Shmoo here

10 hours ago, ontheweb said:

OK, my bad. Isn't there a law firm that does specialize in going after cruise lines? I guess I confused Elliot with them. 

You're probably thinking of Jim Walker.  He specializes in suing cruise lines.

9 hours ago, Canuker said:

If anyone has experienced a genuine muster call (not a check-in or drill), how did pan out?

Sort of.  4am in the morning we were awakened by the "7 short, 1 long" blast on the the ship's horn (in the middle of the Pacific).  Announcement in room said "get up, get dressed, and wait in your room for further instructions".  About 30 minutes later, announcement that there was a small "fire incident" in the engine room and "all is well now."

46 minutes ago, gometros said:

I think those are fading out. The majority of the cruises I have been on, all activity was on FB groups specific to the cruise. 

And, sadly, not everyone is on FB.  So, unless FE groups are set up  in a number places, people will miss out on them.

23 hours ago, MinnesotaDreamer said:

Most of the Fish Extender groups I have seen are organized on FB.

All of the FE groups I've participated in were organized on a Disney specific forum, and one here on Cruise Critic.

7 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

followed by the Rotterdam, the Zuiderdam and the Nieuw Statendam by the end of June,

Yay!! just in time for my cruise.

Definitely for size.  Prefer "smaller" ships (no more than 2300 passengers, 1800 is best number).  Age - not so much. Generally it's older ships that are smaller.

6 hours ago, Nebr.cruiser said:

I'd love to hear what this roundtrip cruise was like, especially if all the sea days was just too much and what the weather was like when at sea. 

I loved our Hawaii/Tahiti cruise a few years ago. I'd go again.  As for the weather, it just like anywhere, it can be good or bad.  Although we had great weather the whole cruise.  

Sea days, just another day.  Not "too much" for me.

3 hours ago, PhillyTravelBug said:

My mother and I have a September European cruise booked.she had mentioned the loyalty levels are just able to book their excursions and we don’t have the option until the end of June. Why does Disney release their excursions so late? I use NCL 90% of the time and they try selling them immediately. I’m thinking of just finding non-Disney excursions to get the planning process moving along.

DCL opens excursion reservations based on loyalty levels.  Highest level can book around 4 months out.  Not sure if there's any specific reason for opening them so late, but most other cruise lines where you can book, basically, as soon as you make a reservation also require payment for those excursions when you make the reservation.  DCL doesn't charge you for your excursions until you board the ship.  

On 3/21/2024 at 9:01 AM, Noledad77 said:

Been thinking about this for about a month - Are there any websites that specialize in cabin door or wall decorations? Is it just Amazon, since they literally have everything? I was thinking about baseball decorations, since my boys and I are all Braves fans, but I just looked and our cruise starts on the last day of games before the All-Star break, so it doesn't seem like it would be very "fitting". I'm actually kinda bummed that we won't get to watch more than 1 game during our cruise, but I digress... I'm thinking the answer is likely Amazon, but I wasn't sure if there was a niche website for decorations. Thanks, y'all!

I create my own.  Either find an image online or make one I want.  Print it on photo paper, and back it with self adhesive magnets I get from Michael's.  Of course, this is for those lines that will only allow magnetic decorations.

9 hours ago, freaky_82 said:

Yes you need to join a fb group specific to your cruise date. 

Fish extender gift exchanges are not a FB only product.  In fact, it started on another site for years before people on FB started claiming it.

19 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Per the Nieuw Amsterdam Captain last October, the Mariner Luncheons were currently being offered on cruises longer than 14 days.

 

As HAL continues to evolve away from the COVID restrictions, more luncheons should be occurring.

I hope there's one on our upcoming cruise.  We've attended at least one (maybe 2) in the past (pre-COVID) and they were really nice.

6 minutes ago, Casino4me said:

Royal Caribbean cruises! 

I'd suggest heading over to the Royal Caribbean forum and asking.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/51-royal-caribbean-international/

Or, possibly, there's information on the Royal Caribbean website regarding such offers you could check out.

21 minutes ago, Casino4me said:

Royal Cruise line. 

Only "Royal Cruise Line" I know of ceased operating in 1996.  

10 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

Congrats....4* (free laundry) on the next 'dam cruise.....

 

Here is the FAQ from the HAL website related to your question....

 

For all cruises except Grand Voyages, your elevated benefits will take effect on your next Holland America Line cruise. If you cross a star level threshold while on board a Grand Voyage (based on days sailed), you will be upgraded to your new star level for the remainder of that voyage.

 

What's a Grand Voyage?

1 hour ago, 2beagaliers said:

Just wondering how I go about setting up a meet and greet on Royal Princess

From the Princess forum:

and

1 hour ago, 1025cruise said:

I use my ad blocker to block the element.

Thank you, that's how I did it before.

Somehow I'm again seeing photos in the right hand column.  I can't remember how I got that to stop (a long time ago).  Can someone help?

1 minute ago, doghog said:

Who would be that dumb to throw a rubber duck in the toilet! Never mind. 🙃

From what I read, it happened in the kid's area.  Caused a big problem so they had to shut down half the kid's club for several cruises to do "improvements".

7 hours ago, 555 said:

Like that's not going to happen. 😄

This is a recent change.  They've had issues with ducks clogging the plumbing, and ending up in places they don't belong.  It's my understanding that the crew is directed to pick up any they see to be disposed of properly.  

On 3/4/2024 at 6:16 AM, 555 said:

What happens if you hide a duck on a Disney ship?

From the DCL prohibited items info:

• A Guest may bring rubber ducks onboard. However, pool toys (e.g., rubber ducks) cannot be used in the pools.
  
  Note: Guests cannot hide things, such as rubber ducks, in staterooms or public areas.

7 hours ago, SbbquilterUT said:

My passport has my maiden name shoved on the end of my first and it has never been noted.  Not to say it cannot happen but it has been that way for many years and it does not match my license but it has always been accepted.

On my passport my (original) middle name and maiden names are together (no spaces).  On my license it's first name, (original) middle name, maiden name, (married) last name.  All separate.  Never been an issue (yet).

41 minutes ago, clo said:

You "go in"?  I know for sure that I haven't done that in over 30 years. Maybe never. Curious why you do. I believe I've talked on the phone with my O TA maybe three times in as many years. Oh, and she works from home.

Mostly because we're not comfortable "sending" that much money over the phone to the TA who then has to call it in, or via email.

Actually the TA is only about 4 miles from our house, it's not a big deal to include a stop there when we head out for daily errands.

8 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

You do hope you are not putting your TA through that, and that he or she has their own contact at the cruise line that is knowledgeable and can be dealt with to get answers.

Possibly, but, for our upcoming cruise, we used a TA (don't usually do that, but the early booking and TA OBC were too enticing).  Every time we went in to make a payment, she would call the cruise line and just talk to whoever answered.  Our last visit (final payment) she got an airheaded employee and wound up repeating herself multiple times to get things finished.

8 minutes ago, dfish said:

I agree that the new format is a horrible idea.   In addition to all the unnecessary additions, mine is missing two ports.  They are still selling excursions for those ports, but they aren't listed on the itinerary.

 

@Shmoo here You have a good idea, but that is a lot of work for something that should be readily available.  I think they could have a web version and a print version.  Many sites do that.

Certainly.  But it fills my "me time" on my computer when I need something to do.

22 hours ago, Toad said:

I waitlisted for a July cruise and heard we cleared within a day or two.

We waitlisted for 2 different excursions on our July cruise, although we also went ahead and booked an excursion in both those ports.  One of them came through within 2 days.  Still waiting for the other one.