Ray

3 hours ago, CruisingNewb said:

 I further guilt trip my family into putting things away, throwing trash away, and pre-making the beds, so that it is less work for room attendants.  

Totally agree! 

I just dont get this " im on holiday so i will do as i like " attitude! 

"Sorry kids have made a mess or are going to make a mess so here's 50 bucks" Do the kids get to make a mess at home? Probably not so why allow it when on vacation? 

Same with making beds or putting empty bottles or rubbish in trash cans. Would people leave garbage lying about their own rooms at home or is it a case of i have a servant for a week?

Way i see it treat your hotel room or cabin as you would your own home. No amount of money can buy self respect!

23 minutes ago, ckruetze said:

Ok, I have never had to take me shoes of at any European airport in the 12 countries I have flown from (just had to count in my head) but I think 12 is correct. Just asked my wife and she confirms it she had never taken of here shoes at European airports.

 

Maybe it depends on the shoes over here.

Had to do it in Aberdeen, London Heathrow both before and after Brexit on every flight until this year, also Copenhagen, Budapest and Milan over the years.

Back in March on way to NYC i was able to go through customs wearing my trainers ( sneekers) which is all i ever wear without having to take them off for the first time however others wearing shoes with bigger soles or boots had to remove their footwear.

31 minutes ago, ckruetze said:

 

Oh and one day we will also get really long queues at the security at airports and if Europe is really brave we might even ask passengers to take of the shoes at the airport security. 

 

The above has been around in Europe for years! My wife always has to ask if the socks i have on have any holes in them as she doesn't want to be embarrassed at customs when i take my shoes off

4 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

I'd imagine it's even worse for cruises because there is already built-in gratuity for your cabin steward, wait staff, etc. yet it's obviously common to then tip above and beyond that amount.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with anyone tipping etc if that's what they want to do! Where it's wrong is when people feel pressurised into tipping. 

On my recent trip to NYC after a long day walking about my wife decided she wanted a foot massage. Quick search of google gave me a site 2 blocks away! 

Foot massage was $30 with my back/shoulder costing $38

Now for my massage i was sat on a leather stool having to hold on for dear life as i was being pushed off it every 2 seconds! Worst massage i have ever had! 

My wife's foot massage was done with one hand only as the other hand was on wechat and other chinese social media sites on the mobile phone placed between my wifes feet.

On paying the price was $68 plus the expected 20% tip. 

Way i worked it out was no tip for my massage as i felt worse when i came out than when i went in, so only a tip for my wifes massage and since the only used 50% of their hands they were only getting 50% of the expected 20% so 10% which was an extra $3

Needless to say they were not amused and even laughed at the fact it was only $3. I honestly didn't care as i would never go back there. I just told them that the service they provided was terrible and they were lucky to be getting $3 and if they were not happy give it back! 

On 7/26/2023 at 5:32 PM, Bingee said:

and crucially for all those who voted for Brexit, Brits will have to pay £6 each visa waiver from 2024.
Thanks guys!

Things could definitely have been handled better but it is what it is now! just got to get on with it and wear coats with very deep pockets to smuggle back more than the 1 Ltr of alcohol allowed lol 

2 hours ago, JasonOasis said:

 

If you are an American and you are traveling to the European Union starting in 2024 regardless of your mode of transportation to the European Union you will need to have a ESTA. 

Not just American! This will apply to any country thats not in the EU or their approved list, so even UK residents will need to apply for this.

Probably minutes as I would imagine it would be similar to the US ESTA just not the same stupid questions.

18 hours ago, Phillip Diamond Plus said:

With a potential closing of the Amsterdam cruise port at the Central Train Station, are there any alternate cruise ports outside of central Amsterdam?  If so, where are they?

Not yet but there will be once they build it.

This was discussed on a thread weeks ago. As was pointed out on previous thread Europe is just catching up with the US who have charged visitors for travel visas ( ESTA ) for years. 

An Article i read stated that the council want to build a new bridge but to do so they must relocate cruise terminal.

If its for cruiseship then yes, if its also for in hotels then it will work in all European ports except in UK. 

2 hours ago, ScottD said:

 Europeans tend to have passports because the countries are so small, you need one to get anywhere within a few hundred miles in any direction. 

 

Not true! 

Member countries of the EU plus a few other countries that are on the approved list ( basically most of mainland Europe) can travel to and from each others countries with only an ID card. 

I would say the reason Europeans have passports is so we can travel to places we need them such as the US, Australia, Africa, Caribbean etc. 

2 hours ago, amanalo217 said:

Three bags of luggage is a lot of clothes...do laundry???

Not if there's 3 people and its cabin bags! 

