Mary229

1 minute ago, clo said:

And won't admit they're wrong and apologize 🙂

You can’t really apologize for an opinion😉

I am always cognizant that it is that - an opinion or at best an anecdote.  Certainly some may have a personal experience more closely suitable to the question asked but that experience is always shaded by that person’s perspective. 

3 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

I'm not sure where the disconnect is, but given the language on Royals site it reads like they require 6 months validity remaining on a passport so that is what I would do because I wouldn't want to be left behind. I only quoted Carnival's contract because you brought it up.

I brought up CCL’s lines since I am aware that some of their lines’ website details contradict the cruise contract.  I rely on the cruise contract in all cases.  I know the website verbiage can be flawed and not legally reviewed as frequently as the contract. 

10 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

Here's what Carnival's contract says about travel documents:

Proper travel documentation and eligibility to travel is required at embarkation and throughout the cruise. In addition to immigration and customs requirements, the U.S. government and others place restrictions on the carriage of Guests whose names appear on government watch lists or who are deemed legally ineligible to travel. It is the Guest’s sole responsibility to ensure his/her legal eligibility to travel and to bring and have available at all times all required travel documents. Guests are advised to check with their travel agent and with the appropriate government authorities to determine the necessary documents and travel eligibility requirements for their particular cruise destinations, including the port of embarkation. Carnival assumes no responsibility for advising Guest of what travel documents are required for the requested itinerary and it is recommended that Guest travel with a valid government issued passport at all times. Carnival may cancel the booking of any Guest who is or becomes ineligible to travel for any reason, or who is traveling without proper documentation. 

 

In short, passenger's responsibility. Their FAQ does give details about the documentation required for different itineraries. 

This is going to be a situation where you do you and I do me.  I am not planning to be left at the pier.  Of course I travel far and wide not just near the US

1 hour ago, njhorseman said:

Competently managed companies will have website materials having legal implications reviewed by their legal compliance staff. 

 

Oh, well. I can name at least on CCL company who has conflicting information between the website and the cruise contract.  

6 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

And that's exactly what I advised- go to the source, which is the website (even quoted the website). Every cruise line's terms and conditions includes a provision about documentation and specify boarding will be denied if the passengers documentation is not sufficient and it is up to the passenger to ensure they have the correct documentation. They aren't going to let CS muddy the waters by saying anything the website does not.

Websites are written by marketing and are not reliable. The cruise contract is written by legal. I could cite examples of discrepancies 

17 minutes ago, Ileneilene123 said:

Thank you @Mary229 and @crystalspin .  Is there a way to purchase OBC on the Navigator App? I have been having difficulty in general with the website and cannot seem to find the option there. (That’s another story — I cannot open my account page or manage my cruise at all, neither can my husband. Frustrating.). 

There have been quite a few difficulties with the website recently. Try another web browser.  If that doesn’t work you can call them. 

10 hours ago, frantic36 said:

Totally agree with all the comments. I get asked when cruising if I belong to the group for my regular cruise line and people are very surprised when I say no and suggest I join. I tell them I have heard enough of the false stories both positive and negative the moderators and their fans tell that I would be kicked off pretty quickly because I would challenge them.

I am done with roll calls even here.  The general and lines boards are great but the roll calls can become very tedious.

5 hours ago, Ileneilene123 said:

 

How do I purchase additional on board credit  before boarding? After boarding?
 

Does the process change if you are using gift cards to purchase OBC? I am considering purchasing HAL gift cards through AARP.

 

Would any unused on board credit be returned to my credit card even if I purchased it with a gift card? Thank you. 

On the manage my cruise page you can buy OBC just as you buy packages, flowers, shore excursions, etc…or you can simply bring the gift card with you (I keep mine in my Apple wallet.).  You go to the guest services desk and pay as you go - that is whenever I get to $500 I bring them a gift card . You could wait until the end of the cruise but the lines can be long on the last day.

i never buy more than I need, you can calculate your crew tips easily enough. There has been a lot of inconsistencies between ships as to refunds so it is best to pay less than you will need upfront. 

