Why the hatred for "O"

I am not a number. I am a free man!

Drat! You beat me to it. When we went to Portmerion many years ago, I bought a button that said that for my boss. I still have the one I bought for myself pinned up over my desk. "I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered."

We dined with Orlando Ashford twice ... just not at the same table! :cool:;p

In a sense, we've all dined at "his" table. :cool:(Too bad we have to pick up the tab)

Canadians are exempt from paying tax on prize winnings.

 

An experienced traveller will take into account that they will be bringing more home with them than they started with.

I didn't know you had that exemption. Lottery, too? At the end of every game show we have a disclaimer that contestants "must meet eligibility requirements," which I think means they have to fill out tax forms before they're allowed to win anything.

I think there are two kinds of experienced travelers in this instance. Those that like to bring home souvenirs do allow for that. I do, although I plan to stick to small items (unless there are going to be good yarn sources). The others are the people who don't care about souvenirs, either for themselves or for friends and family. If they know they won't buy anything, they don't need to save space for extra stuff.

As for lugging the book home, read it on the cruise (or if you find you don't like it, stop reading) and leave it behind. Unless it turns out to be a book you love and know you will revisit often, how likely are you to read it again?

I didn't know you had that exemption. Lottery, too? At the end of every game show we have a disclaimer that contestants "must meet eligibility requirements," which I think means they have to fill out tax forms before they're allowed to win anything.

 

I think there are two kinds of experienced travelers in this instance. Those that like to bring home souvenirs do allow for that. I do, although I plan to stick to small items (unless there are going to be good yarn sources). The others are the people who don't care about souvenirs, either for themselves or for friends and family. If they know they won't buy anything, they don't need to save space for extra stuff.

 

As for lugging the book home, read it on the cruise (or if you find you don't like it, stop reading) and leave it behind. Unless it turns out to be a book you love and know you will revisit often, how likely are you to read it again?

Lottery too. :D

My casino winnings on board (when it happened), were mine to keep. No tax. Same thing with bingo (but I've never won the big jackpot ;) )

Lottery too. :D

 

My casino winnings on board (when it happened), were mine to keep. No tax. Same thing with bingo (but I've never won the big jackpot ;) )

That's nice! Now you just have to win the big bingo jackpot!

That's nice! Now you just have to win the big bingo jackpot!

LOL :). That would be nice :) :'). I'm not holding my breath, though.

Actually, in most cases, an experienced traveler doesn’t buy a lot of crap while on a cruise.

I can hardly wait until I am "a more experienced traveler". Do you think this will come before or after I get my Travel Century Club Silver membership in a few more trips? Or maybe after we finally get to our HAL Gold Medallion after our next cruises. I am always eager to learn new things.

While I am not a country chaser -- I prefer to visit places where I have a strong interest and often will visit them again and again -- I like to think I am an 'experienced traveler'. I just checked for fun, and I have made visits to 84 of the countries and territories on the official Travel Century Club list (a list with which I'd have some significant quibbles if I took it at all seriously) in my early 50s. I hope to visit many more, but some are just not places that have the history I crave.

At any rate, perhaps us experienced travelers don't bring back 'crap', but in looking around my house this morning I will admit to enjoying the two hand-colored antique prints from Rome on the wall above my couch which is draped with a gorgeous tribal throw from Syria and graced with a cut-velvet pillow cover from Venice. On the table in front of it rests a piece of antique silver from Singapore and a lovely inlaid wooden box from Japan. On the floor a hand-woven rug from Egypt and in the window a pair of modern blown glass birds from Finland bask in the sunlight. Not forgetting the Portuguese Coimba pottery tray or wooden serving pieces from Israel in my kitchen, among other finds.

Doesn't just about every article containing travel tips suggest tucking a small packable bag or duffle in one's luggage just in case? I am not a big shopper, but bringing such a bag has come to my rescue many a time over the years and enabled me to bring home some unique pieces that otherwise would have been problematic.

