Ray

37 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Asking for a friend...in laymen's terms, that means Canadians won't need one either right? lol

Roll out of this program had been delayed until 2025 so no one ( anyone outside of the EU ) can apply for it until then. 

11 hours ago, teddy said:

Thanks.   This is good info to have. 
 

We’re on the plane.  Hopefully it lands somewhere close to Venice 

BTW there are lots of companies who will do this for you online: no win no Fee etc ! 

AVOID these companies as under EU Regulation 261/2004 you are gaureenteed full compensation payment for each person in your party. The amount you receive is determined by the distance you are travelling.

There should be links or info on Tap website. 

15 hours ago, teddy said:

 We are also apparently due 250€ because of the cancelled flight. 
 

 

 

You have to make this claim online yourself. It's easy to do and doesn't take long. 

Can't remember how long it takes for money to be paid into your bank but its not that long.

4 hours ago, Traveler said:

Considering that in Israel you have 20% Muslims citizens and (some of the serve in the army) I don't think there is any issues with the crew docking in Hifa.

% means nothing as it only takes 1 idiot to cause mayhem! As was shown in the US this week when a 6 year old muslim child was stabbed 26 times and his mother also attacked! 

Or the idiot in London on a pro Palestine march wearing a jacket with a photo of Hamas Paraglider taped to the back of it! 

Or the numerous suicide bombers over the years! 

Or the serving British Army Sericeman charged and convicted of terrorism offences in 2021 ( this is the guy who escaped from prison last month ) 

1 idiot is all it takes to cause mayhem and destruction 

5 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I can see where the crew would be a bit unnerved going back there during an official wartime stance.

 

 

Especially if the crew member is a Muslim docking in Israel... imagine having to get off the ship to assist with boarding! You would be bricking it ...

5 hours ago, Cookie said:

What is to stop someone else from taking your room key?  Or even your luggage?  They dont put your luggage in your room?

More chance of getting robbed by a TSA worker in Miami than someone stealing your bag on a ship! 

3 hours ago, Frank P said:

I was just asking if anyone has had any experience with this kind of situation and if Royal Caribbean did anything beyond the "fine print" to resolve the situation, e.g., offer the same cruise in the future at a deep discount (assuming I'm physically able to take advantage of it, of course!).  Thanks again for all your responses, even the snarky ones. 

I had this situation when my Baltic Cruise was changed due to Russia invading Ukraine. 

St Petersburg was a bucket list item for us and the reason for booking Baltic Cruise. We had a fantastic cruise and didn't feel we missed out by not going to St Petersburg.

No compensation was offered and didn't look for any! We just accepted it had happened and got on with it! No point worrying about a few $$ when innocent people were being slaughtered!

Guess it's the same as someone from Europe travelling to the Caribbean for a bucket list cruise when a hurricane hits forcing ships to miss ports or change completely!

Hurricanes in the Caribbean and unrest in the Gaza Strip, 2 things which are always in the news, so it shouldn't be a shock cruises have been cancelled as it happens often in that area! 

T&Cs of your booking CLEARLY state that changes to ports of call can be made by RC if needed! 

As Israel has said they are now at war your travel insurance should cover your trip, thats presumming your purchased travel insurance. 

However your trip hasn't been cancelled just amended which you agreed to when booking so Insurance company could say your not entitled to anything. 

26 minutes ago, JFCruise said:

Totally different situations.

Don't see how?

Men have nipples and its ok to show them! 

Breasts and nipples have never ever been sexual organs! In fact in time gone by it was normal for woman to be topless and still is in some countries! 

It's western mankind who has sexualiaed the female breast over time and changed it from a part of the body used to feed their children into a fantasy! 

Topless guy at pool is ok but not a woman! Why? 

Families take their children to parks or zoos and stop and watch excitedly while cows, sheep or any other animals feed their young yet same family may complain if a woman walked past revealling to much or if  woman was feeding her newborn at table next to them as its seen as unacceptable!

#FREETHENIPPLE

4 hours ago, JFCruise said:

Oh I do this too, but not quite so inwardly. My wife partakes in the judging. In our cruise last week, there was this woman who was wearing a top in the Promenade that - and excuse the PG13 language - made her nipples clearly noticable.

Not that I'm a prurde, but RC is a family cruise line.

 

Edit for clarity - the tshirt was see-through enough that you could see everything.

Would it have been acceptable if she was sitting down breastfeeding? 

Just now, Zacharius said:

How does it compare to a train? 

Train prices are shocking! 

I can fly to london for £100 return ( about 450 miles ) train to Edinburgh is about £70 and thats only 130 miles. 

Train to london would cost more than flying. 

Don't get me wrong you can get some cracking deals on the trains if you are lucky to get a sale on the date you want to travel. 

I looked at going to Edinburgh by train last year for the xmas markets, i got 4 nights in Budapest including flights for the same price as 2 nights in Edinburgh. 

