Daniel A

@Barney Gallagher -- @rbxlady has a good idea if you are looking to arrive at the port and be on board swiftly. That will minimize the time you would spend in the Haven VIP waiting area in the terminal. Often, when you arrive in the Haven lounge in the terminal, the concierge and/or assistant concierge will greet you and make any dinner or show reservations you would like to have. My preference would be to plan on an extra half hour so I have time to take advantage of this perk prior to boarding the ship. There will almost certainly be a line of other passengers standing in front of the concierge desk upon arrival in the Haven proper. It all depends on your personal preferences.

As long as we're also discussing luggage here, in addition to my luggage tags, I print a couple of sheets of paper with my name, home address, destination information, cell numbers, and emergency contact phone number. I place that sheet on top of everything inside the suitcases so that if the id luggage tags get ripped off the luggage, they can find more information once authorities open the luggage. Before I retired, I used to just place my business card in the luggage but now my old office would say "Dan who??"

In September on Getaway, we had to sit with our carry-ons in the Haven Lounge until all of the Haven cabins were ready. I did note you said 'usually' - I guess it all depends on the ship and the concierge. The checked luggage did arrive fairly soon thereafter, interfering with my enjoyment of my beverage on the balcony! Ugh! I guess the Haven checked luggage gets priority as well as the passengers.

👍 A quick response or two was fine, but the thread drift is getting out of control.

I use two different colored pieces of duct tape. (I use my high school colors - blue and yellow) I'd stay away from using common colors such as silver, and fluorescent orange or green. I then cut two strips about one foot long for the base color and one one foot color for the top color. I then cut the top color strip in half lengthwise and run each of those strips down the middle of the base color. I put one across the top and back of the suitcase and then I place the other strip across the front and a side so that I can see the personalized duct tape on the suitcase from any angle. (Whew! 😄) Here's what one of mine looks like: I can always spot my bag from a distance whether on an airport turnstile or a cruise terminal warehouse.

@Sthrngary and @graphicguy - Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness. 😉

Our concierge was able to book a table for four at Cagney's when it said it was full, but the concierge can't work miracles. My advice is that if it is a special occasion and a must have, go ahead and charge it, if it's just to enjoy a particular restaurant, the concierge will be able to find something for you. I don't know if this would work, but you might be able to a) ask the pre-cruise concierge to help, or you can usually book reservations at embarkation in the Haven lounge in the cruise terminal. b) reserve a table with your CC and once onboard try to work with the concierge to cancel the CC booked reservation and have the concierge immediately re-book it using your OBC. The worst they can do is make you walk the plank or get keel hauled. 😬

Wouldn't this thread drift be better located here?

That coast guard vessel sits too low in the water (not enough freeboard) to align with the platform designed for embarking and disembarking passengers from ship's tenders. They still would have needed to climb a rope ladder thus being endangered. YOU'RE WELCOME! 😄

When the local Coast Guard boat took them out to the Dawn, this is how the LATE 8 would have needed to reembark the Dawn. Keep in mind, there was a pregnant passenger and a paraplegic in that group. Does anybody want to question the Captain's concern for his passengers? Rules are rules for a reason, even if the local coast guard doesn't know them. I'm also including a photo of the Sao Tome Coast Guard boat that took them out to the Dawn. Here's the Coast Guard Ship. The LATE 8 would have needed to climb the same ladder the harbor pilots use. Enough said?

If that were the reason for missing the boat, then why are the Campbells being so evasive about that being the 'issue?' If it was the tour company that caused this through their fault, I'd be screaming bloody murder at the tour company, not the cruise line.

The advertisement is misleading. Nowhere does it say they are guaranteeing on time returns, the are only claiming they have a 100% record of returning on time. There's always a first time, just ask the six that were with the Campbells.

I have seen many tours advertising Guaranteed Return to Ship. That doesn't mean the ship will wait, rather it means they will be responsible to get you to the next port of call so you can re-board there if the ship leaves without you.

I meant they could have tactfully given a more specific explanation rather than saying it was an "issue." I think they used that same word in more than one interview. They are being deliberately vague and that is inviting more speculation as to why.

Do you mean saying "due to a bout of sudden illness " rather than a vague statement?