uppitycats

Just curious. We love to cruise more than anything, but DO NOT do a lot of the things that others say they love about cruising.

 

We NEVER get in a hot tub

We NEVER get in a pool

We NEVER walk the track or jog or work out

We NEVER care to eat at the Chef's table

We NEVER stand in line at Guest Services to complain

We NEVER play bingo

We NEVER go to the games on ship

We NEVER buy pictures

We NEVER go to the dance clubs

We NEVER go to the marriage/newlywed game

We NEVER lay out on the deck. We'll go out there to sightsee, though

 

We SELDOM buy anything in the shops

We SELDOM go into the Casino

WE SELDOM go to the art auctions (as observers)

We SELDOM eat in the Lido

 

We ALWAYS buy a few Drinks daily; we bought HAL's drink card; turned back half of it (got a refund)

We ALWAYS go to the piano bar (or sometimes guitar bar)

We ALWAYS eat in the MDR when it is open/available, breakfast lunch & dinner

 

We USUALLY see the sunrise and the sunset.

We USUALLY eat in a specialty restaurant at least once

 

 

WE ALWAYS love every minute and feel that every day is busy and full !

 

 

What about YOU?

We don't cruise much for the amenities on the ship; we cruise for the sights, the ports.

I've cruised on several lines, including Carnival. I was on C for a 4 day, a 7 day, and a 14 day cruise. In all instances I saw many more people having MUCH too good a time (drunk, obnoxious, loud, boisterous, in-your-face) on Carnival than on any of the other lines I have been on. And then all the silly contests, "hairy chests" among them.

Carnival caters to the younger set -- more likely to be a bit out of control, perhaps.

There were also many more children on C, and parents who just seemed to think it was ok to let their kids roam the ship unattended. I don't care how good the kids are at home...you put a pack of kids together without adult supervision, and things can quickly get out of hand.

I also really dislike C's decor -- loud, brassy, garish to my tastes. It seems to me that when the atmosphere is "loud", the people tend to be less in control. The glitter, flashing lights, naked statues, seem to bring out the worst in them.

The C crew were outstanding, the food good, the service exemplary...but I wouldn't cruise on C again unless it had an itinerary that was unique and totally unavailable on any other line (and they change their decorator...which I have learned they have, since my last C cruise in the early 2000's...)

So long as the spelling matches on all the documents, it should not matter if it is "lower case" on one, "upper case" another.

The name has to match the passport, drivers license. This is a security issue since 9/11, and you WILL be stopped. I was stopped because one document had a middle initial, the other didn't, even though the first/last names matched.

People with dementia, even "mild" dementia, can get very upset and disoriented when taken out of their usual environment. While I applaud your wanting to be with your mom and sharing a cruise with her, I worry about her being left alone even for a little while. The crew should NOT be expected to help her or look out for her. I suspect that if you tell them she has dementia and they find her left alone, you all could be asked to leave the ship at the next port. If you intend to go through with this cruise, you should be prepared to have either you or your daughter with her at all times, making sure her needs are met and she's comfortable.

I've never decorated our door. I'm able to read the cabin number, don't have children, am not yet so senile I can't find the floor/cabin, so don't see the reason to spend vacation time doing it.

I bought 2 cards, one in my name, one in my husband's name. We often do different stuff at different times on board; didn't want to have to be that closely linked! :) The convenience was enough of an incentive to me...I've had to spend way too much time sorting through "a ton" of receipts on the last day of the cruise to be messing with that again.

I think it's available *for purchase* in all categories, free with some of the higher-ranked ones. We're at the bottom (barely mariner status!) and it's available at $98 for 2 weeks.

I used the beverage card and thought it was a great idea. I would suggest that you bring a sharpie pen or a small sticker to identify your card because they all look the same (at least on my cruise) and are taken from you to process your drinks order. If the server has more than one card, you can be sure you have the right one when it's returned to you, if you've marked it with a little "x" or sticker.

