trooper 1

"...I am traveling with my mother and 21 year old daughter. My mom has mild to moderate dementia. She has difficulty remembering information, but is not at the stage yet where she can't be left alone for short periods of time. If you were to talk to her, you may not even be able to tell...but I still worry..."

 

I am experiencing the same with my wife. I just ordered a GPS watch for her to wear and a receiver for me to carry. I push a button and the receiver will show her exact location on a map at all times (within cellular range) in the

U S, Canada and Europe. It cost $800.00. I probably cannot give the name of the company but will watch this site if I can help someone else. My wife can communicate with me via cell phone to tell me she is lost and I can pinpoint her location to give her directions or go get her. You could goggle GPS Watch and probably get the information. I do not know if it would help at sea though unless you were in a port with cell coverage.

Have really enjoyed anything about Alaska but love Dana Stabenow's writings and characters. Also, there's an old book, I forget the title, something like "I Heard the Owl Call My Name" that may be set up there.

Any of the Kate Shugak or Alaska State Trooper Campbell (my old outfit) by Dana Stabenow are considered classics in this household. Very accurate descriptions of living in Alaska. Sue Henry's Murder on the Iditarod Trail (which is going on right now) and Murder on the Yukon Quest are also good.

We were going to get some in Belize while we were there in December (we were going to get a bunch of Z-Pack, when my husband gets a cold it goes directly to his chest and he requires Z-Pack to clear it up) however, we found that with our insurance we pay less here at home for a prescription of Z-Pack than we would've there (in Belize the cost was like $8 per pack and a prescription wasn't required). Now in a few months when our insurance coverage changes, we might decide to start buying some of our meds overseas.

Just a note of caution if you are abroad and buy a Z pack(s): If you are on a blood thinner (e.g. warfarin, coumadin) the ingredients in a Z pack can seriously affect your pro time blood level. This could be harmful to your health. I found this out personally. I would have to visit the ship's doctor and have him readjust the daily dosage of the meds. Check with your pharmacist for possible drug interactions.

Um, if my spouse died before we could leave on our cruise, I really don't think the first, ok, the second thing, that I would be concerned about was if the cruise line was going to charge me the single's supplement instead of the couple cost. Maybe, I would be more concerned about the fact that my hubby had died instead of the cost of a cruise.

But then, that's just me!

Personally, I would want my wife to go on the cruise and have one hell of a good time. (No pun intended.)

I must apologize. We have not been to Vladivostok. I got that mixed up with Petropavlosk. Sorry. (I looked at Shore Tours in the Princess home page. The only tours they had listed in Vladivostok were in 2007???)

OK. I will be checking into the old folks home soon. You asked about Petro and somehow I mixed it up with Vladivostok.

Thank you so much. What kind of tours have you taken?

I must apologize. We have not been to Vladivostok. I got that mixed up with Petropavlosk. Sorry. (I looked at Shore Tours in the Princess home page. The only tours they had listed in Vladivostok were in 2007???)

My husband and I are thinking of getting a visa and trying Petropavlovsk on our own? Has anyone out there done that?

Been there twice. There is little to see in town. We take the ship's tour with an English speaking tour guide. It would be too far for us to walk around on our own and really doubt if there are any taxi drivers who speak English.