VMax1700

There is a luggage depot at MIA where you can leave your luggage and then take a taxi to the beach or Dolphin Mall. There used to be a shuttle from MIA to Dolphin Mall but I don't know if it is still running.

Further south of Dublin there is Powerscourt, who have clubs available. This could be a 'couple day' as Powerscourt is a beautiful place to spend some time. https://powerscourtgolfclub.com/ and Druids Glen https://www.druidsglenresort.com/index.html Druids Glen had club hire ok, but that was a few years ago that I was there. To the north of Dublin is Howth Golf club (club hire available) https://www.howthgolfclub.ie/home-page/ and also, Luttrellstown Castle golf course (club hire available) https://www.luttrellstowncastle.com/golf/the-course/services-facilities/ here is a link to a teetime booking site, which lists a lot of courses availabe for pay per play green fees. https://www.teetimes.ie/courserates.php

Will you be in Dublin Port or Dun Laoghaire? Dun Laoghaire Golf Club (parkland) offers green fees and club hire. You can make a booking online https://www.dunlaoghairegolfclub.ie/Visitors/Green_Fees Maybe some of your other ports would be closer to a nice Links course. We can arrange as much wind and rain as you need 😉

It is worse on a Sunday! During the week it is ok.

Is that the Apex cruise departing Amsterdam on May 14th? The itinerary shows an overnight in Cobh on the night of May 17th (arrive May 17 depart May 18 evening). The Port of Cork schedule shows Apex docked in Cobh (but only on 17th 🙄). An earlier Apex cruise that is shown as being in Cork on 2nd and 3rd of May (again overnighting), but strangely, shows May 2nd at Cobh and May 3rd at Ringaskiddy. However the Apex itinerary only lists May 2nd for Cork. I think the Port schedule is still a 'work in progress' .

Although we had noticed it on previous visits, neither of us can remember seeing it in June 2022.

No you don't! You only get the points when you spend the pre purchased credit.

I was referring to the fact that there was a table full of confiscated soda and water. As to the LaCroix on the table, we have no way of knowing how many cans the cruiser was trying to take onboard. Yes, the security personnel may have been in error, but just as possible that someone turned up with a substantial quantity of La Croix cans, and security relieved them of some. I don't know how or why, but I am pleased that they are not ignoring the rules.

In cans or cartons. Plastic water bottles are not allowed. Nor are sodas. Post #7 has the details. The PE personnel that day apparently understood HAL's permitted water policy and enforced it.

Another thing to take into consideration is that Dun Laoghaire is a tender port, so you will need to factor that into your planned timeline. You could take the DART (local train) from Dun Laoghaire to Dublin (Pearse Street station) which is very close to Trinity College. Purchase DART tickets in Dun Laoghaire station. Credit cards ok. Here is a map of where the ship's tender comes ashore (marked with X) and location of the DART station.

Yes, I have phoned a few times. The number from outside USA is +1 206 626 7381 (DW and I both have a 200 minutes of International calls per month included in our package) I always send the stockholder request to Holland America UK (enquiries@hollandamerica.co.uk) They are always prompt and send a new Booking Confirmation showing the additional OBC. Perhaps if you email HAL UK and ask about upsell too?

That is the name that I was trying to remember. Not Rascals but Rogues!

Are these guys replacing Jukebox Rascals (??) who appeared on mainstage previously doing 50/60's songs and Frankie Valli ?

What's in a name? Well, it was known at the Queen's Lounge previously, and then BB Kings Blues club and now Rolling Stone Lounge. I was on Oosterdam last year when the rebranding started. The band playing was much more rock oriented than previous BBK. The male singer was seriously into Jim Morrison music. There was no horn section, which sets BBK apart. To me it was disappointing that BBK was no longer on the ship as I nearly always enjoyed their music. You are right in that there was little if any B.B.King Music, but the soul, RnB, funk was an eclectic mix.

That is correct. BB King was replaced with Rolling Stone Lounge on Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam.

I would like to see a Madeira + Canary Islands and Cape Verde itinerary. Probably achievable sailing from Lisbon or Cadiz.

So much for the 'rumour' about 'Starlink' being the answer 🙄

It's your crappy wifi 🤫

and English and Dutch!

This is from last year, but it was June 2022.

Butlers Buses are well recommended for tours from Cobh: https://www.butlers-buses.com/cobh-shore-excursion.php Alternatively the train station is just adjacent to the quayside and a 30 minute train ride to Cork City. Another option is to stay in Cobh, which is a lovely visit on a sunny day! Visit the Titanic Experience, which is located on the building site of the White Star Line's ticket office. https://www.titanicexperiencecobh.ie/ Or take a trip to Spike Island from Cobh https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/

Fishy, Fishy. Probably need to pre book if during high season. Dino's chipper (as mentioned by @phabric) has good hot food: fish, chips, etc. Try their 'potato pie', DW recommends it! Many of the smaller restaurants have been forced to close because of the huge increase in costs and the shortage of both skilled and unskilled labour. The Trident hotel, (short walk along quay side) has excellent seafood chowder and sandwiches, or a lunch special (roast beef etc).

Both Iceland and Ireland have multiple ports which welcome cruise ships. Perhaps you would get a more focused response if you mentioned the particular ports you will be visiting.

Not.

I believe they use 'Lavazza Blue' pods.