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Doesn't it depend where you live?

Maybe the term "stevedore" is used a lot in the USA.

Where I live, it is only used for people loading and unloading cargo from cargo ships.

One thing that concerns me with the OP's plan to rent a scooter for her husband on a cruise from NZ to Australia.

That is, have you investigated whether there is any company in NZ that is willing to hire out a scooter under those conditions?

Picking up the scooter in NZ and leaving it in Australia may not be permissible.

How would the company get the scooter back?

Hiring out mobility equipment to cruisers is not the big business in NZ that it is in the US.

I'm sorry you're in this position and I hope you do find a solution.

Hindsight is great, but not very helpful for you right now. However, in the future, I'd stick to the principle of "Since the driver has the responsibility of getting us to the port, she decides what will be done." What you do has to suit the driver, not the passenger (who is getting free transport without any hassles).

I don't know what my altitude limit is, as I haven't travelled to very many high altitude locations, but am wondering if anyone has had issues in Australia. We will be on B2B cruises out of Sydney on the Golden Princess. The first travels north from Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef. The second travels from Sydney to Melbourne and Tasmania.

 

Australia doesn't have any large mountains. Mount Kosciusko, at about 7,000, feet is the highest.

Since that's inland and you won't be going anywhere near it on your cruise, I doubt that you'll have any problems.

That's the way it is when you cruise out of Australia. It is alien to Australians (and New Zealanders) to be charged in US dollars in their own country.

If you use a credit card for purchases on board, the charges will be converted to US dollars. It's better to have that done by your credit card company than by the cruise line.

If you use a credit card, your charges in Australian dollars will be converted into US$. Ask to have that done by your credit card company, not the cruise line.

I've been to both China and Japan and from what I saw there are few accommodations made for people who have problems with walking. I had severe back pain in Japan and I had to use a cane. Steps are often uneven, and so are pavements. Many streets have high kerbs as well. I didn't see any hotel with a wheelchair for guests to hire.

My advice is not to rely on being able to get any devices when you get there, but take your own. It may be possible to hire someone to push a wheelchair, but don't even count on that.

Within the limits of your disability, plan to be as independent as possible.

Was cancelling the cruise the OP's only option? In that situation, I would not have cancelled the cruise, but would have tried to book flights with another airline. Then a travel insurance claim would only have been necessary, if my air points weren't reimbursed by BA.

Granted, the BA computer crash was an extended one, but travel disruption does happen and it's useful to always have thought about an alternative plan.

February, being summer, is usually the hottest month in NZ. Think August temps in the northern hemisphere.

Well ... the ONE thing I have read here ... which would NEVER have occurred to me is that I DO smile.. . . . . . .

 

I would have to make a guess that it's majority of the male population on this board that has taken this simple inquiry to ridiculous, exaggerated lengths.

I smile, too. It doesn't make a scrap of difference.

I'm a woman and I answered your question. You didn't like my answer, though.

This happened to you in 2915 and you're still bothered by it?

I often travel solo - about 50% of the time. So far, I've been to 69 countries. Sometimes I get picked for extra questioning and sometimes I don't. I don't think it has anything to do with my sex.

More men get picked than women, probably because more men travel than women.

I've done a cruise around Cape Horn. There were no bed belts and no mention was made of them.

In fact, I'd never heard of them until this thread. I think someone is trying to wind up the OP, possibly as a joke.

Yes, it can get rough, but never that rough.

I've been on transatlantic cruises ttah were far rougher, when we were advised to go to our cabins and stay there, but eh seas were noever rough enough to throw anyone out of bed. I think it would take a freak wave to do that.

I think the OP is over-reacting to what happened to her.

She passed through passport control/immigration (not customs) in two particularly sensitive situations.

First - the US/Cuba travel situation is relatively new and it's not unreasonable for checks to be vigilant.

Second - London and the UK have recently been victims of terrorist activity. Of course, they will be checking immigrants carefully.

I've traveled a lot, both solo and with my husband. Sometimes you get picked for extra questioning, sometimes you don't. Accept it as an occasional inconvenience and try not to take it personally. Just allow extra time for the process.

