crystalspin

That is one lovely bouquet! I honestly have not seen anything so perfect from a shore-side florist!

PS forgot to mention that the plans are per CONNECTION, not per person. One person (in a cabin) can log off and let the other person use the log-on. ETA: So my husband needed Premium for business VOIP. When he wasn't using it, I could use it for email etc. It was like SLOW DIAL UP. Just to warn you.

As others have said, the ship does not follow the shoreline near enough to reach a tower (even if there were one). The only plan you can PRE-PURCHASE in the Premium plan. On board there are the following: Social, Surf, and Premium. THEY ARE ALL THE SAME SPEED INTERNET, only with more or fewer sites and apps blocked. As VMax said, the Premium bought pre-sailing is only slightly more than Surf on board. Some people have OBC to burn and choose to wait. If you have Have-It-All it comes with Surf-level WiFi, which you can upgrade to Premium on a pro-rated scale. Here is the table of rates on board. Fees may have changed, but compare to the Premium Rates you are seeing to judge if you should wait.

Where is the WOW emoticon??? ETA, @AryMay -- it sounds like you may get some EXTRA musical perks from this!

^^^^This^^^^ We travelled with a 'larger' lady, and I obtained a LARGER rollator which turned out to be invaluable when the airport turned up with a wheelchair that she could NOT sit in at all. We had her sit on the rollator and used it as a wheelchair! Then she used it the conventional way for the rest of the trip (not a cruise). Presuming that a std rollator, a three-wheeler, and this larger one, are all the same as far as fitting in a stateroom, would be in error.

You will get to be rushed and insulted by the Future Cruise booking staff member. Just my observation: after I heard him tell a passenger that he only had ten minutes for them, I never felt the need to go back.

My NYE K'dam Mexican Riviera cruise still lets me pre-reserve unlimited laundry at $63 ($7 x 9-days). I suspect that the ports visited has something to do with the reports of the higher prices... ETA, the higher prices cited are the European prices of long-standing.

Aha! This must be why I sniped the Crabtree & Evelyn Bath and Facial Bars from our recent hotel stay, still in their little boxes! It should be just enough to get us through our B2B over NYE.

I smiled to hear you call mainland/peninsula ports "islands", but I did read your experiences! I have visited only Puerto Vallarta and Cabo so far (going to get a double dose of your three ports in Dec/Jan). I bow to Ine's and Scott's recommendations for Cabo and Mazatlan. Noting the Mazatlan rec for my own cruise(s)! For PV, I will say that just walking from one end of the Malecon to the other offers many things to amuse all ages: statues, street (or beach) performers, window or sidewalk shopping, and of course eating & drinking! We two took public bus, but with seven of you -- you might hire a van or research a ship's "drop-off" opportunity.

All of the Holland America ships have two pools: The main Lido pool, and the aft, smaller Seaview Pool. One side or back quarter of the Seaview deck is the smoking area, but if the ship is underway, the smoke will be carried away. I can't swear there is no music, though, as we are not pool users or sunbathers! The Pinnacle Class ships (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam) have a second 'layer' of lounge chairs above each of those pools! Called the Panorama Deck: https://halfacts.com/pinnacle-class/nieuw-statendam-panorama-deck/ It seems like that would be quieter? Will try to pay attention on our upcoming K'dam cruises! If you would like to ask more specific questions (or the same question specifically about HAL!) -- here is the board for that: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/103-holland-america-line/

$7/day US, $9/day Europe. so $35 or $45. Shirts come back either folded or on hangers, but I never noticed if they had pressed 'lines'. They are ready to wear. It is also possible to have items ONLY pressed, and there is a full-trip pressing package: $4/day for all days. But I do not believe you need to buy laundry AND pressing -- never heard of anyone doing that...

Here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/64-norwegian-cruise-line/

If you book HAL with a refundable deposit, you can re-fare if the fare goes down, BEFORE final-payment-date, and IF there are same-category cabins still available. In other words, if you could conceivably cancel and re-book, they save you the hassle of doing so. Now, you get the new fare, but you would also get whatever promos (better or less) that are current as of the new fare. If you go to the website and go through the motions of finding your room and booking (without actually doing so), you will see two fares "Have-It-All" with several perks, and "Best Price" without them. HIA has a refundable deposit and Best Price does NOT. However, there is another level between the two; I am told it is called the Advantage Fare: no perks, but refundable deposit. You need either a TA, a Personal Cruise Consultant, or to call and get an 'operator' at HAL. I recommend the PCC! To get a PCC, dial 1-800-355-3017, stay on the line until the choice to talk to a real person, and ask to be assigned to one. If you have ever sailed with HAL, you may actually already have one...

