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Even if there are different immigration rules for cruise passengers if the boat's in port so are you. When we stayed in a hotel on a two day port stop in Iceland we didn't inform the cruise line much less seek "permission."

We stayed in a hotel in Reykjavik on a two-day port visit. It was nice break to be in a larger space with proper showers and facilities. It saved us the trip back and forth from the port which was a couple of miles away. We didn't have to queue at the buffet for breakfast nor be crammed in cheek to jowl in restaurants and it made excursions and exploring more convenient. I highly recommend it and would do it again.

When going through school I appreciated professors who were quite open about their political views. It allowed me to tailor my comments, questions and submissions to appeal to their biases and reduce the risk of lower grades because my views might offend them.

For me the choice would be easy because I live in Ontario and have little desire to cruise in places I can easily get to otherwise. Also, the "charms" of New England have never appealed to me. Meanwhile, I loved Alaska and would cruise there again.

It's better to mistake an Englishman for a Scot than to mistake a Scot for an Englishman.😉

Do the people who wear masks, avoid elevators, wear surgical gloves, wrap their remote in a plastic bag, push buttons with their elbows, sanitize everything with alcohol wipes do all of these things when staying at a land-based hotel or resort or is the behavior limited to just cruises?

I do the same which is nothing different than what I do at home. No alcohol wipes, masks, pressing buttons with elbows, constant handwashing, avoiding elevators, etc. IMO, the risk on a cruise ship is no different than a large hotel, long flight, major sporting event, concert or any other situation where people congregate in large numbers.

I don't think they are trying to shame you by social convention but expressing surprise a spouse would request a different table. It's unlikely something that happens to them often.

I'm quite grateful they didn't come to Canada.

They become uncivil when people take a hard position which is often the case on hot button issues. In 2015 a discussion on abortion, gun control, immigration, racism, same sex marriage, religion, climate change would be every bit as potentially nasty as it would be today. I have opinions on all of above. I'm not interested in yours and won't impose mine on you. Lets discuss other subjects if cordial dinner conversation is the objective.

Which topics would those be? There have always been "hot-button" issues that are best avoided in the MDR, at family holiday dinners and anywhere else you hope to have a civil conversation.

Some issues are more contentious than others, people often have strong opinions on them and unless you are spoiling for a fight they are best avoided.

Issue based discussions might be worse depending on the issue. Starting conversations on gun control, abortion, gay marriage, capital punishment, immigration, racism, climate change, marijuana legalization, vaccination and homelessness might not result in a pleasant dinner table discussion.

My first thought were that to happen to me would be to apologize, set my my knife and fork on the table and eat the rest of the meal with my hands. 🙂

This thread further explains why anytime dining is growing in popularity. Discussing controversial topics with complete strangers is rarely a good idea but some people just can't help telling the world what they think.

It's not a bad question but don't press if you get a vague answer in response.

I'm not an American. When on a cruise I am on vacation. I have little or no interest in being subjected to a tedious discussion on the American political situation. Please keep them off the dinner table. I'd also appreciate if you didn't discuss race, gun control, religion, reproductive rights, immigration and other subjects on which Americans often strongly. I feel strongly about them too and might be tempted to square off.

I have encountered cruisers who scurry back to the boat from shore excursions because they are appalled at the prospect of having to eat local food.

My interests are more in eating the real thing from genuine local vendors instead of whatever pale imitation an American fast-food giant decides to slap together to pander to local tastes.

One explanation might not be the food but the toilets. Those who eat at McDs when overseas will sometimes defend their choice by saying they are often the only places with accessible and acceptable washroom facilities. I've never found a huge challenge answering the call of nature when traveling but will acknowledge having occasionally visited some quite gruesome toilets along the way.

McDs did not spread around the world to serve unadventuresome North American tourists who are intimidated by the prospect of local food or want a "taste from home." Without local patrons McDs wouldn't survive. In 40 years of extensive traveling I have eaten at a McDs outside of North America once. Late night arrival at a hotel in a very dodgy industrial neighborhood in the UK. My choice was risking being stabbed or eating a Big Mac and I still wonder whether I made the right choice. Otherwise I won't set foot in them or any other U.S. franchise when on the road. There are so many better options.

I like the pre-paid gratuities on cruises and when service charges are added to restaurant bills in the UK and Europe. It relieves me from having to think about gratuities (and do the math) if I wish but leaves open the option for me to tip additionally should I so choose. You do have to watch for those service charges on restaurant bills. More than once I've tipped over and above not realizing they were there. Ooops. 😀

No preference. I suppose it could be argued that at some ports like Tampa a weekend departure might be preferred due to less traffic congestion in the immediate area but the day of the week we embark isn't a factor when booking a cruise.

Kind words are great. Cash works better. Kind words and cash works best of all.

Tipping early is not technically a "bribe" unless you are requesting a service outside of their normal duties. The more accurate term is "facilitation payment" as the cabin steward is going to provide the service in any event and the gratuity is an incentive to provide you preferential treatment. Tipping at the end of the cruise meanwhile confers no benefit to you. People who are bitter and resentful that someone else may be paying a little extra and getting better service might regard it as a "low life" practice but if tipping early didn't bring results they wouldn't care.