bigwally
-
Posts
2,472 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by bigwally
-
-
If you're thinking of using her rollator as a wheelchair/transport chair where you'll be pushing her, consider getting her a new one that has footrests or buying a strap device like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Walker-Sling-Foot-Black-Handled/dp/B00IH5AJF6?th=1
It can be tough for older folks to keep their feet elevated without support for any length of time.
-
We have never tried in the MDR but have dropped off wine at lunch time in the Pinnacle Grill several times with instructions to decant at a certain time before dinner.
Had trouble dropping off wine in the MDR on Volendam during the time of day between lunch and dinner - not only was help a bit scant, "key not available to the storage area" was the response I got from the one waiter I was able to find. Had to take our special wedding anniversary/DW birthday champagne to the MDR as close as I could get to chilled by the cabin ice bucket in the intervening 2-3 hours.
I also had trouble getting corkage bottles onto the ship due to a lack of corkage table at embarkation AND a contracted security team that was clueless as to the process - all they were apparently told was to stop people with more than one bottle PP and confiscate the extras.
-
I'm not sure about the HAL site, but you can find webpages for most port authorities that will have a list of ships visiting and which berths they've been assigned.
-
Due to an extremely hectic life over the last 12 months, I did not do as much research for our last vacation as I've traditionally done, and my experience/enjoyment of it suffered as a result. I say do the research, but YMMV.
-
I personally didn't start visiting this part of the site until I was 56, despite my (older) spouse beating me to it many years ago. YMMV.
-
another easy way to meet spending requirements for airline bonus miles is to buy gift cards with the credit card for yourself at sams club or costco.....you then can use them like a debit card at sams/ walmart or costco for any purchases
That is a great idea, and one I'd never considered.
Back in the day, before my issuer cottoned on, you could earn points on cash advances. It wasn't the cheapest way to earn an award ticket or retain membership in a frequent flyer program, because interest started to accrue immediately on the amount you'd borrowed, but when you really needed to get there...
Speaking of the things we're willing to do - I once drove the 35 miles to LAX for a round trip flight to SNA (40 miles away) and then drove back home again, because I desperately needed the 1,000 points (500 per segment) to avoid dropping from Silver to lowly Blue in a frequent flyer program! :D
-
We happen to really like the DK books, and they actually have one on cruising (Baltic) Europe and the Med!
-
Canucks Bar and Grill is well worth visiting if you're in the US terminal at YVR with some time (and a hunger) to kill and no lounge privileges. Portions were huge, really tasty, and the pricing was on par with about any other airport eatery you've ever visited (but you'll find the food, IMO, much better).
We had the fish-and-chips and the chicken fingers with fries (and beers obviously). There had to be two whole fish and almost a whole chicken! We most likely would have been just fine splitting either one or the other. That said, one thing I did notice is that it didn't seem as if you could just order fries/chips as a side by themselves, which was our original plan (although I didn't ask if such a thing would be available off-menu).
-
I am asking this for a friend who is opening up a new credit card and had to charge $4000 in the first three months to qualify for a nice 50,000 point bonus (which would cover 6 free days at the Hyatt Place in Fort Lauderdale for example!). Well worth the cost of money IMO.
Ah, there's a possible caveat here - if you were to cancel for a refund, your bonus points would likely evaporate. The points earned for the actual spend would definitely go bye-bye. I can't imagine what would happen if you've already used the points!
-
I have as a matter of cash flow and using the miles from the credit card to fund airline tickets.
That's actually a pretty good ploy. Our credit card gives us a "free" companion ticket (plus taxes and fees) with $30,000 annual spend, and usually we earn it around late August/early September. It would make total sense to pre-pay big ticket items if we needed a push to get past the required amount sooner, especially if we needed the freebie for air travel on the same vacation. I'll have to keep that in mind.
-
This "news" is not going to stress me. As long ago as the Volendam's 2002 Asia/Pacific Cruise, there was "news" that HAL was going to do away with music for the main shows and going to "canned music". Yes, there were changes to the programs that included the performers. But, there have been many more such changes since 2002. Live music did return. Other changes have since taken place as well, with some more personally appreciated than others.
