BruceMuzz

A Suite on the RMS Titanic was around 300 square feet in size. Not so different from a Suite on an upscale cruise today.

No Aircon, no WIFI, no television, no telephone.

When the Titanic was built in 1912,  the average American earned US$300 per year.

A Suite on the Titanic - for the 3 day Atlantic crossing - was just under US$4,000 per person.

Dinner for Suite Passengers was not included in the fare.

Nightly dinners in the First Class Restaurant - better known as "The Ritz Restaurant" - averaged US$100 per person.

On ‎4‎/‎4‎/‎2018 at 9:02 PM, ransrider said:

Royal's Pacific coastal cruises always sell out quickly so I find it hard to believe they wouldn't continue offering the itinerary.

 

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Any Pacific coastal cruises sell out quickly - because very few are offered.

If they sell out so quickly, why don't cruise lines offer more?

Easy answer. They are not very profitable.

• The goofy tree-hugger environmental laws on the West Coast require us to use very expensive fuel.
• Seas and weather on the West Coast are not very friendly most of the time.
• West Coast cruisers spend less money onboard than almost any other itineraries.
• West Coast port charges are higher than just about any other itineraries.
• Offering more ships on the West coast would drive down fares and wipe out any chance of profitability.

Your ship will not use a birth, but it will use a berth.

No matter where you go along the Hiroshima waterfront, you will be able to see the only cruise ship in the port.

That will be your ship.

If you need to communicate that to a Japanese person, the Japanese words for cruise ship are クルーズ船, pronounced kuruzu sen.

If you need to communicate the words to a Japanese person, you should print this:

私はクルーズ船に行きたい watashi wa kuruzu sen ni ikitai

I want to go to the cruise ship

I believe that the tour is essentially being conducted by a Japanese person.

Somebody else here will tell you that the tour will be walking on the left side of the sidewalk, Japanese style.

You can continue getting confusing answers here from posters guessing the answer - or you could just contact the people selling the tours. They can give you the real answer.

There are many cruise lines that still offer all those special touches that the cruise industry has always been famous for. You only need to pay for them.

If you want to take a cheap cruise on a mass market Walmart-style cruise line, those touches will be missing. Those cruise lines have been forced to do that in order to give you the cheapest possible cruise and still make a profit. 

If you can afford to take a cruise on an upscale ship, you will not be missing anything.

On ‎3‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 3:51 AM, evandbob said:

People moan about smoking, chair hogs, cutting in line, underaged kids where they shouldn't be, etc., but I rarely see this topic addressed.  I'm talking about cruisers re-using cups or filling their personal water bottles or Yeti Bubba Cup at the buffet juice, coffee or water dispensers.

 

The worst is when someone inserts the dispensing nozzle right into the mouth of their water bottle.  Great way to spread germs, jeez!  I've seen this on all the lines I've sailed so far from Carnival to Celebrity.  And the only time staff seem to care is after a noro outbreak.

 

I stopped using these dispensing machines years ago and have bottled water delivered to my cabin.  When I want coffee I can get it at the breakfast or brunch MDR or the coffee shop.  I just shake my head at so many pax doing something so gross without a care in the world.

You have obviously realized by this point that the cruise line you are sailing on carries a large number of people raised by wolves, who are not very clean nor polite.

There are hundreds of ships and dozens of cruise lines that carry people who behave better than the ones you are encountering.

You could continue to suffer with these people on your present cruise line,  and complain over and over with no improvement.

Or you could choose a better cruise line, avoid these issues, and have a happier life.

Of course, some people really enjoy complaining.

If you, by chance, are one of those - don't change anything.

On ‎10‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 8:07 AM, MSW117SL said:

Yes, each cruise line has different policies. But I am thinking the customs is the same for all. Sounds like the US doesn't charge a tax by bringing wine in for the cruise - correct?  Thanks for all your help. 

You are planning to carry wine from Canada onto a foreign flag ship (not American). American Customs officials have no jurisdiction over it. When the ship enters US waters, the wine is still on a foreign flag ship - technically it is not in the USA. The only time US Customs would possibly get involved would be if you tried to take the wine ashore in a US Port.

