regnig

Oh stop it.....they cause no damage......sheesh!

Thanks for jumping in here as after the last few posts I'd begun to worry about creating a controversy :o without even offering to serve Pop-Corn. :eek::rolleyes:

The issue wasn't what I might need them for or whether I'd like guests in my own home using them or if they fell within the bounds of someone else's view of good etiquette, it was simply would they "really not hurt the wall surfaces in HAL staterooms" as "I want to be certain I will not cause any damage."

Thanks again!

One wonderful, wonderful full and 1/2 dozen partial.

Many thanks folks, into the suitcase they go! :D

If applied and removed according to the directions do 3M Command Hooks really not hurt the wall surfaces in HAL staterooms? I'd love to take some on our next cruise and I've read several regular CC posters stating they use them but I want to be certain I will not cause any damage.

I'd love to hear from actual users.

Thanks in advance! :D

Easy recipe for Hokey-Pokey ice cream that doesn't even require an ice cream churn.

http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/drink/how-to-make-hokey-pokey-icecream-20130322-2gklh.html

Sounds great and just might have to give it a try. :D

So, I'll start with a little back story.

My family of five is booked on Epic for 22 days in the Haven. We are due to sail in a month. ....................

........................

Along with the OBC was a notation that there is a max purchase of $1000 OBC per reservation. That notation apparently hit the website (and the call centre) Jan 21.

Here's my question.... If we purchased OBC in December and again prior to Jan 21st, is NCL obligated to honour that purchase?

If there are 5 of you booked does that not mean that you have 5 reservations and therefore shouldn't you be able to have $1000 OBC per person?

Barb,

 

Here is the list of teas available this morning on the Lido for free. All are Bigelow brand:

....................................

Dave

Dave thanks so much for the extensive list. YEA, one less thing to pack. So glad HAL did away with the horrid tea they had last year.

Continue to enjoy you trip.

Thanks again, Barb

Dave another Congratulations on your retirement!

Enjoying you posting and the scans are wonderful.

I have a favor to ask :o. If you are ever in the Lido would you take a look and let me know what brand of Tea Bags on onboard please?

Many thanks, Barb

Mary Ann a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Continue to enjoy "our" cruise.

But this is a forum where everyone's opinion is valid and they are free to express it, as long as it is within the guidelines, meets the expectation of common decency and courtesy and does not insult other posters. Unfortunately, some trolls slip through for a short while but it's just a blip and the conversation continues.;) Throwing out insults is not, as far as I know, within the guidelines.

Lizzie I believe the point some have attempted to make is that so very many of the posts on this thread do not meet the guidelines. Several posters continue to attempt to debate the health issues of smoking and of second hand smoke. If Walt's directions were followed as written then this thread would be very similar to that on the Disney web site. I believe if one reads what Walt wrote in the very first post even you will have to admit that many posts do NOT meet the guidelines.

We have established this thread to be the "go to" thread for all discussions pertaining to Holland America's on board smoking policies. This thread is intended to make it easier for all Cruise Critic members to discuss these policies and any future changes thereto.

 

Here's a link to HAL's policy summary Shipboard Life: Is smoking allowed on board? - ..... (snip).....

 

Reminders.

1. Our community guidelines continue to apply to this thread.

2. This is a forum for discussions of cruising and associated topics. It is not a forum for discussing the health, economics and public policy aspects of smoking, whether associated with cigarettes, pipes, cigars or controlled substances (marijuana).

3. Discussions of this approach to smoking posts and other board policies are off topic and will be removed. Please post discussions of this approach for smoking posts to this thread: Single Smoking Thread on the HAL Board - a Sticky

Thanks for your understanding and continued participation on the Cruise Critic forums.

Wonderful!! What a great gift for your cousin's birthday. :D

Thanks for taking your time to keep us updated.

BTW, “Light Between the Oceans” by ML Stedman is a wonderful read!

Mary Ann many thanks again for taking time to keep us updated. Although the weather wasn't the best no one should have been bored yesterday.

Barb

Sounds like a good day in Costa Rica. We stopped in Puerto Limon years ago and it sounds as if it has since expanded as a port stop. When we were there it didn't have anything similar to a "souvenir building" and not much beyond the fence other than perhaps the "local" in the community park. :D

Thanks again for bringing us along, Barb

And that right there is why you're getting the responses you are. No, it is not age discrimination. It's an age limit. HUGE difference.

Aquahound I must agree with you. It is no more discriminating than Amusement parks having height restrictions. My youngest granddaughter is short for her age and has been prohibited from several rides as a result. While disappointed it has never ruined her entire experience though.

I truly have sympathy for him if this experience ruined his entire cruise but, I'm still confused as to why the OP booked the excursion in the first place since the age restriction was noted in the on-line description and then in the paperwork that was awaiting for him in his stateroom upon embarkation. Also since he has stated he was aware of RCI's age restriction that should have prompted him to double check HAL's.

Mary Ann many thanks for allowing us to travel with you again. There's another couple taking the same cruise (Pete & Judy) taking the same voyage for the 1st time whom I'm sure you will meet and they are doing a blog too. It's always fun to follow duel "live froms" as it gives different and complete perspectives of the trip.

Smooth sailing, Barb

Wow, I love finding out I'm in the 2 percent of something! But 2 percent seems awfully low...

