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If you’re flying into Rome for a cruise, have you considered having the cruise line pick you up at the airport? For example, Royal Caribbean can make the Air2Sea flight arrangements and then pick you up at the airport and take you to the cruise ship. Of course you would pay for the transportation, but it’s probably cheaper. My SIL swears by having RCI make the arrangements whenever going to Europe. She said it was so stress-free. Just a suggestion.

Try booking online or call again. Last year in May we used Seattle Express and they did not charge for my mobility scooter. They were told in advance to be sure they sent the appropriate vehicle that could accommodate my scooter. Unless their policy has changed. I couldn’t find an answer to my question about charging extra. If they do charge extra, you could call other shuttle operators or Uber?

We finally booked a Holy Land Tour on Odyssey OTS next year October. We’re also Catholic. Hopefully there are excursions we can book through RCI for the disabled since I use an electric wheelchair. If not, I told my husband to go without me. Let us know when your book comes out. Can it be purchased on Amazon?

We’ll be going on a cruise to Tahiti, French Polynesia, New Zealand, and ending in Sydney. All shore excursions indicate health and disability warnings and don’t usually allow foldable wheelchairs. I’m beginning to wonder if all these warnings is just to cover themselves in case someone falls and gets hurt. Do any of you know of, or have taken, an accessible tour in any of the ports? Our cruise will be on the Ovation OTS beginning 10/15/2023 for 18 nights. Feeling very frustrated. I have a foldable electric wheelchair.

I was under the impression that booking the Ultimate World Cruise was for the full cruise. Did RC change that to people being able to book only portions of the cruise? Is it because the full cruise wasn’t sold out, so now they’re trying to fill those empty cabins? Are you at least enjoying your cruise? We’re moving back to Florida so that we can cruise without paying airfare from Hawaii to the mainland.

Personally, giving your money away before you retire is really taking a gamble. You never know what the future holds for you. I knew a couple who made great money, owned their home and a vacation home, and put their kids through college. The gentleman developed cancer and they sold their vacation home and their home to pay for cancer treatment that was not covered by their insurance. When her husband died, the woman wound up in low-income housing. Their children, despite college degrees, had their own financial obligations and were putting their children through college. No one knows what will happen post retirement. The way I look at it, we are helping our children by being self-sufficient so that they don’t have to support us financially or physically take care of us when we get older in our retirement. We don’t like to be dependent on anyone. We just want our children/grandchildren, etc., to enjoy THEIR retirement years rather than being burdened taking care of us. They can sell our house and have what’s left in our investments. This will help them in their golden years. After retirement, people need to have saved enough to carry them until they die. Yes, it may make you happy to give money to your children, but unless you are a multi-millionaire, you’d better hope nothing catastrophic happens, because medical and long-term care could literally break you. My husband and I never inherited anything from our parents and yes, we have helped our children. But we DO NOT touch our savings and retirement funds to help them out. In fact, when we have offered them help, they refused to accept our offer. They told us no and to enjoy our retirement while we have good health. Our daughter, a single mom, raised her daughter without child support, getting a student loan, and became a Nurse Practitioner and bought her home without any help. My other two children were hard workers and were employees of the month and both became supervisors in their respective positions. Yes, I said “were,” because both have passed. Life is about the choices we make. I pray every day for our Lord’s guidance.

That was so thoughtful of you. I’m sure they were very grateful.

I believe you. Most people wonder the same thing. Because you are in the upper income bracket and are unable to cruise in suites, it is only natural to wonder what others do for a living that could afford such a lavish lifestyle.

The photo taken by RCI apparently cut off the top part of my head. I’m in the shower in my cabin when I get a phone call from Security wanting to take my photo again. I told them I’ll do it tomorrow that I’m in the shower and was going to bed. They said they would not leave Port until they had my photo. So, I put on my PJs and robe, got on my ECV, and met the Security Officer at Guest Relations and, together, we went down to Security and had my picture taken. On the way down, every time the elevator stopped, it was full. Everybody headed to the MDR. On the fourth stop, the Security Officer made everyone get off, and took us on the elevator down. So, yes, if they don’t like the photo, they do retake it.

If RCCL acted immediately on the situation, the ship’s doctor could have checked out the entertainer for any injuries. According to the news report, the magician had bruises all over his body and blurry vision from hitting his head. So, no one knows if what was reported in the news is true. If RCI is sued for not insuring that the entertainer was okay, my guess is they will settle out of court.

