Charles4515

I would suggest a T-Mobile or Google Fi cell phone plan. They are relatively inexpensive and work in over 200 countries. Their plans are the best for frequent international travelers.

As was pointed out earlier in the thread walkie talkies are illegal in some countries and also walkie talkies that are licensed for sale in the US and it's territories are not legal in most other countries. Every country has their own rules. Radio frequencies are licensed for specific purposes so frequencies on US walkie talkies might br the police department of emergency serves radio frequency in Italy. A US walkie talkie is not legal in Europe and a European Walkie talkie is not legal in the US. Power output is also regulated. If your radio transmission interferes or you are caught at customs with an illegal radio you could be in a world of trouble.

Chaankanaab is a national park, There is an entrance fee to get in the park. That can not be avoided. I have not been in a few years but back then we were able to observe the Dolphins at no cost. https://cozumelparks.com/en/chankanaab/ The park has several attractions. We liked to snorkel there. it is a good place to spend a day in Cozumel .You can take a taxi there on your. Much cheaper than booking with the cruise line.

Yes, that is what makes sense to me. Part of the cost of cruising. I don’t give an additional tip to someone for just doing their job. But I will for something special. That something special could just be their attitude.

The daily gratuity does go to the crew you have personal interactions with like the cabin attendants and the MDR servers.

There is always a supervisor. Certainly you have not gotten through life accepting what some low level functionary or phone agent tells you as gospel have you? You always take the word of the first person you talk to if it is important? Those gate agents are contracted out. They don't have final authority. @Ferry_Watcher

Ask a crew member or call guest relations if you can't hear the announcement. As far as the TV I have never been able to get it turned on in time to hear the announcement. I run to the door and open it to hear the announcement.

Hundreds of thousands have taken closed loop cruises to Mexico with birth certificates. What was specifically stated was wrong. If she had a birth certificate and the agent said no she would have had to ask for a supervisor. She would have been allowed to board with a DL and birth certificate.

I know this might be easier said than done but OP should leave the responsibility to the person.

The DL would have been good with a birth cetificate. A DL unless it is an EDL alone is not good enough.

The Dockyard is basically a tourist trap but there is a very good museum. Not really a whole day activity. There is Bermuda Fun Golf. Island Tour Centre has excursions but not that many in january. https://www.islandtourcentre.com. You can do a taxi tour and set the time, minimium 3 hours. You can do an island tour with Heidi Cowan Bermuda Byways. https://www.bermudabyways.com She does not take credit cards and says on the webite she does not request a deposit. She works on the honesty system. You book the tour, and picks you up So there will be no problem if the ship does not dock and she will know if that happens. Hamilton is interesting to walk around. You can take a taxi back, there will be taxis, or the #7 or #8 bus. As you are on NCL you can go to St. George on the complementary NCL ferry. It would be timed for you to go there and back. I personally prefer St. George over Hamilton.

I would not assume. I do know that many have done those 2 ports with a birth certificate but OP should contact Princess. Princess could have their own rule even though the US and those two countries don’t require a passport. If I were OP I would tell the person that was encouraged to get a passport who had time and who is causing the stress get an expedited passport or stay home.

I believe the app will only allow that for any sailing.

I have not recently traveled to those countries without a passport because I would not do that but those countries don’t require a passport for closed loop cruise. A birth certificate and DL as photo ID will be fine.

They should have had him in a different venue. We spend a lot of evenings in the Schooner Bar probably would have complained if we had to put up with him every evening.

That is what I do. I want to hear the Captain’s announcement so I make sure I am in a public area. They are usually the same time every day. I don’t want to hear the cruise directors announcement and everything the CD announces will be on the schedule.

I don’t want to generally hear them in my cabin either. The only announcement I would want to hear in my cabin is an emergency announcement.

I have been told if you tip extra above the auto gratuities they get to keep it. They only pool it if you take the auto gratuities off.

That does not surprise me. I have heard him say some obnoxius things to passengers. It may have been some sort of humor but some did not take it that way. His type of show is not for me, I don't like his show but I would never complain to the cruise line about anything in his show. I just don't go when he is performing.

Royal Caribbean used to have a switch to turn it on or off. Celebrity never did and considered that a feature,

I always thought in the days before the auto charge gratuities that the envelopes were a reminder to leave gratuities and social pressure since everyone could see if you handed out an envelope the last night or did not show up the last night. Before the internet I recall a number of first time passengers who were unaware about the expectations and asked me what to do. I would always point them to the suggested amounts that the cruise line published. Now with auto charges those envelopes I see as passe and I don't feel any presssure to tip extra. I think the suggested amounts are fine, I leave those charges on, and I won't tip extra except for something exceptional. Which happens sometimes. If you want to pass out envelopes fine but if you think everyone should be handing out an envelope with an extra amount and there is something wrong if they don't I think you are just wrong. I also think I can give a great thank you without a note.

I always tip a dollar for Elite drinks. I usually get pretty good drinks when the servers are used to me tipping on those. It is possible they get something from the tip pool for those drinks but I am skeptical that Captains Club will tell you the truth. If the cabin stewards have been over and above I hand them some extra but not in an envelope. I don’t tip the MDR extra because I don’t do assigned seating.

Okay. If you like beaches then it would be a good day to go to Horseshoe Bay. You can take a minibus shuttle or a taxi. Or you could do water excursions. If you are interest in some thing like that check out the Island Tour Centre. https://www.islandtourcentre.com You could take a ferry to Hamilton. There are shops, pubs, parks and Fort Hamilton.

I leave the auto gratuities on that are charged to my account every day. You might be tipping extra if you leave the auto grats on or hvae gratuities included. . I only add an extra cash gratuity for special service. No envelope just hand cash. For the complimentary Elite drinks I hand a $1 to the server. I also use Cafe Bacio for coffees a lot and since I am Elite Plus at the end of the week I hand them some cash.

I suggest and island tour. Heidi Cowan https://www.bermudabyways.comdoes a good tour but you could also do a taxi tour. Other than an island tour my suggestions would vary with day of week and what cruise line you have booked and what month. If you are there this summer a top suggestion would be a beach, Horseshoe Bay.