Ditchdoc

Our first cruise we were concerned about dressing up on formal nights. By the 4th cruise is was ... whatever ... business casual with a tropical twist usually. I have a few dress "cruise shirts" that are not too loud with an island/tropical print. That and a pair of cargo pant slacks and loafers. I still see a few people that go all out. They are usually getting their photo taken and are part of some party or family celebrating something. I occasionally see someone in cutoff jeans come dragging in. Personally, I think that is a bit too casual for the dining room. If you can't dress any better than that, go to the Windjammer or Johnny Rockets. Have I ever seen seen anyone "torn apart" over their attire? Not once.

True. There is "book smarts" and there is "common sense". I have known some PhD's that could not pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel.

I there are different ways to comprehension and understanding. If EVERYONE senses the danger of an open window EXCEPT this one person, how can the entire world be designed to accommodate this one person? The ADA states that "reasonable accommodation" should be made for the handicapped. I would say a 40+ inch vertical distance and a 20+ inch horizontal distance to the lip of a window, before you fall, is pretty reasonable. It would take a concerted effort to over come that barrier that a reasonable person would not attempt.

We will take over the helm when you get back. We leave out on Harmony on the 29th, return Jan 5. Try not to eat everything.

Good point. I've taken a lot of pictures from the railing of cruise ships. It always scares me that I will drop my camera overboard and tend to make sure a lanyard is around my wrist. Holding a child up to the railing just makes no sense at all.

It has 4 - 9 cyl. diesel engines There are two propellers. These ships have a drive configuration that are electric diesel. The diesel engines actually run generators. The generators in turn run electric motors that turn the propellers. Additional generators may be dedicated to ship operations other than propulsion. There could be more than two electric motors connected to gear boxes so one motor can be off line with out effecting operation. Typically these ships have one engine more than needed for full power operation. That is so one can be off line continuously for maintenance. If two are off line, full generator power may not be realized. Engine rooms can stretch over 5 decks or more to include control rooms and all the various electrical panels, engines, motors, generators and so on.

Thanks. In search for possible containers for these magnetic hooks, on Amazon I also found small, screw top plastic containers. Often these are advertised as 'slime containers' in order to keep kids play slime in. I also thought those specimen cups that medical clinics have you use (unused of course ? ) would be about the right size. Though I have not gone shopping for these, it seems Walmart or Dollar stores may have small, suitable plastic containers to individually store these magnets that would make them safer and easier to use.

Good idea. Also makes me think of the plastic eggs so popular at Easter that snap or unscrew into two halves. You might could keep one magnet inside one of these to handle them separately.

I purchased some of these. The magnets are unbelievably strong. There is a plastic piece between two of them. If you separate them, remove the plastic and allow them them to stick together again, good luck getting them apart. You will need a couple pair of pliers or a vise to help separate them. Also be aware that it's easy to pinch a finger or skin inbetween two of these and they will hurt. To the point of blood blisters or tearing off some skin. It will happen faster than you realize. Use extra care handling these things and keep the plastic disk to put back between them. It's best to handle them one at the time and keep them separated as much as possible. At no time should you allow any part of your body come between two of these magnets if there is any chance they will snap togather. If any one has any other suggestions or techniques for handling them, please share.

There seems to be a lot of smoke and mirrors being used for excuses in an effort to place blame. I know much of this has been gone over or commented on before . I have looked out these very same/type of windows before on several occasions. There is a tint to them that even from a distance, its pretty easy to tell if one is open or not. It might be a bit more difficult for someone that is color blind but still, an open window would be brighter and a lighter shade than a closed window. Then there are other senses. Near the water there is often a breeze, a slight difference in temperature near an open window compared to the sun coming through the glass of a closed window. There are smells and sounds that are more pronounced at an open window compared to a close one. Sight, sound, hearing, touch, smell ... they all come into play. Then there is the psychological knowledge and experience of ones surrounding. You know where you are. You realize you are at a considerable height. A responsible adult would take this into consideration where a child might not as in the case of Eric Clapton's son who went out a 50 story window not realizing the danger. Pretty much any but the most obtuse adult would sense and understand the danger in this situation. It is somewhat a natural tendency at these windows to want to lean forward over the railing for a "better" view. Many people just want to see the ground or water below. The want to see up and down the length of the ship. They want some perspective, to they lean out a bit, look down, look left and right, think 'wow!' to themselves and move on. Hanging on to a child can be tricky business. Add that they do not necessarily understand the danger even being a few feet off the ground. I've held kids and dogs that just what to jump out of your arms and it can be a struggle to hang onto them. They don't understand that even falling 3 or 4 feet could hurt. Add that clothing can some times complicate the issue as it slides around the body making the job of holding on them even more of a challenge. Put all of this together. An adult that exercises poor judgement, has a child in his arms, goes to look out the window, probably leans forward a bit, the child thinks its a grand adventure, wiggle or tries jumps out of his arms, the adult looses their grip, potentially complicated by loose clothing or slippery skin due to sweat or sun screen oils and possibly physical limitations of the adult. Disaster. Something along these lines is the most probable scenario. No matter how many signs you put up or safety precautions you take or legislate (and there are probably a million of them that pertain to building and running a cruise ship), you can not keep everyone absolutely safe all the time, especially if they use poor judgement to begin with. Does all this make the cruise line responsible? No doubt there are a few cases where negligence of the cruise line is a factor. I personally do not think this is one of them.

