fatcat04

On 4/27/2022 at 6:39 PM, cavecreekguy said:

Before one cruise I read a post on here that mentioned giving a tip after every cocktail showed more immediate appreciation than a tip at the end of the cruise. Since I tip after every cocktail at a land-based bar, this made sense to me, so I did that. But it didn't seem like anyone else did.

 

As I went on subsequent cruises, I found that I quickly developed a ship-board routine, visiting the same bars around the same times, and therefore had the same bartenders each time. Since the HAL bartenders are so great about remembering my preferences, I would even seek specific bartenders out for that personalized service.

Now I bring envelopes for tipping at the end of the cruise. There are about 6-8 bartenders who I know will provide me with that personalized service that makes my trip *extra special*, so that's what I plan on.

We were on the same HAL ship a few months apart and we found "our" bartender, a real pro. He remembered we like our top shelf Sidecars with Armagnac (a bit beefier) instead of Cognac without us telling him. Love that extra touch from a bartender. I so hope to meet up with him again now post-Covid. He did the Mixology Class both cruises too, which is loads of fun for those that haven't done it. Bring a good toast with you for a surprise, preferably slightly bawdy. 

If I go to a local restaurant with a bottle of wine, they will charge corkage. HAL should be different why exactly? 

As a long time customer, they have positively reacted to customer comment concerning an expansion of their wine list and a reduction in by the glass prices. 

I am content. 

I will probably bring on a bottle of special bubbly for our anniversary next cruise but that is all because they have seriously improved their wine list. 

I'll be honest. We do. We usually find "our" bar which we hang out at and tip in cash on the night before the cruise ends the staff person/s that made our cruise super. That said, if we get great service elsewhere, yeah, we will pass them a few dollars. BUT we are a tipping bunch. We would sooner eat off our own lips than not tip "correctly." It's a  cultural thing and we pass zero judgement. 

Dh and I have at most gotten a total of 3 appetizers (entree) and 3 entrees (plats) to share for 2 of us. Our shared plat is usually a pasta or risotto. The pumpkin ravioli or the mushroom risotto come to mind. We prefer the smaller portions normative of the European style. We also like to do apero pre dinner which means a drink or two plus some nibbles. As for dessert, me always, dh he likes the cheese plate. 

On 2/26/2022 at 9:25 PM, mchell810 said:

 

There is not an annual fee: Pre-Check costs $85 and is good for 5 years.  There is an application process you have to complete to get approval.  If you travel internationally, you may want to consider Global Entry instead because it speeds your clearance when returning to the US and it includes Pre-Check for the $100 application fee. It also lasts 5 years.

Second Global Entry, some of the best money we have spent. Love it!! 

Looks like domestically at least all US airlines have gleefully dropped the mandate. 

39 minutes ago, maui07 said:

under 5's dont need an exemption, they can just go. Nothing required at all. 

Much of Europe already accepts this settled science. We had a wonderful time in France last year and no one even blinked about our 4 yo daughter. It was absolutely refreshing to be around such logical people. 

19 minutes ago, Brewgirl1 said:

I don't understand why anyone not vaxxed would want to cruise. What if you can't go on excursions, or get off the ship if the countries don't want you? Get sick and need a hospital?

Canada like much of Europe is welcoming of 4 and unders with their vaccinated parents. We spent 2.5 weeks in France last year. Delightful child friendly country. 

We adore HAL and it's classic timeless style and have for a decade+ (we have had 4 HAL cruises cancelled "for us" by Covid including the Rotterdam TA) but we have a 4 year old (and a near 21 year old old too) and in the time of Covid, young children are anathema (even despised) on HAL apparently. So we spend our vacation dollars elsewhere, and not sadly tbh. I hope that changes as we love cruising but I am not holding my breathe tbh. HAL will lose us as multi generational cruisers sadly. 

We have had the butler service several times and have always been impressed. Your butler will escort you to your cabana and help you carry your beach stuff too. This was particularly helpful with kids and my mil who had at the time some mild mobility issues. The lunch is a lot of food and the steaks have always been excellent. Enjoy!!

The water seemed fine to us a couple weeks ago but the beach has to be raked, especially after a nighttime storm, as the seaweed does come ashore. Look for a beach club with chairs for rent that does that for you. We enjoyed Bikini Beach a great deal. 

Pinel is a bit of a hike but the waters will probably be calmer. Orient is gorgeous on its own but the water can be a bit rough sometimes (it was for us this last trip). Both have beach clubs with chairs and umbrellas for rent and restaurants for lunch. Lovely corner of the world to visit. Can't go wrong with either one. 

We just spent 5 glorious days at Orient Beach and yes, Orient Beach Club is ruins. But there is a good largish naturalist beach area complete with chair and umbrella vendors + restaurant that is located in that area of Orient and the rest of the beach is top optional as we saw many ladies sunbathing without care. We spent our days down at Bikini Beach Club near the village. We loved it. So relaxing and the chairs are so comfy. Going back soon. A wonderful vacation spot. 

