Wayfairers

Unfortunately, many people believe that their way is the only correct way and anyone doing anything else is wrong and inappropriate. I have some of those people in my life, and they are people I do not want remove from my circle so I have learned to be me and do my thing ignoring the snide comments and sideways looks. Takes some self confidence, but surprisingly, I have found that once I quit worrying about their reactions, my confidence has grown exponentially. They do this not just to me but to everyone they meet in life. Rather than keep an open mind and get to know someone, they prejudge and as a result have few or no friends. When I am on a cruise ship I know we will see people many times as we take long cruises. If I see someone judging me I make it a point to talk to them - sometimes they run the next time they see me (LOL) but sometimes I have misunderstood their body language and I make a new friend. It is unfortunate that people on a cruise ship made you feel badly about who you are and how you dress. Screw them…..you enjoy your trip being the person you choose to be.

Thank you!!

Thanks! I check those out. Where does the Kowloon Star Ferry go?

I have been buying the wine packages since we became 4 star a few years ago and agree they are a great deal. I also stick to cellar 1 since I like the wines I see no reason to pay more for the other cellar packages. Pinot Noir is one of my favorite types of wine and yes, the one in cellar 1 is great.

Thanks for telling me you’ve been successful asking for a substitution in the wine package. That is good to know. I agree, sounds like the voyage is turning into a party boat which might be interesting with it being a long cruise. We originally bought the beverage package but after I ran the numbers based upon what we expect to drink, the cost was better for us to hit happy hour and buy wine packages. So I cancelled it yesterday. We learned last summer that daily both of us try to make sure we get our moneys worth with a beverage package and that wouldn’t be good on a 7 month voyage.

That is a great idea!

That makes sense.

So are you saying the Cellar Master decides which wines are sent to your room when you pre-order a wine package? Since there doesn’t see a way to choose wines online, I don’t see how else they could do it, unless it was purely random

Watch the horizon as the sun is at the water level and don’t blink. It happens quickly and the first time you are wondering if you actually did see it flash green for a millisecond.

I’ve had the ship run out of my favorite wines before too and had to pick something else. On one cruise HAL actually substituted a wine I had never tried but loved. I rarely drink the same wines and enjoy trying new ones. Since I’ve always bought a bottle at a time I’ve never asked to have them all delivered to my room. I will be buying a 24 bottle package (long cruises B2B). Good point on waiting until I’m onboard and using OBC to buy the package. But, I am still curious about how I would choose the wines if I order online to have it delivered to room embarkation day. I didn’t see any way to do that while picking the package. I didn’t actually purchase the package - do you choose later in the purchasing process?

Seen the green flash many times - always on a cruise ship in various parts of the world. The aurora borealis once - on land in the northern part of Michigan’s UP. Lots of flying fish and some albatross.

I’ve bought wine packages several times, but never pre-bought one. I always just pick out the next bottle when I empty one and keep all the bottles at various bars and the MDR. I am considering pre-buying a package this time and ask that it be delivered to the room on embarkation day. Each package has various wines to choose from. How do they choose which ones to have delivered to the room?

Last summer for our first post covid cruises with HAL we had the drink package so I didn’t pay attention to happy hour deals. What is it now? 2 for 1? Buy one get the second for less? I searched on here but couldn’t find an answer.

I’m I have that on hand

How long have you left command strips on the wall before removing? We will be on board for 7 months.

I’ve read that the walls on the Zuiderdam are not magnetic. We will be on board for several months (B2B2B) and I would like to put a calendar and a map on the wall. I’ve used the tape that doesn’t damage walls in the past to hang some things but that was only for a day or two. I am concerned that it would damage the wall if hung for an extended time. Has anyone used putty to hang things - did that damage the wall? Any other suggestions?

Thank you. Looks like we will have to take a taxi then. I’ll look in the area you suggested.

Ugh….our ship will be at the Kai Tak terminal.

Thanks for letting me know what happened with y’all. Great information. I’ll make sure to notify the front desk.

Thanks! Telling the room stewards is a good idea so they don’t wonder where we are if the ship doesn’t notify them.

For the first time we will be leaving the ship for a land tour this fall and rejoining the cruise a few days later. I’m curious about how the whole process works. We already have the HAL deviation approval letter and I know we will need to take our passport with us. Do you need to do anything before leaving the ship or tell anyone you are leaving for a few days? What happens when you board the ship after being onshore for a few days? Do you have to check in anywhere or do you just scan your keycard as you walk back on like after a day in port?

Is there a Hong Kong hotel that is walking distance to the port?

Thanks everyone. We will have 3 hours after our ship tour assuming the tour leaves on time. We are doing the ship tour specifically because it is our first Japanese port and I keep finding stories about issues with the first port. Hopefully if we are docked out of town there will be a shuttle so we can explore town on our own for a few hours.

I booked a tour to see the Goats in Trees with Admire Morocco.

My friends booked the cruise. Thanks everyone for your input.