Potstech

7 hours ago, kpgibbs said:

No one said you have to participate.  A lot of people find this to be a fun activity.  Nothing wrong with it.  I see no need in putting these people down for their fun activity.  

Might be a good idea to look at the context of the comment. Never said anything wrong with it.

Be aware that in some places a passport CARD is not valid if a passport is required. It says the card is good for entry into  Caribbean countries which is a falsehood as several countries there require a passport BOOK. Do not think they are the same as they are not.  Friends found out the hard way when they were denied boarding on a partial Panama cruise having just the card. As has been stated the BOOK is the standard.

You travel at your own risk without.  Accidents happen even to those in good health.

Talk about needing a life.

Either a Hot Toddy or a mulled Wine if they can make them

3 hours ago, DCThunder said:

There is no downside to having a valid passport.  The scare stories of last summer about how long the processing of the application takes are long gone, so just get the passport.

 

 

I just renewed mine. They received it April 1 and I got it May 4. No problem.

The Travel gold standard is the Passport. The heart ache of getting refused at the port is not enjoyable. If you have one you do not have to worry at all.

I will not book a cruise if I can not pick my cabin. This is sacrosanct. Not negotiable. Written in stone.

How would the ship know or care what you did on shore as long as you behave onboard?  They are not the smell police or the shore behavior  monitors.

Only you can determine if it is worth it. Yes you can buy individual and 4 device accounts. The single is 24.95 pp.

And how do they find out if a ship is fully functional before signing up or boarding?

You will bet to see three locks in full opening and closing as you travel to Gatum Lake.  There is then a ferry excursion that will take you thru the other locks to the Pacific Ocean where you will be put on a bus back to the ship which has gone back thru to locks.  This is on a Partial transit of the locks.  Hope this helps.

You can not leave the ship in the canal area unless on a ships excursion.

Plus you are also paying crew who have never served you in any way on your current cruise. No one is being " punished".

It is cheaper and quicker to just use a taxi to get to the port at anytime.

If doing a land tour I would do it first then the cruise with as much time in ports possible. It would be SB for us.

2 hours ago, memoak said:

What you cannot do is exchange soft drinks for alcohol   Just try to say take away the e cokes and sprites and exchange for whiskey 

Did it on the Enchanted on my last cruise just a few months ago. Why is it always push the alcohol for some people?

For the mini bar you DO NOT have to exchange alcohol for alcohol or soft drinks for like. You get a total of 20 items and you can exchange them for any 20 items they have available. Last cruise I exchanged ours for 2 whiskeys and 9 cokes and 9 sprites with no problem. Just call room service to make the changes you desire.

On some of the fhimg excursions if you catch a salmon they will send it to the ship where you can have it for dinner. Only certain excursions are allowedto do this.  Can not get any fresher than that on a cruise ship.

No as the cruise line has already extracted the tip from my wallet in the crew appreciation charge.

For many of us without a drink packages we have better things to do than watch someone drink on average 10 drinks a day.  Especially when they seem to indicate others should follow their example. I wonder how many actually ask or even have knowledge you have left over drinks unless you tell them.

And sometimes people think if you do not due it their way then you must be depriving the hard working crew of some thing that they never had in the first place. Oh well some people and their money.

3 hours ago, memoak said:

So you stiff all the waiters and bartenders in restaurants on land. ?  If so I would not go to the same restaurant very often. Back in the day funny things would be done back in the kitchen. We tip a good deal and I will guarantee you that I will get better made drinks served quicker than you 

Wrong. Waiters and bartenders on land do not work for a company that has already accepted gratuities for there service. I tip as I find appropriate on land. If a land base establishment charges an automatic gratuity then I do not tip any extra. Sorry it does not meet your approval but I really do not care.

5 hours ago, CRUISEWITHH said:

I had mentioned it before that they should have one elevator marked for disabled travelers who use mobility scooters, walkers or just canes.  It does not have to go empty but if a disabled traveler is waiting then others on that elevator should exit to make room for the disabled traveler.

As if that is going to happen by some people.

By the way I agree with one be for disabled travelers.

I will not pay any extra tips other than the automatic gratuity charged. I would have to outstanding service in order to do so.  Sorry but I will not subsidize a salary contracted for by individual.

Bringing on the ship probably no problem. Taking it off is a totally different story.

Look at Cave tubing.