That's a great idea, thanks! Good to know they're available on board, too. I'll probably pre-buy one for my husband for sure.

I'm new to Holland America (first cruise on this line coming up in June) and I've been looking around the HAL site. I discovered that I can pre-buy a card for alcoholic beverages. My question -- are those also available on the ship? The early buy supposedly gives me drinks at a discount. Will that also apply to the ones bought on board, if available?

And, I see that there are also liquor packages, where I can buy alcohol and mixers and have it delivered to my cabin. Based on my experience on other lines, that is intended to be consumed in the cabin...not (at least visibly) taken to dinner, or elsewhere on the ship. Is that correct for HAL, too?

(I'm assuming there is no "drink patrol", checking on what might be in my mug, or inquiring where I got the liquid in my glass... :) )

My wife has frequent migraines and takes prescription pain medication for them. Because they are controlled substance, they cannot be filled but once a month (2 days max prior to 30 days from previous fill). Our cruise leaves on the 25th of this month and the earliest we can get a refill of her medication is the 28th.

 

Question is: can the doctor on board fill a medication prescription?

Almost certainly no. Particularly when you're talking about a controlled substance. She needs to call her doctor and tell him that she's going on vacation -- they usually can issue a prescription to cover the gap if necessary.

Interior decor. Definitely the decor. Yes, I know, such a thing shouldn't be so awful to us to turn us away from Carnival, but it has! The last Carnival ship we were on, the Spirit -- garish, clashing colors, way too bright lights, "Las Vegas on the Cheap" is the way my husband described it. Coupled with too many loud public announcements for nothing of real importance --for activities that people could find in their daily newsletters if they'd bother to read them.

It's a shame, because we had terrific food; the handicap-accessible cabin (I use a wheelchair) was one of the most spacious and best-laid-out that we've been on; the crew and staff were most accommodating...

but we felt like we needed sunglasses and earplugs whenever we were in the public areas. Not at all fun.

I'm in the "it looks tacky" minority. While I could see it would be helpful for a child to find the cabin, or perhaps an elderly forgetful parent, we (husband and I) are quite able to find the cabin based on the cabin number which is on the door.

just a general question - i would look most favorably on the cruise line that is most helpful about this - boat drill on HAL was a terrible way to begin such a lovely trip - i never really got over it, emotionally or physically

What you need to do, upon boarding, is go to the purser's desk (sometimes called customer service desk), tell them your problem, ask for assistance. They'll then be able to tell you what to do: in some instances, you can indeed sit, other things that can happen is that you'd be directed to a special area with other people with disabilities, your sometimes you can view the drill on your in-cabin television.

But if you don't inform them of your problem -- and it's not readily visible -- they'll not know that you need assistance!

I think if you're waiting for something to be specially made (like omelets, or at the grill), then it's perfectly appropriate for the person behind you to move around you to the next thing on the buffet (and it would be polite for you to say something like, "Oh, please, just move around me! I'm waiting for (item)!"

And if you truly are just needing to grab something -- a fork, napkin, butter pat -- then, after asking, "Oh, I'm sorry, I just need to grab a (item)...do you mind?" -- then grabbing it and moving quickly out of the way...is acceptable.

What I consider "line jumping" is moving ahead of someone just because you think they're taking too long, or because you might not want that particuler item but really lust after the next thing, or see that there is just one left of the next thing and you realy want it and don't want to wait for it to be refilled...

or what I really really hate is reaching over someone to grab the next thing. I'm short -- in a wheelchair -- and admittedly a bit clumsy and slower than the average glutton, but I really hate having stuff dropped on my head from overhead serving spoons....

I'm glad to take the ferry to avoid driving around Chicago! I used to live there and avoid the drive at all costs. It's worth it to take the ride, get off relaxed and refreshed, ready to drive to my next destination without having been stalled on some expressway somewhere.

