markeb

Actually, you just need some dilithium crystals to control the matter-antimatter reactions. And maybe a crazy engineer from somewhere in the Scottish highlands...

Are you concerned they're stored with the bottle angled down towards the cork? Which I think is what I'm seeing in the photo? It both keeps the cork from drying out, and keeps air out of the bottle.

Insert bad cruise director extension cord joke…

Are you spending the night in Manhattan? What are you looking for? Good price and good selection is very dependent on your price and tastes. It looks like there are several within an easy walk of MCT, including one on 53rd and 10th Avenue. I'll defer to a local. If you're overnighting, you have different choices. NYC beer/wine/liquor laws can be "interesting", and it's on you if you want to try to walk all over Manhattan to find a couple of bottles of wine! And most stores are very neighborhood oriented.

Yes on OBC. Since the OBC is already "in the bank" you're not going to get the usual hedge against changes in the CAD/USD exchange rate (I assume the OBC is in USD?). If that's what you're thinking, I'd take a look to make sure you know whether it makes more sense to pay them separately now (depending on the exchange rate that I haven't been following). We've done AI on our last two cruises, so I haven't had to do this online, and there was no advantage to me paying in USD to even look for it.

Tilley. One of the ones with mesh so it breathes more. (Mine’s an Airflo, but there could be something newer and better.) A Panama hat looks better, but it’s not as practical.

It’s in the App Store on your phone. Search for Celebrity. Click Get and let it install. Use your online credentials to logon. Do it today, try it, and ask questions! If you both have a logon, download it on both phones and you can each logon

It’s the duty free no age statement Macallan whiskies. It’s not bad, depending on who’s doing it and how many people. We probably had 30 (they oversold and admitted as much) and it was OK to meh. It will be the afternoon of a sea day. It was Craft Social on Equinox. I had OBC…

If you're thinking about pulling currency from an airport ATM, check the ports of call board for that airport. Heathrow, for instance, is notorious for TRAVELEX ATMs and horrible exchange rates. There are no bank ATMs in Heathrow, or apparently Paddington at the end of the Heathrow Express. Probably not a big deal for £20, but I'd generally avoid it if possible. Just be aware And your credit card/Apple Pay is your best option!

The last month has finally explained why the waiters seem incredulous when I order something other than lobster, prime rib, or ribeye for dinner. This is apparently a "thing" that I don't get. I don't have a problem if it's your "thing", but I will never understand it. I've never cared for lobster. On one cruise the waiter was so incredulous that we were ordering something else that he brought us a lobster tail to share. It was OK at best, but not something we'd seek out. Now langoustines at Le Bernardin, oh, my... Prime rib just makes me think of rubber peas and sitting uncomfortably in my Mess Dress at some formal function. It's not a food I select. I do actually like ribeye, but I can cook a better one than I've ever had on a cruise ship, and for whatever reason it's usually on the menu with rack of lamb or lamb chops, which I don't cook myself. Oh, well. Different strokes...

Yes. The form is just for an additional gratuity (I think it actually says tip, for consistency, obviously :). They get charged to your account. OBC gets applied first and any balance gets closed out to your credit card. There's nothing OBC unique to the form.

Pull pounds from an ATM away from the airport. Start very low, 20-50. Odds are you’ll barely touch them.

Are they offering no cost changes? I’d at least look at it. What airport? That would help a lot!

Which doesn't help if they change the seat configuration and you could have grabbed an aisle instead of the middle they stuck you in...

You're flying from FLL to EWR? Do you have the United app on your phone? Odds are you can check in as soon as you get cellular reception at 4-5 a.m. I don't fly as much these days, but I've flown a lot. There is no way on earth I would not have connectivity with the airline with the frequency of changes. 11:10 in FLL shouldn't be a problem, but they change flights. They reconfigure aircraft. All sorts of things you could react to if the airline can contact you (United normally will text, email, and have alerts on the app). I'm really sorry, but I'd at least buy 24 hours of WiFi for my smartphone. There was a time when I'd consider reservations and seat assignments stable, but I've had United (my preferred carrier, and I'm 1K) change aircraft on long haul international routes and in one case actually delete the premium economy cabin I'd paid for. That's an outrageous example, but...

It looks like all non-Acela business class is refundable, but check the fare rules! https://www.amtrak.com/planning-booking/changes-refunds/refund-and-cancellation-policy.html

No. It's really a walk up window or counter arrangement on most trains. There's a limited menu of premade hot and cold food. You won't go hungry, but it's not a 3 star restaurant. For whatever reason Amtrak has a contract with Dogfish Head and usually have their 90 Minute IPA at a "reasonable" price (maybe not at 6:20 am...). You can bring food and drinks, including alcohol, onboard. It just sounds like you're going to have a decent amount of stuff to handle, so you may not want to add to that. And if you do pay for business, you get free coffee by showing your ticket when you go to the cafe car. Most Amtrak trains are configured at around 6 (maybe 7?) cars. Depending on how its configured for direction of travel, the first (or last) car will be business for a NE Regional, the next car will be the quiet car, then a standard car, and then the Cafe Car. So from business it would be the third car back or forward. Just remember the train moves pretty fast, and in the US the tracks are shared with freight rail, so there's usually a fair amount of lateral motion as you're walking!

There’s no actual check in. You just board when they start boarding. They’ll typically check your tickets (I just use the app on my iPhone) once the train is rolling. It’s absurdly simple. For that length of time, business might be worth it. You get free coffee and soft drinks, but you have to go to the cafe car to get them. You should be able to find the cafe menu on the Amtrak site. That’s your food service. Get there 30-45 minutes early, but you may not board until 10-15 minutes before the train leaves.

You might be able to slip a pony keg through the screener... 😄

Scratch that. You're going to Newark, not NYP. It won't be a long stop, but you'll have time. At that point, it seems like most people (including me when I'm on the train) are going into Manhattan. And the conductors swap out at the next station. They'll generally take care of you, and may be able to get you a Red Cap when you get off.

Just saw this. Amtrak recommends being there a half hour before the scheduled time. I just pulled up the timetable, and it looks like 176 starts in Roanoke. Even better. They might start boarding early, but you're not standing there for the train to come in and have 2 minutes to get on. The NE Regional has quiet cars. That will either be the second car or the next to last car. No cell phone use or loud conversations. If you decide to do business for the slightly larger seat and free drinks that won't apply. Hop on, find a seat, and wait for the train to roll. There's a longer stop at NYP generally, so more time to get off and on your way.

Just looked it up on the Amtrak site and that's what I thought it would look like. It's not a short day! And looks like an early day as well, but you get on at home and get off in Newark. You do lose 30-45 minutes in DC sitting on the train while they change from a diesel engine to an electric one, but you don't have to transfer. If your option is to fly to Charlotte and connect, that's not a quick day either probably. Something to consider.

Never had an issue with any of my bags on the train. The only time anyone touches them is you ignore the signs and put them in the wheelchair area. There's an overhead rack for smaller items, and usually storage at the end of the car for larger bags. The biggest hassle is boarding without a real platform where you have to carry your bags up stairs. Don't know if Roanoke is like that. Quantico is, for instance. But if you're talking two people with a checked bag and carry-on each, shouldn't be a problem. If you're talking multiple full sized bags, that might be different...

I’m seeing this to Newark Penn. Not sure about EWR, but you don’t need the airport. Arguably the better hotels are in Newark, and you don’t have to deal with the Airtrain. It’s a long day, but something to consider.

176 & 66, apparently. Look to be direct with no changes. I’m a little surprised as well.