Gerd

Hi whogo,

thanks for reading my blog - viel Spaß dabei...

there will arise ‘as of  23.12.2021’ anything / all about my next cruise

but ‘Reisevorbereitung’ / ‘getting ready for your trip‘  -> in German and English is already latest

also ‘alle Reisen‘ / all journeys

all others will appear around Christmas 2021

How you are  “ familiar with the ship and crew from Verrückt nach Meer “ ?

Are you being in old Europe, or can you somehow watch a German television program in the States ?

Best regards  G E R D

Hello whogo - dear all,

please stay tuned, on December 23  I will resume my blog around the 2021 / 2022 world cruise at

Best, GERD

Hi whogo,

thanks for your comment  - but - the autumn cruise was unfortunately already canceled related to Corona restrictions

and will now be sailed in autumn 2023, including me, so god will….

So now I do look forward that my 179 days Grand World / Europe cruise will actually sail…

All the best to anybody – Dankeschön 

       G E R D

my web-log :   https://gefewere2016.de/

Hi,

I will do all on the Ms Artania with a nice balcony

and Yes, between November 11 and December 23 in 2021,  I'm back home...

You will find more on my blog, once I board the vessel

G E R D

Hi, 

so god will, I do this autumn a 50 days cruise around the Nord-Atlantic, and then 143 days on a world cruise, and extend this cruise while around Europe sailing -> all together 229 days ….

Best G E R D

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Dear "mrsfitz28"

because I go next month on a 140 day lasting grand world voyage, I also did have to think about a huge amount of medicaments.

But here in France, it was just a kind of simple written request, and it was smoothly accepted.

So Yes, I do will have for 150 days all medicament (all in its original packaging), and also the prescription from my Cardiology, ENT doctor, and also from my family doctor.

As already mentioned, better you put it all in your hand luggage…;)

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello all

the discussed item is different handled in Europe / Germany.

As you can see from my signature, soon I do go on a grand world voyage – with a German (still independent) cruise company.

For Phoenix, the shore excursions only appears on the Internet Server around two month ahead of the cruise.

And so was it also for my upcoming cruise / for which I did book the long list of shorex just last week-end.:)

But now the difference to your discussion;

They send you indeed a confirmation of all your online booking => but they do you charge only once you are on the vessel…..!

Respectively some days ahead of it really will happen –>and logically only to your onboard account.

The later-on in due time cancelling, changing, or any adding is simply without any fee !!:)

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello host "Walt"

I looks like a difference of the usage of a Credit Card here in Europe.

My understanding is, that the word ‘Credit’ only stands for, that they do sent your over-all monthly usage of your Card, hence your bill, only on the end of every month.

Which create for the issuing card company indeed a kind of short-term credit. But they do charge your banc-account on the spot.

So there is not really something like a bank account credit automatically open / related with the CC company, and you could later-on pay the bill.

This amount is directly debited from your related real bank account.

=> Where could have indeed a overdraft agreement with the bank.

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello "Spideysmum"

You are so right, those chartering of a whole (or partial) vessel is indeed a pain in the neck.

HAL did completely burn my 60 anniversary because my cruise was also chartered.

o.k. I did get a replacement cruise 14 days later; and – but only after complaining – they did pay the cost of the Lufthansa transatlantic fly shift;

But the main reason and feeling about was indeed damaged !!!

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello "Sow There"

you did the first non-European statement about the Hotel Service Charge – for which I would indeed undersign :)

Almost anywhere people do mix-up with a mandatory salary - or name it 'TIP' - what the HSC indeed is :o

And between the sometimes even from a cash-register auto-added, but still is a consumer appreciation – or name it 'GRATUITY'

Or 'cumshaw' as Leo.org also mention ;)

Happy cruising

G E R D

yes indeed - I copy that

G E R D

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Hello "BlueRiband"

The problem is not only a with Australians and New Zealanders, but also with European.:confused:

Please refer to my post ….

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2256328&page=4

…. Number 64

The main tenor of my answer is; That mostly any statement is a mis-interpretation between TIP = salary, and gratuity = consumer acceptance of a well-done job ….

-> The 11.50 US-dollar Hotel Service Charge money, who is taken by default, is its passenger quote part to the crew salary - !!

-> But the 15 % Bar Service Charge for drinks etc. would possibly be indeed gratuity

So there is a fine and distinguish difference !!

=> Because the first should be logically (for me) calculated into the over-all cruise-fare such like fuel, food and …..

Dear "Topsham"

You did forgot to mention "Phoenix Reisen - Germany"

This Line does not at all add a hotel service charge –> not on 37 river boats – and also not on 3 ocean going vessel (including my soon starting Grand 140 Days World Voyage ..…:)

And what is "the best way" how cruise lines operates the vessels is not really my concern, and I surely do not care about !;)

And the money "saved" on my cruise ticket is a bamboozle by myself.:rolleyes:

Because on the end of the cruise I must pay it anyway !!:o

=> But I indeed care about a adequate and correct payment of the crew.:)

And that’s why I always give quite a nice amount, supplementary to HSC & BSC to the marvelous crew !!!

-> Like I do on Land in Hotels, Restaurants and so on.

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Dear all,

I don't know how Hal is selecting, but I never did get one ...??

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello "tm22361"

I’m always impressed when I read something like the question of the original poster;

Here in Europe no one really think a second about to travel with a birth-certificate. Because it is the last and almost never requested paper one do has to show. And such certificate do has (if any) a picture from the nativity – and not with the 'actual view'

-> I'm 63, and the only time I did have to present it, was for my wedding in 1977:)

For any travel inside the home country – and inside of the European Union, we can drive, fly with just our ID-Card

But elsewhere, a at the least 6 month valid Passport is for our understanding indeed mandatory to go with ;)

Please do not misunderstand me, but such kind of question is strange for us.

