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Nope. How does my unsigned slip prove the charge? Over the past two years, I have cruised 80 days on 5 different HAL cruises. Twice, I had an incorrect charge on my drink bill. Since I had the HIA package, I should not have been charged. Both times, I used the “let it know” feature on the Navigator app stating I should not have been charged. In less than 8 hours, the charge was removed from my bill. (I check my bill every morning.)

Thank you for your tour review of Seward. I assume this was a HAL tour. Do you always do HAL excursions? Would there be better options for those who prefer private tours?

Thank you for the pictures of Flam. Made me very excited for our Best of Norway cruise on the Rotterdam in August. We will be using part of our HIA credit to take a 6 hour tour that begins with scenic bus ride up to Voss where we will board the Bergen railway and finally transfer to the Flam railway. Positive thought to those who need them. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

Any comments about time spent in your first port? What did you do when you went ashore?

Menus are back on my iPhone! No need to clear storage/cache or log out.

Regardless of the inconsistencies, I agree that the staff on HAL is the best! PS: Thanks for your suggestion but I will not be carrying a one time use plastic glove in my pocket…just washing my hands frequently with soap and water.

I carry a pen in my purse but I don’t carry my purse on the ship. It was never a problem when I said I preferred not to sign. Not using a common pen isn’t the only reason I prefer not to sign, it was just the quickest and easiest thing to tell the server. HAL states, “Our efforts to significantly reduce non-essential single-use items, including plastics, on our ships is key to our environmental compliance program, Operation Oceans Alive. We are committed to reducing these items by 50%. It is our shared responsibility to limit our environmental footprint. The more we learn, the more we must be willing to move in the direction of zero-impact. We are committed to reducing, reusing, recycling, as well as to properly dispose of the waste we generate. For me, the slips are a waste of paper. Typical thermal receipt paper contain high levels of BPA and phenol chemicals and cannot be recycled. Only receipts printed on phenol-free paper can be recycled. Unfortunately, I saw a receipt accidentally fly overboard at the Seaview pool while in Antarctica. I made these comments on my post cruise survey.

I do not sign for drinks because I don’t like to use a commonly shared pen. I frequent the same bars and try to develop a relationship with the servers so after the first time, they don’t even offer a slip. If offered by a new server, I look at the check, explain why I’m not signing and return it.

My experience with the Rolling Stones lounge was a set list posted outside the venue of the type of music that would be featured during the 3 sets. I’ve seen Beatles, 80s, Disco, R&B. Unfortunately, it is difficult for one band to play such a diverse set list. BB Kings was always my favorite because of the horn section. It only remains on the Pinnacle class ships (NS, Koningsdam, Rotterdam)

It’s important to be prepared for disasters and everyday should be cruelty free but today I will celebrate “no sock day”. Generally my socks go away in spring and do not reappear until fall. Perhaps I am following the “sock burning” tradition that originated in Annapolis. After a particularly snowy winter in 1978, Annapolitan Bob Tuner was anxious to shed his socks with the arrival of spring. He invited his colleagues to celebrate the end of winter by burning their socks after work, a symbolic goodbye to winter as the group of boat builders, sailors, and watermen intended to forgo wearing socks until the cold weather returned; and so a tradition was born. The tradition has come to be celebrated every year on the Vernal Equinox, the day signaling the beginning of Spring and, more importantly in Annapolis, boating season. The Eastport Yacht Club and the Annapolis Maritime Museum continue to observe this tradition and, with the assistance of social media, sock burning has caught fire across the country — it is now celebrated from Pacific Northwest to New England and even in land-locked areas of Pennsylvania. These days, the annual Sock Burning event has become quite popular and includes an oyster roast, food vendors, activities, and exhibits highlighting maritime heritage. Positive thoughts to those who need them. Cheers to those on the celebration list.

Unfortunately, there is no BB Kings on the Nieuw Amsterdam. There is a Rolling Stones lounge that will probably do three different sets of three different types of music. I do not think of the casino bar as a place to hang out but you can get a drink there. Play hard during the day and get up early to watch the sunrise. Enjoy Alaska!

@ElleG01 Here’s your Roll Call of fellow cruisers

I suggest you look at some of the recent LIVE threads. Here is one from a Panama Canal cruise.