I would like to book a summer 2011 tour of the Norwegian Coast with my 2 kids. My 7 year old is hooked up to IVs 18 hours a day. I need some ideas on how to best get the IV solutions from California to Norway? I'm getting overwhelmed with the thought of multiple plane transfers to get to Bergan while lugging a giant suitcase of just IV medications. I would appreciate hearing from others about what they do to safely transport medications to their ships.

 

Thank you!

In general, medical supplies can be packed in their own carry-on and taken aboard the plane and the ship in addition to the passenger having a regular carry-on and a piece of stowed luggage..

but..if your child needs IVs 18 hours a day..how will you manage this on the plane? You'd need to do extensive advanced planning to fly, and they're not prepared to deal with that extensive kind of medical treatment, even if it is you doing the treatment. And then are you certain the ship will accomodate this? Would you need some special medical equipment to put the IV's in place? How will your child enjoy the vacation being hooked up to an IV, confined to the cabin...or are you expecting to be able to move him about the ship?

I'd be overwhelmed in the planning, too...

Again, I'm not a parent, but I have observed a lot of infants. Wouldn't the baby fall asleep in his/her stroller? I've seen sleeping babies in strollers everywhere, even in noisy environments. If you're going to the lounge to relax because it's a quiet and comfortable environment, wouldn't the baby be just fine in the stroller, napping? You could always throw a lightweight blanket over the top if you're worried about excessive light or something.

I'd never leave a baby alone. Using the monitor in a suite or adjoining cabins situations sounds do-able, for sure, but not 2 floors down!

I am a person in a wheelchair. I'll let you all decide if these things -- all of which have happened to me personally -- are "rude" or not:

Person along side me reaching past me on the buffet line, to scoop something out of the bin next to me..dripping food on my plate, in my hair. They couldn't wait for me to move to the next station.

Person in front of me on line, huge backpack on their pack, swinging sideways to talk to his companion...hitting me in the head and shoulder.

Crowd of people *behind* me, waiting for the elevator. When it arrives, swarming around me -- not to hold the door so that I can get on, but to crowd on themselves.

Teenagers in the elevator with me, admiring my power wheelchair.. "Wish WE had one of those!! We could get around the ship much faster!!" and then shoving past me out the elevator doors.

Person in front of me, going through a doorway. Not so much as a glance behind. The door shuts in front of me.

A couple (or group of people) walking down a hallway -- stop dead, to look at ..whatever (ship map? schedule of day events? doesn't matter).. then mad at me because I nearly hit them (scooters don't stop totally, sometimes..but glide ahead.)

Person in line in the bathroom, sees me waiting for the *one* handicap stall to open..and when it does, slides around me and into the stall.

Family in the buffet area see me leaving my open space (I moved the chair so I could get to the table in my wheelchair), heading to the buffet line to get something, having left my book behind as a "marker" -- move the book and take over the table. "Well, there were several of us and you were at the table by yourself.."

People in the theatre standing in front of me as I'm "parked" in the few handicap accessible spots at the back of the theatre..hard enough to see from there anyway, but then latecomers come in and stand *in front* of me..

I could go on....

While crew members will graciously accept gifts...given how small their personal cabin space is, and how many passengers might leave them gifts....usually the gift ends up in the trash, unused.

Phone cards can't be used in every port, and the crew generally knows where to buy them at the best price...so cash is our offering.

As to listing all the cruises we've been on, or on what lines.....I don't. Doesn't mean anything except I just don't think how many cruises or on what lines is particularly relevant when I'm offering my opinion about something.

I did a quick search and couldn't find anything that outlines what the embarkation process is. We are sailing on Freedom out of Port Canaveral, can anyone fill me in on what the process is?

You show up at the pier where your ship is docked. You'll be met by porters who will collect any of your luggage that you want to be put on the ship before you. Make sure your luggage has proper labels on it..and if it doesn't, ask the porters for new luggage tags. They'll have a list of confirmed passengers and blank tags, and can put them on. It's common to tip the porters..but some folks don't.

