3rdGenCunarder

Most plans don't, and if they do, the cruise coverage is expensive.

So glad you got your refund! Ridiculous that you had to wait so long, but better late than never.

I'm not sure I'd call it nuts. Obnoxious, cheap, chintzy, penny-pinching. If they can refund the credit to you, they can give it to the crew, if that's your preference.

Well done! The first "big" solo thing, like this cruise, can be life-affirming. Yes, you CAN do it! And it sounds like you will cruise again, so that's a good thing. Yes, you will continue to have "moments." Five years, and I still do, but I try to see them as remembering, not mourning. I agree, go out, walk around, take a deep breath and keep going.

That is a perfect way to say it! As others have commented, the really good ones don't beg for praise. I wonder if the ones who ask for good reviews are new or have had some negative comments and are looking to bolster their rating. I'm used to the last night "don't forget the survey" from the waitstaff in MDR. I don't mind that unless it gets too emphatic or the speech is too long, but I always consider that a general reminder, like time changes or early port departures. As a throwback to when everyone ate in the MDR, waitstaff were told to give various reminders.

Yes, the only time I have seen HIA with the Elite beverage package and the upgraded wifi is in an early booking promo. Sometimes the early booking HIA includes crew appreciation, which is very nice.

It doesn't look like the one shown in the recent HAL press release. For one thing, I think the menu you saw has more choices on it. At least the infamous "rustic lasagna" isn't there.

I think that's the old menu, although some ships may still have it until the roll-out is complete.

HIA and the CO supplement are about the only things that solos don't pay double for. Check prices when you're booking. Usually the HIA fare is $50 per day above the "advantage fare." That's the fare that has a refundable deposit and does not come up in a search on the website--TAs can get it and tell you. That's how it worked out for the two cruises I have booked. For the cruise I took last winter, I added HIA after booking, and it was $50 per day. I always book advantage fare to have the refundable deposit. I don't know what the per day is if you add HIA to the lowest fare ("best price"?) with the nonrefundable deposit. But it shouldn't be double. I don't know the costs of the components, but if you intend to buy internet, you need to have just a few drinks (including special coffees, canned water, etc) and use the dining and excursion credits to break even. If you aren't going to use internet, HIA isn't worth it IMO.

Yes! Give yourself a treat!!! You deserve it for all of your trip planning efforts. And another packing suggestion. Buy a blank book and keep a journal. I've done travel journals for years and love to take one out and reminisce. I like spiral ones because I can rip out a page if I need a piece of paper. You don't have to write a lot (mine do tend to become sagas 😱), just some memories. Maybe let your husband and kids contribute, too. Glue in postcards (I carry a glue stick for this), or peel off a tour sticker and add that to a page,

Not at sea, and probably not on a balcony, but it could happen in port in a larger space. On embarkation day in Vancouver on QE, I saw someone leave the remains of their lunch on a table by the pool, and a gull was there in less than a minute to see what was left.

I doubt there's a lot of difference. Based on my experience in an aft verandah on Eurodam, the cabin is likely to be longer than the cabins on the sides. If you look on the deck plans at the slight curve across the back, it looks like the ones at the center are the longest of the aft cabins. That said, all you get it a little more floor space. In my Eurodam cabin, there was some extra space between the nightstand and the bathroom wall, and some extra space between the other nightstand and the sofa. If you're planning to use the sofa bed (if the cabin is a triple), it would be important. Otherwise, it doesn't make much difference.

Many years ago, on QE2, they gave up on "experts" placed by an agency, like speakers and performers and got a staff member to run the computer room. On a cruise where the internet was difficult and she was very helpful, DH and I filled out "You have been a star!" cards for her. The next day she saw me and thanked me, so I knew they were letting crew know. QE2 also did "employee of the month" awards for various departments and pictures would be posted somewhere. I don't know if Cunard still does that. One time, they had a little reception and invited the Diamond world club members to the reception to see crew members recognized for their good works. The captain said we were invited because "you're family, too."

The answer to almost everything these days is "there's an app for that." I like that compliments get relayed to the staff member so quickly. I wonder if Navigator compliments get more attention than the ones people write on their surveys because they're immediate.

Part of the confusion is because posters sometimes refer to the HIA shorex and dining credits as OBC. They are not the same as OBC. For those who don't understand the difference, If you book HIA, those credits appear on the "home page" for your cruise booking as PROMOTIONAL CREDITS and under that there are links to dining and excursions. These credits are not "fungible," (I love that word!), meaning they cannot be used for anything other than the designated purpose. In the case of my next HAL cruise, I see "2 dining credits" and "$200 available" for shorex. HIA Promo credits can be used before you cruise. As others have said, it's a good idea to do that so you get the tours/dining times you want. The value of the HIA Promo credits is not refundable, so you may as well use it while you can. Anything called ONBOARD CREDIT is literally that. Credit to be used on board. Except for casino exclusions in some cases, you can pretty much use it as you see fit.

Perhaps they're busy updating their OS to Windows 8.

I have never seen one of those. It's great for keeping things from rolling off in rough seas, but it does sound awkward for eating, having to reach down into the top. Very odd choice.

I can't picture what you're describing. On K'dam, we had an oval glass-topped table that couldn't be raised (Neptune suite, maybe that's the difference) and turning it on its side wouldn't' give us any surface. Did your coffee table have solid sides?

If I tip the MDR waiters, I give them the envelopes directly on the last night. Cabin stewards are so busy on turnover day that if I don't happen to see mine, I leave the envelope on the desk, with the steward's name and "thank you" on it. Last time, I saw my wonderful steward as I was walking toward the elevator. I thanked him for taking good care of me and told him I'd left something for him on the desk. And in addition to gratuities, remember names and mention them in the post-cruise survey.

HAL might send an email when the tours open for booking. I get a lot of offers to improve my "cruise experience" when I have a booking. I bought HIA for my cruise last winter in the fall. I got offers to buy HIA at least twice after that. So the HAL computers keep spewing reminders of ways you can spend your money.

How many years ago was Cantare announced? I have yet to be on a cruise where they performed. I fear that will be my luck with Lincoln Center, too.

Wow, for a huge airport, your experience was very fast!! I had to laugh at the jewelry search. I had the same thing happen a few years ago. I have a couple of chunky metal necklaces that raised suspicion. The system or the guy at the monitor flagged the case. The guy who had to check it glanced at the monitor and sighed, "It's just jewelry," but he had to check. Thank goodness I had it in a little packing cube and he could see what it was without having to open it. But I have never had my bag checked because of candy!

You can go for a drink. Although some people do go there for a pre-dinner cocktail, it isn't usually full and nobody asks if you have booked dinner. The bar isn't open all day. IIRC, they opened around 5:00. I don't know where Tamarind is on your ship, but it's often tucked away in a place that people don't stumble upon. Worth seeking out. And even during the day when the bar isn't open, it can be a quiet place to sit.

Ouch! That's high. At that price, they should charge just the difference if you upgrade. I bought the 10-day pass on my last cruise and it was $196.

Cocktail suggestion--try the Tamarind Bar. Tamarind is HAL's Asian restaurant. (I love the crispy duck!!!) The bar for this restaurant has some special cocktails. I don't know if they're available in other bars. The cucumber mojito is wonderful as is the drink with the lychee in it (forgot the name).