ChiefMateJRK

Many own a diversified portfolio of investment grade bonds in a total bond index fund. I prefer individual treasuries myself. Glad to hear that you understand who Bogle is and how much he has helped us average Joe's.

Nothing. It's marketing and political rhetoric.

Here you go: That said, WT$ is a Park West Art function and why/how is that more important than the fine Prima passengers being able to fully enjoy the OL? Are they selling/auctioning crap or is it just a bunch of elite artists getting together to interfere with the lives of others? Those affected: PLEASE give NCL appropriate feedback. This should not stand.

Hysterically accurate. 😎

Thanks for the update!! Half an OL is infinitely better than no OL, but you still aren't getting what you paid for (unless perhaps it is a charter function and the charter bought out half the ship). Even then, I can't believe that they are using it 24/7.

Granted, some FAs might just take the AUM fee and invest in low cost (e.g. index) funds. Those would be the better ones. They likely claim that the added value is through expert advice on such things as asset allocation strategies, rebalancing strategies, safe withdrawal strategies, Roth conversion strategies (rare, because they tend to reduce the assets in the AUM), long term tax strategies, etc. The worse ones are the ones who take the fee and then also invest in actively managed funds with high ERs along with a (un)healthy level of churning. The absolute worst ones are those who claim to know more than the market and are able to pick the winners (which brings us back on topic). I will readily acknowledge that I am a B@%$&h#$d and have zero use for a paid FA. I've been in position to receive totally free advice a few times, and that was largely worth what I paid for it (although a second set of educated eyes is always worthwhile).😎

Thanks. That sucks that they did that to you. Fortunately, reports of such OL closures are extremely rare.

I am really hopeful that this staff member was confused and was providing inaccurate information. Probably not, but it wouldn't be the first time.

Do you remember which ship and where it was sailing?

Yes, I can assure you that I 100% understand what an FA does and what people pay for it.

I've only gotten one physical bag, but the Steward gave me more. We got two bags washed for free. I kind of wish I would have brought the other two or three home to "pre-tape and bag" prior to our next cruise. Maybe next time.... 😎

Thanks. Go with what works for you! I'm a FA's worst nightmare (i.e. a passive index investor). 🤣

It may add a lot. If you can't wrap your head around that then I can't help you. Might I suggest you simply block my posts if you find them irrelevant? I wouldn't mind a bit.

What on God's green earth are you going off about this time? I meant exactly what I posted and am highly confident that the same is true for @hallux At least two of us want to see exactly what the sign says. Is that so difficult?

I'll bet you $5 that not a single poster says that this is okay.

I've known people who bought individual stocks because "they were so cheap and they knew they wouldn't lose $$$." It doesn't always work that way. To each their own. As I've posted, I own 100 shares simply because of the shareholder OBC benefit and I would never otherwise buy individual shares of any company, especially one with the significant financial challenges of the cruise industry. Last I checked I'm actually up a few bucks on my 100 shares, but that's just noise. 😎

Thanks. It would be great if you could post a photo of the sign indicating closure.

You could sell 100 of the shares and still get OBC for future cruises.

Please try to obtain more details. As you've described it to this point, I would be extremely disappointed. This even goes beyond the no booze in the UK stunt.

I'm sure the terms said it was non-refundable when you bought it.

Yeah, the last time I bellied up to a blackjack table was probably in the nineteen eighties. I had fun. I played the basic strategy flawlessly, but never won much or lost much (that was back when Circus Circus had legit $1 tables). Now? I am WAY to cheap (smart?) to throw away money of any amount. That would make me unhappy (apparently like casino jerk). OTOH, it makes me happy to instead share such "bonus money" with those who need it more than I do. If I can find a penny slot machine on the ship that actually lets me bet a penny (Encore has/had at least four machines, Sky has several, Bliss and Joy have none), I will have some fun. You can play forever and inevitably will hit something that makes all the lights and sounds go off. Fellow "gamblers" often congratulate and ask how I did. It is usually a big laugh when I tell them that I bet a penny and won a couple bucks. Fun stuff and the wallet never gets hurt.😎

I'm able to get good cellular in many ports. Could you have set your iPhone as a hotspot and downloaded the app to your iPad via that route?

Wow!! I've heard of gamblers complaining about other players at the table for taking a card instead of standing, but to blame a dealer for the random card dealt! Yikes!!!!!!

I misled you there. The quick boarding was mostly because it was the first sailing of the season and the ship came in empty. I doubt anybody waited to board that day. That said, I have benefitted from the priority boarding on other cruises, although we are usually there bright and early anyway. We were delayed getting to MCT last September, and didn't get to the checkin desk until about 10:30. We were able to walk right on without waiting because of Platinum status. First beer o-clock that day was around 11.

Yep. That's a good tip. Having forgotten it on my last cruise, I now plan to put them in my wallet when I first see them.😎