Tinkerbellcgy

I was on the Explorer the first week of October, 2016 where they had just closed the Connoisseur Lounge to renovate it to become the Pinnacle Lounge.

Song of Norway was my third Royal Caribbean cruise on December 17, 1995. I loved this ship...so small and intimate with teak decking. Very fond memories. :cool:

 

Viking Serenade was my first in 1992 and Majesty of the Seas was my second in 1994.

I have experienced cancer 3 times since 2008 with the last time being in 2016. I was in the midst of chemo treatments when I embarked on a cruise last fall. My oncologist gave his blessing and adjusted my chemo schedule to facilitate the time I was away. He also sent me with a printout of my cancer treatment history including the latest lab results as well as a listing of all medications that I was currently being administered. I kept those documents out on the desk in the cabin so they were readily available in the event that information was needed in a hurry. Fortunately it wasn't needed and I had a most enjoyable cruise.

 

My only advice would be to take things slow and easy, rest often, keep hydrated, wash your hands frequently, be careful if eating from the buffet, etc. In other words, take all precautions on board as you would on land.

 

Go and enjoy your cruise! :cool:

I was on this sailing as well. Fond memories. :cool:

I know it is not polite to hijack threads, but in my desperation I am going to do it anyway.

Tink, it is great to hear you are in remission and i wish you continued good health.

 

I was supposed to start a cruise tomorrow, but had to cancel because we could not sort out travel health insurance for my husband, who finished chemo in October. Our existing insurance was no longer valid because he has a pre existing condition that is not stable in the last 6 months. Were you able to find insurance that would still cover you with your recent chemo?

We are in Ontario and looking outside at 3 feet of snow. I sure would like to figure out a way to still take a trip south. Thank you for any advice and really is good to hear about someone still travelling despite the cancer.

I did not purchase separate travel insurance. Although I am currently on disability, I am still covered to a certain extent under my employer's travel insurance under their group benefits plan. I felt strong enough both physically and mentally to embark on this cruise. That was a very important factor in my decision to take that cruise considering I travel solo.

 

Having said that, I confirmed with my oncologist that a cruise would not hamper my treatment and he agreed stating that, in fact, it would probably be good for me psychologically. I live in Calgary, Alberta and I chose the Pacific Northwest / California Coastal itinerary for the simple reason that should I need to make a hasty retreat home due to my cancer, I would not be far from airports that would get me home relatively quickly. That was not necessary and I had a most enjoyable trip.

 

Celine, sorry for the deviation from the topic. Now, back to the regularly scheduled topic ... :D

That's not a bad idea, Tink! I'll give AHS a call on Monday and see if that might be an option. Hope your health is improving and you're well enough to continue to cruise :)

 

Celine

Once you have spoken with AHS, could you please let me know what they have to say. If you were to receive INR testing and a doctor's attendance in a US medical facility, a portion or all of it would be billed to and covered by AHS. A ship has a medical facilty with the exception that you pay for the services upfront then seek reimbursement from AHS on your return to Alberta. I will be interested to hear what AHS has to say about this.

 

Thank you for asking about my health. I did manage to squeeze a cruise in last fall between chemo treatments and the chemo was finished in November, 2016. I am once again in remission and I hope to cruise again this fall.

Liz :cool:

My travel insurance does pay for any testing onboard, including the dr consult... but I would rather not be submitting claims for that as I worry that my premiums will increase as a result. My preference is to pay out of pocket if it's a small cost.

 

I DID have an INR home testing kit about 2 years ago (Coaguchek $1200CAD), but it produced inaccurate results far too frequently for my comfort level, plus the costly strips have an expiry period of usually 12-18 months, so bulk buying those to keep costs down wasn't feasible.

 

I guess I'll just hope the insurance company continues to renew our annual plan at the same rate without increases, and suck it up if they do impose an increase.

Just a thought but rather than putting the cost of the INR test through your private insurance, could you not submit it to Alberta Health Services for reimbursement? While on a cruise, I had a medical issue in which I saw the ship's doctor and was charged for the doctor's visit. Upon returning back to Calgary, I attempted to seek reimbursement from my travel insurer who, in turn, directed me to AHS for reimbursement. In the event that AHS did not or would not reimburse me then the travel insurer would look at covering the claim. I simply abandoned the claim which was about $50.00 because it just wasn't worth the rigamorale of jumping through all of the hoops and I realized that it would take months to conclude.

