crystalspin

And atmosphere, unlike the Pinnacle Grill which reminds me of a Denny's with tablecloths. ETA: on the K'dam that is. I prefer the Zaandam/Volendam where the setting is like a library/den.

I see you have got (non) recommendations. The charge as of June was US$69 ($89 with wine pairing) plus 18% service ($81.42/ $105.02). Per person.

Browse or post on the Florida Departures board? https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/386-florida-departures/

I believe Future Cruise Deposits and Future Cruise Credits show up as [cruise line here] expenses. But (and I have this from a vice-president of our Chase branch) 10% off "gift cards" from AARP will not, even if you think you can "prove" that you paid for them with the same card. Your trip insurance pay-out would be reduced by the percentage amount paid by those gift cards. Some people still buy a few AARP gift cards, but use them only for line items like gratuities, NOT cruise fare.

Very cute! Will it make me look 24 and carefree?

What sort of other options? I don't believe you can "shop the Lido". Not trying to be testy! I'm glad you brought this topic back to the top. My 76yo husband and I (just turned 65) got our umpteenth booster first week of October. My 45yo cousin who is living with us, tested positive mid-month. He had only two possible contacts: standing outside in a parking lot chatting with other cyclists (but maybe not 6' apart) and at a recovery meeting where he wore a well-fitting KN95 mask and sat in the back of the room. In other words, he takes it seriously too. But still nabbed! We may have put too much faith in our boosters; a week later DH tested positive and the next day me too. We had not isolated Cousin or masked in our own house. Cousin and DH had the classic body-aches, fatigue, and malaise; I had a nasty headcold. We all took Paxlovid in turn and recovered by the end of the 5-day regime, but my DH rebounded including testing positive again. We're all testing not-positive now, in time for Thanksgiving.

Hi Karen! I have studied the CruiseDeckPlans photos for Zaandam 6223 vs 6213 (connecting vs not connecting rooms of the same furniture orientation). I cannot post those photos, but if you look at the second photo in this gallery: https://halfacts.com/6209-volendam/ The connecting door in 6223 is instead of the farthest away wall poster, near the wall hooks, with just enough room for the waste basket in the corner. You do not appear to lose a closet (which isn't always the case!). So other than the possibility of noise (through two closed doors) there is no down side.

Do you think they have a team? I thought maybe a high school kid in the basement... no, that would probably be an improvement.

^^^ This ^^^ Actually, younger people just count on their luck and it works for most of them, most of the time! I second points made by RuthC and Hank. We have three 35-day cruises booked for the next year, and two medically-fragile people in our immediate and local family. I just was not sure of the PEC for family members included with Chase Sapphire Reserve, so we bought the Standard Cancellation Protection for the upcoming cruise as well as using the Reserve Card for ALL cruise and travel payments. This includes not buying "10% off" gift cards, even if you buy them with the Sapphire! Here is the coverage as of the Reserve card as of Jan 2022, which I lifted from a post by @iluv2cruztoo: Trip cancellation/interruption coverage $10,000 Trip Delay Reimbursement $500 Lost Luggage Reimbursement $3,000 Baggage Delay $100 per day for 5 days Emergency Evacuation & Transit $100,000 Emergency Medical and Dental Benefit $2,500 ($50 deducible) $75 per day for 5 days for a hotel if ordered by attending physician Travel Accident Insurance $1,000,000 Travel and Emergency Assistance access to a dedicated phone line 24/7. The above is considered very good credit card "insurance". There is confusing fine print for all of those coverages, though... The Standard CPP from HAL refunds 80% of cruise fare, CFAR up to 24 hours pre-sailing. The Platinum refunds 90% up to check-in and has some medical coverage (unless you live in NY, Quebec, or Puerto Rico). You can read about those plans on the HAL website, if you can get it to load. You have up to the date Penalties start (NOT ALWAYS Final Payment Date!) to decide to purchase one of those plans, which must be paid for in full and are not refundable once bought. In addition to the belt and suspenders those plans give for "spent money", the fare we can afford to lose, we will be buying a medical sky-hook in the option of a GeoBlue Choice Trekker (annual) plan. We had just bought this plan at the end of 2019! but let it lapse... Deanna at the TripInsuranceStore reassured me that it would still suit our needs four years later. Most people advise calling them on the phone, but I hate the phone with a burning passion and e-mailed detailed information about the monetary protection we already have and our medical conditions (fit but old!). She wrote back to me ON SUNDAY (!) and agreed that re-purchasing GeoBlue would be the appropriate thing to do.

