willoL

I'd say @highscar achieved true UP-cycling with that creation! That hat is even better than the bag was (though I, like many, prefer a canvas bag to a plastic one, yet I'm also aware the carbon footprint of the canvas bag is actually HIGHER...) Sigh. I'm trying to train myself to refuse swag I won't use. I think that's the most environmentally friendly choice, but it's hard to say no to free. Even free junk! 🤦🏼‍♀️ My souvenir of choice from ports is tea towels. I use them at home and happily recall cool places while doing my least favorite kitchen chores. St. Andrews, Scotland by my sink right now, and Hilton Head just went into the 🧺

Yes, I can confirm this because I bought 100 shares of CCL when it dipped below $10/share in June and today $250 OBC showing for each of my two HAL cruise staterooms departing 8/3/2022. (One joint shareholder booked in each cabin.) The cruise was booked before I bought the stock; my TA got the OBC applied on my behalf.

For our family, the continuation of COVID precautions is THE ONLY REASON we are willing to sail next month. Not everyone hates these policies, though I agree 100% that pre-cruise testing, for example, should be a swab taken at the port, immediately before one boards, and it should be arranged by the cruise line itself to both standardize the testing and make it less complex for passengers. Going forward, I would have no problem with cruise lines differentiating themselves by their hygiene policies. If there's a line with zero testing, you can sail with them; I'll pick a more health-conscious option if it exists, or I will revert to a different kind of vacation. I've really enjoyed the cruises I've taken, and I hope to take more, but I could live without it. Realistically, there will still be a cruise industry in a decade, of some sort. What could quite realistically happen is that cruising ceases to be a cheap holiday available to the masses. The American middle class is shrinking; people earning below the median may not be able to afford cruising in the future, they way most people could not a few decades ago. Not everyone in the upper 20% is rich enough for a private yacht, so some of these people will probably keep cruising. If low wage workers from poorer nations aren't willing to sail on ships where they may get ill, that will be a factor. If low unemployment continues in wealthy nations, other jobs may open up and be more attractive to the same pool of potential employees.

As a parent, I always brought wet wipes along on trips when my kids were younger. Travel can upset the digestion, and giving a kindergarten age child the necessary tools to take care of his own hygiene (thoroughly!) just makes life easier and better. 🚽 HOWEVER, I also always have a plastic bag in my purse when carrying wipes for my children. (Heck, I don't fly without a gallon Ziplock in case I want to dispose of something while the flight attendants are busy elsewhere.) Much like dog waste on a walk, WE ALWAYS CLEAN UP AFTER OURSELVES and the wipes *ALWAYS* go in the trash--never flushed--and in a bag Mom brought if the ship's waste cans aren't lined. On Crystal, if I remember correctly, their trash bins typically only had a paper doily at the bottom, no plastic liner bag. That's great when most of your waste is paper and other recyclables, but icky if you've got soiled wipes from the washroom. Not to mention my motion sick prone kid sometimes chews gum to ease his nausea. Lining the trash can near the toilet with my own bag also made it less likely my kid would chuck gum into the can and make a sticky mess! The kids were trained to throw anything "icky or sticky" in the lined can. I also carry a small folded quantity of TP in my purse, or a couple of tissues, in my purse most of the time. I expect most ladies have, at some point, found themselves in a stall with an empty cardboard roll at an inconvenient moment. Fortunately, another lady in an adjacent stall will usually help, but wasn't there a Seinfeld about "no square to spare"... 😁

I read in the paper today that a Passenger's Bill of Rights was being published by the U.S. government. It's available in PDF form from this Department of Transportation website. https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-announces-first-ever-bill-rights-passengers-disabilities-calls-airlines-seat There aren't any new laws or regulations, but this document does clarify for an average person what rights s/he has when flying in the USA. It's something we can print out and carry with us. I have written to an airline when I was treated poorly once entirely due to my invisible disability. Only when I threatened to report it via the official mechanism for violating the Air Carrier Access Act--a submission to the airline's Complaint Resolution Official (CRO)--was my complaint taken seriously. As I told that airline: my only request was for the flight attendant to be educated to protect the next person from being denied their rights and made to feel ashamed and humiliated. I wish I didn't need to be educated on this topic, but I am glad that I had the resources to get a resolution. 508_Airline_Passengers_with_Disabilities_Bill_of_Rights_07072022_ADA.pdf

Bon voyage, @jm485! I hope you and your family have a marvelous trip. As another someone married to a travel-averse DH , I'm always trying to talk friends into taking trips with me. I would love the nitty gritty details of how you ladies work out your sharing of this space. (Changing in front of my mom wouldn't have phased me, but personal levels of modesty vary so much.) Let us know how you divvy up those closets and work out the shower schedule! 🍿

If my husband were with me, I'd be moving heaven and earth to get him back ASAP because he still works (and getting him to take vacation is always an effort.) For myself, I always like more time in an interesting place. Copenhagen is expensive, though, so @SilvertoGold raises an important point. If I were eager to get home, I'd consider non-flight options to move myself away from the area where SAS controls more of the flights. Are there ferries or trains, for example, to get one closer to major European airports? I hope you are not an anxious traveler, @Boatdrill, and that you're enjoying wherever you are staying.

