wassup4565

As a teacher, I would say that any experience that takes children out of their normal environment and shows them something different is an enormous learning opportunity for the children. As a parent, taking them out of their normal school activities, it's your responsibility to look for ways this trip can show them something new to them - different geography, different culture, different architecture, different animals and plants, and so on. That is your responsibility - to do your research and show them new things, and help your kids learn from the new things they will see.

I also think you should remind them the trip is not a free-for-all. Set aside an hour a day for normal school activities and stick to it. There should be reading aloud. If the teacher can give you something for them to read, great, but if not, get them to read the cruise newsletter each day with you, and help them with the words. For math, you can play card games that involve counting, matching, and so on (look it up on the internet if you don't know any, and be prepared in advance).

I also think children who are given the gift of traveling should be required to keep a diary of what they learned and observed each day. Buy them a blank book and a special pen. If they can't write, have them dictate to you, and write their exact words down in the diary. Then, as a reading exercise, you can ask the children to read back what you wrote for them - their own words - they will love this.

Finally, I would ask the teacher if your child can make a report to the class about their learnings while they were away. And I would make the children responsible for remembering they will have to do this, and preparing (if the teacher agrees.) And you need to help them with this.

So sure, take the kids out of school. Make yourself responsible for their learning while you are traveling. Use every opportunity to help them see new things and record them in a travel diary. Make a "School time" every day and get some schooling done in that time - learning can be fun, but it must be done. And make the kids accountable for thinking about and recording their experiences - they should be thinking about what they are learning and it's your job to help them focus on that.

There will still be lots of time for the pool and the activities. And all the rest of the great things on the ship and ashore. You be the teacher for your children's trip, and it will all turn out well.

If you do decide to take the train from Termini, I would suggest that you book in advance for one of the inter-city trains and pay the few (and it is only a few) extra euros to upgrade to first class, you will have an allocated seat and lots of room for luggage. The trenitalia website is comprehensive and relatively easy to use, with English translations.

When is your information from? We bought the highest category of ticket from Rome to C this last Oct. (months in advance from Trenitalia website), and we got a train car that was stuffed with cruisers, with large luggage blocking the aisles (and nowhere else to put it). To add insult to injury, when we finally dragged our suitcases over all the luggage parked in the aisle to our own (reserved) seats) there were two people sitting in them. They were very reluctant to be told to move to their own seats, and only did so when we waved our tickets in their faces and demanded to see theirs.

No train staff ever appeared in the car. We purchased the highest-priced tickets we could. It was a cattle car. Perhaps things were different when you last travelled. My information comes from late-October 2014.

The advice given is excellent. If your ship is leaving for the cruise from San Juan, you will be leaving from the Pan Am pier, and there is nothing interesting or useful nearby. Get the cabbie to stop and wait while you pick up your stuff. Some people do say there is a place you can buy wine at the Pan Am port. We didn't see it. And of course, we couldn't look for it, as we had all our luggage in tow.

Scottbee. The entrance has moved, and quite a long distance. As of October, it is close to a mile from the entrance to the port. And the walk is not level. Until the entrance moves again, I wouldn't recommend trying to walk with luggage.

navybankerteacher, that's an excellent suggestion. A shared van would be a great idea, and that's what we did on our return to Rome via Civitavecchia. Wish we'd done it both directions. That trip from Termini to the port was the most difficult experience of our whole cruise. The train car from Termini was packed full of other cruisers, most with very large luggage which was standing in the aisle - there was nowhere else to put it. We had to climb over these suitcases (hauling our own) to get to our seats halfway along the car. Then, as described, getting off the train and to the port was so difficult.

I would pay quite a lot to avoid that experience again.

Never had a problem with booking an independent shore excursion, usually at half the price, in about 20 different ports so far. These people know you are with a cruise and they know you have to get back to the ship on time - their business reputation depends on making customers happy.

As others have said, motion sickness is a big fear, but you may not have any problems. A big ship on the ocean is different from anything else you have experienced, and past experience with motion-sickness on land does not seem to predict if you will have a problem on a ship.

I would bring some motion-sickness pills in dosages for both of you (or know in advance how to cut adult pills for a child dose). Ginger in any form definitely helps settle the stomach (ginger ale, candies). But all these take time to kick in.

For quick relief from queasiness: Get away and stay away from anyone else who is being sick. Get outside, and breathe the fresh air. Look at the horizon, not the waves. Get busy doing something else - the more you can take the mind away from the idea of sickness the better.

We did this three months ago. It's very easy to take the train from R to C, but we were confused because the train's sign said "Torino". We didn't want to go to Torino??? but it turned out C was a just a stop on the way to the final destination. We asked and got a helpful answer in the train station in Rome.

Be aware that when the train stops in C, you are deposited with your luggage and must then take your luggage down many steep stairs. You cross under the tracks, and must then haul your luggage up the same number of steep stairs. We saw no elevators - you have to manhandle your luggage down, then up.

