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Just my experience. Dropped a letter with backup requesting stockholder benefit in my own mailbox for pickup by my postman on 21 Aug. Got an e-mail confirming OBC on 26 Aug. Couldn't have been easier.

It's been my theory for several years that this is why cruise ship shows and the local movies are performed at such a loud volume these days - an attempt is being made to drown out the gabbers, or at least limit their annoyance range. Unfortunately it's just viewed as a challenge by many of them.

You can't go wrong with New Zealand! I'll explore the wine shops in Venice, though, with all these urgings!

Was lucky enough to spend 4 weeks there in the Spring of 2014. One of our favorite restaurants/wine bars/wine shops was the Osteria Enoteca San Marco on Calle Frezzeria. Their food is great, service friendly, and they know their wines very well. They introduced us to an Inama Bradisismo (I think 2009), not at all pricey, that we loved.

This has been a very useful thread. Thanks for all the information.

A related question: Does Oceania provide cotton swabs and cotton balls (B2 cabin on Insignia, if pertinent)?

Thank you in advance.

Seeing you sent them together, when they were renewed, are the numbers consecutive? Though ours went in the same envelope they are a number of digits separated. :)

Interesting. DH's and mine were mailed in separate envelopes, at the same time, and the numbers are consecutive.

The bar tender was actually a very sweet young thing, so I suppose one should say the tender tender bar tender will tender bar-tender towels... N'est-ce pas?

And surely you're acquainted with the subsequent tale of woe? Seems the young man in question had been on a very successful diet and was feeling a little light-headed. Wouldn't you know, that was the day he was asked to pilot. After a minor incident he was taken to the infirmary and found to be a young lady masquerading as a young gentleman! So, yes, the gender-bender tender slender tender bartender had a fender bender with the tender.;)

I've never seen cold towels available on a tender. I doubt that there would be any room for them. They would take up valuable space that is currently devoted to the tender bar and dance floor. :D

Just ask nicely and the tender bartender will give you ice cubes in a tender bar towel.:D

Experience has shown, especially during the summer tourist season, you will be very well dressed indeed.

DH may want to rethink the sweater. Even in August, London can prove warmish. And while possibly well air-conditioned to begin with, many theaters will not continue run the system during the show, resulting in increasing temperatures as the evening wears on.

Enjoy the show.

In my experience, Verizon store personnel may not be the best sources of information. For example, I was in the market for a global phone a while ago. I saw what was available on line, then went into a store to check the size of various models (I like smaller phones). After comparing the models I was interested in, a clerk asked if he could help. I explained what I was doing and that I had already compared all the global models they had on hand. He suggested another model. I said the website said it wasn't global ready. He said it was. His boss confirmed that it was not. Then he suggested another model with the same outcome. So just be careful with in store info, especially for more esoteric products.

Try going to the Verizon Wireless website, sign into My Verizon, and then go to Support and onto Global Services. This should walk you through what is available from Verizon in the country you're going to visit for the exact model phone you have. If you are satisfied with the cost of the services offered, you can sign up for them then and there. As mentioned above, data is going to be pricey.

HAL is slowly getting there. Very glad to hear they're making good on the tux.

We're recently off the NA TA. Standard laundry form lists choices of LAUNDRY and DRY CLEANING, the latter broken down into Press Only and Clean/Press. However, the welcome to the Neptune Suite letter included the following benny: "Complimentary laundry, wet cleaning and pressing services." Bolding added by yours truly.

Services to be provided need to be clarified so consumers can make an informed choice/gamble.

As regards what is being played aboard, I think it is a case of you can't please everybody, but HAL is trying. We're just off the NA TA. I'm 56 and DH is 60. We were lunching on the aft pool deck. Apparently similarly aged folks at the table next to us leaned over and asked if we liked the music playing. I'm guessing it was pop from the last 10 years (about when we started loosing track), so we said we weren't familiar with it. Taking that as agreement, they said they agreed and couldn't imagine who would enjoy listening to it. And not 10 minutes before the two of us had commented that we couldn't think of when the last time was we heard the Andrews Sisters broadcasted, as it was playing then.

You just can't win. But you have to keep playing.

Thanks for the update. I still remember your pioneering work from early February. You were the first person who posted about an actual experience with the new wine carry on policy when you boarded the Oosterdam in Sydney.

 

We salute your groundbreaking work, blazing a trail for all who would follow in your footsteps. Your name is on a plaque here at the Institute of Cheer. :cool:

Thank you. It is truly humbling to be recognized by one's peers during one's lifetime.

But as amazing as this recognition is, the work is still the greatest source of joy in my life. Just last night in the Ocean Bar, we were approached by the new server on the block. No sooner had he kindly asked what we might like, than he was surrounded by not one, not two, but three of his seniors, all intoning as one, “The usual, one bloody Mary and one Bombay Sapphire gimlet, up.” I was moved to tears, as I am by this lovely recognition. Again, my deepest thanks.:D

Another research assistant reporting in from the Nieuw Amsterdam somewhere between the Azores and Gibraltar. We brought a case aboard on April 6th and wine data was not recorded when we did so, unlike when we boarded the Oosterdam in Sydney early in February. Looks like they are still ironing out the details.

According to the reviews (amazon) there is conflicting information as to whether this unit works over 220v and may be a problem overseas. (Not a problem on cruise ships though).

I used the Monster with an adaptor (not converter) for 2 weeks in London and 9 weeks in Paris (both 220 volts +/-) this fall with no problems.

Research assistant reporting for duty, sir.

I'm sure many others have seen this, but for those who haven't, from the HAL website:

B.B. King’s Blues Club Schedule

• ms Westerdam: October 19, 2013 - April 5, 2014
  
• ms Zuiderdam: November 18, 2013 - March 17, 2014
  
• ms Eurodam: Through December 8, 2013. Returning March 23, 2014
  
• ms Noordam: Opening December 16, 2013
  
• ms Nieuw Amsterdam: Opening April 6, 2014
  

Just boarded the Oosterdam at noon on 2/2/14 in Sydney, Australia, and was greeted with the following signage:

Alcoholic Beverages

Guests may not bring beer, boxed wine, other liquors or spirits on board. Any such beverages found in luggage will be removed and returned at the end of the voyage.

Each guest 21 years and older may bring one bottle of wine or champagne on board in their carry on luggage at the start of the cruise. Each additional bottle is subject to an $18 corkage fee.

Yahoo! Calmer heads have prevailed, at least for now. Each bottle in the subsequent case was recorded as to vintner, type, and year. A sticker was then applied to the bottle to indicate that corkage had been paid. Same process was applied to the original freebie, just a different color sticker.

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Bank of America offers a no fee chip and pin Travel Rewards card. It also has a stripe so it works in the US. Here's where I found it, and other suggestions, after a Google search: http://thepointsguy.com/2013/05/us-credit-cards-with-smart-chips/

Am just back from 2 weeks in London and 9 weeks in Paris where it worked everywhere, even the automated pass recharging kiosks for the Paris subway. And the vast majority of places were perfectly happy to take my husband's stripe card.

We were on a Baltic cruise on the Amsterdam in 2006. The airline "lost" all our luggage (one day baggage handlers' strike), it did not catch up to us until day 5. HAL was great - they gave us free same day service for laundry, so we wore one change of clothes while the other was being washed. My polo shirt went through their system 3 times in that period. Have worn the same shirt to work every other week from May through Octomber since then. Still in fine shape. Also still have the other short sleeved shirt on vacation with me now and one pair of pants is at home. Can't remember the other pair of pants, but may still have those.

"Santa Cruise" by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark