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Since we NEVER cruise out of where we live and it's always a foreign port, we frequently have a nice lunch at a (previously researched) restaurant not far from the ship but not so close that there are likely to be 'tourists there. We always arrive a few days ahead so we know what the weather is and we dress appropriately for the restaurant.

Wow! Why not?

I am also. And I carry two (sometimes three) pairs of shoes 🙂

We moved here three years ago and I've heard of it but never experienced it. But I have developed over the decades of smiling at people every day 🙂 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Freeze

Yep. We'll buy an 'ornament' for the tree. I put that in quote because what's on there can be silly. One is a glass evil we got in Turkey. As for the family not usually anything. They each have specific tastes. I'll also mention that when we did our Norwegian coastal cruise, every knick knack was "made in China."

I just took a look at the other benefits. Not for us but,yeah, go for it.

To me that's A LOT of money to just get a little different dinner reservation. To each their own.

I just had a thought. I don't think I've seen this on smaller ships. Do people who have already done some cruising prefer that and perhaps have gotten over the decorating. And I don't get lost in them 🙂

I simply was curious about their differentiation; that's all. Sorry.

Well, HE did 🙂

I hadn't thought of this but we've never sailed out of a US port! I'm sure our favorite, for diversity and everything else, was a Norwegian coastal. IIRC there was only one other US couple. It was terrific. And these were experienced travelers and cruisers so tons to talk about.

How would YOU differentiate it from "authentic"?

Are you kidding??? A quarter of a second????? Give me a break. We were seated with another couple at Jacques one night. I don't think they or we could count a quarter of a second!

We had them do a bag of laundry for us. It came back kinda dull looking so won't be repeating that.

My final comment. When we were in Paris last year and I was looking at shoes, most I tell ya had on sneakers 🙂 But I'm guessing they changed to flats at night 🙂

As do I. Maybe different parts of the world.

But I did ask if you see many people out on the streets in heels. To each their own.

And wearing high heels! Not in fashion magazines but when you're walking around in your city, do you see many high heels. I don't. Flat have been 'in' for so long now I can hardly remember the olden days.

Maybe. But I understand that he's been quite the astute business person so maybe just in his contract with O.

I did a little reading and he "trademarked" a number of names so maybe that one.

I would think that Chef Pepin somehow "owns" that name.

Why was that???

I'll have to check and see if we have any euros left. We have a 'document case' that holds passports, money, etc.

I looked through old emails and in early Dec. she said again that I didn't have an assigned cabin. Then in mid-Feb. she said I did. During that time I told her that we were unlikely to make the final payment in late Feb. if we didn't have that confirmation. So I guess she correctly assumed that to be a threat. But I won't go through that again. If it's not assign-able when I book then I won't.

Here's a part of an email from my TA. "You are a category C-2 Guarantee and are booked cruise only. A guarantee means that at this time there is not a stateroom assignment available, however, you are guaranteed a stateroom in the category you have paid for or better. Your stateroom can be assigned up until the day of embarkation. " As I mentioned I did get a 'real' assignment. My TA and O buddy both said that in all their years of working with O they'd never seen a problem with this. I said I still didn't like it. And eventually I did get a cabin.