jsn55

I don't do any luxury cruising, a butler would make me nervous!. "Prepaid gratuities" are just considered part of the cost of a cruise; I doubt the crew sees much of that money. We have always tipped the cabin steward $20 or $40 the first day. Have never considered it a bribe, but rather it just establishes that we are not those awful cruisers who don't tip. At the bar we tip for every drink, don't like to wait to be served. We rarely use the MDRs and tip the servers in the buffet for each drink or glass of wine. Crew on my kinds of ships work for tips; the thought that they'd be insulted or think me a low-life is laughable. They take good care of me, I give them money. It's a simple system and it works well.

Isn't this just nuts? There must be a better way to schedule ships into ports like Santorini. I wouldn't want to miss it, but I wouldn't want to deal with that insane number of visitors.

My TA is taking over the booking and she needs to know exactly what I want so she can negotiate the best total cost for me. I had forgotten how nice it was to order drinks from the cabin on my phone. Thanks everyone, now I know what I'll know what to tell her.

Travelling solo on Crown to Alaska in August. Debating on getting the drinks package ... can someone tell me the appx cost of a glass of house champagne (prosecco probably) and a cocktail like Rum & Coke? That's about all I drink. TIA

You could put on a funny hat and pretend.

Selling bags like this 'by appointment only' makes no sense. You make an appointment to buy a Jaguar or a Bentley or a hundred bags wholesale. Hopefully somebody on these boards will walk into the Down Home Bahamas Center one day and see if it's real.

I gradually realized how weird American English is over the years. My hat's off to anyone who grows up elsewhere and learns English later in life ... it's got to be complicated and frustrating.

One of the many things that keeps me booking Avalon ships is that casual little buffet of goodies up at the bow in the evening. I just don't want a 'big dinner' every night, it's wonderful to just wander in there for a bite.

I grew up in Minnesota and have gradually come to the realization that Minnesotans just deal with anything and everything without drama. I'm still a little bit that way, but I admire people who just carry on with a sense of adventure and great common sense.

Yes, we're dying of curiosity. I'm thinking that you're on the ship and have no time to update us. A girl can hope!

I don't understand why you wouldn't use an e-cig or vape whatever in the privacy of your cabin. How could this be a problem? Does vaping create an odor or harmful 'smoke'?

I'd have a look at the weather averages. That will tell you how many layers to pack. Almost anywhere in December, I'd bring ear muffs, fuzzy scarf and gloves. I start with a silk turtleneck and build: polo shirt, fleece vest, jacket or heavy cardigan, windbreaker w/hood, long jacket/coat w/hood. I'd bring whichever long jacket/coat will keep me warm at the predicted temps. I always travel with a soft backpack and all this stuff can get rolled up and stashed if it's warm enough. I've travelled all over with this formula and have yet to be uncomfortable.

If your cruise is insured, I'd take my chances tomorrow (and wishing you very good luck indeed) that you arrive at MIA sometime. If you get out of DesMoines but miss the sailing, spend your time in Florida, make a vacation out of it. Book a hotel for the first night and figure out what you want to do for a few days. Sure better than staying home feeling badly.

I don't see t-shirts at dinner as 'relaxed'.

EXACTLY! I hope that people soon tire of complaining about smoking and move on to another topic ... any topic. If you don't like someone smoking, walk away. No need to make a fuss.

I feel bad for the clueless cruiser who posts on these forums. Such snark. Certainly we could treat them with a little more respect. As to the question about dress code, ontheweb, river cruising is relaxed. Wear long pants and tuck in your shirt; add a scarf and some jewelry for dinner. If you want to go all out, wear a blazer to the Captain's Welcome Dinner and those sparkly earrings that have been waiting for an opportunity to shine.

Wow, Laura, this is very enlightening. Not sure I'd have the courage to actually make the trip. Fingers crossed for these intrepid travellers. My little brother from Minneapolis is in Ecuador but a 'couple of hours' away from the turmoil. He better keep his head down. And I hope these cruisers get safely on their ship and away. Thank you for posting this.

Nope

Do you think that this may be a result of compassion for the people who work in fast food and couldn't work for so long during the virus disaster? I found that the worst part of the virus, the lower-level jobs disappeared and people couldn't feed their kids. It made me sick. Other than travel, we don't go out all that much, and after the world started to wake up, we went out more and would leave huge tips. I do find myself still tipping far more (for real service) than I used to.

Are you serious? This is hilarious. And the best part? People put MONEY in that tip jar! I love it.

Makes no sense to ban cigars and pipes in outdoor smoking sections. Even tho the smell of a cigar is pleasant to NOBODY, there's no reason to ban them outdoors.

Just want to be sure you're aware that a cruise-expert travel advisor is paid by the cruiseline. The benefit to a good TA is the answers you'll get to questions you don't even know you should be asking. You don't necessarily need someone in your own town, it can all be done remotely ... but don't use just any online TA, they're usually nothing but order-takers. I've booked independent travel for 40 years, but once I used the services of a (good friend) TA to book a cruise, I was hooked. She is able to put the 'best deal' together based on what she knows about our wants and needs.

No question that tipping in the US is completely out of control. My fave is the 'tip jar' at a fast-food restaurant. If people are dumb enough to leave a tip for no service, good for the establishment. If you're in a culture where tipping is the norm, don't try to force your opinions by not tipping. All that does in punish a hard-working staff. Get with the program or stick to places where tipping is not expected.

Either gender can wear almost anything they want. White shirt and black slacks, white slacks and black turtleneck, a suit, a blazer, or ... like the couple I met in the hallway on a Christmas Princess cruise ... lots of red sequins. She wore a red sequined sheath, matching stiletto heels, and he sported a red sequin blazer with matching bow tie. Quite a sight.

You can make a two-pronged effort .. do a search for 'private tours, excursions, sightseeing City Norway'. Post on your Roll Call and get specific answers and suggestions, plus opportunities to join other pax on private tours that they are arranging.