RuthC

I have usually docked where Jim noted, but I have also docked elsewhere. I was surprised to find the ship around the bend once. Not at all far away, but because of the bend, the usual place was out of sight. Confused me for a couple of minutes. In both cases the ship was right in the city. If you are going to the fortress, there is an interesting Resistance Museum there. Well worth a visit.

Yes. If an area of the promenade is closed for tender use, work on the lifeboats, etc., that area is closed off from passengers, and that includes passengers who have cabins in the area. I expect if the entire promenade is closed off due to sea/wind conditions that also means ALL the passengers in lanai cabins as well are not supposed to go out via their cabin door.

Sleep that sleep one can only get at sea, Kathy. I wish you a blissful cruise, leaving it with the confidence that your next cruise will be possible---and even better!

It should be all right, especially for a shorter cruise. The couch is closer to the outside wall than in other outside cabins, so it is tight trying to get by the bed to get to that area. The desk is small enough as to be called 'non-existent' as compared to non-lanai outside cabins. It doesn't have the generous drawers, but there is shelf space in the closets; very little top to the desk. The bathroom vanity is smaller than found in the insides, as it is in the shower footprint of the insides, but that makes the lanai shower area larger. Storage in the bathroom is just a little tighter, but for one person, that should be enough. The cabin itself is smaller than the inside cabins (186 sq. ft.) across the passageway, which are smaller than the outside cabins (196 sq. ft.) on the lower decks.

I have used it to check the daily menus, and to print out my statement on the last night. I also bought an Internet package so I could read (and clear out!) my emails, connect to Cruise Critic, and Facebook. But there is a use for the computers. Not everyone has need for a smartphone.

Generally, Mass is at 8:00 AM on sea days, and 5:00 PM port days. If Saturday is a sea day, Mass should be at 5:00 PM, since that is the Vigil Mass. I have seen it at 8:00 AM, though, and (mistakenly) listed as 'Vigil' Mass. That happened once in my experience. If the ship is coming into port later in the morning, or early afternoon, Mass will likely be at 8:00 AM so as not to interfere with excursions.

I expect it would be at 5:00 PM, since this is a port day. Besides, the ship should be sailing by then, so much easier than having it earlier.

You can ask for the children's menu and order from that, but your meal won't be ready when the others are served. If you really want something in particular, you can ask for it the night before, but be ready for a LOT of food! I'm not making THAT mistake again! If there is an appetizer that strikes your fancy, you can order an entrée size portion for dinner (the reverse is also true---an entrée in an appetizer portion, for most of them).

Wheelchair assistance does make a big difference in boarding. In every port where I have used wheelchair assistance (many, many all over the world---but not in San Diego), there is no such thing as 'priority'. It's first come, first served to being boarded. Boarding for wheelchair passengers can't begin before 11:30, as the pushers are at lunch until then, even if able-bodied are allowed before that. In some ports I have been told I could have one person come with me. In others, I have been able to bring everyone in my group along when I boarded. For the remainder of the party, it will depend on how many checked in before you did, and when actual boarding starts (or started).

At the Royal Dutch Tea it wasn't the tea that came from Netherlands, it was the style of the foods, and presentation. There were a lot of hot foods in chafing dishes, as well as some pastries. It was a full meal and an excellent substitute for a late lunch. The Indonesian Tea had several teas from Asia, as well as Indonesian coffee, and several different Indonesian sweet treats. The Cupcake Tea had a selection of (what else) cupcakes! (they all tended to taste the same, though).

To confirm what Kathy posted: Please don't be too disappointed when 'high tea' is not served. HAL will have 'low tea', also known as 'afternoon tea'. To my knowledge, HAL has never served 'high tea'. The closest they ever came was when they served the Royal Dutch Tea, but I haven't seen that in years.

When I first started sailing on HAL, back in 1978, the ship had a Lido, where breakfast and lunch were served daily. Dinner was only served in the dining room, however. I agree that boarding didn't start until something like 1:00 or 2:00 PM, however, so one took care of lunch by making do.

Nuka Hiva is one port where I would be begging the medical staff not to leave me behind. There is pretty much nothing there, and I would want to be evacuated to civilization for assistance. Even getting ashore there isn't much to do. Everything worth seeing is quite a walk away. It wasn't as built up when I was there, either.

Don't knock it if you haven't tried it. I have been using a scooter in the Lido for years and haven't had a problem getting around, making U-turns, getting assistance, or a decent meal. But then, I try to be polite in making my needs known, and most passengers return the favor.

Actually, it does show the number of shares---at least mine did. The number of shares is clearly identified as such, although in small print. It may have confused someone if it wasn't a whole number, as many of us received our dividends as fractional shares instead of cash. Or, maybe whoever looked at your proxy statement didn't read the fine print.

This may vary from ship to ship and time to time, so don't count on it. Hope, fine. Count on it, no. When I was on the Nieuw Statendam I tried to order a milkshake at Dive-In and was sent a few steps away to Gelato. There was a charge. The Dive-n set-up didn't have any ice creams or any of the other fixings for a milkshake.

Especially when it comes to a chocolate milkshake (chocolate anything, for that matter).

Not self-serve; the kids will have to go to the ice cream station, in the Lido. Might as well have the server add the syrup on the same trip, then get the milk. This is something I figured out years ago, although I never tried it. It is only in recent years that any HAL ships offered milkshakes at all!

You could maybe try faking one? Get a big glass (perhaps at the bar), put in some soft serve ice cream, add some milk from the coffee creamer area, and have the ice cream server squeeze in a dollop of syrup? Then, try to stir it as best you can? Maybe using a knife, as it's longer than a spoon? The ingredients for a chocolate shake are there.

Depends a lot on the speed and direction of the wind.

Good choice, especially on an itinerary such as this. You will come in from a day ashore with your clothes much less than fresh, especially as compared to a cool weather cruise, such as Alaska. You can shower and change for dinner, and leave a bag of clothes to be washed; the stewards will take the bag when they do evening servicing of the cabin. You won't put any pressure on yourself to fill the bag---just send it with hardly anything in it! I have found that the less I put in the bag, the faster it tends to come back!

No, it isn't. HAL removed all the laundries on ships that had them, and has never installed self-service laundries on the newer ships. You can send laundry out and pay by the piece, bag, or get an unlimited laundry package for the length of the cruise.

I asked, out of caution.

Not correct. The outlet in the bathroom can be used for shavers, tooth brushes, and Water Pics.

I wouldn't chance it. I would want something at least after noon, and preferably after 1:00. First off, disembarkation isn't likely to start until 7:30, with those self disembarking first. Next you need time to get to the airport. Check in can take a while, then you have to get through security and to your gate. All this takes time.