RuthC

I feel the same way when I hear 'Piano Man' starting. Screaming at the top of my lungs, and running manically out of the room doesn't begin to cover it.

You would request in advance from HAL. When you get to the port it seems a problem would be actually getting to and inside the terminal, then over to the waiting area. From there, your name would be taken, and you would be added to the list of people needing assistance to check-in. People who need assistance are first come, first served. There is no such thing as 'priority'.

In all my years cruising (since 1978), and all my years using a scooter on board (since 2014), I have never seen nor heard of anyone backing down a staircase. When using a scooter in reverse I do always pay close attention to what is behind me, however, keeping in mind that such an accident is possible. But if you are used to driving a car, and follow the same rules of the road when on a scooter, you should be safe. Just beware of pedestrians! You would be amazed at the number of people who just walk right in front of you as if you can stop on a dime (you can't).

I booked the 7-day on the Volendam one year for the express purpose of taking this tour, and am so glad I did. I had previously been up Tracy Arm on the cruise ship a couple of times, once getting some distance from South Sawyer Glacier, and the other time barely getting within sight of North Sawyer Glacier. On the catamaran, we got right up close to North Sawyer Glacier, and it was a grand sight. There was a small motor boat quite a bit closer, so we were able to get a good perspective. Seeing Tracy Arm itself, and the glacier from the lower perspective was very different from seeing it from the cruise ship. I wouldn't be worried about the boat being too crowded, since the number of people on a shore excursion is limited. The catamaran rides smoothly, has heated inside cabin as well as outdoor space. There is a little coffee bar where you can get something to eat or drink. As I recall, there were also free donuts! Do remember that the bulk of the excursion is in Tracy Arm itself, which is green scenery, with a glacier at the end. It is not like visiting Glacier Bay or College Fjord where it is glaciers, and some scenery on the side.

There's a big difference between the scooters in a grocery store and those you rent for the ship! I have used both for years, and can't stand the ones at my local grocery store; love the ones I rent for cruises. A few minutes practicing on the promenade, or otherwise empty passageways, and you will have confidence. Just remember you are driving a moving vehicle, so need to follow the precautions of the road, looking behind you as you pull out, checking for pedestrians who will walk in front of you without looking, or treating you as if you are invisible. Please don't let a lack of ease of mobility keep you from doing something you love.

What a great way to spend this evening! It was always such fun to walk into a HAL Piano Bar (back in the days when HAL had real piano bars, and not what they try to pass off as piano bars now) and find Stryker behind the keyboard! Enjoy your evening, as I have no doubt you will. Happy New Year to you, and if you have the chance, please tell him the same. I remember him fondly.

I don't know the answer to your question from personal experience. However, I do have a suggestion. If I were you, I would try to waitlist for every departure of the excursion that I was interested in being on, and not try to waitlist for any departures that are outside a timeframe I would like. If the system lets me do it, then all well and good. If the system won't allow it, I would know the answer to the question! Good luck, and I hope you get on---then clear---the waitlist.

From what I have read, you can have a wedding on the ship in advance of the sailing. You can even have guests from ashore who will not be sailing! Many (maybe 20?) years ago I visited a friend arriving at a nearby port to find there was going to be a wedding aboard that day. As my friend arrived on his tender, many of the guests boarded that tender to board the ship for the wedding. Most festive tender docking I have ever seen!

So good to see you two back doing business at the same old stand! Looking forward to reading your posts. Hope you have a Grand time on your Grand World Voyage!

Depends on what the 'decorations' are. Those blow-up figures, that lay all over the lawns during the day, are tacky. I have yet to figure out what penguins have to do with Santa Claus, since there are no penguins at the North Pole.

Poor kitty! What an awful experience for him. And stupid human that brought the kitty aboard! With such poor judgement, that person should never be allowed to have an animal again. Not to mention that person should be banned from Royal Caribbean, and every other cruise line.

Thanks! That's good information! Very helpful.

Is there no 'step-over' to make the door water-tight?

No, not ALL the current HAL ships. The dining room on the Volendam and Zaandam are on Upper Promenade (Deck 5) for fixed dining, and on Promenade (Deck 4, from the aft elevators/staircase only) for open seating.

You've dug yourself a deep enough hole. The Jones Act is about movement of goods. The PVSA is about people. The two acts are not the same thing; they are two different laws addressing two different situations. Passed in two different years. Oh, even though San Juan and St. Thomas are both the US, San Juan has an exemption to the PVSA.

Bravo! That needs to be said, apparently over and over, as some of the people who don't want the medallions take them anyway, then just throw them away. What a waste of materials, and a combined huge waste of space in landfills everywhere!

I never tip extra on a per-drink basis, but also would love to get a receipt for every drink. It makes it so much easier to proof out my bill at the end of the voyage when I have those bar slips (no HIA or SBP for me; I don't drink enough). I do give a cruise-end tip to those who have served me, and the drink slips have the names, which is also handy.

I remember those days! I even have my first medallion under that program, which was the Mariner Program before the one before the Star Mariner program. Those first medallions under that program were silver, and the ribbons were orange and blue stripes. Very pretty ribbons.

If you are saying you reached 100 actual 'heads in beds' days on board a HAL ship, then you should have received the medallion formerly known as copper on that cruise (suite and spending bonus days do not count on the Medallion Mariner awards). Unlike the newest Mariner program, 'benefits' (such as they are) on the previous/medallion Mariner program don't have to wait for the next cruise. Or at least aren't supposed to under the terms of that program.

This has nothing to do with the Jones Act; it is rooted in the Passenger Vessel Services Act. If you were told it is a violation of the Jones Act by someone at HAL, they don't know what they are talking about, so may not know what they are talking about when they say it is a violation. In what way does your itinerary violate the PVSA? Did the representative explain just what the violation is??? I agree with richwmn, that you need to talk to someone tomorrow. Or, let your TA handle it, as they have more contacts than you do, and possibly have worked through this before.

It most certainly was.

A 'bar' that doesn't serve alcohol is called a 'soda fountain'.

The PVSA considers where the passenger starts, and where the passenger ends up. How many legs of the cruise does not matter, so long as there are no breaks. I'm not seeing a reason why your itinerary, assuming you do have a distant foreign port on the first leg, doesn't meet the requirements. The only piece of advice in this thread that I disagree with is supporting you dealing with it. You got your TA involved in resolving this so, let your TA do the work they get paid to do. Good luck, and it does sound like a nice itinerary.

I can only repeat what others have said: Wow! In my next life, I want to be you doing this one. This cruise sounds fabulous, and considering it's one that you cobbled together, you don't even have to pack to change ships! Have the time of your life. I know I will be reading all your posts from this adventure.

No, there is no separate CO dining area on the non-Pinnacle Class ships. No, you are not wrong that you have read it several times on this board. It has been posted many times by people who have 'heard' the same thing, but have never actually experienced it. They continue to spread the incorrect information, and likely never read the corrections.