brianlojeck

That's beautiful.

I seem to recall you make the request in the morning (by phone to room service?) and get tea in the afternoon.

The time is set to whatever time tea is served in the MDR.

It's wonderful, and they give you the full spread, with enough food for 4 people.

oddly enough, the first Google response is a highly informative thread on this board...

Sounds like sailing out of Seattle and planning to be ready to just not get off in Victoria might be the best way.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=743542

Do you eat the same food we do?

Given how complicated the rules are about who can eat in passenger areas, the needs for good ethnic food for people working on the same ship for months at a time, the Navy/military experience most people are at least somewhat familiar with (SOS?), and the rules about officer's quarters, and how they are serviced... This is actually a very interesting and somewhat complex discussion.

I'd go a bit later. San Fran is a good port in my experience, but there's a lot of things that might delay you 20 minutes.

Yeah, you come across pretty humble here:rolleyes:. I'm positive that there's zero doubt that your baking prowess is as "mean" as you declare it to be.:p

If I was bragging I'd claim I could reliably flip an easy-over egg. :-)

Did you take any video of the suite?

with regard to temperature, I've been to alaska twice, a year apart, both times in the may/april timeframe. One time it was 85F, one time it was 60F. Be prepared for anything. :-)

As a polack who makes a mean pizza, an excellent french bread, and an exceptional German chocolate cake, may I humbly suggest that cooking skill isn't a matter of the nationality of your dish?

Besides, the pizza served on cruise ships isn't "Italian", it's "New York" style... which is a cousin to the Italian stuff.

Flashlights. God forbid something happen onboard, you don't want to be stuck in the dark.

Their are many small 100-300 lumen led flashlights available for under $20. Some run on AA/AAA batteries, some run on little lithium cells that last longer and don't leak in storage but cost more.

An offline GPS app for your phone. You pre-download the maps, and it will work without data.

A pen with an all metal body. Zebra has a line of inexpensive pens. A pen is always a good thing to keep on hand, and it's better than harsh language if you find yourself in a rare bad situation overseas.

Did a little googling around, found some references that this MIGHT be a symbol from the Chinese navy... but based on your filename it looks like you knew that already.

Interesting question... Perhaps an old navy man, or a professor at a local Uni might be a good lead?

If I remember correctly, the marking on the back is called a "chop" (phonetic spelling) and identifies the person or company who made it. I'm not savvy enough to tell Chinese from Japanese kanji, but having the characters in the square like that is, if I'm not mistaken, Chinese.

For the record, my cruise card stays in my pocket next to my cell phone, and it's never been demagnetized.

I just want the laundry service... And the free booze... And the tender related benefits.

The system will hold your room for 2 or 3 days without any money.

After running ourselves ragged in 3 previous ports in Hawaii, my wife and I had a lovely morning snorkeling in Maui. We didn't want to walk too far, so we just ducked into a cheesy place called "Cheeseburgers in Paradise".

We lucked out. We got seated right by the ocean side windows on the second floor. The service wasn't great, the food was moderate, but having drinks with my wife, exhausted, with that amazing view, looking forward to 4 days at sea...

We eat the leftovers from the takeout we ate the night before we left.

Really...

I'm not sitting here trying to find the most efficient set of cruises to take... I'm not trying to talk my wife into a suite to Ensenada...

Really...

I can quit whenever I want...

Honestly, I don't like the Wheelhouse bars that look like someone built a second Crown Grill... So having the salty dog doesn't hurt imho. I much prefer the more intimate Wheelhouse found in the Golden, where it's next to Sabatini and the photo sales hallway.

The only reason for a room above or below a public area is to block the sound for when I take the room further away from the public area.

I like RCL. A lot... I like RCL better than Princess in a lot of ways... But there's no way in hell I'd have a room above the casino.

I've been round trip from LA to NYC 3 times via Amtrak, in both kinds of sleepers. If you get the full sleeper, not only is food included, but the steward will bring the food to your room if you like. In the smaller rooms you don't get this benefit.

Some bags are stored in the lower level of the sleeping cars, but these tend to be carry-ons that don't fit in the room. There is separate storage for actual checked baggage in another car.

My biggest issue with the smaller sleeping quarters is: the toilet is right next to one of the chairs, and the room is really freaking tiny.

I've always tipped my steward, because that's a crappy job I'm glad I don't have.

It's easy to avoid this fee. All you need is your own geosynchronous communications satellite network.

Always leave at least one room between family...

I loved my aft suite on the crown princess ( grand?) to Hawaii, but it was annoying having the railing be dirty and sticky all the time...

Princess ships heading to Mexico serve a Desperado: a shot of tequila in a Dos XX beer. Delicious, and go very well with the scenery leaving San Pedro.

)

 

No, this wasn't the nicest thing anyone has ever done as a crew member,

Having been a 15 year old boy at one point, I can tell you this certainly ranks up there. :-)

Two things you'll find:

1: cruise passengers like to complain about everything

2: people on the internet like to complain about everything.

It's rare that cruise ship food makes me sing with joy, but it's usually quite good... There's a reason everyone gains weight. :-)