GeezerCouple

Yes, that remote device in the cabin.... with the buttons and crevices, etc., there is NO thorough way to clean it. We use not the thick ziplocks (which is what we use for most things) but the thinner "baggies", given that "touch" is important on the remotes. And yes, we disinfect everything possible. We travel with a regular supply of our meds (regular and "just in case"), and now... we make that assortment much larger, with masks and gloves, and anti-viral wipes. We should consider the clear "food handler" gloves. Those are probably less, er, "noticeable", than our sometimes colorful Nitrile gloves. We also carry our own little bottles of hand disinfectant. Many of the "general use" dispensers have additives that DH may be allergic to. It's all so much more complicated now... GC

I need to double check this, but I've always assumed that if there were some awful blizzard or such, something clearly NOT the passenger's fault, then IF the cruise departure was missed, the insurance would want to try - or have *you* try - to get to a subsequent port. Chances are good that would be less expensive for the insurer, especially for a long cruise, than refunding all of the cruise fare. This assumes there are no legal restrictions on joining a cruise mid-voyage, of course. In our case, we always fly at least a night in advance, and often 2 or more if it's a location we'd like to spend some time in. GC

Sure. We've asked for contact information to make sure we could reach everyone the evening before or morning of a private excursion, "just in case". But we did NOT post any of that online. I used my personal e-address that I set up for CC (see signature). And everything "personal" was done that way. NOTHING was posted on line, other than information about the private excursion, and how to reach me (using email) so we could make plans. I was able to send out emails to "everyone" joining or just one person, as needed. There weren't any of the elaborate spreadsheets. GC

We have no interest in waiting in long lines, and I also have some mobility difficulties, but long lines... no thank you anyway. So we almost always try to arrive relatively late. Then we can usually breeze right through. This allows us to get a relaxed start to the cruise. So we might miss lunch on board on that day, which is no big deal. These lines always remind me of a grad school cafeteria decades ago. There was a true "LOL" (Little Old Lady, before LOL came to mean something else!), clearly *very* old but in great shape. She would always, day after day, week after week, go through the line, get what she wanted, and then cut in line, marching right up to the cashier... as she declared: "I'm 93 and I don't have time to wait!!" LOL for that LOL! 😁 GC

We have used TripInsuranceStore.com also, after learning about it here on CC almost 10 years ago. And good thing, too. Our first trip with insurance, a very expensive trip for us at the time (er, times have changed! 😉 ) needed to be cancelled less than 2 weeks prior to our planned departure due to a medical emergency. Fortunately, our discussions with them (and lots of Q&A while we learned - pretty fast - about travel insurance) helped us to get the right policy, and all of our expenses were refunded in cash, about 2 weeks after we submitted all of the documentation. (In this case, we were more concerned about the medical issues, so we didn't deal with the documents for a while, until some of the emergency level issues were under better control). Our policy through TIS was with Travel Insured. We've since had several other claims, including another large one. All of them were paid promptly. We have zero complaints, and we'll continue to get this policy, from TI, through TIS. Our only complaint is that we needed to file travel insurance claims several times... GC

One reason I've seen given, although this was NOT on that cruise that I mentioned, is if the ship (concierge or ?) is going to deliver physical invites to each member for the Meet & Greet. Given that we've always had it arranged before the ship sails, I'm not sure why that extra work is necessary, but when I've managed a Meet & Greet, we didn't do that. And I didn't ask for cabin number. Or locations. GC

I'll need to work on my response in advance. I *HATE* e-books. I may be oldfashioned... correction... I *am* oldfashioned in several ways (and PROUD OF IT! 😉 ). I *LOVE* the feel of a nice, comfortable book. One with pages I can flip through to look back at something earlier. (I'm visual with books, but not photographic memory. I remember that "oh, *that* section was about an inch below the top of a left-hand page", so I can find it, etc.) A book is a friend. I disappear into the friend and could be gone for hours! And I may well have a hard-cover book with me. 😁 <insert nose twitch!> GC

Absolutely correct. And there are many different types of policies. (Also, insurance is regulated in the USA by each state, so a policy/terms available in one state may not be available or may be different in another state.) The critical thing is to make sure that one *understands* the terms and conditions (T&Cs) of the policy you end up getting AND that they match your insurance needs. When we see complaints here, there is usually (not always!) one of two issues at play: 1) The policy never covered the "event" that the claim was based on in the first place. or 2) The claim was not completed properly or fully. #1 above includes things lie not understanding any pre-existing condition exclusions that might have existed, or not realizing that the insurance only covers the cruise itself, or that a non-traveling family member's illness wasn't covered, etc. #2 above includes, among other things, complaints that the person making the claim refuses to share their medical records. For one thing, the insurer has the right to protect against fraud. But the important other thing is that the T&Cs of the policy will include statements about providing this type of documentation if needed. And HIPAA does *not* apply. HIPAA applies to medical providers/etc., *and* does not apply if the patient gives consent, which would be included in any release form for the insurance company. I absolutely do NOT mean to imply there are never "claims that are denied inappropriately" or that some insurers never play games and delay, delay, delay! But those are not the majority of complaints, from reading here and elsewhere. A good travel insurance agent or broker will work with the traveler to help them get the type of policy that best suits their needs. That can be invaluable. (And it can be incredibly difficult to know if the "details" match, if one only uses online policy summaries.) GC

