Lard Greystoke

I'm surprised to say that I plan to minimize travel for at least 12 months.  I don't see any 'safe' spots on Earth for at least that time.  An effective vaccine is the only thing that would change my mind.

4 hours ago, clo said:

Huh? You're thinking that there will be a test that shows one HAD it but doesn't any more?

Antibody test.  It will happen.

It is extremely unlikely that this virus will be contained until (if) a vaccine is developed, which is unlikely before the end of the year.  The best we can hope for till then is to starve the virus of hosts (us) by following isolation procedures.  But so long as one person, anywhere, has the virus, with the ease of travel it is virtually certain that new waves of outbreaks will continue.

The most likely scenario I can imagine is a roller coaster of temporary containment followed by 'back to normal' (which isn't) followed by new outbreak followed by lockdown, in several waves for perhaps the next eighteen months.  If that helps anyone plan.

(Also, by projecting current deaths (2,405) into the future, I would anticipate a minimum of 20,000 in US by the end of April.  And that is being optimistic.  If you think things are bad now....)

Haven't been there for some time, but back then the trail ended right under the fort.  You could not access the fort from the trail; have to backtrack, go up through the big red gate, and walk through the City.

11 hours ago, PORT ROYAL said:

 

For my part, it's a futile exercise and do not see the point.  I'm on vacation and have no wish to go for a long unpleasant walk in the hot sun, accompanied by traffic, then to arrive at a beach that one has no interest to stay at.

Pleased you enjoyed the walk.

If you have no interest in the beach why did you even bother to read a post about that beach to begin with?  Sheesh.  Enjoy your rickshaw and coolies.

I've done it.  The sun in Grenada is almost overhead so it's hot.  The route winds around the inner harbor so it does cover quite a bit of ground.  Actually I consider the views of the yacht basin and some of the views over the sea rather pleasant.  Not everyone along the way lives in a mansion if that's a problem.

Can't speak to Dickenson's but I've been to Turner's.  Nice beach, restaurant at south end, so all your amenities.

I took the bus as opposed to a taxi so can't comment on that.

Turner's is nice.  So is Darkwood which is along the way on the west coast.

18 hours ago, Stinger-pr said:

I'm not sure why the Pan Am pier would be in "no man's land", though. 

Some Americans are more delicate than others.  I have walked several times from Pan Am to Old San Juan.  I do not recommend it because it's long and hot but I find the paranoia overripe.  

1 hour ago, chengkp75 said:

So, what is the difference between a dog "cooped up on a cruise ship" and a dog cooped up in a hotel in a large city?  And, typically, what pet would not rather be with their owner, regardless of whether that owner is on a ship or in a park, than to be without their owner while their owner is on vacation?  I agree that pets and ESA's don't belong on ships, I disagree with the characterization that having a dog on a ship is in anyway abusive or cruel to the animal.

Perhaps "abusive" and "cruel" are harsh words.  They imply intent of the owner and affect of the animal in ways that are not inherently knowable.

Suppose I were to say "stupid" and "pointless"?  Rather than coop up my dog in either a hotel or a cruise ship I let him stay with another pet owner when I'm away.  True that he's not with me but sometimes I'm not in a pet-friendly environment.  Perhaps not even in a pet-humane environment.  Perhaps not always human-friendly.

Seems to me that it's stupid and pointless to insist on a pet being in an inappropriate environment when a better one is available...and everyone who can afford to cruise can afford to take the time and effort to locate one.  That is if they're thinking about anything but their own all-important egos.

And again, I'm not talking about genuine service dogs.  

11 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

And here is where you fail to understand the role of a service animal.  We are not asking the dog to "do something it doesn't like", we are asking the dog to perform it's tasks, in an environment that it may not be completely comfortable in.  Most service dogs are eager and willing to perform their trained tasks for their owners, regardless of the circumstances.

Again, it's not a question of "want", it's a question of service, which is the service dog's reason for being.  But, yes, being on a cruise ship is not a "cruel and unusual punishment", any more than taking a pet on a boat ride (which many, many dogs enjoy).

Perhaps I should have specified that I was referring to that large part of this thread describing animals fraudulently passed off as "service animals" but which are ordinary pets.  Service animals belong everywhere the owner belongs.  But as an owner of an ordinary pet - in case you want to accuse me of being ignorant of that as well - I suspect my dog would much rather be romping in the park than cooped up in an unnatural environment like a cruise ship.  

Since these people engaged in fraudulent activities are imposing on their fellow passengers, I think it is not unreasonable to suspect them of being less than fully considerate of their pets as well.

