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rkacruiser

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Posts posted by rkacruiser

  1. 1 hour ago, George C said:

    I miss the old swizzle sticks from cruises and bars have a small collection

     

    I do as well.  And, I do use them when I have a mixed drink.

     

    1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

    My mom also used to collect menus from the MDR on the Sitmar ships. They had beautiful hand-painted watercolors (reproduced of course) on each cover, each one different and reflecting either the port or theme of the day in the MDR. It's like a walk back in time to read through those menus now.

     

    And one final Sitmar story, my parents were on board when it was announced that, beginning immediately, the Sitmar ships were sold to Princess and Sitmar as a brand ceased to exist. For the rest of that cruise it was a sort of crazy free-for-all. Bartenders were giving passengers all of the coasters and swizzle sticks, ash-trays, and whatever else was branded with the Sitmar crest. To this day my parents still use the swizzle sticks!

     

    Those Sitmar menus were lovely and I do have a collection of them from my one Sitmar cruise.  I was aboard the Fairwind when the announcement was made that Princess had purchased Sitmar.  Left Port Everglades as a Sitmar ship and returned as a Princess vessel.  I do have swizzle sticks and one ash tray with the Sitmar logo on it.  Were your parents on Fairwind, Fairsea, or Fairsky?  Maybe Fair Majesty?  

     

  2. Jacqui, it's distressing to learn of your accident.  It reminded me of my injury that I experienced at Luxor departing the stadium watching the Light Show.  I missed a step and a knee suffered the consequences.   The wonderful medical staff on the Amsterdam helped me to complete my cruise several weeks later, though.  

     

    Good wishes for you and that you will enjoy your cruise!  

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
  3. 33 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

    Wow, that does not sound like fun. I know that some things don't always turn out the way they should but this just sounds like poor planning on the tour company's part. I like that you were able to find some good out of the situation though.

     

    This is a port and my tour to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings that I would never endure again.  The tour was scenic; the experiences memorable; but, once was clearly enough for me.  If I ever am on a cruise when the ship docks at Safaga, I will remain on the ship and enjoy its amenities.  

  4. 20 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

    Sorry, I just got off Nieuw Amsterdam and went to Ocean Bar AND Billboard for Happy hours; all they have is honey roasted peanuts. 

     

     

    Did you request anything else?  Sometimes, I have had to mention the canapes and hot hors d'oeuvres before they appeared.  The same with Goldfish and pretzels or potato chips.   At least in the past, the dry snacks, including the peanuts, are in the bar's pantry and simply need to be served by the bartenders.  

  5. 20 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

    Happy Hours - While the 50% off is generous, and menu already decently priced to start with, would have liked to see it offered either longer (literally only 1 hour),  and only in same 2 venues each day. They don't have to give away booze all night, but it would have been nice to see venues rotated around. Ocean Bar would be packed by 4:10. Would be nice to have it at Sea View bar or EXC bar one night just for a change of pace.

     

    This is a legitimate excellent suggestion!  Having HH only at the Ocean Bar, and no others, required me to arrive early in order to get a seat at the Bar.  And, extending the HH times would be helpful for this cruiser.  And, even better:  make the start one hour later.  

    • Like 1
  6. 11 hours ago, MBP&O2/O said:

    I have sailed with a few though

     

    Only one and a half for me.  The disappointing whole lemon was 1980, a trans-Atlantic crossing on QE2 beginning in Bremerhaven to New York in Tourist Class.  Labor problems on the ship were the cause.  (Friends in First Class were equally disappointed.)  The "half" was a Noordam 21 day Caribbean cruise when "things just were not right", the Senior Officers were missing in public and when they were encountered, we guests were made to feel "you are bothering me".  That attitude spilled over to some (and thankfully not all) of the service staff.  

     

  7. I have decided a plain Bagel requires some type of smear to make it taste good for me.  Butter alone is OK.  But, adding a topping of some type makes it better.  The best that I have found is an Alaskan Ruhberry Jelly.  Alas, I have emptied the jar.  Maybe I can order another?  (But, what will the shipping cost to do so!)  

  8. 22 hours ago, Traveling Library said:

    There were men outside of the terminal who kept trying to take our suitcase and telling us that the bus had already left or that it would get to the port too late so we needed to take their taxi/transport. 

     

    This information my statements about the chaotic Santiago airport.  I am going to very strongly recommend that any cruiser arriving at Santiago and departing on a cruise from Chile consider very seriously booking a seamless cruise line airport-hotel-port transfer and not attempt to do a DIY transfers.  Doing so, there will be cruise line representatives at the airport and at the hotel that will assist when one becomes overwhelmed with the chaos that exists at the airport.  

    • Like 1
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  9. 8 hours ago, DosGringos said:

    Greeting Cruisers…!

    HAL MS Eurodam question. 
    We are sailing on a Panama Canal cruise - first time on HAL. 

    Previously, on NCL, we took a behind-the -scenes ship tour… kitchen, engineering, bridge, etc. Really cool and informative. 
    Does anyone know if that’s something HAL does on the Erurodam…?

     

    Check with both the Front Office as well as the Shore Excursions Office and inform them that you are interested.  Such a tour has been done pre-Covid and maybe since.  It may depend, I think, on the approval of the ship's Master.  

  10. On 10/29/2022 at 8:31 PM, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

    The have banners they hang out side the ship.

    Welcome home. 

     

    Particularly, when one is returning to the ship after an exotic port shore excursion, that banner is very welcome by me to see.

     

    The refreshment tents with some seating that are created near the gangway at many ports are a welcome amenity.  Maybe no banner at those ports, but, the "Welcome Home!" is there.  

  11. Just now, ontheweb said:

    the library was one of the things that impressed me the most.

     

    This was part of whatever the slogan was before the "Signature of Excellence" slogan was.  Excellent staffed libraries morphed to those with a librarian/computer guru.  Then, to the computer guru.  Then, to no staffing and decisions from the "wise ones" in Seattle to eliminate libraries all together on most ships.  A bit of good news though, I think.  Maybe some signs that a non-staffed library may be returning?  

  12. 34 minutes ago, LocoLoco1 said:

    Hot hor d’oveurs at 5/pm

     

    Now available (as of 2020) at the Ocean Bar at HH time which is 4:00 P. M.

     

    Many of the items listed as missing have been missing for some time and really is not recent.  Depending on our own preferences, some of these missing items are more irritating than others.  

     

    5 hours ago, visagrunt said:

    It seems to me that there continues to be a disconnect between Seattle and Directors and Managers on board. 

     

    How many times on CC have I mentioned that I have heard directly from the Senior Officers on the ships that the micro-management of the Seattle "suits" has been a problem?  Such micro-management impairs their ability to provide the guest experience that that wish to do.  And, occupies significant "behind the desk/computer time" when their services could be better utilized elsewhere on the ship.  

    • Like 1
  13. 17 hours ago, blueslily said:

    That's just MSc. It's a different cruise line.

     

    No just MSC.  Trans-Atlantic crossing on QE2, Bremerhaven to Southampton to New York:  one washcloth provided from Bremerhaven to Southampton for two people.  None after that.  Requests went nowhere.  (This was among other issues that we experienced on that crossing.  OK, we were traveling in Tourist Class (paying more per day than we had paid for our just completed Royal Viking Line cruise).  But, friends in First Class were as displeased as we were.  

  14. 9 hours ago, CruiserFromMaine said:

    @crusinbanjo We saw the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier while cruising into Halifax in 2017. 

     

    Before 9/11, on some week-ends in Norfolk, the USN would host public tours of some of the fleet at dock.  I had the opportunity to visit the USS Harry S. Truman while she was still being prepared to enter service.  These beautiful vessels are something to behold when one sees them.  They are truly awesome when one is able to be aboard for awhile.  

    • Like 1
  15. 29 minutes ago, cruiseej said:

    I see some potential advantages to this change, though. If you were in the Observation Lounge when an emergency signal was sounded, you would have needed to return to your suite to claim your life jacket, then proceeded to your muster station. If the life jackets are all stored at the muster station or near the lifeboats, then no one needs to fetch them and clog the hallways, and there's no danger of people tripping over the straps while rushing to their stations — overall a more expedient and safer experience. 

     

    I understand your point.  Please, someone, correct me if my memory is incorrect.

    At some point in time, when the go to Muster Stations was sounded, wherever one was on the ship, one was to proceed directly to their Muster Station.  Then, at least on HAL I know for sure, a series of stages leading to a possible Abandon Ship signal was instituted with the first being for a guest to proceed to their stateroom and await further instructions.  Then, if needed, go to Muster Stations after dressing warmly, taking needed medicines, passport, money/credit cards, taking one's lifejacket with them, etc.

     

     

    22 hours ago, no1talks said:

    "It's muh vacation! I paid muh money and I'm gonna do what I want!"*

    *For additional instances, please see responses in dress code posts.

     

    I was going to click the Ha, Ha icon when I read your post.  But, this attitude is too prevalent in our society, I think, and it is not funny.  

    • Thanks 1
  16. I have stayed at both and enjoyed my stay at both hotels.  However, I do prefer Pan Pacific even though I am a member of the Fairmont (Accor) loyalty club.  Dining options are better, a patio overlooking the Harbor that offers drinks and light dining, the transfer directly to the cruise terminal part of the complex:  all are reasons that I prefer it.

     

    The underground food court that the previous poster mentioned connects the Fairmont and the Pan Pacific and is easily accessible from the Pan Pacific as well.  

    • Like 2
  17. Menus and the daily activity sheets have long been favorite souvenirs from my cruises.  Photos and my journal also are enjoyable keepsakes.  

    7 hours ago, momofmeg said:

    I still have a Canadian Mountie moose doll

     

    I have a mama Kangaroo with her baby in its pouch from my first trip to Australia and a nice sized Penguin from when I visited Antarctica.  They are favorites and I have them placed so I see them every day.  

     

    My most priced souvenir, though, are all of the people whom I have met during my cruises and still maintain contact with them.  

    • Like 1
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