7 hours ago, Floridastorm said:

Since the only two cruises we are interested in unfortunately depart from China and apparently do not qualify for this 144 hour exemption, we will find other cruises that depart from outside China. I don't believe in jumping through hoops and paying money I don't have to just to get on a specific itinerary. I'm really not interested in seeing anything that China has to offer that would make me go out of my way to see it. Just my personal preference. Loads of cruises out of Singapore where American tourists are welcomed with open arms and where no visa is required. Thanks for the info. It's appreciated.

These hoops and extra money you are paying are a direct reaction and result to the even greater amount of hoops and money required by the US Government for Chinese citizens who want to visit the USA. It is called "reciprocity". You can thank your own government for this nonsense.

If you Google it, you will receive this information:

Hanoi in North Vietnam has the best silks, silk clothing, and silk shoes at the lowest prices in Asia.

They also have the best lacquerware.

But if you choose to sail Alaska, Vancouver to Vancouver, you will be sailing the inside passage most of the time - where the nearest land is just a few yards away.

On ‎3‎/‎14‎/‎2005 at 1:18 AM, sandytoesrose said:

We were soooo disappointed to find that Carnival had switched to the hockey puck hashbrowns sometime after our '99 cruise and that's what they served us on our '01 cruise. We haven't been on a Carnival cruise since then, but are giving them another try later this year. This is the first time I've heard anyone else discuss this one little change, but going the fast food route says volumes about the lowering standards of cruiselines.

Booking cruises on cheap mass market cruise lines and worrying about the quality of something as plebian as hash browns says volumes about the low standards of people.

On ‎2‎/‎4‎/‎2019 at 11:47 PM, PittsburghNative said:

Thanks for the replies! Oddly enough, I have looked at 3 post-cruise tours from three different vendors and none of them accept USD. I assume I can just pay CAD currency with a US credit card?

When I disembark a ship in America, I use US dollars to pay for things.

When I disembark a ship in Canada, I use Canadian dollars to pay for things.

It shows respect for people when you bother to use their currency in their country.

Its very simple. you should try it.

You cannot afford to pay for an economy hotel room near the airport?

Japan, Canada, Mexico, England, and Turkey have all issued travel warnings to their citizens considering a visit to the USA.

Will you consider cancelling your traveling there as well?

It will be the most expensive frozen fish you have ever eaten.

Yes, there is one set up in the Osanbashi Terminal when cruise ships arrive.

In Japan you can find the same service at "Kombini", the convenience stores that are on nearly every street corner in the cities: 7-11, Family Mart, Sunkus, 3Fs, etc. They are all open 24 hours.
 

Just like America and other developed countries, things in Japan are expensive.

Vietnam and Thailand, like other developing countries, are less expensive.

3 hours ago, avian777 said:

 

IMO pork also needs "to be really cooked" to avoid trichinosis.

If you do a bit of research, you will discover that nearly every pork producer in America - and virtually every cruise ship on earth - freeze pork meat according to USPH standards (-20 Celsius minimum for 7 days or longer) which kills trichinosis and other dangerous parasites.

12 hours ago, dyeadave said:

To the OP on this thread, yes you can usually book a tour "at the dock" , here in Alaska. Of course, they may just be booking agents, like they are, here in Skagway, so they will be   getting their commission before they hand you off to someone that they are contracting with to actually do the tour.

The best way for you to deal direct with a tour provider might be to look up the visitor bureau in each port where you will be stopping and they give a somewhat unbiased list of  tour providers in that particular port.

Otherwise you might find them thru reviews on Trip Advisor or even from comments here on Cruise Critic.

If you contact them, ask them directly if they are the actual tour provider or just an agent? 

 

NOw, a special note to the poster just above.

In my home town of Skagway, anything with wheels on it, that is picking up passengers from the cruise ships, has to have a mandatory minimum of 1.5 million of liability insurance, before they can even be inspected for DOT compliance!

So, some  of those truly local people, running their 14 pax and under vans, are staying under ten thousand dollars for their six months operating costs, just for the liability insurance!

Before illness forced me to turn over my business to trusted family members, I was paying somewhere north of 15k for said insurance for six months operating, because when you go over 15 pax, or you go into Canadian territory, it is required that you have 5 million coverage on each vehicle!

So please,  Mr. Bruce Muzz, before you start the generalized scare tactics re.gambling, etc., check for some local facts first and meanwhile you will find lots of opportunities to gamble/get lucky on that floating casino on which you may arrive at one of our SE Alaska ports.