During the day in that area (and most areas) you are just fine. We spent 1.5 weeks on island last month. Fantastic. Just watch out for traffic. Enjoy! 

A snowy cold Good Morning to you all from Nashville, TN and a thank you to Rich for the Daily. 

Genealogy, yep did quite a bit of that before the kids arrived. We will get back to it one day. Alfred Hitchcock, soo many great movies. Rebecca is my favorite B/W (book is good too) and North by Northwest is my favorite color... but Cary Grant always melted my butter. 

Hugs and prayers for those on the care list. Cheers for those who are celebrating!

Sorry for the absence but my days have been over full getting MIL out of rehab and into assisted living. So many details, so many little things to think of and I am point person/chief bottle washer/slave labor  as my husband is an only child and he has to work all day. It reminds me of when you move into your first apartment, you need well, everything. We got a few things from her home of 46 years (which had become more of a prison with steps everywhere and rugs and thick carpet which are all horrible for the mobility impaired) but most of her furniture is just way too big, too heavy, too tall, or simply ready to be tossed in the dumpster. So I had 2 furniture deliveries to navigate. Mil needed some medical assistance devices so I had to coordinate that. Our Amazon delivery guy must be getting really sick of coming to my house as I have used them so much to get all the odds and ends from dish towels to bed sheets to a coffee maker to accent tables. BUT I am sooo thankful for Amazon! They have made this much easier on me.

The assisted living folks have been fantastic. I have told my dh when we get to that point, I pray we can be at a place like mil. It is just wonderful. Mil has a private 1 bedroom apartment with kitchen. It is very spacious but not too big as her limited mobility is an issue. She is getting all her therapy (PT/OT/ST) in her apartment which is fantastic as they are helping her get used to USING her new home to her ability level. 

All in all, while exhausting, this was a fantastic move for her and she looks and moves better now than she has in 2 years. I think this move will add quality years to her life. Plus, her grandchildren have far more access to her now (the most important part).

This experience has also taught us a great deal about how dh and I should deal with this eventuality.. plan far ahead, tour facilities, talk to others in the know, get everything in order so our kids have a seamless transition and don't feel completely overwhelmed (I have to admit I have felt that a bit lately), move in before the crisis hits and maybe we will avoid the crisis all together, know our limitations, and be willing to accept help without fear or guilt. 

And to leave you, you know Alfred Hitchcock loved to place himself in every single movie he directed, a hallmark of his and one of his many many quirks. Just little cameos walking a dog or sitting on a bus or waiting at a street corner but fun to watch out for. So here is a photo article of every cameo he made in his movies. Enjoy.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/every-cameo-that-alfred-hitchcock-made-in-his-films/ss-BB1gzWXm

On 3/2/2022 at 12:20 AM, TiogaCruiser said:

Corsets don’t have to be uncomfortable if they fit correctly. Mine are actually comfortable. You just have to be willing to “perch” if it’s a long one ( like from the teens). Bustles, too, not necessarily uncomfortable. They typically collapse when you sit down. Having said that, I have no intention of bringing any of my pre-1930s historical clothing onboard. And yes, more than one of my 1930s velvet  dresses have attended a HAL formal night.

Nice! Dh and I (and the kids) do Medieval, Renaissance, and Pirate cosplay and have always wanted to do a Halloween cruise just so we can bring our garb. We look pretty slick when we get rigged up. 

We have always taken the tuxes and cocktail or evening gowns, even for the kids. It has made for some really fantastic family pictures over the years. Not many chances to really dress up anymore sadly. The last work related shin dig for dh that was black-tie was in 2007. 

Morning all and thanks for the daily. Hugs, prayers, and best wishes to those on the care list. Jovial yeehaws for those celebrating. 

Yet another gloomy, drizzly, cold day here in Nashville.. beginning to sound like a broken record but really.. never ever ever come to Nashville in February. When we win the lotto, we will spend the entire month elsewhere every year. 

Mil took yet another fall (nothing broken) the day before we came home from St Maarten and has been in the hospital and rehad since. She is being treated for Parkinsons though the diagnosis has yet to arrive. They can't diagnose her at the hospital, only in a neurologist office? I don't know. It is all so stupid, it hurts my brain.

Oh well, but she has FINALLY (after much wailing and gnashing of teeth) acquiesced to assisted living, hooray!! And the place is really lovely and convenient. This means we can visit more often and she will no longer be in danger living alone. I am sooo thankful. So we are in the mad rush to get that set up, get her furniture, clothes, housewares, etc together, sign papers, get her house secured, bills paid, mail set up, banking fixed, the list seems endless. I am point person but with a 4 year old to take care of and an elderly mom myself and only my overworked husband and 20 year old son who works 50+ hours a week to rely on, I'm feeling overwhelmed. But the light is at the end of this tunnel, "Just keep swimming!!" 

So here is a last installment of lovely St Maarten/Martin. We are so looking forwards to going back for another extended visit. 

(Orient Beach, Friar's Bay Beach, Mullet Beach, Cupecoy Beach at Sunset, Lunch at Tropicana on the Marina in Marigot: Chilled Carrot Ginger Soup with Shrimp, Crab Parfait, Sole Meuniere, Banana Crusted Snapper, the Marina itself still recovering from Irma and Covid shutdown, a farewell plate of French goodies and wine on our patio overlooking Cupecoy) 

Good morning folks and thanks for the daily! Hugs and prayers for our care list, cheers for those celebrating. 

35 degrees and raining here, so a typical Nashville February morning. That in mind, some more lovely sun, sand, and sea pics (and maybe some food pics from the marvelous restaurants at the Orient Beach Village) from St Martin/Maarten. (pics: Mullet Bay Beach, Sunset at Cupecoy Beach, Friar's Bay Beach, Tenderloin with Reblochon cheese sauce and duck confit Parmentier at Le Piment, Melted goat cheese and smoked honeyed duck breast salad at Le P'tit Bistro, profiteroles at Yellow Sub)

Howdy all!! Dreary cold day here (and it might be where you are too) so since we just got back from a 10 day vaca in St Martin/Maarten (fabulous!!), I thought I'd share some pretty pics dh took and we can do some sun and sand and sea dreaming together. 

What an amusing thread. Those who hate kids won't be happy their childless cruises are coming to an end. We just spent 10 fantastic beach filled days on St. Maarten/Martin with our 4 yo daughter who obviously is unvaccinated and had a marvelous time, no masks, no hoops to jump through, no pearl clutching people looking at her like she is a "germ magnet" and the harbinger of their death. Just a little testing to get in for dh and me and the tests for everyone to get back to the US. Heck, with the correct testing, you don't even have to be vaccinated to go to St Maarten.

If we are allowed onboard a ship using our FCC with Holland America with our daughter, who is still not allowed to use her almost $1000 FCC we paid for her cruise that was cancelled almost 2 years ago, we will take that cruise later this year. If they refuse her, we will never set foot on another cruise ship. Having spent 2.5 weeks in France last year and now this trip, we know there are plenty of places on this Earth that welcome vacationing families with little kids.

2 hours ago, bennybear said:

I too understand that they want to clear these off the books.  But omicrom came out of nowhere and with new travel advisories 2022 is not looking good.  Good will is important, I do hope they will consider that as well.   And the credits will get people to spend more than they may have otherwise.  

I too hope. It's not like we WON'T spend that money should they extend that small good will to us loyal folks who have hung in there "hell or high water" booking cruise after cancelled cruise. Some of us just can't cruise at the moment. My 4 yo daughter alone has near $1k in FCC she can't use due to HALs own policy. She isn't allowed on one of their ships atm and won't be until she is vaccinated, worst case at 5. 

We have booked a cabana 4 times now (green twice, red, and yellow), always with butler service. It is an expense (yolo!) but it is nice to have your excellent steak lunch brought to your cabana and to have your own well stocked home base with plush loungers and all the doo dads plus snacks and unlimited beverages. We have always had our kids with us and even took our moms last time. That was very nice. My mil would have stayed there forever. I quite simply have never seen her have such a great day. We think it is very much worth it.  

Yes there is a tram. My mil has mobility issues so the tram was a huge help for her. The tram dropped us off not far from our cabana. 

With the butler service, your meal is served in cabana. Your menu to fill in will be sent to your cabins well ahead of time and you will make your choices then. The butler also helped us with our beach bags and was the one to get all our drinks. Tipping your butler extra I think is common practice, at least it is for us. 

I was told in by the office of the President of HAL that our FCCs from March 2020 will not be further extended past Dec 31, 2022 for both book and sail by. I was thankful for that extension as our daughter is 4 so literally can not step foot on a HAL ship atm. She turns 5 later this year and hopefully by then things will be more settled. Otherwise, if we still deem it too risky, we have resigned ourselves to just losing a great deal of money. 

9 minutes ago, Izzmo said:

Thank you!  This is very useful information.  I've been looking for the At-Home tests.  Royal Caribbean sells them 2 for $69 or 3 for $99.  emed has the 6-packs you mentioned.  Obviously a better price, but I want to make sure the 6-packs direct from emed are accepted by RC before I spend $300 on 12 of them for our party.  Are those the ones you used?

Yes, eMed was where we got our tests. They were recommended by our airline, United. We registered and downloaded the Navica app that works in tandem with the eMed tests. It was all seamless via our cell phone cameras and our results were posted on the Navica app within minutes. Having a helper while doing the test (though not necessary) is really helpful. Do however make sure about the expiration dates on the tests prior to ordering.