We haven't sailed Princess, so cannot speak specifically about *their* insurance policy. However, we NEVER get the cruiseline insurance; we *always* get third-party coverage. For one thing, that type of coverage starts the moment we step out our door until the moment we get back home. It covers the trip to the airport. Any hotels before or after the cruise. Any other trips, large or small, before or after the cruise. Inportantly, it would provide 100% of the loss as *cash*, not any "credit" with a possible time limit. We can use that credit for another cruise or a completely different trip. Or no trip at all. (Some lines may have some of the refund in cash, and Princess might be one of them, but I'm not sure.) We've had several claims, including some large ones, and they've been paid without nonsense each time, and usually very quickly; only once wasn't, because there were several hurricanes, and the travel insurers were swamped. Our claim wasn't weather related, but we got caught in the crowd. Our travel insurance broker made a call on our behalf, and approximately a week later, a check arrived. GC

Right. It's not that difficult, if enough of the right information bits are available. And probably only a bit more difficult with fewer. I was aware how easy it can be to use Google - for *starters* - to find people. I haven't had any need to do that here on CC, but I've done quite a bit of "investigating" trying to re-connect with old college friends, etc. It seems to be much easier to find their home address than a phone number! 😱 GC

[emphasis added] First, please do what klfrodo suggested: Ask for specifics from whomever you purchase your travel insurance from. Whenever we have a very specific question ("Will <this unusual situation, or so we think> be covered?') we always ask the representative to send us the written materials that cover this, or to tell us which page/line if it's in our policy. (We usually would have 10 days to review a policy or cancel for money back.) Next, two issues from what they wrote above. again, check about any specific policy you are considering, as suggested just above. But in terms of "missing the ship", it would depend upon quite a few things, including how the policy is written, of course. But there's more than one way to "cover" such a situation. One way might be for you to fly to a "subsequent port" and catch the ship there. That might vary depending upon the passenger carriage rules of the various countries involved. And that would probably come under "trip interruption" coverage rather than "cancellation". However, it ALL depends upon the terms and conditions (T&Cs) of the specific policy. As for "named storms" (e.g., hurricanes), my information could be outdated (or maybe just *wrong*!?), but I'm not aware that a named storm would not be covered if it was the reason for trip cancellation (or interruption). What *might* be an issue is that one cannot get new coverage that would include a "named storm" once the storm is "named". That is, one can't wait to see "IF" a hurricane is likely to interfere and only *then* get the insurance. That would be sort of like waiting for a house to catch on fire and *then* getting homeowner's insurance for that loss. The bottom line is that it can be very complicated, and all the more so if one considers insurance from different countries. One nice thing about our always getting the same policy is that we've come to pretty much understand most of it. And we have a terrific travel insurance broker who can answer questions or help with a claim if needed/desired. (That's Steve, from www.TripInsuranceStore.com ) And they helped us get a policy that matched *our* needs, as proved by our having several claims, all of which were paid without any bickering.) GC

A concern about stalking, including *on* a ship during a cruise makes it more worrisome when Roll Call lists ask for specific cabin numbers. We have always declined to give that, or at least to put it on such a list. Once we met others on the ship, we might share that. Indeed, it turned out that for our first cruise after joining CC, someone we communicated with via our Roll Call turned out to be right next to us on the ship. And it wasn't a tiny ship. But at that point, it's not a problem. I doubt they or anyone 'updated' the online CC list. Usually, after sail-away, the Roll Calls get pretty... inactive. GC

Right. That person is taking us to the airport, and sometimes it's the International Terminal, so chances are especially good then it's not a quick overnight trip... We almost always have a live-in housesitter. When a car service picks us up to go to the airport, I *always* somehow find time in that car to mention to DH something like, "Oh, <name> will be arriving a bit later today, and she'll be staying over again. I'm sorry we had to leave before she arrived, and didn't have time to wait to see her again. <then some other regular stuff>" That's even if I just told him the same thing in the house before we left. 😉 And the housesitter always leaves her car in the driveway and not in the garage, unless there's heavy snow predicted. One could always say something like that regardless of the plans... GC

There have been "Roll Call" spreadsheets that ask for full name *and* hometown. Uh... NO. 😡 I've gotten the feeling we are considered anti-social because we don't join in with all of the information. I look at the lists, and think... "Are they nuts!?" And then I think back to childhood in the 1950, when no one even locked their doors. And children ran around the neighborhood all day (well, weekends or after school), and the next a parent might hear from them might be a phone call, "Mom, I'm at Suzy's house. Can I stay for dinner?" It wasn't until many years later that I realized the person who *really* should have been asked was SUZY's mother! Heh. The Times, They Are a-Changin'.... We used to have a housesitter live in. She could come and go during the day, just like we would do, but there was always someone living "here". We also knew someone would notice pretty quickly if some pipe started leaking, etc. GC

