travelgirl87

I'm a big advocate of calling the credit card companies in advance (from my home phone) to notify them that I will be charging items in other countries during particular time periods.

When traveling internationally, I also make sure to note the phone numbers for calling collect that are listed on the back of each card. I record the card data as well as the phone numbers on an encoded piece of paper that I keep with me but separate from my credit cards. If I'm being particularly paranoid, I also email the same coded information to myself. That way I am prepared should my purse be stolen or if I otherwise lose a credit card. Americans sometimes forget that those memorized "800" numbers on their credit cards don't work when traveling abroad.

Thank you for that link, I appreciate you doing this. It looks like that site actually organises complete holidays for the disabled, as opposed to arranging excursions?

 

I have now found contact details for a taxi company in Sydney although I think I would prefer a River cruise of some type, but I at least have an option.

The company states that they also provide cruise excursions. Here's a link to that page:

http://www.disabilitytravel.com/cruise/accessible_shore_excursions.htm

As I mentioned before, I haven't used them so can't vouch for their services but they do seem to be one of the few larger companies I've encountered.

Here's the link to the River Cruise forum that Paul hoped someone would post:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=191

As already noted, river boats tend to be much smaller than the ships used for ocean cruising. I doubt there are many (if any) boats that carry more than 200 guests. This means no kids club, no casino, no all-night disco, etc. Most people are pretty tuckered out by the end of each day's touring so the activities aren't missed as much as you'd think. There is usually music or some type of performance offered in the evening. Lunches and dinners aboard are usually served in a single seating format but you sit where (and with whom) you'd like at each meal. Breakfast is a much more flexible meal, timing-wise.

There's another big difference between the two types of cruises. Most river cruises (including Uniworld) build the cost of the excursions into the cruise fare. On our 11 day Vantage cruise, there were only 3 optional (extra-charge) tours available are none were more than a half-day long. All other sightseeing was included. This meant walking tours in many ports (you often dock in the center of town), museum tours, site admissions, cultural events, etc. were all included as part of the cruise fare. You can usually skip anything that doesn't interest you and sightsee on your own instead. When you're in the center of town, it's also pretty easy to pop into town after dinner for a stroll or to visit a local drinking establishment.

Happy travels, whatever type of cruise you choose.

I have no personal experience with this company, but their website offers items that may be helpful to you:

http://www.disabilitytravel.com/access-network.htm

Perhaps others have had some dealings with them and can add in their opinions.

Happy travels.

There are two areas of concern for those planning to take a rental car the full way around the eastern end of Maui (continuation from the Road to Hana).

Issue #1: The car rental companies on Maui can be very strict about dings and scratches on the car upon return. If they think you've been on gravel roads, they will look even more closely for any evidence of damage. Be sure you document any pre-existing damage with the rental company before you leave the rental lot with the car.

Issue #2: It is VERY expensive to have your car towed from the "unimproved" section of the loop -- in the neighborhood of $600 just for the tow. The car companies will not come to rescue you. The wait for the tow can be several hours. Drive very carefully over the rougher parts of the road and consider bringing a can of "fix a flat" with you so that you can at least limp back to where you need to be.

If you have not already done so, please check out the Disabled Cruise Travel forum on this website. Here's a link: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=190

Different disabilities require different accommodations and the folks posting there may have good advice for your particular situation. I've assisted in making travel plans (though not for a cruise) for someone that uses a Hoyer lift. The lift requires a significant amount of under-bed clearance and many hotels use boxed-in beds for their handicap rooms!

I realize the original poster has long since returned from her cruise but in case anyone else is wondering....

In addition to the other suggestions of the buffet or specialty restaurants, most cruise lines offer room service dinners on formal nights as well as at other times. If you check with the maitre d' ahead of time, he should be able to fill you in on what are your options.

The dinner in your room idea also works well for folks with small children in tow. If the little ones cooperate and zonk out early, you may even get to have a romantic meal after all!

We didn't think the food prices at most places were all that much higher than would be found in any large northeastern city in the US. The "fancy" restaurants in tourist areas were often pricey, but the places the locals go were reasonable. Ask people likely to be on a budget (e.g. the cashier in a souvenir shop) for suggestions.

It did help that we are open to try new foods and love "ethnic" foods. Shopping center food courts (there are a bunch in downtown Honolulu) were also a good source of yummy cheap eats. I also kept some quick snacks (e.g. granola bars or single serve packs of almonds) with me.

The prices on dairy products and fresh produce in grocery or ABC stores were the things that gave me the worst sticker shock.

