grand isle joe

Uh-oh........hope his post doesn't affect the poll on C.C........:D

Any-hoo thanks for the poll. It would be nice if C.C. could/would expand the riverboat sub section of the web sight to give us all more reviews of the different lines.:)

I think the O.P. is just a fun poll not scientific at all. For myself it is informative to hear other cruise experiences and I don't keep a running count. Thanks for the poll IMO.:)

I agree it is hard to compete with Hawaii for snorkling.:)

The servers don't look so happy......you know, always having to clean up that desert sand everywhere your group went.:D Seriously thanks for the post and looking foward to the rest.:)

I don't know about Tauck ships but Uniworld has hand sanitizing stations for when people re-board the ship, there are also stations when u enter the dining room. They encourage the use of these santizing stations while onboard and even encourage it in there cruise documents. During my last cruise with them I did not notice anyone not using these stations.

Tauck also.....but the passengers have to take some resposibility to keep a clean ship by adhering to a vigorous sanitary rutine. But like alot in our world it's all about "me,me.me" all the time.;)

I have just returned from two river cruises.

One with Tauck and then another with Uniworld.

Both lines did well with land excursions.

 

There was an illness going around on the Tauck ship and I don't

feel (as did many other passengers) that they treated the situation

seriously enough. My husband was sick on board--three days before

cruise was over. I got sick the day after we left the ship.

We met a friend from the ship in Amsterdam whose husband

was back at their hotel recovering from same illness.

He got sick the day after leaving ship.

 

I understand these things sometimes happen on ships.

but some preventative measures should have been taken. For example--

People should not have been handling serving utensils in the dinning rom.

That should have been done by gloved dinning room staff.

Sorry to read about your illness. I agree with you that some hightened vigilance should be employed once an outbreak occurs but 9 out of 10 times this illness follows someone, usually a passenger, onto the ship. Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands is the mantra always when we travel, sickness outbreak or not.:)

We have sailed Tauck for the fact that you can get more than two to a cabin and kids are onboard. We would try another but our family is three so calling around no other major lines handle that configuration.

You know that bran muffins are banned on all Carnival cruise ships. They are afraid of another power outage and....you know......overflowing the waste system prematurely.......:D

We give a large cash tip along with the 'suggestive" tip. Also we bring along pints of our local Maple Syrup for all with whom we have as servers and room personal. We shrink wrap the syrup in those freezer type bags so 1. it won't leak in our suitcases and 2. it can travel with the C.M. if they bring it home. They loved it after we told the whole story about how it was made and of course the sweetness of it.;)

i turn 69 tomorrow......already today in some areas! So, i'm booked on a couple more ta's..........but looks like i should give it up when i'm 70, or just beyond, and just fly!

 

That's nuts!!:d i'll keep cruising the ta's till they dump me overboard, probably in a box!:):d

 

rick

happy birthday!!!!!!!!!

I'm cruises as to what the average age is on repo or transatlantic crossings? I know it's typically older but what's the average. I just booked my first on oasis so I'm curious what the age range will be.

...I bet you will be hearing alot of "sonny boy" and "whipper snapper". And prune juice will run out half way through your trip.Lunch will have alot of soft foods. Dining time will begin at 4:15 p.m. Bingo?.....Forgettaboutit...........;)

That plan is likely to clear the whole bus. :eek:

That's pretty awful.

.......but the key is to keep them in the plastic ziplock bag.......just the look will deter action towards moving them......;):D

..next time find a toddler on the ship and pack two stinky diapers in plastic bags. As you get off the bus place the used diapers on the seats. I bet those seats will be 'reserved" when you return.

Good luck.

 

Personally, any jewelry purchase of size will be made at home at a jeweler I trust. Not on some island where I can't easily return it.

I agree 1000%. You have to develop a relationship with your jeweler just as your accountant......sometimes one knows each other through a third party...me......:D

Ha...I have two dogs as well so not just a cat person.

 

You are probably right. I don't think most people are buying "Art" on board a ship for an investment. They are buying it because they like it. No different than buying anything else. But they are always portrayed as suckers.

 

I have bought Art on board ships and on land, usually the framing costs more than the art work. Every piece I have hanging on my walls I enjoy daily. Bought it because I liked it and could afford it. Not suckered into anything. No more than I was suckered into the money I have left in various casinos. At least my artwork is firmly hung on my walls. The casino money...well...you know.

I,too, have purchased from the "Art" auction and quite pleased. It was never treated as an investment but rather a wall hung reminder of a great week we had as a family. Some pictures are a conversation piece and even give us an excuse to "brag" about a wonderful time. As far as the "dog people" it was only ment as a joke.:) Cheers at the next "free champaign (cough cough) event of the Masters on board.

Others have reported bringing 'Bullet' (the name brand) style blenders aboard and operating without a problem.

Bullet?......Bullet?,,,,,,,Oh that's what that thing was.......I gotta get my mind out of the gutter......:D

I always have my personal assistant pack one. Don't leave Happy Hour without it.:D

I find this post interesting. You go to the art auctions to drink free cheap sparkling wine and have fun watching people spend their hard earned cash on art that is worth less then what they paid? Do you do the same thing in Department stores or any other kind of retail establishment? I mean most of us spend our hard earned cash on things that at point of purchase are worth less than what we paid.

 

Why is an art purchase on board so funny? If someone likes something and wants to purchase it does it really matter whether it is called art or a trinket? Did the cocktails you purchased on board turn out to be an investment?

 

Let people spend their money as they wish. The cruise line could just as well dole out free sparkling wine and have people be entertained while watching people spend their hard earned cash in the casino, or in the specialty restaurants, or for a coke card or the wine package or for a drink of the day. Or maybe get a real laugh at the people who spend huge amounts of hard earned cash on a suite.

 

At least the people purchasing art have something left after the cruise.

the people who are critical just want to feel superior I suspect......plus they are probably "dog people".....;):)

Hate to inform you but Park West is back on the Allure. Couldn't believe they were there on our February 17th cruise.

Seems the more things change the more they stay the same.;) RCL couldn't pass up the $$$$$$$$$$.

well, he was the king....and not many can say they expired whilst on the throne! :d

:d:d:d:d:d

That all depends.... young skinny elvis or bloated drug face elvis holding a microphone?

the later of course.......hopefully sitting on the "pot". Awww classic man....

That's so milquetoast! Give me a velvet portrait of a panther or Billy D Williams holding a can of Colt 45 any day!

...Hard Core I see.......an Elvis portrait would not count I guess......

I go to the art auctions just to look at the art and have fun watching people spend their hard earned cash on art that is worth less then what they pad.

 

I enjoy sipping the free champagne(sparkling wine) that they serve with the canaps. The reason for the free champagne is so that some people who are already tipsy will bid on a piece and then buyers remorse settles in.

 

I agree that doing a search online before buying an art piece is vital. Hence I would only buy a piece in a gallery in my hometown or one where a relative lives such as in Santa Fe so if there is a problem my relative can go to the gallery on my behalf to see whats going on.

...Yeh BUT can you find that cool "Dogs playing Poker" paintings in those fancy-smancy art galleries???? I beg not!!!......Please pass the Grey Poupon........:eek::D:D

We just returned from the Dream and used Tiffany Limo and they were PERFECT? Even were early picking us up this morning from our after stay Atari hotel at 5:00 a.m. Even being early. So don't judge all services by a mix up.