VMax1700

The usual request from fellow Europeans is how to book in USD with US based travel agent as headline prices tend to be cheaper than headline prices in Europe. However, not only do you have exchange rate fluctuations and other exchange costs to deal with, you also tend to have less consumer protection by booking outside your own country/EU. Most cruise line websites accessed by European customers (without using a VPN) will be priced in Euros or possibly some in UK £. I know that sites that I access regularily (RCI, HAL, Celebrity, MSC, either quote and book in € (or have a dot eu website which quotes €). P&O and Fred Olson quote only in UK£. Are you looking at any specific cruises?

The perspective of someone from the 'no or very small' tipping culture area. Before our very first cruise (only 15 years ago!) very good friends had cruised a couple of times and recommended that we try it. They told us about the tips and the envelopes being delivered to the stateroom just before the end of the cruise, complete with a list of those who should be tipped. I said 'no way'. I am not handing money out to all those people! Several reason were in my head.......Why should I? I have paid for my vacation and why should I have to do this? (not our culture.) Also, how the **** am I going to find all these people on the last night to hand over these envelopes......I should be enjoying my final night and not having to go looking for various people to pay them. Anyway, when we booked our first cruise (it was on X, the cruise line, not the thing formerly known a Twitter!) the travel agent offered the option to pre pay tips. So, begrudgingly, I took that option. Imagine my confusion on the last night, when a stack of envelopes and recommended names where delivered to the stateroom. What do I do now? I found it very awkward. Fast forward three years to our first HAL cruise (2011) and tips (or whatever nomenclature is used) being added to the onboard account was magic. It is now a cost of the vacation and is just accepted as such by us. We certainly would never consider removing tips and we+ still give a little more to those who really look after us in a special way. Now if only we could simplify the other tipping nightmares that we dread when we go to USA. Taxis.....bellboy.......waiter......maitre d'........hotel housekeeping......staff at hotel buffet breakfast......etc, etc. We laughingly say.."who, what, when......why?", but that is only to hide our bewilderment.

Once again it is a very late 'Good Evening' from Cork. After our 'cold spell' earlier in the week, we have almost melted from the comparative warmth over the weekend. BBBBut, the met service has issued an ice, fog and snow warning for most of the country from Tuesday evening until Friday. Time to break out the thermal underwear. Thanks to everyone for the daily, and, have a great day, everyone.

A very late good evening from Cork. Actually it is just 4 minutes into Sunday morning here. We were up at silly o'clock this morning as DS was flying back to Vancouver via LHR. Currently, according to Flightradar24, his AC flight has just started its intial descent into YVR and is due to arrive in 22 minutes. Needless to say, we are missing him already. Hope that everyone has a great day (what is left of it!)

Good evening from Cork. Today was grey and cloudy but not as cold as previous days. It is DS's last day here before he returns to Vancouver tomorrow. We went for a meal this evening. There was 7 of us including 1 ginger (our son in law) but no one kissed him😁 I had fish cakes so I am posting food porn as I am trying to get to grips with a new tablet. OK it has rotated 90 ° clockwise. Will have to work that out. Hope everyone has a great day.

Killarney is a bit meh, these days. Without making a political post, can I just mention that Ireland has had a huge influx of immigrants in the last few years some from Ukraine and more from other non-eu countries. These people all require 'processing' and accommodations which are provided by the Irish Government. As the Government did not have available accommodations they pay various organisation for the accommodations, including hotel owners. The rate of payment is good enough that it pays hotel owners in seasonal areas to take in the immigrants in the off season and continue through the peak seasons. This has lead to a shortage of hotel accommodation in many parts of Ireland. Killarney being a major tourist town with a short peak season and having many hotels is one of the towns which has accepted many immigrants. As less tourists travel to the town it is having a knock on effect on other businesses, as the immigrants do not have available cash or interest to keep the local businesses open. Personnally, we have a very favourte hotel in Killarney were we go to celebrate special birthdays and even just for a nice weekend........we have not gone there in over a year now. Perhaps consider somewhere other than Killarney?

