EatPrayCruise

For the little amount I paid, sure. It is good info and keeps me interested in trying other lines.....Not that I can, but it keeps me wanting.....LOL :)

Thanks for the quick response. I'll probably order mine soon! :)

Just found time to breeze through my January/February issue. Good info and makes for a good index of information.

 

I forgot I even subscribed to it... LOL

Have you found that it's worth the $$? :confused: Just curious...

K, wiping down the surfaces of your cabin along with other precautions is just what the CDC recommends to help prevent the spread of the Norovirus (Stomach flu). It is a highly contagious virus that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines. This can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pains. It is the number one cause of gastroenteritis in the US and can be very serious. People are hospitalized every year from this virus as well as dying from complications.

 

Being in a closed place such as a cruise ship can cause the virus to spread quickly. It just takes a few particles of the Novovirus to make you sick. The virus can remain on surfaces for several weeks once it has been contaminated. Putting your fingers in your mouth after touching the surface can lead to being sick. You can also become sick from food and liquids that have been contaminated from someone that is sick.

 

There is no vaccine against this virus nor is there a cure once you have it. The main way to prevent spread is good hand washing, with warm water and soap. Wash your hands before touching your hands to your mouth (eating, drinking and brushing your teeth) and after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, or touching high-hand contact surfaces (door knobs, elevator buttons and railings), returning to your cabin, helping a sick person and blowing your nose.

 

So would I wipe down the surfaces of my room? You bet I would. As a nurse I know that I can't always prevent myself or others from getting sick but if there is something that I can do to ante up my odds you bet I am going to do it. I also carry diarrhea and nausea pills as well as Tylenol. And if I have small children with me I also carry fluids to help prevent dehydration. Call me a worry wart but I will be prepared if the worst happens. And if nothing happens than I smile as I go down the gangplank and remember to wash my hands as soon as I can!!! So don't let the neysayers get to you. You do what you need to do to keep yourself and your family members safe and well.

 

Best cruis}ing to you and may you never get sick on board (and remember to wash your hands!!!!)!_

I think that we might be in the minority. I have an auto immune disease and take steroids that suppress my wacked out immune system. In short, I have no immune system. My body may or may not fight typical germs that do nothing to other people. I have to be pro-active on my war on germs. :eek:

In hotels & our cabins on the ships, I wipe down anything and everything that I might touch and do so more than once on our cruises. I don't touch handrails or very many things in the common areas of the ships. In the buffet I'm screaming inside as I touch the serving utensils. I carry/use my own hand sanitizers (I know, I know all the stories on hand sanitizers) after a trip through the lines. I also wash my hands as often as possible with soap and water. I know that I can't kill every germ lurking out there, but I feel better trying, lol.

On our last cruise my pulmonologist loaded me up with two different antibiotics as precautionary for what might come. Luckily, I didn't have to use them. So, anyway, prior to having this crappy disease, I may have wiped down a doorknob or two, but now I don't have much of a choice. :mad:

We just booked with Ken with Northern Lights for a fishing trip mid June. Talked with him on the phone and he was very nice. Told us in Mid June we will most likely be looking at only King Salmon.

 

Our kids are super excited for the trip!

Great choice!

Thanks for posting the Patters. It helps me know what to expect in June on the Star.

You are welcome.

We're thinking about a cruise on the Island in February 2015--there is no planned dry dock before then?

When I did a search for a cruise on the Princess website, I selected the Island Princess and did not select a destination or date, etc.. The month of April 2015 was a white color instead of blue like the rest of the months in the calendar. You could not "click" April like you could the other months in blue. I'm guessing that she might be in dry-dock then?

Thanks, I really like this. Also liked: http://www.amazon.com/Talus-Corp-Shower-Organizer/dp/B000JD4CC0/ref=pd_sim_hg_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=127NM69YNPZHWD58SS3H

 

It holds bigger bottles of shampoo. I was going to make my own but at that price it's easier to get it from Amazon. I think I can hang it from the new dispenser holder.

Wow, that's pretty neat. Might have to order one myself. Thanks for the link.

I wonder how we could know which of these totally contradictory answers is correct?

I agree, how do we know what exactly goes on. On our last two cruises (in 2013 - different ships/crews), we asked several crew (different areas of the ships) and were consistently told that the auto tip is divided between the room steward who gets half and that the staff "pool" for the main dining rooms gets the other half. Has anyone else been told that?

New Feature! Cruise Critic Price Drop

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I've clicked on the link and it doesn't work. :confused: Could anyone help me figure out if this feature still exists and how to access it? TIA!

EDITED TO NOTE: Well - I just googled and found it!

We took one on two cruises in a mini-suite on the Island and the Coral. We were not able to close the bathroom door with the shoe organizer hanging on the door. We hung it once inside the closet and once from the edge of the tv stand railing.

These forums sure provide a wealth of information. Glad you could save some money!

Thanks for the advice and help.

 

We booked D703.

 

My brother and his wife got D630.

 

Its a long way off but the PC cruises book so fast these days! Glad we got it reserved.

