Roz

I've never heard of seasickness on a river cruise. Odd....

@kazu, how do you pay for Uber with cash?

That was my experience in The Netherlands and Belgium last year. The only place I had to have currency was the pay toilet in Brugges. I also tipped my driver and the hotel porter with euros. A lot of the mom and pop food stands at the winter festivals took euros.

Very thorough, evenhanded review. Thank you for your comments. My last HAL cruise was disappointing.

I think changes like the AI generated ones may be here sooner than 20 years from now. I like them!

They are the menus for that day on that ship and itinerary.

I think that's true for most of us in this forum who are Carnival shareholders.

I worked in an office until I was 70. New technology was constantly being "forced" on me. I had 2 choices - adapt or quit. Folks, things are never going back to the way they were.

And it goes on and on and on.......

I prefer to tour when the weather is cool and there are fewer crowds. Students are back in school in October.

The captain dresses up as the Easter bunny 🐰. I was on the Oosterdam this past Easter in South America, and I think maybe we had a brunch. There was both a catholic and protestant morning church service.

What would you use that email for?

This past week I learned how to pay my leaf removal guy on my phone using Zelle. When I went to the hospital for an out patient procedure, the valet didn't give me a paper ticket. Instead, I got an e-ticket on my phone. When I checked in at the clinic, the receptionist sent the questionnaire to my phone and I answered it and sent it back to her. This is the way of the world. Don't let yourself be on the wrong side of the digital divide.

That's what medical offices and hospitals use. It's more secure than email or an app. It's also done in legal offices.

If you don't own shares, why do you need to know where/how to send proof of ownership?

Whatever......

@George and Family, welcome to cruise critic. I noticed you joined on Thursday, and your favorite line is Emerald. I'm curious as to what you hoped to accomplish with your post. Were you looking for advice? Sympathy? Put Uniworld out of business?

A Neptune suite can be booked as a guarantee, so I agree with you, where's the classism?

This is not directed at anyone in particular, just a general comment. Why the reluctance to make the transition to a smartphone? It's 2023, soon to be 2024. There are inexpensive models and you can get service from low cost providers such as TracFone and Mint Mobile.

Thank you for an honest review.

Posters keep talking about all these "deals", but if the website isn't functional over Cyber Friday weekend, how do we take advantage of them? I kept getting the 400 and 405 error message, and it won't let me manage my current bookings, only previous bookings. What good is that?

@cbr663, thank you for your comments and observations. I debated whether to write a review after my September Alaska sailing on HAL, but didn't for fear of being skewered by those for whom HAL can do no wrong. I'm in my 70s, but find myself aging out of HAL due to lack of onboard activities (adult coloring and knitting basics, really?) and overall lackluster entertainment. I've never been on a cruise with so many passengers using mobility devices, to the extent that they created problems in public areas. While I'm upright and able, I'd prefer to sail with a more active and energetic passenger contingent. I may have been born in the 1950s, but I don't limit my entertainment choices to music, plays, and performers from that era. When I see posts on this board looking for swing bands instead of rock bands, I know I'm on the wrong line.

For me that's a bunch of BS. 😠

To get the cash discount you have to pay the entire fare upfront. That's what I meant by tying up cash. If passengers want to do that it's their prerogative. I prefer to wait until a few months before the cruise to make final payment. I'm obviously in the minority, given the popularity of Viking's cruises.

I don't see those changes as improvements, but I guess you have to go with the flow.