Yes, and even on 11/17 when I think BF started: "Offer is subject to availability, for new bookings only, for 1st/2nd guests blah-blah..." The Grats/Crew Incentive for 35 days, for two, is US$1225 Suites, $1120 non-suite. ETA: How did you book? I have heard of (but never done) getting a SLIGHT adjustment usually as OBC when the price of a comparable cabin plummets after Final Payment Date. There must BE a comparable cabin available!

Rarely! But, it all depends on where (or rather when) you set your baseline. Buying way in advance, usually within 90 days of 'launch' or publication of the cruise gets perks (at least on Holland America) AND you get a better choice of cabins.

I don't have any suggestions, but wanted to welcome you to Cruise Critic! You might want to browse and/or post to the Florida board: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/386-florida-departures/

No, they just made it harder to find! Log into your booking. Under "Flights and Planning" (far right), choose "Cruise Protection Program". To see the amounts, Click the green bar in the right column and then click a person's name to see the Standard and Platinum prices.

(1) You do know you are on the Holland America board? (2) The packages are up to $11 (Signature) or up to $15 (Elite) and for several years now if you go over you are charged the difference (plus 18% service) only. (3) There are no "allowed one per passenger". Corkage is charged at $20/bottle. No matter how "select" it might be. A corkscrew will be in your cabin. DNK RCI's policy. You're on the HAL board.

Oh that's right, I read (on Cruise Critic) that you weren't supposed to take the whole bottle to bars or lounges...

If you wait until on board, (1) you can see if different wines have been substituted, and (2) the bartender or MDR server (used to be Sommelier!) gets some credit for selling it to you. (3) Also you can apply OBC if you have excess. You can take a bottle anywhere you like! Or you can let them hold them, and they will find them for you even if you move between the Lido and the MDR (it's like magic). I have not had the package, but I do not believe you have to choose all at the start. Maybe Roger @Crew News can cast some light on that question.

Hi again Nanna! I realized I hadn't really answered your questions. -- How do you condense? 1. Not all at once. In 2001, we were still using two 29" hard-shell Samsonite pullmans AND carry-on suitcases. We got off the plane in Dublin (not a cruise), and our checked bags did NOT. On the walk to the hotel, I realized that (due to my compulsive cross-packing), we would be OK for two weeks with just the carry-ons! 2. So if you really do have four suitcases, try to make it with three, then two. Consider it a challenge and not deprivation. If your trip is to different climates, OR full of activities/ports, make a list of outfits for each. Pack from the list! 3. When shopping for new (or eBay!) clothes, shop like a traveller. Example: I have very few leggings left in my closet that noticably bag at the knees, even worn multiple times. @LarsenPNP made the point with tops. Cotton, in general is bulky and does not travel very well. -- How much of what do you bring? 1. 4 bottoms (at this point in my life, all pocket-leggings!), 8 tops (mostly rayon tunics), 4 over-layers being three of different 'warmths' and a raincoat or all-weather jacket. 8 undies, 8 pairs socks, 3 bras, 2 nighties. Cross-trainer type sneakers, slip-on shoes for around the ship, and all-black "formal" flip-flops for dinner. For cruises only: a fifth very skinny shiny legging and a sparkly (or other fancy) tank top plus a shawl or filmy coverup. 2. This includes what I am wearing to travel and board. 3. I pack for my husband by the same formula. His pants are all nylon cargo pants, and his shirts also nylon. His "topper" layers are probably a baseball or leather jacket and a "grandpa" cardigan, plus the foul-weather coat. Same underclothes but travel T-shirts not bras! Two pair of boat-shoes or loafers, one being black. For dressy dinners, a guayabera or black nylon shirt, maybe both. 4. We plan to rewear clothes that are not soiled, rinse smalls out in the sink with the bodywash, and/or use ship's laundry. Substitute hotel laundry for non-cruise travel. 5, We are not small people, but the above fits in 22" rollaboards. Which I still cross-pack in case of the unpredictable! -- please tell me how you do it. 1. As I hinted above, in baby steps! 2. Be realistic with your own personality, but challenge yourself, too. Four bottoms & eight tops is over a week of outfits if each bottom only goes with two tops; if some tops go with more than one bottom,-- more options! 3. Don't go too far! We once packed in 14-inch "suitcases" with no second pair of shoes. The heel fell off my boot on the ramp off the plane at destination! Bizarrely it happened again on the way to Alaska, but I did have a second pair of shoes (not boots) that I got to wear every day of the cruise and 14-days on the ground! I have more stories, but this post is plenty long already!

