Hlitner

Patience grasshopper :). I think we need to consider that Japan's entire tourist system has been down for more than 2 years. Tour companies have gone out of business, lost their employees, etc. Now that the country has effectively reopened (on Oct 11) I would expect to slowly see tour companies resuming their work. You might want to watch "Tours by Locals" as that is more individual vs company based. Tour consolidators such as Viator are also starting to resume more activities. We plan on being in Japan during March for about 2 weeks prior to taking a cruise. DW and I tend to favor independent travel so we are not looking at tours even though we do plan on spending 6 nights in Kyoto. Keep in mind that Kyoto is a relatively large city that would be overwhelming to anyone planning to only spend a few hours in that amazing town. You will truly need to prioritize what is important (to you) and try to set something up that covers those priorities. I suspect that by next October Kyoto will again be packed with tourists and there will be crowds at the most popular shrines/sites. While it is good to see the world starting to return to normal the downside is that crowds mean delays and the need to further focus one's efforts. Hank

The sad answer is no, the HAL online air booking engine will not work until you actually have a booking number (and are within 330 days of the return flight). It is possible to use the Princess Cruise lines site and access their air (operated by the same folks who handle HAL) but there is no guarantee that the Princess prices will be the same as HAL (they are usually close). To use the Princess site you would need to find a cruise with dates that work with your HAL dates and once you select that cruise you can look their air options without actually completing the booking process. I will be honest and say we do not generally waste our time with HAL domestic economy since we can usually do as well (or better) on our own. Where HAL (and Princess) can offer amazing deals is on International Air.....especially Business/First Class. That being said, because of the post COVID mess with Business/First Class fares (they have skyrocketed) finding a great deal is much more difficult. Hank

I will not lecture or suggest that folks should use a PCC (we do not) or a cruise agent. But I will post some very specific facts that might give some fruit for thought. We have two HAL bookings (both made through a reputable high volume cruise agency we have used for years with many different cruise lines) The prices and amenity packages offered by HAL are exactly the same whether we had booked through a PCC or the cruise agency. But what is different is that our 14 day booking comes with $775 of On Board Credit and our 28 day booking comes with a $1675 OBC. Those OBCs are provided by our cruise agency (not HAL) and are fully refundable (if we did not use it all we would get it back from HAL). So the bottom line is that with those two cruises we are saving $2450 because we are using a cruise agency. I would also add that it is possible to book with a PCC, transfer the booking to a cruise agency, and "perhaps" get the extra OBC provided by some agencies. As a rule we do not play this transfer game because it adds steps and we see no advantage over simply booking through the agency (which we can do with a few clicks of the mouse, a phone call, or an e-mail). Just another thought. Although we always use one of our preferred cruise agencies (because it saves us money and we get amazing customer service) we handle our own Flightease Air direct with HAL. HAL's system allows us to book our own air through the HAL web site (and our HAL account) where we can look at all the various flight options and make our choice. If we have issues with the air we can call HAL and they will work with us (only on the air since anything related the cruise should be handled by our cruise agent). Once we make our air selections (online) with HAL, HAL forwards the confirmations to our cruise agency so they are aware of what we are doing and the changes in final payments (due to the air). Hank

Absolutely safe and the main means of transportation from most locals and many of us expats who live in PV. Like any tourist city (all over the world) PV does have some pickpockets so one should always take normal precautions to protect valuables. As to COVID, we agree with some of what Ashland posted. For the past two winters (we live in PV during the winter) we avoided the buses because of the heightened COVID risk (buses can be crowded). But for the upcoming winter season we will likely return to bus use when we need to get out to the Supermarket, COSTCO, etc. I should add that those using the buses, for the past 2 years) were required to be masked. I am not sure of the current masking situation on buses but imagine if folks are still wearing masks on buses you will find many of them below their nose :). I also like to post that in PV, not only do we have plenty of taxis (clean and safe) but also have a pretty active Uber presence. If you have the Uber app, you can use it in PV and make payment either by the usual account credit card or specify that you want to pay cash. Just like in the USA, the Uber App works well and you can track progress on the moving map. Hank

Like you, we did quite well at that beach. We arrived via the public bus (which drops you relatively close to the infamous DK Oyster Bar) and strolled along the pedestrian walkway making inquiries about renting loungers. We rejected some places because their beach loungers "sucked," some others because we did not like their beach umbrellas, and finally got to one that had decent loungers, decent umbrellas, and a reasonable menu (offerings and prices). Our last visit was on a very busy day so we had no leverage to negotiate a lower price on lounger rentals (sometimes you can work a deal if you promise to eat/drink). During the busy season some of the beach places reserve most of their loungers for nearby hotels so folks might need to do as we do and make multiple inquiries. It is a decent beach, there are plenty of OK cafes/restaurants, etc. That DK Oyster bar gives a wonderful beach a bad name and it is a shame that the local authorities have long "looked the other way" and allowed them to rip off numerous customers. One would have to assume that the "fix is in" and DK is somehow above the law. Tis a shame. Hank

