VMax1700

Welcome to CC. The important word in your question is 'docks'. Certainly, as CruiserBruce states, in most cases you should be on dry land by 7.30, but if it happens to be a 'tender port' then it will take a lot longer. Check your itinerary just to be certain that you do 'dock' at all ports.

Eggscellent reporting so far. Do remember that repetition is an important element of research! Enjoy Rotterdam and Southern Caribbean.

And that is the reason that there is the daily hotel charge/crew gratuities/ or whatever they have named it this week. Correct?

Have a great cruise!

Of course they will. But the fare will be on the meter unless you arrange a fixed price for day/half day/ 3 hours etc before you start. Also, the driver is a taxi driver and not a tour guide so you will probably not receive any information on the trip. Driver may or may not speak english. I would think that taxis will be available at the port but will know for certain when we dock there next month.

Not all enjoyed it more. We found it grating and irritating. More of a mismatch than anything else.

I am not seeing that anywhere on the website. Can you post a link?

Not possible. When you select Main Dining Room on the app you are seeing today's menu on the ship. It may not be the same menu on the same day for your sailing unless the ship is doing a similar itinerary.

Pre booked taxi is about €125 from Amsterdam Schiphol airport to Rotterdam

Today on Nieuw Statendam is Jamaican Bread Pudding with warm vanilla rum sauce.....I'm wondering do they make it with blueberry croissants? 🙄

At any bar. Yes, you can get cans of soda too. With two key cards (with HIA) I have usually been given 4 cans at a time.

My post was not about the bad math, but more about the expectation of refund. There are a couple of other elements to consider, such as if you use a 'refund agency' then there will be an fee for the service. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that it is an EU vat refund system and not an European system, therefore the UK does not participate. I mention this as many cruisers will travel home with flights via UK (or cruise ending in UK port). There will be no factilities for the vat refund at UK airports as it must be done at the final departure point in EU.

What I would give for a 'school dinner' Jam Roly Poly (with custard) 😋

That is American tax maths but not European tax maths as the selling price in Europe includes taxes. So not €200 refund but €166.67 (at 20% vat rate). (I recognise you used dollar sign and mentioned "worth" but having tax inclusive prices does make the calculations slightly different).

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm bread puddingmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Official information here: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/guide-vat-refund-visitors-eu_en

I don't know what Shady Acres refers to (Google shows it as a 'watering hole' in Soho, Hong Kong!) 🤔, however if your suggestion implemented then the number of pings, rings and zings will increase substantially over the currently lowish volumes. If they already have text and calling via wifi then there is no necessity to use the vastly inferior onboard app.

As already mentioned, mixers do not count. We have done several cruises with HIA (Have It All) with the Signature drinks package. Even with cans of water, diet cokes, lattes etc wine at lunch and dinner and in between and a brandy or two before retiring, we have not hit 30 drinks between us. For any drink over the $11 limit you will be charged the overage plus gratuity on the overage.

Their email does confirm the addition of OBC to a specific cruise............

Last time we were there was 2022 and there were bus tours available at the port gate. Very reasonable. Here is an extract from the post..... Bus, which is just outside the port gates, across the road costs €15 per person. 30 minutes drive to the village, 2 hours free time and then 30 minutes back to katakolo. The guy I was speaking to, told me that he was the guide and he had excellent english.

Have a great cruise....our three musketeers in a bubble! 😁

My real question is: Why do most cruise lines have user unfriendly websites? Websites, that on the occasions that they do function, are difficult to navigate, are slow and clumsy.

Sorry, but when I go cruising I do not want to be surrounded by the sound of incoming messages. Keep the quiet system. It's not difficult to check manually, but an onscreen message would be acceptable (to me)

Here is a copy of the notice that we received and my comments at the time.

When booking private tours do remember that all passengers will be required to go through a face to face meeting with UK Border Force Agents before the disembarkation is permitted at your First entry port. Looking at your itinerary this will take place at Portree (Isle of Sky). If this (tender) port is cancelled because of weather/tide conditions then the F2F will take place at the next port. Do allow time for this when making plans. This can be very slow and take several hours.