Proceed into the terminal (you'll likely see a stream of people heading that way). Watch to make sure you're heading to the right section of the terminal (your cruise company and your specific ship should be listed in huge signs, with arrows directing traffic.)

Get in line. Sometimes a long line, sometimes just a few people, depending on when you arrived.

Be ready to hand over your documents .. anything you've printed off from your cruise line (fun pass, confirmation, whatever), your passport, and/or birth certificate and picture ID. And a credit card...or explanation of how you intend to pay for your cruise (cash, traveller's checks, etc.)

Be ready to hand over your carry-on. It will be screened just like it is screened at an airport. (But usually you won't have to take off your shoes!)

They'll scan your credit card, and confirm that your documents are in order (if they're not, you'll be pulled aside and handed more paperwork to fill out.)

They'll return your credit card, documents, and your sign-and-sail card -- the size of a credit card, with your cabin number, dining room assignment, name imprinted on it. They'll give you a "zone number" -- remember the number, because now you wait a bit until they call that number, and then whoever has that number (there will be a large group of you), you'll board the ship.

Then you walk onto the ship. Depending on tides and how it's positioned next to land, it might be a long zig-zag ramp, or a straightforward gangway onto the ship.

If you have "special status" -- VIP, frequent cruiser (on that line), paid for one of the top-end suites, are a person in a wheelchair -- you'll go to the head of all the lines and be first on the ship. If you're "just a passenger", you'll wait until your number is called! :)

If all went smoothly, you're looking at about a 20 minute process. Otherwise -- like on one cruise we were on -- we waited over 2-1/2 hours, as the ship had a nasty case of norovirus with its last "load", and they had to sanitize the entire ship before letting anyone else on! :eek:

What I find REALLY weird is that anyone would feel so strongly about something so ridiculous, and need to post something so judgmental.

 

Now, when I hit the Islands with my lanyard around my neck dangling to my Bermuda shorts, should I wear my white shoes with black socks, or maybe my black wing tips with white socks? How about my sandals with the argyle socks?

Sure, go for it! It's YOUR vacation, why the heck care what anyone else thinks???

I agree completely. Although I know people do it, I think they look stupid and to wear them all the time is just unattractive. Sorry for you folks who disagree.

wow, I'm so glad there are a few more of us who think wearing lanyards is weird! I'm forever being bashed on these sorts of threads because I think wearing lanyards reminds me of a bunch of schoolchildren on a school tour.

(Yes, I know some of you have to wear lanyards on your "professional jobs"..I STILL think it looks dumb.)

Maybe someone should have asked before they jumped all over him. Just saying.....why ASSUME?:rolleyes:

Actually, if you read my first response, I DID ask. Took him awhile to come up with an answer.

Well, like I said, we have gotten by in regular cabins, and still could, but it sure would be nice not to have to squeeze the folded wheelchair in at the end of the bed. And not to have a high sill for mom to have to step over to access bathroom.

If in fact you're booking this cabin to assist your mother...then yes, she (and you) are eligible for a handicap-accessible cabin. This is NOT however the impression you gave in your first post, where you said specifically that you were booking the cabin for the "huge floor space".

No, there should not be any step into the bathroom, and there will be a shower rather than a tub, with a drop-down shower seat. And there will be plenty of room for her to wheel through the door, and around inside the cabin.

Most of us in the disability community would LOVE it if cruise lines would hold these cabins until final payment is due, and then release them to the general public. Few of us expect a cruise line to hold them indefinitely. What generally happens, though, is that people who do not NEED these cabins book them "because they have huge floor space", or because they have room for their scuba gear, or whatever....and remove them from the inventory.

If you would have stated in your first post that a) you were travelling with your 90 year old disabled mother, and/or b) that you were booking this within 2 months of cruising, you would not have gotten any "grief" from us.