Wehwalt

Given the associations of the word "plantation", and the unforgiving nature of social media, I don't use that word unless I have to. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/jan/27/company-renames-plantation-rum-after-criticism-over-slavery-link

And it tends to be exhibited everywhere they go. No need to follow, the show is coming to you.

Probably that it would be more sanitary for the crew to pick up the "evidence" and dispose of it ...

I also appreciate it very much, but I fear you generate more heat than light here. An illustration, I think, of how high emotions run on the issue. Thanks again.

Thanks, I think. I had hoped for something informed and informative when you claimed legal issues might be involved. I'm somewhat disappointed. As for your implications, those sounds like assumptions. We all know about assumptions.

Can you refer me to any cases, statutes or regulations on the matter, with specific reference to cruise ships?

Pending presentation of satisfactory evidence to a ship's officer. That may not be the law, perhaps, but it's hardly poochaphobic.

Quite so. I regret that there was a need felt to characterize people who have made their perspectives very clear, deeming them anti-dog or as having a dog phobia.

Well, that brings up the emotional support boa constrictor, Squeeze, again: all he wants to do is hug. But seriously, if the regulations under the ADA that deal with this issue are reconsidered, I'm sure that the views of the 33 states that the internet tells me have banned fraudulently presenting pets as service animals will be taken into account.

I think those are very reasonable actions by all concerned except the pet owner. The ADA does not prevent private parties who are not providing the accommodations from asking questions, recording information such as photographs, or making reports. I believe Florida and other states have made falsely representing an animal to be a service animal an offense, and while I am sure Florida has no jurisdiction over ships at sea, it does over cruise terminals.

Those are the stairs. I am on Oosterdam and walked by them this morning getting coffee from the crow's nest. I've never seen a passenger exiting the stairs but the crew seems to use them fairly often, I've at least twice had to dodge a crew member exiting with momentum. There is as I recall, an elevator limited to three people there but I don't think it's where the handicap symbol is, but close to the elevator lobby.

Or, "I understand that service dogs are carefully trained, and if the dog acts out it is most likely not a service dog. Here is my video of what the dog was doing out on the promenade as his owner stood by, smiling."

Indeed. I agree wholeheartedly. I would not say anything to the individual. At all.

There is endless stuff available on Amazon. Official looking service dog ID cards, harnesses with tags that say "PROTECTED BY FEDERAL LAW" and "DO NOT SEPARATE FROM HANDLER" and similar things that enable the fraudster. Some of them have a Department of Justice seal on them which does well to intimidate anyone who might question it. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=service+dog&crid=2E4G27AM1PDTX&sprefix=%2Caps%2C422&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_1_0_recent

You haven't met my service boa constrictor, Squeeze? All he wants to do is hug.

I judge. Sorry. It's been too widely abused. There, I said it.

We took the Coffee and it was not good. The vehicle they take you in leaves you exposed to the wind as it drives, which distressed DW. At the farm, you never move more than 100 feet from where the bus parks, you go down and put dirt into little sacks with a seedling if you like. Then on the top level of the same platform, you pound beans to get the fruity part off the beans. Then they take you a short distance away for lunch. DW ordered a beer for me but they did not tell her it was charged for until after they opened it. Restroom facilities are inadequate as well. It was ... disappointing.

I'm onboard, as I said, and clocks go forward at 2 am. Last night and also tonight, then two nights off, and two more following to bring us even with the Azores. Below is tomorrow's schedule.

We are on board. We also watched the safety video after boarding and went to the muster station when instructed. The morning after embarkation, we got a letter informing us that we had either failed to watch the safety video or visit our muster station and setting forth safety procedures. And we found that they had reset the safety video sometime after we had watched it and so it played again before we could go to other TV. We concur that the ship's a bit run down. Now back to your regularly scheduled LIVE.

I don't think either the Campbells or the media are interested in further exploration of the circumstances of what happened. Both got what they wanted out of there being a story. The Campbells got pressure on NCL to make a full reimbursement, which either will work, or it will not (right now it's the latter) and since no one is ever the villain in their own head, they are happy to have dinged the cruise line. The media filled a few minutes or webpages, and they aren't totally unhappy to ding the cruise industry, with its "privilege" and it's (in their minds) environmentally questionable way of travel. As for the cruise line, it gets free publicity that it goes to exotic ports and people who would take NCL on an African cruise are going to be understanding that the cruise line is not going to wait.

Regarding whether the company would have a "get you to next port" guarantee. I doubt that catering to cruise passengers is a huge part of the company's business. I see there are only eight more days on which a cruise ship is scheduled to dock in Principe in 2024, and only five in 2025. Most likely the greater part of their business is people who fly in, for example from Portugal.

If all they had was a credit card, then most likely they flew. Overland travel in Africa is gonna require cash. Senegal pictures? Here's one from my visit on the Amsterdam in 2018. You know how they call a speed bump a sleeping policeman in some countries?

Mike, thanks for taking us along. Quick question for you. Is the Explorations Cafe the only place you can get specialty coffees in the morning?

Even though the island is only thirty miles long, the fact that you're dealing with a not-very-developed African country screams for allowing ample time. The up side is that the island is getting lots of publicity. Readership of the Wikipedia articles has tripled. Perhaps that will translate into increased tourism. https://pageviews.wmcloud.org/?project=en.wikipedia.org&platform=all-access&agent=user&redirects=0&range=latest-20&pages=São_Tomé_and_Príncipe|São_Tomé

That is what happened when I broke my arm in Tahiti. The port agent came to my hospital room with my passport and baggage and was helpful in getting me a hotel room and a medical service to assist me for a week until the bone had knit enough for me to fly back to the States.