ilikeanswers

11 hours ago, Yaya_in_Oz said:

No, its not Yubu Is. I've never heard of it and it doesn't seem easy to get to. I'll give a wave as I go sailing past later in the year 🙂

It is not too difficult but IMO it is not somewhere you go out of your way to visit😂. First you fly into Ishigaki, take the ferry to Iriomote, the local bus (unless you fancy some exercise you can hire a bicycle) to Yubu Cafe and last hop on a water buffalo taxi to walk you across the sea to Yubu Island. 

8 hours ago, Jean C said:

I'm pleased it was corrected promptly. Many years ago a TA booked return flights to the UK for me, via the States. The tickets had me as "Mr Jean" instead of "Mrs" so I asked the agent to get it changed (Jean in France is a male name). They said I'd be fine, no need to correct it, nothing to worry about.  I was travelling alone and didn't want passport hassles anywhere along the journey so I insisted, they argued but eventually reluctantly had it changed. I really don't know whether or not it would have been a problem, it was before the days of people identifying as a gender other than what they were born as, or weirdly as something else like a cat 😺

My mum got listed once as Mr on a flight ticket. Didn't realise till she was printing the boarding pass. No one cared. Honorifics aren't listed on the passport so I think they only really care about passport details matching. 

12 hours ago, Joebucks said:

When you buy a cruise, you are getting the cruise. If you don't go on the cruise, yes I would fully expect a refund per the terms you agreed to. Cruise companies might as well shut down now if they are going to held legally liable if anyone of their "advertised amenities" goes down for whatever reason. 

 

What's more dangerous than anything else, is the increasing entitlement of "I am the center of the universe. Everything must conform to my maximum satisfaction." 

I think you are taking it to another extreme and it feels like a bit of  catastrophising. As Ldubs pointed out there are situations that have quantifiable difference. A South American cruise including Antarctica vs one excluding Antarctica is not only financially different but experientially different. People generally don't choose an Antarctica cruise on a whim. It is like buying a car and paying extra to have a sun roof installed. If you recieved the car sans sun roof I doubt you would accept that with the same attitude of I bought a car I received a car. 

39 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

But I do believe there will be more frivolous complaints than valid complaints. 

And you believe that is reason enough to ignore valid complaints? Are you not worried that ignoring valid complaints could lead to the cruise industry mistreating the customer? 

6 hours ago, ontheweb said:

It seemed to me from reading post #80 that there were several frivolous complaints, complaints that people from the banks he contacted laughed at.

 

I got the impression that there were more of these than complaints that were valid.

6 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Here is an example of frivolous complaints. Read the first post. (The poster has not come back as no one shows any sympathy for him.)

 

 

I think we are at impasse here as to me this fear of frivolous complaints is irrational. Do you believe they are going to bring down the cruise industry? A valid complaint and frivolous complaint are two different things to me and I can't understand why someone would treat them the same🤷‍♀️. 

2 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

As with anything in life, there are always going to be varying context. Also, in usual internet fashion, taking an extreme example like .001% of cruisers who booked an "Antarctica" cruise and could not go there. Now we need sweeping reform (with zero consequences) for something that honestly doesn't need such attention. When will we learn to stay out of such things.

 

As to what is "frivolous" and what is "valid," who draws that line? What about a picture of bacon on the website, and there was no bacon on the ship? What about an advertised theater show didn't play because someone got injured? What about the port "I booked this cruise for" and the ship couldn't make it? What about a medical injury that threw off some other plans? As we see daily with these forums, there is a lot to complain about. It is impossible to make sure everything goes on without a hitch. Credit card companies are not there to ensure your total satisfaction. They ensure that sellers are acting in good faith with that they are offering. That does not mean if one of 100 variables is unfavorable, that the trip should be free for you, decided by the CC.

Personally I would rather the cruise companies take responsibility than credit card companies but with common sense you can easily draw the line on valid and frivolous. If you buy a product or service and don’t receive product or service you have always been entitled to a refund and paying a premium price for a premium product only to be given a cheaper downgraded version in any other industry would be considered a scam

I would assume most countries have legislation against scams, so maybe instead of sweeping reforms we need to start treating cruises the same way we would treat any other tourism business. 

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

See the nest post #80 about frivolous complaints.

I think I am going to need further clarification. Reading that post it seems they are sorting frivolous and valid complaints so doesn't that show you can validate a legitimate claim without the fear of some complaints free for all? People who want to make frivolous claims are always going to exist, illegitimising a valid complaint is not going make entitled people feel less entitled and why should someone with a valid complaint be punished for frivolous complainers? That feels frivolous in of itself😂. 

4 hours ago, clo said:

Who's talking about a "certain port"? Not I.

The OP started this thread with the example of a cruise that was suppose to spend a couple of days in Antarctica but had that portion of the cruise cancelled. 

Miles Historical Village? 

10 hours ago, ontheweb said:

All well and good, but both of us having been on these forums a long time (you even about a year longer than me) have seen people wanting refunds or at least some form of compensation for things that are ridiculous. How many posts have you seen over the years that complained about a missed port and wanted a full refund when the reason was a hurricane? When it is pointed out that there could be nothing more dangerous than docking in a port with a hurricane, they respond that they do not care that's what they booked. There was a recent thread on the NCL board with multiple complaints starting with the weather was bad the whole cruise and that was NCL's fault.

