sanger727

You could also check with your cruise line's board. Some lines have a texting feature in their apps that you can use without internet. Sometimes for free, sometimes for a charge. Again, everyone in your group would have to choose the same option.

Yes, you can keep your data roaming off and not purchase internet and use texting. Did you discuss the cost with spectrum? Unless they have a cruise ship plan that is considered roaming, and you will get charged per text. If you are doing a once daily check in, it's probably not a big deal. If you are texting back and forth with friends all cruise, it will add up. And they will also have to have their cell service on to get them. If they are on wifi, they won't get your sms text. If you want to text with people onboard, you should all use the same methods of connection. Also, keep in mind that if you make any calls or accept any calls that you will also be charged per minute.

I'm confused as to what your limiting factor is. Is $3,000 your budget? It sounds like you have 18 days available for this vacation. Why not include a land trip staying longer than 5 days? We did a mesh between the two. We flew to Hawaii, stayed for 5 days on our own, then boarded a Celebrity cruises which spent 6 additional days on the island. Then it cruised back for 5 days and we debarked in Vancouver.

Ok so, Yes, in theory, installing a local sim card will avoid roaming charges. You get your sim card from a phone company who provides service. Some phones are locked into a certain phone company (so if you purchased your phone from your phone company) and will have to be "unlocked" to change sim cards. I did this when traveling to australia. I had my phone unlocked before I left and when I arrived I purchase a local sim card from a local phone company. You will most likely be using a prepaid phone service with a set number of minutes and data. Keep in mind that this will change your phone number. You will now be getting service through a local phone company. However, as Bruce Muzz stated, Japan is different. You can only rent a SIM card in japan, not purchase. Same idea, you would rent it in the airport, get it prepaid for a number of minutes/data, and then return it when you leave. You would still have to have your phone unlocked before you left. You can also rent a phone in japan with a japanese sim card. This may be the simpliest solution, but I"m not sure the cost. If you are going for two weeks, it really depends on how much access you want to your phone. If you are just going to check your e-mail and facebook at the hotel, you can turn off roaming and connect to wifi. If you want around the clock phone only access - ATT provides a range of options. We did like a 30 day phone service with set amount of prepaid data and that was not significantly more than the cost of renting a sim card. If you want to use your phone there the way you use your phone here, you can turn on the daily plan or look into the sim card rental.

there are medical only policies that can be significantly cheaper than full trip coverage. We use Geoblue. Their policies are dollars a day and cover any medical issue and medical evacuation.

Right. I wasn’t trying to imply that it was a fair system. Just that marijuana is nowhere close to comparable to heart medication. And until it’s no longer a schedule 1 substance, ‘prescriptions’ will continue to be contested subject. For me personally, my job drug tests. So a prescription for it isn’t an option event if it would be beneficial.

you don’t think the ship knows at any point who is on the ship and who isn’t? Sure they do, that’s why you scan in and out each time you get in or off.

I’m not sure why this would be a problem. The reason the 20 year olds can’t check in on their own is to make sure they don’t board and then the over 25 person never shows up. But if the over 25 person is already onboard, why would it matter?

You can request a price drop before final payment. But yes, it’s essentially a cancel and rebook. So to get the current price you will also get the current perks. After final payment, you can’t get price drops.

My favorite cruise search site allows you to search for departure ports. They don’t list Manila as a departure port. So I would venture to say no.

But it's not. Maybe things are different in Canada than in the US. But in the US all "medications" are run through rigorous clinical trials and then approved by the FDA. Marijuana has never done that. It's not a medication. It's essentially treated the same as a supplement once you have a medical card. Legal, but not proven to work, regulated, or legally protected. Also, if we are being honest, the medical side as turned into a bit of a joke in the US. Groupon sells medical marijuana cards now.

Dogs not being trained to detect marijuana are becoming more and more common. Drug dogs can always be trained to detect a new drug. But once they are trained to detect a drug, they can't be untrained. Thousands of dollars go into training a dog, and having one that alerts to marijuana is useless once marijuana is legal in the jurisdiction or if it ever becomes legal federally. Alot of places side on the side of caution and don't train it anymore.

