3rdGenCunarder

I always thought ribbons, etc on bags were because people were too dumb to know what their own bags look like. Now I know that it's so those dumb people don't take mine! I couldn't find my bag in Brooklyn after a QM2 transatlantic. The port staff were wonderful, helping me look and giving me the paperwork. We took one last look at the color/number area where my bag SHOULD have been. There was another black garment bag sitting all alone. It had a tag for Something of the Seas leaving Bayonne that day, so we were pretty sure we knew where my bag was--on its way to Bayonne. The woman in charge called the Bayonne port and put a hold on Mr. Idiot's file so that when he checked in, the question about luggage would come up. They did ask him, and he said he had all of his bags, which means he was counting mine as one of his own. His bag was put on a van to Bayonne, and the Brooklyn woman made a few more calls, but nobody in Bayonne found my bag. I got a call the next day saying the good news was that they knew where my bag was. The bad news was that it was on its way to the Caribbean. It had been found in a hallway on the Something of the Seas. If it was delivered to Mr. Idiot's cabin, he didn't have the decency to do anything about it. When the ship returned to Bayonne, my bag was delivered to my house by port services, no charge. When I opened the bag, everything looked as it should, so I guess Mr. Idiot didn't try to wear any of my evening gowns.

QM2 has EB sitting out at the breakfast buffet and they do NOT look appetizing. If I want one, I'll wait for a fresh one rather than eat one that has been sitting out.

I never get a confirmation from Cunard, and half the time the credit doesn't make it to the ship (I travel with hard copy in case I have to fight with the front desk.) But HAL always gets the credit done and confirms it. I do always ask for a confirmation. Earlier this month, I got the auto response in a few minutes and a specific confirmation a few minutes after that. Fastest response yet.

I wonder what their idea of "reasonable" is.

I do the same thing with Amtrak. Making changes is so much easier that way.

I agree! On one of my Canada/New England cruises I made it a mission to have lobster roll (my favorite way to eat lobster) in every port. I even tried a McLobster (in Halifax, IIRC). Definitely not the best--too much lettuce filler, but not bad. A stall at the market in Saint John was the best.

I had the same response. I thought the "regular" nights had better menus with more choices.

I agree! I wish the pool attendants wouldn't wait until the end of the cruise to "harvest" those books.

"Space where books are" is a good name. Certainly NOT my idea of a library. I loved browsing a ship's library. I could always find something good to read. My best find was on a HAL Canada cruise. We had a stop at PEI and planned to go to Green Gables, so I had reread Anne just before the trip. Imagine my surprise to find a bio of the author in the ship's library! That greatly enhanced my visit to Green Gables.

I've heard about setting books free by leaving a book with a note in it saying "I'm leaving this here on purpose, I hope you enjoy it" or something like that. I didn't know there's a group to register with. I suppose it is nerdy, but nothing wrong with that!

(bold is mine) House bands work hard. Cunard's has to back a variety of guest performers, often with just the afternoon to meet the performer and rehearse before the evening's performances. There's no shame in using sheet music or tablets for such short prep time.

Tamarind menu looks great! So many good choices, how did you decide?!? And the food porn has my mouth watering.

Nooo! Not Deluxe! For years, before they changed to vista/signature/neptune suites, they had "superior" and "deluxe." To this day, I can't remember which was the higher grade.

If it's any consolation, a Vista suite is larger than a Verandah.

Not sure why you posted this. Do you have questions about suite catergories? HAL applies the term "suite" liberally. Only Neptune Suites and Pinnacle Suites have "suite privileges" like access to the Neptune Lounge or a special restaurant (Club Orange on K'dam). Vista and Signature "Suites" get that name because they're larger than standard verandah cabins. They do get double mariner points, but I don't think there are any other special privileges. I believe Category B is Vista Suite.

Only four musicians? There used to be five.

When I was on Zuiderdam, Lincoln Center was full to overflowing. Granted, it's a smaller space (Explorer Lounge) than on the Pinnacle ships. Their space filled on K'dam, too, even with the awkward time slots. (Sharing with BBKing meant BBK had the space at night.) On one of my cruises, LC started offering additional performances as "recitals," with just one or two of the musicians. I hope that they have some choice in what they play at these performances.

Last post was that they were still trying to get someone at guest services to talk to them, so they weren't even at a negotiation point. That is a "front desk" strategy--they won't let you talk to "the man behind the curtain," hoping you'll just go away. Given some of the humorous (snarky?) posts, I doubt OP will be back.

I haven't noticed a lot of up-and-down prices on pre-purchased items, but I haven't made a study of it. I've never seen an advance discount on the Thermal Suite pass. IIRC, being able to pre-buy that is fairly recent. (or maybe I'm confused with another line on this.) The only special I've seen on the Thermal Suite pass is "couples discount" the first day on board. It doesn't have to be a couple. It can be any two people who sign up together, so if only one person in a couple wants the pass, if you know someone else on the cruise (maybe someone from the roll call) you can get the couple discount. You don't have to use the spa together, it's just signing up that requires two people. This info is pre-covid, so the couple discount may no longer be offered, especially if they're keeping numbers low. As a single, I'm used to the single supplement, and I understand the reasoning behind it for cruise fares. But there is no good reason to charge me more per person just because I'm on my own. I complained about this to no avail. No, I wasn't being charged more per person. I just didn't qualify for the discount. 🙄

I know what you mean. The first Christmas is the hardest. The loss is there, whether you're in the same surroundings or somewhere different. But a temporary distraction helps a little. Christmas morning was a ritual for us--champagne, cookies, opening Christmas stockings. I still start the day with fizz and cookies, even if I am by myself. as I am this year (Covid in the family cancelled our get-together). But my DD DH was with me in my heart as I remembered past Christmasses. And I know Jose is with you. So raise a glass to his memory and share the day's festivities virtually with him.

I have seen the testing on Cunard. Everyone has to show they can step over the distance. One time they had a mat on the floor that was the distance to be stepped across. People had no idea why it was there. Some walked around it, and some just stepped on it in stride on their way to get tender tickets. Then crew would have to explain and make them try again. Jacqui, I love your response to the lecture about tenders. Sometimes staff can get condescending and need to be reminded that some passengers actually have a clue!

Thanks, but I think a balcony, even if it isn't aft, works better for me. I like being able to step out for fresh air first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I don't want to be roaming the halls in my robe for that early morning weather check!

Thanks!

Just thought of another question. Is there a smoking area by the seaview pool? And if so, which side?

Until covid, I did a Caribbean cruise every winter just for a warm break. I choose a cruise to be on a ship, and it's HAL because I don't want to be on a mega and I balk at the price to be a single on a smaller all-inclusive where I won't make a lot of use of the included items. Even though I've been to most of HAL's ports multiple times, I look for a new excursion or just grab my camera and go out to explore. I look for somewhere local to spend money on a snack or a drink. For repeat ports that I know have little to interest me, I enjoy the quiet of the ship.