If I am ever bound to return to the Orient, I will check in with you,  so that I won't risk being shanghied while in that area of the world..........

Meanwhile, while I am in my mandatory retirement, we may meet on the pier where they are going to allow me to still meet and greet the prebooks arriveing for their adventures in our town.

Well put - except that my ship does not have a casino.

It is true that there are many very reliable and responsible tour operators waiting on the pier in Alaska and other places.

Over 90% of my guests who purchase local tours from independent operators save money and have a safe and enjoyable time.

It is the 10% or so who have problems with unscrupulous tour operators who get my attention.

They encounter any number of problems - some minor, some major - and then come back to the ship and expect me to sort it out for them. Sadly, I cannot.

9 in 10 odds are pretty good for a successful, safe shore tour.

If I were a gambler, I might just take the chance.

5 hours ago, Oliversgrandma said:

Hi jk.  The email from Celebrity says "limited free public bus transportation will be provided by the Tokyo port authority to Shinagawa station.   Guests must hand carry their luggage aboard the bus as luggage compartments are not available on public transportation.  Local taxis will be allowed access to the pier but supply may be limited due to the Japan Golden Travel Week".  

It would be difficult using the public bus with the luggage for 4 people (we are all seniors).  We are getting quotes for a taxi from  the cruise terminal to Haneda and will pre-book.  No replies as yet.  

Fingers crossed we see the cherry blossom.  Getting excited now.  

Unfortunately you will be a bit late for Hanami, Cherry Blossom viewing. The Japan Meteorological group announced this week that Cherry Blossoms will be early again this year. They will start in Tokyo on 22 March, and peak on 27 March. In Western Honshu (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto) they will start a week or two earlier than that. In Northern Japan (Aomori, Hokkaido) they will be a week or two later than Tokyo.

Note that in most cases, if they make you an offer and you either refuse or ignore it, they will move on to other passengers. However if you respond with a counter-offer or express interest, they may get back to you with a better offer.

On ‎1‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 2:36 AM, susiesan said:

That makes no sense. There are glass pitchers of water in the dining room used to fill glasses. There must be another reason. On the December Star Pride from San Juan there was no onboard barbecue dinner and we were told it had to do with US regulations. No one from the staff could tell me what the regulations are and how they apply. I missed this dinner party.

It doesn't have to make sense. It is a regulation from the US Public Health Service. USPH Claims that the glass bottles and covers are too difficult to clean, so they are prohibited on ships sailing in US Waters. They approve, however, of glass pitchers in dining rooms. USPH also does not like refillable bottles for water. Too many people drink directly from the bottle, then when they refill the bottle, the bottle rim that touched their lips makes contact with the refill spout, contaminating it for the next users.

Same story for open Deck BBQs. USPH now requires a roof over the BBQ buffets and the outdoor dining areas. They also require handwashing stations with hot water, soap and towels, located no more than 24 feet away from any food prep or service area and staff. The stations cannot be located in an area where the users must open a door to wash their hands. All the cruise lines are scrambling to re-build their BBQ areas to comply with these new regulations. Until they remodel the ship, outdoor BBQs on ships are strictly forbidden in US Waters.

Your tax dollars at work....................................

Cruise Lines are rather conservative and averse to liability lawsuits and negative publicity.

As a result, they normally take out $1or $2 million liability insurance for each pax going on a ship-sponsored tour.

Who pays for that expensive insurance? The people booking the tours, of course.

Before the cruise line signs a contract with a tour operator, the cruise line's insurance company does a thorough investigation of the tours, requiring proper safety equipment and safe operational procedures.

If you are a gambler and / or feel lucky you can choose an independent tour operator on the pier, and sometimes save a lot of money. Do they have insurance for you ? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Do they have proper safety equipment and safe operating procedures?

Sometimes yes, and sometimes no.

When do you find out if they are unsafe? When it's too late.

You pay your money and you take your chances.............................

The City of Tokyo currently has only one real Cruise Terminal. That is Harumi Terminal on an island in Tokyo Bay.

Most cruise ships today are too large to fit under the Rainbow Bridge to get to Harumi.

The secondary Cruise Terminal - for larger ships - is Osanbashi Terminal in Yokohama.

Third choice is Oi Cargo Terminal, located just South of the Rainbow Bridge, and very close to Haneda Airport.