shorefolks

I, too, am renting from Sifracar for one day, and I also questioned the truth of their statement that "most credit cards cover the excess." After making the reservation, I checked with the card issuer and was told that they recognize that Italian rental agencies only offer rentals that include "basic insurance." I was assured that my card does indeed cover any excess. That said, my card is a more full-featured one (read: expensive), and other cards may not offer the excess coverage.

Bottom line: check with your card issuer before paying for excess coverage- but get the name of the person at the issuer that tells you that you are covered.

We have always purchased the free roaming package. It is $30 a month. We take it out a few days before we cruise and stop it when we return. We usually only pay about $17 and change including tax.

 

This allows us to us our phones anywhere we want when ever we want with no additional charges. Have done this on our last 5 cruises. Yes it is a Verizon plan.

Just be careful when you turn it off after your cruise that the percentage of the data allowance used during a given month does not exceed the percentage of the time out of the billing month that the package was in force. This can easily happen if the cruise just barely overlaps the monthly cut-over date. In that case, the data overage will be charged at a much higher rate, $20 per Mb, I believe.

One problem particular to Italy is the mandatory theft insurance which may or may not be included in whatever coverage you get. Before you make a reservation, be sure to verify that with a representative. I have had it almost doubling the quoted price.

No rockhoppers down there except for the Falklands as far as I know. I will just be thrilled to see Gentoos and Kings in Ushuaia.:D the other ports on the cruise from Valpariso-BA are magellanic only.

Many thanks!

We have previously taken an Antarctic cruise which included Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, and the Falklands. We have seen King, Magellanic, and Gentoo Penguins, but we would like to see Rockhopper Penguins on our upcoming Valparaiso-Buenos Aires cruise in January. I know they are present in the Falklands. Are there any other locations?

In Dominica, the only one of these ports where I have hired a guide, the choice is easy: Bertrand ("Dr. Birdy") Jno Baptiste. We hired him 10 years ago, and he is still at it. His rates are quite fair, and he works very hard to get you the good birds. He would not rest until we had seen both parrots. My notes also show that we had Lesser Antillean Swift, Purple-throated Carib, Blue-headed Hummingbird, Ringed Kingfisher, Brown Trembler, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Plumbeous Warbler, and Lesser Antillean Saltator, as well as commoner birds. Lunch was included, too. Because it was raining lightly at lunchtime, he just took us to his house instead of having a picnic lunch. Altogether a great day with good birding and a great fellow.

Hi !

I'm looking for tips and info on the birding at

1. Cartagena Colombia

2. Colon Panama

3. Puerto Limon Costa Rica

4. Costa Maya Mexico and

5. Cozumel Mexico

Unfortunately, I can only provide limited assistance due to a combination of factors. On a previous Canal cruise I have been to ports 1, 4, and 5, and I have also birded Cozumel twice on week-long trips there. I have never been able to find a guide for any of them. In addition, Cartagena and Costa Maya were our first visits to those ports and, thus, my ability to dedicate the day to birding was limited due to marital pressure.

In Cartagena we hired a cab for 4 hours and mostly toured the city. Birding was minimal; mangrove swallow was about the most "interesting" species.

Costa Maya essentially consists of the port area and little else. Excursions are available to Mayan ruins areas, but we declined, having previously visited them. Instead, we booked a day pass at Almaplena Beach Resort & Eco Lodge and took a cab there. Unfortunately, the day was rainy and windy to the extent that the owner refunded our deposit. Too bad, because the place was both attractive and isolated and also had a restaurant. In addition it had what looked like it would be good snorkeling in better weather. I would bet there might be good birding walking the adjacent, lightly-trafficked road. The only interesting birds that rain-shortened day were two yellow-backed orioles.

We have been to Cozumel three times and, for birding, I would recommend renting a car. The island can be easily traversed in your allotted time. The popular beach park and lagoon on the southwest side has a small trail which can be good, but the best birding is really in the interior. As I remember, the road on the western side south of the docks had several dead-end roads to the east which can be very productive. Just park and walk. When we stayed there, I would do that many mornings. The San Gervasio ruins in the middle of the island had some good birds, too. Finally, the mangroves and rural area at the north end of the western road were usually good for black catbirds. Please understand that it has been a few years, so development may have wrecked some of what I have described.

