nana51

Sorry, I uploaded twice. Lovely day in Victoria. Also the market on Granville Island.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

I just got off yesterday. We took good care of it for you.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

I was one of the people who got on in San Diego. I was with 3 friends. We were appalled by some of the people getting on. One wouldn't put his beer can down to go through security. We saw a number of people who weren't the normal HAL crowd.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Westerdam has them this week.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Where do you sign up for the internet? I've never bought it before but at that price!

of course - since you board he 27th, but do turn it in quickly. the guest relations manager explained that they have a lot of Canadian and since this is their first time to Victoria this year, they are trying to set a good example to make all the clearings easy for the other cruises. I get where she is coming from but I also have to submit a legal document.

 

My tally is done and once I see what we do in San Diego, it will be promptly turned in as a revised form.

 

 

hope we meet you on board.

 

sadly, I confess that the last pic was moi, so I shouldn't be hard to find.

Well since I live in San diego I may not have to fill one out until I leave Canada. We will see. I will have nothing to declare obviously.

You look wonderful. So nice to have a face to go with the name.

Here is a copy of the email I have sent to my travel agent:

 

-------------------------

Hi Beth

 

We are having a great cruise but I was wondering if you could phone Canada Customs and check something for us please.

 

HAL is trying something new this year and gave us our Canada Customs forms for Victoria clearance today. They want them filled in and turned in tomorrow, April 23rd and have dated them April 30th for us.

 

My friend and I went to the front desk and pointed out that we still have three more ports to visit and would be doing more shopping so that our declaration would not be accurate by the time we reached Victoria. I was told I could estimate what I would spend and put that amount down. I have enough experience with Canada Customs to know that is hogwash and they want an accurate figure, not an estimate.

 

My friend and I said we would turn in our customs form when we leave San Diego and have an accurate total of what we spent. That is not going over well as they insist Canada Customs wants everything in advance.

 

I told them they could not force me to sign a false Canada Customs declaration and that if I arrive in Victoria having spent more than I have declared, I could be fined and have goods seized. Could you find out if I am within my rights to refuse to sign an inaccurate declaration on April 23, that the cruiseline has already dated April 30th for me.

 

Thanks---I hope I have not been too confusing to you.

 

Bobbie.

Bulls**t. I'm getting on in San diego so I won't be turning my customs form (I'm a Canadian citizen) until the 27th at the earliest. Makes no sense.

That still doesn't change the fact that the employees can keep the tips if the guests leave the HSC in place. I think it's the housekeeping service charge thing that's throwing you. It's not the same as a tip. Employees are allowed to keep their tips - unless the guest removes the HSC.

Since we have nothing against "crew wellness" and realize that we can't really measure the performance of the behind the scenes employees, I can't see any issue with the way the HSC is distributed. After all, it's in the crew members' contracts. For the $24/day that my wife and I pay, I really don't want to be negotiating individual contracts with every functional department on the ship. It's not very vacation-y. It just seems grossly unfair to deprive workers of money they're expecting just to "stick it to the man."

 

If you leave the HSC in place, you can tip the people whom you feel deserve it. They'll get to keep the money.

you might be wasting your breath. I like the way it's done. The people who work hard behind the scenes also are rewarded. It isn't split equally, the stewards and MDR staff still get the majority. We always tip our stewards and waitstaff. We've been fortunate to always have had good service. I've only been on four cruises and heading to my fifth in 2 days.

Also why do we tip the maitre'd? I get the servers but sometimes I have no idea who the maitre'd even is. If you have fixed seating and all goes well, why do we tip him?

Thanks for all the bon voyage wishes. I leave for San Diego Sunday morning. I think this is the 4th spring coastal cruise I've done. Makes for a nice getaway, and I'm able to afford a Neptune suite for 4 days.

