Ray

19 hours ago, rjac said:

So Ray, is that how a Scotsman checks to see if he needs to pull his socks up?

to be honest i wouldnt know, usually when i wear the kilt im to drunk to notice if i even have socks on  

7 hours ago, KLAconQueso said:

Hello from the Adventure of the Seas! We are currently docked in St. Maarten, but checking in for a review on our day yesterday. 

We took a quick taxi from Old San Juan to Pan American Pier around 10:45

 

 

what was the cost of taxi ? 

15 hours ago, twangster said:

How was I supposed to know the wind would lift my dress right at that moment?

if my understanding is correct new RC App will allow messaging on ships, not all ships have the technology yet as it's being rolled out across fleet in stages

http://barbados.atlantissubmarines.com/

This is what i have planned, it may be the only time i have the opportunity to do it as the only subs we get in the nortn east of scotland are from russia 

16 hours ago, Digmenow said:

 

Thanks to all for your thoughts and responses!

 

We've prepaid gratuities, Voom and drinks and will bring singles for additional tipping.  When in port, we plan to hit  nearby beaches or find local excursions at the ports instead of booking RC excursions.  I WILL be on the lookout for a reduced coffee pass so that's a few bucks and maybe a hundred for the casino.  There's talk of First night at Chops.  Not too much else to speak of.

 

SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) is loyal to Southwest and we are avoiding credit cards, as previously mentioned but it sounds like a good plan.

 

  And they say it's a just an old stereotype but we know better, don't we?      

 

Have you heard the rumour that the Grand Canyon was started by a Scotsman who lost a coin in a ditch?

19 hours ago, PRC said:

Barrachina's has an awesome menu also!  A must for me every visit to OSJ!

 

good to know 

13 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

IIRC, I saw someone mention here a while back that you have to front-load any cash only account you want to use for your Sea Pass card on boarding day, and then add more to the card as the cash applied runs out. I think that if you wanted to tie a debit card to the Sea Pass card, it would be treated as a credit card automatically and you'll be dealing with all the holds and other CC-related nonsense.

so when you board hand them what you think you will spend on board  in cash plus a bit more to be sure? $1 and i expect it back lol 

Can you once onboard inform them that you want have a cash account then pay with debit card on final day? this would eliminate the need to carry extra cash and also reduce the number of hold transactions on debit account 

was shocked that it was Italians fighting since the first thing they learn when they join the army is how to say " i surrender" in 14 different languages 

13 minutes ago, pamw said:

 

Surely they have trained staff to call on when this happens.

 

 

 

23 members of one Italian Family causing havoc i guess the crew were worried they woke up next to a horses head 

Alcohol may have had a lot to do with it but the fact there were so many of them was probably the main issue,  they probably  thought they could do as they like and get away with it because no one would mess with such a large group. 

5 hours ago, KLAconQueso said:

 Barrachina restaruant & bar is the restaurant that supposedly created the original Pina Colada, and also boasts a menu of local Puerto Rican dishes.

http://www.barrachina.com/

Says on there website that if you download their App you get a free Pina Colada 

4 hours ago, princevaliantus said:

Royal isnt all that innocent. I've witnessed two all out brawls: one on NotS and the othe just recently on RhotS. Royal tends to deny they ever happend unless it is filmed and actaully one of them made it on the news as security was caught cheering and instigating the brawl. Every cruise line has their fair share. It is nothing new and they werent Americans. They were from the UK.

it was one family of 23 that came from Italy 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/17/cruise-ship-on-which-big-brawl-broke-out-to-dock-in-melbourne

Looking forward to reading your posts as we have same itinerary in Nov on FOTS. 

http://antilliabrewingcompany.restaurantwebexperts.com/

4 hours ago, KLAconQueso said:

I'll be flying in on 2/22 - if you are able to check in, I'd be interested to hear of any updates (or recommendations) you might have! 

Pack a flashlight 

40 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Man, $2,150 a month?!? That's $25,800 a year, really less since they're on contract and will most likely have at least a month between contracts, to be a full-time professional butler to a level of clientele that is paying that much just for their 7-night trip?? (assuming no casino rate or other deep discounts)

I know, I know, all depends on where that person came from and how far that dollar goes. But when the genie is supposed to be several cuts above the typical stateroom attendant in level of service and professionalism, that just strikes me as a slap in the face. Given they work 7 days a week for at least 8 hours a day, that's a measly $9.60 per hour! Barely over minimum wage (at least in some states; others it's well below current minimum wage levels) for a highly demanding service profession.

