north29

I was in South Africa, and for $40 I had 100 minutes of talk/text/some data. It was great. I was leaving for Greece/Europe and signed up for the same thing, NOT, they or some how it was changed to another plan, which cost $10 a day. Since I left my phone on(other plan) I had a much larger bill. Went to the Verizon store and thought they took care of it, but apparently not.

YOUNG people with HIGH cruise status. One girl or maybe two, maybe twins. As I remember after talking with parent, they cruised with parents, with both sets of grand parents and occasionally with aunt's and Uncles. mostly in upscale cabins. Remember a few years ago many of us took advantage to the double points for booking longer cruise and better cabins.

I have met some really nice employees on cruise ships and have been invited to come to see them or stay with them if in their country while they are home. To worry about whether they leave or stay for a reason is ridiculous. Too much is/or seems to be directed or implied that the cruise lines may be running sweat shops and not treating the employees fairly. Employee turn over is not cruisers business, employees in all service jobs move/leave.

Over the years I heard some strange stories form crew members and sometimes I have felt, I should tip more, and some times I do, based on service, but not because of a hard luck story. Remember that in the next week or two, they will have a new group, you will MOST LIKELY be forgotten unless you cruise the same ship OFTEN, and yes many do, and I have resembled that remark.

Yesterday. did my signup Xpass or what ever it is called, it would not let me print it from the pop up. I just did a print from Safari, was a little different but it has the INFO and BC

OPPS sorry it was on X's web site not RC

Grand Cayman for the West and St Martins for the Eastern. Not a big fan of hard Liquor but prefer cordials and wine. Last time in St Martin a liter of Romana Sambvca was $19.95 American, .750 mil. was $26 plus tax at ABC. I'm sure other cordials are price very well. Grand Cayman was about the same price.

That cruises ships would become much larger, only a couple of ports that might handle them. They would be more like a all inclusive vacation hotel. They would have tenders in prime locations that would transport new "cruisers" to the ship. I would operate much like a hotel 1 night or several nights.

I think the article was in Popular Science or Mechancs.

Sorry for the Noro, but sickness happens every where. What they offered was as good as one can hope for.

1. Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

2. Nice screen name. :rolleyes:

But is so NEGATIVE, I would hate to be their neighbor LOL

After major issue, like no working toilet, no AC and other REAL minor issues, with some or little compensation or apparent help from guest service, they are just the front line for complaints. You just have to bite the bullet and say I had a bad cruise for 4 days. PS I do agree with the noise, but some one should have informed you about deck 8.

Depending on the beach/island etc. We never take much on shore, or anything we cannot afford to lose. MAYBE one CC(the one we know) and maybe $40 in cash. camera and a photo id, if needed, for that a drivers license or we have the PP cards. Having said that, all are good post above, especially finding some one close to help watch your stuff, but despite some posts we never have encountered a problem with a slightly cautious approach.

Travel lighter, travel happier. We have traveled much of this planet, and yes we started out BIG, unnecessary clothes and gear. Now we travel light, not as light as a backpacker, but if we, after much research about our destinations, find we did not pack the right thing, we just buy it.

I will guaranteed that filling out the Visa for India is a PITA. After some conservations with some local Indian, I guess that name is correct. There are a lot of reason for the DETAILED history of your family.

a couple of years ago, it was OK, a good 2 star place. They had a good restaurant in the complex. Parking was tight, I found a good place, and ate at the in hotel restaurant to keep from moving the car. At that time getting on the shuttle was almost a PITA, no pecking order but it went OK both ways. I might use them again if I got a deal.

PS they did hint if you are in a hurry, you might want to take a taxi

As said above, PRIVATE TOUR. One thing to hope for, the tour will give you at least two hours in the Visitors center. It is a true experience.

Tips are included in the charge for the restaurant. Everyone has their own view of leaving extra tips....and the OP should not be swayed by what someone else does or doesn't do. There is no problem at all in just leaving after the mail without an additional tip.

