EndlessCruise

On 3/19/2019 at 4:33 PM, powerdog said:

We are taking a Viking Ocean cruise in Scandinavia. Wondering...

 

1. Do you take along your passports on shore excursions or leave them on the ship?

2. Is a neck pouch or money belt recommended for $$, credit cards, etc.

3. If you wear a neck pouch under your clothes, how do access it without having a totally awkward situation in public?

I carry my passport and a little cash in a rfid neck pouch. I carry a credit card and enough cash for the day in a chain wallet that I keep in my front pocket. I try not to carry a substantial amount of cash, but if I must, I keep it in a money pouch and find a bathroom stall if I need to access it.

I realize chain wallets aren't a popular choice with the ladies, so the bags/purses with reinforced straps etcetera are the way to go.

I buy a package of Bonine tablets at Walmart for about $3. One chewable tablet a day does the trick. Have never had any problems with motion sickness using Bonine.

On 1/31/2019 at 3:05 AM, dutchie6 said:

Having just returned on a HAL, and having paid US$203 compulsory gratuities, which at only AU62c to our dollar,so add another 38c to the dollar, is hardly a bargain! I felt it was enough tip for my 14 day cruise, and YET the cabin stewards still hung around on the evening before disembarkation for an additional tip. I felt very uncomfortable and ended up giving the 2 guys $10 each extra as well! As Aussies we don't like to pay tips, unless they have done some extraordinary thing for me! I felt annoyed. Other cruises I have always tipped the stewards and table guys at least $100 each and that should be enough! Pay the staff better wages or put it on our fare but do not expect a double tip from me!!

Since you had already paid your auto-gratuities of $203, there was absolutely no reason to give the cabin stewards any additional tips whatsoever.

I'm American, and pay my gratuities in advance, then don't tip anybody the entire cruise. So let's dispense with the myth that all Americans are lavish tippers who like to brag about how much they tip.

Those cabin stewards you gave $10 each to wouldn't have gotten a penny from me. You made the choice to give them additional tips, nobody forced you.

.

On 1/16/2018 at 11:48 PM, CruiseGal999 said:

People on CC and in America especially seem to LOVE to tip people copious amounts of money. AND they LOVE telling everyone on CC that they do so and how much to each.

Painting people with a broad brush is a fail. 

American here. I prepay gratuities, and don't tip anybody while on board.

I'm so sorry I don't live up to your preconceived notions of American cruisers.

On 2/9/2019 at 5:34 AM, KmomChicago said:

You're not going to like my answer, but I would do Carnival Sunshine from Charleston SC for 5 nights October 14-19.  You won't have to add the expense or hassle of the flight which would be easier with the little ones.  It's only 5 nights so it's long enough to find out if you all really love it but not forever if you're not thrilled.  It's a 4 hour drive from your house so you can either drive down the night before and find a park and stay deal or park at the port, or you can leave the house early the day of the cruise and just pay for parking.

Good idea about Charleston and Carnival Sunshine for a first cruise with kids. 

Another option for travel from Asheville to Charleston would be Greyhound bus. Bathroom on board, free wi-fi, overhead tv/movie monitor, all seats have their own power outlet for charging electronic devices. Only 2 seats on each side of the aisle per row - no middle seats means you're never uncomfortably stuck in between two people like on airline flights.

Travel time from Asheville to Charleston is no more than 7 hours, and there are no transfers to other buses to worry about. The bus station on Dorchester Road is only about 10 to 12 minutes via vehicle from Carnival Cruise Port on Washington Street.

Kids get discounted fares on Greyhound. Way cheaper than flying, and also cheaper than driving your own car, because you don't have to pay exorbitant parking fees. Also no worries about your car getting broken into while you're cruising.

Travel to Charleston the day before departure. There are decent motels to be had along the interstate between the bus station and cruise port. You should be able to find one that has a shuttle van that will pick you up at the bus station after arrival, but if one isn't available, Uber or a taxi for such a short ride would be insignificant.

If there isn't a shuttle available from the motel to the port on the day of the cruise, again Uber or taxi fare would be negligible.

On 3/1/2019 at 10:09 PM, calliopecruiser said:

Many of the mainstream lines do not care about return customers

Quote

"Royal Caribbean is known for courting repeat customers. The company says that as many as 50 percent of the people on a cruise are repeat passengers."

  https://www.cio.com/article/2873553/how-royal-caribbean-personalized-the-customer-experience.html

 
 

2 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

I guess my BIL didn't have the superior $12 Walmart wallet.  Anyway,  I'm glad you have it all covered.  

More likely he doesn't have much situational awareness.

One would have to be 'asleep at the wheel' so to speak, in order to allow somebody to get a chain wallet out of their pocket and then remove the wallet from the chain, without them knowing it.

Are you sure your BIL wasn't sleeping when he got ripped off?

16 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

My brother-in-law had a chain wallet.  His son asked why the chain was loose.  Chain was still there but wallet was gone.  

 

Just saying these creeps are good and you cannot be too careful.  

Not all chain wallets are the same, and people have differing levels of situational awareness.

My chain wallet has saved my cash and credit card on two different occasions - once in Quezon City, Philippines and the other in Cebu City, Philippines.

Both times the pickpockets were unable to get the wallet from me. One pickpocket was able to get a knuckle sandwich from me, however, before running off through the crowd.

A chain wallet is an additional level of protection - which is why so many truckers use them.

On 1/28/2019 at 1:33 AM, ldubs said:

Like already said, for guys, don't carry a wallet in any pocket (front or back).  

I carry a chain wallet in my front pocket, that I purchased at Walmart for only $12. 

I always put the chain around a good sturdy leather belt - never around a belt loop, which can easily be cut or yanked loose by a pickpocket.

On 1/29/2019 at 6:09 PM, Hlitner said:

He credit card was "hit" for over $10,000 within the first hour.  

Virtually all major credit card companies have zero liability protection. As long as he reports the theft promptly, he won't have to pay a penny. 

Even without zero liability protection, U.S. federal consumer protection law does not allow him to be held responsible for more than the first $50 of unauthorized charges, regardless of the total amount, as long as he promptly reports theft of the card.