£1555 tax free a month for a 9 month contract is more than most working class brits get for working 12 months  :(

12 hours ago, F1guynz said:

As you are sailing on Ovation while it is Australia, that is an interesting question. As it is not normal to tip here, I suspect unless the guests are American or Canadian a lot of guests wouldn’t tip at all or tip a lot. For example they provide a lot a services that a conceirge would provide and I have never tipped a conceirge and nor do many people in this market.

i know the people that we sailed with on Ovation who had a genie did not tip him. Anita and I If we had a genie on a 14 day cruise down here we would probably tip around $100. If we were in the US we would tip more as that would be the expectation.

if you comfortable tipping maybe you could calculate 1-2% of the cabin price and tip them that. We had a not at a Suite with a genie and that was around $20,000 NZD so that would equate to $200-$400 NZD

And here lies the issue, just because something is expected doesn't make it right.

Lets say a couple work all their lives on minimum wage, work hard without any extra treats for themselves just to put their kids through college or university. then they retire and as a treat for themselves to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary they book a nice 7 day cruise to Outer Mongolia departing from Tehran. they save and budget accordingly so they can get an ocean-view room with balcony then just before sailing the upgrade Genie gifts them with a suite.  Is it correct that they are expected to do as others do and tip probably more than they can afford just because its the done thing and is expected? Sure the Genie may do a lot of running about but isn't that their job? isn't that what they sign up and get paid for?  

I am in no way against tipping, while in NYC last year i tipped well over the expected 15 - 20% that was written down simply because the food and service was great. But if it wasnt great then i wouldnt have left as much, maybe i wouldn't have tipped as tips should be earned not just expected as its a way things are done. 

This is probably the one question that splits opinion and starts a debate simply due to how the American tipping culture is. In most countries across the world tips are given for the level of service you receive, however in the states its expected as it increases the poor wages paid within certain areas of service industry. 

Personally i disagree with people anywhere just expecting a tip, it should be earned and if service is to a standard you are happy with, then you as an individual should decide the amount you want to leave and it should be received with gratitude. No one should go on vacation anywhere and be worrying or thinking about whether they have tipped enough. 

13 hours ago, JLMoran said:

Is it wrong that, knowing you're from Scotland, I mentally hear all of your posts spoken in either (depending on my frame of mind) Gerard Butler's, Henry Ian Cusick's, or Iain De Caestecker's voice?

At least you don't ever "play back" in my head as Scrooge McDuck. 

We will stick with Gerald Butler but to be honest even he wouldnt understand me  where im from in scotland we have our own laungage. 

to give you an idea this is a sentence in english 

Which foot fits what shoe?

if i was to say the same but in my own "Doric" language it would be this 

Fit fit Fits fit fit?  

15 hours ago, JLMoran said:

@constable145, meet @Ray. @Ray, @constable145. Seems you two might have a lot in common. 

when on vacation there are ONLY 2 types of time! Sleep time and drink time. Usually the first one starts at the bar lol 

56 minutes ago, #cruiselife said:

I think this was great advice Matt. We just got back from the sailing and it was far and away the most motion that we have ever experienced.

Was it a Disney ship you were on? If it was that may explain the motion 

33 minutes ago, J_Keeble said:

That's the thing, flights are a fair amount to san juan

tell me about it  £350 pp it cost me from jfk to sju for Nov and ticket price has  risen by £50 since i booked last week

2 minutes ago, monorailmedic said:

As a guy who has some strange tattoos, I look forward to one day sitting down and learning more about this.

Aberdeen are my Local football team ( soccer ), as we are in an area of green fields with lots of sheep opposition fans insinuate that we have relations with them. So we call ourselves "The Sheep"

 https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=aberdeen+fc+sheep+on+fire&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=sfIhG-7ZOs1F_M%3A%2CY35uIHnbExJmlM%2C_&usg=__ZoBeGu238VPwgqtxe5EBxgJuo0A%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBgaPN9IzZAhWHfFAKHR35AZ8Q9QEIVDAI#imgrc=b8ERxnykpXSm1M: