rkacruiser

Are you certain of that? For several years I used the services of a major travel agent in your State that, for awhile, sold that company's policies to clients that wished to buy the policy through the agency.

That's a great idea, I think. Baseball caps that are cruise line specific can usually be purchased through the cruise line's web store. I have caps for Cunard, Carnival, and HAL and I still enjoy wearing them.

I prefer flowers. But, if it is a Christmas cruise, most cruise lines will offer a small table top light and decorated Christmas Tree (HAL has two different sizes) that are beautiful and can be taken home. The tree that I bought for my traveling companion and me is the tree that I use at Christmas.

What ships have "Wonderland"?

The Pinnacle Class ships of HAL have a small number of single staterooms and, I think, QM2 does as well. Don't know about the other two Queens. The most affordable time for a solo to sail is the cruise immediately after their New Year's Cruise. Don't know whether I was still paying a supplement or not, but I have received some excellent pricing for cruises during that week including a paid upgrade to a Signature and then to a Neptune Suite on HAL as well as MSC's Yacht Club.

Are any of your international flights operated by KLM? If so, based on my experience in Economy, the food and service was much better than I have experienced on Delta is the same Class. I can only imagine what the Business Class passengers experienced on my flight (ATL to AMS).

Thanks for letting us know what your banker said. I don't send nor receive texts so this isn't a world class practice, in my opinion. Somewhere in the back of my memory, I vaguely recall some need to verify that I was the person making the charge, bur, I don't remember what that was. If I remember--finally--I'll post that. I get so tired of companies "fixing something that is not broke"!!!

He is in prison. I heard that he was headed for Australia. No, he was not. But, he apparently was a good Bridge player and his team mates wondered why he had disappeared. That was the Chief Engineer. He was replaced by a younger man, the second in command in that Department. Both were disembarked at Dutch Harbor. I did not see that happen and appreciate you posting those pictures. I have not seen them before. I just have to wonder if we met during the cruise. Did you participate in the HAL shore excursion to Bejing, then Xian, then to Shanghai to rejoin the Volendam?

Maybe its because I am becoming a cruising relic, but, I don't feel pressure to tip. I began cruising when tipping was "the order of the day". My goodness, I had to pay to reserve a deck chair, cushion, and blanket! We have come a long way since then. If one cannot afford to tip for "service above and beyond", then, perhaps, they ought to consider their vacation choices.

If you enjoy wearing your tux, wear it! As for the cumberbund and vest, they have become too heavy and warm for my comfort and I don't pack them anymore.

Indeed. That was my experience on the Eurodam. I had a bottle of wine in my stateroom one evening when I was trying to remove the cork. The cork "didn't want to be removed." Somehow, the neck of the bottle broke and my thumb was badly cut, bleeding profusely. Knowing that I couldn't control the bleeding, I made a late night emergency visit to the Medical Center for help. A day after that, I had a visit from the Security Chief Officer who wanted to know what happened. He wanted to see the bottle, but, since this happened after my Cabin Steward had cleaned my stateroom and and discarded the bottle in the waste basket, I could not show it to him. But, the Cabin Steward had left a replacement bottle and he did take a photo of it to include it in his report to Seattle. He thought my bottle might have been defective and, if so, there might be others floating around in the fleet.

I doubt it. A few years ago, I was in Cincinnati on sailing day for the Delta Queen. I tried to be a visitor and it was not allowed. Many years ago, there was a Riverboat Festival in Cincinnati when many of the riverboats along the Ohio, Mississippi, and other rivers spent a 2-3 days. The Delta Queen was among them, but one had to buy a ticket. For the day I was going to be attending, the tickets were sold out. Checked again on that day, still none were available.

I remember that incident. Correct: your opinion is not popular with me.

Volendam, 2002, enroute to Russia, we encountered the trail end of a typhoon in the Aleutian Islands area. Seas so rough that the ship had to slow, point its bow into the direction of the waves, the bow dropping into a trough with the displaced water cascading over the top of the Crow's Nest, many guests ill, and the Chief Engineer injured that required an unscheduled stop at Dutch Harbor had to be made to take him ashore. It was exciting. At least for me.

Agree. The PR theme that is taught to the crew is "Happy, Happy". OK, maybe for a first time or two cruiser, but, when one has some "water under one's keel", a "Happy, Happy" response comes near to be insulting when one suspects it is not really "Happy, Happy". Or maybe the requirements to earn an MBA have lessened? 🤔 There have been many decisions coming out of Seattle that have been only marginally fair and some that have failed totally. You talk to any experienced HAL Master and, if they are honest, they will tell you that the micromanagement from the "suits" has increased over the years and it does interfere with offering the HAL experience that the onboard crew try to provide.

It is absolutely not worth the money if one has enjoyed the Hydrothermal Pool and Thermal Suite on the other ships.

None of these "signature cocktails" appeal to me.

I wish I could accurately quote a passage from some scientist that my Zoology professor read to us, but, it does somewhat like this: In the light of a dying Sun, the last life form on Earth is an insect, preening its wings, in the glow of that dying Sun. Insects are an extremely adaptable Class Insecta.

The question is what happened on September 15th that started the upswing? No one seems to know that has any interest in the cruise stocks. One person with whom I communicate who follows NCLH reported large insider stock sales. Her opinion is the classic "pump and dump" may be taking place.

2002 aboard the Volendam en route to Russia in the vicinity of the Aleutians, we encountered the tail end of a typhoon and it was quite an experience at sea. As the bow would crash down into huge waves, the resulting sea water displaced would cover the Crow's Nest. One hung on to whatever solid fixture there was, many were ill, and the Chief Engineer was injured and had to be taken off the ship at Dutch Harbor. It was exciting for me.

Good pictures! Have a great cruise!

And, be sure to read The Path Between the Seas before your cruise. It will provide the background that ought to help you better appreciate what you are seeing and experiencing.

Thanks for your detailed post. I knew little about this Group. Good to keep learning!

We would appreciate knowing what you decide, if you would not mind doing so.

That is not what the other poster said. The poster mentioned two Southern states where Sausage Gravy and Biscuits ought to be a popular dish. Sir, you leave for Europe on QM2 soon, less than a week, I think. What is the date? I want to watch your ship sail out of New York and lift a glass to wish you Bon Voyage! Do you know the sailaway time?