MacGuffin3

Yes, silly things quoted a 15 mile range or something on them, but in testing them with the kids the other day, I could barely hear them at the park three blocks away, with metal everywhere they would probably be less-than worthless. OK, well the kids will just be "free range" then. We will have to set-up specific times to check in with them I suppose, or maybe we just won't see them for a week, either way.

This must have changed in the last few weeks, since I swear I checked that list and I specifically ordered cheap walkie-talkies to avoid their fee. Their charge comes out to $40 for a family of 4 who just want to communicate with each other, on from all accounts a rubbish app. Oh well, the $4 kid's walkie-talkies I bought probably wouldn't have worked very well anyway.

Huh, did this just happen today? Is this effective immediately? Cheap kids walkie-talkies aren't going to interfere with emergency channels.

I believe they only have jurisdiction for 12 miles from the port. The same time they also let you gamble and shop duty free.

According to the dailies, and what I've heard happens on other NCL ships, is that it was night 1 right as they pull out of Seattle! Do you care to join me in a contest, how many slices of prime rib and how many martinis can we consume before midnight?

They all earn a salary. I’m serving myself. Just like going to a fast food restaurant, tipping at a buffet would never even cross my mind.

We’re the comics funny? Worth booking?

According to your dailies you didn’t get to Juneau until 4pm on day 3. Our booking said 2, wonder if there has been a change. Seems quite late to do much there.

No time for swapping when there is prime rib at the buffet.

$15 race car $10 laser tag if I remember right.

They aren't part of the standard free package was the point. There are no shortage of extra things one can pay for on a boat.

If it's the same as our's it should be good for two dinners at two places. Any kids have to order off a different menu

They want me to chase down the person, figure out their name and position, and take five minutes + to fill this long form for what? And it goes into some lottery for what exactly? For truly above and beyond service, I think I would give them cash before I wasted everybody's time (mainly mine) on this.

And if you book online there is no way to easily cancel with a click. You have to call customer service to make any changes. So make sure you just aren't clicking the first restaurant and time you see willy-nilly.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Everything, including the tip is baked into the price you paid. And for the 20% you already paid, good service should be the expectation, not the exception.

the odds are just as good if you go in expecting very little, everything will then be a bonus. If you go in expecting it to be amazing, you can only go downhill from there. Not everybody has the same philosophy of what the best mindset to go into a trip is.

I was too.

We already did.

Are there boats with churrasco joints on them? Now I'm jealous. There is nothing as "specialty" as that on Encore.

If it's part of the big "free at sea" package there is. There are alternative ways to get specialty dining certificates I suppose but they didn't say anything about rewards. As part of our cruise package we also get 2 dinners and yes, there is a mandatory 20% tip included, and nobody should feel a need to tip more than that.

Thanks so much. This is just what I was looking for. Any highlights, lowlights to share?

Fair enough, it's a Catch-22. Taxes will drive you to drink, and then drinking is taxed.

What does one have to do with the other? One is a purchase you are making from a private company for a vacation, the other is a shake-down by politicians. (Which they can get away with because people's response is often, "ehh it's just pennies.")

Make up your mind, is it pennies or dollars? If I get on the boat at noon and they don't depart until 5pm, at one drink an hour, with an estimate of $12 a drink, conservatively that's at least $6 going to corrupt politicians in Seattle. (and anybody else who also gets their fingers into that slush fund)

From what I hear there are some people who don't think 20% is sufficient and give them more.