Sorry I could not recommend guides. I hope some of this helps.

You left out

 

(4) do not allow the cruise company to inform the potential passenger if they can handle a medical emergency that might occur with this device.

Actually, I take it for granted that they can not. That is why I have medical evacuation coverage. If I am correct in my assumption, I am covered. If I am incorrect, it will be a pleasant surprise and I will be doubly covered.

That is a risk I choose to take. What I am not willing to risk is allowing my personal decisions to be made by a corporate bean-counter, especially when time and opportunities may be running out. Others may choose differently. Best wishes to them. Meanwhile, I am going to enjoy my remaining time to the fullest, which is to say that I have trips to plan! I offered my experiences as a help to the OP. Having done that, I am done with this discussion.

Wow, just plain bad advice! This information would be handled by the medical department not a customer service/reservation person, and is not something handled over the phone.

I knew that would get some people upset, but I stand by it. I have no confidence whatsoever in the motivations of any type of corporate employee, medical or not, to render an unbiased, fact-based judgment on a matter in which their employer has a financial or legal standing. There are only two important parties here: the individual and his cardiologist. Although I would have said the same thing regardless of what cruise line was involved, Princess (which remains my favorite, by the way) is also the line that doesn't want you even to order a hamburger that is not cooked at least medium-well. Their nanny attitude serves only them.

My advice remains:

(1) Get the best medical advice you can from a trusted professional.

(2) Make your own decision and keep your own counsel.

(3) Damn the torpedoes.

For your husband to travel, he needs to both talk to his cardiologist and examine his own comfort level. If he does decide to travel, I would also strongly suggest that he secure some form of coverage for international medical evacuation. (He may already have it as a benefit of his credit cards. Check that first before spending for insurance.)

Beyond that, I can only offer my own experience as something to consider. (Needless to say, his medical situation may be entirely different. Thus, the chat with his cardiologist.) At 57 I had a heart attack and 5 bypasses. Five months later I collapsed in a V-Tach episode (pulse rate 234), and that caused an ICD implant. When I had my bypasses, I was told I would probably get "10 good years" out of them. I am now 65. In the last 8 years I have taken 18 domestic trips and 23 international ones, including 17 cruises. Very fortunately, I have never had another incident of any kind.

As to logistical details, they are few:

(1) Carry your card all you want- I still do- but nobody ever will ask for it or show the slightest interest if you offer it.

(2) Never pass through a metal detector or allow anybody to use a magnetic hand wand. In the U.S. or on a cruise ship, simply say "Pacemaker" and you will be led around the detector or ushered to the radiation back-scatter machine, which is fine for an ICD. (Always say "Pacemaker" and not "ICD." Few security guards know what an ICD is, but they do know how to deal with a pacemaker.) Be alert with hand wands: some guards are so used to employing them that they will not remember that they can't do so in your case. Outside the U.S., especially in non-English-speaking countries, a simple double-tap on your ICD will convey the message with amazing universality. Be prepared for some humorous situations: more than once, the guard's response has been to hold up the plug of the metal detector to show it is not even plugged in. More often, you will be waved around without so much as a pat-down.

(3) Do what you feel comfortable with, but I would strongly advise against pre-alerting a cruise line or travel company that you have an ICD. You are simply inviting needless upset. Think about it: who are you going to call- the same Customer Service reps that are clueless about every other detail and who regularly issue all sorts of misinformation? So long as you are covered for med-evac, it is simply your business- not theirs.

(4) Length of flight should mean nothing. Your cardiologist will advise.

(5) Live long and live well. When the end does come, you will only regret the opportunities you did not take.

Another vote for Hotel Miramare. Have used it before and will do so again this fall. There are good, reasonable restaurants along the seaside walk as well.