2 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

The cruise line has it in writing already on their website and that is all one is going to get. You can call CS all day long and all you will get is a stock answer that is in keeping with what is there. The CS reps are not trained to be documentation experts and will not answer specific questions for those "one off" situations. If one goes to Royal's FAQ it does say that they strongly recommend that everyone use a passport and then it says, "The passport must be valid for six months after the day your cruise ends." Now, there may be something else somewhere on the website that qualifies that, but that statement sounds pretty conclusive- "must be". That doesn't read like a suggestion or a recommendation. So, if I were traveling on Royal I would make sure that my passport had 6 months left on it, even though I know that this isn't required by the US or any of the countries being visited.

So you don’t want to call - do not rely on the website, read the cruise contract.  I am not familiar with the RCCL terms and conditions but I do know people are left at the pier for documentation reasons.   They can rely on  what some people on cruise critic (aka the internet) say are they can seek proper factual information.  Me, I would go to the source 

34 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

The crew, as always, were wonderful,  happy, friendly, and of course, hard working. Every single one. The only member we even had any doubt about was one we interacted every day, knew us...and everyone we saw around us, by name. We know that he is coming to the end of his 4th contract, and about done with the cruise ship life. He has used his money to purchase some farm land, and is ready to settle with his wife and children on it. He seemed a bit tired and down a couple days, but the next day, greeted us by name, with a smile.

 

Susette was the primary Neptune concierge. Professional, exuberant, greeted us with a big hug as we had sailed with her last September. Handled the few small problems we had easily and quickly. Funny and a great smile. Top notch...she already knows she is going to Volendam next.

 

Madi and Midi were our room stewards. Reached out to us immediately, perfectly adapted to our routine,  perhaps better than any other crew we gave had. The "ordering" form for specific services was followed to a "t", first time, every time.

 

We like to have a table for 2 at dinner, but we quit seeking window seats a long time ago. Instead, we like to people watch, so we request a table in the center raised platform of the lower dining room floor, all the ships have them. We usually have a selection of table numbers that meet our desires. Niman, the assistant maitre d, arranged the exact table we wanted at noon during boarding,  then personally arranged the guide to the table when we arrived at the MDR. The platform area is not in high demand,  nor was any time dining on this cruise, so our wait staff rarely had more than 2 tables...3 people. It was like Rachmat and Hery were our personal waiters. They were very attentive, very focused on us. They were funny...we had a routine going about how stressful our day was...not.

 

Lastly,  Richard and Ryan at the Ocean Bar. Yes, it's easy to be happy when they are plying you with drinks. But these guys were very busy, and the definition of a team, and a well oiled machine. Not only that, but they constantly kept all the customers and wait staff laughing  every night. Lastly, they had a new employee who they were training. Having been a firefighter,  team building in a stressful situation is one of the most valuable skills I can imagine. But these two did it so well...and the "new guy" just ate it up.

 

Just a few examples...HAL has not lost a single step in the employee selection and development process.

I think HAL is on the upswing.  There are still misses but every cruise there are little improvements, small refinements, a return to distinction. 

Texas gardener here. For the tropics I wear sunscreen (nothing below 75) not a moisturizer with sunscreen.  I personally prefer mineral sunscreen as there is no expiration date but will settle for any long wearing product.  I also wear a fishing hat with a wide brim and a neck flap.  There are some in feminine colors/styles if you like.  It only takes an hour in the afternoon to give you a lifetime of blotches and of course the melanoma risks. 

Overall layers are the plan but if you are asking about dress code it is usually fairly relaxed garb in the daytime. People do tend to dress nicely (but not formally) for dinner as they have time to primp a bit.  

Regardless of any country’s rules your cruise line may have their own higher standard.  Get your info directly from Royal and as another has said get it in writing.   Whether one country would have you or not makes no difference if you are denied boarding 

I didn’t know you had a blog/website.  Curious minds need to know the link!

Facebook is and always was an echo chamber.  It is self congratulatory and a cheerleading squad.  Remember that should you ever be tempted to become informed on more important topics 

54 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Mary would you do the Japan /Korea itinerary  ?  About a one way to Hawaii or from Hawaii as far as we know it is done by Celebrity but from Vancouver only   

As long as it was fly one way. I have been itching to get to Asia and after much research, talking to other cruisers and my own recent experience I will only go transpacific one way and fly the other.  Currently airfares are very expensive so it may be a long time before I go. I have three trips to Europe planned and one to Alaska plus my roadtrips so my plate is full.  