I feel like this is something I see a lot of Americans worry about and maybe points to a cultural difference but my experience is validating a legitimate complaint doesn't lead to a cascade of frivolous complaints. Common sense can prevail and you can sort the frivolous from the valid and to be honest this fear of the frivolous complaint I think plays into cooperations interests by stigmatising everyone who complains.

37 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Yes, but no one has answered what they are supposed to do if the water level is too high or too low for them to navigate the river. 

IMO they should offer the bus tour not force it on passengers but also refund the difference in price and those who do not want the bus tour full refund and let people instead use the money towards a trip they actually want. 

9 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Yes, a bus tour would have been disappointing, but at least we would have got to see the ports, ports that we wanted to experience.

But you could have seen those ports with an actual bus tour company that would have cost a fraction of a luxury river cruise. The issue is the comparable value. Scenic the company runs bus tours as well but despite being premium tours none of their bus tours cost anywhere near what their river cruises cost. Those passengers might have enjoyed a bus tour if it didn't cost them the premium price of a river cruise. They didn't just pay to see the sights, they paid for a particular experience that cost extra so springing a surprise bus tour was not appropriate in this circumstance. 

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

We have a river cruise booked and there is a disclaimer that if the water levels are too low, busses will be substituted. I think this is a standard disclaimer. How are ships supposed to sail if the water level is too low? 

If you book a cruise and it turns into a bus tour you should be notified in advanced and given the option to withdraw your participation with a refund. IMO if the cruise cannot run they just should cancel as I don't feel a bus tour is a substitute for a cruise experience. I should probably add that Scenic Cruises is an ultra luxury cruise company. People paid a lot of money for this experience and however you cut it no bus tour is going adequately substitute that level of luxury and that was one of the points the passengers won on in their case that the offered bus tour did not meet the same value as the cruise they paid for. 

I agree with a lot though I'm not sold on self regulation. Unless it is something like the entertainment industry that has a vocal court of public opinion my usual experience of self regulation is it takes one to flout it everyone sees them get away with it  and then everything just devolves into a feral who can get with the most situation. 

In Australia we had a class action launched against Scenic Cruises after the river cruises they sold turned into bus tours due to river levels in Europe being too low. Passengers had not been notified and they only found out on arrival. The passengers won that class action but it is not really a viable solution to have to go to court for every itinerary change😂 and too be fair they probably only won due how extreme this case was. 

2 hours ago, clo said:

Curious why they can't go back.

It is generally not recommended to travel to Russia due to its government's invasion of Ukraine. Technically you can travel to Russia and people have been doing so but the government is known to arbitrarily detain foreigners if they are having a dispute with their country which at the moment is pretty much every country west of their border😂. Though (not trying to get political but kind of relevant in this case) from what I hear America has at least one Russia friendly presidential candidate so if they get voted in and stay consistent in their views along with Russia not having another coup then relations might thaw between the two countries and travel to Russia at least for Americans may become safe and viable sooner than expected🤷‍♀️. 

2 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

👆 fish jello

Here's some fish jello

20 hours ago, lahlah57 said:

I am curious about caviar. Never had it.

Caviar is a bit like wine different varieties different flavours. Did once a caviar taste testing experience, had a couple from Iran, France and Russia (pre war obviously now I hear they use Uruguayan or Greek). Some were jet black, some olive green one Iranian variety was yellow😯. The flavours ranged from light salty refreshing, what they call taste of the sea to a more heavy meaty umami flavour, something to do with iodine levels. Eating caviar you can't use a metal spoon, apparently reacts with the flavour so they gave us these tiny mother of pearl spoons to scoop the caviar on blinis or they said you can eat it off the back of your hand for a more a more authentic experience. Who knew luxury food could be hand food😂. If you ever get the chance I recommend a taste testing experience, it is really interesting. 

Central Park NYC? 

1 hour ago, Korimako said:

I have, but I am still none the wiser. Is this a North American thing?

Maybe this will help:

Meaning of Log

I think my strategy will be go so niche it will be unlikely anyone will have strong opinions on the subject. So who wants to join me in a conversation about the history of cement? Or perhaps we could talk about the properties of black holes? Maybe the intricacies of the Kula Ring of the Trobriand Islands😂. 

2 hours ago, mom says said:

And, for all that you hold dear, NEVER mention Star Wars in a Star Trek conversation. ☄️

Now if you really want to throw the cat amongst the pigeon just say "I really enjoyed Star Wars episode 8 and 9"😱

2 hours ago, JRG said:

I sometimes break the ice with a good Star Trek joke,....

 

....What Did Mr. Spock find in Captain Kirks restroom?

Obviously you have been lucky you have not met the Trekie fan boy who wants to rant why all Star Trek post 2009 is a blasphemy ruining the legacy of a great sci fi universe😜. And do not even think to mention you enjoy any new Star Trek lest you want an education as to why you are wrong to like it😂. 

I think it would be easier to list the things you can talk about as that would probably be a smaller list😂. 

3 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Since I have never heard of a Kobo, I would doubt that.  Unless the backside of your device is showing a copy of a book cover, how would anyone know what is on your screen unless they are looking over your shoulder?  Any Dean Koontz fan would recognize someone holding one, providing an opening for "Good story?" 

As a non  ebook reader I usually can recognise if someone is using an ebook. The devices I have noticed are thinner than your average tablet but most of all people hold them differently probably because they use them so differently and aren't scrolling or typing as you would on a tablet. 

The one thing that I did like during the up vote trial was having the OP's post at the top no matter the page. Sometimes especially if it is a long thread you don't want to read from the very beginning so it was nice that I could start at any page and still see the OPs original post that started the thread