oldbluff

We also were on this cruise and REALLY enjoyed it. As I mentioned, the band in The Rolling Stones Rock room were fabulous. An amazing thing you all will appreciate is we encountered no complainers on this sailing. Might be a first for us. And it is not because we failed to interact with our fellow passengers. Plenty of that, especially at the Ocean Bar. 😎 We did share a MDR table with a fellow the morning of debarkation. He was quite picky but did not stay into complaint territory. Thank goodness.

We didn’t have one either. But good to see.

Good move to have a large number of officers and staff sit at tables with passengers at the Mariner lunch. I don’t recall seeing this before. It builds connections.

I don't recall seeing anything in this thread on The Rolling Stones Rock Room band. They are excellent on this sailing. Best of the handful of our cruises that had this venue. Their performance at the New Years Eve party was memorable.

Different preferences. My wife and I thought the rhubarb tart just right. The French vanilla ice cream on top provided a contrasting sweetness. I usually avoid strawberry-rhubarb dishes because they are invariably sweet. This was a pleasant surprise. It reminded my DW of her grandmother's "spring tonic" served in her youth.

Yes, we enjoy Eastern and Southern Caribbean sailings much more than Western. Although we would return to Key West anytime. 😀

We are on this sailing and internet was wonky for a while last night. Seems to be OK now.

At home, I always give my oranges a thorough rinse in the shower before squeezing. 😀

I also thought it would work the opposite way, when I first asked a year ago. I do not know about tip policy for other areas.

For those wanting a cash tip to go to a specific bar server or bartender, a reminder that cash tips to them are pooled. Extra tips written on receipts go to the person listed at the top. I recently verified with a bar manager on Eurodam that this is still policy for the bar staff.

Yes we did. Hip Hip Hooray!! 😀

We probably cruised with you and your husband as we were on all of December except the Christmas sailing. We are also joining you for this one. Disembarked Eurodam this morning and now flying to San Diego. First Hawaii and Christmas cruise for us. We are also winging the ports. Have been to them before. This will be fun!

We had the Surf internet as part of the Have It All package. I looked for an upgrade pre-cruise but did not see one. I upgraded in the Navigator app when connecting.

You or your TA will want to let HAL know in advance that you want assistance. Then a wheelchair logo will print on your boarding pass. When you get to the port and they see the logo, you will be escorted to a sitting area. Then, first in - first out, you will be taken thru security and wait in another area for someone to take you on board.

I doubt if there is anything formal. But others may know of an arrangement. We have done several B2B's on different ships, but they were different cruise lines so I knew it was on us. When you come out of customs with your luggage, get a taxi and let them know the ship (or even better, the terminal number) you are going to board the second ship. In Fort Lauderdale, there are posted signs at the taxi stand giving a $9 flat rate to another location within the port.