Us too! :D

Apparently that mentioned 2% must all be HAL cruisers and members of Cruise Critic. ;)

Thanks Lizzie for your warm thoughts. It's that damn C disease that is robbing my dearest SIL of the rest of her life. She of all people has insisted we don't cancel. We won't at this time but if she passes shortly before February 29th we will or if after we sail we'll interrupt our cruise if necessary without a second thought. Ironically it was she who got us hooked on cruising back in 1993 and she has joined us on many of our cruises.

Insurance already purchased.

Barb

Many thanks to all of you for the kind words and all the information. I'm now convinced we just need to keep our booking and if necessary there will be folks to assist us and see to it that our arrangements are taken care of.

A Blessed Holiday to all.

Barb

Thank you for your input. This is such a difficult and emotional issue.

Our circumstances would be the death of a qualifying family member. Depending upon how eminent the timing would be to our cruise we know we can cancel, which is what we would do, prior to boarding. It really is a question as to if we embark on the cruise and then get notification exactly what happens.

If I interpret correctly the Post-Departure Trip Interruption will cover us under

"We will pay a Post-Departure Trip Interruption Benefit, up to the amount in the Schedule, if due to your, an Immediate Family Member’s,...death or Other Covered Events as defined: ...... or 2) you are unable to continue on your Covered Cruise Vacation after you have departed on your Covered Cruise Vacation. .......for item 2) above, commence while you are on your Covered Cruise Vacation and your coverage is in effect under the plan; and c) for both items 1) and 2) above, require the examination and treatment by a Physician at the time the Covered Cruise Vacation is interrupted or delayed; .........". Does anyone know, or guess, if a Death Certificate is required or will they accept something like an Obituary naming Surviving Family Members?

It is wonderful to hear, and I expected nothing less, that the HAL staff onboard will help us make arrangements to disembark and return to FLL to pick up our car.

Since it is possible that while on board our 29 Feb cruise we may get news that a qualifying event has occurred that would necessitate our disembarking the ship and heading home. As a result we have purchased HAL's Premium insurance plan. We have medical insurance that covers just about everything else so normally we just buy the Cancel for Any Reason insurance so I'm into new territory with this. Have any of you ever had to use it for a similar situation of trip interruption? I've read all the "fine print" and am still a bit confused as to exactly what is covered and what we would be reimbursed for. Not that it really makes any difference as if the need arises we will get off and head home regardless. While I recognize that many of you don't like HAL's insurance and use other ones I'm going to stick with it so just need to focus on totally understand it.

Additionally will HAL staff onboard the ship help us make arrangements, particularly air flights, back to FLL?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

Let's take a tally per day.

 

So, at a minimum a days worth of meals on a ship would cost at least 52$ on any other vacation (except all inclusive ones).

Again, the above is a minimum, as there is complimentary room service, fresh fruit in the room etc....

And the tip is a non issue as its included in the final bill, so no issue there..

 

Is this rating reasonable?

While there is a difference between "worth" and "cost" I personally believe your estimate of "cost" is perhaps a bit low. I've always considered the food onboard a cruise ship to be almost free once I've deducted the cost of "transportation", room accommodations and entertainment from the fare.

There are also many, who when they cruise, eat 3 full meals a day along with several "snacks" to tide them over until the next "official" meal. While not cruising they usually don't consume near that much food at home or on a road trip.

Joanie, thanks for your review and I'm delighted you had such a wonderful cruise. Hope you don't mind but your "BUG" story had me laughing out loud. Also pass on thanks to your DH as his "live from" thread was full of lots of great information and he took time to answer all asked questions.

Time to start wishing you life away until your next adventure! :D

A simple call to HAL will get you the exact information you need. As it happens I had to do that this AM as my TA is out of the office for the week. HAL gave me the prices with no hesitation.

While we patiently await POA1's next merry composition thought I'd post another. This one is not original (and certain references seem to be for RCCL) it went viral several years ago.

'Twas the night before Christmas and far out at sea

Our vessel was sailing as smooth as could be

The stockings were hung from the balcony chairs

With hope that St. Nicholas would find them out there

The children were nestled all snug in their uppers

Having just settled down from a Christmas Eve supper

And ma and myself, we were covered in aloe

A bit too much sun, in a pool nice and shallow

When up in the sky there arose such a clatter

I leapt from my bed to see what was the matter

To the sliding glass door, I flew like a flash

Well, more like a saunter, and less like a dash

When, what to my skeptical eyes should appear

But a big shiny sleigh and eight flying reindeer

They circled our ship from starboard to port

And the moon lit the driver, a jolly old sort

Who called to his team in a happy retort,

"Now Dasher, now Dancer," so on and so forth

I raced through my cabin and into the hall

To the very top deck, in time for us all

To be awed by the sight of Old Santa's sleigh

As he lightly touched down by the midnight buffet

With a bundle of goodies thrown over his back

He climbed up the side and dropped down the smokestack

From insides to oceanviews, balconies, suites

Santa filled every stocking with toys and with treats

Until all the deliveries had been handled with care

Then he noted he still had a minute to spare

So he surfed the Surf Park, with nary a fall

While Dasher and Dancer scaled the rock-climbing wall

And Prancer, who was actually fond of the cold

Tried the ice-skating rink, a sight to behold

And then with a whistle, Santa summoned his team

And he bade us farewell, silent nights and sweet dreams

And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of view

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good cruise.

Enjoy, Barb