Timing for your test depends upon where you are sailing. From the Canada government website, for example, they write very clearly when you need the test to enter Canada. (If embarking Friday in their example, antigen test can be done any time Wed, Thu, or Friday.) Double check with the authority requiring your test, whether that's a port you are visiting or just HAL policy.

The VeriFLY app can be buggy, but I did get a quick answer (within a day) when I wrote to their tech support. I'd suggest you write to tech support immediately, then also see if anyone here can help. And carry paper copies of *everything* in addition to trying to use the app on your phone. Good luck!

Have you searched for close up photos of the stateroom doors for your particular ship? Such images could offer useful information that could help solve the problem. Aren't there small devices one can put on an upper hinge to prevent the door swinging open physically? (Limiting how far the door can swing?) An upper hinge ought to be out of reach of a young child, though my own dear little cousin by age 2 or 3 was stacking household goods to reach those "out of reach" preventatives! (She's a real adventurer, and a lovely child, but quite a lot of work for my aunt and uncle.) Or perhaps one of those door jamming sticks that goes from doorknob to floor might be enough to at least slow her down, giving you time to intervene? I found the thing I mean on Amazon under "door security bar." It looks like they cost around $25, so not a fortune. Is this child particularly strong? Dexterous? Or average for her age in this respect? I think it is safe enough to use a device to impede the door if parents are always in the room with her and aware of their own surroundings. Of course if there is a fire you will remove the obstruction and rescue your child. I wonder if discussing this special need with ship's security is worthwhile, too? In case she did get away from you, so they know she might have special needs to be safely assisted back to her parents? Or maybe there's a way to use the door's auto closing mechanism as a brake in some way?

@ilv4cruising your description is so thorough and SO HELPFUL. Thanks! This is the kind of thing that laid back people can just "figure out as they go," but I get so embarrassed about asking questions even when I know it's perfectly reasonable to seek advice. I'm working on that as a personal issue, but sure do appreciate advance information to alleviate these anxieties. Honestly, my issues have made us consider investing in a therapy pool of some sort at home, which would have an *enormous* cost, so I really want to try to visit the therapy pool daily (or more!) on our 24 day trip to see if my health condition improves as much as I've imagined it might. Being better prepared will help me do this efficiently. Again, thank you! And I love hearing how your husband approaches the same visit. Or would like to know what other ladies do, too. I don't believe there is such a thing as TMI when I'm approaching a new experience. 😁

Maybe you eat fewer midnight sandwiches? 🤣 Actually, I feel like I developed these habits because of my picky eaters and family food sensitivities/allergies. Being a Mom is SO MUCH easier when no one is hungry! Yeah, okay, that's true for Mom, too, not just the kids. I do get "hangry"!

Since it directly relates to being a Thermal Suite newbie user, may I also ask how people usually go about visiting? Like, what is your process from cabin to bathing to getting on with your next activity? I'm like @zigdilcru: I have arthritis, so, at home, warm water physical therapy is my most effective treatment to reduce pain and stiffness. I'm really looking forward to using the Thermal Spa every day on my August voyage. But, for PT, I show up in my street clothes, change and take a hygiene shower in their locker room (but pin my hair up so no shampooing there), do my therapy in the pool, another quick shower to get the chlorine off, then dress back in street clothes and carry on with my day. Every visit, I'm left with two wet towels and a wet swimsuit to deal with. I've never actually used the pool on a cruise before. I'm not a regular swimmer and summer camp (my only lifetime experience of daily swims) is a LO-O-O-ONG time ago. I dislike the beach (sun sensitive, hate hot weather, and find sand unpleasant) so never really even took my kids there; that was their dad's job since he loves the heat and sun. On the ship, do you put on your swimsuit in your cabin and walk to the spa in a cover up? Walk back in a towel over wet suit, thus wearing a soggy cover-up, or shower and change while you are in the Thermal Suite, carrying a gym bag with a full set of fresh duds? Do you wear a swim cap? I feel so silly not knowing how to approach this, but I think part of why I never swam at the YMCA when we were gym members is how much effort it feels like to schlep heavy bags of wet swimwear and towels back afterwards. My best attempted analogy is that, because I'm a little anxious/OCD about certain things, I had to develop a process for taking showers when we go tent camping at our favorite state park. I know which bag has straps that will work well and hang open on a hook in a "dirty" primitive bathroom building so I can keep everything off the wet/muddy floor. I know stepping out without shower shoes (or a well-placed plastic bag) will mean muddy feet going into my clean socks, so I lay it all out in a certain way before I start... Sorry if it's a ridiculous question, but I'd love to hear what regular Thermal Suite users have to say about the logistics of their visits. --(a slightly abashed) willo

