world~citizen

Excellent analysis. I doubt, however, that many politicians want to expend political capital on this issue else it would have resolved long ago.

 

That is hasn't been resolved long ago is a mystery to the world, and what the world thinks is starting to be more important than before.

 

I am very happy for those who have long awaited this moment. As to Congress - well - it shouldn't be a surprise it will be obstructive, US federal government has become increasingly dysfunctional, so that is neither here nor there.

 

Its the thin edge of the wedge. Something to celebrate.

I don't post much here anymore since we have been grounded by a parrot. When I saw the news about Cuba though, the first thing I thought of was this board.

 

As a Canadian, I am very happy our Embassy was involved in brokering the deal. In my view this is the most appropriate role for our diplomats to take in the world - the honest broker. This is just one in a series of similar diplomatic successes over our history.

 

I anticipated the vast majority here would be looking for a cruise to Cuba. I suppose you can count DW and myself in that one.

 

Now if we could just sort out the mid-east and the Crimea...

 

I hope some day to get to Cuba, and see an American flag flying over your embassy there. If it would be while wearing a HAL excursion tag on our shirts, all the better.

 

Smooth sailing...

This is probably not very helpful but you are arriving the day before, and maybe even the evening before the cruise. Could you come in a day early?

 

This would be better on so many levels and your options for hotel could be less limited.

 

Boston really is worth the day if you can coax it into your itinerary. If there is any way, I would recommend it. :)

 

Smooth sailing...

Hurricane season should be just about over.

 

Yup.

 

Lets keep a good thought.:D

You need a crystal ball for that one, and mine isn't working well enough.

 

I wouldn't expect terrible weather. I would be a bit more cautious if you were sailing north atlantic to New York or Boston.

 

We had calm seas and warm weather, and no rain on a similar crossing.

 

I wish and expect the same for you.:)

 

Smooth sailing...

Is Azamara a possibility?

Sail on Costa?

 

No way in HAL. :D

We sailed the Rotterdam six on its first cruise out of nyc just after her first world cruise. The people who sailed in our cabin during the world cruise did not eat chocolate, and saved it all in one of the bottom drawers in a desk cabinet. I opened it to put in my socks and voila! :D

 

I have checked that drawer in every cruise we have sailed since, but no luck.

 

We took the chocolate home, of course.

I just logged in to see this terrible news. I don't know what to say.

 

Bon courage Sail, now and in the days ahead.

We would love to try a new line. However one of the girls in our group is 19. We are in our forties, but I am worried that she would not enjoy herself.

 

A HAL cruise is just one of lifes more pleasant adventures, if you are fortunate enough to afford one.

 

If she doesn't enjoy it she will get over it. To avoid the trip on the off chance it will disappoint her, well, thats just wrong.:)

I bet the security videos make for great entertainment at staff parties...:eek:

To add a little variety to your thread, I will tell you we have cruised on 9 different lines over 30+ years, well over 45 cruises.

 

We are 2 star on HAL, elite on Princess and elite on Celebrity.

 

We are booked on the New Amsterdam for April 2014 on the TA, got a very good price for a VB cabin. Booked on Celebrity Silhouette in October 2014 going to the Holy Land, booked it for the itinerary. We just finished a cruise on the Grand Princess in October. Did a Holy Land cruise on the NCL Jade and Cunard Queen Victoria a few years back.

 

Over all our experience on the Cunard Queen Victoria in terms cabin (mini suite) food, service and entertainment was a edge above all cruise lines we have been on over the years.

 

Our favorite HAL ship is the Westerdam - did a TA, Mediterranean and Carribean cruises on it. The Westerdam is the only ship we repeated 3 times.

 

We have repeated only a handful of ships 2 times: the Sky Princess, the Grand Princess, Star Princess and the Queen Victoria.

 

Presently we prefer Princess, Cunard and HAL over Celebrity and NCL in that order. We select cruises based on itinerary and price.

 

We are lucky we have so many choices out there, variety is the spice of life.

 

Of the lines you mention we would have given Celebrity the edge. HAL is fine but for us it has moved farther away from the experience we look for in a cruise than Celebrity.

 

In truth, we have found better lines than either of these (lines that better meet our expectations).

 

I couldn't agree with you more though, the choices are wonderful and any one of the above lines are capable of delivering a satisfactory experience.

Accountants and those who conduct polls/surveys have a time tested saying.

 

Figures lie and liars figure.

 

Very good.

 

You made my year and its only 2 days old.:D

[quote name='Krazy Kruizers'][FONT=Century Gothic][SIZE=5]The bad economy in many areas is hitting area. Unemployment rate in our area is higher than the national unemployment.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic][SIZE=5][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic][SIZE=5]We don't mind paying higher prices -- but finding decent restaurants is getting harder and harder.[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]


Exactly. The premium for a venue like the PG might be even more moot in your case, and for that matter mine - though we have slightly better dining establishments here.

