Woofbite

On 9/21/2023 at 5:51 AM, Mary229 said:

I have noticed they have started doing so on many of my shore excursions.  I would also like them to state the number of participants per vehicle.  When I grow up I want to be the person to write the descriptions 😁

HAL needs to take lessons from their sister company Princess. 

Here's one example from Montego Bay Rose Hall Great House & Beach 5 hr. tour:

Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc.

And usually a couple of nights a week with nothing in the main theater unless things have improved recently.

On 5/16/2023 at 11:49 AM, bobpiano said:

What cell phone carriers do y’all recommend, especially if we’re not on the internet package? I’ve read that T-Mobile may be best for all the countries the GA cruise is visiting. What about those of us on ATT, Verizon, Century Link, etc.? No heavy use expected—just email, FB and maybe some articles or news.

I use Google Fi.  It works using T-Mobile, Sprint and a couple of other smaller carriers plus the extensive Google network so it works in almost all countries and costs $20 a month basic plus $10 a gig for one person without a roaming fee.  They also have a couple of unlimited plans up to $65 a month but it includes You Tube, 100g storage.  Here's a good explanation of the service:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-project-fi-plans-pricing-explained/

7 minutes ago, SargassoPirate said:

Maybe I can help a bit.  It's my understanding that "High" tea is not as posh as it sounds.  "Afternoon" tea is what you'll find on a ship in the afternoon when tea is served with little sandwiches, scones, and merengues.

 

High tea is traditionally served late in the day, at a "high" table with high chairs, and includes an assortment of breads, cheeses, and meats.   It serves as an evening meal for the working class.

 

I had it explained to me in Bermuda when a traveling companion went into a big hotel there and asked for "high" tea.  He was looking for the snooty, posh, afternoon tea and  thought that high made it highfalutin when he was really asking about the plowman's supper.

 

 there are certain carriers that won't even show a seat map until the ticket is issued with a bona fide ticket number.

I was able to book seats immediately after the Flight Ease reservation made in May and they showed in the separate airline systems until about a week ago when they suddenly vanished.

I'll definitely call HAL and tell them to get the tickets issued because all sorts of things can go wrong with reservations prior to that.  I wasn't aware they would issue them early.  I called right after final payment was due and all they said was tickets would be issued a couple of weeks before the trip - no mention that early ticketing was possible.

20 hours ago, valancy1 said:

If you want them ticketed, then ask for early ticketing.  Or pay for restricted air, and they would then be ticketed.  The purpose of flexible air is to reserve the flights, not ticket them until closer to sailing.  Having sold air for a long time, I'll say that no matter who you go through, there are certain carriers that won't even show a seat map until the ticket is issued with a bona fide ticket number.  The purpose of flexible air is to hold the space.... without penalty until final payment, and closer to the time of sailing, issue said tickets with the airline.  If you don't like that model, then consider asking for early ticketing or purchase restricted air or purchase yourself.  Airlines cannot help you (generally speaking) when a third party owns the reservation. Will you occasionally get a person that might be able to assist? Yes, but don't be upset when they don't.  The booking number/ record locator/PNR is merely a placeholder so the airlines knows inventory.  That's it.

I'm frustrated that they have had our money for months and still haven't ticketed the flights.  Noticed last week seat reservations has been cancelled.  Called to reinstate, Nobody knows what happened.  HAL unable to rebook original seats but did get one flight booked with an acceptable alternate.  Other flight I was told to contact carrier.  Naturally AA said nope they couldn't do anything until ticketed.  Until then contact HAL.  And so it goes....

21 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

 if we were able to see a polar bear even a 1000 feet away would be awesome! Just the thought of the potential of seeing a polar bear is cool enough for us.

You need to consider a few day land tour to Churchill Canada.

3 hours ago, canadarocks said:

We had the profiteroles and were  not impressed at all. Didn’t like the dessert soufflé either. Hope the Crepes Suzette is better. 

