Homosassa

I have used the pools on HAL, also on Chandris, NCL, Sitmar, RCL, Regency, Premier, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, Azamara, Viking Ocean, Oceania, and MSC. Do I qualify to answer the question?

Then there was obviously information that the ship's security had concerning the woman that you do not have, was not a problem, and didn't need to talk about.

LOL - my husband might say the same about a wife with an Italian heritage....

Someone has to state the obvious: You are assigned a check in time at the pier, not a time to board the ship. Given the limited road access to the pier and limited drop off area at the terminal in Vancouver, I can see where check in times are spread out to avoid traffic tie ups. As for going through US Customs and Immigration, before boarding the ship, that seems to be standard SOP for cruises starting in Vancouver and ending in a US port. We flew in for our cruise in June that started in Vancouver and ended in Seward. We went through US I&C at the airport before leaving the airport terminal. We did not have to do it at the pier as it was somehow electronically tracked and attached to our passports.

Stay far away from the pizza from HAL unless you enjoy eating a frozen pizza from the supermarket.

Another option is to actually pay the price for a cruise on a line where the fare is high enough to cover the cost of bacon (American and English), smoked salmon and other staples on the buffet. You get what you pay for.

The only cruise line that I have cruised on that does not have the envelopes is MSC. They charge a Daily Service Charge and will tell you no other tipping is expected. Of course, if one does wish to tip, the recipient will gladly accept a discreetly delivered folded bill. In line with the MSC policy, those who assume that they can delete the DSC or lower it will be surprised that it is not very easily done. Any request to do so will initiate a meeting with someone in Guest Services that will need the details of the specific experience that has led to the request. A general statement that one wants the DSC removed will not be honored.

Of course it isn't only for the "elite." However, there are always customs and traditions that occur in any experience one might have in life. As the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." The problem started to occur as passengers new to the cruising experience did not bother to learn the customs on board ship. That is when the Daily Service Charge arrived.

Your float would not be allowed in any pool on any cruise ship on any cruise line.

At one time, HAL did have a policy of no tipping. However, it was understood by those who cruised (or traveled in general) that one did leave something in appreciation for those who provided excellent service. Envelopes were available at the Purser's Desk (yes, has been a while) to use for the money. However, after HAL was sold to Carnival and the Carnivalization started, passengers started to book that did not understand the customs of cruising. That was when the Daily Service Charge arrived.

Just a note: The dining room is called the dining room, not the "Dew Drop Inn Gobble and Go." Some may need to set their expectations and behavior to reflect the venue....

Let's get this clear. As she was dinged onto the ship, she was waved on to proceed to the area where items are placed on a belt and one goes through the security gate. Was that area immediately at the first security station where one is allowed entry onto the ship or was, as typical of many ships, beyond that area where there are more security crew to screen items and the guests. In our experience, the alert that shows on the first screen is also transmitted to the second area (first person doesn't need to do the alert) where a security person looks for him in that area's line and has him step around the gate for the wand check after he has placed his belongings on the belt. Unless one is playing very close attention to another passenger, one would not notice deviation at the second check point.

This has happened to my husband, not because he is a security risk, but because he has requested security scanning by a wand instead of going through the gate security. He is waved through and at the point with the belt for personal items and the gate to walk through, they take him out of line for the once over with the wand..

What are the conditions on your original booking? It is possible that your original booking has restrictions that precludes any changes without cancelling and rebooking at current rates. And, FYI, it doesn't matter what you have done on other cruise lines at some point in the past, it only matters what NCL's current policy is.

I take it that you have no experience living with a color blind person. The yellow helps in distinguishing what color the suitcase might be because now the brain will perceive the suitcase color however it is differentiated and will not be misinterpreting the yellow.

Totally believable - my husband is color blind and he would never notice a lime green belt on a suitcase. This is especially true depending on the color of the suitcase: Brown suitcase, green belt: all brown Red Suitcase, green belt: shades of red Black or gray suitcase, green belt: belt is gray and blends in Green suitcase, green belt: That's green? Get a bright true yellow (no red or blue tones) belt. That is a color that can be seen by color blind people.

Make sure you know any booking conditions for your reservation and read and understand the MSC Terms and Conditions on their website.

Just like a box of tissues, you can also request wash cloths.