Magnetchief

Hi,

We're looking into an Alaskan trip June 18 2019.

We would like to travel North to South ending in Vancouver

aboard an RCI ship.

After the cruise we would like tro visit family in Portland OR then fly back to N Florida.

How do we go about figuring the flights? Jax is our closest real airport.

As I see it we need to fly Jax to Fairbanks Alaska, After the cruise. Vancouver to Portland, then after visiting family Portland back to Jax..

Seems overly complicated. Almost at the point of finding an agent.

I assume these are 'Gold plated' by the inch rather than real gold

What do they have to do to fix it? Or can they limp along until they dry dock next?

 

 

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Hopefully it's an internal hydraulic issue.

They can repair alongside or even at sea.

External will require a dry dock, or at least some sort of cofferdam, a pumped-out compartment secured to the ship.

But as noted, they should be fine with just 3 fins, just have towork harder.

I would not have thought the passengers would have noticed to behonest.

Now, the South Atlantic in a 3,500 ton Ship with just one stabilizer working. That is fun.

Took us about an hour from arriving to being in the square talking to our guide.

The Scotish cruise director, not a fan. Did mention that no one would be allowed ashore until the official RCI tours had disembarked.

We took this up with the hotel director who was standing by the gangway, he stated that this was wrong and we were free to leave whenever we liked.

We walked straight off.

Have had the same issue on Magesty.

Charge on the last day for 2 towels, $50.

Maybe they printed the bill too early.

I went to the pool deck and checked, their laptop showed no towels out under my room.

I picked up 10 towels on my way there and asked him to credit the 10 to my room account, an easy $250 I thought.

He just laughed, it doesn't work that way sir.

Might be a good way to stop the Chogs, if people can get $25 per towel then no one is going to leave them out on a lounger ;)

Never bothered us in Havana,

There were the 'ladies' in costume who would posr for photos. But a polite "No thanks" worked.

Google.

Blanket statements like that are not useful. Whether or not it is worth it will vary with the individual and with how much is being exchanged. There will always be a savings involved, whether or not it is big enough to justify the effort is entirely up to you.

A blanket statement suffices.

This subject has been covered repeatedly, a search will bring up more details if the op is interested.

I personally cannot bebothered to explain the math involved in exchanging $ to CuCs

Hence, the blanket statement.

'If' there are no fees associated with getting the Candian then go ahead.

If thre are fees then it;s not worth it.

How much? Only you know that answer, maybe a bazillion $ or so.

Sounds like I need to invest in this for 80 bucks

 

http://www.jammerinthebox.com/products/Mini_Handheld_Bluetooth_WiFi_Signal_Jammer_with_Built-in_Antenna.html

Oh I so want one of those.

But it would mess with my bluetooth hearing aids.

Would you wear pajamas to McDonald’s or Burger King or Cracker Barrel?

See it all the time here in my hometown.

Mostly a good guide as to when the college students are in town.

I think she'll be fine as long as the DL matches the reservation.

If it does not then get the res changed asap to match the DL

We offered, but the guide knew the owners and declined.

Gotta love the Internet, what you read as fact, could be just as subjective as one's taste in food.

BTW, I'm not disputing what your CD said, just about what one reads on the Web!

 

I've read that about where the Cuban Sandwich was invented, most references list Key West ahead of Tampa.

 

 

Also read this: "It's believed that the first Cuban sandwich was made more than a quincentenary ago the by Taíno tribe in Cuba. They were one of three different cultures that inhabited the island before Europeans arrived. Jorge Astorquiza, a food chemist in Tampa, says the Taínos used casabe bread, made from yucca, to make the dish"

 

 

Regardless, still desire when in Cuba, to try a Cuban Sandwich from a local shop, bet it will have a coat of yellow mustard spread on the bread, sliced Roast Pork, Ham, Swiss Cheese, and thinly sliced dill pickles, all added in layers, with the pickles on top. Sometimes the pork may be marinated in mojo and slow roasted. Rumor has it, it's not a true Cuban Sandwich if it includes salami, which Tampa shops seem to like adding.

If as you exit the terminal turn left, head about 200 yards. cross the road and there is a small family run cafe, can't recall its name.

They sell a nice range of Cuban food. Sit outside if it's cool enough and watch the world walk by.

I think they even (The horror!) list a Cuban sandwich on their menu.

I think it's mostly a pork sandwich with a few fixings.

We really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Very casual and mostly locals with a few confused looking tourists.

City?

"Cuban sandwiches" were invented in Tampa FL as lunch for the cigar factory workers. .

Recommend you try something truly local while in Cuba, rather than be disappointed by something invented by and for tourists.

 

Our cruise director even told us not to order one in his instructional talk.

You will get a far better one in Miami or Tampa.

So true, but don't spoil thier trip ;)

Lots of tasty Cuban food to be had. Even really nice pork sandwiches.

Rolex.

 

No batteries. No sunlight. No winding.

Lol, just a $2500 service every 5 years. :)

On a recent tour of the bridge.

 

The Captain had a tip jar out on console next to where he was sitting.

 

It was very tacky but most on the tour felt obligated to put a few dollars in.

You would think they pay him more these days..

Really? Now that is tacky.

I would certainly have called him out on it.

It was fun 5 years or so ago.

I hear nowadays it's a bit of a bore.

Disinterested staff, poor drinks and no food.

Still the JAzz though.

Are there any recent reviews?

The new low was pair of CHs who left their bags on two chairs in the shade and proceeded to go to their chairs in the sun on another part of the ship. They never sat in the shade chairs but did come back a couple of times to get items from their bags.

Nothing new here, we have been seeing the same behaviour for years.

Last Magesty cruise we had a family of 6 holding onto 12 chairs, same routine 6 in the shade and 6 by the pool.

The staff were not really interested. I expressed my anoyance and moved on.

Certainly the stench at the ship was coming from dumping intothe water.

I can 100% assure you it's not the ship dumping sewage into the sea.

Thier sewage treatment plants treat any waste.

Now the local sewars, I can only assume they dump straight into the port. I certaily would not want to go into that water

We loved that there were dog kennels on the Queen Mary 2.

Fwd, Port side on the main deck. They looked well cared for by a team of kennel staff.

Saying that, it didnt seem to diminish the amount of small dogs traveling on mobility scooters.

Anoter vote for Valet.

Otherwise you will be dragging your cases 1/4 mile to the covered parking lot in the rain ;)

We will have Raul in November. Anything you can tell us about your day with him?

His wife likes candy and chocolate :)

I'm friends with Raul on fb, great guide 'Photographer'

Take a CF memory card and he will take pictures of you all day then give you back the card at the end of the tour.