DocF

The question was not raised as a debate to the nature of formal nights and dress codes while cruising. <snip>

My intent was merely to state that we dress in a manner we feel is appropriate for the venue in which we are dining regardless of the rules being more "liberal" or permissive. I had and have no reason to be argumentative about this as I know that there are several hundred people on CC who do not feel as we do.

We got some at the photo shop when we bought something we would have bought anyway. You can get lanyards at most office supply stores for a little bit of money. If one wants one before going on the cruise, that is what I would do.

DW and I dress for Formal nights, "Elegant nights", "Gala nights" or whatever name cruise lines choose to use. I own a tuxedo and it cost me much less than renting one would have. I take it and DW takes as many of her fancy dresses as she would need for these affairs. We wear the nice gear for that evening. We often deplore the lack of formality nowadays. I am old enough to remember dressing up to go to a movie. The main dining room on all the ships is quite elegant and the extra charge venues even more so. It is nice to look like we belong there.

If you happen to think this post is a sign of creeping old fuddy duddyism, so be it.

Our standard safe card is an old S&S card from a different cruise. This looks like it belongs on the ship and is not likely to inspire a thief to try it.

Doc

Thanking those who help and ignoring those who are less than nice is a good approach, IMO.

I agree that most ships will dock in Palma. It is a largish, modern city with fine public transportation and a lot to see.

We have been there twice and have taken the excursion on the old electric railroad across the island to the town of Soller. This is a very pretty ride and the town is most interesting. I am a railfan, so I have spent some time wandering through the shops and "talking" to the master mechanic and the chief carpenter. They do not speak English and my Spanish is worse than terrible, but trains are a universal language to those who know them.

I know you will find this a great port call and a wonderful part of your cruise.

Doc

If one wants to see why the folk who post on this board are not well thought of on several other sites, just read some of the obnoxious folk on this thread.

These guys are unionized and are making more than most cruisers before any tips roll in.

These are indeed union jobs. If one knows how the longshoreman's union and the stevedore's union operate in some ports one will realize the above is hogwash. I know for a fact that this does not apply in Port Canaveral or Port Everglades because I have asked.

In many ports, the porter's jobs are sold to the union member. He must pay the business manager of his local for the job. Thus, he is totally dependent on tips. Yes, this is a holdover from days past, but it still is the way in some ports.

Secondly, I would never think of not tipping the porter. This is not easy work and they make our life easier by speeding us through the baggage check in and the pickup and customs operations afterward. I usually tip $2-3 per bag, depending on how friendly and helpful the porter is.

Since attendance at the muster is a requirement of the U.S. Coast Guard, I suppose that failure to do so could result in expulsion.

From reading other threads that are current on CC and personal observation, I know that being excessively drunk, creating a disturbance over seating in the show lounge, fighting over a pizza, public nudity, cheating in the casino, and excessive consumption of alcohol while on a port call all can be cause for being left in a port along the way. Crimes usually result in putting the perp in the brig or in irons (or both) until back to the U.S., where the perp is then handed off to law enforcement.

I would say that each ship on the opular or entry level lines evicts a passenger about every two weeks. On the higher end lines, I would expect this less often.

Well, when I was tending bar, if a customer came over the bar, he/she/it met the butt end of a sawed off cue stick. It might cost a worker on a cruise ship his job, but there is absolutely no excuse for that and it should be considered a criminal act by a passenger.

As the prospects camps are at the halfway point and training camps open in just a few days, I too am ready for hockey. I must say that I have never found an NHL came on a cruise ship unless it happens to carried on NBC, not one of the cable networks.

I can tolerate missing my Beloved Red Wings for a couple of games, but any longer would require a visit to a mental health professional.:p

Doc;)

Not true at all. You DO NOT need a passport when visiting a Spanish port via cruise ship. I have never taken my passport with me on visits to almost all Mediterranean ports I have been to, including Spain. The passport was left in the stateroom safe.

When we ventured out of ports in Spain on our own. There was a checkpoint to pass through where we had to show both our ship's card and our passport to gain access. Now it may have been possible (probably was) to get back in without the passport, but I know we did see one couple that were forced to step aside and wait because they did not have their passports with them. My theory is that I would rather carry and not need it than to need it and have it back in the safe in my stateroom.

Eh what's up doc?:D

Not much this Sunday morning.

Doc:D:D

Do not discriminate against any time dining :D

 

We like early dining, same as at home. Going to be early, it's easier when the tummy is not full.

 

We also prefer fixed time dining: same waiters, same cruisers - only one introduction. When travel on NCL we get tired of repeating the same: names, where from, etc, etc...

