Hoyaheel

It's no use arguing with someone who is happy with their solution. I am likewise happy with my different solution. I don't have 20 renewals (only 1 passport) but I have had active passports since I was 6 years old, so I've been around the block a few times re: renewing them. 

On each side of the bed (in a king configuration) on Riviera is a US plug next to the light switch above the night stand. At the desk is a euro 220 plug on the left and a US 110 plug on the right. Those were the outlets we used during our cruise in December. We had brought an adapter in case we wanted the euro plug but we did fine with just the US outlets. And we never wished we had an extension cord.

FYI all the paperwork/forms can be found online - don't have to get at the post office. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

35 minutes ago, PaulMCO said:

What bad info on this board...  (except KS&JW)  Get your photos done at CVS and use a Passport/Visa service -- they can get this done in a week.  You can use VISACENTRAL (the one Oceania recommends) or the one I use Passportvisaexpress.com.   Do not use the mail.

I absolutely would (and have) used expedited svc directly with the State Dept when renewing a passport. You can send certified or express if you feel the need for extra speed (pretty sure you can even send UPS or Fedex if you want). Why give an agency money when I can do it just as well myself. YOU might not follow that advice, but it's not BAD advice. That's merely your opinion.

It's "just semantics" until you confuse the heck out of an airline gate agent or the Chinese immigration asking for something you DON'T want. There actually ARE some Chinese transit visas (the G visa)! (I don't believe Americans are eligible, but this is why I make these annoying posts - sometimes that difference matters!!!)

Don't worry about occasional crankies. This IS a fashion & beauty board and MOST of us are thrilled to discuss those topics - even when they might not directly relate to cruising ;-) If i don't like a question - or have an answer - I just move on.

For shearling lined boots, in general I find they're designed to be worn barefoot  (weren't they designed for apres-surfing?) so socks slip because the lining is slippery (and oh so comfy - I have some old shearling lined boot style slippers) Taller & more form fitting socks (like ski socks that have various types of compression?) might stay up better. We got some cute new ones before a ski trip Jan before last from Sierra Trading Post - great patterns! And for me, they weren't TOO hot (I get hot skiing ;-) Similar to this (merino blend is lovely!!) https://www.sierra.com/bridgedale-vertige-lightweight-ski-socks-merino-wool-blend-over-the-calf-for-women~p~727mr/?filterString=s~ski-sock%2F

TWOV = transit WITHOUT visa. There is no 144 hour "visa". It is a visa exemption.

I bring a thick rubber band on trips where I know I'll have that type of dryer (only one I can recall but I can't remember what ship it was - possibly Azamara?). The thick band is usually enough to hold the button down.  Thick rubber bands = the kind you see on broccoli, for example ;-)

13 hours ago, gnome12 said:

Remember that the ship is much smaller, so it might be more difficult to hide that your son was the single on AMA. On Avalon it would be almost impossible. 

My guess is that everyone would know and no one would care.....[but that is just my guess]. 

24 minutes ago, clo said:

I'm very into cotton but all my clothes seem to last forever. I'm getting ready to go through my closet and 'purge' some. I don't think I've had a "sundress" since I was a child. But since I loathe the sun that's not too surprising 🙂

I don't go in the sun either, but when I wear a sleeveless knit dress to work or on a trip, I still call it a "sundress" because typing out "sleeveless knit dress" takes too damn long.

Also, the norm on river cruises isn't hanging out in your cabin - you tend to be off the ship, or in the lounge/outside on the lounge deck.....[as an introvert, I might spend more time in my cabin than others - in Vietnam & Cambodia, I also spent more time on deck than most others who found it too hot/humid - I live in NC and honestly didn't find it any worse than August at home, so....]

We did an Avalon Mekong cruise in August- the ship is SO small (18 cabins) and as you note - no triples. We had a family of 5 on our trip - they had 3 cabins (mom/dad, 2 brothers, grandfather). (AMA is a MUCH larger boat - my planning notes say AmaDara is 124 passengers, Uniworld Navigator 68 passengers, and Avalon Siem Reap is 36 passengers) We saw an Aqua ship - looked beautiful, wasn't familiar with the brand. Looks like they have 20 cabins; I don't see any indication they have triples. https://www.aquaexpeditions.com/cruise-ship/aqua-mekong/

Triples are just VERY rare in river cruising - they've started showing up in Europe, but given smaller ship sizes on the Mekong, I'm not sure they'll make it there....Honestly, I'm not sure how popular they are in Europe.....

I didn't say anything to contradict so I'm not sure why you're quoting me. It still stands that TSA isn't going to be the problem in getting duty free liquor on an airplane, as security checks happen before you can access a duty free store in the US.....The few times I've done it for international flights, the Duty Free cart is in the hall after the gate agent checks your boarding pass - you do pick up your items to carry on to the plane yourself (not the flight crew) but you are prohibited from opening until you reach your destination. And though I myself haven't bought duty free liquor in a long time, I always see the duty free cart when boarding international flights in the US, so....

