HeWhoWaits

And calling it anything "10" proves the University Presidents can't count! note - this phenomenon is not unique to the former Big2-Little8.

Why wasn't the first option to keep the same stateroom on the same date at the same price but sail from Haifa?

I find this phenomenon amusing. The credit card companies charge retailers a "swipe fee" (in the US it's usually $2 or two percent of the purchase amount, whichever is less) on every transaction. So "credit card only" stores are paying out $2 (or more) for every purchase I make. If I buy a pack of gum for $1.29 plus tax using a credit card, the store loses money on the transaction by refusing to accept cash. Makes that $2 bill look pretty good, doesn't it?

She certainly would unless she pulled out a fiver.

And I can expect to receive goods or services based on whatever legal currency I happen to have on my person.

And my comment about legal tender applied to stores/employees in the US. I agree that giving a less common denomination to crew is a bad idea (unless it's an unusually large bill).

I never said you should give the crew $2 bills. And those retailers are breaking Federal law in not accepting the $2 bills.

But here's the difference - I am educated enough to know that a $2 bill is legit and a $3 bill is not. Those who handle money SHOULD know about $2 bills and dollar coins. At the very least, their employers should educate them about their jobs. Reminds me of an old joke (which is surely not culturally sensitive enough for some) - A counterfeiter messed up and instead of printing $10 on the bills they said $18. They went to a remote village in a poor section of Appalachia and asked the first person they came across if they had change for an eighteen dollar bill. The reply was "Sure do. Would you like two nines or three sixes?"

You certainly have a right to that opinion and many probably agree with you. However, I submit that if you're not familiar with US currency, you should not work in a job that requires you to handle that currency. Just because it is less familiar doesn't remove the fact that it says right on the bill "This note is legal tender for all debts public and private." Similarly, it you can't make change accurately without the register telling you exactly what to hand back, you shouldn't handle any money. My not quite seven year old granddaughter knows a $2 bill is spendable and she's o nlyin first grade. She thinks it's funny, but she knows it's real money. That same statement on the money makes me want to go to a restaurant that posts a sign saying "no bill larger than $20 accepted" and partake of their services before handing them a $50 or $100 bill in payment. "Says right here that the note is legal to use for what I owe you so your choice is to accept it or give me my meal for free because I have no other cash and don't carry a credit card." It's especially galling when the change they would have to make is less than $5.

Take advantage of the opportunity to rediscover the quality of the no-upcharge dining options available to you. The money you save can be spent on an extra excursion.

Repositioned from Cyprus to Israel.

Yet in most of the world, the equivalent of $1 is ONLY available in coins.

Sadly, I've experienced a $2 bill not being accepted at multiple US retailers because the under-educated staff aren't familiar with them.

The best part about the Diamond Lounge to me is the outdoor deck behind it when it's up by the Viking Crown Lounge. A great place to sit and read in the afternoon.

We once had a situation where something onboard we wished to attend conflicted with our late dinner seating. We spoke to our Head Waiter and she was able to get us a spot with our usual Waiter (but not the same Assistant Waiter) at the early seating that evening. Letting them know you would like to be included in walk-up MTD will be greatly appreciated by the staff.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the wave pool, IMO.

Those big eyes will get him more attention than some silly D+ pin.

This surely means that even a slight increase in foot traffic shouldn't be an issue. If it's that far from the elevators, there won't be many people in the area any time of day or night.

Winterville has had steady winds in the 25 mph range and gusts closer to 40 off and on all morning. Rain has ranged from drizzle to driving as well.

Concierge Club is definitely NOT a noisy venue even at its busiest (around dinner time). Late night will not be a concern at all.

And now hoping the storm surge doesn't hit New Bern like Michael did a few years back.

You can ask your Loyalty Ambassador about getting replacements if you can't find them.

Rule of thumb - not an option.

The time listed for the dinner seating is when they open the doors and start letting people into the MDR. Fifteen minutes "late" will really just put you at the end of the line entering the room. However, by thirty minutes after the listed time any empty tables become My Time Dining tables.