 

Most can tell if the service was exceptional or not....exceptional service is pretty noticeable. We usually don't tip extra..but on our last cruise, we ate with two other couples in the wine cellar area of Murano and we had a dedicated head waiter who was just superb...he seemed to always there, the wine was topped off, the bread was refilled...it really was a thing of beauty. The entire table agreed on a significant extra tip. As I said, it was obvious that he deserved it. For us, that's the exception.

As stated, you do not have to tip extra, I know it is hard not to think that you should leave some extra.

I own stock in RCL, and had nothing better to do, knowing that it is not combinable. Anyway, I decided to apply for my benefits for our upcoming cruse on the Equinox over Xmas and New Years. I thought, maybe the perks of the drink package might not be a PERK since we are actually paying for it, my logic was WRONG, it is a perk. But I can drop the drink package or the prepaid gratuities and get the shareholder benefits.

Oh, NO BIG DEAL, should have sold it when it was in the nineties LOL

It just dawned on me that I forgot to apply it to may last cruise, NO PERKS, I must be slipping LOL

In October on the Rhapsody of the Seas. We had a private tour, which was SUPER of the ruins and Mary's last home. I felt no danger from any where. The people/vendors of course were happy we were there. Our tour guide, who has vested interest in tourism, owns B&Bs etc. said that next year few if any cruise ships were coming to Kusadasi.

I would love to do Turkey. Interesting on a spring trip to South Africa, a member of our group, American, had just come to SA from Turkey where she had toured for a month. She did feel any real danger and was traveling. Near the Syrian boarder and could hear the artillery and fighting on the other side of the mountain. Sorry, I never ask her the name of her tour company.

My lady and I use a small around the neck type that I find in Hobby Lobby. It is small enough to tuck into your shirt or blouse(well what most of us wear) It has a clear front for the bar code(have to reverse it when coming in to the ship) It also has a zippered pocket in back for a Id, CC, and yes A LITTLE cash. Has worked for us for many years. Wife is not happy with it on the ship night LOL

on a 5 night cruise, but if you are celebrating something go for it, you will not be alone. Just look a little nicer on formal night and you will be happy. Remember it is just a SUGGESTED dress code and most people, note most, will not worry or dress formally or even in a black ugly ill-fitting suit.

NO, some of the best and poorest waiter have been in MTD

Strange question

My neighbor who watches my house will miss them.

Ask for the bed configuration like you want with the cruise line. Do not expect it to happen, so if not, just ask the room steward to change it ASAP.

On Non balcony rooms the separated beds seem to give the room much more room.

Some things in your review I can identify with and have experienced from time to time. But, many things are may not be the fault of RC, like the tenders.

Guest services, unfortunately, are the front line for onboard issues and take a lot of abuse from from passengers over issues they have no control over, they just report it to the proper channels heck the channels may be in Miami. Being rational and reasonable when dealing with them helps out a lot.

Not saying you were irrational.

WHY NOT, no it is not personal but all deserving people, no matter what your bartender or cabin attendant says or how many on this board think get a FAIR SHARE. Tip more if you wish, but that is your discretion.

I personally think TIPPING is our of control, yes there are people who's wages are only the tips, but, example, tipping a bus driver on a tour, etc., That is his job, and he paid to do it. Now if he saves your life for what every reason he deserve a tip. also the Cabin steward if he does something SPECIAL. However bar tenders, there is a tip built in to the bill. On drink packages or the D or D+ lounge, I still tip an extra buck or two per drink.

IMHO, holiday cruises are great, but the Xmas festivities that X and other cruise lines provide will not be over whelming. Remember there are many other religions onboard that do not celebrate Xmas. Having said that, they will have a good time, no matter what. A few unexpected perks from you will be great.

We usually do a holiday cruise every year, it is the time when we can dress and take nicer clothes since we live in Florida and have room for minor decorations which include a small folding tree for the table and few other holiday items, some times a gift(small) for the room steward. The basic cabin are small unless you get a jS or suite or above, so think small.