Some Duty Free stores allow domestic travellers to make purchases - then you pay the duty (sales tax). But I don't think you can buy alcohol in those cases. I haven't tried. I either pack it in a checked bag or purchase on site, depending on my trip....

3 hours ago, JohninDC said:

I'm not sure you can buy from the duty free store in the airport unless you are flying internationally? 🤔

 

You cannot carry the wine onto the plane - TSA will confiscate anything over 3 ounces.

You're correct you can only buy duty free prior to international flights, BUT duty free is AFTER TSA, so that's not the problem.....

My mom's husband has a monopod trekking pole they travel with - she uses it for help walking, then he can use it when he's photographing. Works great for them! I've definitely thought about it for some of our trips.

Yes, in Vietnam & Cambodia, we were up on deck most of the time we were on board, actually. It was quite hot/humid so there weren't always very many of us outside (I'm an introvert and had worried about the small number of passengers but it was fine). 

Forgot to note that I also appreciate the way Avalon (ships in Europe) beds face out the window. If (when...according to husband 😉 ) we do another Europe river cruise, Avalon will definitely be the first line we check. I know it's not as inclusive as other lines, but the cost reflects that, and we've been very happy with them so far. My in-laws were on the Christmas markets cruise with us on Avalon, after 4 or 5 previous Uniworld cruises. They really love Uniworld but they didn't have any complaints about Avalon - they would do either again.

19 minutes ago, dogs4fun said:

It was the same with us - the balcony was small but at least there is a balcony on which one can sit versus the French balconies with no seating area. 

As a counterpoint, I found the "french balcony" on our Avalon european cruise to be delightful. We just opened the window and sat on the loveseat & chair in the cabin. When it was too cold (it was a Christmas Market cruise) we closed the window and enjoyed the same view with our afternoon/evening drinks. This floor plan suited us perfectly - no loss of cabin space, open air when we wanted it. [Avalon Mekong cruises- which we did this past August - do not have the same deck plans - much smaller ships - but we enjoyed even more!!!] 

Well, waterproof AND with a good sole. Want something as grippy as possible when it's wet, right? (well, I do. Others are free to disagree 😉

I'm just saying a different visa agency (with offices in SF) didn't note those requirements on their website when I selected SF as my location. 

The agency I used has been flexible for me in the past - submitting to different consulates to try to get me the 10yr business Visa. (China apparently doesn't consider academic research to be "business" because they never did give me the 10 yr - just many 1 yr.....)

I checked my own visa agency (I had to use as I didn't feel like going up to DC to do myself) I even selected "SF" and they didn't note those salary/employment letter issues. So, I used the DC consulate for my business visas and my employer letter never included salary info. But I absolutely acknowledge 1) business and tourist visas are different animals; 2) China changes its regulations all the time.

Bottom line - most Americans will be granted a 10 year L visa. If you want to go to Beijing - on this trip or in the next 10 years - get the visa. If not, set up your flights & cruise so that you can take advantage of TWOV.

That's common. Many cruiselines advertise 2-for-1 pricing or 50% off brochure - you quickly learn which lines do that so you know to always look at the "real" cost of the cruise. Bottom line - check what the TA is offering, check what the line itself is offering, and book whichever suits you. I *hate* using TAs but they almost always offer at least SOMETHING I can't get booking directly on my own, so I use them (as booking agents more than anything else - I assume my own risk and do my own research because I enjoy it).

If you go to more than one region within China, you get 24 hours max TWOV (for those eligible passports). If you want to visit Beijing after flying in to Shanghai, and then cruising etc, you'll need a visa. [assuming American passport]

I know you need to list profession in a Chinese visa application but have never heard of needing salary info or letters from employers (I've needed that as I've had business visas for China). Do you have what China would consider sensitive jobs - journalism?

10 hours ago, simplelife said:

Sounds like a money-making scheme more than a religious dress regulation.

 

I don't believe that to be accurate. What is the other option? Not allow any inappropriately dressed tourists to enter the site -and imagine the uproar should that occur.

It was listed as a demo in the theater.  I didn't attend to confirm but assume it was as I have seen on other ships/lines - chefs on stage at a table, probably with a portable induction burner, depending on the item to be prepared....

All people are different. I could tell you what at least 10 people on my hall at work were wearing yesterday, down to tie patterns on the men who wore them. I don't *care* what people wear, but I sure as heck notice. That's why mix and match is so important in my packing scheme - I know I'm wearing clothing repeatedly (washed or unwashed) but I don't want to wear the SAME thing every day.