This will probably be made easier because everyone onboard will be required to clear UK Immigration before the ship is cleared in Dover. UK Border Force requires that all passengers present to Immigration Officers for a Face to Face clearance! Also Dover is a normal transit port so there will be plenty of both customs and immigration facilities available. If you are travelling on a UK passport then it would probably be even easier. I have no idea about Australian Passports. Do you have the 'right' to enter UK, or do you need visas? After that it is necessary to get approval from HAL and ensure you have it in writing!

What ship was that? When? The tenders are ship's tenders and if one breaks down it is bound to cause logistics problems as there will not be any spare capacity. Sorry about the sun.......it doesn't happen very often!😉

20 minutes. Walk straight along McCurtain Street, and turn left down over St Patrick's Bridge and into St. Patrick's Street.

A really quick 'Hello and good evening' from Cork. The day has just flown by from first thing this morning when I took DS for his second dental appointment and currently I am sitting in my car with the tablet reading The Daily and posting as I wait for DGD to exit the theatre after tonights Panto performance. Hope that everyone has a great day!

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. There is another thread about them being charged to the account or not.

Test post 2 Screenshot from navigator Leave 2 line space

Test posting pdf menu saved as screenshot

Wow, has today gone quickly. Just realised that at 10.30 pm today I was in danger of missing a daily post, so, Good evening from Cork. Today was a better day on the weather front and should not get any worse until Sunday! Thanks everyone for the updates and posts. Hugs to those that need them, and two hugs for those that think they don't need them, Hope you are having a great day!

If you are a Spanish Citizen/Spanish Passport holder then you do not need a visa, but you need to apply online for ESTA (Visa Waiver) https://es.usembassy.gov/es/esta-programa-de-exencion-de-visado/ https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/esta Make sure you apply through the official website.

I think I posted this already on a previous thread, but in Europe the price of adding HIA has increased to €65 per day, which is about US$72 and CAD95. I had thought that a work around was to wait until onboard and purchase it then using OBC, but now they have increased the USD price when purchasing it onboard by USD10 per day.

I have never rented from them, but they are a legitimate business. Also do note that car rental in very, very expensive in Ireland, specially for 1 day rentals. Insurance costs are horrendous and rentals are high risk as we drive on the 'wrong side' of the road for a lot of renters. Another option would be to take the train to Cork city and rent from Hertz, which is located very close to the train station.

Good afternoon from Cork. Well now, after reading all the posts about storms, tornados, huge falls of rain, imminent storms and snow, I think I will stay quiet and just say that I can live with the weather we have😁 I was on DGD after school run today, so we are sitting here admiring their energy. Wish we had some of it. Have a great day everyone!

Oooops! just found 6 laminated ones in our travel folder! Mea Culpa!

No. All wine is subject to $20 per bottle corkage. Its still good value for a good quality wine compared with onboard prices.

Do you remember not being able to see through the window because it was frozen on the inside? Better insulation is good, but global warming is bad.

Just found their webpage! https://escapewitheffy.com/

Thanks so much for posting this information.

I think that code is the actual voyage number, so in a way it is dated.

Good afternoon from Cork, Currently it is 3°C/37°F but with wind chill it feels like -1°C/33°F. Overnight it was -5°C/23°F. I thought it cold until I read of @ger_77 and the -23° in frozen tundra! I just could not handle that level of cold. There was black ice on the roads this morning so chaos ensued. We (as a nation) just cannot handle freezing conditions on the road. DW went for her tests this morning and initial results are good. Her BP has returned to normal and the ECG looks good. We will hear later in the week for the official result. Next on the list was taking DS to the dentist for his checkover and any necessary work. He says that the prices here are at least 50% lower than in Vancouver. Shame he forgot to take his wallet with him 🙄. Ya just can't beat sponsored dental work 🥲 That's it from me. Hope everyone has a great day!