CalgaryMac

We were planning a cruise ending in Los Angeles. The cruise offering was tight as far as getting us to LAX even though the ship docked at 7:30 and our flight was at 12:30. There were options through shuttles and limousine serves that offered similar prices and better timing.

We received free drinking packages for me and my partner(Sip and Sail bonus). It costs about $1100.00 to buy so unless you are a very heavy drinker I cant see that it is worth the cost. We were on a 2 - week Disney Cruise a couple of years ago and might have spent about $700.00 for wine for the two weeks. It was enough for us. I noticed that you can buy different packages on other lines. Disney had flexible packages for wine that we might consider if we go with them again. I couldnt see a similar package on Princess - just there unlimited package.

I had an odd experience traveling in Wyoming a year or so ago. I was staying at a hotel that offered a free breakfast. When I went down I saw what I thought was oatmeal and so I filled a bowl up and when back to my table. The first taste let me know that it was not oatmeal but I couldn't tell what it was other than very salty. It took a few minutes of watching other guests to realize that it was the gravy for biscuits! I was hoping that no one saw me. I still cant picture someone liking that gravy!

I think the problem might also be the health conditions in Cuba. I was on a tour to Cuba many years ago and many people became ill with what sounds like Norovirus. Some people had to be hospitalized. It was my first experience traveling outside Canada and I think that I wasn't aware that standards in third world or developing countries are not the same as here.

I think I may have had it in NCL Sky to Cuba....that or food poisoning. It hit me in the middle of the night of Day 2 (after enjoying Havana for the two days--TBTG!!! And t hit hard!!! Night sweats turned to chills and back and forth all night long. Spent as much time in the loo as I did in bed!!! I wanted to die! It was on it's way back to wherever it came from by evening the next day. I just wonder if it was NoroVirus or not and what to do to avoid it in the future if it was!

 

Toot-Toot!

Great post!

m4KDNgYLYGU

 

 

My latest video is about norovirus an cruising. I talk about about norovirus on a cruise ship, and how to avoid catching it. In this video I talk about what norovirus is and where it can occur and why. Exploring if you are more likely to get it on a cruise ship than on land. I look at how to avoid norovirus whilst cruising, what norovirus symptoms are, what to do if you are unfortunate enough to catch it and how it is treated.

This is indeed sad news. It prompts me to question the liability assumed by the cruise lines for such accidents. I am aware that if you make your own excursion arrangements then all risks are independent of the cruise line. However the news reporting on this accident suggests that there is only limited liability assumed by the cruise lines in the event of an accident. Also who regulates the excursion operators for safety or health issues. They might not be operating with the regulations that we are familiar with in Canada or the United States.

We are going on two cruises over the next 18 months. We have no concerns about excursions in Hawaii but do have concerns about excursions in Central and South America.

Regardless I am very sorry for the families impacted by the recent accident.

I live in Canada and our health care is not available outside the country. Consequently I have been buying additional health insurance whenever we travel outside Canada. I urge caution and check the details. I found out within the past year that now that I am 65 the coverage through my credit card is impacted. Naturally (unfortunately) there is reduced coverage. Also you need to be mindful that some companies providing travel/health insurance might have a different idea about what constitutes "stability" in your health condition. Any changes in medications, treatment changes, etc. could be considered to indicate instability in your health condition and lead to a loss or reduction in the coverage that you think that you are getting.

My physician and I work well together and I am pretty stable. However we do plan any changes to medications to fall more than 90 days before a planned trip. The changes are more tweaks than significant changes which is gratifying. My thinking isn't just related to what insurance companies might expect but also I would rather be sick when I am at home and in my own bed than on a cruise ship.

At some point there might come a time when travel poses too many challenges. We are going places now in case there is a time when staying in Canada is the only option. I love Canada but we need more palm trees and warm oceans to satisfy us.

As tourists we have choices. If you choose to visit Russia then you are under their laws and you might find that your own government will have difficulty intervening on your behalf. The fact that the LGBTQ2 community in Russia is attacked by the government and religion is enough for me to stay away. I don't want any of my tourist dollar to find its way to agencies or organizations who would use the income to attack LGBTQ2. Russia has no free elections, no independent courts or justice, and no free press.

We have never been asked directly but two older/middle aged men travelling together might be looked at askance. Generally I don't wait. We talk about our lives matter of factly and don't leave anything out. Mind you we never curse (like we do at home) and anything we talk about is polite and fitting for public consumption. If people prefer that we not be ourselves then we prefer to spend our time with other people.

We've only been on two cruises - we have 2 more planned over the next 18 months. We have seen couples who we think are gay but never approached them. We are not snobbish, elitist, or anything like that but we are a quiet couple. I am chatty and will talk to anyone at anytime -much to the chagrin of my partner who is more shy than me.

