sparks1093

Not if they also reduce what is expected of each cleaning. For example, in the before days they cleaned to a checklist containing 90 items and rooms were serviced twice a day (and note the second "cleaning" was really just a freshening of the cabin, making the bed, replacing towels, etc.). Now they're checklist has been reduced to 50 items so they can clean each cabin in less time, allowing them to clean all of their assigned cabins within the allowed time. The problem with this paradigm is that if someone gets sick they can't get a new staff member by calling Kelly Services, they have to make do with what they have and if enough people are ill it can really mess with the schedule. (As for the checklist containing 90 items, that's a made up number but I did see such a list once that listed the items a steward was expecting to pay attention to on every cabin and it might not have equaled 90 but it was an extensive list.)

I cruise to spend time with my family, the cruise is only a backdrop to that. So in my mind they've all been great.

There is a difference between "attrition planning" and "trying to get rid of", and the OP's question are the cruise lines trying to actively get rid of seasoned cruisers. Any business is going to be aware that they continually need to attract new customers because no customer lasts forever.

I think cruise lines are making adjustments based on staffing issues and supply chain issues while trying to recover from being shut down for a couple of years.

Thank you for the clarification, the article sounded too pat the way it was. I have worked as a bar back once, which sounds very similar to what is described, and I was an hourly employee of the land based establishment where I worked. I received no tips from any of the bartenders and while I tried to provide the same service to all, the ones that got my absolute best were the ones that treated me as a human being. Of course there are bar backs out there who do share in the tips in one fashion or another since each establishment may handle it differently.

Agreed. It would be more critical for a flight since TSA is pickier about such things. I would start the correction process now in any event since it needs to be resolved and it might be corrected by sailaway time. Someone made an excellent point about Social Security card and if the name is spelled correctly there I would bring it along if the BC isn't fixed.

We both do but DW is a tetris master with fitting everything in.

With 5 boys to raise vacationing consisted of tents and campfires. Our first non-camping vacation was a road trip to DC when most of them were teens. Everyone behaved and we had a great time, so vacationing options started to expand. A friend at work started talking about a cruise he was going on and I mentioned it to DW, saying something like "I've always wanted to cruise". She said "me too, but I figured you wouldn't be interested since you were in the Navy." I told her I didn't think she'd be interested because she was afraid of water. So we talked about it and we were concerned about our middle son who is on the autism spectrum. We decided to do a short cruise for just us. Found a 2 night CTN out of Boston on NCL that fit the bill and we both fell in love. The weather sucked, the service was slow, but we knew that we loved being on the ship. We then booked a 4 nighter out of Miami for the 7 of us. We drove from Vermont to Miami. The kids had a blast. We haven't looked back. Leaving in 22 days and we have cruises booked for 2024 and 2025.

I've never experienced a problem with fluctuating water pressure or temperature on any of the ships/lines that we've been on (3 lines, 9 ships). Any portly comedian/CD will tell the joke that they just soap up the walls and spin.

I believe that it's the same price as through Funshops, if my memory isn't tripping me up and what I've read is accurate. The delivery fee will be the same either way, not sure if sales tax would be charged for a Funshop purchase. (ETA- just did a faux order for our upcoming cruise out of NOLA, $9.95 for the 12 500ml bottles of water and $1.80 delivery fee, no tax.)

Exactly this. They do sell bottles of water through Funshops that you can order before hand to be in your cabin. Not as good a deal as it used to be but still not too bad pricewise (last I checked anyway). We have Cheers this time around so we'll just grab water from a bar until we have enough to take ashore with us (which is the only time that we use bottled water).

Actually the last line of the Note: says that it applies to the theater for evening performances.

If you are evacuated from the ship it will likely be done by a government authority (like the Coast Guard) and there probably won't be a charge for that. However, this won't apply if you are hospitalized in a port and need a medevac flight to return to the US (or if the medevac from the ship takes you to a hospital on an island and then you need a medevac from there). Repatriation of remains is also an expense that is covered by most medevac coverage. Another thing that I forgot to say in my previous reply is even with medical insurance the hospital is going to want payment up front and then you will file for reimbursement. A lot of people think that it's fine if you have coverage, but that might not be the case.

I get travel insurance because while I could "eat" the loss of the cost of the cruise it's nice to know that I'll get that money back so I can either take another cruise or use it to help pay for what caused me to miss the cruise. I've priced plans with just medical/medevac coverage and then with the travel cost added and it doesn't increase the premium by that much.

I've always brought food back to the cabin from the buffet regardless of cruise line. Other than that room service is the only way to avoid a line. Excursions leave at different times and people have different plans so there may not be as many leaving early as you suppose.

Bet! We can't wait. DW just went into dress shopping mode.

It's been fun following along. We'll be on Glory before too much longer and you helped to pass the time.

As I understand it she only needs to show her green card to check in, it is acceptable for use on a closed loop cruise. Both documents have her picture on it as well. If a country on the itinerary needs to see her passport it would need to be presented at check in to show she has it. I would say call the cruise line to be sure, but the customer service reps only follow a script that probably won't be helpful.

If there is a medical issue of any kind, regardless of a person's age, they will need to receive said care locally and will need to be stabilized before being allowed to travel which can take a day or two. During that time arrangements can be made for the eventual return trip (and again, these arrangements will not be done by the passenger). If someone is concerned about the level of medical care available in the area being traveled then it's probably not a good idea for them to go there in the first place. Whether or not to get a passport is always going to be a judgement call based on the traveler's particular situation. OP hasn't enlightened us about mom's health status but many of us have said that this is the main consideration. If the OP is comfortable traveling without a passport for mom for a 5 day cruise then there is nothing else anyone can say about it.

This calculator might help. https://cruisespotlight.com/drink-package-calculator/

That's a judgement call only she can make and it affects only her and her mom.

I've done it both ways and haven't noticed any change in the service. What does affect our service is how we treat the waitstaff/bartenders as fellow human beings and engage them as such.

Nope, you don't have to be a US citizen to have a Real ID, you only need to be in the country legally. The system was set up to make ID's in general more secure and harder to counterfeit.

Absolutely false. The passenger doesn't actually do anything, the cruise line works things out with their CBP liaison. See post #5 in this thread as one instance.

Yes, that's why I pointed out that her health should be considered in making this decision. And you said "a passport would be needed" and that isn't the case. A government official would have to approve it, yes, but that isn't the same as a passport. If I were traveling with my 89 year old mother (which I can't since she's gone) whether or not I got her a passport for this itinerary would very much depend on how often she needs medical attention, especially on an emergent basis.