rkacruiser

Sorry, but this "advice" is just totally wrong! It defeats the purpose of the Muster Drill. Particularly for those who have not cruised. If there is a failing in this current system, you have just clearly pointed it out!

I loved The Love Boat! But, having experienced a sailing of the Queen Mary in 1957, I saw that not all of her passengers were wealthy. Young people who weren't wearing mink stoles/coats. When they got out of my elevator, they headed for the Tourist Class or Cabin Class check-in areas. Even when my family visited the ship and were in the First Class section, I didn't get the sense that one had to be rich to sail. That's when I determined: I have to do this! And, I have.

Personally, I have not changed my own "survival plan" due to the Costa Concordia. A small flashlight in a drawer (if there is one) in the nightstand on the side of the bed that I use and I always remember where my cabin card is located in case I need to grab it quick. Slippers by the side of the bed. Bathrobe hanging in the closet where the life jackets are. I read/study the emergency information on the back of the cabin door and I locate the alternative exit for my deck. (On one cruise, for whatever reason, the main exit for my section was not available and we were directed to the alternative exit, which was a crew stairwell. Some confusion by some guests as to where that was.) I am good in following directions (I learned my lessons well as a young child when my Mother allowed me to not follow her directions and I got scared to death a couple of times). I agree with others that this new method of Muster Drill is a concern. You MUST watch the instructions on the TV. There is no assurance that one is. Unpacking, at that time, may seem much more important. For the "old fashioned" muster on deck has gradually improved over the years. Particularly when the Boat Commander uses a bullhorn when names are called. Or the electronic scanning of one's cruise card when arriving at one's muster station. The jerks around me, however, who don't want to pay attention and continue to try to carry on a conversation are the ones who frighten me. It's a sorry commentary on our society when a ship's Master must come on the PA--sometimes more than once--and demand SILENCE ON DECK! My Junior High School students had more respect for me when I told them to "pipe down" and pay attention.

🤣 Most of us don't take a course in "menuese".

Agree. The Lido Restaurant serves a "time and place" at times. But, not my preference when I am on vacation after being chief cook, waiter, bus boy, and dishwasher in my ordinary life.

I was not aware that the Alfredo's concept had extended to ships other than the Royal Class--and the--to the pop-ups since the Royal Class was introduced. Lots of debate about pizza on HAL, MSC, Carnival, and Princess. HAL's New York Deli on the Pinnacle Class ships makes a better pizza than those on the others that are "labeled" as such. MSC's pizza, in my experience, is very good and better than Carnival's or Princess' other than Alfredo's. Like any other cuisine, our taste for pizza differs!

I wonder. Was the Alfredo's a stand alone restaurant on one of the Royal Class ships? Or was it a pop-up on one of the others? For me, my first experience with this restaurant concept was on Royal Princess and it was excellent. My second experience was in a pop-up one day in the specialty restaurant on Coral Princess. It was just as good.

I wonder. Was the Alfredo's a stand alone restaurant on one of the Royal Class ships? Or was it a pop-up on one of the others? For me, my first experience with this restaurant concept was on Royal Princess and it was excellent. My second experience was in a pop-up one day in the specialty restaurant on Coral Princess. It was just as good.

Correct. The Volendam does have windows, but, they do not give one a view of the sea. A lovely view of the corridor outside the restaurant is what is viewed.

A gentleman with whom I was speaking about investments said to me: "You sound like Warren Buffet." That was a very appreciated compliment. Some day traders have done--and are doing well--with CCL as well as other cruise line stocks. Indeed! The OBC that I have received over the years has helped to pay my onboard account many times.

Deck One: you are in my "home territory" for the Volendam. A few outside staterooms aft on the port side of the forward elevators/stairway is where I reside during my cruises. Request seating? Yes. Request a window table? No. You can request table size, but, no guarantee that will be fulfilled. A window table request in the PG, as well as in the dining room, is best addressed when you are on board and meet with the Maitre d' for the PG and the MDR.

As a male, I have had my hair cut during a cruise and, whatever the gender of the staff member, the service that was done was the equal to or better than my regular barbers. On my most recent cruise, aboard the Eurodam, I needed a hair-cut and decided to add something that I had never tried: a mini-facial and shave. The gentleman cut my hair very well and I so enjoyed the mini-facial and shave that I booked another one before the end of the cruise. The first time, yes, there was a sales pitch for an Elemis product that he used and I did buy it. The second time: no sales pitch for anything.

