Come Sail a Way with us LIVE as the Westerdam meets the Sail a Way Gang

[PathfinderEss]

I promised I would follow up on the Canadian Customs situation.

My travel agent phoned Seattle and the person she spoke to had no idea why the ship staff would be requesting the forms so early and be telling people to just make an estimate of what their spending would be and then sign a post dated form.

 

This morning just before we left the ship I had a call from the guest relations manager who had been speaking with Seattle as a result of my agent's intervention.

 

She apologised for her staff giving me incorrect instructions and agreed that it was a big no no to do what they were suggesting. She then thanked me for bringing it to their attention and said they would be addressing the issue.

 

I promised faithfully that as soon as the ship departed San Diego and I was done shopping, I would hand in my correct, complete form. She was happy with that.

 

Glad to hear you got that issue straightened out. It seemed weird to alot of us, especially being you had several shopping ports left before the end of the cruise. There would be no way to have a correct form to turn in, unless you knew you would not be making any more purchases.

[sammiedawg]

For those of you following my hot water trials and tribulations..... I am now up a big flower arrangement, a plate of treats (in addition to the previous offerings) and a suggestion of compensation. But most important of all - and all I ever wanted - things seem to be fixed and we have had 2 hot showers in a row!!! It doesn't take much to make this old gal happy!! Now please everyone keep your fingers crossed that this lasts for the remainder of the cruise.

 

Lizzie, I consider myself a patient person but you are a saint putting up with so much. IMO you and anyone else in your cabin are entitled to a per diem refund for each day you were without a basic service like hot water or inconvenienced with repairs. Anything less is unacceptable. If I were you my HAL sailing days would be done. I sincerely hope they do right by you.

[qsuzi]

I promised I would follow up on the Canadian Customs situation.

My travel agent phoned Seattle and the person she spoke to had no idea why the ship staff would be requesting the forms so early and be telling people to just make an estimate of what their spending would be and then sign a post dated form.

 

This morning just before we left the ship I had a call from the guest relations manager who had been speaking with Seattle as a result of my agent's intervention.

 

She apologised for her staff giving me incorrect instructions and agreed that it was a big no no to do what they were suggesting. She then thanked me for bringing it to their attention and said they would be addressing the issue.

 

I promised faithfully that as soon as the ship departed San Diego and I was done shopping, I would hand in my correct, complete form. She was happy with that.

Kudo's to you sapper!

[OVgirl]

Love the food porn. I forgot to tell you that there is an awesome Italian restaurant in down town Puerto Vallarta called 'La Dolce Vita'. I know it sounds funny to have a great Italian restaurant in Mexico but it is truly excellent. We eat there whenever we're in PV.

 

VictOriann your picture size is great on my computer, fills the screen perfectly. Thanks for the dinner menu.:)

 

Kazu let us know if your DH wears his new t-shirt on board the ship before the cruise ends.:D:D

 

Noordam going thru the locks today, just to keep you up to date.

 

 

Noordam getting some help from the tugs.

 

http://www.kroooz-cams.com/portcams/so_america/centennial.php

[0bnxshs]

Sitting on the side of the Lido pool supervising DS. DH and DD have gone to get her "free" tanzanite earrings.

 

Last I checked still no key for the verandah door. I went to the front desk this morning and confirmed that the key was on their list. I also asked for tiles and was told we would be invited to the Mariner's luncheon on Sunday as we are not disembarking until May 1st in Vancouver. I said my DH is leaving in San Diego and we won't go anyway as the children do not like the set menu. So she gave me 3 tiles and said the 4th would be delivered to our cabin when they restocked. When I got back to the cabin I realized we had 2 new tiles and 1 old version tile. I wonder what the fourth tile will look like!

 

Thanks Rich for returning the Club Hal and The Loft daily programs. DD was very happy.

 

Deb mentioned running into your DH and DS and reminding them about the earrings. :) Apparently the place is no pressure and "for real".

 

I figured your DD would appreciate the quick return of her treasures. :cool: They shall soon be immortalized.

Edited April 24, 2015 by 0bnxshs

[sail7seas]

For everyone shopping for Mexican Vanilla, make SURE it does not contain coumarin, which, according to the FDA, is toxic and banned in the US. I think most (all?) of the better brands now puts a sticker on their bottles saying it's coumarin-free. Also, for the purest vanilla, you want the kind without corn syrup.

 

Back when you could easily hall liquor to the US in a carry-on bag on the plane, we'd always bring back a bottle of good tequila and a bottle of Kahlua. Too much of a hassle these days, though. :(

 

You're right about the coumarin. It is a blood thinner and can be a health risk for certain people. I don't know the full chemistry of it but one would think it is a 'relative' to Coumadin which has to be carefully monitored for therapeutic levels and that amount varies tremendously.

 

[sail7seas]

Kazu,

Great food photos. Both lunch plates look delicious. :)

[SilvertoGold]

You are very kind :) thank you. Would be delighted to sail with you.

 

I always invite roll call members to join in on the live thread but usually there are only a few posts. This roll call is a great one and I am so glad they are joining in.

 

I haven't got the new sailing in my signature yet, but the spread sheet is - LOL. Westerdam - April 2/16. why not join us? Some of the Sail a Way gang are coming along and another just told us they were signing up.