Oh no, is she drinking beer with that salad? 😆 Just kidding because I'm pretty sure that's *root* beer. And one of my kids has always loved nothing more than swigging from a bottle while impersonating a drunk pirate. Good luck getting mine to eat a salad, though. You must have a superlative granddaughter. I hope you guys have a wonderful time! See if you can talk your granddaughter into contributing thoughts from a kid. That would add a fresh perspective. (Again, not that my darling punks want to do this when I ask them, but yours eats salad, so maybe...)

@Ellen495 You could always take a little milk, cream, non-dairy beverage or whatever *you* like best from the buffet in a glass and just stash it in your minibar fridge. I often do this. My husband likes a slice of cheddar cheese with his breakfast foods, for example, yet servers can find the request odd; he brings cheese in his pocket to diners! 😂 (In a baggie!) Heck, I travel with my chargers or toiletries packed inside some of our usual family Tupperware for school lunches, then I use that to stash snacks (fruit, sandwiches) in the mini fridge any time I'm on vacation. If I strongly preferred a certain creamer, I'd do the same with a sippy cup, small Nalgene bottle, or whatnot from my same kitchen stash. (But I have a family with food sensitivities, so I've had to pack related gear or special dietary items forever.) No ultra-light packing when I had a lactose intolerant or celiac loved one along for the ride! 😆

@firefox247 I'm so sorry to hear you are still afflicted. I wonder if a provider who specifically works with travel medicine may be better informed? Are you near a major metro? Then again, maybe this is a good telemedicine visit problem? My husband also has this insurance benefit through his work that is all about second opinions for unusual conditions. It's a toll free number and the service searches for a relevant expert. Maybe there's a version of that you can access? I do hope another voyage solves it, or time heals you. Please do consider an update. I remember searching for any personal anecdotes those few days I felt that weird, unpleasant way, so I think you will help others if you are willing to keep sharing.

@firefox247 (or anyone finding this post with similar issues later!) I experienced this only after one of the four cruises I've taken, so there's hope. Do you find that driving provides relief? Carpool was the best time of each day for me during those few days! I drove around as much as possible, and my symptoms gradually improved over a few days' time. (But it was many years ago, so I can't be more specific.) I would strongly encourage you to reach out to your doctor, however. Maybe it will be like when you pack and umbrella and then it doesn't rain? (Or light a cigarette and then the bus you've been waiting for so long finally arrives.) A bit of magic? Since scheduling an appointment with most doctors takes a few days, just knowing you've booked it may give peace of mind and you can cancel if you are well before the appointment time arrives. Does OP want to tell us if the situation resolved? There's one more data point for the next poor soul. 🙂

This summer might be a good year to consider airport VIP services where available, too. (Though I wonder if those expensive services are also affected by staffing issues?) It's almost 500€ for the first passenger with an additional fee for additional pax, but the combination of worldwide travel disruptions and my own mobility issues have me reassessing how I define value and luxury lately... Safe & healthy travels, @Spanieleyes!

Prices are definitely more reasonable for a family with middle aged parents and teens. I did see Short-Term Memberships on this page: https://medjetassist.com/medjetassist#diamond But as @GeezerCouple mentions, our family finds tons of value because of our regular travel between the US East and West Coasts, too, on top of any international jaunts. Knowing I could get a sick kid (God forbid) back to husband and home was just always worth the price of this coverage AT THE PRICE for a 40 year old plus youths. @Hawaiidan seems very capable of running the right numbers to get the best combination for him. And here's hoping none of us every have to file a claim with any of these options! 😬

I wonder if these relatives could get one accessible room for the sister with more limited ability and store both scooters in the accessible room? The feasibility of this would depend whether you and your sister have similar schedules (night owl or morning lark?), whether the B-i-L would feel weird about S-i-L popping in to grab her ride, etc., but seems possible if @corgigrl is usually able to get around with a cane. Are you the kind of sisters who will be in each other's rooms all the time, or more reserved/separate? Families do differ, but I could easily share like I'm proposing with my own S-i-L (brother's EX-wife!) or most members of my husband's clan. Not *all* of them, however... 😆 I definitely believe in preparing for one's most extensive likely needs and being glad to not require everything I brought, but my own health condition waxes & wanes so I'm used to a roller coaster of ability.