Your post makes it easy for me to understand why we adopted PV as our winter home over 16 years ago. Your first picture is an example of the interaction between expat and local community and the spirit of volunteerism that permeates the PV culture. The tile work on that bench was primarily done by volunteers who actually donated not only their time, but their money to tile quite a few places around the park in the Romantic Zone. The Americans/Canadians (and some Europeans) that call PV "home" for part or all of the year are involved in many local projects including the support of orphanages, strong support of the local art community. etc. Unlike some communities around the world, most in PV embrace and welcome cruisers. Many of us discovered PV while on a cruise and now watch the ships come and go from our balconies :). Hank

Getting a little off topic on a subject near and dear to our hearts. Pros and cons of aligning one's self with a single (or perhaps 2) cruise lines. To be honest, we do find that variety does keep things fresh and somewhat exciting as opposed to the same ole same ole. But consider that since we cruise on many cruise lines, our options are vastly expanded over one who focuses on a single cruise line, especially a line with only 6 ships (more on the way). Our cruise "parchment" includes far more than 100 ships that are cruising all over the world at any given time. So, for example, if we want to take an exploration cruise to Antarctica this December (we do) there are a few luxury lines/ships from which to choose. But your chosen line does not even offer any such cruises in December or any other month. If we want to take a month cruise in Japan next Spring, there are a few options (none of which include your line). When we cruised to Rio for Carnival, and spent 3 nights docked so we could use the ship as our hotel, we would not have been able to do anything like that on your line. Most of our cruises are itinerary driven (with 1 or 2 exceptions every year). While "O" does have some excellent itineraries, they do not always coincide with the times we want to be on those particular parts of the world. When we again find an "O" itinerary that aligns with our stars we will try to book with a small prayer that "O" actually sails the advertised itinerary :). We are giving a careful look at a late 2023 "O" cruise but are hesitating because it gets us home a bit too close the Xmas and involves one of their "R" ships which are not our favorite design. Hank

No art auction nonsense on MSC. As to the best hiding place on the Seashore that would be anywhere in the Yacht Club :).

Wow, saw my name mentioned so I guess we must respond. If we were to accept that there are at least 3 categories of cruise lines (there are actually more) which would be mass market, Pcatremium (Flatbush Flyer and I disagree on this category) and luxury the perhaps we can offer some thoughts. Within the most common mass market category (i.e, Carnival, RCI, NCL, Celebrity, HAL, etc) I cannot pick a winner for variations on included "sit down" other than the usual MDRs. NCL certainly has many options (especially on its larger ships) but we are not familiar with what they currently include in the base fare (check the NCL blogs). Princess does offer (on most ships) their pizza place (Alfredos or Gigi's) for no additional charge. Both Alfredos and Gigis (the name on a few newer ships) are true sit down venues where you order from a waiter. We love these venues (open from lunch until later at night) where you can get pizza or some pasta dishes as well as a salad. Princess also has their International Cafe (open 24/7) which has light snacks including some breakfast items (in the morning) and lunch items (around noon). We have never been on Virgin, so have no thoughts about that line. Flatbush Flyer gets into his usual Oceania cheerleader (this is the only cruise line he seems to support) and we have heard nothing but good about "O"s various dining venues. In the interests of full disclosure, we have yet to cruise on "O" which is the fault of "O" (and an interesting story). But Flatbush Flyer (and others) have convinced us we would be more than satisfied with the cuisine offerings on that line which is well known as a line that puts extra emphasis on food.an When you get into the Luxury lines (i.e. Seabourn, Silverseas, Regent, etc), nearly everything is included in the relatively high fare. On Seabourn we can fill ourselves with caviar. champagne, filet mignon, tableside prepared Dover Sole, etc. without ever paying a penny in upcharges. It is similar on the other luxury lines. But consider that some of these lines charge around $1000 per passenger/day for the "included" food. One could book a regular balcony cabin on a line such as Celebrity, eat in alternative restaurants on a regular basis, and spend a lot less money than on a luxury line. Just keep in mind there is a lot more to luxury lines then just food. Just consider that space ratios (total gross tons divided by number of passengers) for luxury line can easily top 70 tons per passenger while most mass market lines are in the 30-40 range. Some ask me are favorite line and we always say we do not have one particular favorite line. And if we did favor one line that would likely be fleeting since cruise lines are always reinventing themselves. But I am constantly amazed at how many cruisers get into a single cruise line mode and blind themselves to all the other wonderful options. For example, DW and I are close to booking a 18-day cruise on a new cruise line (Explora Journeys) because we have some faith in their ownership (the Aponte Family of MSC fame). Other cruising friends (who are long time HAL fans) tell us they would never dream of cruising with any other line other than HAL. We like HAL (have a 42 day cruise booked with them in 2023) but cannot imagine spending what is left of our cruise lives on the same line with the same menus, the same old same old, etc. Perhaps that is why after about 50 years of cruising every cruise is exciting and fresh. Hnak