 

The roll call is already busy :)

 

Thanks for the invitation!

Having been on that exact cruise twice (once the Westerdam), I am tempted. PathfinderEss will know what I mean when I say it was the best!

 

We book our cruises late in the game, but I would like to read along on the RollCall!

 

Thanks again for the outstanding work you have done and are still doing for this Panama cruise. It is a pleasure coming along for the ride, although dam hard to keep up with you guys!!

[kazu]

You have mail. ;)

 

 

 

thanks :) hopefully I can access this one better. I think my webmail uses too much something for the internet although I have had no problems in the past. Might be something going on with their system. I will be asking when I get home as I never had difficulties before

[kazu]

here is the tshirt DH bought.

 

If he wears it on board, I will be in shock.

 

I will let you know if he does. LOL

 

[SilvertoGold]

We enjoyed Puerto Vallarta, but came back to the ship for lunch. Now it is siesta time for DH, so he went off line and I have my turn.

 

I don't remember if anyone has mentioned it, but I am very happy we are having the "old form" of menus for dinner in the MDR. Like this:

 

 

How is the size on that? Still too big? Tapatalk doesn't seem to give me the option to re-size, so maybe I have to do it in iPhoto.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Size of the menu photo was perfect for my screen!

Thanks for posting!! Yum.

[kazu]

thanks :) hopefully I can access this one better. I think my webmail uses too much something for the internet although I have had no problems in the past. Might be something going on with their system. I will be asking when I get home as I never had difficulties before

 

 

heading to the sail a way get together. Hey, it's the sail a way gang right? and then I will email you. many thanks.

[summer slope]

Thanks for the picture. That is perfect.

[kazu]

Thanks for the invitation!

 

Having been on that exact cruise twice (once the Westerdam), I am tempted. PathfinderEss will know what I mean when I say it was the best!

 

 

 

We book our cruises late in the game, but I would like to read along on the RollCall!

 

 

 

Thanks again for the outstanding work you have done and are still doing for this Panama cruise. It is a pleasure coming along for the ride, although dam hard to keep up with you guys!!

 

 

feel free to lurk away or to even post. you are more than welcome :)

[cruz chic]

just past the Church of Guadaloupe, just ask but if you keep going up and then right - you should hit it. The old town has some really nice things.

 

Great info! Thx so much.

[kazu]

Great info! Thx so much.

 

 

happy to help :)

[kazu]

You're right about the coumarin. It is a blood thinner and can be a health risk for certain people. I don't know the full chemistry of it but one would think it is a 'relative' to Coumadin which has to be carefully monitored for therapeutic levels and that amount varies tremendously.

 

 

 

 

 

thanks zelker and Sail.

 

Our vanilla only has one ingredient - vanilla - so I think we are good :)

[cruz chic]

I promised I would follow up on the Canadian Customs situation.

My travel agent phoned Seattle and the person she spoke to had no idea why the ship staff would be requesting the forms so early and be telling people to just make an estimate of what their spending would be and then sign a post dated form.

 

This morning just before we left the ship I had a call from the guest relations manager who had been speaking with Seattle as a result of my agent's intervention.

 

She apologised for her staff giving me incorrect instructions and agreed that it was a big no no to do what they were suggesting. She then thanked me for bringing it to their attention and said they would be addressing the issue.

 

I promised faithfully that as soon as the ship departed San Diego and I was done shopping, I would hand in my correct, complete form. She was happy with that.

 

Thx sapper for following up,on this thru your ta and then letting us know. I bet the front office was surprised they had such resourceful people on board. I'm very nervous of stuff like this because I have a nexus card. i realize most people would be quite honest but it scares the heck out of me now.

[Vict0riann]

We have Nexus cards, too. Never used them at a port, though. Just don't want to get a bad name!

 

We are sailing away from Puerto Vallarta. We heard a lot of tooting, even from the Crow's Nest, where we are enjoying Happy Hour. I was tempted to go out on the Observation deck, but my kir royale had priority.

[summer slope]

What is a nexus card?

[Krazy Kruizers]

oops, I forgot to take the pic before we started

 

DH is having the catch of the day and I shrimp tacos.

 

Warning - food porn :)

 

 

 

catch of the day is cubeno - similar to mahi mahi

 

 

 

Looks yummy!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Cruz Chic - this is the spot across the street from the restaurant

 

 

The bill was 435 pesos which is about $30 US - not too bad for shrimp, calamari and fish, nachos and tortillas and beers. IMO :)

 

 

That is a good deal!!

[sail7seas]

thanks zelker and Sail.

 

Our vanilla only has one ingredient - vanilla - so I think we are good :)

 

Doesn't vanilla have alcohol and water? I think it has to. :confused:

Some have corn syrup and then again, some have coumarin. :eek:

 

[cruz chic]

What is a nexus card?

 

It's for canadian (?) travellers that spend a lot of time going back and forth over the Canada/USA border. It moves you through customs and sometime security faster.

[summer slope]

It's for canadian (?) travellers that spend a lot of time going back and forth over the Canada/USA border. It moves you through customs and sometime security faster.

Thank you. I learn something new everyday on CC.