While I am not a country chaser -- I prefer to visit places where I have a strong interest and often will visit them again and again -- I like to think I am an 'experienced traveler'. I just checked for fun, and I have made visits to 84 of the countries and territories on the official Travel Century Club list (a list with which I'd have some significant quibbles if I took it at all seriously) in my early 50s. I hope to visit many more, but some are just not places that have the history I crave.

 

At any rate, perhaps us experienced travelers don't bring back 'crap', but in looking around my house this morning I will admit to enjoying the two hand-colored antique prints from Rome on the wall above my couch which is draped with a gorgeous tribal throw from Syria and graced with a cut-velvet pillow cover from Venice. On the table in front of it rests a piece of antique silver from Singapore and a lovely inlaid wooden box from Japan. On the floor a hand-woven rug from Egypt and in the window a pair of modern blown glass birds from Finland bask in the sunlight. Not forgetting the Portuguese Coimba pottery tray or wooden serving pieces from Israel in my kitchen, among other finds.

 

Doesn't just about every article containing travel tips suggest tucking a small packable bag or duffle in one's luggage just in case? I am not a big shopper, but bringing such a bag has come to my rescue many a time over the years and enabled me to bring home some unique pieces that otherwise would have been problematic.

(bold is mine) It's a standard item in my packing. I don't recall seeing luggage in HAL's logo shops, or maybe I never looked. But getting off Cunard cruises, I've seen quite a few very new-looking pieces of their canvas logo luggage.

While I am not a country chaser -- I prefer to visit places where I have a strong interest and often will visit them again and again -- I like to think I am an 'experienced traveler'. I just checked for fun, and I have made visits to 84 of the countries and territories on the official Travel Century Club list (a list with which I'd have some significant quibbles if I took it at all seriously) in my early 50s. I hope to visit many more, but some are just not places that have the history I crave.

 

At any rate, perhaps us experienced travelers don't bring back 'crap', but in looking around my house this morning I will admit to enjoying the two hand-colored antique prints from Rome on the wall above my couch which is draped with a gorgeous tribal throw from Syria and graced with a cut-velvet pillow cover from Venice. On the table in front of it rests a piece of antique silver from Singapore and a lovely inlaid wooden box from Japan. On the floor a hand-woven rug from Egypt and in the window a pair of modern blown glass birds from Finland bask in the sunlight. Not forgetting the Portuguese Coimba pottery tray or wooden serving pieces from Israel in my kitchen, among other finds.

 

Doesn't just about every article containing travel tips suggest tucking a small packable bag or duffle in one's luggage just in case? I am not a big shopper, but bringing such a bag has come to my rescue many a time over the years and enabled me to bring home some unique pieces that otherwise would have been problematic.

Oh me too! Some places I cannot get enough of! I love the memories of my lemon dishes and linens from Ireland, France and Italy. A beautiful inlaid wood tray from Sorrento. And I dragged Bone China home from England on one occasion and had it shipped on another when Harrods had a sale, lol! And my Russian teapot and antique silver tea glass holders and a hand knit mohair sweater from Estonia.

But mostly now I buy teas, scarves and jewellery, easy to carry! I love my antique rose gold locket from Belfast and silver starfish from Greece. And the odd Italian handbag;) I also cannot live without Greek honey but luckily I can now buy it at home. My granddaughter loves the Greek wool Pom Pom slippers. Ok I need to stop now:D

I do have a small collapsible bag that fits inside a suitcase that has also rescued us on several occasions!

Hospitality and travel industry marketing is not my area of expertise, so I can't respond to your questions.

 

Roz

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Like your idea of Rick Steeve's being a grrrreat fit for HAL.

I though there already were reading areas aboard HAL ships, why a reading room with a celebrities name?

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Like your idea of Rick Steeve's being a grrrreat fit for HAL.

 

I though there already were reading areas aboard HAL ships, why a reading room with a celebrities name?

I don't think it's going to be a dedicated space. A poster has reported that on his/her cruise, it was a get together in one of the lounges, not an actual room.