Everyone ages differently. I worked in health care many years. I'm 67, healthy, work out in the gym 5 days a week, walk over 75 miles a week. I have patients that when I first met them, I guessed they were older than me. They had long medical histories and took many medications. Then their birth dates would show they were sometimes decades younger than myself. Just because he's "only 51" is very relative when it comes to health.

It can not get much simpler. If you don't want to get run over, don't walk in traffic. There is easily over a million square feet of space on a large cruise ship. A smoking lounge that was 1,000 square feet is 0.1% of that. A smoking lounge that is enclosed, ventilated, with doors is sealed and contained. If you walk in and complain of second hand smoke, I would say the problem is simple. Leave.

I certainly understand. Those concerned should simply avoid the smoking area. That is a personal choice. A water slide may not cause cancer but according the National Institute of Health, riders have sustained lacerations (53%), contusions or abrasions (25%), fractured bones (7%), sprains (7%), fractured teeth (6%), and concussions (3%). I wont even get into candy, obesity, diabetes etc. Pick your life style and live it.

I am a fitness buff. I eat well and go to the gym 5 days a week. I also enjoy life and believe in moderation. I enjoy a good whiskey and a good cigar on ocassion. Cruising is one of those ocassions. I always enjoyed the concierge lounge on ships that had them. I also realize it's a bit of a niche market and allocating square footage that does not make money is a corporate no no. I would settle for a nice spot out side, out of the wind with a nice view most any where on the ship where I could have a drink and a smoke. They have found room for water sldes, candy shops and many other things I have little interest in. Reserving a small, appropriate space for people like me should not be that hard, biased, controversial or political.

Seems to me "acts of God" should release any one from any liability. What's next? Any excursion where you might get hit by lightening is cancelled?

Just shows a lawyer can always find someone to blame for your stupidity.

REI or Academy sports .. paddle boat area ... all kinds of water tight bags, boxes etc.

What an epitaph. ..... "Killed by volcano" Peace and solice to those who lost loved ones.

People take risks. On a RCCL stop in Costa Rica I hiked an active volcano. Walked the lava field, toasted marshmallows over not spots, watched boulders being tossed up inside the crater. It was exciting. Was it risky? No doubt. So is driving to the grocery store.

A good scotch in a stemmed glass with a splash of water.

Not sure if you can at all. Cables are not bulky so take one of each. Having said that, this user spent $10 at Walmart for a remote that has an input select button that apparently the RCCL remote does not have. He says the TVs on RCCL ships are Samsung, so that could help. Then he called the input on the back of the TV a USB port. That may be right since he says hes using a hard drive with his movies on it. There are a number of technological variables here. Again, most electronics are pretty small these days. I carry a small bag I call my 'tech bag' that has an assortment of USB thumb drives, cables, a small digital camera, USB multi port charger etc. the bag is maybe 10 inches wide, 6 inches tall and 5 inches deep. Small enough to pack most anywhere. Another alternative : With Amazon Prime and a Kindle you can take several movies with you and watch them in the car, plane, room ... where ever you want. With Voom you can stream video, music, games, keep up with email, Facebook etc. Overall its pretty economical and the gift that gives year round. Just a suggestion.

Harmony the 29th

Exiting the ship, a cross wind blew my $50 Tilly hat off my head into the drink between the ship and the dock.

The luggage tags are nothing more than a printer sheet of paper included with your edocs. You can print as many as you need. The paper is folded long ways about 4 times so a strip in the middle containing your room number is exposed. This strip is then folded around a luggage handle and stapled or taped. This can be done last minute. If you have bought proper luggage tag holder, most I've seen hold a business card. Not the above described paper. If you find your holder, use it to hold a card with you name and address.

I've got two iClever 6 port chargers I use for phones, cameras, tablets, mp3 players, flashlights and more. They have been in service daily for 2+ years with no problems.