Jan115

It’s Wednesday, and I’m a day late with my Tuesday Travel Tip. It’s a tale we’ve all heard before - traveling without a passport and trip insurance, and the consequences, as happened to an unfortunate couple recently in Nassau. Read and learn:

I have stressed in previous blogs about the importance of carrying both travel insurance and a passport while on a cruise vacation. An article on Yahoo’s travel page yesterday about a couple who cruised very recently without the benefit of either passport or insurance is a perfect example of what can happen if travelers don’t prepare for the unexpected. The couple were on a three-night cruise to the Bahamas when a sudden and serious illness necessitated a visit to the cruise ship doctor while the ship was docked in Nassau. The medical facility was unsuccessful in treating her and sent her to a nearby Nassau hospital. Her only insurance, unfortunately, was Medicare, which the hospital didn’t accept. Moreover, in order to be seen, the guest needed to fork over $2,000 in cash. To make a long story short, the woman was eventually seen and tested, and advised to fly home for surgery. However, this presented a second problem. The ship had already left Nassau by the time the woman was released from the hospital. The couple had very little cash and no money to fly home. Even if they did, they had no passports. While a passport is not required for a cruise beginning and ending in the same U.S. port, one is absolutely required for air travel. As of this writing, the couple is still stranded in Nassau and hoping, with the help of a GoFundMe page, assistance from the cruise line and wire transfers from friends at home, that they will be able to settle up with the hospital in Nassau and fly home soon. There are two very important lessons here. One, always expect the worst and don’t rely on your health insurance when traveling out of the country, especially if on a fixed income and only carry Medicare. Secondly, spend the money and get a passport, even if you think you would never need it. For the full article, visit: Yahoo Lifestyle

The trend now is build ships for families, and that’s what kids and teens want in a vacation. They’re not satisfied with a week at the beach. They want bigger, better and faster. Which is great for them, but what about the rest of us who don’t particularly like all the hoopla.? We’ll be left with the aging, tired smaller ships.?

Very impressive, and not surprising, given the number of passengers cruise ships are now carrying.? I prefer sailing from Ft. Lauderdale because the flights are better, but will sail out of either depending on the cruise.

I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of these kinds of lawsuits and claims against cruise lines, now that they are adding all these extreme activities. I haven’t participated in any of these activities, but wonder ... does the cruise line make you sign a waiver or something before you can skate, climb or ride one of these things?

Nope. Vertigo and coasters don’t mix for me, and careening at high speed over the ocean in a tiny car is not my idea of a relaxing vacation, But you kids, please, knock yourselves out!?

Makes me think of that little old couple in “Dirty Dancing” who got caught stealing.?

Thanks, CruiseCrazies! It's an honor to be selected, and I look forward to sharing more fun cruise stuff in the future with both old and new friends here in the community!?

Wow - who would ever suspect a couple of ordinary senior citizens for drug possession! No one, apparently, or so they thought.

Hi Lady K, and welcome to CruiseCrazies.? I've already got 3 cruises planned for next year so, unfortunately, can't fit in another, but I hear she's an awesome ship, especially after her refit last year. Enjoy, and tell us more. What's the itinerary?

Exactly, Jackie! Getting back to the ship before it sails is a pretty important feature of cruising - you might think they'd double and triple check the all-aboard time.

How unfortunate and sad for the couple. Cuba is on the same clock as the East Coast port of departure, so that wasn’t the issue. I have to side with the cruise line here. If they did indeed give multiple notices on board about the schedule change, then the couple should have known this. However, it’s very possible they never got the notice that the cruise line says they sent out a month before. Its not unusual for important notices to get lost in cyber space or never sent. Funny, I just mentioned to someone how American credit cards are not accepted in Cuba - including the airport, too, I guess. I’m curious as to whether a lot of other people missed the ship, as well. If so, then the cruise line definitely has a communication issue.

I haven’t been to Cuba yet, but do know people who have. I have heard good things about day tours by Havana Journeys: https://havanajourneys.com/ Whichever guide you use, just make sure the tour meets the people-to-people guidelines, i.e. cultural, educational or humanitarian. Eat in local eateries, use local cabs, local vendors - anything that benefits the people and not the government. Also, be sure to check off the self-certify box on the visa that you are adhering to the guidelines - the cruiseline won’t be responsible for you. Keep records of where you go and what you do in Cuba. No one ever asks, but it’s best to have it just in case. Nighttime in Cuba, I hear, is no worse than any other city. Just be smart - watch for pickpockets, stay in busy areas, keep your money hidden, buddy up, and be alert. Other things I learned - which your agent has probably already told you: your cellphones won’t work in Cuba, there is no internet, and few places accept American credit cards. Bring cash. Lastly, most importantly, toilet paper is scarce, so plan accordingly.? Have a great time and tell us all about it!

We were aboard the Regal in October, and it’s a beautiful ship. Have a great cruise!

Don’t buy them more stuff. Instead, give them vacation memories that last a lifetime! Contact me today to make your family or loved one’s dreams come true.❤️ Jan.neves@7seajourneys.com www.7seajourneys.com

Welcome to CruiseCrazies @Exactly-Right! Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first, we welcome your comments, cruise stories and questions and look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community. ??

Welcome to CruiseCrazies, Meannie! I will be just getting off a river cruise in Europe at the time of your cruise so won’t be able to join you. have a great cruise! In the meantime, join in the conversation here on CruiseCrazies. ?

When they were called gratuities or tips, it just didn’t seem right to pay them in advance - for service not received yet. Now that they sometimes disguise them as ‘service charges’, I like paying them in advance. I know - my logic makes no sense, but it’s all in the terminology.?

We can only hope she was trying to apologize ... ?

Thank you, Shari!? Seawalk, fortunately, had enough solid floor surrounding the glass to make it less obvious that there was nothing between us and the ocean.?

Shari - that’s awful, and there is no excuse for the crew’s behavior, especially since you had an assigned seat. Thankfully, the other guy was a gentleman and moved over for you. What a terrible way to treat their customers!?

This New Year’s Day, Carnival Cruise Line will enter the Rose Parade for the first time, operating a 55-foot model of the Carnival Panorama. When it arrives in Long Beach next December, the Carnival Panorama will be Carnival’s first new ship to homeport in California in 20 years. Construction on the float began in mid-November and is expected to encompass 10 designers collectively working hundreds of hours. The float will be comprised of tens of thousands of flower petals and include signature features of Carnival’s ships, including a red and blue funnel, a water park and Lido Deck party. To commemorate the ship’s newest feature, a Sky Zone trampoline park, the float will include a trampoline built directly into its front. The 130th Rose Parade will be held in Pasadena, California to an expected crowd of 700,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience of over 80 million people. The Rose Parade is held annually on New Year’s Day. Carnival Panorama will begin its time on the West Coast with a special three-day inaugural cruise from Long Beach on December 11, 2019. Then, on December 14, the ship will begin its regular year-round, seven-day Mexican Riviera service. Carnival Panorama will be joining Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration on the West Coast, where Carnival transports over 600,000 guests every year. Source: Travel Agent Central, 11/27/18

When you choose a cruise, what holds more weight in your decision - the ship, the cruise line, loyalty points, the destination, the price or something else? Tell us your thoughts!??️

Just curious ... who likes to prepay their gratuities (service charges), and who prefers to wait and have them added later to your onboard account?

This is welcome news, and I hope Carnival will enforce its new policy. I occasionally still notice people defying rules and smoking on their balconies - not just Carnival, and they should be the first ones booted off the ship.