While I am not a country chaser -- I prefer to visit places where I have a strong interest and often will visit them again and again -- I like to think I am an 'experienced traveler'. I just checked for fun, and I have made visits to 84 of the countries and territories on the official Travel Century Club list (a list with which I'd have some significant quibbles if I took it at all seriously) in my early 50s. I hope to visit many more, but some are just not places that have the history I crave.

 

At any rate, perhaps us experienced travelers don't bring back 'crap', but in looking around my house this morning I will admit to enjoying the two hand-colored antique prints from Rome on the wall above my couch which is draped with a gorgeous tribal throw from Syria and graced with a cut-velvet pillow cover from Venice. On the table in front of it rests a piece of antique silver from Singapore and a lovely inlaid wooden box from Japan. On the floor a hand-woven rug from Egypt and in the window a pair of modern blown glass birds from Finland bask in the sunlight. Not forgetting the Portuguese Coimba pottery tray or wooden serving pieces from Israel in my kitchen, among other finds.

 

Doesn't just about every article containing travel tips suggest tucking a small packable bag or duffle in one's luggage just in case? I am not a big shopper, but bringing such a bag has come to my rescue many a time over the years and enabled me to bring home some unique pieces that otherwise would have been problematic.

I appreciate your civilized comments :)

I don't think it's going to be a dedicated space. A poster has reported that on his/her cruise, it was a get together in one of the lounges, not an actual room.

I believe the poster you are referring to is me. You are correct in your recall. When on the Eurodam this past fall there was a book club gathering lead by the cruise director featuring the O book selection, Anything is Possible, it was held in the Gallery Bar. There was no "O" signage anywhere. So I suspect this will be the setup in the future once the official book club rolls out in May.

Since "Oprah's Favorite Things" is now part of the new HAL onboard Oprah branding, with this logo emblazoned on the wall outside the dedicated onboard shop, will this shop's inventory be limited to Oprah's curated group of products along with her commentary on each of them?

For a sample of "Oprah's Favorite Things 2016": http://www.oprah.com/gift/Oprahs-Favorite-Things-2016-Full-List-Oprahs-Poinsettia-Flower-Pot-Cake?editors_pick_id=65969

The Oprah branded "Just Breathe" early morning meditation event on the Veendam this winter did have a dedicated space on the Lido deck, with special banners and a full set up the crew had to install and then take down. The whole point of the Oprah branding is to get her name, face and message inserted into the HAL cruise experience every way possible.

Hey, maybe she's decided to invest in HAL. Like she did in Weight Watchers.

Since "Oprah's Favorite Things" is now part of the new HAL onboard Oprah branding, with this logo emblazoned on the wall outside the dedicated onboard shop, will this shop's inventory be limited to Oprah's curated group of products along with her commentary on each of them?

 

For a sample of "Oprah's Favorite Things 2016": http://www.oprah.com/gift/Oprahs-Favorite-Things-2016-Full-List-Oprahs-Poinsettia-Flower-Pot-Cake?editors_pick_id=65969

 

The Oprah branded "Just Breathe" early morning meditation event on the Veendam this winter did have a dedicated space on the Lido deck, with special banners and a full set up the crew had to install and then take down. The whole point of the Oprah branding is to get her name, face and message inserted into the HAL cruise experience every way possible.

(bold is mine) Do you have a picture of this logo sign? For the life of me, I can't picture where it was when we were on K'dam recently, and I did walk by the shops several times.

I believe the poster you are referring to is me. You are correct in your recall. When on the Eurodam this past fall there was a book club gathering lead by the cruise director featuring the O book selection, Anything is Possible, it was held in the Gallery Bar. There was no "O" signage anywhere. So I suspect this will be the setup in the future once the official book club rolls out in May.

Thanks! I knew I read it somewhere.

(bold is mine) Do you have a picture of this logo sign? For the life of me, I can't picture where it was when we were on K'dam recently, and I did walk by the shops several times.

