Bocker3

28 minutes ago, Pratique said:

The lifeguards should not be distracted by locating the parents who walk away and then talking to them. They also can't just blow their whistle at very young children and expect them to understand. The guards need to be hyper-focused on everyone in the water.

The lifeguards should be stopping any child in a diaper from entering the pool -- if the parents aren't around the child, he/she just needs to keep the child out.  They don't need to go find the parent.

I agree -- they should be hyper-focused on what is happening in and around the pool - that is why THEY should be the 2nd line of defense against diapered children getting in the pool (again, Parents are the 1st line and should ensure rules are followed).

4 minutes ago, Pratique said:

 The rules need to be enforced and not by the lifeguards but instead by an officer or a crew member with authority. Otherwise this behavior will just continue.

Of course it should be the Lifeguard enforcing the rules!  They are the staff member who is present all the time.  What good is having an officer come by every so often to look - the damage would likely already be done.

1st line of defense:  The parent!  Who should know the rule and not break it.

2nd line of defense:  The Lifeguard (who IS a Staff Member with Authority)

11 hours ago, margretha said:

Spoke with "agent" at HAL. Learned we have the AARP OBC on one cruise and will get the military OBC on the other because you can't get the AARP and Military both on the same cruise.

This is incorrect information, unless it just changed.  I have both AARP and Veteran OBC on all my booked cruises.  I didn't have to do anything special to get them, other than remind my PCC that I should get both.  I'd call again and ask.

If you already applied one trade-in value to a booked cruise, is that it or can you apply another??

Why bother posting a story that requires you to sign up for an account in order to read it??  

On 3/24/2024 at 2:17 PM, Haljo1935 said:

Oh good - we know that went well for you! The last time I played in a casino I used my card, so clearly a change.

In fact, it's not either/or, it's both.  At least in slots, you can use your card or you can put cash in.  

I've not played the tables on HAL, so have no idea if they take cash - my guess is that they would, but it's just a guess.

1 hour ago, SG65CB said:

Edited to add: Since you are not covering the cost of the cruise for cancelation reasons you can wait to buy the policy until a few days before you leave. 

 

 

Doing this will bring in the pre-existing medical conditions clause.  If you buy within X days (usually between 21 and 30), they are covered.

Also - you can insure a trip for $0 and still be covered for medical, evac - even lost baggage - basically anything that isn't marked as a % of your insured amount.  At least you can with the insurance I use thru USAA.

16 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

After having some problems with AARP gift Cards on a cancelled HAL cruise O am very dubious about ever buying them again . I got $1600 back to my credit card & the rest we used on another cruise . sort of insane that HAL credited my credit card instead  of putting all the unsuded AARP credit card monies back on the original AARP gift Cards .

I don't understand why you keep complaining about this.  HAL's mistake actually left you BETTER OFF.  You got paid the 10% free OBC from the Gift Certificate.  So, by my calculations you are $160 ahead of the game, due to HAL's error.

$100 Gift Cards cost $90.  You still get the 10% discount

I have the AARP OBC on my cruise next month and on BOTH cruises I have booked in 2025, so it is not limited to once a year.

1 hour ago, KAKcruiser said:

My understanding was that Club Orange had to be paid when an upgraded cabin was assigned.

That was my understanding too -- apparently, that is no longer the case.  I specifically said that to my PCC.  I got my upgrade, the Club Orange Pass is listed on my confirmation and I didn't pay for it yet.

10 hours ago, GeorgeL said:

Please note that Club Orange will need to be paid at this point together with deposit.

 

This appears to no longer be true.  I booked a cruise, last week, with my PCC and added CO.  When she told me the deposit would be $350, I was a bit surprised.  I asked if I needed to pay for the CO along with the deposit, she said No. 

The cruise I am taking next month required the CO be paid with the deposit - booked with the same PCC..  

4 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I wasnt even aware you could still book a JS with a refundable deposit? Comparing to a refundable fare might not be a good comparison ...but I agree prices are up for cruises. 

 

I compared a Refundable fare to a Refundable fare - how could that not be a good comparison.  Apples to Apples.

I don't recall exactly, but I think I paid $400-$500 more for the refundable.  Now the extra cost for Refundable is a little over $4,000.  So, they are certainly doing a bit extra to discourage buying a refundable cruise.

I've been noticing the increasing prices at RC, but everything is getting more expensive, so didn't think all that much about it (except for the crazy ICON prices).  However, I am now thinking that, perhaps, RC may be going a bit nuts.  I booked (in Jan 2023) an 8nt Western Caribbean cruise on Freedom for Mar 1, 2025.  I thought I got a pretty good deal - $3248.02 for a JS, with a Refundable deposit.  Well, our plans changed and I cancelled this cruise on Tuesday.  Just to see how much it now costs, I did a mock booking yesterday - that same cabin is now going for over $12,400 for a Refundable deposit!  So, what they would have been paid $3248 for, they will now get almost 4x that amount.

That is pushing it a bit too far, IMO.  Inflation is not up that much.  One could sail Oceania or Silverseas for that price.

Mike

We have booked a 14 nt Caribbean cruise on Nieuw Statendam in Feb 2024.  It seems to actually be 2 7nt cruises, but we have a single booking # for the 14 nts.. 