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Dear all

I cannot more agree with all your comments about the latest HAL music & dance entertainment.

A lot of years a Hungarian music was played – gone ??:mad:

Next are the HAL Cats. But they are been originally the background band for the main stage. Later-on, they started to play dance music. And this orchestra appears from time to time all around the vessel. But there is a huge different between both usage. They never really convinced me to be a dancing 'animator'…:confused:

And unfortunately HAL discontinued with a Crows Nest Band.:(

-> I hope that HAL can collect somehow enough money and bring back those perfectly dedicated marvelous Filipino Crows Nest Band :) => and that they restart to play each evening.

But I doubt it will, because the two latest vessels do even no more have a dedicated stage !:rolleyes:

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Dear RuthC

o.k. but how-ever, since this was not the main message...

Gerd

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Hello "all"

usually, there are dance hosts onboard while transatlantic, and once a cruise do has more then 4 (5?) consecutive ocean days – at lease it was so….

But on our Vancouver, Astoria to Hawaii / San Diego cruise it was indeed ridiculous.

My understanding was, that the selecting person for those dance hosts did has a really fix premise => they must be as old an 'stiff' as possible…

It was peculiar to see the real poor 'dance capability' of those elderly hosts …..

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello all,

Dear "MrdeRastignac"

while reading all the comments on this threat, one think has to be clarified – HSC - TIP - Gratuity, that’s why I put my comment here.

In the so called "old Europe" –I‘m German- each employer pays his employees in a really clear manner.

--> That means, he pays a full salary as it must be following its local and country behavior and law, meanwhile following all existing agreements from the concerned union.

So in mostly all European countries, we understand, that the service personal is complete paid by his boss, and in a adequate manner that both can live with.:)

=> And this is the source of arising errors in this Thread discussion – because one do not pay at all a part of the salary, hence "TIP" !!

-> nevertheless, in several European region, it exist a automatic added "Trinkgeld / Pourboire / Gratuity" – what is indeed a real different story….

-> and in Italy (and also in some other region), exist another supplement – this is for the so called "Coperto" or "place setting"

But this is just your quirky quote-part because you will find dishes, silverware and bread on your table…

But again, all this mentioned is still not salary ;)

On the other side of the Atlantic, and I’m been there quite often, the employer do not pay the full salary – so each client have to fill-up the missing part – TIP => but "TIP" is indeed your part to the salary

And this is really uncommon and surprising for each first time visitor.

I do not know how and when this procedure was established – but those employers are been very 'clever' to implement this.

As a European we learn this -> and of course, we do obey to this system.

And as "NaughtyNanna" (I do like your nick-name) also mentioned, the law in some countries are formal, if a employer pays less then the national rule - they severe punish….

Question : If a 'wrong' mention results in less- or non-payment => what they are doing with the client money ??:confused:

And please do not forget, HAL did implement this automatic added charge only when it was transferred into the Carnival brand – before it was not applied. I do clearly remember this, because we started to cruise with HAL in 1997

As latest mentioned in the thread, why I should add to i.e. to the cruise-fare and HSC, another 10% voluntary Hotel Service Charge in order the crew is correctly and fully paid => is this really my Job and responsibility ???

Why a operator is not able or willing, to calculate his need for running his business in such a manner, that indeed any expenses are covered by i.e. the cruise-fare – WHY ??

But finally don’t misunderstand me - please do not forget, all people working in the Cruise Ship Industries, and all other service branches who follows the discussed service system, needs really to get those TIP’s.

Because without this money, employee’s cannot survive……

So please, please, do not cancel the automatic 'HSC / TIP' while onboard – because while doing this, YOU DO NOT punish the SHIP Operator, but those very well working and peaceful peoples, which serve you with a smile all around your day.

- -> Nevertheless, once my Dinner – or what else for service is finish – and if I was satisfied with this service, then we do give a "Trinkgeld" what is "Gratuity" -> that’s all.:o

This is our manner to tell him or here, "thanks" your service was appreciated, and you did a good "job" !!

=> And on the cruise vessel (a hotel room, a…), I surely do deal-out envelops with money in order they obtain my indeed appreciation and recognition …. !:)

Smooth cruising

G E R D

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Hello "SS Exeter"

I do remember my fantastic 17 days Vancouver – Hawaii - San Diego cruise – on departure the Captain announced about the distance and the average sped to do so.

But on the cabin screen I detected as of the second day, that we constantly did sail quite full-speed.

Upon arrival I could ask a deck officer about the discrepancy – his answer was, that we indeed did a huge curve in order to avoid two bad weather zones…

So yes, they do prevent us as much as possible to be close to heavy sea and wind conditions.;)

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello "CaveDiving"

thanks for reading my post – but my world cruise is not with HAL – but with the German based Phoenix Reisen i.e. Ms Artania:)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Reisen

If you also look to my cruise-ticker signature, you will see it;)

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello all

I know the 90 days is for HAL the standard procedure – but here in Germany it’s really different – indeed much shorter.

For my upcoming Grand World Voyage on December 22. the final payment is only due on December first.

And this is just 22 days prior to the departure….

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello "scrapnana"

thanks for your nice comment – and I cannot sit down and wait for the remaining 146 days until embarkation….:)

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello "scrapnana"

HAL usually charge you on long, or world cruises with 200 %

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello "cruz chic"

I know what you mean – but I’m now retired and do have time….

And money wise speaking, it was a long and hard way to save the needed sum – oh yeah ;)

Happy cruising

G E R D

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Hello "cruz chic"

on the Ms Artania grand world cruise I do pay just 123 % for a second topmost level veranda cabin;)

Happy cruising

G E R D