logan25

Quite a coincidence this question should be asked since I just encountered the issue of “old paper pounds” on my last cruise.  My “old” 20£ note (circa 2006) was declined as legal tender by a Southampton restaurant.

Furthermore, it was suggested by the refuser that I exchange the note at a local bank.  I attempted to do just that but was refused by the bank employee.  I was told exchanges are only available to accout holders.  
 

As a non-account holder, I was told the exchange could only be made at a Bank of London branch, in London.  My circumstance did not allow me to travel into London for the sole purpose of a money exchange.  If that even works!

Anyone else able to offer a solution to those in possession of “old” pound notes?

Chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven.  Yum!

3 hours ago, vjmatty said:

I’m hoping that the amount of work involved with going through every booking that’s already been made and deducting one of the OBC’s would be too much to make it worth it, especially now that the military OBC is now nonrefundable. $100 in crap that you’re forced to buy in order to use up the credit probably only costs them $25 or less. 

Hate to tell you, but it could be as simple as a computer program element not allowing both to reside on the same booking.

I have run into vendors abroad who require a minimum purchase to use a credit card in payment.  And I doubt the street vendor in Athens would have accepted credit cards for the one Euro donut I purchased.

I commonly have a small amount of local currency for De minimis purchases.

On 5/21/2023 at 6:32 PM, Homosassa said:

You can ask for the following and they will be provided:

 

washcloths

box of tissues

bar of soap for bathroom sink

Currently on Divina transatlantic.  Requested washcloths and box of tissues on the second day.  I brought my own bar of soap.

Washcloth was provided but my request for tissues was politely refused.  So I had to provision tissues for myself.

If you catch the movie channels in between movies, each should display a schedule for the entire cruise.

53 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

File a claim with both the cruise line and the airline. Both will deny and that's all your looking for. A Denial letters. After you receive the denial letter, then go ahead and file with the travel insurance company.

Thank you for your advice.  Certainly the way I am leaning.

2 hours ago, ExpatBride said:

Let me consult my crystal ball. Who knows? Luggage gets damaged all the time. 

So why bother posting?

Difficult to assign responsibility for broken luggage handle.  We have travel insurance and the policy stipulates claim must first be submitted to carrier.

One checked bag was placed outside cabin on the night before disembarkation in Seattle.  Paperwork was submitted for Port Valet service to deliver to airline and route to final destination.  Bag arrived on the baggage carousel at final destination but with a broken handle.  This was at midnight and the airline baggage office was closed.  So I went home.

So who would you think would be the responsible party?  Cruise ship, Port Valet, or airline?

Water floating mat should certainly not be any problem.  I have taken an inflatable on several occasions, as have other passengers.

After receiving the conditional approval several years ago, I scheduled a face-to-face interview at the Miami airport office.  I don’t live near any CBP interview site either.  It was more convenient to shuttle back to the airport (from the hotel) for the interview appointment and then head to the port for my cruise.  No problems encountered.

1 hour ago, trbarton said:

I read posts that people just contacted their room steward & they were able to have them turned off. Has anyone contacted the steward & if so what happened?

 

Tom🤔

Steward noticed what we had done on our last cruise to block the nightstand sensors.  He offered to disconnect them, which we let him do.

13 minutes ago, Zach1213 said:

 

The good thing is that de-icing continues to get more efficient, at least in airports that are halfway prepared for it. Some northern airports just set up "assembly lines", for lack of a better term, where a whole taxiway is set up for it and plane and plane just goes through with the equipment stationary. Those are great. Even DFW is better than it was just five or 10 years ago. 

 

Then there are the airports where it's literally a guy on the back of a pickup truck with a de-icing hose. Those are...not great. 

Point taken.  I don’t live in DFW.  So pickup truck it is.

My two cents.

First of morning flights can be a priority for the airline to launch.  However, in winter, the weather and temperature are variable.  It is not unheard of for overnight temperatures to cause icing (of aircraft equipment necessary for airworthiness) in the morning, which in turn delay the launch.

Speaking from experience.  Nashville is far sight more north than Texas.

On 12/22/2022 at 1:35 PM, PORT ROYAL said:

There was a shuttle boat service, turn left off ship and keep walking towards the sea, but @reedprincess can advise is still running.

One can walk it.  About 15 minutes.  Out dock gates, straight ahead, turn right into a small shipyard, out the other side.  Keep walking, as you’ll see the covered market.  Can’t miss it.

Be prepared on the walk to be enthusiastically, but politely, encouraged to take a tour by many operators.  On the walk, under a small tree, there used to be a lady selling handmade dolls at very reasonable prices. But again Princees can give up to date information.

How much should one expect to pay for a tour of the island, with no water sports or beach stop?

On 2/10/2023 at 8:12 AM, TeeRick said:

Mast Grill/Pool Grill burgers on Celebrity- people love them or hate them.  I'm not a big fan - too fatty.  

I was worried, until I read your description.  My husband has never met a burger which is “too fatty”.

Their protocol is sadly in need of an update.  Spain doesn’t use the Health Control Form anymore.

Ok, who finally browbeat NCL into organizing the home airport list so it displays alphabetically?  I have been accessing their list for years and it was never organized into any order I found logical.  Suddenly today, DFW is not found two-thirds of the way down the list but near the beginning…in alphabetical order.

24 minutes ago, hobbyfarmer2 said:

Thanks for the price update.  We don't need performance as we don't stream.  The rebate brings it down to $7.50/day once onboard.  I guess our glass is half full.

You should have the option to add internet package through app prior to sailing, at the discounted rate.  That is true for our cruise yet to sail in September.

Considering the increasing cost of chicken wings, NCL is saving a mountain of cash on my husband NOT eating the wings.

56 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

I actually had a pretty good bite of some fish and chips on the last cruise. And surprisingly warm!

The fish I was served at The Local on the Joy this cruise was not battered.  I suspect popped from the freezer to the fryer.  I would describe them as crumb coated.

Shockingly, one day at lunch, beer-battered and fried fish fillets were served at the buffet.  They were hot and crispy.  Just once during this two-week cruise, however.

IMO the current wing offering pales in comparison to the version of yesteryears.  Buffalo, NOT!  
 

I am confident my opinion matters to NCL not at all.  So, another food item done well bites the dust.  Don’t bet started on the fried fish at The Local.

Two of our excursions allow modify or cancel but the third states non- refundable and no modification allowed.  Of course, the slate of planner shore excursions now lists the third tour at a price less than I booked.

I am traveling and unable to contact Celebrity directly to ask my question.

When shore excursions are booked online through the planner, can prices be adjusted if the price drops prior to the cruise?

On 12/22/2022 at 1:09 PM, ajtaylor29 said:

i don't know what WHTI means.....? But, i told her we had those and she said nope. Has to be a birth certificate.

 

I can specifically say a Passport Card served me well when my book passport had not been returned in time to board Mariner for a closed loop voyage three years ago.