A Ravioli with Pesto Sauce was a memorable and different entree that I enjoyed. At Breakfast, the Ranchero Potatoes (if I recall their name quickly) were delicious.

Well! That was quite a change since 2020.

Agree. A nice, varied selection. Agree. Pasta with sauces that I would never have thought to order elsewhere. Their breads and rolls are varied and all that I tried were very good. I found no weakness in the YC Restaurant. The YC Grill offers made to order items as well as prepared food. If I have one suggestion, it would be to offer a larger variety of cold cuts and cheeses as well as breads/crackers at the Grill during Breakfast and Lunch hours.

I am pleased that you were able to see the Madonna! Thank you for posting your photos. For the camera I was using at the time I was there, I couldn't get such a good close-up as you did.

I am consistently inconsistent in my pre-cruise dinner dining. Part of the reason is due to whether I flew or drove to the port. If I flew, and the hotel has at least one good restaurant, I am likely to remain at the hotel for dinner. If the hotel has an upscale restaurant (i.e. 3030 Ocean in the Marriott Harbor Beach) as well as a more modest restaurant, I will sometimes choose the upscale option, but, not always. If I drove, I am likely to dine elsewhere other than the hotel. The restaurant may be a modest one (i.e. Longhorn Steak House, et al) or it may be an upscale restaurant that I have been wanting to try. (My last pre-cruise dinner in Fort Lauderdale, I dined at Casa d'Angelo, an upscale Italian restaurant that was excellent.) But, I may choose to remain at the hotel and dine there. I am consistently consistent, though, with my pre-cruise breakfast. No breakfast buffet, no large off the menu ordered breakfast, just a Continental Breakfast. Why? I expect to be having lunch on the ship and I don't "want to spoil" my lunch by having no appetite. Besides, having to often do the walking required through the cruise terminal and the "rat's maze" of the gangway, I find that easier to do on not so full of a tummy.

I grew up in Lancaster and only recall going to the Pumpkin Festival once. It is usually held the week after the Fairfield County Fair, so, my family had had enough of that kind of an event, I think.

I would rank it a tie inasmuch as the IC menu on Princess changes during the day. There is no doubt that some of the Grand Dutch Cafe menu items are, in and of themselves, extremely good and not available in the IC. Alfredo's? YES! Even the ships that did not have Alfredo's, my taste buds enjoyed the pizza. Dive-in? The best that I have tried. Better, I think, that Carnival's Guy's facility. And, many rave about their burgers and fries. Dive-in's fries have been much better than Guy's.

I am a buy and hold quality stocks type of investor. I have two pots of CCL stock. One in my name and one held by my broker. The larger is the pot in my name; an account that I originally began and have used for dividend reinvestments. That account grew and grew and grew. Of course, now, it has shrunk. But, my faith in CCL remains. The smaller pot of CCL? It's a loss currently and unless my plans change, I will sell that during the 4th Quarter for tax loss purposes. However, after the Wash Sale rules no longer apply, I expect to buy those shares that I sell again. I have benefited from the shareholder's OBC over the years. But, to buy the stock just for the OBC? I cannot suggest that. That is not a valid reason, in my opinion, to make an investment in the Market.

A Roll Call needs to be started with enough people interested in a M&G before HAL is contacted. There is a "magic number" required before such an event will be scheduled by them. There is no such number for an informal M&G that is arranged by the Roll Call participants. If such an informal meeting is planned, please, in the sense of committing to such, attend! I have done this with the expectation of a few others meeting me in the Zuiderdam's Crow's Nest. Who attended? Me. And, I waited for 30 minutes for others to appear before I left.

During the Statendam's final voyage for HAL to Singapore, a Third Officer, a Deck Cadet, and an Engineer Cadet were assigned the tasks of providing some talks during some of our sea days. The sessions were very well attended, the young men were well prepared for their tasks and engaged in very informative Q&A's with the guests, and was a highlight of my cruise. I would also encourage you to suggest more of those kinds of presentations.

I would expect many more restaurants would be open on Thanksgiving than on Christmas. That's been my experience locally.

The best advice that is posted on this Message Board concerning parking in Miami is to use the Port's parking garages. Yes, there are other more inexpensive options available. But, when you return from your cruise, in what condition will you find your vehicle?

Thank you. I misinterpreted what you posted. The terms "Cabin Steward" and "Dining Room Stewards" are used in ocean liner history as long ago as the 19th Century. If I have been using the incorrect terms, there have been thousands and thousands of others before me doing the same as well as some eminent maritime historians.