Will we be treated as a single 14 nt cruise, as far as our onboard account goes?  Specifically, we have a good deal of OBC and I want to be sure that we don't need to spend it all on the first "leg" of the cruise.  I've done B2Bs before and know our account gets closed and a new one opens from sailing to sailing, but with only a single booking number, I'm thinking that won't be the case this time.  Can anyone shed light on this for me?

I'm assuming we'll need to clear the ship between the 7 day sailings, in FLL.

Thank you!

Mike

12 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

IMO, if you're going to come on to a public message board and say "Where does the money go?", you should all but expect someone to say "What difference does it make?"  Obviously, I can't make them answer.

What difference does it make why they want to know this information. 

You can’t use the card AT Starbucks- ifCafe Promenade uses Starbucks coffee beans, you can still use the card there.  It’s about the location, not the beans.  One espresso shot = 1 punch on the card

On 9/8/2023 at 12:11 PM, whitecap said:

Well, if cold fries aren't worth eating, and neither is any cold entree, you would not be eating much on this ship.  I can honestly say that in the seven days we have been onboard, we may have found entrees twice that were hot or at least above the luck warm stage.  So, if you want luke warm fries and fear them getting cold by the time you reach your table, you might want to consider just pulling up a chair to the buffet line.  

I have no idea why you continue to choose cruising as a vacation - you clearly aren't enjoying yourself, as you seem to spend all your time policing everyone else's behavior -- or at least noticing and complaining about it.

Life is short - if you spend your time worrying about things that are completely out of your control, you're ultimately just wasting precious time (and when you do it on a cruise -- wasting money).

You seem to be taking steps to sanitize yourself - so there you go -- you're all set.  Get on with enjoying your life and stop worrying about everyone else.  It must be so exhausting

18 hours ago, wendyinvt said:

I would also suggest ordering room service breakfast for that morning, since the other venues won't be open before your scheduled meeting time. 

I have always been able to have breakfast in the WJ before an excursion purchased through RC.  I believe they will tweak the times if an extra early port arrival.

It would crazy to send a large percentage of passengers ashore without feeding them??

3 hours ago, Tin can said:

 

This is off topic so apologies but I'm a bit shocked by that, things must be different in the UK.

 

It's two days to fully test and screen the blood sample here and then after final checks the blood transfusion that was taken and then stored is issued for use by day three. 

 

I'm amazed that its been mentioned on this thread that a Captain would be on the PA asking for people of a certain blood group to come forward on a sailing so it can go out of one and straight into another but I'm not a medical man so I guess its ok.

 

 

Oh -- if you are talking about the process for collecting, testing and storing units of blood that are donated -- that might take a bit longer than I mentioned.  Not sure that it HAS to take 2 days -- but for ROUTINE testing of donated blood, 1-2 days is reasonable.

I was referring to the testing that is done between the donated blood and the recipient's blood - to ensure that it is "compatible".

Again though, in an emergency situation, i.e. life and death, one might forgo the extensive screening done for routinely donated blood and just do a quick "mixing of the donor and recipient blood on a microscope slide to see if they are compatible."

Anyway -- back to the topic at hand.....

8 hours ago, Tin can said:

 

I'm surprised at this as when you give blood you also have samples taken which are tested and the results take 1-2 days to come back.

 

I'm not sure I would want blood straight from someone else but I guess it depends on how serious the circumstances are.

It would NEVER, EVER take 1-2 days to get blood tests back for a blood transfusion - if that were true people would die on operating tables and in ERs in large numbers.

I've worked in a hospital blood bank - you can do an emergency crossmatch between a donor and recipient in mere minutes.

I would guess that they would do some sort of quick crossmatch test before giving any blood.  It would have to be a dire emergency to risk giving blood without at least a basic mixing of the donor's cells with the recipient's plasma -- think battlefield situations.

25 minutes ago, HappyInVan said:

 

Exactly, they need carefree happy tourists to drop by for the day. "How are things, bro?"

 

Of course, the biz need money. For the ordinary folks who have suffered unimaginable fear and loss, I'll offer them the respect they deserve. After a time of mourning, they'll let us know that we're welcome.

 

At this time, I urge everyone concerned about the Maui residents to donate donate and donate.

NO, they don't need you to ask "how are things, bro?", but they need tourists. 

I'm not making this up on my own, Hawaii officials are asking people to keep their plans and come to Hawaii.  If they didn't want tourists in Maui - they would be stopping the cruise ships from docking there and sending out a message to stay away.  The aren't doing that, are they??  The fact that you don't want to go there, doesn't negate their need for tourists to go. 

One can offer respect AND still help keep them employed.

2 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

 

Itineraries can change at any time before sailing.

 

I'm glad. I've done Kahului (not impressed), but not Kona. In any case, I wouldn't want to intrude on the people of Maui. Aloha!

Except - they want you to come to Maui -- tourist dollars are needed to help.  You'd only "intrude" if you decided to be a sightseer to the actual disaster area.  Spending money in the Maui economy is essential, as tourism is a huge part of the local economy.

Topics that people should not discuss...  Religion, Politics, Cruise Ship Tipping......

I have never waited more than a few minutes for MTD, when I have a reservation.  There are generally only 1-3 parties ahead of us in the MTD Reservations line (the line for those without reservations, is another story).  I think the worst we've waited is 15 mins.

Though, we generally eat later - almost never before 7:30, so that might account for some of our good fortune for lines.