We enjoy socializing with straights or gays and like humour, interesting stories, conversation - all the good stuff. We are very liberal people, union supporters, left leaning, animal lovers (4 cats), and we avoid topics like gun culture, bans on immigrants, and American politics (although I don;t mind if you talk your head off with my partner about US politics so that I can have a reprieve). I think that we both value animals more than people - at least our pets we do. We had euthanize one of cats the day before we left on a cruise 2 years ago and we both cried so heavily. I was more upset with Lila's death than that of my parents (even my mom!).

Anyway, we are on two Princess cruises next - in October 2018 we are on a 15 day cruise to Hawaii from Vancouver and February 2019 we are celebrating my partner's 60th birthday by going through the Panama Canal (San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale). Always welcoming.

We have had to cancel for a health issue that unexpectedly arose (you need to watch for limitations impoosed by travel insurance companies for things like changes in medications) and another due to employment challenges. We didn't get back the deposit but everything else.

People, please just relax. I spell gooder than most people and can figure out what people mean.:o

These things happen and while the fingers get pointed at the cruise line it's people - crew and passengers alike - that travel when they are sick and then don't follow common sense hygiene strategies. The outbreaks can't be stopped entirely but we all can do what we can to not contribute to the problem.

We booked a club class mini suite primarily for the extra cabin size and the larger balcony. We find that on a 2 -week cruise we need to have a break from the activity in the public areas of the ship.

The most stratling conversation at a table was a year orso ago when a couple at the table told us of an experience where they were in a store in Las Vegas and a gang decided to shoot up the store. The woman telling the story was not hit but her husband and 2 children were among those injured. We love Las Vegas but wonl;t go to that part of town after hearing the story. Everyone recovered thankfully.

We recently paid for our cruise in November 2017. I called today with question about a discount offer and was advised my the Princess Cruise agent that we were eligible for a fare discount. We are getting back $1500.00 (CDN)!

She advised me that the cruise line doesn't automatically extend refunds when here is a fare reduction but if you call the line and a fare drop has occurred they will provide you with a refund of the difference. I plan on calling again before we leave in case there is another fare drop.

We have been on two cruises and have two future cruises booked. All of these cruise bookings have been made through the cruise line web site.

Recently, I decided that I would try going through a travel agent. I had heard that travel agents have access to perks and benefits not available to the rest of us. The first travel agent that I tried told me that the cruise that I was looking for was not currently scheduled. I called her to tell her that I was looking at the cruise line web site and the cruise that I mentioned was offered online. She later told me that she had not done a thorough search despite my advising her of the line, dates, and destination.

The second travel agent who I tries booked the cruise but there were no perks other than what I could get on my own through the web site. We placed a deposit and purchased insurance. I learned a lot about what she likes to do on excursions but unfortunately didn't fit well with our interests. My partner lost his job and because of the job situation here we decided to cancel the booking just to be prudent. Unfortunately we had not been told that the insurance was not refundable because the health and travel portions were bought together as a package.

What did I learn? Once you book with a travel agent then you are obligated to go through the travel agent to pay for the cruise. The travel agent might not have any better access to what is available than me. The cruise lines are very helpful in providing information and tips.

I like researching trips, destinations, resorts, etc. so a travel agent took all the fun away from me :(.

We have been on two Disney cruises and never had an issue being gay on board or in the ports. I think that we all need to be careful about judging other countries and societies based on how they treat the LGBT community. If we do, the United States comes out poorly but my partner and I still go to the US often and focus on what is good about being there.

Just take a cruise and forget about the alphabet while you are on board. All the labels that are used now need descriptors so that I understand what you are talking about. It was a lot simpler in the 1960s.

I am not sure why one would choose a gay cruise. We don't hide being gay or a couple and have not had any problems. I find that there are lots of interesting people on cruises and sexuality hasn't been a subject for discussion - neither has politics or religion.

We decided to limit ourselves to one cruise per year because of the cost. We also try to book on web sites that provide fares in Canadian dollars. That way we know what the total cost will be even on installments.

We are taking this cruise in April 2018 so I am finding your posts really interesting. We have browsed through the excursions that are available and am thinking that using public transit or cabs might be an option. With the CDN dollar being so low, anything priced in US dollars ends up even more expensive. Anyway, looking forward to more posts - you should get a career in travel writing!

No need to buy water. The water on the ship is as pure or even purer than what you get at home. Yes, they have water dispensers at the beverage stations and all of the bars.

Thanks - that is great to know

We are going on our first cruise with Princess (Coral Princess in November 2017 and Star princess in April 2018). We have traveled with Disney in the past and found that they had chilled/filtered water available at the beverage stations. Could anyone let me know what Princess does to provide drinking water. We would prefer to use our own bottles rather than buy a water package (kind of expensive). Thanks!

On our last cruise through the Panama Canal two families got left behind in Cartagena. Self tours might be great but total responsibility is with you to get back to the ship for departure. The ship didn't wait for those folks.