VMax1700

Pre booked taxi is about €125 from Amsterdam Schiphol airport to Rotterdam

Today on Nieuw Statendam is Jamaican Bread Pudding with warm vanilla rum sauce.....I'm wondering do they make it with blueberry croissants? 🙄

At any bar. Yes, you can get cans of soda too. With two key cards (with HIA) I have usually been given 4 cans at a time.

My post was not about the bad math, but more about the expectation of refund. There are a couple of other elements to consider, such as if you use a 'refund agency' then there will be an fee for the service. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that it is an EU vat refund system and not an European system, therefore the UK does not participate. I mention this as many cruisers will travel home with flights via UK (or cruise ending in UK port). There will be no factilities for the vat refund at UK airports as it must be done at the final departure point in EU.

What I would give for a 'school dinner' Jam Roly Poly (with custard) 😋

That is American tax maths but not European tax maths as the selling price in Europe includes taxes. So not €200 refund but €166.67 (at 20% vat rate). (I recognise you used dollar sign and mentioned "worth" but having tax inclusive prices does make the calculations slightly different).

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm bread puddingmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Official information here: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/guide-vat-refund-visitors-eu_en

I don't know what Shady Acres refers to (Google shows it as a 'watering hole' in Soho, Hong Kong!) 🤔, however if your suggestion implemented then the number of pings, rings and zings will increase substantially over the currently lowish volumes. If they already have text and calling via wifi then there is no necessity to use the vastly inferior onboard app.

As already mentioned, mixers do not count. We have done several cruises with HIA (Have It All) with the Signature drinks package. Even with cans of water, diet cokes, lattes etc wine at lunch and dinner and in between and a brandy or two before retiring, we have not hit 30 drinks between us. For any drink over the $11 limit you will be charged the overage plus gratuity on the overage.

Their email does confirm the addition of OBC to a specific cruise............

Last time we were there was 2022 and there were bus tours available at the port gate. Very reasonable. Here is an extract from the post..... Bus, which is just outside the port gates, across the road costs €15 per person. 30 minutes drive to the village, 2 hours free time and then 30 minutes back to katakolo. The guy I was speaking to, told me that he was the guide and he had excellent english.

Have a great cruise....our three musketeers in a bubble! 😁

My real question is: Why do most cruise lines have user unfriendly websites? Websites, that on the occasions that they do function, are difficult to navigate, are slow and clumsy.

Sorry, but when I go cruising I do not want to be surrounded by the sound of incoming messages. Keep the quiet system. It's not difficult to check manually, but an onscreen message would be acceptable (to me)

Here is a copy of the notice that we received and my comments at the time.

When booking private tours do remember that all passengers will be required to go through a face to face meeting with UK Border Force Agents before the disembarkation is permitted at your First entry port. Looking at your itinerary this will take place at Portree (Isle of Sky). If this (tender) port is cancelled because of weather/tide conditions then the F2F will take place at the next port. Do allow time for this when making plans. This can be very slow and take several hours.

Found the Daily Progam for the day of South Queensferry.

We were on a HAL cruise last year that overnighted at South Queensferry. As far as I remember the tender operations were suspended between 2am and 7am. I will have to go to my Live from thread to refresh the memory.......

In most ports in Europe you will need to carry your bag into the terminal yourself. Then they are taken from you. Even if you wanted to tip, there is no time. It is mostly a smooth operation and if you try to tip you are inconveniencing the person behind you. Again, please conside Europe as a 'Tip Free Zone'. Round up if you must, but forget your +15%, +20% and (how did it get to ......) +25% 🙄

That may be a good idea. Although there are elevators in Dun Laoghaire station, currently the south bound elevator is out of action. This is the one you would be using on your return journey. There is a taxi rank at the top of the road across from the station (Marine Road) it is an uphill walk to the taxi rank. Perhaps download the app that is used in Ireland "Free Now" for calling taxis. Here is a link to the Irish Rail webpage regarding Accessibility issues: https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/travel-information/accessibility-onboard-trains/lifts-and-escalators-reports

Cicar have an office in the port https://www.cicar.com/en/action/officeview/tenerife-cruising-port Monday to Friday hours are ok, but Saturday and Sunday they seem to have a long siesta, which may be problematic depending on sailaway time.

In which ports? I have never tipped at European ports. Never will. They are paid a proper rate and tipping is not the norm in Europe.

If you hover over the three dots at the top of your post and select 'report' you can ask the moderators to change the title. I have sent a report, but to change the title of the thread it may be better if you do it.

Debit cards have replaced cash payments.