37 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

Why would it be cruel to take an animal on a cruise ship? Is there something particularly harmful about cruise ships to animal welfare? 

Apart from being with its owner - assuming the owner actually cares for the animal and isn't some narcissistic twit using it as a prop - there is no reason an animal would want to be on a cruise ship.

On 9/29/2019 at 12:46 PM, rstackjd said:

Following - we will be in St. Kitts for the first time in November off the Magic.   Trying to decide whether to do a shore ex or just wing it.   

Taxi service is easy to arrange.  To the right side as you exit the ship.  Easy and cheap.

Snorkeling is on the left side looking out, by the rocks.  

Not quite on topic, but about ten years ago on my flight to Puerto Rico for a cruise I met a high school classmate I hadn't seen for twenty or so years.  We chatted for a while, got off the plane and I haven't seen him since.

The odds against meeting a person you know in that way are astronomical, but so are the odds against meeting all the people you don't know.

Falmouth is a small town.  I don't recommend this to everyone but I got out and walked to a beach and through the town.  Apart from a couple of vendors was basically left alone.  Everyone friendly.  For what it's worth.

7 hours ago, 1025cruise said:

The only awful table mates we've had are the ones that don't show up.

 

Our first cruise where we wanted traditional dining to experience the same table mates and same wait staff, we sat at a table for 8, and waited. The next night another couple in the same predicament was sat with us.

 

Our last cruise, same thing. Sat at a table for 8, and waited. Sat alone all week.

That sort of happened to me once.  I was scheduled for a table for 6 or 8 and I was the only one.  I was traveling solo which made it even better.

A couple of nice gals from Chicago invited me to join them.  There was a guy from Norway in the same predicament as me so they 'kidnapped' him as well.  The 4 of us made a nice table.

Samana is a small private island on the north side of Samana Bay.  You will tender to the island.  The island itself is tame and Disney-style; the town of Samana on the mainland is real.  Attractions in the area are mostly nature-based, i.e. whale watching, horseback riding, etc.  There is a national park about a 45-minute boat ride on the south side of the bay.

On 4/16/2019 at 11:43 AM, richbum said:

Can you take a taxi there...and how much does it cost? How far away form Port is the rain forest?

 

It's at least 40 minutes.  A taxi would be prohibitive.  

21 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

I'm not completely following.  Are you saying credit card companies purposely withhold evidence due to cost?   Yikes!  

 

I do agree companies exist to make a profit.  I believe good ones are also socially responsible.    

 

Edit:  Sorry I think I misread your comment -- SantaFe's comments helped me understand.  

To further clarify, it's more to do with our fragmented system of jurisdiction.  When I was working fraud I did authorize several arrests.  This was only with 1) cards issued locally, and 2) crimes occurring locally where we were able to get one of our investigators involved.

The trouble is that we, and most call centers, dealt with cards from different issuers all over the US.  The card belongs to the issuing bank, not the cardholder, so contacting each issuer for each incident is rather tangled.  In order to modify the system to catch criminals you'd basically have to centralize reporting and arrest authorization at the federal level.  Too many players, too much inertia.

The issuing bank that I worked for was definitely not socially responsible.  Morally the worst place I've ever worked.  Petty criminals to the core.  They deliberately delayed sending out bills, for example, in order to hit cardholders with late fees.  Etc.

14 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

I think what you are saying would apply to most any company.  No one wants negative publicity.   I suppose most companies would be OK if violent acts were not brought to the light of day.   

I worked for a credit card issuer in the early days.  If a credit card is stolen during a violent crime theoretically anyone caught using that card would be a suspect for that crime.  This tool was not and is not implemented due to the cost/hassle for the credit card issuer. 

Companies exist purely to make profit.  We should not expect any other social function from them.  That requires intelligent regulation.  As stated, they spend millions of dollars to avoid exactly that.  Good luck.

Smoking should be banned in strollers.

I believe typically they like to have you back on the ship 1/2 hour before the stated departure time.  Realistically you probably have about an hour of wiggle room, maybe 90 minutes.  I have done the tour privately and did get back on time.  Your probability of making it is high; the issue, as you already know, is the consequences of that small chance of something going wrong.

Lamanai is a memorable place.

One thing about the water taxi at Grand Anse beach.  They wait to fill before setting off, so if you're returning to the ship make sure you have plenty of time.

Hurricanes aren't infinite.  If a hurricane comes anywhere near your route (possible but not probable) the captain, being a smart person, will avoid it.  At worst you may have to change one port for another.

Magen's is a mile long, half of which (to the left, as mentioned), is basically sand and water.  It actually is a park, so it's  uncluttered by concrete sprawl.