Thanks for sharing. Very disappointed in RCI not taking action to support their entertainers.

Since this is a first cruise for someone using a mobility device, check out the DISABILITIES forum and the Seattle ports of call for additional information. The White Pass Train ride is very accommodating.

We do too. We don’t like champagne. I’d rather get a voucher for a free beverage.

True, but many times they have older brothers and sisters. Have you seen some 12-year-olds? Some look like 15. Also, damage can be done by all-age groups.

Was this one of those special short cruises and/or kids sail free? Our very first cruise was right after graduation and it was a 4-night cruise on The Big Red Boat in 1990. This was a Disney cruise before Disney Cruise Line. Disney was on contract with Premier Cruise Line. At that time, cruise ships served alcohol to 18-year-olds in International Waters. We didn’t sleep at all due to drunk teenagers making noise until the wee hours of the morning. The waiters said drunk teens were passed out all over the ship. We swore we’d never go cruising when school was out, because the waiters said it was always like that during summer and spring break, and we never have since that first cruise.

I thought I shared this tip in this sub-forum, but apparently I didn’t, until someone suggested I post it here. I was just about losing my mind trying to apply for a visa to Australia for an upcoming cruise in October. My iPhone 14 Pro couldn’t scan my passport. I tried for 5 hours and gave up. The next day I tried again to no avail. After a couple of hours, my husband suggested turning on the phone’s flashlight. I couldn’t believe it - it worked! Apparently the flash eliminates the glare and the phone’s camera lens was able to read the passport. So I told my niece since she was applying for her mom who will be on the cruise with us. The next day she was having problems scanning her mom’s passport. Then she remembered what I told her about the phone’s flashlight. Sure enough, it worked. Hopefully this will be of help. Because I remember someone posting that Australia must hate him because he had so much difficulty scanning his passport while using the AU eTA app. Bon Voyage Judy

I was so frustrated trying to scan my passport while applying for a visa to Australia for an upcoming cruise in October. I actually thought my iPhone 14 Pro was the problem and didn’t play nice with the Australia and NZ eTA apps. On the second day of trying, my husband suggested turning on the phone’s flashlight. Guess what - it worked! Apparently, the light removed the glare and the camera was able to read the passport. The next day, my niece tried to apply for the visa for her mom who will be on the cruise with us. She was having the same issues. She then remembered that I told her about the flashlight on the phone. Sure enough, she had no problem scanning the passport. Therefore, I just wanted to share this tip with you if you ever need to scan your passport and are having difficulty. Bon Voyage. Judy

Absolutely! The difference is that there’s elbow room and no one’s touching each other and breathing on each other. A love seat for two being invaded by a stranger who may be infected with COVID is totally unacceptable in my opinion.

UPDATE: I did it! Lisabucsfan1 - You gave me hope and I finally was able to scan my passport. I kept trying and it didn’t work. So my husband suggested I turn on the phone flashlight. Guess what, it must have removed the glare - I don’t know, but it worked. I was able to do both! And we have already been approved. However, we did the NZeTA online. Now I know why the app only had a one-star rating. The more I googled, the more people suggested doing it online. Although I did my husband’s application first, his is still pending and mine has already been approved. Everyone thanks for your help and patience. Judy

Great suggestion. Mahalo. Judy

Thank you. That’s good to know. My passport is the new one that the photo page has a plastic-type material. I thought it might be that. My husband and I renewed ours at the same time, but his is like the older version which will eventually be eliminated. I prefer the older version. I’ll try doing his first. Your response gives me hope. Yesterday I tried for several hours and started to panic. Mahalo Judy

The iPhone 14 Pro doesn’t have the NFC reader. However RCI gave my niece a different website. So I’ll try that tomorrow. My cell phone does not play nice with the Australia ETA app.

We both have an iPhone 14 Pro. We downloaded the Australia’s ETA app. Our phones will not scan our passport photo page nor is it able to read the NFC chip on the back page of the passport. We need help. Is there anyone out there that can advise us how to apply for Australia’s VISA? I haven’t tried the New Zealand one yet. We have an Apple computer. If the iPhones don’t work, then what? Can we use the Apple computer. I am so frustrated.

Great response!

Thanks for all the info. Totally new to VISAS to other countries.