LSEA

If a person had done their homework about who was performing the procedure, then I think any botox, juvaderm, light laser work, or light chemical peel could easily be performed in port. I've had all these done here at home and gone about my business after.

 

Botox and juvaderm caused some minor bruising from the needles, but that's about it.

 

I could see someone going for these procedures, or maybe a spider vein laser treatment. Nothing that requires a knife, though.

This last line, that I underlined, really sums it up for me. I would love to give Juvaderm a try, but have the typical jitters about it. I think if a person did some research and had references from the many Canadian and US citizens living in Costa Rica, one could feel confident of finding a qualified professional who offers those services. But as far as a facelift (again, would love to try this, those Lifestyle Life commercials really catch my attention) I think I would want to be close to home. I told my husband recently that I am declaring 2014 my year of cosmetic procedures. Now I just need to work up the courage. :)

I have never experienced any discomfort on a ship, but often post cruise I have several days of dizziness.

Not interested in spending the $ for FTTF. Also not a big fan of long lines. We usually get to port about 11 and wait with the herd. Anyone have experience showing up in the afternoon after the crowds? We will be on the Breeze out of Miami this summer.

Bolding is mine. This is usually how we try to time it. It doesn't always work out and we get caught up in the busiest boarding times. We don't enjoy the crush to get on the ship so we usually take our time. If we fly in the day before we relax at our hotel as long as possible and then maybe go out for a walk or light lunch. If we drive we have a car with us to tour or run some last minute errands. I am in no hurry to get on the ship simply because the crowds bother me. As I think about it, our worst boarding experiences have been on other lines.

than a gospel singer. Too many of the followers might try to press their beliefs on other passengers.

I'm a smart and self-assured person. I have nothing to fear from others beliefs, no one is tricking me.

My bet is there is plenty of room on this cruise ship for everyone. I also bet that the Sandi Patti followers will be as polite and respectful as any other traveler.

Thanks for the review. Great pictures. Love the gray tunic, black legging, wedge sandal outfit. I'm planning some travel soon, that looks like a great, versatile outfit idea.

-32 F in Victoriaville, Québec, that's f***** freezing cold. Carnival Victoy in 17 days, Nassau, Grant Turk and HMC !

We got a chance to move out of a similar climate a few years ago and jumped on it. I'm hoping you are a person who enjoys the winter season. Hope you have a great cruise on the Victory! You deserve some warmth and sunshine.

Thanks so much for sharing this review. Much appreciated.

Just adding in a ditto to the others who agree you should receive a full refund. The argument that you ate meals and used other amenities on the ship should cost you the remaining 25% is flawed in my opinion. (Although it does come from a poster that I enjoy and appreciate.) What else where you supposed to do? You were on a cruise ship, you couldn't just hop of and vacation somewhere else. In fact, I think you should get a full refund and something towards replacement cruise, if you where even willing to give HAL another try. I assume you took time away from your normal life which comes at a cost. You probably had costs associated with getting to the cruise. Come on, a 90 degree cabin? That is outrageous and I don't think your expectations are out of line at all. I know nothing is perfect and there are "risks" associated with everything but that doesn't mean one shouldn't expect for things to be made right. Oh, loved the Hollow America line... I also love Holland America but can appreciate the humor here.

I totally agree with you.

 

The most frequent comments here : we love the darkness in the room to sleep better. My question is do you also have a room without a window at home, if not how can you sleep at home !!!! This is rationalisation.

 

We do not spend a lot of time in the cabin : well with an inside cabin, it is an excellent idea. The lack of natural light is a depressant. Also, there is nothing to enjoy in an inside cabin during the day, no view, no sunshine, no fresh air, etc. With a balcony, you can listen to the waves, watch sunrise and sunset, relax and doze off in you private chair, eat breakfast or lunch al fresco, etc. No wonder none of you spends a lot of time in an interior cabin.

 

I would rather spend my money on a balcony than sit in my interior stateroom and watch my interest grow and my investment increase. My children would prefer that I stay only in insides.....I want to spend it, enjoy luxury and have fun rather than being thrifty for others to enjoy my money later.

You raise some interesting points. Although I would suggest that when some posters refer to better sleep they are talking about sleep during day light hours. That does make a difference in my opinion. I do have a difficulty sleeping at home during day light hours.

We have vacationed in almost every category. Of course I prefer a verandah or better yet a suite, however we tend to book at the last minute and don't always have a choice of staterooms. When we land in an interior we always enjoy our time there. For us it is pointless to pay additional money for an oceanview. A window that doesn't open offers no value for us. Often though we have been given a complimentary upgrade from an interior to an oceanview.

That sounds like a great trip! Enjoy!

Gee, with such a crisis outlook about this trivial thing, I'm shocked that you would even allow yourself to type the word "fun". ;). The mats were left in their cabin. I would have a different opinion if they had stolen them, or thrown them overboard, or in some manner damaged them.

 

But then again, maybe a good keel hauling would set them straight.

 

No harm, no foul. Adios on this for me.

