ditmar2007

People speak English

The scenery is fantastic

The towns are small, but pittoresque.

You will probably be expected to pay in NOK.

2 hours ago, rudeney said:

 

1921 - wow!  Regardless, I still believe in corporal punishment for children - bot by parents and school officials.  I received my fair share of spankings at home and paddlings in school.  The thing is, it wasn't so much about the physical pain.  I was never hit hard enough to be injured, and the rowdy things my friends an I did playing hurt worse.  The real deterrent that corporal punishment has the threat and dread of it happening when I knew I was caught.  I generally took time, often hours, between being caught doing something paddle-worthy and being paddled.  That was time well spent reconsidering if what I had done was worth it or not.  

Where do you stop? 12? 16? 18? They day after they turn 18? And what about the 17y11.5mo old male who's a lot stronger than you? What if he hits back? Wouldn't that be considered self defense? Two weeks later it would. 

I prefer that my kids developed morality and responsibility instead of fear. 

They are 29 and 24 and I'm happy with how they turned out.

FYI: Here corporal punishment was illegal in schools from 1967 and in homes from 1997 (I think - my daughter was very well aware of it and she's born in 1992)

FYI2: If you go to Denmark and spank your kid in public it probably will be commented on - if you are lucky. IT'S JUST NOT DONE AND IT'S ILLEGAL! Even one spank in the bottom. 

Apparenly it is also illegal in the following European countries:
Sweden
Finland
Norway
Austria
Cypern
Latvia
Croatia
Bulgaria
Germany
Island
Rumania
Ukraine
Hungary
Greece
The Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Albania
Poland
 

14 hours ago, juanarcin said:

 

is this across all lines or just RC? I have a cruise on the Carnival Panorama in December with 14 first time cruisers and am hoping they get to experience this new version.

Also MSC

16 hours ago, rudeney said:

 

What?  Like it was ever legal?  😮

Naturally. Go a few hundred years back, and it was the obligation of the head of the household to discipline his employees as needed. Also his wife.

Right to hit domestic servants existed in Denmark until 1921 (if I'm reading wiki correctly - I'm a bit shocked).

We're past that stage now. Violence is not seen as an acceptable form of communication any more.

Apart from with children in some countries still.

On 6/13/2022 at 12:58 PM, Ex-Airbalancer said:

We have an up coming cruise out of Copenhagen, which has no mandates , so almost all testing sites are closed ! 
Royal is offering online testing kits but only for citizens of the USA , nothing for people of other countries 😡

All the countries the cruise is going to are completely open 

RCL should drop testing for these cruises 

There is a walk-in test site AT the airport. It costs 200 DKK (less than $30). How many test sites do you need? There is normally no queue as we (the Danes) don't usually need to test.

2 hours ago, rudeney said:

 

As far as I know, it is not illegal to spank your own child as long as it does not cross the line into actual abuse.  I was never abused by my parents, and there were no permanent marks, but my butt would hurt enough after a spanking that just the threat of more punishment had me straighten up right away.

 

Depends on the country. Has been illegal in my country the last 20-25 years - longer in other countries. 
It's also not legal to spank your employees anymore 😞

20 hours ago, librarylady19 said:

I agree. We paid $3200 for aft corner balcony for the 8 nighter - worth $2K imo

Could it be a question of US cruises versus European cruises? I have a feeling (as a European who will probably never again cruise from a US port) that the US cruises - especially to the Caribbean - are very cheap.

18 minutes ago, rebeccac said:

I know people say having a drink package is "easier", but since I would never come close to drinking enough to justify $72 per person per day, DH and I are just planning to buy a la carte.  It will likely save us several hundred dollars each for the week.  

I make the calculations based upon what I usually consume. I find the cut-over price, and if it gets lower than that, I buy. 

Too tight pursed to waste money anymore for convenience. I retired myself, but I had to cut back on expenses. All that time that's MINE-MINE-MINE is worth it.

2 minutes ago, doppelganger2621 said:

Ah yes, I see that now—they probably just misspoke. $77.99 for a week would be INSANE lol

Yup. 

In certain parts of Northern Europe there was a deal around New Year - converted to USD it corresponded to $48+grats per night. That's the lowest I've seen in ages. We grabbed it. 

And-plus-also it was added to the booking, so it didn't have to be paid before the final payment. Win-win.

4 minutes ago, doppelganger2621 said:

All deluxe beverage packages are priced per night.

I know - but it's not what mspink98 said 🙂

45 minutes ago, mspink98 said:

Our two on Harmony next May are priced at $77.99 per week after "20% off". I suspect any Memorial Day sale may not have started yet, as the "Wow" sale has been extended (surprise surprise!)

Per week???? Or per night?

11 hours ago, Tee & Chilli said:

Where are you sailing from?

I've sailed Balcony and Inside on Serenade OTS. Both out of Copenhagen. No kettle in either.

6 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Totally different weather in August than late May

The thing is - it can be. It's unpredictable.

6 hours ago, ccotting said:

I echo the comments the weather can be mixed but sorry 'Mr Dane', ladies pack a scarf and/or a hat of some sort.   DH grew up east coast and he would agree with you.  I grew up west coast and feel things a little differently.   It doesn't have to be a wooly scarf, a polyester "silk" look scarf is quite warm I find (pure silk not so much) and is not bulky to pack.  You can wear it around your neck or  use it as a head kerchief like Queen Elizabeth does and, it it is handy to have in your pocket when things get crispy.  We had lovely weather late July but the cruise ahead of us had many storms.  Also, when you sight see you start early and things can warm up so the layers are really good advice.  I didn't feel the need for gloves on this cruise but July in the Scots highlands....well.....another story! 