You just got to shop around and try and be flexible with dates! Staying on an extra day may cost you £200 for  hotel but save you £600 on flights. 

Doesn't say if it was male or female PJ's 

My concern is that it was an elderly male wearing those pj's from years back! The ones that had that had the overlapping flap in the front! 

Imagine his wife thinking she had dropped her chipolata sausage on his lap and her trying to get it with her fork

2 hours ago, Zacharius said:

 

KLM offers flights in to British cities that a lot of other major airlines don't...places like Southampton, Cardiff, Leeds, Teeside, Bristol, and more.

It costs me less to fly aberdeen to Amsterdam then onto leeds than it does Aberdeen to Leeds direct. 

You don't say where you are flying from or your destination! Also which airlines you are checking prices on. 

I fly from Aberdeen to london ( on BA )then on to NYC this year with jetblue and prices were no different to what i have paid previously over the past 5 years ( between £500 -£600 pp return ) 

6 hours ago, HeWhoWaits said:

If any crew specifically ask for a "10" we ABSOLUTELY report the individual(s) by name at the question about whether any crew requested a high score, 

Obviously they are going to mention the survey ( usually on the 1st night ) when they do we politely inform them that we know about it and that we will fill it in accordingly, we also point out that if they mention the survey again at any point over the course of our cruise we will deduct 1 point everytime its mentioned, Needless to say it not mentioned 

On 9/12/2023 at 2:46 PM, shinydoc said:

Just interested to see if there are any updates on using Global Entry at the Port of Miami?

Yes you don't get your money stolen by TSA agents 

.

On 8/31/2023 at 11:03 AM, tonyfsu21 said:

. Like I said before, money always talks so if you want exceptional service (not average service) then you should start digging into those deep pockets of yours and pulling out those $20’s and maybe (probably not) you will get a drink before me. 

No you're ok!! 

Unlike you i do put thought into it and also have respect for those already waiting in line before me! 

Thats one thing money can't buy...self respect 

15 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

Exactly. The bartender isn’t working behind the bar for the exercise, they are working for money! It would make sense to take care of the people who are paying you the most money. It’s just good business sense. 

So what happens if everyone in front of you is also flashing the cash? You're at the end off the line waiting! 

If bar tender ignores me to go serve others i tell bar tender that there are other people waiting before them. I have then let others go infront of me so i get different bar tender then i make a show of handing them a 10 or 20 ( heres what you could have won) hey you got $1 but you could have got a lot more if you done your job properly 

If bar tender continues to serve q jumper first i will and have raised issue with F&B manager and told bar tender to expect negative feedback in questionaire! 

7 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

I bet it would. It wouldn’t matter if it was in Europe or Pakistan because the universal line jumper is always money. 

If it did ( which it has before ) i would say something! Cant be done with bribery because at the end of the day thats what it is. 

2 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

Yes, being a generous tipper to the bartenders is not only the right thing to do but also can garner some nice perks. I could stand 4 deep at the casino bar and it’s guaranteed my red stripe beer is going to be handed to me first.

Wouldn't work in Europe as we don't toletate Q Jumpers 

In fact wouldn't matter where it was if i was waiting and someone got served before me i would say something 

1 hour ago, Traveler said:

If it is a cruise that goes only to EU ports everything as the EU VAT including drinks and purchases in the ship "Duty-free" . If you are not from the EU and purchases something above 70 Euro you can get the VAT back by filling  a form bit it's not the case with food and drinks.

Doesn't have to be above €70, every country is different. 

You can only make a claim as long as you get a special receipt for vat claim back.

8 hours ago, teddy said:

To stir the pot a teeny bit….

The people I personally know who are waiters/waitresses would absolutely rather not be subject to minimum wage and just keep their lower wages and tips. 

A long time friend of ours has been waiting tables for decades.  The cash tips she gets just during hunting season pays for their vacation in St. Maarten every year. 
 

To be upfront, I’ve never worked for tips, so I have no dog in this fight.  

Can understand that, in an article during lockdown waiters and waitresses in NYC were complaining because the were not getting money, in most cases it was over 100k USD per year

16 hours ago, Austin said:

 European contracts since tipping is not the norm.

 

Can we put this lie to bed once and for all? 

Europeans DO tip just not to the same extent as in the US! 

There are a number of factors for this

1 : Europe pays better wages to staff meaning we don't have to put 16,18 or 20 % tip expected on receipts 

2 : We tip for the service we receive not because it's expected

3 : we tip for quality 

4 : we tip what we like even just the coins in our change or we round up or leave a good tip ! Theres no expectation on us to tip anything but the majority do and any extra staff get is a bonus and appreciated.

6 minutes ago, bobroo said:

; reading up on the history of the Lusitania is prudent before booking. 

 

British cruiseliner sunk in The Irish sea between Ireland and Britain during WW1 by Germany who Britain was at war with. 

Given the fact Britain was the enemy you can understand why they would target a ship flying the Union Jack flag!