So true. Teens pulling pranks? Hasn't that been going on for DECADES? I just watched a delightful little movie... perhaps it is familiar to many, It's a Wonderful Life? A wonderful prank in the beginning involving a dance floor and a swimming pool. Certainly the old cranks had a good hmmf! over it. My father has related some wonderful stories regarding fraternity pranks involving the taking of a mascot or two... I may or may not have a few stories of my own from my teen and college years. The mats weren't stolen, as you say they were left behind in a cabin.

I can understand your frustration about the lack of response from ship officers and crew. It is frustrating when one feels as though they are not being heard. After reading some of the responses on this thread though there are some interesting points made about weight and safety at all times, not just on a cruise. Another poster raised an interesting point… take control of the problem and purchase a life jacket that fits your DH and take that with you on your next cruise. Problem solved? Easy peasy.

In our community friends and strangers offer my family holiday greetings for a holiday we don’t celebrate. It never occurred to me to be offended. I take it to mean that they are wishing for me the same feelings of celebration and joy that they associate with their holiday. I don’t think anyone is trying to “recruit” me, and I’m a pretty smart woman, they aren't going to “trick” me into believing with a friendly greeting. Life is hard sometimes for our family, I’m happy to receive any sincere wish of happiness and good will.

I take the document along when traveling with my children without my DH. Sometimes we need it, sometimes we don't. Totally random in my experience. Its a piece of paper that takes up no room in my bag and the notarizing takes 5 minutes tops. I guess I don't understand the "well they didn't ask so I'm not going to bother with it next time" response. I think you, the OP/family, are very wise to think of this. How disappointing to have something so simple interfere with the experience of sharing a cruise,

A question for those of you that received the letter and haven't cruised Carnival in a few years... Have you sailed on other lines during that time? Under the Carnival umbrella? Perhaps they see you have "strayed" and want to win you back? Just a thought. And I agree with others, sounds like it is casino related. Whatever the reason, it's a great offer and I hope you are able to take advantage.

Thanks for posting your review. Great photos.

Great review and photos. Congratulations on your retirement. Enjoy.

The issue goes beyond the limit for me. RCI and Celebrity limit you to two bottles per cabin. The both have high corkage fees. That's only part of the issue. Both RCI (for sure) and Celebrity have far superior wine lists and pricing.

 

Basically, if you are going to limit what can be brought aboard, and have a high corkage fee, then you must provide an attractive alternative onboard! Both RCI and Celebrity do that. And, that's where HAL, at the moment, fails miserable, IMO.

Exactly! I usually bring a variety of split/piccolo bottles of champagne on board to enjoy on the verandah. It takes some looking but there are some really great things available in the split / piccolo volumes. I accept that I will no longer be allowed to do so (although, really, I would much rather pay a higher fare and enjoy the niceties of cruising past). What I don't accept is the lackluster selection / cost of wine aboard Holland America. Celebrity (can't speak for RCI, but I take your word on it) is soooo much better! True for the X beverage packages as well.

Thanks for sharing your great photos.

Great review. Lovely family. Thanks for sharing your trip.

Thanks for the review. Beautiful photos.

Great Review!! Thanks for taking the time to post!

Thanks Dave for taking the time this blog required. Your photos are delightful and the day by day reports were a pleasure to follow.

I really debated whether to post this or not, but I have had so much fun reading these over the last year, that I figured what the heck--I have to laugh at myself! SO, on an Eastern Caribbean cruise a few weeks ago, this is what happened to me...

When I am cruising, I usually just put a swimsuit on and then my shorts or whatever over it. That way I am ready for the pool at some point in the day. I did that this time, too. But the first several days of our cruise were not very good weather, cloudy, rainy, etc. So, on the day we were in St. Maarten, I just decided to get dressed in normal attire, since I wanted to go on shore to take some pics of our ship from there. We had breakfast and were walking around when my husband went over to one of the bars to get a soda and brings me back a Harp's lager. (That really has nothing to do with it, but I wish I could claim that was the reason for what I did!!) Then we see that it is partially sunny so we go to the pool deck and we decide to stay there for awhile since the weather seemed to be breaking. My 16 yr old son went in the whirlpool and I went over to a lounge chair, put my towel down and proceeded to take off my shorts and t shirt. About the time I realized that something didn't feel right was the time I saw the look on my husband's face. I was standing there in my undies!! My son was nearly going underwater he was laughing so hard! I grabbed my towel and sat down, tried to grab my clothes. I looked at my husband and said "Help me!" He shook his head and walked over to the whirlpool and got in! I was laughing so hard I was crying while trying to get dressed! I don't think my family will ever let me live that one down!!

That is really funny. Thanks for deciding to share. I can see myself doing the exact same thing.

How many people do you know who go to Europe and then rsve about the McDs that they go to? Same thing. People travel but do not want to leave home.

 

DON

Actually, on a couple of trips through Europe we have enjoyed McDonalds. After traveling for 10 - 15 days at a swift place and finding ourselves alone in a unfamiliar city, hungry, late at night McDonalds was a sight for sore eyes!! A little taste of home, even though I rarely eat there.