 

I can sympathize with having weekly INR testing. I did it for 8 years and was finally taken off of Warfarin last year at the onset of my third experience with cancer. There is nothing more freeing than no more blood thinners and weelky visits to Calgary Lab. :)

The photo of Lake Moraine in Banff, Alberta pretty much sums up the beauty and majesty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. I would highly recommend spending some time exploring Banff, Lake Louise, Kananaskis, Jasper, Edmonton, Calgary and then south to the Waterton Lakes district. The scenery is simply breathtaking, stunning and diverse. Okay ... I could be a wee tad partial seeing as I have lived in this neck of the woods since 1979 after growing up in Toronto. :D

I was on the Explorer this past October and I was able to buy Internet access for one hour for something like $8.95 on the last day enabling me to check in with Air Canada and print my boarding pass. The check in and printing of the Boarding Pass took all of about 5 minutes of the 60 minutes Internet time. So you could easily do 8 people in the 60 minutes. Check with Guest Services while on board to see if this is available on your sailing.

St. John

Tortola

Antigua

Curacao

St. Kitts

Bequia

 

and lastly

 

Grenada even though the island is very poor I add this island as one of my favourites because the people are so warm and hospitable given all the hardships they have faced over the years. :)

In the fall of 1987, I had booked my very first cruise for April, 1988. Cruising was something that I had always wanted to try and I knew that I would have to scrimp and save to make this dream come true and I was prepared to do just that.

 

At the time, I was working for a sole practitioner lawyer who gifted me the cost of the cruise as my 1987 Christmas bonus. I know how very fortunate I was to receive such an expensive gift and I was very appreciative. That cruise was the first of many cruises albeit not as many as I would like to have sailed on. :)

Red background means medical department.

I sort of thought that but thanks for confirming it for me.

I just got off of the Explorer and I noticed that there was one officer who had the typical gold band stripes on the sleeves of his jacket at the wrist but he also had red band stripes between those gold stripes on his jacket sleeves. I have never seen red stripes on an officer's jacket.

 

Does anyone know what the red stripes signify? Perhaps the ship's doctor or some other officer designation? It's a puzzlement to me and I wasn't in a position to ask him what the significance was. Does anyone know?

Will be on that very ship in that very city one week from today. :)

Give it a few weeks if you are looking for a 2016 review. This itinerary is currently being sailed and the final sailing is on September 30th of which I am a passenger.

Hoping to take a few spins around the rink in the next couple of weeks on the Explorer.

 

Got the long pants thing and the socks thing and even the compulsory helmet. My question is what type of skates do they equip you with? Figure skates with the toe picks or hockey skates or do you have a choice of selecting the skates that work best for you and which you are accustomed to?

 

Also, for those of you who have skated while on board, how often do they open the rink for public skating? Several of us on my sailing are hoping to have a bit of a skating party complete with some non-skaters cheering on us daredevil mostly oldsters.

for OP - I was a two year tourist to San Fran .... here's my recommendations

 

...- the cruise piers are next to the Pier 39 / Fishman's Wharf complex which IS a tourist trap but is an easy walk from the ship and gives some color .... you can see Alc' and the seals and grab a decent San Fran' meal .....

I don't believe that the cruise piers are next to Pier 39 any longer. The new cruise pier is Pier 27 which is south of the old cruise pier. I will be docking at Pier 27 in a couple of weeks.

Bad enough that we don't even walk through the casino.

Precisely! This is one of the reasons I withdrew from participating in my sailing's slot pull.

... Also, do they provide robes in the cabins or do you have to book a mini or above??

CruiseRaider, I read somewhere in these boards that they will provide robes if you ask your cabin attendant to do so. I intend to ask for one as well as an extra blanket at the bottom of the bed for my afternoon siestas. :D

 

See you at the end of the month at the Sail Away Mingle. :)

I'm on the explorer Leaving Seattle on Sept 27th but we won't be in Victoria until Oct 7th. Did you get the dates wrong?

You are on my Explorer sailing on September 30. There is a 7 day sailing the week before the one we are on which the OP is on.

I also seen the Queen in Calgary when I lived there. I think it was 2005.

2005 seems about right. Her cavalcade was travelling eastbound on 9th Avenue SW at about 4th Street when I saw her. She was wearing a pale shade of yellow and had the window rolled down waving to all of us standing on 9th Avenue.

I'm an ex-Brit but I only ever saw Prince Philip once when I was a kid and he shook my hand and Princess Margaret once, many years ago. I'm definitely changing our plans for our stop in Victoria. I just have to convince my DH and our friends to follow me in an attempt to get a look at them!

I hope you are able to get a look at them. It will be etched in your memory forever. I wonder if George and Charlotte are travelling with them. There has been some chatter about that. I guess time will tell.

What an awesome experience for you should you get to be close enough to see them! I've seen Queen Elizabeth twice in my lifetime: once in Toronto and the second time here in Calgary. I will never forget both of those occasions. :)

Remember, most HR Depts work for the company, not you.

 

JK

No truer words have ever been spoken. HR Departments are merely puppets of their masters which are the management of the corporation. HR Departments basically have absolutely no power except what is doled out at the discretion of management to do their bidding.

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