We also usually prefer early seating as I am diabetic and this more closely resembles our dinner time at home. Scheduling is important for blood sugar control.

You have also mentioned one of the many reasons why we will not be cruising NCL. The main one, though, is that our daughter and her DH were on the S.S. Norway when the boiler exploded. NCL did a terrible job of taking care of these passengers and have still to this day not compensated our daughter for her losses in that event.

Anyone who loses weight on a cruise should be smacked about the head! :D Seriously, good for you for keeping a lid on it.

 

Roz

Hmphhh! I rarely gain any weight on cruises. Not because I do not eat everything in sight, but because the portions are reasonable size and I tend to not overeat like I do in a land borne restaurant.

Be aware that many low sugar things are actually very high carb. The things that make foods taste good are sugars and fats (and to a lesser extent starches). I've been diabetic long enough so I can pretty much estimate carbs by looking at a plate. I read labels in the grocery. I am not exactly zealous, but I do try to manage my disease before it manages me.

Another thing to be wary of is the amount of sugar alcohols in some NSA products. One of the worst nights I ever spent was from eating NSA ice cream from a large specialty chain.

Doc

We serve boiled carrots sometimes. We add a bit of brown sugar (or artificial sweetener of your choice) and ground ginger to the water while they are cooking. The time of cooking will vary depending on the size hunks you cut, how soft you want them to get, etc. Drain, add butter (everything's better with butter) and serve hot from the stove.

Do not try to serve those pre-cut hunks of root. They are the salvage that broke while they were being harvested. Get whole carrots and peel and cut yourself.

I know, this will not help you one little bit in a restaurant or on a cruise ship.;)

Doc

The key things I have seen in this thread are to be alert and to not look like you are clueless. I am older and decrepit, but I get away with walking in marginally sketchy areas as I waddle like a cop.

Carry only what you need. Now many have mentioned leaving passports on the ship. If one is in Spain, that is not a great idea as most Spanish ports require your passport to gain access.

Men, keep your stuff in a front trouser pocket or an inside jacket pocket with some sort of zipper, button, snap.

Women, wear your purse strap across your body, not casually over the shoulder. Keep you purse in front of you.

The main thing is to be alert and aware. Do not be bait.

DW and I wash hands after using head and before eating. In other words, good, normal sanitation procedure.

Doc

Before they banned the heelies (those shoes with the skate wheel in the heel) I saw a girl about 8 manage to roll herself into the adult pool. Duh.

Your phone has a flashlight if you don't want to bring one.

True. The issue with this is that you may need to be holding your flashlight in your teeth when you need it in an emergency. Try that with your phone and see where the light shines.

Doc

This flight is too close to be comfortable at any port in North America. I concur with the majority when I suggest a later flight.

Thank you paulydm for being the one accurate source of information who is on the scene. Your factual reporting and lack of speculation has made this trying event much more bearable for those who have some degree of involvement. For those of us, like me, who are just interested spectators, you make things more than adequately clear.

Kudos,

Doc:D

Not offended at all just feel bad that you posted the very few unsavory facts about dance hosts from years ago - but you did admit the system has been changed. I have the utmost admiration for those who serve, have police people in my family, similarly would never post about the so very few 'bad cops' that have tainted this amazing and dangerous profession but would loudly laud the accomplishments of all the others.

Where appropriate, I have posted information about some very bad cops I have known. Putting this information before an audience that should know the background of a particular event is important.

Now back to dance hosts. I feel it was/is important to give background on why the host program is merely a shadow of its former self. I also feel that the current program is much safer and more apt to provide a satisfactory experience for the solo cruiser. Your use of the word admit is very offensive to me. That implies that I wrote what I did to create harm. I did not; I stated fact and stated that this was why the screening is now much more extensive.

I am going to figure out how to get these boards to ignore posts from you and I think we are on such different wave lengths that we cannot coexist.

Doc

So sorry DocF that you see the world as half empty rather than half full. I do find it a fascinating and wonderful place full of awesome people - and a few not so awesome that tend to spoil it for everyone! No my head is not buried in the sand nor do I have rose colored glasses, just a positive approach to life in general.

I post fact, not fancy. I was raised by a cop and I am well aware that bad people ruin things for the rest of us. I never said that you or anyone else was wearing rose colored glasses or excessively optimistic about one's fellow man.

Most people I have met on this board seem to appreciate concept of factual information. I am sincerely sorry if I have offended you.

Doc:eek:

The thread was started by a CC member who uses the screen name "paulydm". His posts are worth reading as he has done (and continues to do) an outstanding job of reporting events on the ship. Much of the rest of the thread is the usual kind of tripe one finds on the Carnival board when bad things happen.

Doc