DocJohnB

I don't have a real problem with the sign . . other than the suggested percentage (tacky) . . . . . it would be my choice how much to tip you.

Your initial 'plea' for a tip is bothersome and I would have no problem adjusting you tip downward because of it.

Your parting shot just smacks of greed. I would shake your hand and thank you for doing the job I paid for you to do.

As Goldryder wrote:

You just don't do it...no-one has the right to demand a tip from their guests, it is EARNED, not a right.

we cruised because it was a nice relaxing vacation.

In the fall of 2007 my DW was diagnosed with a terminal illness (amyloidosis). She underwent a year of chemotherapy and I underwent a year of hell thinking that was it. Fortunately the chemo put her into a remission and we are so grateful to our God for that.

Until 2007 most of our cruises were to the Caribbean, but at long as she is in remission and up to it, we are going to cruise to those places we only thought of in the past. This fall we will see a bit of Europe during a transatlantic and we are looking forward to perhaps either a Baltic or Mediterranean cruise next year.

Cruising is still a nice relaxing vacation, but now it is a lot more . . . it is time together enjoying life. And as others have said, life looks different once you have dealt with death on a personal level.

I just visited your youtube page and quickly looked at two of the videos. Nha Trang and Rhodes/Santorini.

The Vietnam you filmed is not the Vietnam I knew 40 years ago (thank God!) with the exception of the people, especially the kids. I so dearly remember those beautiful little children.

And then Santorini . . . . . . . ahhhhhhh. We were on a land vacation there in 2003. What a spectacularly beautiful island.

Thanks for the memories.

Oh, why am I in trouble. The wife already accuses me of spending too much time on the computer . . . . . you have dozens upon dozens of videos to view . . . . take it from there. :D

I count myself amongst the blessed of cruisers.

Three years ago (almost to the day), I was fortunate enough to experience a long held dream of a freighter cruise. It was actually a containership . . . but why quibble. :D

I kept a journal and developed a blog on my voyage. If you care to, you can read about it here. Start with the blog titled: "The only similarities between a freighter cruise ..." and read upward after that.

http://myseajourney.blogspot.com/

There is a slightly edited copy at:

http://www.independenttraveler.com/tripreports/tripreports.cfm?ID=355

As I write over and over and over again throughout these missives, flexibility is the key to this type of travel. If you are not or cannot be flexible, don't even try it.

Enjoy the reads. I will answer any questions you may have.

Actually,

None of the above.