You will get all the train details online ! Just search ravanna to Rome train. 

Not sure if you have already booked flights to Palemero if not then you can also look at flights from Bologna.

From cruiseport to Ravanna train station i believe it's either Bus or Taxi 

You could use the insurance money you get for your missing bag claim to pay for the transportation costs.  

On 6/2/2023 at 5:41 PM, FionaMG said:

As a "local", I wouldn't particularly want to cruise in the Med in winter so I was quite surprised to see both NCL and Celebrity testing the waters. I'm less surprised at NCL pulling out. Celebrity's programme is less extensive than NCL's but I'm wondering whether it will survive or whether they will abandon ship too, so to speak.

I do think there is a potential niche market for short cruises out of and around the Canary Islands/Madeira and perhaps even Cape Verde during the winter months. Many Europeans fly to these places for winter sun holidays and I can't help thinking there would be a lot of people interested in doing a hotel/cruise combination if it were offered. 

Agree 100% 

No way i would cruise or even visit the Med in Winter. 

Like yourself i have previously mentioned cruises based out of Maderia which is a completely different geographic to the Med in Winter.

10 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Agreed. But your scenario was essentially non-USA to USA to USA.

The OP's scenario is non-USA to USA to non-USA then again to USA.  OP will have to face customs in NY and again in Miami.

Not sure this is correct! 

Both original poster and myself travel from Europe to US 

Both original poster and myself join a cruise in the US ( OG poster is Miami i was PR ) 

As i mentioned in my intiail post i joined a cruise in PR so We both sail around various caribean islands which are not part of US or a US territory 

We both return to ports either on mainland US or in PR which as you stated is a US territory, so i can't see how original poster and my own scenarios were different 

51 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Puerto Rico is a US Territory so mainland USA to PR is considered a domestic flight.

Yeah

I was pointing out that as a foreigner that after original customs check in new york ( 1st stop ) i travelled internally within the US then onto a cruise then back to US without the need for customs checks as its all treated as internal. 

My own experience travelling to US from UK was customs when i arrived at JFK, flew down to Puerto Rico which was classed as an internal flight so no customs needed. 

Hopped on cruise around the Caribbean then flew from Puerto Rico back up to JFK, again no customs as its an internal flight. 

You don't say where in Europe you are flying from! If its from Dublin then you clear customs for the US while still in Ireland.

On 5/29/2023 at 5:03 AM, Ampurp85 said:

If I recall correctly, last year during the restart of cruising from the UK they were offering beverage package deals below the standard price. So that is probably the reason it seems so much more expensive.

If i remember correctly it was £41 per day for cruises booked within a certain time period. 

I paid 51 usd for my cruise which wasn't that bad, for next cruise  it was showing as 91 usd per day, however it is on sale right now for 71usd which at todays exchange rate is £954.

954 ÷ 2 guests is £477 pp for 7 day cruise or £68 per day, so roughly 6 -7 alcoholic drinks before breakfast sorry i mean per  day  to break even. 

It will be the one further down the coast near Ravanna. 

5 hours ago, ChessE4 said:

Good point about goods. We had done just that, but Royal didn't get us the form after filling it out. So I remind folks buying pricey gifts to get the form.

You need a special vat refund reciept from the shop you purchase goods from. 

These forms have a special number on them that is used by refund counters at airports or other locations. 

Refund must also be done before you leave the country! Only variation to this that i am aware of is Finland & Sweden where you can get refunds from 1 country in the other.

Some countries do not have a minimum purchase, you can purchase something at €10 and claim back as long as the shop is part of the programme ( not everywhere will do it) 

On 5/15/2023 at 2:10 AM, smokeybandit said:

If you're not a resident of the EU, you can get VAT taxes refunded.

On 5/15/2023 at 11:51 AM, ChessE4 said:

There is a process to get the VAT paperwork, so fully discuss with Royal. Must be 100 plus from same vendor. Use same SeaPass to make it easier. Refund kiosk at airport after security. But critical to get Royal or other vendor to give you form. We never received ours, just the original receipts.

I could be wrong but i was under the impression that VAT refund was only for actual goods that go in your suitcase! 

I do know you cannot get for food and drink but i have never read or heard about VAT returns for Internet and i use this refund service where possible when travelling.

This is from the company i use 

5 hours ago, 69RoadRunner said:

 

Does this mean its legal to import a polar bear if they are not pregnant? 

I do know you cannot enter the US from abroad if you have drug related offences. 

I actually thought this had already been removed because when i travelled to New York this year for St Patricks Day i was not asked for proof of vaccination either in UK on departure or at JFK on arrival.