JGander

Yes, you can. Inform the ship prior to departure that you will be staying overnight and will be rejoining the ship at X point. This is not uncommon in Central America when people want to go see ruins that are too far inland for a day trip, you just overnight on land and rejoin later. You are required to do some homework though. Make sure you have everything you need for a visa of the length of time you are staying, this varies by country. And you will need to meet any visa and medical requirements of any country you enter or pass through. And I agree, as someone who doesn't like sea days I would far rather spend that day in Germany.

Yes, it does,

Have not done it yet, but plan on doing it in May so we can visit the fort and the cell that the man in the iron mask was housed in. Might bring snorkeling gear and go out to the underwater statues as well.

We have known several people to be left behind when the ship pulls out, and they have been on ship excursions, including an entire dive boat. They leave you, and their staff behind. What they do do is pay for your hotel and transfer to the next port.

Add your name to any custom magnets, this makes them less attractive. Place a pineapple on them and people will be less inclined to steal them for fear of being labeled a swinger.

Yes, I would have to go back and check which ports as it was several years ago. You will need to plan in advance as most places do not accept day tourists, AK is a very different diving experience in most places. It was also odd how cavalier DMs were about picking up the wildlife, as a normally Carib diver it was really weird to me. Overall, the thing I remember most was it was colder than CA diving. Wife thought it was OK, but way too cold for her.

Hmmm, this being my first cruise since becoming diabetic I think this should be interesting. Will have to remember to bring my butler phone to the restaurant and order the butler to deliver the dessert to the restaurant table. And then make certain the concierge knows my opinion of this problem.

We are in an aft suite on the Escape for May. The only aspect of the Haven I really care about is getting off the ship first without waiting in line. Otherwise I mainly am paying for the larger room and larger aft balcony. As for the meals, If I can eat in a strange city and try foods I can't normally get, I will. Be it street food or a high end restaurant, I am happy. Last October we got Cuy from a little old lady selling it on the side of the road and cooked in an open air brick oven and ate at Central in Lima for the same trip. Both were excellent experiences. The issue for myself, like others, is not the lobster tail, it is the nickel and diming after paying 3x the price of a normal balcony.

As DaveChipp mentioned, the soot has always been an issue with the aft balconies on the Epic, but more than made up for by the larger balcony IMHO.

You forgot the Grey Goose drinking guests, they don't value them anymore either. 🙂

You are quoting items which are specifically perks of the suites and Haven, such as priority disembarkation or boarding, which are very different than simply getting service at a bar. Same with main dining if you chose to eat there. While you may believe that it is getting you something, simply asking for a window seat will typically do the exact same thing, and not asking can get you anywhere even with your Haven card, as others have stated. And at a bar, you get your service before you show your card, unless you already have it out and have it presented to show it off. As I said, outside of Haven I have never been treated differently based on what card I had, but this is most likely because my key card lives in my wallet and not on display. When it does get displayed I have never had service suddenly change from what it was to somehow make me think my card was magically making things better or easier.

It is that area between the Haven door and the gangway. Or, since we prefer the aft suites, its the big section of the ship.

Having cruised Haven and non-Haven, suites and standard balconies, I can tell you that this is either your imagination or you are waving it around to create the Haven Halo affect in the same way that a Karen running around asking for managers creates an affect of people who just simply don't want to deal with their BS.

I agree, and many of those are Haven users who think that the card matters outside of the Haven area.

Honestly, not a lot. Most of the on-ship stuff would be on sea days, and we have none. The Escape appears to have a nice, if small, sauna to use so we won't be getting the ThermaSpa, and a private hot tub. Sadly the hot tub is likely to be closed since we will be in motion at night shortly after we return. The restaurant is mostly a waste this trip, we will only be able to get breakfast twice, and dinner more often but it will depend on what we found to eat on shore if we attend. The best amenity to us is the ability to get off the ship right away. We will use the balcony a lot, we enjoy sitting out on it in the evenings and relaxing on the loungers while the ship takes us to the next stop.