Arizona Wildcat

Doesn't matter. Either is appreciated. Generally $$ are used. Many countries in Europe use other currency - UK, Norway, Iceland, Croatia, Hungary, Switzerland etc.

Agree, but anyone hear of a bag checked at the pier being stolen? Dropped into the ocean? Yes. Stolen, no.

On a cruise that ended at San Pedro some years ago we went to claim our luggage and found it was gone. A similar bag was there. Someone else took it - black nylon bag with a white spray paint stripe! Our bag ended up in Idaho. Got it back 2 weeks later. Now always carry our bags off - just 2 so not hard to do.

The port is responsible for the bags until on the ship. Your homeowners insurance also likely has coverage as well. Definitely a new one for me. Nothing about this could be called typical. Good luck.

Would suggest you visit the ports forum and your roll call. Shore excursions mostly have new operators. Agree hard to tell exactly what they offer AND operators are often changing.

Uh. The photos of our passports and driver's licenses are on our phones.

Way to far ahead as usually every several months they get a holiday. I would suggest going to the rollcall of a cruise on Reflection in September as the start of that cruise. Ask there.

Not really. We liked 12.

In the past there were no priority tags on my bags. As all bags are at the pickup carousel within about 5 minutes from first to last - that is the least of my worries. If that bothers you then take the to the airport and check them normally.

Thu Eating after the early show at 8ish and we have never had to wait in the MDR or Blu. Go to eat at 6:30-7 and you likely will need to wait a bit. Am sure they have them but saw no pagers on our cruise last year.

No priority for Aqua or Elite either. Only Zenith and suites. One truly needs to be flexible to travel today

Yup. Leaving your spouse would make for a long cruise. We have had people on tours we organized hit by pickpockets. We take our Seapass, ONE credit card, and photos of our driver's license and passport - NEVER the originals.

There is as the ship is heading to US waters. Customs and Immigration at Canada Place as part of the boarding process. To the OP - Asking about how boarding will go in any port is probably just fine but maybe not so good. For example have boarding in Tampa in 15 minutes and had it take FOUR HOURS- never found out why. Vancouver anywhere from 30 minutes since covid up to 2+ hours? No way to predict.

Absolutely either May or September. The ports are quieter and usually the weather is better.

Diet ginger beer? Never seen it or often regular ginger beer except Australia cruises. Diet Tonic- hit and usually a miss. No difference in recent years. Again cruises in Europe seem more likely to have it than Alaska or Caribbean.

Really? I would be angry to be told I needed to change my plans because someone is making a video to make money. Last time I looked it doesn't say anything that bloggers MUST be given exclusive access to any venue on board.

Agree with mist of what you have said. Do think always taking a table for two certainly limits the possibilities of meeting new and interesting people. Over the years met several people who became life long friends. Nothing says you ever need to speak to them again after your meal.

No difference as it is sort of a Fjord and thus you sail in and out. We were usually on a higher deck as the weather was nice with better visibility. We watched mostly on Millenium from the Sunset Bar aft. but the walking track above the pool is great too.

TMobile for us is free data and texting off the ship and .20 a minute almost everywhere. Use ship's wifi plan and Whatsapp on board.

I often forget to log off. The kid people in the I lounge have always added minutes when I forget. They have also assisted with airline checkin and boarding passes on the last full day of cruising.

Actually you do not need to get off to zero count the ship. An assigned meeting with a new seapass or to simply check you in and out along with possibly a covid test for B2B - January is forever so who knows. Spent 2 years in OZ. Would definitely go into town and take the light rail someplace. The other interesting journey - beyond the standard touristy things - ride the hydrofoil to Blacktown and back or freey over to Manly. Lots of things that you could not possibly do in 3 days right in the city. Use your 3 days to get out of town - Blue Mtns for example - and your B2B day more in the city.

Absolutely yes. Shorts, muscle shirts and tops (both men and women) imprinted with sayings that were profane or could be considering insulting. I took my grandchildren on a cruise. The rules were no running or behavior that would cause a crew member to locate me, show up on time for dinner dressed in a CLEAN collared shirt and nice looking long pants - jeans ok. They were 16, 17 and 21. Usually never saw them until dinner on sea days except to say hi when passing by.

How are things in the Atlantic? NOAA has some 200 weather bouys. Things quiet now. TAs are rarely rough because the Captain can vary the ship's course by several hundred miles north or south to avoid storms - look up Great Circle Routes. Have done some dozen TAs. Have had rough seas in the Caribbean, Southern Ocean, the Arctic and Med. Never in the Atlantic.

Find this discussion interesting and a bit surprising. When we are looking for a cruise - usually about a year +/- out - we call our TA. She lets us know which cabin categories she has access to group cabins. Always Verandas and sometimes Aqua and OV. We choose our cabin. The fare is the same as listed by X for Verandas for a Sail.Only fare but AI is included. Aqua has reduced group fare usually about 10-12% lower that at X website. There are restrictions as you are put into a group. And yes she answers the phone, handles the problems many winge about in long rants, and provides 8-10% in additional OBC. Found her after 4 tries. Guess that means free drinks on every cruise for us.

Yes. When I lived in Sitka AK there were often 3 ships a day. Probably 2 medical evacs a day and one deceased a week. Only a couple of dental issues a summer. Most dental issues can be dealt with during a port call. In some two years of cruising have had multiple helicopter evacs, alternate ports for medical, and lots of ambulances meeting our ship; but only heard of one dental issue that required passenger to disembark.