Mary229

For the vitamin carriers - I now carry those powdered drink packets with a full dose of vitamins. It is much easier than carrying all of those pills and doubles as a beverage. There are a lot of formulation options these days

The Chase insurance is fine for basic travel coverage and is similar to any base level policy you can buy. I also buy an annual medical policy which is a fairly cheap insurance.

It would be a good idea if you could leave a review for excursions immediately in the app and have those published with the post cruise excursions reviews by email. The info would be fresh in your mind and likely more accurate

The brunch was perfect for us since as non-breakfast eaters we are always looking for nourishment around 11-11:30. The hours are 9-1 if I recall correctly. We enjoyed it every time we dined

I have been there 4 or 5 times and in every post cruise survey I ask HAL - why, why do you make me go back? I think it was one of the ports that HAL originally sailed to in North America when they were transporting immigrants so they maintain their historic relationship. You are right the Graham Bell museum is quite a drive and if the weather is bad it is not a pleasant visit. As much as you, like me, are not a military person the fort does have demonstrations, shopping and restaurants. It is by far the best day I spent in Sydney and I have done most things.

The entertainment director had a shirt on his. I think it was an infant sized shirt

Sign up on the website. It is called Today’s 10 or some such catchy name.

They will sell you plenty of orange accessories to dress him😉

The $49 program seems to have issues so the weekly deals are always worth a look. I am buying refundable airline tickets today in anticipation of a price drop of a cruise I want to take.

The lion and book were for sale on ship at half price. $20 for the lion and maybe? $30 for the book

Regent may be different but when I have sailed “luxury “ lines with included excursions the excursions which were included were a waste of time and cattle herders. After a few of those I started touring independently at my own expense

His first position was at Disney. Disney has a unique and rigorous training program. I don’t know if you know pre-lockdowns HAL had a training school also. Almost all of their new Filipino and Indonesian hires went through that program that is why there was a uniformity of excellence in service and attitude. That program needs to be brought back up to prelockdown levels.

My TA uses them. She gets a commission and the price is the same to me, just like cruise lines operate. She makes sure everything is moving along according to plan and provides the extra layer of advocacy if needed.

I don’t really get the hardbody cases. Many of them are simply too wide to qualify as a true carryon and if you ever flight intercontinental in Europe they won’t be considered carryon.

My short legs love a fat case to rest on during flight. This is a nice case, where did you get it?

I have become totally spoiled booking hotels with the cruise line when going overseas on an all night flight. Sure they charge too much but walking out of baggage claim bleary eyed and handing your luggage to someone who is going to deliver it to your waiting hotel room is priceless. Who likes it more is DH, no muss, no fuss, no hailing taxis, looking for train stations, so easy.

I do that quite often when people start preaching loudly.

It did but it got them to the ship. It was a difficult affair for everyone but it happens. A few times in South America we have been warned that the ship may have to sail quickly to escape a natural hazard but that they would find a way to recover the stranded passengers. Things happen, as I recall from this unfortunate situation was the weather made roads impassable. I am sorry you missed your cruise but having sailed Greenland I know that ice can move in and potentially trap the ship. Same in Antartica.

From the deckplan pdf please note the legend

Here is the HAL guarantee Guaranteed best price — find a better price on any tour we offer and we'll refund you 100 percent of the price difference in the form of an onboard credit. More information available when you log in to purchase your shore excursions. Earlier departure off the ship Guaranteed return to the ship Licensed, insured and professional local operators & Guides Full refund if the port is missed Flexibility to cancel up to 24 hours prior Expert advice offered pre-cruise by our dedicated call center and onboard by our shore excursion staff

That was covered here on cruise critic HAL board. Some of the people on the affected excursion weighed in. The reason given was to be able to make their Panama Canal transit reservation. That seemed to me to be a good reason. HAL did pay for every expense. It was a miserable affair all around but HAL did live up to the guarantee which is they will pay to get you back to the ship. This differs if you had been on a private excursion where you would have had to figure out how to get back to the ship or home on your own. There are other reasons a ship must leave a port - high winds, tsunamis, etc…

I am so happy for you. One of cruising’s virtues is limiting surprises

Grant came from the Disney camp. They do an amazing job of training perky people. My tour guide for my Yukon Denali was Disney trained and there was absolutely nothing that could ruin her disposition plus she had amazing logistical skills. They find the “type” and they train them well. If HAL is able to lure them away they are a true asset to the line.

Exactly. The website is fraught with errors. The cruise contract is the only document you can hold them to.

Your TA and her agency are your best advocate in this situation. Make sure they fully understand your husband has mobility issues. I am sorry this happened.