I was on the Veendam - it was where the former general merchandise shop (mainly clothes) was located next to what is now a HAL logo shop. Near the atrium towards the showroom. Big letters - I did not go in so I don't know what the inventory is or will be. But since this is a "trademark" collection of goods, all personally validated by Oprah herself, I assume it would include these personal picks of hers that can also be found online on her website. Probably not the $200 bird houses, or the $15,000 gold bracelets, but I suspect some of the more modestly under $100 gimmrack.

I was on the Veendam - it was where the former general merchandise shop (mainly clothes) was located next to what is now a HAL logo shop. Near the atrium towards the showroom. Big letters - I did not go in so I don't know what the inventory is or will be. But since this is a "trademark" collection of goods, all personally validated by Oprah herself, I assume it would include these personal picks of hers that can also be found online on her website. Probably not the $200 bird houses, or the $15,000 gold bracelets, but I suspect some of the more modestly under $100 gimmrack.

I didn't see any signs like that on K'dam. There wasn't a dedicated O shop. I didn't see any O stuff, but I'm told there was some of her "curated" stuff in an area of the general clothing shop.

Perhaps the signs and separate shop are appearing only as ships go into drydock?

We do not hate Oprah.

We just think that she is a sanctimonious windbag whose primary goal is personal aggrandisement.

But, we are not big fans of daytime television.

Since "Oprah's Favorite Things" is now part of the new HAL onboard Oprah branding, with this logo emblazoned on the wall outside the dedicated onboard shop, will this shop's inventory be limited to Oprah's curated group of products along with her commentary on each of them?

 

For a sample of "Oprah's Favorite Things 2016": http://www.oprah.com/gift/Oprahs-Favorite-Things-2016-Full-List-Oprahs-Poinsettia-Flower-Pot-Cake?editors_pick_id=65969

 

The Oprah branded "Just Breathe" early morning meditation event on the Veendam this winter did have a dedicated space on the Lido deck, with special banners and a full set up the crew had to install and then take down. The whole point of the Oprah branding is to get her name, face and message inserted into the HAL cruise experience every way possible.

People's names and faces being plastered everywhere reminds me of my grandmother's saying "fool's names and fool's faces are often seen in public places." And not just Oprah, I feel the same way about anyone and everyone trying to extend their fifteen minutes of fame or prolong their influence - actors, chefs, politicians, athletes, musicians, the "famous-for-being-famous," everyone

Hey, maybe she's decided to invest in HAL. Like she did in Weight Watchers.

If so, I hope she funds the deck barbeque so we can have it again. :)

How do you feel about athletes' likenesses on boxes of Wheaties?

Roz

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How do you feel about athletes' likenesses on boxes of Wheaties?

 

Roz

 

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I feel this means the product will cost more that it should.

And in the case of Wheaties, using popular images to sell junk food to vulnerable young consumers who then demand their parents buy the branded item, instead of a cheaper generic, or ask for a bowl of real food oatmeal instead.

To me "celebrity" branding means less value; not value added. Though I admit, do have at least one HAL logo jacket - that has very subtle same color Holland America monograming on the sleeve cuff, and I really needed that item because I had not packed for the weather properly on our first cruise.

DH also has an extremely cool jacket with a very small Maasdam flag embroidery on the chest, from that same cruise - both very high quality, stand alone items on their own. (That was back in 2009.) The sad joke is now that we get a discount on HAL logo items, there is nothing we want to buy.

People's names and faces being plastered everywhere reminds me of my grandmother's saying "fool's names and fool's faces are often seen in public places." And not just Oprah, I feel the same way about anyone and everyone trying to extend their fifteen minutes of fame or prolong their influence - actors, chefs, politicians, athletes, musicians, the "famous-for-being-famous," everyone

Compared to the many vapid “personalities” you see on magazines in the grocery store check out lane, Oprah has more going for her, IMO. And I think her motivation is not as self-centered as many celebrities.