A submarine, half submerged and running alongside us, in the Baltic Sea.

Don't forget that you will need signed and notarized letters of consent from your son's father (unless you have sole custody) and from both of his friend's parents, giving you permission to take the boys on this cruise and to act on their behalf in the case of a medical emergency.

If you have sole custody of your son, take proof of that. If no father is named on his birth certificate, take that.

It appears that in places where electronics have to be checked, such as Dubai, this is taking place at the aircraft door during boarding. Boxes are provided, into which you place your electronics.

Last time I was in Windsor, after we'd been to the Castle, we just walked down to the river and sat there, watching the children feeding the swans and ducks. It was very relaxing.

Have you considered getting your hot water from the machines in the cafeteria? They have hot water there, for making tea and herbal teas.

I've travelled in many countries, including the UK and most of Europe.

I never heard of not wearing sneakers until I read it here.

I see many people wearing sneakers/sports shoes and they are not all Americans. I'm a dual citizen, UK and NZ, and I wear sneakers on occasion. To me, it's more important to wear comfortable shoes that are appropriate to the weather and the occasion than it is to disguise my nationality.

Amercans are conspicuous by their (usually) loud voices, not by their footwear.

The above poster is correct. Agriculture regulations are similar in both Australia and New Zealand. Both countries are island nations, dependent on not allowing their agriculture to be invaded by foreign pests. Please don't take any food off the ship in these countries, unless it is pre-packaged and sealed. Commercially prepared and sealed baby food may be allowed, but you should declare it.

Many countries in South America and also California have similar regulations.

I have a friend whose son works on cruise ships. He says that, in his experience, the average has been one medical emergency on each cruise. Not all of these result in an evacuation.

Yes, I wear my plain gold band wedding ring on a cruise - and everywhere else I go in the world. I never take it off.

I have also worn my diamond engagement ring in 62 different countries and never once had any qualms about doing so.

I've been to Europe, North America, South America, Africa, China, India, and every Asian country except Myanmar, and never had anything stolen. The only time a pickpocket stole from me was in my own home town.

I sometimes think that people are too fearful of travelling to other countries.

Even if you can't check in early at the airport hotel, it will probably be possible to leave your luggage there, go into town and look round, then come back to the hotel much later in the day, to check in.

For convenience the following morning, it would be easier to stay overnight at a hotel near the airport.

That's a good suggestion. I can only imagine what other guests would be thinking if I brought my children into the bar to hang out. I can see why OP wants to explore the ship but if you're with your children, I would also suggest taking your drinks to the pool/sports area.

There is nothing wrong with taking your children into a bar on a cruise ship. It's not like it is in the US. Bars are for the whole family. You can have an alcoholic drink and your children can have a soft drink, all seated at a table together.

I grew up in the UK and I now live in NZ. In both those places, we have family pubs, where you can sit together and have a meal and a drink, as a family. It's nice and there's nothing immoral about it.

No, the reefs aren't all bleached out. Some are, and there is concern that more may bleach, due to rising temperatures.

I would expect that the ship takes you to reefs that are still OK.

You'll be just fine. I carry my meds in a pill box and never had any issues or inspections whatsoever. During our Alaskan cruise last July, I had a few Oxycodone (narcotic) pills as I was just recovering from a gout attack and had no problems.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

It's a good idea to ask the pharmacy to put enough pills for your travel into small, labelled bottles.

I've traveled to 60 different countries, including the UAE and Japan, and only been asked once about my medications. That was in Australia. Fortunately, I had my meds in their correct bottles, with the pharmacy labels on them and I also had a copy of the prescription. They were fine about that.

Even if you've never been stopped and asked about your medications, it's a wise idea to assume you might be, and to take reasonable precautions.

I did the ship's tour to the Giant's Causeway. It's quite a long drive from where the ship docks.

Factor in lining up to catch a bus down to the bottom, to see the rocks, and lining up again to get the bus back up to the top, plus time to look around the information centre and the journey back to Belfast, and I really don't think you'd have time to do the Titanic Museum as well. That is, unless you only want a very superficial look at everything.