We have seen all kinds of public toilets throughout France with prices varying from Free to 1€ with 50 cents (Euro) being most common. When we travel around France (and Europe) DW and I seldom use public "facilities" since we prefer just stopping at a cafe for a drink and to use their facilities. Any excuse for a cup of cafe au lait or a glass of wine is a good thing. Hank

That is terrific news for those who take tours. We have never heard of tours going back to Athinios and have long thought it would be a good idea to lessen the cable car demand/lines. Hank

Tough comparison because a regular Yacht Club Suite is much smaller than a Neptune. But those YC Suites generally go for about $400 per person day which includes a premium drink package and lots of amenities that those with Neptunes can only dream about. Within the YC there are some much larger suites (such as the Royal Suite) which are expensive. But consider that the lowest price/smallest Yacht Club cabins (some ships even have some smaller inside cabins) all get the same amenities as the those paying for the much larger suite. DW and I spend very little waking time in our cabin so have no need for a large Neptune-like cabin. We love the fact that for about $400 a day we get a nice cabin and all the amenities of the most expensive suites. The YC meets the needs of those who want an upscale ship within a ship experience for a very reasonable price. But it also accommodates those who are willing to pay for a very large suite. On our current suite the YC's Lounge (think of the Neptune Lounge) is a large bar/lounge that extends across the entire bow (with a prefect view). All the drinks, snacks, etc are included (and unlimited) about 19 hours a day. The Lounge has a 2nd story (like a balcony over the lounge) with its dedicated restaurant (serving 3 meals a day). What is nice is that the Lounge has decent evening entertainment so one can be upstairs enjoying dinner with the soft tunes from below and that amazing bow view. Go up 2 more decks and you have the huge private sun deck (with pool and several hot tubs as well as a buffet). All this is exclusive to the YC and not accessible to the masses. Everyone in the YC is treated like royalty. Want to get off at a port? Your Butler will escort you (via a priority elevator) down to the gangplank. When we disembark, our butler will walk us off the ship (right past any lines of the masses). Want to get on a tender? The Butlers will escort you directly to a tender bypassing any lines, tender tickets, etc. On the Private Island (Ocean Cay) the Yacht Club has its own beach, private restaurant, usual butlers, etc Hank

I will take this back to the original post about 5 pre-cruise nights in Yokohama. While DW and I will often find a base for exploration (in any country), Yokohama would not be my choice for 5 days. We would rather choose a neighborhood within Tokyo (such as Shujinku) because of its more convenient location. Keep in mind that when you stay in Yokohama you might find yourself on a train for over 40 min (each way) to get to some major Tokyo hot spots. While that is probably OK with some folks, it might be somewhat inconvenient to others. Hank

Last week (Seaside) they left the tags we had attached but did add another of their own tags

Maybe yes, maybe no! It depends on the bus driver. The relatively new electronic fare boxes (that allows you to insert your money) has stopped some drivers from accepting dollars (or even making change). My advice is that if you are going to use our local buses, have some Pesos (preferably exact change) to avoid any possible issue. Like many things in Mexico there are not always clear answers. Just part of the culture :). Hank

There is generally an onboard credit that goes along with booking onboard. Since the amount varies we will not give it a dollar value. For those of us who use cruise/travel agents you can book onboard and have it transferred to your regular agency (who might further enhance the On Board Credit). You also will generally get double Voyagers Club Points for booking onboard...if this is important to you. Bottom line is that if you are thinking about a future cruise why not go ahead and talk to the future cruise folks (when you are aboard) and evaluate their offer. Hank

Good question. We have only cruised MSC on Caribbean cruises from Miami. On all of our cruises we would estimate about half the passengers were from North American and the remainder from various countries primarily in Europe. Many of the Europeans speak some English or are fluent. But a fair number of passengers are not comfortable or speak any English. The crew has really varied. We always are in the Yacht Club where they have some of the best crew/service anywhere. Most of the staff is either fluent or speaks a lot of English. Outside the Yacht Club it is a mixed bag with a majority having a working knowledge of English and some who really struggle with anything but their native language. For us, in the YC, we have never had a major language problem. MSC is truly an International cruise line. There entertainment is designed to deal with this fact so is mostly based around music, dancing, and acrobatics. On our current cruise the cruise director is an American (Ohio) female who only speaks English when she is on stage. Most announcements are done in multiple languages (English, French, Italian and German). I have always drawn a big line between their Yacht Club (amazing) and anything outside the YC (varies). We still consider the Yacht Club the best value in all of cruising. Outside the YC you might draw a comparison to Carnival. Hank

