagen in time for the 8/1 voyage. Hank

There are more than 2000 hotels in Paris, not to mention thousands of B&Bs. Choosing a hotel, for those of us who love the city, is always a task. Although we have a number of smaller hotels we enjoy, a visit means that DW and I will often spend hours talking about which arrondisement (neighborhood) we want to stay. Sometimes our decision is driven by the the day of the week, So, for example, if we are going to be in Paris on a Saturday night (and all day Sunday) we might opt for staying in the Marais because they area has a lot of life on Sundays. Otherwise, we tend to favor the 5th and 6th (Left Bank) because we find it much more charming than the Right Bank. In terms of first time visitors, location is important. You want to be within a few blocks of a Metro Station, and there are other considerations such as where one wants to dine and where one might like to walk. My favorite area (for a base) is St Germain des Pres, but this favors apartment rentals rather than hotels. We also prefer cute small Pariisian/European style hotels instead of the larger chain type places. As an idea of what is out there you might want to Google "Hotel Grandes Ecoles." It is not necessarily our favorite, but it does exude a lot of charm and is the type of hotel we prefer. The OP would likely not be interested in this particular hotel since it is far from the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, etc. For a larger right bank hotel in the middle of things, the Hotel Brighton has a lot to offer (including high prices). Hank

Let me toss out an alternative that really helped us. "Luggage logistics" is always a major issue for we senior DIY travelers and can take on a life of its' own. But Japan gives us a wonderful solution. They have this amazing system that allows you to ship luggage, from place to place, at very little cost and amazing efficiency. The luggage is handled by private shipping companies and moved (usually overnight) by truck. So, for example, when we moved from our Tokyo hotel to our Kyoto hotel, we simply packed our large luggage and took it down to our hotel front desk, the day before we were going to leave Tokyo (your front desk will advise by what time). When we arrived in our Kyoto hotel, our luggage was waiting for us. The cost was about $32 per large piece. This knowledge can help planning. In fact, there are some folks who ship their luggage from Haneda or Narita to their Tokyo hotel! We did not do that since we simply grabbed a taxi from Haneda. Tokyo is certainly worth a multi-day stay for folks who have never been to that city. We decided to use both Tokyo and Kyoto as pre-cruise bases (4n nights in Tokyo and 6 nights in Kyoto and our last night in Yokohama). Since our cruise was going to give us 2 days (an overnight) in Osaka, we did not go to that city pre-cruise. The one tough issue (for us) was how to get our luggage from Kyoto to Yokohama and our ship. We "chickened out" with the shipping and took our luggage with us on the bullet train (and subsequent local train to Yokohama). This can be done by booking (in advance) a couple of the Green Car (first class) seats that have room for extra large luggage (no extra cost to do this). In retrospect, we should have trusted the shipping system and simply sent it ahead (perhaps 2 days early) to our Yokohama hotel. Since we had a 7 day JR Rail Pass (which we activated the day we trained to Kyoto) we did use it to take a day trip to Hiroshima (from Kyoto). DW and I were somewhat disappointed in Hiroshima (we went to the park and ground zero museum). But we can now be content that we have visited both Nagasaki (on a prior trip) and HIroshima. I also suggest that travelers take a good look at Kamakura (an easy day trip from Yokohama). DW really liked Yokohama and would have been happier if we had spent fewer nights in Tokyo and more in Yokohama. Tokyo is a difficult city for some folks because it is so vast. Even though we stayed in a good area (Shinjuku), DW was not overly impressed. We both have a NYC background, so being in big cities is not that big of a deal. We spent the bulk of our 11 pre-cruise days visiting Shrines and Temples :). One should also try to make time to have lunch or dinner in Yokohama's Chinatown where the number of eating venues is almost overwhelming. Hank

We are off for the Quest (in a few days) and our boarding pass was on our Source App about 2 weeks prior to embarkation. I believe it is all online now (we have not received snail mail on our last couple of cruises). You should put the Seabourn "Source" App on your phone and set it up. That App is somewhat useful both before and during the cruise (although we know quite a few SB regulars who resist using an app). Hank

I answer to that word 🙂

As one who still cruises both mass market lines and Seabourn I would advise the OP that the Colonnade is kind of like a small hybrid Lido. There is a buffet as well as a small menu with daily specials as well as some everyday items. The pool grill also has a small buffet as well as a small menu. The Colonnade has both indoor and outdoor areas, so depending on the weather you can make the be best choice for yourselves. I do not ever recall seeing a formal tea on embarkation days. That being said, you can go to Seabourn Square and get tea (there is also a small selection of snack items) anytime in the afternoon. Hank

Am surprised that Brucemuzz has not jumped in with his excellent information. It is a long way from Narita into Tokyo and with 4 persons/luggage you are going to need a small van. One option is to just go to the taxi stand and they should be able to get you an appropriate vehicle. There are numerous online sites where you can reserve private transit. Expect to pay more than $220 and it can be a long ride if traffic is heavy. I cannot recommend any specific site since we have not personally used any. On our recent flight to Tokyo we booked into Haneda :). Hank

Each of those places has their own currency. Where you can use a major credit card (generally Visa or MC) it is a good idea...especially if you have a card with no foreign exchange fees (i.e. CapitalOne, Chase Sapphire, etc). The best way to get cash is usually a bank ATM and it is helpful if your ATM/Debit card does not charge fees. Do notify your credit card companies and debit card bank of your trip. A few major credit cards such as American Express and Chase Sapphire no longer require travel notification, but many other cards still request notification. If you fail to notify them and use their card, it is possible that they will freeze or suspend your card until they can be sure it is you. Hank

Grrrr I hear and respect the opinions of letting Hertz fill it up. I hate doing that out of the principle. but the entire JFK thing is one major hassle :(. The fuel issue is just money. But my airline departs from T1 which is also a hassle since the Airtran station is closed. It seems like we have to go over to T8 and than deal with the hassles of a shuttle bus...with the added hassle of having a ton of luggage. It all makes me want to sing "New York New York!"

LOL so true. I think all of us were just so relieved to be traveling again :). We had not really thought about the climate issues in regard to travel until SLSD brought up the subject. Since we are retired and can vary our travel schedule it is just one more factor in our trip decisions. But for folks who must travel in the summer, they do have fewer options if they want to experience the wonderful Med. My gut tells me there is really no good solution, and the cruise lines will continue their Med cruises as long as folks book. I would expect the cruise industry to only be "reactive" rather than "proactive." If folks are willing to come they will continue to serve. Hank