pyrrhus

On 10/7/2023 at 3:16 PM, Vesalius said:

In the USA, if a cruise is “canceled“, then you are owed a refund. I guess it depends on how you interpret the word canceled. To me, if a cruise to Israel does not go to Israel, that is a substantially canceled cruise. but it appears that the cruise line may be saying that if you board the cruise ship, it wasn’t canceled even if it didn’t go to where it was planned to go.  For us, the primary purpose of our travels was to visit Israel.

There is no substantiallhy canceled cruise in the us unfortunately. 

Thank you everyone. Good news.  I tried figuring it out myself, but I couldn't figure out th proper syntax to find the WC outside of the ancient latrines.

I'm one that has a bladder the size of pea (that may be generous) and am wondering if the buses Azamara uses has toilets and if there is one near the theater they have their evenings at?  

Quick edit:

I had read that the Cruiseport was about 90-120 minutes away.  I realize the article either had a typo or someone that had never actually been there as most say 25-45 minutes to get there from the cruise ports.

Has anyone rented a car and toured Athens on their own?  I have about 8 hours in Athens after my ship disembarks and my flight leaves Athens.  Having luggage from a two week cruise I don't want to bother storing and chasing them nor do any of the post cruise tours look good.  I am considering a private tour, but to fill up the full 8 hours will not be cost friendly post cruise (yes I am always dirt cheap at the end of a cruise when I start looking at my receipts).

I have seen some bloggers discuss car break in crime in Athens, so there is some hesitance for that.

Also parking can be such a nightmare in many older cities.   I assume,e Athens won't be an exception.

On 8/10/2023 at 4:02 AM, GUSGB said:

I asked our cabin assistant for a larger robe. One was supplied, but it wasn't Azamara branded.

Excellent news.  Bending isn't a huge deal to me.

It is unusual, but occasionally cruise lines have larger robes available for the larger guests.  Usually from the spa.   Does anyone know if Azamara has larger than one size fits all?

4 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

After this week's turmoil at Twitter, does anybody still want to have Elon Musk running the wifi on your ship?  😉

I think twitter is a whole other bag of worms.  He came in expecting to cause trouble. Just not sure he realized nt everyone considers him a god. He helped Tesla when he came on board so there is hope.  Was starlink or spacex started by him or did he come on board afterwards?  I need to google and find out.   (Looks like he did start them, but hired very good people).  

15 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

The way that it's always been explained to me when I've asked the question is that the laundry departments don't have the capacity to do two bags of free laundry for every cabin on the ship. I have no idea if this is the case, but it sounds feasible. Same with the wifi. The system as it stands can't cope with everyone having unlimited access. I know on my two most recent cruises the internet had the worst performance that I can remember. And this was two different ships. Slow and kept cutting out. Maybe there were lots of free unlimited wifi deal guests on the ships?

 

Phil 

I don't fully buy that (I buy the system can't handle it) but do they often turn folks away if everyone is willing to buy the second bag and pay for unlimited internet for everyone in every cabin?  

Hopefully they will consider starlink soon.

17 hours ago, Belfastman said:

Yes but surely that's no different to two people in a cabin who always pay "double" for the cabin and one bag of laundry.

I thin k it is a huge difference since you aren't getting the double food, alcohol, electricity, water, and such (generally, I know some folks who can put both away). 

15 hours ago, Belfastman said:

Totally agree after all if you are a single person in a stateroom you still get one bag per seven days.

Yes, but generally pay 3/4's to double the charge for that free bag of laundry.

https://virg.in/oavX

7 hours ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Unfortunately people bring bedbugs on board in their clothes and on their luggage.  FWIW most bugs you see are not bed bugs as they are very very tiny.

Do a Google search.   Have had bugs in motel rooms - used to stay 40-60 nights a year.  "Bed bugs" only twice and both times in more upscale hotels.

Had my only bout with them at a JW Marriott.  Was a XY little Muffes that the manager didn’t want to take ownership until I said I just wanted to advise and wanted nothing in return.

On 7/8/2022 at 9:57 AM, swjumbo said:

I’ve got two topical questions for the quiz:

 

Do people who post answers to the quiz on Cruise Critic realise that they are spoiling it for the rest of us? True or False.

 

Are those who are using these answers and not bothering to even make a little effort cheats? Yes or No.

 

X

Teachers pet?

On 3/30/2019 at 3:24 PM, thistimeplease said:

Never had a problem with the police or custom officials.  If you're not doing something illegal no need to worry. 

As civil rights case law books make you realize... those are often famous last words.

2 hours ago, travelwide said:

When we were there several months ago I believe the exchange closed at 9 pm. I am sure with our ship coming in at 8 p.m. they will stay open. If they want us to spend money in Havana we need cucs and in order to get them we need to purchase them at the exchange so I do not think we will have any problems getting them. If there is a way for them to make money off of us they will stay open.

Excellent news.   It isn’t like Cuba has that many other streams of income besides tourism.

2 hours ago, travelwide said:

Pyrrhus.....

 

You areworrying way too much. It is not a big deal getting off of the ship. It docks right downtown. Right across the street there's a plaza with places to have drinks also and keep on walking down the street and there were plenty of places. Keep in mind they want us there and they want us spending money. My main concern is the weather report says thunderstorms on Sunday evening. But being an island they come and go so I'm not worried we are bringing our ponchos just in case because I want to get off that ship come hell or high water!