Marijuana is not FDA approved as a medication. And its federally schedule 1; which means that it legally has no medical use. We can all agree or disagree with this stance, but NCL is correct to ban this substance until federal laws change. I'm pretty sure you have noticed that you can't get your marijuana prescription fulfilled at Walgreens, it's not the same as thyroid medication legally. And just as a side note, it's not just cruising. Employers are still allowed to drug test for marijuana and not hire or fire you for using it (even with a prescription). Marijuana is not yet a medication legally.

I don't think the argument is that Customs is lined up with a sniper trained on the gangway looking for a dog to shoot. But, yeah, at the point where there is a customs official giving you commands to return your dog to the ship and you don't; or if the dog is apparently alone and off lead; sure that could happen.

Sure. But it's not just the Rolaids. If you are trying to be prepared for any occasion you may need OTC drugs... It's the rolaids, zantac, ibprofen, daytime cold, nighttime cold, cough syrup, cough drops, sore throat drops, immodium, laxative, benadryl, sinus meds, gas-X, saline spray, nasal spray, ear drops, dramamine, bonine, pepto-bismol, eye drops, chapstick, cortisone cream, antibiotic cream, bandaids, etc. All that can certainly add up in ones luggae, especially in proportion to the likelihood of needing all items. It's far more efficient to pick up something needed as you go.

Unless this has changed post-covid, I recall usually seeing items like this in the ship's store. I understand where the OP is coming from. Yes, it's good wisdom to bring a stock of OTC meds. However, even if you bring a little bit of EVERTHING, it can still take up alot of room. When I pack for a long trip, only about half my suit case is full of clothes. The other half has all the toiletries, OTC meds, prescription meds, etc. I might need. For a short trip I don't often bring all of that. If we need to get something mid-trip, we usually go to a local pharmacy.

It sounds as though OP received this information after they booked, which isn't right. I've never seen a cruise website or TA that didn't give you the information on the port fees and taxes upfront in the quote.

Yes, there is no way to meet the ship if you miss it. But I believe all of the Celebrity cruises include a ticket to a chartered flight in. So that's what you have to make. Not difficult if you come in a day ahead. There's only a handful of flights from the mainland to the Galapagos, we used a small yacht for our tour and they booked our flights. But either way, they told you which flight to book and arrive on. Then they transport you straight from the airport to the ship. Not sure that missing your ship is much of a thing there. Now, miss your flight and you are SOL.

The relevancy is whether any companies produce 0% THC products. If I can go to Japan and buy something that is 0% THC, then such products exist. The poster I was quoted originally stated that "ALL" CBD products contain THC. I agree, that some do and, especially in the US, it can be difficult to identify which do and which do not. That doesn't mean that there are no 0% THC CBD products.

ok. But you are only relying on the fda as a regulating authority. Are you suggesting there is no country in the world with an equivalent of the fda that regulates Cbd products? As I said, Japan comes to mind because there are more conservative than the US and products must be 0% thc to be legal there.

I think you mean a topical product that contains CBD. Not all CBD products contain THC. I don't think that a truly 0% THC product would be considered banned. I do know people who use medical grade ones at their doctor's direction. However, if you can survive a week without it, it's way higher risk to bring that than a not CBD alternative. I wouldn't bother.

The specialty dining package that we were offered on day 1 was the same as pre-cruise.

well geez. Yeah, if you are going to lug 3 laptops, 2 iPads, and multiple gaming stations I’m sure U have room for a power strip. I assume u drive because all that by itself sounds like a suitcase full of stuff. I pack light. 2 iPhones and a multiple usb plug is really all u need on vacation. That’s a camera, phone, game boy, and video player all in one.

I've always had the book. Never had the card. I didn't personally see any purpose to the card. It's only good for land borders and cruising. Most international trips I take involve flying. When I'm in port I just take my driver's license as ID. Norwegian does accept the passport card. Not sure if that was your only reason to get a book. Norwegian Cruises: Passports (norwegianvoyages.com)

Another note that may be worthwhile if you are considering cancelling. Celebrity has started dropped Bermuda from their transatlantic sailings to avoid the testing requirements. You could consider if you want to switch to one of their sailings.