It is a slippery slope to accept constant cut backs. Consider that we are currently cruising on the MSC Seashore. The ship is near full with about 4500 passengers. Here in the Yacht Club (think Club Oranage on steroids with a small suite) we are paying less than $400 a day. We have our own restaurant with no add ons. Lobster is about an 8 ounce lobster which is broiled with lots of flavor. Everyday items include a decent Fulet Mignon (better than what we get in the Pinnacle). Our private sun deck has loungers with 4 inch thick cushions. Stewards are in our suite three times a day. New Production show every night. Yacht Club Lounge (private enclave) has entertainment from 6:15 to midnight. Yacht Club includes any drink up to $15 without daily limits. And there are no movies or documentaries except on cabin TVs. Nobody here talks about cutting back cabin service. The OJ is still Fresh Squeezed, included Champagne actually French, etc. And this is supposed to be a budget line. For those who want cheap they can book inside cabins for less than $80 a a day (with a lot less amenities). I post this because not every line is cutting back. Perhaps this is why our ship is near full. Hank

My message to the OP is that when you post on this particular forum you are mostly going to get replies from long-time HAL fans/cheerleaders who refuse to admit that HAL can do any wrong :). My answer is somewhat different in that we find HAL no better or worse than most cruise lines when it comes to the shore-based customer service. It is one reason of many, while we have long found a big advantage to having a decent cruise agent who can deal with these kinds of issues. Another sad reality is that customer service, throughout the entire travel sector, has badly deteriorated since COVID. As frequent travelers we have learned to deal with some of the frustrations of bad customer service. I emphasize the word "some" since there are some cases where you simply pull out some hair (assuming you have any left to pull) and move on. Hank

Call it whatever you please, "Embarkation Form," Boarding Pass, garbage, etc :). It is all the same, a one page document that is part of the documents you can download about 20 days prior to your cruise. When we embarked (today) we were ask for that document, our Passports, and our vaccination form.

It is difficult to imagine being in such pristine areas as the Arctic/Antarctic, going outside to enjoy the view and the clean air, only to have the "stink" of cigarettes, cigars, and pipes polluting the air. The next thing you know, SB will have smoking zodiac's, smoking areas in Antarctica. and perhaps a smoking submarine. It is a very slippery slope. Hank

The OP does have a good point. The history of CC goes back to an era when river cruising was still in its infancy. Prior to the Internet, there was the start of cruise forums on GENIE and Prodigy. The Prodigy cruise forum became quite popular but had some big problems because of some travel/cruise agents who tried to use the forum as their personal fiefdom. CC came out of that atmosphere (about the same time that TripAdvisor started to grow) and did a good job moderating their boards and "discouraging" travel agents using CC for their own personal gains. So now we move ahead a few years, and river cruising (especially in Europe) has grown into a pretty big industry. While it is still a much smaller market than Ocean Cruising, we do think the river industry has matured and become worthy of more attention here on CC. Several of the major river lines (Viking, Avalon,, etc) might be ripe for their own boards. Perhaps CC management is listening :). As to the ports, CC already has the port boards broken down by country which could also serve most river cruises. Whether there needs to be sub-forums specific to river boat ports is something to consider. But keep in mind that you do have ports that are served by both Ocean and River cruises so the ports may well be handled within the current CC structure. Hank

We have cruised on both ships and strongly recommend the Summit. The Caribbean Princess is our least favorite of all the Princess vessels because of its faulty design. Princess took their very successful (and popular) Grand Class design and added an additional passenger deck without any major changes/additions to public areas. This means that you have several hundred more passengers using the same public facilities. The result is often overcrowding, long queues, big problems if you have tender ports, problems getting seats in the main theater, etc. While the Summit is not my favorite Celebrity ship (we prefer the Solstice Class vessels) it is far superior to the Caribbean Princess. Hank

Your boarding pass is normally available, online, 20 days prior to embarkation. Hank

You hear that because it is true :). In some cases, the cost can actually exceed $100,000 when one needs air evacuation from some parts of the world that do not have adequate medical facilities/care to handle a medical emergency. Even in a case when evacuation can be done by commercial aviation, the cost can be quite high. When DW was injured in Asia and needed to be flown home in a lay flat seat, a one-way last-minute fare on Delta was $10,000. And that did not include my cost. Hank