Ray

These jobs have their ups and downs just like any other job 😉 

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!

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!

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!

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! 
 
 

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! 
 
 

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! 
 
 

Saw it at Bristol too, less than a fortnight ago. And they had one of those scanner things you get at US airports too. I didn't have to do either; I guess they didn’t think a 5'0" 60-something little old lady in flats was worth bothering about. Curiously enough, exactly the same happened (or didn’t, depending on your perspective) at Newark earlier this year.

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 🤣

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! 
 
 

Wow you Americans certainly do like to tip LOL!

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.

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

Excuse me?
Calling this an extortion is kind a bummer, as we europeans had to pay for several years your ESTA fees, and even more since the raise last year!
So please, be fair.

I just got off Allure on Sunday (it's Thursday) and tested positive for Covid yesterday. Do I blame the ship? No, it could have been anywhere along the path of our travels. At this point, I think it's one of those risks you have to be willing to face if you're not taking active precautions like masking (I was not).

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

There's an Anthem sailing showing out of Singapore in December 2024. Could perhaps be a test load, suggesting itineraries will be released next week???