rkacruiser

it makes no difference. One need to be out and about and get a complete view of what can be seen on both sides of the ship. One exception: it is quite an experience to be in one's stateroom as the ship either rises or falls when it is in a lock. The lower the deck, the more pronounced the view is. One does not get that perspective if one only remains on the upper decks.

I was wondering the same thing. I don't recall seeing that on the Sel de Mer's Menu. I assume one photo is of the Seafood Tower. How does one consume all of that as a First Course and have any desire for other courses? The Crepes look better than what I have been served and I had no complements about them.

If you would consider a resort in Fort Lauderdale, I can recommend the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort. Private beach, a variety of restaurants, good service, a large pool with plenty of lounge chairs and bar service to the area (at least when I last stayed there), very nice rooms with a choice of locations (at various price levels, of course). Almost always a taxi-line up if one wants to go elsewhere.

I do not do that. The Market will do what the Market does and it will impact my investments in whatever way that is. I am satisfied with what I hold. There's no good purpose, at least for me, to check frequently. One exception to that is a particular company that I am keeping my eye with the question as to whether I am still satisfied with the company and/or it's performance. If the stock is down, should I sell and take a loss? And, if I still like the company, buy it back after the wash rule days are over?

I agree except for one breakfast that I remember. The original Royal Princess on disembarkation morning in Civitavecchia: my transfer to Rome left early, the DR was not open, no room service that morning, only option was the Lido Restaurant. I needed to get there almost as soon as it opened. The food was in warming pans (as usual), but the pans and the food were lukewarm to cold! Lukewarm scrambled eggs don't go well with cold, greasy bacon. A very disappointing culinary end to an otherwise excellent cruise.

Parents need to be "parents" and not their child's "friend".

Other than for the post just above, I do the same as others who have posted. If I am in open dining when the Stewards are not the same each evening, I do not leave a tip, but, try to verbally thank them for their service. It would not be inappropriate to do, if one wished. Handing the cash directly to them probably would be a better idea than just leaving it on your table.

I have been following the reports about these companies and having used a company which went out of business during my cruise and the cruise line had to contract with a different company to return my luggage home, I'd suggest you need to do some in depth research about the companies. Three questions that I would ask are: #1, does your company actually handle and transport the luggage throughout the bags journey? #2: Do you hire another company to do any of that and, if so, what is that company? #3: If your service fails to get the luggage to where it is supposed to be and when it is supposed to be in the same condition as when the luggage entered your system, what compensation will be forthcoming from your company for its failure to deliver the service for which I am paying?

A similar situation for me occurred on Star Princess. I was seated at my desired sized/shape table for 6 with a family of 5: two parents and three children of various ages, two of them mid-older teens and one an early teen. I wondered how that was going to be. Turned out it was wonderful! The children were perfect ladies and gentleman and were able to carry on conversations with adults well. The kids would get done with their dinners before we three adults did, leave for their evening activities, and Mom and Dad and I could continue to talk and linger over dessert and coffee.

This may be the difference you experienced as compared to Lois R. But, that's not a satisfactory excuse for a company to use. If Go Express is to blame, then Luggage Forward needs to do some "cracking of their whip" on that company.

As it will for those of us who are investors and open our account statements for June.

That's the beauty of cruising. You can be transported to a different dimension as well as a destination.

VOV is a special voyage. Red Bay, I participated in a shore excursion that was not memorable (meaning, I don't remember what I experienced), but, I can add Labrador to one of the Canadian Provinces that I have visited. The tour must have been OK. Nothing negative to remember.

Or what would be my rowing position? 😁

I have bought cruise, air, and travel insurance for many years. In recent weeks, the more that I have read on CC makes me realize that my purchases have been more of a gamble than I realized. I have had medical claims on both travel insurance purchased on my own as well as, once, through my travel agent. I have always been satisfied with the insurance I purchased on my own. Not so much with the policy I purchased through my travel agent even though the insurance company is a well known and respected company.

Do the Customs Agents in New Zealand and Australia still have dogs that sniff bags/packages that are taken off a ship?

It's been a few years since I used a luggage service prior to my world cruise which departed from Port Everglades. At that time, the bags were transported to Fort Lauderdale by truck, arriving several days before the cruise, and were stored in a warehouse. (I had some tracking information so that I could keep track of where they were.) Returning home, the previous company had gone out of business during the cruise and HAL had to contract with a different company. DHL was that company, but, I don't know if they were trucked or not. My guess is that they were put on a DHL plane because, at that time, DHL used a cargo only airfield near where I lived and the bags arrived within just a couple of days after I got home.

Those guidelines is what I remember as well. And, it seemed to fit with what I had learned from my reading about from those who sailed before me experienced. (Thank you John Maxtone-Graham and many others in a variety of sources.) Upscale? It was. Not the Verandah Grill dining guests on the Queens, but, much more upscale than the new "upstarts" in the cruising world in the early years. If I am able to pull together a family cruise for a family that lives in Maryland and Alaska with me in Ohio, HAL is not a contender. Given the ages of my Grand-Nephews and Grand-Niece and their parents, Disney has the inside track. Besides, it would be something "different" for me! I appreciate you replying to my post. Thank you.

Good for you! You received a very special perk!

If available at the Spa, I would recommend that your husband might enjoy a mini-facial and a shave. My first one was on the Eurodam in January, 2020. It was wonderful! Afterwards, a lady whom I met just afterwards said "Your face is glowing". I booked a second one and it was just as pleasant.

I have cruised since 1970 and I do not recall such specifically designated envelopes. I do recall envelopes being left in my stateroom. A note to explain there purpose? Probably. I sailed on HAL during those years and I do recall this policy. I also knew what guests on ships did regarding tipping in the '50's and '60's did. HAL's policy never quite "set right" with me. Your comment about those of us who did tip during that era misses the mark as it pertains to me. (More money than the next guy and I am willing to spend it for better service.) Those were lean years for me; I remain amazed that I was able to spend on cruising what I did for both my family and me. Better service expected? How can that be? My Stewards received their gratuities on the final day/evening of the cruse. Their envelopes were a "thank you" for their service. It was in 1970 and it remains my intention when I offer a gratuity in 2022. Resort fees should be renamed to the "Fleecing of our Guests". I won't book a hotel that has such fees.

Naan is another food that evokes memories of when I first was served that bread. First experience was my tour group's first dinner in India. Our New Delhi hotel served an Indian buffet for our group with many dishes that most of us were unfamiliar. (There were no Western alternatives.) I sampled "this and that", but, the only thing that I really liked was Naan. Whenever I see Naan available, I have some, enjoy, and remember my first night in India.

Remembering the Star Princess fire, I was surprised to see that light display. I wonder how long it lasted before it was taken down.

Thank you very much for this idea. Never thought of that as being a solution to wet luggage. (Tried dry cleaner bags lining the interior and around "stuff" and that proved more trouble than it was worth.)

Cienfuegos provided an excellent answer to your question. Porter service from the terminal to the garage may be possible. I had a wheelchair disembark from MSC Meraviglia, the port agency staff member wheeling me obtained a Porter in baggage claim and both took my luggage and me directly to my car in the garage. A generous gratuity to both is warranted, in my opinion, for such service. That adds to the confusion and chaos for those who are first time drivers to the Port of Miami.