Not that we will be sailing anytime in the foreseeable future, as our bird has been restored to health and vigour. It is amazing that a 100 gram feathered creature could ground two healthy adults at prime travelling age.:D

Happy New Year to you.

I am happy to see the resurgence of traditional dining vs anytime dining.

 

Hope it is true.

[quote name='Krazy Kruizers'][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=5]We used to have some small family restaurants around here where everything except the dessert was included and the prices were reasonable.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=5][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=5]One burned down and the rest closed their door. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=5][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=5]Now we have left Wendy's, McDonald's, Taco Bell -- all fast food places.[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

That is just terrible. I am not even sure the remaining establishments you identify actually sell food as I understand the meaning of the term.

I have no problems with the surcharges in the alternate venues on board. When you are on a vacation a few dollars here or there, for us, is trumped by the dining experience. I can understand others hold different views.

I think this may be the best quote in the article:

 

 

"Carnival's court filing says the contract that passengers agree to when they buy a ticket "makes absolutely no guarantee for safe passage, a seaworthy vessel, adequate and wholesome food, and sanitary and safe living conditions.":eek:

 

I guess, all the people who say they expect working toilets & A/C need

to read this....

 

 

 

Ted

 

You could make a very interesting wallpaper with quotes and passages from cruise contracts.

This might sound like an odd question but I like to ask it anyway : do u feel more comfortable on a ship going to Caribbean islands wearing long or short sleeves around the ship i.e. Going to dinner, shows, bars or casino ?

 

If you are really indecisive, simply wear long sleeves and role them up.;)

Thank you for the review.

 

If the stars align, it may be possible for us to do this cruise. We have it picked out (BtoB) and if we can sort out the sitter we used last year it is possible.

 

I have never heard of a serious problem associated with this cruise and it doesn't take us far from home should we have to return in a hurry. You have just reconfirmed how charming the ports are and we look forward to it if not in the fall, someday.

 

I am glad you enjoyed it. The Maasdam is older but as you say not tired, and is the perfect ship for this itinerary.

 

Again I'm glad you enjoyed it, and are spreading the word on this often overlooked itinerary.

Actually, you know your children best. Some travel well, others not. I suspect you have a pretty good idea now.

 

There is nothing in the age of your children to preclude them from the cruise.

Don't be afraid. The posts are from old people who couldn't or wouldn't travel with young children. My children's grandparents would not have taken them on a cruise either, but they were not even capable of watching them for an afternoon. You'll do fine; have a great cruise!

 

Is this fair comment...hardly if you read the posts.

This is simply inaccurate information.

csm

 

From the HAL website:

 

Due to the limited medical facilities on board,

we will not accept reservations for infants six months or

younger for non-Transocean sailings or 12 months or younger

for Transocean sailings at time cruise commences...

 

It appears you need to be six months for a european cruise. Transatlantic and transpacific is 12 months. Butlers and grandparents as you indicate may be key. You can always bring a nanny as well. Depending on your country, many can be found with nursing credentials. Whatever was everyone thinking?

 

Smooth sailing...

No naysayer here, I don't mind children on cruises at all. :) I'm thinking of how much enjoyment the parents and grandparents will get out of this Med cruise.

 

JMO, but you can't compare an Alaska cruise with a port-intensive, exhausting and expensive Med cruise. We usually need a vacation after our vacation, and it's just the two of us! :D We like to make the most of every minute at every port, but that's just us. If the family goes with the understanding upfront that they may not be able to do as much as they would like, and they're ok with that, then that's different.

 

Well if it is true that HAL doesn't allow children under 1 year on European cruises it is a moot point.

...I think there are a lot of naysayer's here beacuse they perceive children on cruises negatively. Hop over to the kids and families board for more advice.

 

None of the above were "naysayer" observations. You note that HAL does not allow children under 12 months on their European itineraries - and they should know.

A lot of cruise lines have a six month minimum for infants, others 12 - others 6 and 12 depending on the cruise.

 

There are good reasons not to book a cruise with an infant but they will fall on deaf ears to those bound and determined to do it, or will receive excoriating rebuke from those that have done it or have seen it done.

 

Infants gets seasick as well as mom and dad. There are a lot of viruses the child could encounter they might not otherwise have until much later when their immune system is better prepared. Getting sick on a ship is nooooo fun. Yes its all about choices. Welcome to parenthood. Now the child's welfare comes first.

 

In my opinion, and my opinion only, the whole notion is 14 carrot dumb.