S1drfl

And wouldn't it be necessary to arrange a meeting with Customs and Immigration, even if the OP is disembarking in his/her own country?

FWIW I don't have much of a sweet tooth and gimlets have been my favorite cocktail for decades.

My recipe:  1 part fresh lime juice, 1 part Rose's (the best of both worlds), and 2 parts gin.  The gin varies based on my mood and availability.  I sub in white rum for a daiquiri.

I do something similar with sour mix:  1 part fresh lime juice, 1 part Rose's, and 2 parts fresh lemon juice.  Delightful with bourbon.

And muddled mint makes just about anything better.

Happy Cocktails.

Just ran through my passport used on the 2016 ATW.  Visas and stamps took up 16.5 pages.  Only overland trips we took were those offered as part of the O package for the cruise.  Could have been more (one page had 6 stamps) or less (several pages with 2 or 3 stamps, either oversized or placed such that no room for additional stamps).

FWIW.  A quick search turns up only 3 cruises in 2020 that meet the requirements of originating in Vancouver and ending in Honolulu with Maui as the next to last stop.  The kicker is that all port at Lahaina on Maui, which is a tender port 40 min. from the airport where CBP is based.  So in addition to getting CBP cooperation, the OP has to be willing and able to tender all belongings ashore.

I've also had good luck with one a day in the a.m., no ensuing drowsiness.  Would not recommend waiting until you start feeling unwell as, for me at least, it does not kick in immediately.

All our local drugstores and grocery stores offer their own generic Meclizine right next to the name brand versions (Bonine and Non-Drowsy Dramamine).

4 hours ago, Homosassa said:

Micro chips in the vaccine? Magnetization after being vaccinated? A certain state's governor boasting about about how open his state is due to no Covid 19 restrictions while at the same time threatening one of the state's largest industry with fines?

 

The only explanation is that we are in a Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett.

Shades of Ankh-Morpork!

3 hours ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

 

LOL — let’s make it a status symbol instead of a scarlet..uhm lime green letter — sort of like a Pinn pin.  If they give the lime green light, I’ll crowdfund the initiative.  I’ve even developed some prototypes.

 

Interesting idea, but you'll have to get in line.  ImmunaBand

13 minutes ago, funnychick39 said:

Happy Friday Everyone,

 

I have booked the 12-Night New Zealand Cruise for Feb 2022 on the Ovation of the Seas. The cruise leaves out of Sydney, Australia.

For those who have cruised out of Australia, as a US Citizen, do I have to obtain a visa? I have a passport but wondering do I need to also get a visa?

 

Thank you.

Yes, you do need to get an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visa.  It can be done on line with immediate issuance, so it would be best to wait until the cruise is confirmed before obtaining.  I believe the cost  is $20 AUD.

4 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Agreed - having to go to the CT DMV every few years for renewal of the license with the star (which I now have) is more of a hassle than carrying passport and/or Global Entry card (which is easier to get/renew than dealing with the DMV.

Good news.  CT has recently started supporting license renewal on line.

We were scheduled to take the 2015 ATW and wound up on the 2016 after the former was cancelled due to a fire.  We were in a Veranda Stateroom.  It was our first Oceania cruise, but at that point we'd sailed 280 days on 20 different ships on 9 different lines over the previous 20 years, so felt comfortable at the prospect.  The two best pieces of advice that really helped us with managing expectations:

Room size:  Smaller than most of our previous experiences, but adequate.  Ditto the bathroom, especially the shower.

Food:  Better quality and more varied than any other we've experienced on a cruise, but definitely not haute cuisine.  No potential Michelin stars, not as good as the better restaurants in our neighborhood.  But definitely good enough to keep us satisfied and not bored for 180 days.

Good luck with your decision.

Have had good luck traveling with a quip brand battery powered toothbrush.  Their claim of 3 month battery life has proven accurate based on 2 minute cleaning twice a day.  And no charger to transport.

This is what we did in 2016.  Paid estimated tax when requesting an extension.  Final paperwork/payment if any was then due in October.

2 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

If the visitor has a negative covid test within 72 hours, they don't need to quarantine.

The quarantine/testing requirement also does not apply to residents of NH, VT, CT, NJ, and NY.

https://www.mainetourism.com/travel-resources-covid-19/#outofstate-visitors

12 hours ago, slidergirl said:

My other bucket list trip that I want to do is a small barge canal trip in France...  All in-country, so no ports to deny access!   

 

 

As a possible aid to the bucket list, you could also look into renting a small houseboat to cruise the canals.  More affordable and no previous boating experience required.  DH and I have rented a 4 seater along with another couple and those trips are some of the best we've ever taken.

The thread To add some humour… has been returned to the Royal Caribbean board.  But to add a little perspective, the RC board has 13 refund/FCC threads running with new posts since yesterday.

20 hours ago, HAL Sailer said:

 

(BOLD mine) And it's more than not being able to land.  On the Diamond Princess thread it has been confirmed that passengers are confined to their cabins. Verandah passengers can go out on their balcony but OV cabins can only look out their windows and INSIDE passengers can only see the sky, sun by watching televised bow/stern camera.

It has also been confirmed, at least here on the Princess boards, that inside passengers are allowed out on deck 1.5 hrs. per day, with masks and instructions to remain at a distance from one another.

We live in CT and while in Vienna for the 2016 elections were able to download ballots, complete, and mail home.  Some states even allow ballots to be scanned and e-mailed.  This site might be of help if your jurisdiction allows:  https://www.fvap.gov/

Good luck.

Just did a quick check.  Olympics scheduled to run 7/24 - 8/9.  Spectrum of the Seas has 2 cruises, first with an overnight call 7/29 - 7/30 and the next 8/6 - 8/7.  Specific port is Tokyo (Harumi).  Diamond Princess originates/ends in Tokyo (Yokohama) 7/27 - 8/4.  Norwegian Spirit originates/ends in Tokyo (Yokohama) 7/28 - 8/11.  Hope this helps.

Was on a world cruise in 2016.  Different line, longer, more port intensive, but still many similarities.  5 pages seems too small.  At that time Brazil and India required visas to be obtained in advance that took up a full page each, as well as stamping passport inbound and outbound.  A quick check of additional legible stamps include South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia and Thailand.  Many more fairly illegible.  Please check current visa requirements for your itinerary ASAP, in particular if your cruise leaves in January.  Would recommend starting passport renewal at once.  Visa applications require submission of passport and thus must be done sequentially.  Good luck and enjoy.  For us it was indeed a "cruise of a life time."

I hope this helps.  https://www.nycruise.com/schedule/

DH is a retired emergency room doctor.  Have attended many continuing education conferences over the years.  The one on a cruise had about 20 attendees, not all of whom had spouses in attendance.  Meetings took place in a small conference room and dining with the others in the group was optional.  FWIW, our experience is that hotel sited conferences in Hawaii were much more popular, attracting many more attendees accompanied by entire families.  Hope the OP's experience is consistent with this.

I believe this is the article:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/around-the-world-cruises-2020/index.html

FWIW.  Sailed out of Sydney on HAL Oosterdam on 2 Feb. 2014 and were allowed off the ship after checking in, boarding, and dropping off carry-on.  Don't think cruise line would have made a difference, but general rules may have changed since then.

The Rocks is a fun neighborhood to explore and sail away from Sydney is spectacular.

2 hours ago, jwattle said:

 

Sorry, responded by mistake

A vote for the classic Gimlet, with just a hint of Rose's and very cold.

And speaking of Dorothy Parker:

"I like to have a martini,

Two at the very most.

After three I'm under the table,

after four I'm under my host."