complawyer

one important reminder (i think) if you're going to print off your luggage tags from your home computer, i would use a heavier grade stock paper. regular copy paper may not survive. i sometimes use high grade photo paper. also, if whether im flying in a few days early, or going to the ship directly from the airport, i dont put the tags on until almost the last minute. at the hotel, whenever the cab/shuttle picks us up, at the airport, when all our bags have been collected off the carousel.

ok, i am also concerned about ecosystems, but im not a card carrying enviornmentelist, but how does picking up a shell on the beach (assuming it is no longer inhabited) have any effect on any ecosystem?

also, issue probably speaks for itself, if you're playing any table games, and doing well, tip your dealer. and if you order a drink, tip a buck to the cocktail waitress that brings it.

tonit964. i guess she didnt realize that a starfish is a salt water creature and probably wouldnt survive in a tub filed with freshwater. and in most tropical locations, dont you see dried starfish hanging on the walls for sale? and wouldnt the cabin steward have noticed when he/she came in to clean the room? i would think that if she found the starfish on land, most likely it was already dead. if not, all tings being equal, it was probably dead by the time she got home

i dont know, years ago my daughter went to turks caico and brought back 2 conch shells. (and this was probably 30 or so years ago. to be sure that there were no uninvited critters still living inside, i put the shells in my back yard for a few days, soaking in bleach. then took them out and left them on the lawn. i assume ants came and devoured the rest. after a week or so, i rinsed them off again, and place them in my aquarium, where they reside to this day. ive always though that taking unique shells from a foreign beach was something everyone does. well, guess its true, you doi learn something new everyday

laudergayle. well, as i said, even though the dsc is supposed to cover tips, the staff on the ship that i tip, are performing a service for me (i know it's their job to do so), but at least it boils down to 1 on 1 service. on a bus crowded with 50 or so of my closest friends, (1) i've already paid an outrageous fee for the tour) (2) most of the places we've been to, the guide just drones on and on, so i usually fall asleep (3) if they're not droning, most of them seem to be rushing you through the area. we were in morocco a few years back, and the guide rushed us through the souk, so you couldnt really focus, much less browse or take in the atmosphere, last year, they rushed us through jerusalem, and more specifically, did you ever notice that on some tours the guide steers you to a specific designated shop or store? Personally, i'm convinced that they're getting a kick-back. consider the stop with a bus load of tourists, what a bonanza for the shop keeper! as for the driver, meh! since there is absolutely no interaction i dont feel any need to leave him a tip. btw, this is not all-inclusive. we've been on many shore excursions, where the guide was helpful, informative and very knowledgeable about the sights. if i do tip at the end, it's usually around $10.

how petty!

it also depends on how long your cruise is and who you expect to tip. $10 for sure to the baggage handler on the dock. for 3 meals a day anywhere from $5-$10 dollars per meal. We dont tip as much for breakfast as at dinner, and a little bit more if we're eating at a specialty restaurant. $1-2 for your bartender. $100+ to the butler if your'e in a suite or haven. $50 or more (again if you're in a suite or a haven) to the concierge, contingent on often you use his/her services. $20 at the beginning, another $20 at the middle and $20 or more at the end of the cruise to your cabin steward, $5-20 to anyone else on the staff who performs a service for you. if we're eating in the buffet, i usually tip $1-2 to the person making my omlet and/or the crepes. that about covers it for the ship. if at all possible, we try and book cabs in many of the ports, as opposed to paying the ridiculous prices for the ncl shore excursions, so we usually factot in a tip for the driver. oddly enough, if we're on an ncl booked excursion, i dont tip either the bus driver or the tour guide (go figure) additional tips, if you're staying at a hotel before/after the cruise, to the bellcap, and maybe the person who checks you in. i imagine, that i'll get a lot of flack from people who dont feel it's necessary to tip, since the dsc is rolled into your cruise fare. i've said this before in a prior post. if you wish to tip, feel free to do so, if not, then don't. it's really no one else's business. again, if we're fortunate enough to be sailing in a suite or haven, i usually give the maitre'd a $20 oor so periodically throughout the cruise. you may not believe it, but it goes a long, long way to make your meals easier. btw, sorry for the length of tis post, but i hope it helps

i think its between $2.50 -$3.00 per can. if you just want a glass of coke, i think it's free

by the way, st thomas is very nice, but there isnt a great deal going on there, unless you're a beach person. i would suggest, in the alternative, if the ship docks in charlotte amalie, just get off and wander around the town.

well, we've lived in los angeles for over 50 years. no ice bar for me, thank you very much! once was (too much) enough!

i asked because we are on the dawn aug 6th thru 15th. ithought if we were on the same cruise, i'd buy you the 1st drink

sand and seas, i admit to being 75 years old, and sincerely hope cc doesnt censor this post, but the term "nickel bag" has an entirely different meaning for me (LOL) and i aint talkin peanuts!!

sofasogood. what cruise are you on inaug? for me it was an ice cold can of pepsi and a snickers bar!!! to this day (im 75) i still consider this the "breakfast of champions)

you're 100% correct, no one can forsee the future. it's probably just as likely as not. btw, we saw it last aug on the bliss, and it was amazing

im to much of a wuss for the ice bar. my wife and i tried it about 5-6 years ago on the epic. apparently, they keep it at 17 degrees. i toughed it out for about 8 minutes, an boogied my butt right out of there.

for me it was an ice cold can of pepsi and a snickers bar!!! to this day (im 75) i still consider this the "breakfast of champions)

i usually log onto booking or hotels.com. once you indicate where youre going and what dates, you will get an almost unlimited amount of choices. pick out a few that you may wish to consider, then log onto google to check the distance from the chosen hotel to the cruise port

heineken or modelo dark if it's available.. can never go wrong with chivas on the rocks, or a manhattan. if your ship has a "sugarcane" i think most do, any of their mojito's will make your day

it adheres to the local time. whenever there is a time change, you will get a card in your cabin advising you of the change and to adjust your clocks/watches accordingly. if youre unsure of the correct time when you wake up, turn on your tv to the channel that gives you the ship information (i think it's either 12 or 13)

sand and seas. LOL... unfortunately, i am a pepsi addict, just like some people are addicted to caffeine, and cant kick start their day without a cup of coffee. it's not unusual for me to have a can pf pepsi with my breakfast. coke, (although of course i can drink it if pepsi's not available, just doesnt do it for me in the same way

it is a disaster of biblical proportions, but sadly and emphatically , "YES"

if by chance you happen to book a suite or haven suite, if you describe specifically what you want, i'm sure the butler can get the ingredients together for you. i ask him for assorted cheeses, crackers and meats, and he usually comes through. while it may be a bigger pain in the butt, the buffet also has a station with assorted meats, cheese etc, so you can actually make your own with whatever you choose

sorry, but lots and lots of things have changed in the last 17 years. i concur with meheartcruising. in 24 sailings with ncl, since 2010, i have yet to see "ballroom" dancing on any of their ships. of course there is a dance floor in spinnaker lounge, i believe in the mdr of another of their ships (the actual one escapes me at the moment), but if youre looking for a dance floor for dancing comparable to that of "dancing with the stars" im afraid you'll be disappointed . so in the alternaive get out there and boogie your tushie off either on the pool level, or at spinnaker

personally, i'd place all my bets on the posted ncl schedules