We would have been happy to pay a cabbie almost anything to take us to the ship after this, but there were none. We took the public bus, which required more luggage hauling. As for the walk to the port, I would not say it looked easy to me. Kind of a forced march. If you want more details, email me at lwilliams at thelearningdomain dot com. You can do it, we did. And I would be happy to give you details of how it went.

Lindy

It all works well 99% of the time. Then there was the 1% where my daughter and I (Canadian Citizens) were pulled out of the line to re-board the ship in San Juan Puerto Rico. We were asked our nationality and when we replied Canadian, we were demanded to show our passports before we could re-board the ship. We could, because we had them with us. I don't know what would have happened if they were locked in our safe on board the ship.

Look inside the cover of your passport. There is a message there that asks the governments of countries you visit in the name of Canada, on behalf of her Majesty the Queen, to give you free passage and to provide you with assistance and protection while in their country. Why would you not take this document ashore with you? If you're hit by a car and end up in a hospital, or through some misunderstanding end up in a police station, why would you not have the document that offers you protection from your country with you?

Keep it where you keep your cash, your credit card and your phone when you are on shore. You wouldn't want to lose those things either, would you?

Most of the responses you have received have been from Americans, and quite frankly, I find Americans rather weird on the subject of passports. They pay for them and lock them in their safes on board the ship, where they are not, when they're ashore. I don't get this.

Your passport is the request from your government for you to be treated well in the host country (the one you are visiting). It is also the most important document you can have with you if something goes wrong when you are ashore. This is the document that the Department of Foreign Affairs in Canada has given you, and it's easier for them to help you if you can produce it right away. Why would you leave it locked in your safe?

Do whatever you decide to do. When I go ashore in a foreign country, I don't just want a ship pass or a drivers license with me. I want the document that gets my government on my side and working for me with no delay.

I would be careful about sending the gluten-free flag too high up. Your friend sounds like she has similar issues to my daughter - not Celiac, but needs to limit the amount of gluten, and she needs to be the judge of that. She knows what she can eat.

The minute we said "gluten issue" the wait staff in the dining room began carefully managing her food. We understood their concern, they didn't want a sick passenger. At the same time, she knew her own condition, and knew how to manage it. But the waiter was very unhappy if she ordered anything that went on the gluten side at all. "No, you should not have that." It became uncomfortable, night after night.

Your friend knows what she needs to do for herself. I'd be very careful, in your place, about deciding for her. Just ramps up the anxiety, which is not good.

Yep, second all the above re the Windjammer, for dinner. It's not crowded, not noisy, you can wear what you like, and the food choices are very good. Rather than rushing to try to get to the dining room, give the WJ a chance. Also, since you know you're not going to make it back in time for dinner in the dining room, tell your waitstaff you won't be there for dinner that day. They will know not to delay taking the other people's orders, waiting to see if you will show up.

I am amazed when it is said that portions served out are not enough.:confused:

Ask for more. It is that simple.

I have never been refused:)

So here's how that went for me at the O buffet. "Please give me a little more." Two more radish slices. "Yeah, I think a little more." Another couple radish slices. People in line behind me getting impatient. "Could you give me some carrots, please?" Small scattering of carrot gratings. "Could you please give me some more carrots?" Very impatient people behind me now. And so on...

Maybe I'm too polite. Maybe I shouldn't care how impatient the people behind me in line are getting. Maybe I should have said loudly, "That's not enough carrots. Give me a LOT more!"

Is that what you're suggesting?

My understanding from a "talk" on a recent RCI cruise is that the CD also has a big hand in selecting the various entertainers for the ship. This matters, as what the person should do is arrange for a wide variety. On a cruise a couple of years ago, what we got was a lot of Latin and South American music. Now I like that music just fine, but I don't want to hear it all the time, in almost every venue.

mattmax11 has reason for asking. Our medicare plan in Canada will pay for your medical expenses when you are out of the country, but only to the same amount it would pay for your care if you were in Canada. You buy the extra medical coverage in case the same procedure in another country costs more than your province is prepared to pay - to cover the difference in other words.

cruiseryyc is probably correct. You would have to pay the full bill if you need medical care in another country. You would then claim through your province and if it won't pay the full amount, - that's why you bought the extra coverage.

DW does the same thing.

So why do you tape down the perfume while traveling? I'm guessing it's because you don't want to have the perfume spilling out all over your clothes. Yes? Because that would be too much perfume for you.

What you are hearing here is that different people have different thresholds for how much perfume is too much. You don't want it penetrating all your clothes. Some other people find that a little of it is okay. Some other people find it makes their eyes water or their head ache. Some people get asthma attacks from it.

So my question is, can there be a good life without perfume? If not, why not?

Cod. That was an awful pun. I see what is in store for us on the Brilliance in September...

Only RC knows for certain if there will be problems. Have you contacted them?

 

DON

I don't want to be picky, but only Canada knows for certain whether the passport will be accepted. RC doesn't determine what governments do, and may not be up-to-date about what is required by the government of Canada or any other country. Especially in these days, when terrible events may cause changes in border requirements.

