DS has a smart phone, I don't (and don't want one). Can he download needed info for both of us to his phone?

Thanks for the answers. I didn't see it online and now it looks like it's just gone away. Darn!

I used to be able to buy a card for $25 that was good for $50 worth of soda onboard - if you bought it in advance. It was $50 if you bought it onboard. Does anyone know if it's still available?

43 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

You could use a battery powered blanket.   Here is one.   

Cozee Battery Powered Heating Blanket with Surge Technology

 

 

Read 2 Reviews  | Write a Review

Item #:

860000383905

 

Price:

$349.99

 

 

 

Amazon has some for less than 1/2 the price - battery operated and/or usb charged Also shawls &  socks.

I, too, miss KK and send my regards.

11 minutes ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

I broke down in tears when I saw her in the channel -- safely home.

Me, too. I didn't know I was so caught up in this.

Come on over to the roll call - hopefully it will become more active as the cruise gets closer: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2700185-november-17-2020-zaandam-32-days-south-pacific/

Yes, Rowsby, it looks like it - Thank you very much!

I think it was in the last year or so that there was a thread about people being denied entry to Canada with a record (even misdemeanors, DUI). I'm not having any luck with the Search function. Anyone able to help? I don't need a repeat of the thread just want to find it,

This is from my blog for our 2012 transit (prices are probably higher now - this is to show how the cost is calculated):

... a reservation to go through the canal... costs $25,000... In addition to the reservation fee, the ship/line pays $134 per occupied berth (bed), $108 per unoccupied berth. That’s for everyone, passengers, crew, officers, staff. For this ship, that’s more than a quarter million dollars if every berth is occupied: 1260 passengers + 580 crew= 1840 * 138 = 253,920 + 25,000 reservation fee = $278,920. This amount is divided among the passengers.

We sailed with The Nation group on board last December (Odam). Barely knew they were there, only by their IDs hanging around their necks. Not a large number, obviously intelligent, not militant. They were friendly and courteous whenever I talked to them. Their activities were not posted and they met in out-of the way rooms during the day. Don't know how they affected dining - we had early fixed. I'd have no problem sailing with them again.

The thing is, there used to be many activities catering to a variety of interests, moods, demographics, etc. When my (adult) sons and I started cruising (on HAL) they would find activities that interested them while I went off to something else. Often each of us had to choose between things we wanted to do, always something interesting to do or see. Mix and mingle with others who enjoyed the same things we each did. But so many of these activities were not revenue producing which targeted them for elimination in favor of things that do bring in the bucks. I find I do not look forward to cruising anymore - the "specialness" is gone and I think the only way to (perhaps) find it again is to try other lines.

Although it's 5 years old, my PC transit journal is still up on the inet. There are detailed entries for Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Quetzal, and Cartagena of what we did. http://www.bcdenterprises.net/PCcruise/

We have taken to buying OBC to avoid giving them a credit card to which they can charge things we never used/did (mini bar, etc.) after we leave the ship. We buy an amount that when added to any "gifted" OBC is sufficient to cover the hold amount. ("Gifted" is used up first.) On the last day, they refund any unused OBC we bought.

On the Eurodam in November 2015, we received a notice that we needed to give them a credit card number anyway. We explained, they insisted, but we never gave a cc#, and, as planned, got back a big chunk of money on the last day.

On the Oosterdam in December 2016, when we went to get our refunds, the person we talked to walked away then came out of the office and waited on someone else - several people in fact. We kept asking about our refunds and were ignored. Finally we got our money at which point they told us they had to get approval to refund our money. Don't know if it was because it was a large (? - only $400) amount or what.

... contained custom-made Lego models of the MS Amsterdam. No kidding. Puzzles, so to speak. Somethingthat has to be constructed with careful reading of the instructions. Our kidsgrew up with Legos, but this must be an adult hobby as well. We will have to ask Aart, our Dutch buddy,who is an expert on everything Lego, as this is up his alley. A unique gift for sure, it did get a chucklefrom both of us.

Legos, an adult activity? Oh, yes! My dear son has been a Lego aficionado for more than 40 years. He sells his own creations on Etsy - mostly Lego jewelry (more than 100) and spherical ornaments (more than 50)! He would "die for" a Lego model of a HAL ship (we've done about 7-8 cruises) - would be great if they sold these in the ship's shops (or online).

There's usually an anniversary sale in April.

In the past few years there's been an anniversary sale in April. Last year we got free HSC and a $100 beverage card. The year before that we got $100 OBC each and free dinners in the PG.

I think that the results are shared and it does impact the crew.

 

More and more I am coming across these surveys from different companies and the staff that served me are telling me that on a scale of 1 - 10, only a 10 matters. Anything less than a 10 is seen negatively.

 

It is sad to see that many large companies have such useless practices in place.

This is why I almost never to fill out surveys. If there are truly only 2 choices that matter, then don't bother giving me the options of 2-9

.

We also compared our older pins to the current one's and the current one's are much thinner. Less weight for packing;)

And the lighter weight ones are better for:

We usually ask if we can get a drink instead. This doesn't help if you happen to have a beverage package, but we've never accidentally pricked ourselves with a free drink. ;)

Made me remember something from our last cruise. The trivia topic was coffee. No one on our team drank coffee and everyone said they didn't know much about coffee. Wouldn't you know it... we won! And the prize? Any coffee item from the Explorations cafe :D (they let us get soda instead.)

I've seen vicious verbal arguments break out at team trivia, as well as verbal abuse heaped on the cruise director :eek:; it's just a game folks

One of the posts on this topic said there wasn't much of any budget for prizes, but I also wonder if one reason for (or perhaps benefit of) "uninteresting" prizes is that it tones down the competitiveness - at least for those for whom "interesting" prizes might be the motivation.

I remember signing a release form...

What happens if you don't sign the release form? Are you restricted from areas of the ship?

I may be the only person, but I don't want to be in films.

All of the above! :D

Flew in on same day, over packed, over-ate, inside cabin, did my own laundry on board (no laundry service at that time), believed "no tipping required" = "don't tip".

BUT, the first cruise is the magical cruise, the one that hooks you. All that service, pampering, good food, entertainment, every port is new and fresh to you.

Well, my TA has asked Holland America the question about booking an inside cabin for sleeping, and the answer was what we expected....2 cabins in one name is not possible!

Just curious - does anyone know why this is not allowed? I can book 2 rooms in a hotel in my name; someone who is quite large can book 2 seats on a plane. Is there a law? Is it just policy?

Will you have a blog with pictures for this cruise?

We've done well by booking during the anniversary sale in April.

In 2015 we got OBC of $100 each and a dine-around package (free Tamarind and Canaletto dinners; suite pax also got PG).

In 2016, we got free HSC for each of us and 2 $50 beverage cards.

Cabin costs (verandah) were good and only went up from the time we booked.