Wehwalt

We are on the ship and have a port balcony so it's been shaded almost all the time. Really, on a TA I would not consider a balcony on the sunny side.

There's also threads on the Celebrity board, and also RCCI, where it was met with the same suspicions you and I mentioned. Also Jamaica as a port of call.

Also Celebrity, RCCI (where it was met with a great deal of suspicion) and Jamaica port of call.

The OP posted almost identically to the Holland America and Carnival boards. The motivation to do such is uncertain, but may have to do with the 21st century connotations of the word "plantation", which are negative. I could be wrong. But I would take care.

A question to those who may know--what happens to service dogs in the event of an evacuation?

No one is following anyone around. That was something invented by one poster and used to label anyone who disagreed with them, even changing their post after they have been replied to. You and another poster have somewhat gleefully leapt upon what no one ever proposed to do. Check the thread. It's something invented by people who have taken a most definite position in this thread. And that position is not mine. I welcome well-informed discussion based on the law as it applies to cruise ships, as we were given by a greatly respected cruiser much earlier in this thread. Instead, we are given posts by some here which don't really seem intended to inform, but to disinform, not to forward the debate but to shut it down, posts in anger, not in sense. Too bad.

On Oosterdam at present they will not make the drinks in the travel mugs but prepare them in the paper cups and give them to us to pour into the mugs, which seems something of a waste. Unless you tell them very specifically, they will put tops on the paper cups too.

Regarding the power, while having no outlet and only one USB port by the bed is a bit inconvenient, especially given our recent memories of the Zuiderdam, the number of outlets on the vanity is more than sufficient because we utilize one of the European outlet for my laptop with an adapter, and the other 220V outlet is occupied by the power converter we brought for use in Europe. We had an excellent view of the helicopters departure from our balcony.

Given the associations of the word "plantation", and the unforgiving nature of social media, I don't use that word unless I have to. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/jan/27/company-renames-plantation-rum-after-criticism-over-slavery-link

And it tends to be exhibited everywhere they go. No need to follow, the show is coming to you.

Probably that it would be more sanitary for the crew to pick up the "evidence" and dispose of it ...

I also appreciate it very much, but I fear you generate more heat than light here. An illustration, I think, of how high emotions run on the issue. Thanks again.

Thanks, I think. I had hoped for something informed and informative when you claimed legal issues might be involved. I'm somewhat disappointed. As for your implications, those sounds like assumptions. We all know about assumptions.

Can you refer me to any cases, statutes or regulations on the matter, with specific reference to cruise ships?

Pending presentation of satisfactory evidence to a ship's officer. That may not be the law, perhaps, but it's hardly poochaphobic.

Quite so. I regret that there was a need felt to characterize people who have made their perspectives very clear, deeming them anti-dog or as having a dog phobia.

Well, that brings up the emotional support boa constrictor, Squeeze, again: all he wants to do is hug. But seriously, if the regulations under the ADA that deal with this issue are reconsidered, I'm sure that the views of the 33 states that the internet tells me have banned fraudulently presenting pets as service animals will be taken into account.

I think those are very reasonable actions by all concerned except the pet owner. The ADA does not prevent private parties who are not providing the accommodations from asking questions, recording information such as photographs, or making reports. I believe Florida and other states have made falsely representing an animal to be a service animal an offense, and while I am sure Florida has no jurisdiction over ships at sea, it does over cruise terminals.

Those are the stairs. I am on Oosterdam and walked by them this morning getting coffee from the crow's nest. I've never seen a passenger exiting the stairs but the crew seems to use them fairly often, I've at least twice had to dodge a crew member exiting with momentum. There is as I recall, an elevator limited to three people there but I don't think it's where the handicap symbol is, but close to the elevator lobby.

Or, "I understand that service dogs are carefully trained, and if the dog acts out it is most likely not a service dog. Here is my video of what the dog was doing out on the promenade as his owner stood by, smiling."

Indeed. I agree wholeheartedly. I would not say anything to the individual. At all.

There is endless stuff available on Amazon. Official looking service dog ID cards, harnesses with tags that say "PROTECTED BY FEDERAL LAW" and "DO NOT SEPARATE FROM HANDLER" and similar things that enable the fraudster. Some of them have a Department of Justice seal on them which does well to intimidate anyone who might question it. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=service+dog&crid=2E4G27AM1PDTX&sprefix=%2Caps%2C422&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_1_0_recent

You haven't met my service boa constrictor, Squeeze? All he wants to do is hug.

I judge. Sorry. It's been too widely abused. There, I said it.

We took the Coffee and it was not good. The vehicle they take you in leaves you exposed to the wind as it drives, which distressed DW. At the farm, you never move more than 100 feet from where the bus parks, you go down and put dirt into little sacks with a seedling if you like. Then on the top level of the same platform, you pound beans to get the fruity part off the beans. Then they take you a short distance away for lunch. DW ordered a beer for me but they did not tell her it was charged for until after they opened it. Restroom facilities are inadequate as well. It was ... disappointing.