We have tickets for 11:30 and will pick them up before. Sharing a cab to PH with another couple. When would we see the movie? Does the ticket give you a time to see it? I am hoping to plan an excursion after PH but am wondering how much time we need since our tickets are for 11:30AM? We have also purchased the audio?

Would appreciate any info regarding this so as I can decide if we have time for our half island excursion with Enoa tours. They will pick us up at the Ohana Airport Hotel and I am told it is about a 5 minute cab ride. Was hoping to see some other sites as well as. Many thanks.

The time on your ticket is the time you enter the movie theater. The boat to the memorial itself is loaded where the movie lets out with the number of seats in the theater corresponding to the number of seats on the boat. There are other exhibits to see once your boat returns from the memorial - you do these at your own pace.

I missed out on pre-purchasing tickets for the Arizona memorial, if we get there early will we still have a chance to purchase them the day of?

 

Thanks.

If you are going in off-season, then you'll probably have the best luck if you arrive early in the morning on a weekday but do not plan to see the Memorial until later in the day. When we were there on a September weekday, reservations for the mid-afternoon tours (after 2 or 3 pm) were being distributed at around 9:30 am.

Assuming you have the time, there are plenty of other sights to see in the Valor in the Pacific area. Here's a link to a website with more information: http://www.pearlharborhistoricsites.org/map

By the time you take the free shuttle to the Battleship Missouri or the Pacific Aviation museums (or both), then head back to the Arizona Memorial, it will be your time to see the movie and board your launch to the memorial.

Happy travels.

We did a private helicopter tour with Inter-Island Helicopters and loved it. We figured that if we were going to pay the price for a helicopter tour (none are cheap because the cost of operating the helicopter is so high), then we would get exactly what we wanted. I wasn't going to pay those dollars to have one of us sit in an "inside" seat on one of the larger aircraft. Inter-Island never puts four passengers on it's smaller helicopters (max is three plus pilot) because they don't want to put a paying passenger in the little seat in the middle of the front row.

Our pilot, Ian, did a great job for us, lingering if we wanted a few more minutes to get a photo from a new angle and taking good care of us in general. Because we were the only passengers, my husband and I sat on opposite sides of the back seat while the pilot was in the front seat. We took the doors-off option to be able to get better photos. It wasn't quite as scary as I had feared because we were well strapped in on the helicopter. Also, the guys at Inter-Island do hiker rescue flights so they know the terrain well.

One final note -- if you are a "passenger of size", keep in mind that there are strict weight limits for flights. Inter-Island wouldn't take anyone over 300 pounds for safety reasons. Most of the companies have surcharges for those with weights above a certain point (225, 250 pounds) or will make you buy an extra seat for the flight.

good info! i usually have a binder but i think the accordion will be flatter and lighter. i was hoping a full meal will be served but i'll make a point of bringing snacks anyway--we're traveling with a toddler.

I would definitely suggest checking your airplane reservation for an indication of meals to be served or available for purchase. Remember that Atlanta-Honolulu is a domestic (not international) flight and a lot of airlines have really cut back on what is provided. A long flight with cranky (and hungry!) adults isn't fun let alone the same situation but with a toddler along.

We had a 10 1/2 hour flight out (left 9 am, arrived 1:30 pm with 6 hour time change) when we flew and we were served drinks but no food on United. Limited food was available for purchase but it was rather processed and was also pretty pricey. Luckily, we were prepared and had brought along our own munchies as well as picked up breakfast items at the airport before the flight.

Safe travels.

I bring a photocopy of the back of my credit cards when traveling internationally and keep this list separate from where I have my credit cards. If my cards were to be lost/stolen, this gives me the contact numbers (toll-free in US or collect calls outside US) to notify the companies. I have also been known to email this information to myself (on an account easily accessed abroad) as a back-up.

Just so everyone knows, I'll be taking my 3 and 4 year old into Teppanyaki during our Thanksgiving cruise. They are 'well behaved' to be sure. :) We'll be eating at the earliest possible reservation.

I haven't been to the Teppanyaki restaurant aboard an NCL ship, but I have a heads-up for you based on taking my own 3 year old nephew to a hibachi place awhile back.

Make sure that the 3 and 4 year olds are well prepared that there might be a "big fire" on the grill and that it will all be okay. My poor nephew took one look at that fire when the chef flamed the grill (squirted oil and ignited it) then told my sister that we all needed to leave the restaurant NOW. We calmed him down fairly quickly but I think the chef's show would have been much more enjoyable for him if we had talked about this part of the routine first!