cacky

Hi Ruth,

Thank you so much for your invaluable information! You are so kind to share your wealth of information to us travelers!

Best Regards,

Catherine

Hi Ruth,

1. We will be on RCCL's Vision of the Seas, at port in Haifi on Thurs, Oct 1st and in port in Ashod on Fri, Oct 2nd. We always book shore excursions through the ship. Our excursion is from 8:00 AM to 6:15 PM. Sites include, the West Wall, Garden Gesthaneme, Via DelaRosa, and Church of the Sephlacre, and Bethlehem. From reading previous posts, it seems that things close down on the evening of Oct 2nd, so we should be able to see the sites on Friday during the day. I have read through the posts and have several additional questions.

2. I have seasonal allergies to enviornmental things, like pollen. I am going to start my Allergra a week before we leave. Do you know of anything in bloom at this time of the year?

3 I am planning on wearing capris and a button up shirt, with a shell underneath. I am also bringing a light-weight shawl. I am assuming this will be acceptable.

4 Do we need to bring bug spray?

5. Are you aware of the ports refusing entrance of the ships because of flu onboard? On our last cruise in June in the Caribbean, two ports refused our ship docking because two people, who were quarantined, had the flu. Also, are you aware of any flu outbreaks there? My husband is purchasing these special masks to wear on the plane, which, hopefully will filter out some of these bugs. Do you know of tourists wearing masks while on their excursions? I read from the CDC site that there is the threat of the West Nile Virus.

Thanks so much in advance for your reply.

Catherine Walker

Toccoa GA

We had an aft cabin on the Vision to the Mexican Riviera, deck 8. We had the mild rumble of the engines, but it didn't bother us. I wear ear plugs to bed and don't hear a thing. The aft deck balcony had no wind and plenty of sun. We have had a forward cabin on the Mariner with a portal, overlooking straight out the front of the ship. We were about the 8th floor. Once we started getting balconies, we got spoiled. Midships and lower in the decks will be the smoothest ride. If you are forward and on the top decks, of course you will feel the motion.

I thought of a few others:

Downey wrinkle release

(can take the place of a travel iron)

brightly colored duct tape to put on luggage as an easy identification at airports, etc. We used Neon green and it was better than the ribbon we used to use on the handles.

different sized zip lock bags.

chap stick

money clip

Super-glue

Potporri envelopes for dirty laundry bag

ear plugs

extension cord

Bible