shipgeeks

Just pack 2 or 3 days' extra undies, and you're all set.

Longer sailings from Baltimore, on a smaller HAL ship, would be so wonderful! Preferably going north, rather than Caribbean, but perhaps that's just me. Or TA, time in the Med, then TA return.

We have used Guest Services for currency exchange, but for less-remote areas than what you mentioned.

With questions like this I ask myself what the weather has been like on Halloween throughout my life. Yep, it has been warm, cool, hot, cold, dry, wet. I do understand your question, though! I am currently preparing for a late September C/NE cruise, and wondering what to pack. At this point it is all on hold until closer to the date. In our case, we are fortunate in that we have spectacular fall foliage at home, and have never thought about looking for any on a fall cruise, plus we do not particularly enjoy balcony cabins, so always book OV.

Z, We echo your sentiments. We have done two cruises this year, after the l-o-n-g break, and had a wonderful time. Food, service, condition of ship were all top-notch. We currently have three more booked.

For anyone struggling with the ArriveCAN issue, here are a couple of thoughts. You do not need a smartphone to do it. If you can post on CC via desktop or laptop, you can do the form. You can enter your passport info (number, dates of issue and expiration) rather than taking pictures to enter. To start, type in ArriveCAN. There will be several to choose from. Bring one up. Check the fine print on the first page. If it says something like "This site is sponsored by a travel agency.....", go out and go back, and select another one. Those agencies will expect you to pay a fee. If you complete the information on the form and the next page says "Choose payment method", do not go any further. Exit, and select another. The Canadian Government site is the correct one. There is no fee for doing the form. This is/was new for all of us at one time or another. We can all help each other get through it.

Lobster seems to be the stereotype. (None for me, thanks.) What are some local favorites that we might consider trying while in our ports? Blueberry pie in Bar Harbor. Beaver tails in Halifax. Holy Donuts in Portland. Dried seaweed (name?) in Saint John, sold in the city market. Suggestions, please!

LOL, youtube! In all the years I've participated in Cruise Critic, I've only seen a few mentions of youtube. I did try watching a couple that were recommended, and realized they were not a good source of information, and were not very interesting, either. Just one person's take, and generally tainted by their own likes, dislikes, and preconceptions. One of the nice things about CC is that information (or opinions) is up to date, and can be modified/debated constantly, just like the comments above on the friendliness, or otherwise, of crew. And then there is actual news, such as vaccine requirements, that can be modified as things change. Keep reading CC!

Garage? Are you parking at the port (open air lot)?

Our experience on MSC cruises from the US is that pax dressed up more in the evening than on other mainstream lines, on both formal and casual (or that other one) evenings.

Thank you! Is this likely to still be operating in late September and October, at least on cruise ship days?

Please tell us more about this new area. What are some of the attractions? We have been planning to book the hop-on bus to tour the area, but it sounds like this could be fun as well. Details, please!

Show times are based on the set (traditional) dining times. I believe ours were at 7:15 and 9:30.

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Bella gives a set dining time. Your time, and your dining room, will be on your ship card. If you are not happy with your assigned time, there will be an opportunity to ask for a change during your boarding day.

Our local online paper today had a nice article about a couple who were musicians on RC ships. They left the job when the war broke out. The woman and her daughter are currently living with a host family near Pittsburgh. I am not familiar with providing a link, but it appeared in headlines@triblive.com, and is titled Ukrainian refugee and her daughter find a home in Sewickley. Well worth a read. It's unclear what ship they were on, but they might be someone you've seen or heard or met.

As well as having a plan (we will meet for dinner at 7:30), leaving notes in cabin or on cabin door, there are telephones in cabins and phones on the wall in public spaces, suitable for calling each other without carrying a device around.

The pier in Halifax is right at the boardwalk, a very accessible area along the waterfront, leading to museums, eateries, etc. One would not need a tour to enjoy a day there, taking in the waterfront sights and the adjoining attractions.

I agree. We've been to Halifax three times, and have never felt the need to go beyond what we can walk to. The far end of the boardwalk has the Maritime Museum. Close to the ship is the Immigration Museum. Lots of things to see and do in between. The Citadel, historic cemetery, gardens above.

Sigh......You have brought back my wish to do more Cunard cruises, especially a B2B crossing! I just loved that element of Cunard, especially seeing all the men in tuxedos. Dancing in the ballroom, then slipping through the door into the disco for more dancing. So festive all over the ship. Such a wonderful change from everyday life, no matter how good that is. Thank you for posting!

Is Bondi Sands an Australian product?

On Royal Carib we were allowed to use mine for a specific crew member, and DH's for the ship's Ukrainian Crew Relief Fund.

I have never done the photo. When I skip that, it does not ask for any other download items. It all just gets done at the port.

Our menu from the Gala Dinner on Norway, in 1996, was so attractive that we kept it, brought it home, and framed it. The cover says "France", and I believe it is a copy of a CGT poster or menu from earlier days. As I recall, the food that night was also a tribute to the meals on France. I'm tempted to take it out of its frame to have a look at what we dined on that night.

What port? I know that at Baltimore, they are strict. We were in our 12:30 line when a 2:30 person arrived. She was told to wait elsewhere and come back at her time.