The Government of Canada has a good website, and you can use Google to help you find the requirements stated on that site.

Good advice, simplelife. But if you're taking a taxi to the beach it's unlikely you can use your card. If you are buying some Cokes, a souvenir tea towel, or paying for a couple of beach chairs and an umbrella, credit card is not realistic.

Then you should pay with the smallest USD possible.

Heven't sailed on Celebrity, but I sailed once on O Riviera. One of O's big claims to fame is their cuisine, but it didn't work well for me. Maybe I'm not a foodie so I couldn't appreciate, but this is what I did observe on the Riviera.

The steak place, Polo, is very traditional. Big pieces of meat, salads smothered in rich dressings, potatoes or other sides very classic (like French cuisine with a lot of sauce and cream). Nothing adventurous, like a new way of looking at a steak or chop, just what your Daddy would have taken you out for dinner to at his fave steakhouse 40 years ago. Well-made, rich, all the classics.

The eastern fusion resto was good, with interesting adventures in taste and combinations.

The Italian resto was, again, classic. Heavy on the sauces, cream. Nothing new to see here. Just the same old done, well. I staggered out under the weight of the Osso Bucco I had eaten and had to take refuge in antacids later.

The fourth specialty resto I have forgotten - says it all. I'm sure it was very good and not anything new.

The buffet was not what I want. If I am going to eat like a hog at dinner, I want a great big salad at lunch, with lots of variety of veg. I found the salad bar at the buffet mingy in the extreme, hardly any variety of leaves, and with only three or four things to scatter over the leaves (tomatoes, cukes, and grated carrot, for example). These toppings were doled out by the staff and they were not generous. So I ended up with a boring salad for lunch. I suppose I could have had the meat as well, but I can't eat like that all day long.

So my O food experience was generally: very traditional, well-prepared, not adventurous, not enough fresh fruits and veg, very heavy, too many sauces.

But I'm not a foodie. I just like to eat well.

On the islands you mention, you can pay in USD for almost everything. However you may get your change in Caribbean currency (EC). So if you pay for a $12.00 item with a US $50, you might get $38 change in EC. This is fine if you want to spend $38 (USD equivalency) more while you are still in a place that accepts EC. If not you will be stuck with that many EC dollars and they are not generally welcome back here in North America at the banks.

So the advice is good. Pay with USD, but pay with the smallest bill you can (that means you need to have some small bills when you go ashore), so you can get the least amount of EC change possible. Try, at every opportunity you have, to use those EC coins. Otherwise you will be left with a bunch of coins you cannot convert when you get home. If you get stuck with some, put them aside and if you take another cruise, you can try to use them up next time.

Completely our fault. At Orient Beach in St Maarten, instead of looking for a bona fide cab, we let a young guy talk us into letting him drive us back to the port. The car was a broken-down heap. The passenger seat-back wouldn't stay upright (think recliner). The driver seemed to be holding his door closed with a rope handle. Oh well...

Partway there, with the car labouring along like a mule, there was a loud explosion from the back end. A rear tire had exploded. So there we were, two women standing by the side of the road in St Maarten. It worked out. Two ladies in a handsome SUV stopped almost right away and picked us up, took us right where we needed to go.

All's well that ends well. And it's a good story to tell. But my heart sure sank when that tire exploded...

We've also found that booking our next cruise while onboard our current one (on RCI) has worked well for us. We get OBC from RCI when we do that. And usually the prices never fall below the one we got while booking onboard.

One time the price did fall lower during a WOW sale (before final payment date). That time we called RCI, and they gave us the new lower price, and we still kept the OBC. You are never locked in if you book your next cruise on board. You can change the date, destination, ship, etc., later.

If you have not been on a Caribbean cruise, either eastern or western offers interesting places to visit on a cruise. So pick a cruise that suits your budget and timeframe - in my experience every island is unique, and they are all interesting.

If you haven't joined your roll call, you really should. These folks are planning outings and excursions in your ports and can give you valuable info. As well, they may still have spaces available for activities they've organized. Plus, you will already have a group of friends when you get on board.

Have a great cruise!

Years ago I wore and loved perfume, but in my forties something changed. I can't say whether it's an allergy and it certainly doesn't trigger asthma in me. But it makes my head ache (unusual for me) and makes me very heavy-feeling and uncomfortable.

Wearing perfume is a pleasure for some, but they should remember that being near it is not a pleasure for others, and for others still, it is a health hazard. You don't know who you will be next to at dinner or in the theatre or at muster drill, but it could be someone you are giving a headache or a breathing problem to if you wear perfume.

Is your enjoyment of wearing perfume more important than someone else's comfort or health?

Yes, this was our experience also on our recent Med cruise on RCI's Serenade. They followed the set RCI menu. We did have some great local food in the ports however!

Think we all know his new wife had the baby. You surprise me on that on

Merion_Mom.

Well, it's no small effort for a woman to deliver a baby. And then it's also no small effort for both the baby's parents to keep the child safe, healthy and happy. I don't know how you do this when you are a CD on a ship for many weeks at a time.