As a former teacher, I appreciate the work of teachers every day. Healing thoughts to all who are in pain, be it physical or emotional. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

Most of the acronyms used here are in general use, frequently when texting. BFF is best friend forever. I usually think of DS as dear son but you may have to guess from context clues. YMMV (your mileage may vary)😊

Happy National Tourism Appreciation Day! I think of small towns such as Bar Harbor as this day is celebrated. It can be frustrating as a local to see cruisers come and go, but the truth is, that many of the favorite local spots couldn’t sustain themselves on local traffic alone. Tourists provide an essential boost to many local economies. We visited Bar Harbor on the Veendam on a cruise from Montreal in August 2018. We walked around the town before boarding a bus for a tour of the beautiful Arcadia. I was startled to see the Coast Guard patrolling the harbor as we tendered back to the ship. Positive thoughts to those who need them. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

Congratulations! Here’s your Roll Call. (There’s a more active one for the full 27 days too).

It was raining; I took the picture through the “glass” beside the bar at the Seaview pool. You can see the raindrops on the photo. I watched the entire process. All the fish was on ice. There were no boxes of frozen fish. The fish was removed from the bins of ice and placed on the scale that the man in the yellow vest is leaning over. The chef is wearing the orange vest. I spoke to the chef about an hour later; he was extremely excited that they were able to obtain this fresh, not previously frozen, catch.

I believe all the fish in the Pinnacle & probably Rudi’s is frozen. The Pinnacle only serves Salmon and Halibut, not available fresh in many ports. Rudi’s may occasionally be able to source fresh fish However, when in a port where fresh fish is available, it is sourced by the executive chef. Here is a photo I took in Montevideo in February showing fresh fish being delivered. I spoke to the chef; it was served in the Lido and MDR the next day and it was delicious.

No but…After what happened on the recent Oosterdam cruise with Park West, it would probably be good if @VMax1700 added to the list he keeps for HAL charters

I never believed HALs comments about “fresh” fish until I saw it being purchased in the port of Montevideo. I always order seafood or vegetarian entrees. I do not like overcooked fish. Three years ago, I talked to a chef onboard and he suggested I tell my server I would like my fish “medium”. This causes the kitchen to cook my fish especially for me. It has worked out perfectly. I have enjoyed many varieties of fish on HAL with unique preparations.

Good Morning! I am very happy that the meal of the day has expanded into side dishes, sauces and desserts. I look forward to the carrot cake recipe. National Two Different Colored Shoes Day was created by Dr. Arlene Kaiser. Kaiser created this day to recognize and celebrate human diversity. According to Kaiser, “The simple act of wearing two different colored shoes proclaims your individuality. By taking this 'positive risk,' you can demonstrate your willingness to be different, and show your appreciation for the unique people in your life”. Google translate is a wonderful feature. I frequently use it when traveling aboard especially for reading menus. @Haljo1935 Your pearl box was translated on yesterday’s thread by @middlehaitch I thought you might be interested in an excellent Coast Guard rescue video just posted on another thread.

This thread should assist you.

We enjoyed Montevideo in February. While waiting for the sky to clear and begin our walk, we saw fresh fish being inspected by the executive chef before being weighed and brought on board the Oosterdam.We took a nice walk through town. My favorite stop was the Museo Del Carnaval. Uruguay celebrates the longest Carnival in the world and this museum showcase the event with costumes, videos and photographs celebrating its history. It is a short walk from the terminal and less than &4 US to enter. Sailing away.Positive thoughts to all who need them. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

Pesto is a paste that traditionally consists of crushed garlic, pine nuts, coarse salt, basil leaves, and hard cheese such as Parmesan or pecorino, all blended with olive oil. I have substituted many greens for the basil; I particularly like spinach or arugula. I don’t usually use pine nuts; I use walnuts but have also tried other nuts. You can also buy pesto in the refrigerator section (better) or in a jar. This is a very easy recipe for Baked Pesto Chicken that only contains 4 ingredients: boneless chicken breasts, premade pesto, plum tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Quick Pesto Chicken Recipe With Vegetables I like the addition of zucchini, red bell pepper, and red onions (but you can use other vegetables you have on hand like asparagus or green beans) making this a one pot meal. Pesto Chicken and Rice Bake is a casserole that uses a package of rice and adds some alfredo sauce for a creamier dish.