Oops, inadvertently forgot to mention the band - also a very good group of musicians.
-
The singers and dancers on our recent Trans Pacific were collectively (and individually) a very talented group of young people. Yes, sometimes the shows can be a bit cheesy, but we still go and enjoy most of them.
-
we avoid connecting cabins because often the connecting doors do not provide the same sound isolation as walls with no door . . . Ymmv.
+1.
-
No pictures of 6208 on Deck Plan Genius, but there are pics of 6202 and I can't imagine a cabin just a couple up to differ much:
http://deckplangenius.com/CabinPicturesLocation.aspx?stateroom=165567
-
Shoot! I have about £175 of UK currency and no plans to visit the UK anytime soon. I already got screwed on about £5 worth of old pound coins too!
What is the timeline for cutting off exchange of the old notes?
-
As regards luggage (in general) with "spinners," note the fine print on each wheel, which says "Baggage Handlers: please break me off".
IT Luggage has a luggage line (Carry Master) with removable spinner wheels. In that line is both a massive 32" pullman and a 20" carry-on that would work for me. Edit: Make that DID - looks like it's a closeout line.
-
Also going to switch it up for our next long cruise, from 2-wheel pull-behind to 4-wheel spinner.
I reckon we're going to go with 2 x 28"-30" pullmans and 2 x 20"-21" (International size) rollaboards.
What we have now is a 29" Samsonite pullman, the 25" version of the same bag, 2 old-school 22" rollaboards (that are just ever so slightly oversized that they nearly always cause us trouble if we want to carry them on and a GA wants to be obtuse), and a 12"x12"x25" duffel. The Samsonites have gone about 11 years now, so they are just out of warranty and starting to look/feel their age.
I'm trying to omit the duffel (which usually ends up containing overflow clothing) entirely and then strap the like spinners together for easier portability. I know with certainty this can be done after I saw someone do likewise at the end of our last cruise (though he tied his together at the telescoping handles). Then we'll check everything (we are nearly always entitled to 2 checked bags each), except that I'll use a small backpack for my laptop and other small bits and pieces that MUST be in the cabin with me, while Mrs. BigWally will use a small tote.
For shorter cruises, I would imagine we'd be able to get by with one or both pullmans and the rollaboards as our carry-ons.
-
We do not budget for business class but I wonder if those who do have an easier arrival time experience since they might actually get to sleep comfortably on the plane.
No. If you don't sleep well on planes to start with, you don't sleep well on planes, lie flat seat or not. Maybe you'll do a bit better than being almost bolt upright and penned into a coach seat, but I rarely sleep more than 2-3 hours on a TA or TP flight, even in First.
However, I do vastly prefer a non-stop flight to changing planes - less chance of a missed connection for both my bags and myself.
-
When in doubt, put knives and scissors in checked baggage, per TSA rules.
And corkscrews! Lost one of mine I didn't know was in my carry on this last time. Darn it.
-
Guys, this is an ancient thread which looks like maybe it got bumped to the top page by either a spam post (subsequently deleted) or an unwitting board member. It is pretty much a waste of time buoying it more, since so much has changed on the Volendam in the last 5 years.
-
I even own a 'classic Mini' and agree I could get in the bags .. IF they were soft bags and I filled the back seat .... it is a BAD example as a 'classic Mini' actually has a lot more room for bags than say a Miata (had one of these too)
And you could also use the boot with the lid in "shelf" mode.
-
I was surprised to see 2 on Volendam, both Model Ds. They weren't used much that I could see, and when they were it was without any awareness of proper technique. :rolleyes:
-
Can an internet plan be purchased in advance?
I doubt it, because you purchase it through the ship's app. I used my company credit card to purchase $200 worth of OBC instead.
-
Don't know about the fish part, but customs at Canada Place was easy - all they seemed interested in was collecting the form. I'm not even sure the guy we had looked at them.
Not even a form to hand in at the US side of YVR departures (although you fill out a digital version at the customs kiosk).
Now I would know what to expect, but I found YVR's unique procedures to be a bit daunting as a newb.
Wine question
in Holland America Line
Posted
I don't think your clarification was necessary. I was just pointing out that at other times of day and/or not at PG you might get an entirely different outcome.