3rdGenCunarder

Thank you! Saving the link for my trip to Norway in Oct.

Thanks. I get the significance of the mantle being at Earth's surface, but I'm afraid geology was not my favorite science, so to me it would be looking at a bunch of rocks after a long and expensive bus ride. I've been to Iceland and that did get me excited about geology.

Now, what's the fun in that?!? Somewhere I heard or read that the preference depends on where you're from. Devon does one way and Cornwall does the other (but I can't remember which is which). If it's clotted cream, I put that on first. As you say, like butter. But if it's whipped cream, then the jam goes first because whipped cream is too soft and squishy for the jam to spread on top.

@CruiserBruce and @Ferry_Watcher, which of the Gros Morne tours did you do? The itinerary for my cruise to Iceland and Greenland shows two tours. "Gros Morne National Park" is listed as moderate and includes a couple of stops--small town, lighthouse. "Gros Morne national Park Interpretive Walk" is listed as strenuous and includes an hour hike/leisurely walk and lunch. Both are 6.5 hours, with 2.5 hours on the bus each way. My basic rule is that time in transit should not be more than time on site. Is it really worth such a long bus ride?

There's usually a tactful little note on the things that you can't take home. Something like "Enjoy this during your cruise and if you want one to take home ($xx.xx), ask you steward for one."

I had the same response to the cupcake tea. The icing was different colors, but no flavor to set them apart, and the servers didn't know what they were supposed to be. Maybe they knew the taste was all the same. So disappointing! I think it was on Veendam the first year they resumed the NY-Bermuda cruise.

It could be worse. On an American Queen ship this June, they did afternoon tea one day. They had the lovely tiered servers, and the sweets were okay. Sandwiches were a bit dry--apparently nobody knew about the trick of covering them with a damp tea towel (or plastic wrap). Except for needing more raisins, the scones were good, but the horror of horrors was that the scones were served with packets of jam, the kind you get at a diner. Tacky! And check out the flavor I got! Who does that????????????

I usually go to the MDR for lunch on embarkation day. On the way out, I look for my table to make sure it's the size I want. If it isn't, I try to speak to the Maitre d' before dinner. There's often a time that's set for people to queue to sort out table changes.

Airplane mode is your wallet's friend! I have the opposite problem. I put it on airplane mode when I'm onboard, and forget to change the setting when I go ashore. Then I'm cross because my phone doesn't work!

Ooh, that is really cool! I saw Leo McKern in a hotel restaurant in a town near London. It was breakfast, a meal I consider sacred. I did not have the nerve to go over and ask for an autograph and risk that withering stare he could do. I had a sweatshirt that spelled out SWMBO. I often wore it riding, hoping the horse would get the message.

Most security systems want you to have keyholders/emergency contacts. Can you ask one of your contacts to watch things for you?

I've observed that scene way too many times in restaurants, especially in NYC. I get it, you're on vacation and want to tell your friends back home how great it is. But (except for a quick food porn picture) mealtime is a good time to put down the phone and share each other's company. I've seen that sign in a bar in Aruba. I love it! I agree with those who say the app is a nice convenience on board, but not necessary. A use that I don't think has been mentioned is looking at menus. Especially on the larger ships, where the buffet has many stations, I like to preview the menu rather than wander the whole area to decide what I want for lunch. I travel with a laptop and use that for email and initial sorting of photos. I tried using it to keep my travel journal, but for some reason that felt wrong. I find that's more satisfying if it's handwritten. "SWMBO?" Are you a Rumpole fan??

Sounds like no dance show tonight! Even Fred Astaire couldn't manage on a rolling ship! (20+) Video | Facebook

Chocolates and towel animals do seem to vary from cruise to cruise or steward to steward. But I have never experienced service like you had on any cruise. Not to say you didn't, but it isn't usual and I agree with @Caribbean Chris, I hope you reported it. I had a wonderful steward on my last HAL cruise. I usually go to breakfast early, so I would put the sign out so that he could do my room while everyone else was sleeping in. One morning a supervisor was in the hall, checking to see how things were, and I was so happy to see him and tell him how good the service was.

I'm grateful that they did keep two of the smaller ships. My Feb cruise is on Zaandam, and I'm hoping the small size will let us keep our itinerary, which includes Key West and Bonaire. Barring changes to SOLAS or other laws, the small ships have a lot of years left in them, if HAL takes good care of them. they're 20 or a bit more, but QE2 and Norway (ex France) made it to almost 40. The Pinnacle ships are too large for my taste. No way am I floating around on a "the ship is the destination" 6000-passenger Behemoth of the Seas.

I was trying to choose between two Alaska itineraries several years ago, and the big difference--and deciding factor--was the length of time in Victoria. Those evening calls are a joke. By the time you get off the ship, find a taxi or shuttle, you have at best an hour before having to get back to the ship. Victoria is worth much more time than that! I've been to Victoria three times on cruises. Butchart Gardens twice, and last time I binged on TWO foodie tours in one day.

You have a wonderful daughter! (Well done, Mum!) I would probably feel the same way. The clothes have come that far, let them out to show themselves off!!! A friend used to say, "Well, to make a short story long..." Don't apologize for a thorough review. I'm so happy to see Cunard win another fan.

I'm so glad you had a wonderful cruise! It sounds like Cunard took good care of you. Sorry to hear you caught Covid. Take care of yourself and get well soon so you can work on your plans for your next cruise. You've learned the secret, or maybe not so much a secret--cruising is addictive!

Ah, if it has to be free... MANY years ago on QE2, we got to know the bar staff on Sun Deck, where we always reserved chairs. One evening, at the captain's party, we discovered that they were pouring the champagne. So we stopped to say hello on the way out. They gave us fresh glasses to take with us--it was the end of the event, and they couldn't put it back in the bottle, right? That became our regular exit for parties on that ship.

A mistake on the Cunard website?????????? I'm shocked!!! Seriously, I agree with David. I've done 4 Alaska cruises, 3 out of Vancouver with the side passage to call at Victoria, and one out of Seattle, with outside passage both ways. One rough day on the outside passage, but the other times it was smooth. The sea is unpredictable, but don't cancel the cruise because you're worried about one day out of 10.

See? Cutbacks can be your friend if it makes things safer! The east side of a hurricane is often said to be the "messy" side, so you may get more rain as you sail. Enjoy Halifax. The Maritime Museum is wonderful. And a walktail is...?

As long as he is only GIVING the drinks, I wouldn't worry. If he's partaking, let's hope it's only a sip for the toast.

Well, there's an advantage of an aft cabin I hadn't thought about--foghorn isn't too loud. I hope you are able to get to Sydney. I missed it last year because Fiona had slammed through a few days before we were due to dock there. It was a mess and the last thing they needed was a few thousand extra people! Enjoy the cruise, with or without some of the ports. And if you miss ports and want to sue HAL, I hear Dewey, Cheathem & Howe is a good firm.

About a week ago, someone suggested chrome in incognito mode. That has worked for me. The website is still slow, but I can get around in it.

I do the same. Thank goodness for multiple closets so I can "sequester" clothing for the last morning so that don't have to disembark in a bathrobe. 😱