Markanddonna

3 hours ago, Szt said:

I’d love some advice. I have some health issues that make standing in line extremely difficult. For one, I have a bad back. It gets very painful to stand for more than a few minutes. Walking is actually easier than standing. The second problem is- I have a rare condition where- if I stand still for more than 10 minutes I pass out. It’s much worse in the heat. I come to as soon as I’m horizontal, and does no damage ( unless I hit something on the way down) but it’s very uncomfortable, not to mention embarrassing. 
I’m relatively young, 60, and don’t look it (so I’m told). So when I ask for special accommodations people look at me suspiciously. I am not trying to jump a line  or get in anywhere faster. Sometimes I can sit near the front of the line, then jump in when my husband gets to the front. But that’s not always possible. I don’t want to carry a walker or fold up seat around. I don’t even like carrying a purse. 
 

Any suggestions?

You have received some good advice, but may I offer another point of view?  There comes a point in everyone's life when we have to scale back travel. My DH became ill in Europe this past May, and we needed to visit a hospital twice. He now realizes that his conditions may limit future travel. Your passing out if overheated is perhaps the most serious of all your concerns.

You are putting not only yourself but your husband and anyone around you in a difficult situation and could injure others. A very large woman fell on my grandson and caused an injury that has complicated his young life, with him experiencing more injuries to the same physical area. All caused by a woman who accidentally fell on him.

Everything depends on how many prescriptions you take. I have only one, so I bring them in their own bottle. I then place all my over-the-counter supplements (calcium, multi, Vit B, C, etc.) in one or two different bottles. I bring one of those seven-day containers filled with the first week's dosages. Then, each week, I refill it. I only take one of each supplement, so that is easy. I have a description of what each is in case I need to know. 

If your insurance includes medical, your doctor's letter stating that you are not well enough to take the cruise should be enough. Does your policy cover preexisting conditions?  That might be the sticky wicket since yours was.

We are looking at a 15 day cruise out of Sydney to Singapore. Am I correct that the school holidays will be over by July 21 in 2024? The weather seems fine for traveling. Any other considerations? Thanks.

A transpacific is most often a repositioning cruise taking place in the spring and fall. Both nice times to visit before their winter and not during the hot season when you will see lots of families.

2 hours ago, Maplemoose said:

My research and previous experience tell me that no matter how early one gets to a Beatle show to get a seat, you will still have your view blocked by the latecoming hordes who stand on the dance floor. Can recent Joy cruisers corroborate this?  If so there seems to be a simple solution. Take the tables at the back  and move them to the front. Then create the dance floor at the back. People can dance and stand no matter when they come in but we early birds will keep the view we were so patient in earning. And before it is mentioned, I am well aware of the Waterfront option. Cmments? 

The voice of logic and reason. Problem solved.

I like narrated, concise videos. I don't need to see every detail in the room. We know there are plugs and hairdryers. 

Is the weather in Scotland much different in late April versus mid May?

Three weeks difference.

I am trying to decide between two transatlantic sailings. Thanks. 

I think the new e-visa begins in 2024 but no official date has been set. It has been delayed a few years now.

Considering the cutbacks, perhaps this is a new effort to provide a lecturer without giving them a free cruise. 

In reality, the cruiser will have to keep an eye on the history of the price of their own cruise. An exceptional agent might do so, but certainly, the cruise line isn't going to reduce your fare automatically.

We did that a few years ago. I only wanted to say I had been to Paris. The day was lovely; we got to see Notre Dame a few months before the fire, and walked around. We took a taxi to Notre Dame, so we didn't waste time walking, and then walked back to the bus pick-up area.

I've traveled extensively in Europe and just don't see the uniqueness of France. We've been to several other cities in France. We never experienced any rudeness, so my opinion isn't based on a bad travel experience.

Like others said, I witnessed sold out buses last year. We booked a 9:45 departure and the next available was after 3:00

A question for some of us would be: Once would go Disney, why would you ever go back?

I use ship tour excursions only for these reasons:

- if the next port is very far away. When we were on a cruise that stopped in Maui, I took the ship excursion because the next port was in Fiji- about one week away. Missing the ship would have been a very expensive catch up.