 

Last night I assembled paperwork and assorted other documention - flight info, passport, hotel rez, shuttle rez, boarding pass, etc.. and packed my undies. :D Did a few loads of wash and tomorrow I'll pack the rest of it. This cruise is a week earlier than I normally go, and the temps in SD and Vancouver/Seattle are on the cool/cold side. Will probably need to pack my fleece jacket and gloves. Was glad I had them on my walking tour of Victoria last year. Once the sun goes down and you're near the water, it can get downright cold with the ocean breezes.

 

Roz

It will be lovely here by Monday morning. In the 70's. I hope to meet up with some of the sail group also. This is a nice little getaway and so cheap. Also got my flight out of Seattle to San Diego for $88.00 almost cheaper to go than stay home.

She'll be fine. I'm carrying a bottle on also and had no intention of putting it anywhere but my carry on.

Thank you all. We won't be flying as it leaves out of our home port but her suitcase is pretty big, not a carry on. I told her the rooms would be ready but she says "what if they aren't" whadda ya gonna do?:rolleyes:

Because everyone likes a brouhaha.:p

I've checked and seem to get two answers. We are leaving out of San Diego. My friend doesn't want to carry around her bottle of champagne in her carry-on luggage in case our room isn't ready. Is this allowed? I know it can be brought in the carry on but if just one bottle is in her checked luggage is that permissible?

Also there is a taco bar out by the pool.

How "Formal" are the formal nights in MDR on Westerdam Alaskan cruise.

DH & I have always dressed for them. What do you see gentlemen wearing these days? Our cruise is getting close.

Our cruise last summer seemed to be dressier than usual. We saw a fair number of tuxes (even a whole family down to the youngest boys). There were a few ladies dressed to the nines and all the young ladies looked adorable. I can honestly say I saw no one dressed "inappropriately". We just wore our nice black slacks with fancy tops and looked nice also.

Another reason I use ship excursions. Especially in a foreign country like Mexico.

Kazu, as a retired teacher and a demo for a company that supports schools and hospitals in other countries I am so in awe of you. What a truly wonderful person you, and the other members of your roll call, are. Thank you for your support of these children.

I am a retired elementary school librarian. I donate books to a program called "room to read". It is so rewarding to help schools in these areas. The children are so appreciative. congratulations to all of you for doing this!:)

A week tomorrow and I will be joining this fabulous cruise for her next to last leg. Only from San Diego to Vancouver. It was so cheap we couldn't say no. My sister lives in Seattle so I'm combining a visit to her.

Oh I agree! Neither of these men wore suits to work. One of them wears jeans exclusively, although, he did rock a tux for his daughters wedding.

I am not sure what the big deal is but they have made it abundantly clear they are not dressing. And that's OK, if it will make their time better.

 

We are considering letting my hubby squire all three of us ladies about on Formal nights. I am looking at the photo we bought from the formal night we attended on our 25th anniversary 17 years ago. We ate in MDR every night and really enjoyed the dressing up part. And MY husband DID wear a suit to work everyday..go figure

The last cruise I went on there were 5 women and my husband. He had no problem escorting us every night. Didn't bother him in the least. Go for it!

First cruise was 2007 and my last was last year. all I noticed was the slower MDR service as they reduced the servers. The other stuff I didn't notice before anyway. It is still a dam fine line.

I haven't done as you wish dining which is really called "anytime dining", but I've been told you can show up and have no wait or a few minute wait. You can may reservations for up to 3 days in a row so that is pretty nice.

I can hardly wait for your review when you come back. I do know you realize there are a lot of wonderful things about HAL or we wouldn't keep sailing her dam ships. Enjoy your cruise. You only have to unpack once!:)

No - it's not acceptable. What's the saying from Animal Farm? ... "all people (animals) are created equal, some are more equal than others." And it's the "others" we all have to deal with. Nuff said!

But, but, but my eggs are getting cold. This guy is taking FOREVER!:p

Those totes aren't all that big....

You can fit all your recyclables in them?

 

Yeah, only my hubby and I and we fill a big trash can every week. Paper, plastic and aluminium.