 

Plenty of cars and tuk-tuks all around the ship when they are in. Hopefully we will run into you while on board.

Not worried about getting in and off.  Just about exchanging money.  I can’t believe the cadeca wont be open when the ship docks.  Now 1 am on Tuesday is another story for changing back if I have leftover.  Yes I hope we do run in to each other.

2 hours ago, rgtkkb said:

 

I guess I am in trouble because my ship arrives at 8 pm and I have a tour the next morning at 8 am. I won't be able to get tip money. Does anyone have any suggestions?

If we can’t exchange at the Cadeca, we can usually go to one of the major hotels.

On 4/1/2019 at 4:13 PM, rgtkkb said:

 

I think I am on your cruise. Leaving this Saturday? I am hoping that a lot of passengers won't bother disembarking on Sunday evening (after a day with the open bar) and it will be fast.

I don’t think my reply posted.  Yep I am on that cruise.  Also a little worried about exchanging too much and having too much left over money after I go to the Tropicana on Tuesday.   Heh, the things that go through my mind.   Hey are you in the roll call?

Spice H20 was a great place to hang.

All about money.  Most upgrades cost the cruise line zero extra, so why not entice someone to spend a few more bucks while also creating goodwill.  

7 hours ago, RedRover96 said:

I'm not a computer person, spreadsheet specialist, etc, etc.  However, I believe I've read where an independent company handles all the "bidding" with some kind of algorithms process (???).  And once again with my limited expertise I really doubt there is "someone" figuring all this out.  It's a computer with all kind of algorithms (for lack of better terms) making the decisions.  It gets down to making just 1 extra dollar for NCL is what’s going to be spit out by the computer.  Maybe someone with real expertise can chime in????

Unlike an airline where an upgrade in class could mean an increase in costs to the carrier.  There really isn't an increase in costs for the cruise line.  Do they furlough butlers if the suites weren't full?  So I bet the algorithm is pretty simple.  Availability vs those asking for an upgrade.  Of course as demand outstrips supply you start adding in the other facts, higher bid, higher initial price paid, higher status etc...  Of course that is the magic no-one knows.   Like with everything in life, someone will eventually tell people.

On 3/14/2019 at 9:07 AM, Gershep said:

This is ridiculous. They raise them every year. 

People do like to get raises you know.  

On 3/14/2019 at 10:10 AM, littlelulu01 said:

4 years ago the dsc was $12/day for those in suites and not in suites.  Suite dsc has increased 50% in four years compared to inflation which was a little over 5% during the same time period. If only passenger  income and the ship employees income had increased by 50% in the same period!

 

Service fees on purchasing dinners and drinks and spa went up from 15% to 20% during that period as well as adding the $7.95 room service fee.  

 

I hope ncl is taking care of their employees with all these increases. When passengers are charged such high tip rates in dsc specialty dining and beverage fees, they’re likely not tipping the extra cash they otherwise would. My fear is the ship staff resentment from decreased cash tips. 

You can always pay the daily in cash.

2 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

 

In the former Havana Hilton (current names escapes me but its close by) theres a vintage former Trader Vics in the basement called El Polinesio. They say the hours are til midnight but we had to beg them to let us have a drink on a Friday at 10:30pm. Well worth it if you ever wanted to see what a perfectly preserved 1950's Trader Vics looks like. 

 

I have read about this place in some Tiki forums.  I need to see it.  Unfortunately from your description I might not get to.   I’ll be arriving Sunday at 8:0o.  Who knows how long it will take to disembark.  I’ll try though.   I assume a quick taxi ride to the hotel.   

I could try after the Tropicana on Monday night,  but looking for things to do on Sunday.

I have searched through the threads and have not yet seen anything relating to the CADECA hours at the port.  I have read several blogs that suggest CADECAS often close early in the city.  (Around 3:00 PM).  I haven't read anything about when they close at the port?  I don't really want to exchange everything I plan on spending at once, but only in blocks as I need it.  I know Hotels will exchange money most hours, but at less favorable terms.  Also my ship gets in to port at 8:00 PM on a Sunday so I want to leave and go strolling, hit a bar on Sunday evening.  I assume the CADECA will be open then since the ship is newly docked.  Although I have learned in the past not to assume too much.  

Michael

Eaton,

Sorry I didn’t want to give the impression I was trying to nickle and dime.  I just don’t want to be taken.   When I read posts that we paid 130cuc and went to the Tropicana that evening it had me concerned when guides were quoting me 280cuc.   

20 minutes ago, EatonDoolittle said:

 

 

You are probably  in the correct range for all day, plus an evening tour and transportation to the Tropicana and back. 

Blexie is  charging us 220 CUC from 10 AM  to midnight (break for dinner, etc), but we are not going out to the Tropicana, just some bar hopping and music locally in the evening. 

 

The prices you are seeing discussed here are for just the day tour. I doubt people would haggle, the prices are reasonable enough.

There are several threads here about round trip transport (only) to the Tropicana, you can do a search, if you prefer that option. 

 

Plus once you see and hear how the Cuban people live, only a selfish person would argue over a few dollars for people who have so little. 

JMO, of course.