For me it is about the percentages.  What percentage of sea days to shore days overall?  And on sea days is  there scenic cruising?  On my recent Tahiti cruise the 60% of sea days with only vast swaths of the Pacific Ocean was confining for me.  I wasn’t bored as much as I didn’t like the lack of physical activity.   Then again I also recently went to Antartica with 50% sea days, these sea days were broken up a bit more and some “sea days” were enthralling scenic cruising.   On my regularly scheduled transatlantics there are usually only 5 sea days back to back  but they are followed by days and days of intense shore touring.

 The only one I will never repeat is the Transpacific and that would include a round trip to Hawaii.  I would happily sail one way to Hawaii but not round trip as there would be balance with the one way trip. 

I am sorry for your loss, Bruno.  Our deepest sympathy.

16 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Since the prices have increased so much HAL could afford better music entertainment imo

I don’t see huge price increases. I booked some travel back in 2021 and 2022 and I have my invoices and the fares simply have not increased that much when compared with sailings for this year and next.  

8 hours ago, cakewalk73 said:

I thought I read the T&C's, and that the gift cards was good for everything on HAL, but I did run into the issue of using it for HIA.  Could anyone elaborate on how you used your gift cards for HIA?  Which would be the correct department to contact with the ability for allowing payments by gift cards in their little pull down box?  Please help.  Thanks so much.

You cannot pay a single transaction with a combination of gift cards and credit cards.  Anything included on your fare invoice can be purchased with gift cards.  
 

For individual purchases off of the invoice you cannot buy crew gratuities and hotels and flights.  If the hotels and flights are on the fare invoice they can be bought with cards.  I have never tried buying HIA separately with gift cards so I cannot tell you if it can be done or not.  For crew gratuities you can buy OBC with gift cards and the gratuities will be deducted daily from that OBC once onboard.  
 

Remember you can buy supplemental gift cards on HAL.  The ones on HAL are not discounted but can be bought in any amount and can even be bought in fractional dollars, I bought one for $13.19 to complete an order 

1 minute ago, oakridger said:

 

From reading recent "Live From" posts on Carnival Cruises they are already having these ticketed game show there. The two lines seem to be getting more similar as time goes on..................

 

~Nancyy 

I don’t know if it is a downward spiral  as the event was held twice maybe 3 times and people loved it.  My friends took off one day to get in line to get tickets!  It was SRO. I think it is the spread of a popular event, like trivia, rather than a negative.   There are just trends that catch on and spread.  I often say I have never understood the dance shows, people love them and they are on any cruise line that is large enough to afford them.  I will refrain from saying what I think of them but it is sort of the same as you feel about this game show idea 😂

2 hours ago, Kay S said:

Not to argue with you, but can you define an "unprovoked encounter"?  Like getting bit or licked?

The examples I have read on the HAL forum include @Haljo1935 experience, dogs using the elevator as a bathroom, dogs eating in public dining areas and so on. 

32 minutes ago, Kay S said:

Well said.  That attitude "they must be a fake because I think so" can manifest in vigilante behavior, questioning, harassing and reporting the supposed "fakes."  The kids on YouTube call that "Karen" behavior,  "the policewomen of all human behavior."   I am waiting for a Karen YouTube video where an angry cruise ship passenger harangs the hapless owner of a legitimate service that isn't a German Shepherd with  a harness--or too small (or cute) to be a "real" service dog.  Or one where the dog owner tells the "doggie police" it's none of her (or his) business and the "Karen" summons the ship captain.  Those videos often contain the "karma" moment where the "fake" is revealed to be not fake and the accuser looks like an entitled, holy-than-thou busybody.  

 

I have looked, but I haven't found any cruise ship "fake dog Karens," but that might be because a) I'm no good at Google, or b) the problem is not so widespread that there are few opportunities for "Karen at sea" videos.

 

Okay, you can now line up to tell me I'm wrong, uninformed, rude, etc.

I am sure you are right that there may exist a few vigilantes but I think most of us would report only if we had an unprovoked encounter. 

54 minutes ago, TRLD said:

Except the veterinary  requirements have nothing to do with or indicate service dog status. People I know with service dogs have had to meet the same country entry requirements for their dogs, as those that were not service animals.

I am simply saying the extra step may put off the posers.  They try to game the system as long as it is easy 

39 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Really? You have to buy a ticket to participate in a game show? Hopefully you don’t have to buy one to watch them. 😁

 

Not to watch but to participate. I think because it had cash prizes.   From what I could figure out it is done in partnership with the casino