mnocket

About the elevator override.... I'm willing to pay for extra perks that other customers don't have - where I value them. That said, I'm not comfortable with perks like the elevator override that so clearly disadvantage others for my benefit. I've never used it. On those occasions when being escorted by the butler, I felt the disapproving looks from the other passengers were justified. However that's just me. You paid for the perk and if you want to take advantage of it, that's certainly your choice. I'll pass.

We stayed there in December. Different experience. Entered room and found the room safe still locked from previous guests. Called reception and was told there was no one from security in the hotel that could unlock the safe. Hard to believe so I waited a few hours and called again. Different person. Same story. Dead bolt on room door wouldn't lock. Bolt didn't line up with hole on door jamb. TV remote was in terrible condition. Missing vinyl cover over one button. Had to press several buttons 10-15 times before they would work (i.e to bring up guide and then again to select channel from guide). Was told they were aware of the problem with many of the TV remotes and they were trying to buy replacements. Didn't help me🙁

Yeah, that was one of potential problems I thought about. Another was imagining a crowd of people gathered around empty lounges as the time ticked down. Kind of like musical chairs on a pool deck😁

I don't know if it is practical for mass market cruise lines, but I posted my thoughts previously in this thread, starting with post #108 and expanded upon in follow-up replies. Basically, I believe whenever a situation exists where demand significantly exceeds supply, the inevitable result is hoarding. Unless cruise ship pool decks can be redesigned to provide adequate lounges (adequate being in sufficient number that people don't have anxiety over finding an available lounge), then people will tend to hoard (i.e. "reserve") lounges. So, in the case of mass marked lines, the chair hogging dilemma may indeed be unsolvable🤔 I have read one post some time ago claiming a situation where notices were placed on unoccupied lounges with a timestamp warning that unattended items will be removed after a set time has passed. I initially thought this was a good solution, but having thought about it more I could see a number of problems arising. Since I haven't seen another post since reporting such a policy, I'm guessing it hasn't proved to be an acceptable solution.

I would hate that! My goal in vacationing is to relax and be free from schedules that dominate daily life. I don't like fixed dining times and I sure wouldn't like to have scheduled sunbed times. Just goes to show that no solution will please everyone😁

This makes me sad. I haven't been to the Trulucks in Ft Lauderdale for a few years. I didn't know it moved from the strip mall location. My wife loved the bar area with the piano player. Now a DJ??? Is sounds like another restaurant chain that has lost its way. Such a shame as we really liked Trulucks.

Might want to consider buying a suction cup attached shower grab bar. Just search for "shower grab bars suction" on Amazon.

You will be dressed like the majority of people.

Let me get this straight.... NCL invoiced you. You submitted that invoice to Kaiser. Kaiser says they will pay NCL, but only once they document that they have in fact incurred the cost. NCL has been unable to provide that documentation. Have you asked Kaiser if they will reimburse you directly if you pay the NCL invoice and provide documentation that you paid? As for getting a lawyer involved... I'm not talking about getting a lawyer to sue someone. I can understand why they won't take that on. I'm talking about getting a lawyer to assist you. You will have to pay an hourly rate. A lawyer can confirm the insurance company's claim that there is a time window to COMPLETE the claim. A lawyer can write to NCL and demand that they either provide documentation to support their invoice in a timely manner or relieve you of responsibility. Sure NCL can ignore his "demand", but a letter from your lawyer to NCL's legal dept. will likely get more action than your talking with customer service reps.

Got it. So the fundamental issue is really that you can't produce any documentation to prove you incurred a cost. I'm no lawyer, but I question whether even documentation that O paid the Air Force would establish that you have incurred cost. What if O never invoices you? It seems to me that an invoice for the cost of evacuation really establish your claim. Your concern is if they don't do it before your insurance window closes in 2 months, you will be stuck with the bill. Have you asked for the invoice instead of proof that they paid the Portuguese Air Force? Since they acknowledge that they paid the Air Force, but haven't been able to produce the documentation, they should still be able to invoice you for evacuation cost. That invoice should be adequate to establish your claim with the insurance company. Given the time window is closing, it may be wise to get a lawyer involved - if for no other reason than to establish the validity of the insurance company's claim of a time window for completing the claim (I've seen time windows for FILING a claim, but not one for COMPLETING a claim). You've already filed your claim. A lawyer may also be able to pressure O to either invoice you or relieve you of responsibility before the insurance window runs out. I'm assuming we're talking about a sizeable bill here that justifies paying a lawyer to get involved. As I've said, I'm no lawyer so my advice is worth what you've paid for it, but given that you've been running into a brick wall for months, that's what I would do. I sincerely wish you luck.