We were also on the Grand for the May 9 NB Alaska cruise. When we first went to our cabin (Caribe, port side forward), there was a distinct musty smell and the hot-air blowers were in the corridor. To make matters worse, the toilet in the first cabin (we were in the third) began gushing water heavily when it was first flushed. This caused a flood into the hall and also into the second cabin. The carpet by our bathroom also got wet. The blowers were in the hall and cabins for two days. It took several more for the mustiness to dissipate. Other than that, offensive smells were not noticeable for the rest of the cruise, although there were leaks here and there.

Is the Grand showing its age? Yes, but these flaws are hardly deal-killers. Even if the weather had not been great and the scenery magnificent, we would have still had a great cruise because the crew did a fantastic job. My wife remarked several times that they all seemed happy with their jobs. Our cabin steward was a seasoned professional: friendly, efficient, and intuitive without the least hint of intrusiveness. While this is generally true of Princess, I also wonder if staff don't "pick up their game" on the older ships that need the extra bit of TLC. That was certainly the case on the Pacific Princess and the Celebrity Century when we sailed on them.

It depends on your carrier and your plan. We have Verizon and always get a Global plan for use on cruises. Right now, that plan is $40 for 100 texts, 100 minutes of voice, and 100 Mb of data. With good planning, e.g., using wi-fi on shore, that should take care of your needs. If you need extra texts, I believe the present rate is $.50 to send. Check with your carrier.

I think the unclear-to-me logistics of your "half-day more" in Venice should be factored in. If you are directly near Ravenna, then you should see that city. If you are in/near Venice, then you should stay there. Don't chew up precious time getting from one to the other.

Yes, you can never get enough time in Venice, but (especially to a history teacher with, I gather, an appreciation for art) Ravenna is a gem in its own right, albeit smaller. The Byzantine mosaics there are nothing like what you would encounter in Rome. (You certainly won't see a depiction of Christ dressed as a Roman soldier in the Eternal City.) Further, you will gain an appreciation for the often-forgotten religious tension within the early Christian Church, vis-a-vis the Aryan vs. Orthodox conflict.

Either city will be more than worth your time, so you should plan to maximize that time- and see the rest on your next visit.

 

Stop traditional diners from using the anytime dining room.

Amen to this. "Anytime" does NOT mean "Anytime plus a half-hour wait."

We took a Millennium cruise Yokohama-Shanghai last fall, and I would echo the previous positive comments. While there were a fair number of Chinese (not Chinese-Americans) on board, the grosser misbehaviors, e.g., spitting, were not in evidence. What was annoying, however, was the air of seeming entitlement with which a variety of Orientals (not only Chinese) would brush ahead of people waiting courteously. This was on the ship. On the streets, this was far less the case. We also encountered only two incidents of Chinese striking up conversations with us, both times in Shanghai and both times quite friendly. One of those times we had to work at politely declining an invitation for extended interactions that would have interfered with planned touring. The other time it was with two friendly, young girls who giggled that I looked like "Christmas Father" (Santa Claus), not inaccurately I guess.

In Beijing we used Catherine Lu and were quite pleased. We had a private car pick us up in Tianjin and return us to the ship two days later. Our young Chinese guide spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable. She also took us to two included lunches that were excellent. In Shanghai, we DIYed it, using taxis which were quite inexpensive.

In retrospect, I wish that we had added a land tour, but time did not allow it. If you can manage it, I would strongly suggest reserving a tour. There is so much more to see.

Improve the embarkation day experience by (1) having the staterooms available upon boarding, and (2) having an MDR open for lunch. These are both things that Princess does and, as people who sail on both lines with about equal frequency, we can testify that these are touches that really add to that on-vacation-now feeling. Both lines have strong and weak points (and as the cruise proceeds we invariably appreciate Celebrity's attributes), but it seems we always start a Celebrity cruise with the negatives outweighing the positives.

You will note that I have not mentioned the website. It is obvious Celebrity just does not get it and probably never will.