We were in D703 on the Coral for our Nov 2013 Panama Cruise. Our balcony was fully covered. We loved it!

Yes, according to this you will be platinum on your next cruise. Sometimes, if you book that 6th cruise before you complete the 5th cruise, it does not show up in your Personalizer, but you can call to get that corrected. But you should be Platinum now, with 4th and 5th credits on the suite/Panama trip.

I just got off the phone with Princess and woohoo, we are now at Platinum level!! Thank you so much for your help and guidance Cheryl!! :)

The new rates just posted for Princess this week. We are booked. :)

Do your research as timing is critical for salmon.

 

We used Ken of Northen Lights in early July.

 

http://www.ketchikanfishing.net/ken/fishing.html

We also used Ken in May 2011 near the end of the month. We wer very pleased with his service. He offered us the option of renting the boat for half a day for just my husband and myself instead of paying by the person and sharing the boat with others. Not to be selfish, we paid for 1/2 the day since he offered it up.

Unfortunately for us, there were no salmon at that time but we still had a fantastic time. We did fish for others and reeled in 5 fish between two of us. The biggest was my cod that was about 10lbs, along with rock fish and a couple of others (can't recall the names).

Ken asked before we even got into open water if we planned to send our catches home. We didn't want to process/ship any home so we let Ken keep them. He said that he donated those not wanted to a food bank/kitchen of some type I believe. We were happy that we could help feed others.

I have to laugh when Coral says this. Most of my cruise friends (including her) thought I was a little crazy when I started to repeat Alaska cruises and couldn't understand why I would do the same trip again and again. Once I finally got each of them to give Alaska a try they were all hooked and now have most of the group hooked also. They have now each taken multiple trips and continue to return.

 

Myself I feel bad if I don't get back for my yearly dose of spectacular scenery. LOL

I know what you mean. Last year, when we booked our 3rd to Alaska, I called my dad to tell him the news. I just casually mentioned that we had booked a cruise. He asked where. I told him to Alaska. My 81 year old retired Catholic School Teacher replied "You're sh**ting me?!". It's my favorite story that I retell over and over.

Oh, yeah, and we just booked #4 for May 2015 this week. I'm afraid to tell him. He might have a heart-attack! :eek:

Thank you so much for your help! We completed our 5th cruise in November, but just booked our 6th cruise this week. I'll have to call Princess in the morning and see what I can do.

Oops, meant to say 4th in November and booked the 5th cruise this week. :o

Yes, according to this you will be platinum on your next cruise. Sometimes, if you book that 6th cruise before you complete the 5th cruise, it does not show up in your Personalizer, but you can call to get that corrected. But you should be Platinum now, with 4th and 5th credits on the suite/Panama trip.

Thank you so much for your help! We completed our 5th cruise in November, but just booked our 6th cruise this week. I'll have to call Princess in the morning and see what I can do.

Trying to understand and see where we "should" be level-wise.

1st cruise to AK 2009 - 7 days (mini-suite)

2nd cruise to AK 2011 - 7 days (mini-suite)

3rd cruise to AK 2013 - 7 days (mini-suite)

4th cruise to Panama - 11 days FULL SUITE

We are at Ruby level according to our personal profile on Princess.com.

I thought that I had read that with a full suite, you get double credit. If that is right, wouldn't our last cruise have put us up to the next level?

Sorry if I am interpreting this incorrectly, and thank you in advance for any help that you can give me. :o

Are you aware that you can now switch to any balcony cabin that's not already booked that is in the same category as B623?

Perhaps there's one that's closer to your friends?

Wow, thanks, I didn't know that either! :p

I hope that this isn't considered a hijacking, but we just got upgraded to a suite and it's our first time in a suite. It's an 11 night Panama Canal cruise and I have a couple of questions regarding the mini bar.

1. Will we get one set-up for the duration?

2. At what point, number of days or nights, do you get more than one set-up for the cruise?

Just curious as I hardly ever drink, lol. :p

Thank you for your help,

Sue

That's my post.:) I wrote that post on my Blog several years ago after visiting the graves. The last time I was there was back in January of 2012, and it looked like Olga McPhee's headstone was gone at that point too (if I recall, there had been a hurricane in the area at some point. There was also another object there that looked like something that could have possibly been another burial vault, but I couldn't tell for sure.

 

Again, I'll be there in December, maybe I'll post an update at that point.

How weird, had no idea it was your blog. I found it interesting!

Sue

Can you ask Auntie to post a picture of you in your new shirt:):)

What a great idea! I second the motion!

:)

Found this when I googled Olga McPhee...if you scroll to the bottom in the comment section, it looks like her stone is no longer intact as of December 2012...

http://thesledgehammer.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/wandering-off-the-beaten-path-at-princess-cays/

Hi Lewie & Aunt Sue,

We are on the Coral Princess on November 15 for the same or similar itinerary, so we are happy to be reading your reviews! Your stories and musings are delightful and we thank you for taking the time to keep us all informed and on the edge of our seats.

Enjoy!

:o