A bit confusing to me. If O made the payment did they then invoice you to reimburse them?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if companies started giving compensation for poor customer service at their call centers? Yep, but does anyone actually believe this will ever happen?

I would love to find one these TAs people talk about that offer 8% rebates AND provide good service. The only TAs I've been able to find who offer that kind of rebate don't provide good service. Having given up the lion's share of their commission, they rely on volume to make money - hence not much time or willingness to provide outstanding customer care. I'm not saying they don't exist - just that I've never found one.

Definitely not the middle of the rainy season - more like the beginning for the river region of the Amazon. As someone who just returned from cruising the Amazon several days ago, I'd say January is actually a pretty good time to go there. No mosquito problem, tolerable humidity, plus no issues with the historically low water levels that disrupted river traffic in the 4th quarter of last year. Not saying visiting during the dry season is a bad idea (other than the potential for low water levels causing some disruptions), but Dec-Jan is very enjoyable.

I'm with you. I have no idea why it would be considered a no-no or why someone would feel it was their place to declare it as such.

Seems to me that both she and Celebrity followed Celebrity's policy.

I've never used Luggage Forward, and I'm not likely to give it a try having read too many complaints about missing bags. It would certainly be convenient, but I'd be worried the whole time about my luggage not making it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed 🤞 that yours turn up. BTW I just got off this morning. We did our best to leave the ship in tip top condition for you. I'll be following your journey with great interest .

The port water was nice the day we arrived. However, on the second day it rained in the morning and the street gutters run into the harbor area carrying all the street trash with it. It was pretty bad and our tour guide admitted it was terrible and apologized for it.

Wasn't expecting that! I imagine to some those are fighting words😀

THANK YOU! Good to see someone understands my point.👍

Well, I think some of the smaller, luxury lines, with more space per passenger come close to meeting demand. In fact during my pre-pandemic cruise in MSC's Yacht Club, I don't remember there ever being a problem. Granted that was a Caribbean cruise and there were many port days - so maybe not a fair assessment. However, when it comes to the mass-market lines with multiple 1,000's of passengers, it may not be possible. It would take a significant redesign of the pool deck(s). This probably isn't a high revenue generating area and so there's little incentive for cruise lines dedicate more real estate to it. Plus, such a design would limit the ships to warm weather itineraries. So I guess, for mass market lines, if having supply meet demand is the only surefire solution to lounge hogs, maybe as OP opines - it is an unsolvable problem 🤔 Still I'd like to see a cruise line make an effort to redesign their pool deck to increase the supply of loungers. That would certainly be a customer friendly change!

It never fails to disappoint me how many cheerleaders will reflexively jump to side with the cruise lines against almost any complaint against the company. I don't know if Celebrity has the contractual right to change any or every aspect of their product after a customer has purchased it, or not. To me it really doesn't matter - either way it's treating their customers wrong. Something can be both legal and wrong. If the OP does indeed proceed with legal action, I hope they win - although I fear it will likely be throwing good money after bad. Still they have my support and gratitude for standing up against a company for doing wrong by their customers, because they know they can get away with it. It's sad to see so many side with the company🙁

I can count them tomorrow, but you seem to miss my point. As long as demand exceeds supply, there is going to be a problem with chair hogs. In Regent's case there are enough loungers, just not enough in the shade - hence a problem with chair hogs for those loungers. OP asked if the problem with chair hogs was unsolvable. I believe the only surefire solution is for cruise lines to bring supply in balance with demand. Short of that, I don't see a real solution. Do you disagree?

I said enough loungers to satisfy demand, not one per pax. Regent seems to have enough to satisfy demand - which is far less than one per pax. They just don't have enough in the shade. Hence a shortage - hence hoarding (i.e. chair hogs). My point is you're always going to have a problem with chair hogs as long as demand exceeds supply.

It sure seems to me that the only surefire solution is for the cruise ship/resort to provide enough loungers to satisfy the demand. Everyone seems willing to give them a pass on this. Nothing encourages hoarding like a shortage. fwiw I'm sailing on Regent, lying by the pool as I write this. There is no shortage of pool lounges, but the ones in the shade are in high demand... and yes, they get "reserved" by chair hogs🙁