One of my favorite memories of a trip to France is of a beautiful lunch in an open-air cafe next to the Rouen cathedral. They served a Salad Perigord of mixed greens with exquisite, sliced duck breast and two barely-runny poached eggs, all topped with a lovely vinaigrette. A bottle of crisp, chilled sancerre was the perfect accompaniment.

We opted to spend the day in Chioggia, partly because we didn't want to spend more time on the bus, and partly because we had already seen numerous spectacular cathedrals. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Chioggia going through the market, walking around the fishing village on our own, and eating a delicious seafood lunch at a local restaurant. We could've walked to the beach (on the Adriatic) if we had had a bit more time, or if we opted not to spend as much time going through the market. Chioggia was one of the less "touristy" places we visited during the week, and we enjoyed that aspect of the excursion.

We love the kind of small-town/market/seafood environment described above. (Catania in Sicily is particularly outstanding.) However, the Ravenna mosaics really stand apart from the usual European-cathedral type of experience. In addition to demonstrating mosaic art at its finest, they also show the contrasts among the styles and iconographies of the Eastern Roman Empire (of which Ravenna served as the capital), the Ostrogoths (who were "heretic" Arian Christians), and the Byzantines under Emperor Justinian. A well-planned walk around town can take in the major sights, including the Church of San Vitale, the (mis-named) Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Baptistries, and a most-unusual depiction of a Warrior Christ in the Archepiscopal Chapel.

Of course, personal taste should dictate one's choice, but Ravenna really does offer an experience not matched anywhere else.

Adding to the confusion is that different cruise lines use different terms. On a recent Princess cruise, it was "disembarkation." On our prior cruise on Celebrity, it was "debarkation." I have generally found also that (American) people will use their preferred term in both a transitive and an intransitive sense rather than use one for transitive and the other for intransitive.

We were in Cabo Jan. 31 of this year and took a morning whale watch. We probably saw more whales on that trip than all previous trips elsewhere combined. Double breaches, back flips, you name it. Bouncy ride that day but worth every bump. The grounds were not far from the harbor, too, and the boat delays slightly so you can see the spots for which the cruise ship wants too much to show you on an excursion.

Also keep in mind that there will be vendors selling similar tours in the area around the harbor. We did one and found it both reasonable and satisfying.

We only used a taxi once, in Shanghai to get from our Bund area hotel to the Maglev station to catch the bullet train to the airport. The driver looked petty crusty when I only gave him the exact amount (an even 50 yuan IIRC). Although maybe he's always that way... hard to tell.

I would bet on the latter. We used cabs a lot to explore Shanghai, and all of the drivers were pretty sour.

One tip (which probably should be followed everywhere to be safe): once inside the cab discreetly (or not) snap a picture of the driver ID sign with his number and picture. It might come in handy later should there be a problem.

We just finished a Japan-Korea-China cruise which included a three-day private tour in China. While the non-tipping culture is still quite strong in general, we were advised when booking the tour that "gratuities for guide and driver" were not included. From that (and postings on CC), I gathered that this is a customary practice. We ended up fairly much following the "10 & 5" suggestion, via envelopes at the end of the tour. What I found interesting was that the guide did not know what our tour cost, and I evaded her question when she asked.

The only other exception to the no-tipping custom in these countries that we encountered was with hotel porters. While not being as obviously expectant as in America, they were clearly not reticent to accept a tip after lugging our over-stuffed bags. That was about it, though. A girl who brought ice to our room in an up-scale hotel in China was appalled when I offered a tip. "It is my pleasure!" she said. Similarly, restaurant workers and taxi drivers expect nothing, and both of those situations are real bargains in China. (The latter case then immediately raises the question of why a guide driver should be tipped. "Soak the tourists" is the answer. The tour operator knows that clients would not want to short the low-paid worker- and seizes upon that as a chance to pay even them even less.)

We were there in July. Another experience I'll never forget: suddenly hearing a bull sea lion barking at me underwater! He thought I was getting too close to his women, I guess. They weren't my type, anyway.

Best of luck on your cruise. You will love it. We leave in the morning for an Orient cruise, so over and out.