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Nope. How does my unsigned slip prove the charge? Over the past two years, I have cruised 80 days on 5 different HAL cruises. Twice, I had an incorrect charge on my drink bill. Since I had the HIA package, I should not have been charged. Both times, I used the “let it know” feature on the Navigator app stating I should not have been charged. In less than 8 hours, the charge was removed from my bill. (I check my bill every morning.)

Thank you for your tour review of Seward. I assume this was a HAL tour. Do you always do HAL excursions? Would there be better options for those who prefer private tours?

Thank you for the pictures of Flam. Made me very excited for our Best of Norway cruise on the Rotterdam in August. We will be using part of our HIA credit to take a 6 hour tour that begins with scenic bus ride up to Voss where we will board the Bergen railway and finally transfer to the Flam railway. Positive thought to those who need them. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

Any comments about time spent in your first port? What did you do when you went ashore?

Menus are back on my iPhone! No need to clear storage/cache or log out.

Regardless of the inconsistencies, I agree that the staff on HAL is the best! PS: Thanks for your suggestion but I will not be carrying a one time use plastic glove in my pocket…just washing my hands frequently with soap and water.

I carry a pen in my purse but I don’t carry my purse on the ship. It was never a problem when I said I preferred not to sign. Not using a common pen isn’t the only reason I prefer not to sign, it was just the quickest and easiest thing to tell the server. HAL states, “Our efforts to significantly reduce non-essential single-use items, including plastics, on our ships is key to our environmental compliance program, Operation Oceans Alive. We are committed to reducing these items by 50%. It is our shared responsibility to limit our environmental footprint. The more we learn, the more we must be willing to move in the direction of zero-impact. We are committed to reducing, reusing, recycling, as well as to properly dispose of the waste we generate. For me, the slips are a waste of paper. Typical thermal receipt paper contain high levels of BPA and phenol chemicals and cannot be recycled. Only receipts printed on phenol-free paper can be recycled. Unfortunately, I saw a receipt accidentally fly overboard at the Seaview pool while in Antarctica. I made these comments on my post cruise survey.

I do not sign for drinks because I don’t like to use a commonly shared pen. I frequent the same bars and try to develop a relationship with the servers so after the first time, they don’t even offer a slip. If offered by a new server, I look at the check, explain why I’m not signing and return it.

My experience with the Rolling Stones lounge was a set list posted outside the venue of the type of music that would be featured during the 3 sets. I’ve seen Beatles, 80s, Disco, R&B. Unfortunately, it is difficult for one band to play such a diverse set list. BB Kings was always my favorite because of the horn section. It only remains on the Pinnacle class ships (NS, Koningsdam, Rotterdam)

It’s important to be prepared for disasters and everyday should be cruelty free but today I will celebrate “no sock day”. Generally my socks go away in spring and do not reappear until fall. Perhaps I am following the “sock burning” tradition that originated in Annapolis. After a particularly snowy winter in 1978, Annapolitan Bob Tuner was anxious to shed his socks with the arrival of spring. He invited his colleagues to celebrate the end of winter by burning their socks after work, a symbolic goodbye to winter as the group of boat builders, sailors, and watermen intended to forgo wearing socks until the cold weather returned; and so a tradition was born. The tradition has come to be celebrated every year on the Vernal Equinox, the day signaling the beginning of Spring and, more importantly in Annapolis, boating season. The Eastport Yacht Club and the Annapolis Maritime Museum continue to observe this tradition and, with the assistance of social media, sock burning has caught fire across the country — it is now celebrated from Pacific Northwest to New England and even in land-locked areas of Pennsylvania. These days, the annual Sock Burning event has become quite popular and includes an oyster roast, food vendors, activities, and exhibits highlighting maritime heritage. Positive thoughts to those who need them. Cheers to those on the celebration list.

Unfortunately, there is no BB Kings on the Nieuw Amsterdam. There is a Rolling Stones lounge that will probably do three different sets of three different types of music. I do not think of the casino bar as a place to hang out but you can get a drink there. Play hard during the day and get up early to watch the sunrise. Enjoy Alaska!

@ElleG01 Here’s your Roll Call of fellow cruisers

I suggest you look at some of the recent LIVE threads. Here is one from a Panama Canal cruise.

As a former teacher, I appreciate the work of teachers every day. Healing thoughts to all who are in pain, be it physical or emotional. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

Most of the acronyms used here are in general use, frequently when texting. BFF is best friend forever. I usually think of DS as dear son but you may have to guess from context clues. YMMV (your mileage may vary)😊