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Should I notify HAL of my need for a Diabetic Menu before sailing?  

Searched several locations and can't find the Amsterdam's Buffet Hours?  Beginning to think that Dinner is not served on the Amsterdam?  Taking a 14 day Alaska Cruise RT Seattle.

They'll take it alright - but there is NO cultural or other requirement to tip in-play. In fact, there is official signage stating the opposite! If you actually go and find someone to come to your car and get your bags and schlep them down to the conveyors from the parking levels, I'd tip - that's actual 'above and beyond' work. But the longshoremen running the conveyors and cages are EXTREMELY well-paid - the long service guys with seniority get first pick of shifts and they all want the cruise pier work because it's safer and easier than the cargo jobs, and plenty of people tip despite the signs.

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Thanks MartinCath! I follow the Official signs.

Having traveled to other British Commonwealth Countries I would like to know what the tipping suggestions are for the Porters at Canada Place Parking. I'm asking because at Pier 91 in Seattle at Republic Parking near the Pier the small bus driver absolutely does not take tips....which is unusual for the U.S.

Have lived in Australia before and tipping was simply not usually done. So I'm wondering whether or not to tip the Porters at Canada Place? I understand if the Porters have time they come to the cruisers parked care and take the luggage that will be checked in.

We will be sailing on the Legend to Alaska this August and would like to know what items are supplied in the bathroom? Besides the Buffet what other food options are free?

Also what is the method of payment for the laundry machines?

Thanks all. Yes the term Technically is used in strange ways sometimes.

I had issues with printing luggage tags for Westerdam, Amsterdam, Oosterdam and Carnival Legend....so I think it is on my end...

Does anyone know where are the Technically regulations that allow a bottle of wine to be carried in Checked Baggage?

FROM AN EARLIER HAL POST:...

right now it can technically be in your checked luggage. However, ""rafinmd just reported on his live thread that he was called to the "naughty" room so they could open up his suitcase to see his soda.

If you are not bringing a lot on, I would be tempted to carry it on. Otherwise check it and be prepared.

Remember, you don't have to bring it all on at embarkation. Depending upon your ports of call and availability of you soda, you can bring all the soda you want at every port of call - no problem at

Yes, the beach sand is very close to the side walk.

Medical standards are generally higher in most European countries and of course Canada and the U.S. I have only had one foreign doctor do a minor operation...Kidney stone removal and I was sitting in a pool of blood when finished! He was from the same country as my excellent Cardiologist...India..

I imagine that the reason people leave their Lanai doors open is because they are addicted to Ocean Air and would like to have their cake and eat it too, by watching TV... while the Lanai door is open. I too am addicted to Ocean Air and it is the reason I cruise, but I certainly wouldn't want to waste a huge amount of electricity, driving my cruise rates higher and higher.

If the outside temperature is around 70 to 75 and the AC or Heat is not being triggered to come on I would have not problem with seeing open Lanai doors.

Hospitality and travel industry marketing is not my area of expertise, so I can't respond to your questions.

 

Roz

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Like your idea of Rick Steeve's being a grrrreat fit for HAL.

I though there already were reading areas aboard HAL ships, why a reading room with a celebrities name?

Some, very, very valuable items in my carry on. Too many horror stories of lost forever luggage to risk it.

The last time I was at Pier 91 in Seattle the TSA agent wasn't at her post and I had plenty of time to look at the scanner and it looked to be at least 24 inches wide and 16 inches high. BTW the TSA agent never showed up so I just put my items through the scanner myself...then at the last second she said I wasn't suppose to do that, but never required me to put the items through again...I guess I just look to honest?in

On our last cruise there were folks walking up to the ship with large bags about 20" wide and 12 inches deep. The reason they said they take one or two of their larger bags is that they don't want to have their luggage lost...again.

For those who think your bags will be ready by your cabin....ours did not show up on first civilian cruise. The bags were sent to another cabin by MISTAKE and our cabin attendant said he would go half way down the passage way and retreive them. He came back looking like a ghost and said the party at the cabin didn't want to give up my luggage without a fight.

The question I have is how wide can the carry on be, and how tall when the suitcase is laying flat?

My bag is 20 inches wide and 12 inches high(deep), length should not matter?

99.9% of the time the cabins have been ready by 11:30 when boarding begins.

When you say medium size suitcase -- I have a question. Will it fit through the scanner? The scanner is the same size as those at the airports.

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We have only sailed on the Eurodam so we are really newbie civilian cruisers. Our medium bag is 20 inches wide and 12 inches high. I have read here that some people don't trust the porters for loseing their luggage and bring it all on themselves. I assume our carry on then would have to be hand scanned?

Thanks for the helpful reply!

Sailng on the Westerdam out of Vancouver in April. We would like to know what restaurants are open on Embarkation day? We liked the Dive in on the Eurodam and hope to sit out in the fresh air until out room is ready. We will be carrying on a medium sized luggage case.

Awesome photos, grrrreat color, focus, and so vivid.

Note sure why you didn't ask/research on the RCI board, for the best knowledge and experience?

...Thought there could be other CruiseLines that had Ice skating shows also..:)

While in the process of booking a cruise I noticed the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas has an excellent Ice Show.

Is the show on real ice? Do these type of shows move around from ship to ship, or can I expect it still to be on the Explorer of the Seas in future years?

What other ships have Ice Skating Shows?

Thanks for the detailed reply. I think HAL has the on ship pickup of luggage, but wasn't sure how it worked, now I have a much better idea of what is available.

Wondering how Luggage goes from ship to Air Flight in Fort Lauderdale or Miami?

I absolutely expect things from my TA. Pre paid gratuities, specialty dinning vouchers, matching OBC. If these things and more are not included I go to the next online TA on our list..

Thx!

All travel agents should be "free" to you. They make their money from the cruise lines or hotels, or flights.

Thanks for making that crystal clear!

Have been on one cruise and I did all the work involved, and now that I have four more cruises booked I am wondering if it would be easier to have a Travel Agent handle Everything, or almost everything, even on a drop and go cruise?

Do Travel Agents print Luggage tags and provide Tag Holders? Arrange for Parking and lodging? Obtain Visas or help with Visas? Print directions to the Cruise Terminal?

Do travel agents know of excellent excursions not sponsored by the Cruise Line?

Can a Travel Agent arrange for a mini tour of a Cruise Ship?

The last Cruise Agent office I stepped into didn't have any material on the popular Cruise Line I wanted to travel on, why is this? They suddenly became silent when I mentioned this Cruise LIne?