donaldsc

If you bring a keyboard you can set it up to play many different instruments or maybe even an entire orchestra. As far as I am concerned playing any musical instrument anywhere outsider of your cabin is unacceptable. Except maybe the bagpipes or a tuba. DON

You certainly know more about this than I do but do any ADA regulations even apply to ships that don't sail or stop in the US. The OP is cruising from Europe to Australia?

If you have a good TA I would assume that they could check on this for you. DON

Two things - one in response to this post and one to another earlier post. 1. When you say that both are the same are they really the same? You have to consider port times ashore and also the port arrival and departure times. The ports may be the same but the port experience may be completely different. Do you want a full day in port? Do you want a half day which might be either 7:00AM - 1:00PM or 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Makes a big difference in the port experience. 2. Another person posted that one of the cruise options was better because they were on a newer bigger ship. I would consider a newer bigger ship to be a disadvantage and not an advantage. People have different tastes in ships. You have to decide where you want a huge ships with lots of amenities or a smaller ship that to me is more comfortable. I will pick the smaller one every time. But that is just me. DON

Men taking more shoes than their spouses. Unusual!! I usually have 2 pair plus walking socks for the cabin. I wear my walking shoes on the plane. I also take a pair of Birkenstocks which function as ship shoes, casual walking shoes and even for dress night. You are probably asking how can I wear birks at night for dinner. Simple - I wear them w black or brown dress socks. My rational is that if women can wear fancy sparkly dress sandals for dinner my clean and neat birks are the male equivalent. My wife rolls her eyes but U usually win that discussion. Another thing. You can usually stuff a bunch of stuff into your shoes so they really do not take that much space. DON

Why plural on the shoes. Wear 1 pair and pack 1 pair. My problem is my electronic, photo and computer. However you could put those things in a backpack. It is amazing what you can stuff into a backpack. DON

Don't trust anything that he says. Make sure that he puts it in writing and also that he signs it. If you don't and your plans fall through the excursion guy will always deny that he said it..

I have not gone through all of the posts but can we assume that you will NEVER EVER cruise on Princess or any of the related cruise lines again. That would be my response. DON

There have been many posts on CC about this issue. According to the posts and not based on actual experiences they are 100% absolutely without exception enforced. DON

I wonder how often the helicopter tour is cancelled because of weather. I also wonder how often it might get back late because of issues. As a side note - this is the problem w many Alaska cruise times these days. Bad port times because of too many ships. DON

As an addition to this post - I can buy a rice cooker for $49 from Amazon. I assume that the OP could buy one in wherever they for the same price. If they find that they can't take one with them it is hardly worth loss of sleep over it. Just take one with you and if it is confiscated buy a new one. DON

Make sure that you take a cruise that goes all the way up to Nordkapp. Some of them do not. DON

You need to go to a doctor if you have frequent vertigo attacks. You may have Meniere's disease. Ménière’s disease/syndrome is a long term, progressive vestibular condition affecting the balance and hearing parts of the inner ear. Symptoms are acute attacks of vertigo (severe dizziness), fluctuating tinnitus, increasing deafness, and a feeling of pressure in the ear. https://www.menieres.org.uk/information-and-support/symptoms-and-conditions/menieres-disease https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menieres-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374916 DON

Why not arrive 2 or 3 days before the ship departs. That would give you more time to do things in Iceland even maybe an overnight away from Reykjavik. It would also you get onto the ship just in case your flight is delayed. DON

Thanks. I have done lots of posts and lots of edits. This was an error on my part that I missed. Sorry. DON

There is a simple solution to all these "lower available fares" anguish stories. Once you have booked the cruise you want in the cabin you can accept at a price that you can accept stop constantly checking to see if the price has dropped. Sometimes "ignorance is bliss" is a good option. DON

If you keep on going to loud shows eventually you will not have a problem w shows that are too loud because of hearing loss. Maybe the people in this thread have already lost enough of their hearing so they have already achieved this goal. DON

If you keep on going to loud shows eventually you will not have a problem w shows that are too loud because of hearing loss. DON

Although I agree with everyone who has said to take the train (https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Barcelona/Valencia-Spain#trips) , have you asked your TA to intercede on your behalf. A good TA can perform miracles. DON

I will admit that I have a vacuum insulated metal REI coffee mug that that cost me about $35 maybe 7 or 8 years ago. My wife said that that I was crazy to buy it but it does keep my coffee significantly above ambient for 8 to 10 hours. Not hot but warm. DON

Just as a matter of interest - why do you specifically suggest Yeti cups. I have a whole bunch of drink cups and none of them are Yeti. Is there anything special about Yeti cups except perhaps the high cost of them. DON

I have a similar fast action TA story. Cliff notes version. We were flying from Vegas to Athens with a plane change in Atlanta. We had 4+ hours change time in Atlanta which should have been plenty of time. However because of weather issues we waited and waited and waited to board the plane in Vegas and then we waited even more sitting on the runway in Vegas. If you know Atlanta it can take some time to get from one gate to another in Atlanta. We called her while sitting on the runway in Vegas waiting to take off and told her of the potential problem. Her reply was "I will take care of it". When we landed in Atlanta as we were taxiing to the gate she called us to tell that she had figured out alternative arrangements just in case. Turns out that we made it to our gate for the Athens flight just in time but that is why we love her as a TA. Try called your big box TA or your cruise company and getting that level of service. DON

What lines do you cruise on that do not have many of these problems - even "luxury" ones. DON

what sort of things are you interested in?

Senior staff regardless of whether they are crew or non-crew people are management do not get tips. I would even go so far as not to tip people at the matre d level. DON