Shalandara

We were just on the Oosterdam this past month for the transatlantic crossing. Room 7101 (VD category). It was a shower/tub combination.

Also on this cruise and I have had no issues with water temperature. I’m sorry you are. I am more than amused by the complaints on the Facebook pages … even more so by the complainers being contradicted by others on this cruise (sone even shutting off comments since they are not getting the reactions they want.)

Bon Voyage!

Bon Voyage!

They make a clock for that..... https://www.amazon.com/DayClocks-Classic-Week-Retirement-Gift/dp/B07NVSD3GH/ref=sr_1_9?crid=PGPQ2838J7CP&keywords=day%2Bclock&qid=1698542399&sprefix=day%2Bclock%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-9&th=1

It’s the JoCo2024 charter — I think you already have it on your list. March 9-16.

There are more than you think. Might be a pretty big support group actually. 😂 But kudos to tour group operators for finding ways to grab people who might not have considered going to certain ports.

I’m Not @Crew News but I will be on the Nieuw Amsterdam in March 2024 (chartered trip), so I can try to give some updates. (But this is a special charter and there are specialized decorations that the charter company brings on board for us so I’m not certain if my pictures will be any help.)

So, do you think this is the better way to deal with all prepays? I'm thinking beyond the specialty dining and looking at things like excursions, spa, packages, laundry, what have you?

I would think that since you applied for the shareholder benefit and it is tied to a booking number that when you rebook you get a new booking number and can then apply for the shareholder benefit under that booking number. Make sense?

This librarian approves -- no matter how much sound was made. 🤣

Bon Voyage! (will see you on the second half!)

What was the issue?

Actually it is being delayed again, until 2025. https://etias.com/articles/etias-implementation-likely-delayed-to-2025

In my opinion, why take the chance? Seriously, do you truly want to accidentally find yourself having to use a defense of "I just followed what people in a computer forum told me to do instead of looking up the actual laws and policies"? You do have to understand that what is allowable in one country might not be allowable in another (as either OTC or prescription). For what it is worth, a bag filled with medications and medical devices is not subject to the bag limit allowances on just about *every* airline. So we travel with an additional bag that holds a cpap machine, and all medications in original bottles (prescription and non prescription). Gains us space in our actual bags and since it is entirely medical it is not counted against our total carryons. We have never had an airline attendant question the extra bag -- but are prepared with the actual guidelines from the airlines (found on both governmental websites and industry websites -- even though they can be hard to locate as they are buried a bit). You will find a fair number of people who will give you their real life examples of how they did not do the original bottles and everything turned out fine. (But again, they will not be there in person as part of your defense if something does go wrong).

We did last time. (Just found them while getting ready for next cruise— had completely forgot about them!)

Lots of different tricks out there to do that. Plenty of occupations are in a similar situation of having to remember names quickly. Teachers are the prime example. Sound games, alliteration games, word association games are a few of the tricks. Also some people have good memories (my husband is not one of those and he is impressed by people who can remember names at all) They do get a list beforehand. I’m more impressed with how quickly our attendants can do the switch in that husbands legal name is on his docs but he goes by middle name (he’s a jr)

There are very few cell towers at sea....so ....not good. There has been a lot of discussion on various threads of the impact of the new Starlink agreement HAL has taken up. Search the forum and you will find them.

Many of these abbreviations date back decades — I know I encountered many of them way back on bulletin boards (BBs) long before the World Wide Web launched. They were useful then because of speed issues (most were on dialup modems). They remained useful when the first mobile phones were doing texts — that whole using keypad on phone to type things out and having to tap three times to get certain letters). They remained useful due to ability to type a response quickly even though phones moved to keyboard interfaces. Now they are part of the urban language basically.

Using the term SO also could conceal the issue as to the gender of the other partner — given that sometimes it was (and in areas of the world still is) necessary to hide queer or nonstandard relationships. I use the full phrase when referring to my own husband when speaking a few times — and I’ve been married for a fair bit of time (over half my life now) — but that is usually depending on the company I’m in at the time.

Bon Voyage!

@oakridger Yes, I can. TY 😄 @kazuI just booked one of the specialty restaurants for the Nov 1 Spanish Farewell -- but before this announcement. Thus part of my questioning. Will be on the Oosterdam -- so no Tamarind. But yours and @POA1's logic seems to fit with what I was thinking might be the case. Off to sleep the sleep of angels. (or not....)

I’ve come across the fact that there are sometimes “pop-up” restaurant events on some ships/sailings. And the most recent news posting regarding the fresh fish options talks about a pop-up option. How many pop-up types are there? But how does that work? If the event happens I take it that it happens in one of the speciality restaurants. But does that mean that the regular menu for that restaurant is unavailable that night? What if someone booked in advance and it turns into a pop up but they didn’t want that. How much time in advance is there for knowing about it? That day? When you embark? These are the questions begging to be answered keeping me awake at nights. (Ok, not really, but once my mind started down this path I knew I needed to get the answers and I have faith that you all will come through with all the deets and then some.) Elizabeth

This Virginia resident would love to see a HAL ship sailing out of Baltimore or Norfolk/Newport News.

It varies across the US as to when spring break happens. For my county it is always starts on Good Friday (as a half day) and then the week after Easter is the break. Nearby counties are before, the same as us, or fixed to a specific week and not the movable Easter week. So it is a gamble no matter what week you go for -- it will be spring break for some portion of the schools.