margretha

Tried the Google spreadsheet but it only opened to the first page. Any other suggestions? Thank you. margretha

Fingers crossed!

Thank you so much sbrown5816! We are doing a back to back (Boston to Bermuda to Boston to Bermuda to Boston) Nov 4-11 and 11-15. We know we have to each file 2 TAs - one for each trip out of Boston to Bermuda. How do we deal with the need for a 2nd test? Has anyone had to deal with this type of situation? Gratefully, margretha

We have gone multiple times out of Boston on this cruise and always in late October or November. We have gone when people are in hot tubs, pools, lounging on the Lido decks, just as if it were July. We have gone in driving rainstorms and pelting snow. We boarded during what turned out to be a raging nor'easter one year when we were literally whisked onto the ship (we were 4 hours before departure) and the captain announced that due to the storm as soon as the last couple of passengers boarded we were leaving Boston. Dinner started around 3:30 with the suggestion that people eat early and remain in their cabins. All the outer doors were locked so people could not wander around decks - although one couple did manage to sneak out and then,, hours later, had to be rescued by a line of HAL staff, holding on to each other for dear life as they dragged these idiots back from the railings where the couple, were glued amidst waves and the ship rolling...we were on the 10th deck and water came in our balcony during the night and soaked the carpet. But the next morning? Sea like glass, people in pools, temps in 80s...We go on the last Boston to Bermuda run or as close to it as we can because it is always exciting, the captain and staff always keep everyone safe (although there were some of us who felt putting the crew in danger to save the absolutely idiotic couple who "needed some selfies with the waves" should have just been left out there). This is one of the best cruises. And it ends with the last hint of autumn and available lobster meals in Bar Harbor!

I am always amazed at the variety of tones and lectures a simple question from someone trying to do a kindness provokes from people who prefer shouting to discussing. I thought the person was doing was giving a kindness to people who work so hard and so long. The snotty tone of some previous respondents remind me of a couple in a suite next to ours on one cruise. We were seated at dinner with them once and they spoke so highly of all the staff, especially the room stewards and the concierges who were just wonderful. They shared that because they had such good experiences on their last cruise on the ship, this time they brought onboard special gifts for some of the staff members. Frankly, when I saw the lovely wrapped gifts I felt like Scrooge since we were just putting cash in an envelope. Turns out the gifts were framed autographed color photos of the couple. Our steward and one of the concierges shared the "gift" with us as we were packing that last night. It was both hysterically funny (no one knew who they were and frankly the photo was not all that flattering) and unbelievably dim since the glass and frames were large and unwieldy.

Thank you skiing and others! Downloaded the form, submitted it late yesterday and this morning got the email that the $100 OBC was now ours. Printed out the email just in case but thank you everyone! margretha

Our TA is online with HAL now, holding forever. She was not notified about the move either. When were you all notified? This is so not like pre-pandemic HAL. margretha

So glad I stumbled on this thread. We are - or were - on the Eurodam cruise leaving Feb. 26th. I just checked our account and tah-dah!!! It has been pushed to departing March 4th for the Panama Canal and returning March 14th. What is going on and why didn't we get notified? Thank you Cat & Squid for starting the thread! margretha

I don't know about the ravens but on a pre-pandemic cruise we brought some favorite snacks onboard to have a little sail away celebration on our balcony. Got called away for the muster drill and returned to find glasses knocked off the table and some smashed and a bottle tipped over and plates all over and an extended family of seagulls making themselves at home on our balcony railings and the arms of the chairs. And, of course, very few remaining cheeses, dips and chips anywhere. Lesson learned. margretha

Off topic but still am asking: Are the Latitude rewards (free meals, free laundry, etc.) predicated on 7 days + and pro-rated for shorter cruises (4 days)? Sorry to intrude... margretha

Massachusetts has the same "Windfall" law so even though I, like many in education, worked in college, held 2nd jobs, etc. and paid into Social Security, because getting both a pension based on teacher salary AND some of the Social Security which we all paid into would be tooooo generous I guess - so they call it the Windfall Law and so no, no Social Security from spouse. Sometimes the sorrow I feel for Jeff Bezos falling into 2nd place as the richest man in the world is just overwhelming.