Good luck.  Since they've outlawed flame in the dining room, I swear the Rudi's Suzettes I had recently were made with crepes left from the Lido breakfast buffet smeared with a little orange marmalade.  Really pathetic.

On 9/3/2023 at 5:54 AM, Mosaic said:

In my opinion, garbage in garbage out.  Soon there will only be cheeseburgers in the MDR... And the wait staff will dress like the PAX.

My guess we may eventually see ala carte pricing for all food on board.

If you do much travel at all, I'd suggest an annual policy wherever you purchase it.

For the price of a couple of short cruise policies all your travel a hundred miles from home may be covered. (At least it is with my Allianz policy does.)

I seem to remember that being in conjunction with a sale

of books on how to make a bunch of them.

I did a Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona in April and had an exceptionally smooth trip.  Captain went far south of Bermuda instead of shorter route north of the Island to avoid a major storm.  As he said, ship would have been perfectly safe but he didn't like rough trips either.

1 hour ago, ChinaShrek said:

I find the MDR a stressful experience: meeting new people every night, watching what I say, what we talk about, ugh. Give me a buffet so I can just load my plate up and eat quietly in the corner.

And especially stressful if you have a hearing problem, (with hearing aids even), because with the noise all you can do is nod occasionally, chuckle when others laugh and hope like crazy no one asks you a question as you sit there with a blank look on your face with the whole table goes quiet and stares at you.  Unfortunately, mobility issues frequently accompany hearing ones so port visits and buffets can be difficult as well but enjoying the sea and reading with occasional room service, make the whole thing worthwhile.

Is there any difference in food or entertainment or are they just longer voyages at higher average daily cost?

What?  No more of those, "highly collectable Holland America penguin pins"?

2 hours ago, aussiedisneyfan said:

On the Rotterdam last month it was self graded and I think most times the prize was a free drink.

What?  No more of those, "highly collectable Holland America penguin pins"?

If only they had heard of tomato salsa for the tacos.  That mango crap may work for Indian chefs, but not great in the eyes of this southwestern U.S. guy.  I started bringing my own on board after two years of pleading without success with various HAL cooks.  But then the taco bar disappeared completely.  Glad it's back.  I'll restock my supply.

I booked a one-way business class from Capetown through FlightEase.  HAL said Business class was not available out of London so they upgraded me to First Class.  I never heard of that before but checking American website shows it confirmed.

I went ahead and paid for the cruise and airfare to try and lock everything in.

Now to see if it really happens.

Can't you make your phone a hot spot and let another user access your internet account?  I've connected my phone and a tablet but can't remember if both were in use at the same time.

Turned out it didn't matter if it applied to GTY cabins anyway because CO isn't available on Grand  Voyages.  (I wonder why not?)

What happens if you have a guarantee balcony cabin and add CO?  Will you get a definite cabin assignment?
 

As a single who keeps planning longer cruises I'm encountering problems with prescriptions and mail delivery even on shorter trips.

Timing doesn't always work out and I really don't have anyone I can trust to forward things so they will 

always arrive where/when needed.  The post office only holds mail 30 days and I hate to change addresses each cruise for all the stuff I receive.  Prescriptions are an even bigger problem.  Although CVS Caremark has vacation exceptions, it is a real hassle, requires approvals from two or three different departments and then there is a concern if the stuff will arrive before departure.

I'm sure someone on here has faced the problem and found a solution.  I'd appreciate knowing it.

Tracy's in Juneau charged $75 a leg in 2021.

Just got off a Columbia River trip and I have never seen so many passengers needing assistance, (including me).  There were always crew members at the gangway with spare chairs pushing people up to buses for every excursion.  Places visited varied in their accommodations but there were usually a few exhibits, movies or seats to sit and watch the passing scene.  As a last resort you could always enjoy the drive and stay on the bus.

They've become about as unreliable as the airlines.  Combine the two and cruising has become out last choice in travel these days.