YourWorldWithBill

Congratulations; hope it's a great cruise.

Bon Voyage!

From their (not my!) condo:

Hello all, and thanks for the Fleet Report, maps, and all the posts. Cozumel: a few years ago my cousin retired and moved to Cozumel. Then a couple of years ago he built a house for himself. Nice. Visiting my daughter in Miami today.

Thanks so much for the Fleet report, maps, and all the posts. Off to Miami tomorrow to visit my daughter. Coco, Naenae and Samantha (the sticker on the shirt is for the eclipse):

Standard except for the "odds" bets, or behind the line. On HAL those bets can only be twice of the "line" bet or the "come" bet.

Greetings, everyone. Thanks for the Fleet Report, the maps, the care lists, and all the posts. As a dog and cat person, thanks to @cat shepard for something that all of us know, but for me it's often close to 4:30.

In the past it was possible to buy an AARP gift card and use that to purchase chips before the cruise, which you could then pick up at the casino. I believe that was the only way to use the AARP gift card for chips. The option of purchasing chips before the cruise has gone away. Have others used that (or any) gift card to purchase chips? Is there any problem doing that? Is it necessary to apply the card for onboard credit first? Thanks.

@Haljo1935, amazing picture from your friend's sister. One more picture, taken before totality:

Hello all. Thanks for the Fleet Report, maps, and care list. Thanks for the eclipse pictures. Here's two more with my cell; in the first you can see a star, maybe actually Venus (planet, of course) on the far right.

A few months ago I bought what were some of the last tickets to watch at the Dallas Arboretum, figuring it would be nice to be with a group. Now maybe they'll all have umbrellas.

But as a memory, it's great! The really painful memory is the long, long security line which is the first thing you encounter. That is a bit discouraging. My cousins are driving up from Houston today in preparation for the eclipse. At least they'll get to see the dogs here. Every few hours I check (on my cell) for the forecast.

Thanks for the Fleet Report and daily, and thanks to all for the posts and pictures. @RedneckBob, thanks for your comments about the NS; that was great to hear, as we will be on her four weeks from tomorrow! Should Charlie the Tuna really get a day, since he isn't good enough for Starkest? Twinkies have the reputation of the ability to survive for eternity (and to be edible, if anyone is there to eat them).

Slightly... For out Alaska cruise (about a year-and-a-half ago) we were in a Neptune suite. We were sitting as you described, until someone went around asking for 4 and 5 star mariners. We jumped up and said we were in a suite, so they moved us a few feet to an area with slightly less people, still the same seating, but not anything special. Port 02.mp4

Thanks for the reports, maps, and all the posts. Our visit to Bergen was almost a year ago: May 2023. @StLouisCruisersI remember that walkway and those stairs! We didn't try them.

Looks wonderful! Bon voyage!

One of our first HAL cruises was Alaska in a Neptune suite. You will enjoy having a great cabin to relax in for the great views.

I feel the same about the AmEx platinum! 😃

Exactly. We like the opposite with our Neptune suites: we purposefully book near mid-ships close to the Neptune lounge. My wife gets seasick, and this is a good location for her, and we make frequent trips with issue for the concierge. On our upcoming cruise we are in a verandah mid-ships that we chose well in advance. But how often have you been moved from your seat on a flight, or heard about others being moved, unless there is, as you said, an aircraft change? Very, very rare. Even then, they try to keep you in about the same place. And you don't live on the plane for a week or two or longer!

Thanks for the reports, maps and all the posts. I'm late with nothing to say, just want to say hello.

When every other browser fails, I have often been successful using Firefox.

I have the American Express platinum card, which covers cancellation for certain reasons (not for any reason) and medical expenses on a trip that is paid for using the card. For $64 extra for each trip, I get about $100,000 of medical coverage. I haven't had to use it for that, but have heard good reports from others. I think, at least in the past, AmEx takes care of you.

Just a note to add to the reality of the Vancouver terminal: the challenge as @C 2 Csaid, is getting through that first security line. We like to go early and just manage to go through the long, long lines, but many follow @martincath's advice and go late. So, it's whatever you're comfortable with.

About once every couple of weeks there is a thread like this, about HAL's IT. It's amazing that they can't get it right.