philnpen

I sure am glad there is a special area and lunch for suite guests!  I hate being in line to get food and having to stand next to some of the unwashed masses from steerage.

Do not take Diamond Taxi. The Maryland Public Service commission has posted a rate of $30 per trip (regardless of number of people) for transportation to and from the port. We took a Diamond Taxi (number 630) from the port to BWI after our cruise at he end of Winter Storm Jonas. Because the line of taxis waiting for riders was short we had two different couples get in the van. After we got one the highway the driver said it would be $40 per couple. A ripoff of $50 since he only reported $30 to the company. We had made a complaint to the commission and got his falsified manifest. He implied to us passengers that the charge was justified due to the shortage of taxis.

We cruised out of Baltimore Jan 16. We were on the cruise that was delayed a day getting back because of the storm. Upon debarkation we waited for a taxi to take us to the airport. Signs at the port said it is a flat fee per trip of $30 per trip to the airport. After picking up another couple (from England) my wife and I also got into the van. Once we got out on the highway the driver said the fee would be $40 for each couple. When the woman from England said the signs said $30 the driver said, "Excuse me, how many taxis did you see waiting for riders. The storm allows this." The shortage of taxis was evident as we waited in line for about 20 minutes. I got the taxi number (630) with Diamond taxi, and filed a complaint with the Maryland Public Service office. The driver had to answer the complaint and out and out lied about what he charged. He put on his manifest he only charged $30 and obviously pocketed $50.

Beware of opportunistic taxis from Diamond Taxi company.

On a celebrity cruisetour then boarding millennium later in the week!

 

Love Alaska so far!

 

Any questions about the land or sea part I can help with??

We are doing this in two weeks. When do you have a chance to upgrade the Denali tour from the included tour to the more extensive tour?

We are flyimg to Anchorage two days early (19th) to get used to Alaska time. Being from the coast of NC there will be a big adjustment for us.

All three of my upgrades have been handled differently. The first was our first cruise on RCCL and we didn't find out until we checked in, JR to GS. The second time my DW noticed our reservations showed a different cabin number than originally booked, balcony to JS. And the third time they called two weeks out asking if we would like an upgrade from balcony to JS. Took all of .25 nanoseconds to accept.

Phil

And as a plus, the showers in the locker rooms are bigger than the ones in the cabins.

We were on the cruise just prior to yours. The only staff member we felt had an attitude was the guy at the MTD desk for those who had reservations. We had reservations the first two nights for a two top. The first night he said he didn't know how long it might be before our ttable was ready, but he would seat us immediatly if we were willing to share. Had two other couples and by the end of the meal was so tired of one of the couples (wife) bragging that we cut our desert short and left. The next night he tried the same thing and I said he put us at a large table the night before and we wanted a dinner for the two of us and that is why we reserved it. He then placed us at a section of two tops along the wall to the Chef's Table room. Reminded DW and I of a fast food joint. Had maybe a foot between tables. The rest of the staff (especially at Chop's) were pretty good.

Phil

Should Coral even be sold? The harvesting of Coral kills it and can not be replaced in your lifetime, if at all. Not sure if it is illegal to own in the U.S. like turtle shells.

Do you have to pay more to get a cabin with a stripper pole?

Coming back from Cozumel our captain must have done this manuver. I remember walking down the hallway towards my cabin late at night and kept bouncing off the walls. It must have been the ship going in circles that threw off my stroll. He must have doen it again when I went to bed because the ship seemed to rotate again.

Ship: Equinox

Cabin: 1012

Deck: Sky

Class: C3

Area: Starboard, forward

Bed Near: Bath

Quiet?: very quiet, very little traffic

Balcony view: good views aft, out, and down, forward blocked somewhat by bridge

Balcony size: normal for cabin catagory

Wind a problem: No

Soot a problem: No

Problems/comments: No noise, a bit of a walk to dining venues, but helped to work off

calories, would book again

I usually don't eat with the help!

I certainly wouldn't mind being 'down below' where the "help" eats and entertain themselves. It would really add an element ot cruising that most people would rater ignoe than aknowledge.

Phil

Got off the Grandeur 12 days ago and now have to wait another 122 days for our next cruise.

By going to SETSAIL's link #3 and reading the first two posts you will get a better understanding. The second post under the link comes from Wraithe who is a retired Navy Chief. The way the ship get their fresh water and the lack of minerals in the drinking water is why I don't bring or request distilled water for my CPAP. In fact, with the moist sea air I usually don't even use the resevoir and never have problems like dry throat or mineral build up in the resevoir.

After 11 cruises my vote for the best CD is any one who could keep the annoying Bingo/ Shopping Excursions/ Art(?) Auctions/ Belly Flop Contest/ etc. announcements to the bare minimum and could find some new and original routines. Heard some of the same jokes on different ships by different CDs.

Do you tip a bus driver when you use public transportation?

 

Do you tip your doctor after a physical? Your dentist?

 

Do you tip the hostess at a restaurant?

I live in a small town. No public transportation. Never see a hostess at Burger King. The small restaurants are usually self seating. Maybe the owner will help you find a table sometimes. A doctor and dentist are not performing a 'service' IMHO. Ues, I do give the garbage men and newspaper delivery person a cash Christmas gift. No to mailmen because I have a post office box and never see them. I tip the woman who has been cutting my hair for the past 20 years.

I tip every person who gives me service regardless of how much they get paid. DW and I usually have three bags to check, plus one carry-on that contains my cpap equipment. I will tip the shuttle driver because he loads our luggage and then takes it off. The porter is next because they pick it up from the shuttle van and handle it from there. I'll tip the taxi driver who picks us up from the port and delivers us to the correct airline door. If I feel the service on the ship is above standard, then I'll tip above standard. I even give a favorite bartender a seperate tip. I tip the tour guides on excursions also. I'm on vacation and these people are helping me enjoy it all the more.

On a NCL cruise I wanted to go snorkle with the sting rays while DW went shopping. Since this was a popular excursion I wanted to get in line quickly. I was third and there was a younger guy in front of me wanting the same excursion. While waiting for the excursion desk to open for business we started talking. When I asked him how he liked the cruise so far he said it was O.K. but it was very difficult to meet people. He was a travel agent from Denver. We saw each other the next day for the excursion. When the pontoon boat got to the sanbat he took off his t-shirt and I saw he had both nipples pierced. When he got in the water on one side I went to the opposite side.

Also on this excursion was a very elderly lady and her brother who was always dressed in a black suit and tie and carrying a brief case on a luggage tote. We would joke that he was carrying her money around since she had been on 125 (yes, you read that right) cruises with NCL. He sat on the potoon boat in his suit and tie while she was in the water. When she came out and started to dry off she undid the top of her bathing suit and lowered it to her waist. Her brother was mortified and told her to cover up. She replied that if her 87 year old boobs turned anyone on that God should help the poor soul.

Never did see nipple guy after the excursion. Maybe he did meet someone?