I had a long answer written but the computer re-started and the editor reset. 😞 Here is the entire outer clothing I took on my 26-day TransAtlantic/Mediterranean cruise in 2015: I did also pack a swimsuit (never used, and no longer bring) and a couple printed scarves in "my" colors. A couple light nighties and the requisite undies and socks. I did all laundry in the sink! (I had an awful fear of hot-wash-hot-dry ruining everything!) The Personal Item contained toiletries/medical, electronics, and knitting in a hobo-bag to be carried around the ship! I guess if you look at the illustration, this could be seen as a "capsule wardrobe"... but with a dearth of neutrals! To my way of thinking, coral and teal DO go together! Since 2015, we have flown on a couple VERY LOW WEIGHT allowance international airlines. I got to thinking (like @LarsenPNP emphasized) in terms of weight, to the point that I replaced our heavy generic Chinese packing cubes from eBay with incredibly lightweight but strong ones from Eagle Creek. I weighed EVERYTHING on my kitchen/utility scale! Sadly, the above is my only visually captured cruise wardrobe I have; the website with the "paper doll" depictions disappeared one day. Subsequently I have relied on "spreadsheet" tables with columns for our two carry-ons and two Personal Items, and sub-columns for weights if necessary.

Don't feel bad: I have to say it in my head as I type it AND check the word on my screen!

Whoever requires it, that sounds AWFUL!

Mary beat me to posting the board link (it is cleverly hidden in the Caribbean NOT Panama Canal section). You can browse a couple "pages" worth -- I saw a few posts about Puerto Limon -- and then post your own on the particular excursion if you don't find anything specific.

I think the fine jewelry and watches boutique is not run by the cruiseline itself. Does anyone know which if any shops are? I'm thinking just the line-specific merch-store which may also have the OTC and sundries. But that one may even be outsourced.

You can also ask for additional bags, if for example you have standard care and delicate air-dry items and want to submit separately instead of circling one or two items in a bag with special requests. I was always a fan of the Bag'o'Laundry option (attaching one bag list) as most economical. However, now that I am looking toward my first cruise as 4* (free laundry) and how much less I will have to pack, I retrospectively agree with @Blackduck59. Remember the unlimited is figured for every day (night) of the cruise, even though you can't send anything in the last couple days. You can find what it will cost when logged into your cruise, under Extras. The rate is per cabin, not per person.

Welcome to Cruise Critic and to cruising! I see you've found your Roll Call, that is one place to ask your question. Here is the other: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/16-celebrity-cruises/ Mention your particular ship and repost the question!

Your post reminded me -- on our TA (Barcelona to Tampa that wound up being Barcelona to Orlando), my first lunch I tried the chicken fajitas -- the meat was not cooked through!!! After spitting it on my plate, our routine was to have late breakfast (breakfast was very good with Asian/British/American stations) and early MDR dinner, and a muffin or pastry at the coffee spot in between. Maybe that was over-reacting, but raw poultry can make one pretty sick!