sillysailor 1955

You're being too serious about this....we have all had people close to us pass. No one here means any disrespect and I doubt for one second that the woman who passed would take offense. She'd likely be enjoying the thread if she were reading it...I know I would. :p

 

I was also witness to Dawn freaking out after her episode in cabin 8106... It was a really freaky thing. She honestly knew nothing about the ship being haunted.

Again no problem with the original tone of the post.... however there is nothing funny about loss of life. No offense to you.

I can tell you that what was seen and experienced in 8106 was no joke. It really happened. And my friend was really hysterical. She didn't know anything about the woman who died on the ship or cruise critic or this thread.

 

Kathy

I have no doubt as I do believe somewhat in the supernatural... I do think all the bad jokes, etc. are very disrespectful, after all this woman has a family. Again this is just my opinion.

I am not sure why this thread hasn't been shut down... I refer to the poor woman who died in May 2008. I don't see how someones death could be the source of bad jokes and silly posts. Disgraceful.

......But in Europe most of the next ports are just a overnight train ride away. We always take our passports with us, and money just in case.

We were on a Eastern Mediterrean cruise last year and NCL took our passports (and held them) when we boarded in Barcelona we did not get them back until Egypt (towards the end of the cruise)...

We were glad to have organized tours, as we had never been to those ports before and may I say this was especially true in Egypt.:o

We cry and order pizza (don't forget to PAY for it):p

Personally, I find it boggling that the pyramids, which were considered "ancient" in the days of the Romans, are still with us at all. And I will appreciate them whatever state I find them in. The world is a wild, unpredictable, sometimes uncivilized (by Western standards) and even unhygienic place. I appreciate all of it that I've seen so far and I hope to see as much of it as possible before I am too old to travel.

Amen - nuf said!:) Many happy cruising adventrues to you;)

I'm constantly amazed that people go to a foreign country and then do nothing but complain that it's different :

 

The haggling process has been part of their culture for 1000 of years. You want them to change because you're there?

There is no local Chamber of Commerce. Get real, that organization is only in America.

Come forward to the 21st. Century - what a statement. That's the whole point of traveling, to see something different.

Egypt is dirty, very, very dirty - well duh, they never get any rain, water is a very precious resource, not to the mention that the country is a DESERT. What do you expect??!!

I hear the locals are a right P.I.T.A. while they pressure you to buy buy, tip,buy, tip... - Ever heard of the word NO. It works great

 

Never been and never want to go. This is a strange concept of the uninformed and culturally inept. Hopefully these type of tourists are a minority and can keep their red necked opinion in their own back yards. The world is growing smaller every day and this intolerance will someday be overcome.

Excuse me but Egypt is very very dirty - not because they are in a desert but because the government offers very little in the way of helping keep the cities clean. Alexandria is filthy - I am surprised that more people aren't sick. When I was there is was during the Haj(sp?) They were slaughtering animals right in the streets - from the tour bus my husband looks out the window into a dumpster and a cow's head is looking back at him. I know that is part of their cultrue.... but blood running in the gutters doesn't really scream hygenic to me. So excuse me for not being as enlightened as you. I strongly believe that if they want tourists to spend money there - CLEAN UP THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.

It's pointless to argue with someone who cannot, or will not, understand that people do things differently in different places. Bargaining is part of the fun. NO ONE expects you to pay what the initial offer is, and such offers are made to tourists and locals alike. The fun is in the haggling. You talk. You consider. You walk away. You come back and haggle some more. You have tea and discuss your children. You agree on a price and part the best of friends.

 

What is so uncivilized about that? :confused:

Agreed -I certainly Understand that things are done differently throughout the world. Your idea of fun is haggling, my idea of fun is trying to enjoy one of the few remaining wonders of the ancient world (pyramids) without some overly aggressive salesman (because that's what they are) pestering me constantly. More business could be conducted if they would just back off a little. We were respectful to the Egyptians and politely declined when we were not interested in what they were selling. You get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar and I would thank you to be as tolerant to your fellow posters as you are to your friends in other countries

Just curious... I last visited the Pyramids in '96 and they had a strong urine odor. Do they still smell inside? :(

We didn't go inside the pyramids (the tour guide recommended against it) and I am so glad... because the outside of the pyramids smelt bad enought. If you had the head for it you could have bought souveniors at the pyramids for practically nothing, I unfortunately did not (I really wish I had) because dealing with more peddlers right where the cruise ship docked was just as intimidating and the stuff was at least 2 to 3 times what I would have paid at the pyramids. Oh well, coulda woulda shoulda!

Further as to Egypt ... We were there last December ... the pyramids were AWESOME... the haggling was constant .... the peddlers were UNBELIEVEABLE - it just never stopped ... it really distracted from the enjoyment of the pyramids. That being said it was still a great trip the pyramids really have to be seen. Haggling and pestering by the peddlers are just the way things are done there. P.S. I just have to add that Egypt is dirty, very, very dirty.

I was supposed to cruise on the Ruby Princess to the Carribean in Feb, and had to cancel because of chemotherapy. We rebooked for Alaska this June. I am in remission and have never looked forward to a cruise as much as this one. All through my chemo, I read about Alaska (never wanted to go) and spent hours on these boards. Now, I can't wait to see the glaciers and bears and mountains and the glory of this unspoiled region. I am so glad to be alive and able to rejoice in LIFE!

What a great attitude:) Hope you have a wonderful cruise:)

WOW - Thanks for all the great pics and history of the Rotterdam! That was very interesting. They just don't build them like that anymore!!!;)

WOW - Thanks for all the great pics and history of the Rotterdam! That was very interesting. They just don't build them like that anymore!!!;)

Our first cruise was in 1979 NYC to Nassau & Bermuda on the Rotterdam. It was an oceanview room which at that time had bunk beds!!!! It was myself, a male friend and my now husband. We were really young adults but I remember the ship being so "classy" and the service was top notch. (Just as it still is today on HAL) Unfortunately, we were about 50 miles or so behind Hurricane David... boy I was so seasick I wanted to die... I just remember a few crew members taking me to the Lido getting me so apples and crackers and getting me to a rail - I am not kidding I have never been so sick. :eek: Have only recent started cruising again (within the last 5 years). But I will always have fond memories of the Beautiful Rotterdam :)

Our first cruise was in 1979 NYC to Nassau & Bermuda on the Rotterdam. It was an oceanview room which at that time had bunk beds!!!! It was myself, a male friend and my now husband. We were really young adults but I remember the ship being so "classy" and the service was top notch. (Just as it still is today on HAL) Unfortunately, we were about 50 miles or so behind Hurricane David... boy I was so seasick I wanted to die... I just remember a few crew members taking me to the Lido getting me so apples and crackers and getting me to a rail - I am not kidding I have never been so sick. :eek: Have only recent started cruising again (within the last 5 years). But I will always have fond memories of the Beautiful Rotterdam :)

Food is pretty good in the Blue Lagoon (fish & chips is awesome - just make sure you ask for double as serving is very small). On the NCL Dawn and NCL Spirit Blue Lagoon is a "walk through" restaurant. Whereas on the NCL Jade it is more of a "sit down - diner type restauraunt". Hope this helps