Right. It's just to be shared with very close friends, family, and everyone/anyone who frequents Zillow or Redfin... 🤣 But yes, not too many years ago, the price one paid for one's home was sort of Top Secret/Need To Know (and very few had any need to know!). Times have changed, and in so, so many ways. And not all good. Oops... that's NOT for dinner table conversation! Back to our Two-Top! GC

Is there a link? I'm really curious about how they do this/what they do... There wouldn't be time to skeddadle all the way around the Africa... So are they making *major* changes to the itineraries so that any cruise that was planning a Suez transit is now staying entirely on one side or the other? What about lengthy world cruises? Of course, *our* concerns are First World Problems if ever there were any! GC

We tell our TA (or the cruise line direct, depending) that we do NOT want an upgrade. We care very much about which cabin/suite we get, and the location is especially important. That could be due to proximity to something on the ship or to avoid noise. That could be, say, from a cabin under the drums in a band... learned that from our first cruise decades ago, when my parents made all the plans... never let them do THAT again!! 😡 It was especially bad, because not only did we have the horrible and LOUD band music, but we also had my father in the next cabin who complained non-stop about it! Sigh. 🙄 Also very importantly, we LOVE forward views. We'd give up space to have that view, and would *hate* to be, uh, "upgraded" to something in a so-called "higher" category/larger size/etc., if it meant being moved away from our cherished forward view! We also happen to like the motion of the ocean, so that's definitely our favorite. GC

There are outside companies that handle assorted special needs rentals. Depending upon passenger need and also ship appropriateness/permissions, one can rent various equipment... but for the duration of the cruise. The equipment is typically waiting in your cabin when you arrive, and you leave it there when you leave the ship. This can be wheelchairs of various sorts (manual, motorized), scooters, and even in some cases (double check with cruiseline in some cases) things like hospital beds or automated recliner chairs. Some cruise lines have specific companies they need passengers to use, I think. GC

Uh, why ask *anyone* "about Harry & Meghan"? I'm happy to let them be left alone, and, importantly, I'm even more happy not needing to get involved in a discussion about them... and especially with strangers. We'd rather not get involved in discussing specific people at all if the purpose is just gossip. Yeah, I guess maybe it's better that we prefer 2-tops for our meals, eh? 😉 GC

There have been occasional times when the regular gangway is too steep for me to do easily or comfortably. The first time one of the crew helpers at a gangway noticed my hesitation, they suggested that we use a different gangway from a lower deck, one usually for the crew or perhaps supplies (?). That one was not much off horizontal. A bit off, but not much at all, and the slope was of zero difficulty. So now, we just look for that, or ask about it if the gangway is steep. We've done this on more than one ship and cruiseline. GC

I'd suggest posting your questions on the "Ports of Call" section of CC, where it is more likely to be seen by "locals" or other travelers also interested in that area. And also on your specific "Roll Call". There may be others who are interested in sharing a private excursion. GC

Right. That last time stamp helped a LOT in quickly figuring "how far back" to look without unintentionally re-reading some posts a second time. A *lot* of information is contained in the current formatting, and almost all of it was lost. So much better the first way. GC

Thanks for posting about this. We had never heard of Planet Labs/TeamLab. I'm not sure if we'll have a chance to get back to Japan (would be very nice!), but apparently there are a few other locations. Fascinating!! GC

Thus far, on all cruise lines where we've had butler service (and this is by no means "all of the cruise lines... just a few of them), "The Butler Did It". 😁 However, keep in mind that the butlers also like to get some sleep, so there is someone like a separate "Night Butler". Depending upon the size of the ship/hotel/etc., this might be a rotating position, or there may be enough need that there is at least one regular night butler. How much they all really pool tips - or not - I don't know. We almost never encounter a night butler; it's almost always (very close to *always*) our regular butler who shows up, but we've never ordered anything in the true middle of the night. Sometimes the butlers work very hard indeed. They need to juggle quite a variety of requests. We rarely have a need for something at a very specific time. (Just about the only exception is breakfast timing IF we need to be off the ship at a specific early time.) Anyway, whenever possible (and it's almost always possible for us) we tell our butler that we are quite flexible, and that IF other passengers have request times that compete/interfere with ours, to *please* just let us know and schedule our request a bit earlier or later... that we'll let them know if there is some unusual situation where timing is important. There is usually a specific "butler" phone number to call or a service call automatically goes to the butler number. GC

Welcome to CruiseCritic. I'd strongly suggest that you contact Special Needs at Celebrity to discuss what special services that might be available for you. For example, for friends of ours where one has severe hearing impairment, at least on another line, they can get a cabin where the "alarms", which are usually auditory, are accompanied by flashing lights (and perhaps vibrations in some cases). But this would need to be arranged in advance, to make sure they get an appropriate cabin. Special Needs may also be able to tell you about any other services they have that might be helpful on the cruise. This is your first *solo* cruise, but apparently not your first cruise entirely? If so, then perhaps you are already familiar with some of the features? GC