Our family has purchased annual evacuation coverage via MedJet as mentioned by other posters. We carried it for at least a few years prior to the pandemic, let it lapse with no travel, but will renew next month shortly before we leave the USA. Their website is easy to use and it is quick to sign up. Mostly because of the situation in Ukraine, we are upgrading for the first time ever from the standard version of MedJet to MedJet Horizon which adds crisis response coverage. (But my husband left the USSR with his family as a refugee in the 1970s, he's an internationally known figure in his field, and we have a trip to a region much closer to the conflict than our August cruise will get. His paranoia amped up!) Until this year, we felt the base level MedJet was sufficient for our needs, and I don't expect to prolong the Horizon level unless DH resumes regular international travel and Russia's nefarious activities expand further... I rarely purchase individual trip insurance--having calculated that I've already saved enough in premiums to walk away from almost any trip without feeling like I'd been foolish and suffering financial pain--but I do, like you, have medical insurance that will cover me outside the USA plus my Chase Sapphire card offers enough trip protection to alleviate any losses based upon the typical cost of my trips.

My kids are going into 10th grade and college next year (i.e., NOT very young), and we were required to book with DH officially assigned to the inside cabin as @Torquer said. Someone must be over 21 (I think; certainly 18 was not sufficient.) Luckily, this worked out for us since my youngest cruises more often with me anyway and will get more benefit from double Mariner points for the suite than my husband would have. We put Dad and the college student (less likely to do family travel next few years) in the cheaper cabin. Also, my youngest feels pretty pleased with himself that only he and I will have Club Orange access to a special dining room this trip. Since DH prefers to dress down and go the a buffet, this works out fine in my family where we are more likely to split up for dinner than breakfast or lunch! 😀 My youngest enjoys dressing up, as do I, so gala evenings are special dates just for he and I. OP, think through which parent should be officially earning suite perks if you are like us, with very different top priorities.

People often opine that young people don't like HAL, but you should judge this based upon the actual personalities of your own teens. My family runs introverted, and my kids prefer HAL (and the sadly defunct Crystal) to Carnival or other "big ship/big party" lines. (For example, they like quiet spaces like a library or card room more than water parks.) As for staterooms, I will do *almost* anything to avoid sharing a bathroom with my otherwise very much adored and enjoyed family. We spend lots of time together, playing games, touring, but I really don't like using the same sink where they knock over my toothbrush... For that reason, I would take any two "lesser" cabins over one large "luxury" room if those are my only options. An inside across the hall for the teens is what we personally selected for a sailing this August, though we did splurge on a Neptune Suite for the first time ever because of COVID concerns when we booked. (If we feel like retreating more, we will enjoy that extra square footage.) Inside + Balcony would be more affordable. I actually like Oceanview cabins, too, but my husband demands access to the outdoors via a balcony. If you do opt for the larger suite, the tip to encourage the teens to bathe in the gym locker rooms is a very good one that might enhance family harmony. 😄

I believe you do need a "document of recovery" IF you continue to test positive right before your cruise. (You may be lucky and test negative by then, but this varies a great deal between cases.) The document of recovery needs to be from a medical provider. Of course, you must also NO LONGER HAVE SYMPTOMS if you're going to sail. (You don't mention feeling ill, so I certainly hope this is the case for you.) A letter documenting recovery does depend upon you having recovered from the infection. Does the Walgreens where you got your official + test have one of those on site, walk in medical clinics? Since they did the test, that might be a simple way to get a letter from a clinician. Or if your regular doctor is responsive and easy to reach, showing the Walgreens test to him/her could also work. I believe if you get this document, you won't have to pay for another pre-boarding test, but you'll want to double check that in the rules as of your date of travel. If I were recovered, I might get the letter of recovery ASAP just to check that item off my pre-boarding list, but I don't have personal experience with this scenario (and hope I will not.)

This is why I got passport cards as well as passport books for my kids. The passport stays safely locked in the cabin, but we have ID that fits in a wallet we can carry around. It is also the ID that my now young adult carries daily because teens today don't seem to have much passion about getting driver's licenses. But I do think it depends upon the nation you visit, whether carrying photo ID is required.