- if I have lots of OBC or one of the perks is $50 toward a ship excursion, I might take it if it is a port of little to mild interest (read: the Caribbean), a port I have already been to, or one where I can use their transportation and do my own thing for a while. 

3 minutes ago, K32682 said:

A Caribbean cruise can be a dismal prospect at the best of times. Uninspired and uninteresting ports, swarms of hawkers, noisy and often dirty. August doubles down with heat and high humidity, higher prices, hordes of children on summer break and vacationing teachers. No thanks. 

I have to agree with this assessment, except for my sympathy for vacationing teachers. They have to travel during the most expensive times, with tons of kids around and lots of other vacationers. Retired teachers often comment on how nice retirement trips are in the fall and spring. The western Caribbean is now off my list of considerations.

1 hour ago, navybankerteacher said:

The real cost to you of a $900 deposit for a cruise a year in the future is perhaps $45 (assuming 5% lost interest income)  — not that much for securing a sure thing.  Of course if you are not serious, you are looking at a potential $900 cost—- but that is an offer the line only makes to serious bookers.

We follow through on the vast majority of our bookings, but things come up that are only covered by "cancel for any reason" policies. I know the cruise lines are trying to protect themselves from those who book several cruises during the same time period and then cancel most of them.

We've just booked a Celebrity cruise using the Cruise Next $200 certificate. We wish to book an RCL cruise and know that they are $900 for a nonrefundable fare. Are the other cruise lines similar in cost?  That is a lot of money to plunk down on a cruise 9 months in the future. How do NCL, MSC, and all the Carnival lines measure up?  Thanks.

10 hours ago, iuki said:

We finally booked a Holy Land Tour on Odyssey OTS next year October.  We’re also Catholic.  Hopefully there are excursions we can book through RCI for the disabled since I use an electric wheelchair.  If not, I told my husband to go without me.  Let us know when your book comes out.  Can it be purchased on Amazon?

I hope that the publishing date for the book will be late summer 2023.  It will be on Amazon. 

As far as going to Israel with an electric scooter, keep your expectations realistic. There will be some things you just can't do, such as the more ancient excavations like the City of David. One thing: have you checked to see how your ship matches up with the high holy days in Israel?  It can be very busy during those periods. A tour of old Jerusalem with a scooter will be quite difficult at that time. The Galilee region might have fewer people since the sites are not the focus for Jewish tourists. 

47 minutes ago, twincheryl said:

We do this often… as with everything Celebrity, if not using a travel agent just call back and get someone who knows what they are doing… lol

Yesterday, the travel agent also said I needed to pay the difference between my $200 deposit and the usual $900. Two agents for Celebrity also said that. You are right, I kept pressing, and it was resolved. It is nice to know that logic prevailed.

30 minutes ago, bigbenboys said:

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/5_15_23_Suite_Percentage_Deposit_FAQs.pdf

 

11. HOW DO THESE CHANGES APPLY TO FUTURE CRUISE BOOKINGS? Future Cruise bookings will follow the new program of 10% deposit per suite. For Book Later bookings, guests will need to pay the additional deposit requirements if converted into The Retreat.

I mentioned my booking was a non-suite. 

I just finished the booking with an outside travel agency. I won. Celebrity originally told me that I would have to pay the $700 difference, but the agent worked it out. They originally told him the same thing but he went higher up.

You two should be fine. I would look for a tour that both began and ended at the tram. They exist.

I think it will be more than 22 minutes. We were fast walking for about 20 minutes from the middle of the street leading to the port (we exited our van right in the middle of the street.)

I was told the $200 would be the full deposit for a non suite cabin. Otherwise, it is just giving Celebrity a cash advance?  That makes no sense.

I purchased a $100 pp (total $200) future cruise certificate. The onboard agent indicated this would be the deposit for my next cruise, and I needed to book it within the next 6 months. Got that.

Now, I'm trying to use it for a 10-day cruise in Jan 2024, and the deposit is now $900.  What am I missing?  I will have to pay the $700 balance now. So, Celebrity said it was just to get a place onboard, which makes no sense. Why would I just give them $200 to keep for me with no other benefit?

Can anyone explain this?