It's Ms, and you can't imagine how many handknitted (by me) and sometimes handspun (also by me) scarfs I own and often bring. I'd still not bring a hat and gloves in late May or August.

RCCL has six very cheap cruises this summer on Voyager OTS to the Baltics and Norway out of Copenhagen.

They include their drinks package, which presently sells for 500 dkk per day ($70) on some sailings.

The price for me solo in a GTY inside cabin, Norway, 28th Aug, was 6.500 dkk - less than $1000 for seven nights with DBP and grats. For two in the same cabin it was 11.012 dkk.

If you calculate a bit and subtract a calculated price of the DBP, the cabin alone is 1900 dkk without grats - that's less than $275 for a week. Only, you have to have the DBP included.

36 minutes ago, flamingos said:

Thanks - we are from Florida so I'll add an extra layer underneath to that suggestion.  🙂  

That's probably wise. I sailed with a Florida couple to Alaska in August. She never got off the ship.

17 hours ago, NavyCruiser said:

Our kids now 29 & 26, has gone on 25+ cruises with us since they were potty trained.

Before that, we left them at home with family, so we can enjoy our cruise.

But it's much easier once they're a little older, maybe 3 - 4+ yrs old, so they can enjoy the kids' club.

 

BTW, the "kids" now just paid for our room for upcoming family reunion cruise next month...

I LURVE to have adult kids. My daughter hosted me for a week in London last month 😄

7 hours ago, flamingos said:

We will be doing that cruise in late August, so we have the same questions. Thanks for the replies!

See my reply above - the same goes for late August

11 hours ago, CatLadyFemme said:

Despite many indications we’d have to cancel (travel mask mandate being lifted, loss of our beloved cat, my mother having a heart attack), it looks like MrCatLady and I are actually going on the May 22nd Voyager sailing out of Copenhagen to Sweden, Estonia, and Finland, after a week in London and Copenhagen.

 

I am trying to pack, having been on both Alaska and Caribbean cruises. Obviously, a light rain jacket/windbreaker and umbrella, and I assume a few more cardigans or sweaters than we would wear in the Caribbean, but not sure what else to consider. We enjoy dressing up for dinner, but assumptively some of my dinner dresses can double as day time dresses (I don’t do pants). What type of clothes do people tend to wear during the day? Do we need to bring warm hats and gloves in addition to sun hats and sunscreen? Would love any tips (outside of mixing pants and tops, for obviously reasons. Thank you!

I'm a Dane living in the general area. A sweater (perhaps two), a windbreaker (preferably water resistant) would be nice. Hats and gloves probably not necessary. 

It can be short-sleeves-and-sandals-weather or it can be long-sleeves-and-closed-shoes-weather at that time of the year.

2 hours ago, Shiraus82 said:

In Finland they have been offering a free DBP on Voyager of the Seas summer 2022 cruises. I assume the offer is available in the entire Nordic market, but haven't checked. It's been available for over a month now. When I noticed it, I called Royal and repriced my cruise. Basically got DBP for 75 euros per person (total amount for the 7 day cruise) because my original price was slightly lower than the new price that included the package.

 

 

 

It's even better: If you go solo, you pay very little extra for the stateroom.

The difference (without grats) for a GTY inside 28. August between one and two pax is 3847 dkk. Corresponding to a DBP.

After some calculations I get that the cruise without DBP is 1446 ($200) for two pax - 1946 dkk for one pax. So you DO pay extra (even more than 100%) for the stateroom, but you get a DBP in the deal.

2 hours ago, Shiraus82 said:

In Finland they have been offering a free DBP on Voyager of the Seas summer 2022 cruises. I assume the offer is available in the entire Nordic market, but haven't checked. It's been available for over a month now. When I noticed it, I called Royal and repriced my cruise. Basically got DBP for 75 euros per person (total amount for the 7 day cruise) because my original price was slightly lower than the new price that included the package.

 

 

 

In Denmark as well

On 4/20/2022 at 11:24 PM, Woody14 said:

I have crossed this magic threshold just over a year ago and trying to figure out what is so special about 55?

In the part of Canada I am from (British Columbia) we don't have any benefits until 65.  

So I am curious

The kids are grown, the dog is dead, and you don't give a f#ck.

Life is good past 55.

11 minutes ago, dleahy4444 said:

I’m very glad that I posted this question and I’m grateful for all your responses. I took a cruise from Venice years ago and flew in the same day without issues, but I realize now that I was very lucky. Things have changed and I’m now convinced that it is way too risky. So I’ll have to spend an extra day eating delicious food and drinking good Italian wine. Poor me ☺️🤣.!  

I think you are making a wise decision. You do NOT want to see the end of your cruise ship sailing without you.

And-plus-also: ROME!!!

1 minute ago, Tree_skier said:

Our one and only Med cruise we did exactly that.

I LIVE in Europe - I'm flying in two days before to Barcelona. I could probably catch 2-6 flights later, but with stop-overs and not with the same airline. It would cost me more. 

I decided a hotel in BCN was safer and more pleasurable - I mean: Barcelona!!!

Fly in before. Be sure that there is at least ONE later scheduled flight you can catch. Preferably two.