rkacruiser

I suggest you make a request for someone to post a copy of "When and Where" for an Alaskan cruise on the HAL Message Board. I am sure that they are "out there, somewhere".

In what way? Size? When I first flew on a 777, I thought: larger plane, larger restroom. Boy, was I wrong!

Google Heron Parking Garage Port Everglades. There is a site that specifically deals with some details of the Garage. The distance? I don't know and what I read does not say. But, to answer your question, it seems like the Garage is designed to allow what you are considering doing.

Thank you very much for your recollection. And, welcome to CC to a very new CC member.

I agree with you! From what I read, there seems to be a slow realization of this. "Modest means" described me when my Principal and a good friend, who was an advocate of a 403(b) Plan, convinced me to investigate and begin contributions to that type of plan. Surely glad that I did and now wonder why I didn't contribute a few dollars more each paycheck.

It is an inferior experience in comparison to the same pool on all of the other Classes of ships. If you book the Suite for the pool, it is a waste of money. Hot tubs are available for all outside of the Greenhouse Spa.

She was special. My traveling companion and I sailed on a Christmas and New Year's Cruise aboard Prinsendam. It was an excellent cruise and provided a variety of cruise memories that are different from others. Positively different than other holiday cruises on which I have sailed. I'll admit that my previous long ago experience with two other sailings on Royal Viking Line ships and Prinsendam's connection with RVL probably colors my memory. But, regarding Prinsendam, the quality was there. Prinsendam surely had her quirks. And, I have wondered about those since she was originally a RVL designed/built vessel. Is it those quirks that help to endear her in our memory? HAL has excelled when sailing these kinds of itineraries.

Because I was aware of the tipping practices in the years before I began cruising and during my beginning years, I ignored, what I considered, was an advertising gimmick. HAL was trying to increase their foothold into the cruising market that was being established by Royal Caribbean, Home Lines, Flagship Cruises, Norwegian Caribbean Lines, etc. No tipping required was a way to try to distinguish HAL from the others.

Welcome new CC member! I have sailed on both in both directions. Prime consideration ought to be itinerary. Does the ship visit the areas that interest you most? Research of cruise lines onboard Alaska programs. Trying to find the "When and Where" and "Princess Patters" daily programs will provide a taste of what to expect on board as to activities. (Both cruise lines have very good/excellent Alaska programs.) How much open deck space is available for scenic viewing by the guests? Being able to have a Lounge and/or deck space available that is forward viewing is an advantage, in my opinion. You asked for a preference. Mine is an itinerary preference. A cruise that is scheduled to visit both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier would be one I would seriously consider booking.

You found the area that I referenced. I also found pleasant, uncrowded areas of the ship to view the sea, read, doze. The aft decks of the Royal Princess had comfortable furniture, and other than prime"feeding times", were often underutilized.

Be thankful--very thankful--that you now "are in the condition that you are". DrSea, that is likely not to be "forever, and ever, amen."

I could have written your post myself. Of course, this as well as the advent of the cabin steward teams. HAL tried the "No Tipping Required" route as they became a solely cruise line; didn't stick. People still tipped.

A similar experience had by me. On a long cruise, I liked to linger on my cushioned deck chair and often stayed after the Deck Steward had collected the cushions, but, never asked me to move. He had to return to get my cushion. On the last afternoon/early evening of the cruise, as he was doing his job, I got off my chair and gave him a nice gratuity. He was very surprised and the look on his face and gratitude has never been forgotten by me.

Not the person to whom you are addressing, but, Breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill is a Neptune Suite perk. Not the other categories of suites.

The most gracious RuthC! 😆 Are there any veteran HAL cruisers that don't have a stateroom that we most prefer?

Sadly, this evening marks the 66th anniversary of the Andrea Doria and Stockholm tragedy. May the souls who were lost on those two ships continue to rest in peace. Their lives were not lost in vain. Lessons were learned as a result of the accident. Those of us who sail the seven seas have benefited from what was learned from that tragedy.

Are you sure? 😀 You may be correct. We will see.

The largest of my two pots that hold CCL stock was an initial investment many years ago of a very modest amount that DRIP has allowed to grow to a nice sized holding. I bought not as a lark, but, I bought based upon what I experienced as a very satisfied customer of the company. I thought I reasonably well understood my investment and why I was investing. (I am a Buffet rule follower.) I remain confident in the company. I didn't invest because of the Shareholders OBC. That is a very poor reason to make an investment in the Market. Such a benefit can disappear just like those of us who invested in McDonald's in the past and received coupons for free menu items in the Shareholder's Annual Report. However, given the price of the stock today, if one has 100 shares worth of money to gamble, do so. But, I'd suggest that you "buy and hold". Transaction costs for trades have to be taken in consideration for many small investors.

Motley is interesting to read, but, they are out to see their product and I don't put much "stock" into their reports. As I suggested in a post on another thread, informed investors of cruise line stocks ought to have the coming negative news "baked into" the current price of all of the cruise line stocks. Will the market drop on such news? Does Christmas come on December 25th? I would be surprised that the overall market won't react negatively this week.

The theme for this season seems to be: If it's Monday in Juneau, it's rain.

Returning to the ship, this is particularly true. HAL has made welcome improvements in recent years in providing covered shelters for people to line-up while they wait for a tender. So much better than standing out in the open Sun or rain.

What! No green beans? 🤣 Once upon a time, I could almost always be sure that a few green beans would show up on my dinner plate. Cauliflower would have been a welcome change for me. 😀

I agree with this poster. Noise from a public stairway ought not to be a concern.

I would visit Half Moon Cay and spend part of the day at my favorite bar in the Caribbean: I Could Stay Here Forever! If the lunch buffet served is not to your liking, you could return to the ship for a late lunch. Or, depending on the time, return to the ship and then return to Half Moon Cay. Grand Turk is a good port stop. But, once/twice there, is there a reason to make another visit?

I appreciate your efforts. Thank you. I couldn't anything more than you did. If I ever meet a citizen of England on a cruise again, I have a conversation starter with them.