taxmantoo

15 hours ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

Music Walk is here and even better. 

Would appreciate it if you could get the names of the Billboard Onboard musicians. 

4 hours ago, Destiny0315 said:

Sorry, but everybody getting $$ doesn't necessarily make something a scam. It is not like these people are working out of a call center in India trying to convince me to buy Target gift cards for them! Then in a related area there must be a lot of newly rich film critics who scammed the world and are feasting off of the billion+ that the Barbie movie has brought in. 🙂

4 hours ago, Despegue said:

Hahaha, OF COURSE Tasting Table gets paid in one way or another by their mentioned lines! Please do not be so naïve. Just like Skytrax selects yearly “ the best Airlines in the World”... it is all advertisement and really a big scam. 
( yes, I am an Insider in  the Industry, I know what I am talking about)

Same in the wine industry.  You have to pay Wine Spectator a bit more than $500 just for them to consider you for their award and then, extra charges, if they deem you worthy LOL.  That little sticker in the front window of your restaurant doesn't come cheap 🙂 

54 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Nothing wrong with pouring yourself two large glasses from your bottle and taking them with you!

46 minutes ago, pirate cruiser said:

We were just told the OBC is for new bookings-it's pretty lame to penalize people with existing bookings especially since we are past final payment.

They are not at all penalizing you.  People who booked a while ago were happy to book under the terms and conditions at the time.  People booking now are doing so under the current terms and conditions which could also change at any time.  Penalizing you would be taking away something that you already have, clearly not the case here.  You are going to get what you paid for without any penalties.  What other folks may be getting does not take anything away from you.  I am in the same position as you and can do nothing about it other than enjoy our next cruise.

13 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

We won't get it with CARP, but it appears we can join AARP even though we are Canadian (it asks for country to sign up and I have read on other boards Canadians are members)

 

I have tried in the past to purchase the gift cards with AARP (no membership required) but it blocks me requiring a US phone number.

Thanks, I just registered.  We will see what happens when it becomes available.

What about CARP in Canada?

As a certified sommelier of many years, please allow me to let you folks in on a little known secret of the wine industry.  You may call it a winery, a vineyard, an estate, a chateau or whatever any other name they often use, and you may call it a varietal, or a vintage or a sparkling, or a still wine BUT>>> what we are all talking about and drinking is in reality "grape juice" and it comes from a "grape farm". 🙂  Stop overthinking it and enjoy!

29 minutes ago, latebuyer said:

The space certainly wasn’t under utilized on ship i was on. It was packed.

For forty five minutes every twenty four hours?

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

I've not been to Napa yet am able to discern red from white (and use big, fancee words, lol)

Identifying red from white is the easy part if you can read ... it is usually written on the bottle  🤣

This thread is reminding me more and more every day of the reason my wife and I prefer a table for two!  😉  We never over analyze situations over which we have no control !

Time for another Wang Wang ... 

3 minutes ago, Jiminy1955 said:

Do any of the European countries accept U.S. Dollars?

Does the U.S accept any European currency?  End of debate.

Let me get this straight in my mind... $7.75 for 16 ounces of beer, that is $0.48 an ounce.  So you are 4 ounces short; I'd write to Princess Headquarters right away and ask for my $1.92 back as OBC on a future cruise. 🤣

42 minutes ago, bassmk said:

The bottom line is that if you think it's too much, then it's too much and don't go there. Eat the food you've already paid for in your cruise fare. I'm in the camp that the value is great for what you get in return. 

I did not say it was too much nor did I say not to go there.  I simply said that it does cost more than $39 when you factor in what you have already paid to sit there.  

3 hours ago, bassmk said:

Think about the level of cuisine and service you're getting. A mid/upper class steakhouse in most cities would charge $39 for one cut of meat, and most times everything else (sides, sauces, etc) are a la carte charges. I find that the specialty restaurants overall are excellent values.

 

I can't speak to the weird upcharge for salmon, though. That's a little weird unless it was a bad fishing season or something.

A mid/upper class steakhouse in most cities DOES NOT CHARGE A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS COVER CHARGE...  $39 certainly is not a lot of $$$ but people tend to forget that it is in addition to what you have already paid to be on the ship and be fed in the main dining room.

I apply the same policy as when someone asks me for a tip ... the asking part is actually begging and and that does not deserve a tip.  Same for a request for a good review.  

7 minutes ago, BobbiSox said:

Sorry if this is off-topic a bit. I will never understand why anyone at HAL thinks that adults want to color with crayons. What's next? Hop Scoth on the sport's deck? 

Can't wait to see something like this in the next HAL promotion... Trade your Beverage Card for a Coloring Book ??? Talk about Having It All 🤣

Will be on the Nieuw Statendam in Alexandria, Egypt for a one day stop and visit to Cairo for the pyramids.  Have been researching visa requirements on the Ports boards and there is very little info.  Wondering if anyone has been there recently as part of a HAL cruise and has any experience on this subject.  Even the Egyptian government's website states that a visa is required for cruise passengers but that the cruise lines usually handle it. I find it odd for the government to speak on behalf of the cruise lines and I am really not interested in "usually" or what other cruise lines do.  Anybody? Any advice?

We are also HAL 5-Star Mariners who have been slowly moving over to Princess since the end of the pandemic.  Our next Princess cruise in February will qualify us for their Elite status. Just disembarked recently from the Regal Trans-Atlantic and British Isles cruise so will be very interested in your comments.  The lack of entertainment, or repetitive entertainment, on HAL was a major factor in our decision to mover over.  We really enjoy the variety of entertainment offered by Princess in the Piazza, the Wheelhouse Bar, the Vista Lounge, Princess Live, Crooners and the main show theater.  We will still cruise on HAL when an itinerary attracts us but otherwise will likely cruise more on Princess.  I hope you enjoy your Princess cruise and look forward to following along.

2 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Yes, I understand as I’m Canadian.  I’ve flown into my country and have never heard a peep upon arriving the last 2 times.  Not a single person asked if I had it completed.

They don't have to ask.  When you complete it online prior to arriving, and then scan your passport when you land, the computer already tells them you have completed it and indicates it on the receipt you get from the scanner machine.  Knowing it has been completed, they just look at your receipt and put a mark on it so you are good to go.  That is the advantage of using ArriveCan.

Oher than the Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, these are very ordinary low to medium-priced wines. This is certainly not an improvement on the current winemaker's diners offered on Royal class ships but this new version is much more expensive. Even more expensive than the Chef's Table. I imagine that one will also increase in price very soon.