Just understand that the $4/day is for the total length of your cruise, even if you don't send and mark your "unlimited" until after a week. So if you choose that option, no reason to wait!

Huh, I wonder what would have happened if I had pre-ordered a Pippa (red-pink-multi carnations) for 29.99 when the most similar is now the Catherine at $39.49? I didn't order bc I wanted to surprise my husband on our anniversary!

No, sorry. No passenger laundries on HAL ships anymore. Nor can you bring on an iron or steamer. BUT "press-only" is available per the recent laundry form in post #3 above:

Welcome to Cruise Critic, both of you! I just checked the itineraries of the Meraviglia in December looks like Caribbean? I think your concierge has it right @Kuzzinpaul : it should be a "closed-loop" cruise. Guessing you have to checkin in person. Make sure they are 'official' birth certificates and not just a live-birth record from the hospital. (Do they even do those these days?) @Falcon8 In my experience with larger mainstream cruiselines, once you are on board, the ship doesn't not care what room you sleep in! I have booked my husband and myself in different cabins just because we weren't sure who was going to be in the other cabin, and one name had to be the same as the reservation. I wish I could answer definitely for both of you! As I can't (no kids and no experience on MSC), I need to suggest you repeat your question on the MSC board: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/49-msc-cruises/

I notice that both the N.Bliss and the N.Encore carry about two-times the passengers as the Eurodam. The equivalent deck (second deck-of-cabins up from the public decks) is Deck 10. Compared to the Verandah Deck on Eurodam which is Deck 5. There are two elevator/stairwells on the NCL ships with 8 elevators each. There are three stairwell locations on the Eurodam with 4-6-4 elevators. The connecting cabins on the decks I looked at on the NCL ships have a large glass shower (no tub); on the Eurodam they have a shower in a shallow tub (with a curtain). What other things would you like to know?

The Eurodam has connecting verandah cabins near midship on Deck 5. Here are photos of one of them (appears the photos were taken in 2014, while the ship had a drydock in 2021 -- so some decor items may be different). The connecting cabin would look just the same but a mirror-image left to right. The bed may be made up as two twins. https://halfacts.com/5090-eurodam/ I would favor Holland America for the Crows Nest on Observation Deck, the full promenade (board-walk) on Promenade Deck, and Lincoln Center Stage (talented classical music performers) on the Lower Promenade Deck (and sometimes in the main theatre for the evening performance). ETA: checking the itineraries, I see one thing that might sway me to the NCL Encore, and that is it calls at Skagway. Now, I do prefer Sitka overall, but if your father happens to LOVE railroads, the train trip at Skagway is very worthwhile! I recommend the Train Up/Bus Back for two points of view!

9-day K'dam (to Mexico RT/SD) coming up in December. Unlimited laundry is showing as $63 (9-d x $7).

I have always made use of the BAG option (when I wasn't hand-washing in the sink!!!). Here is a list I fit in one bag. Unlike some lines (RCI I'm looking at you), you are not restricted from any type of clothing; if it fits, it can go.

While @oldbluff is correct for cruises with end-points in the States, the unlimited is $9/day for cruises with either end in Europe. The bag-prices is also higher but the price escapes my brain just now. If you go for the unlimited, it will be charged for each day-that-has-a-night of your cruise, so there is no sense in accumulating a big sack or pile of dirties, just start sending!

Many cabins have drawers under the foot of the beds, making it awkward to get the folded walker into the open area. Looking at Deck 8 Verandahs on N.A. and Eurodam, I'm thinking Ruth is right, leaving it unfolded and putting it between the bed and the bathroom wall in day and by sofa or desk at night is going to work just fine. It makes a little shelf, too! https://halfacts.com/signature-class/

Hi dontpanik! What sort of cabin and maybe deck are you booked in? There may be photos to help you gauge or plan.