NorthernLite

On 10/30/2022 at 5:48 PM, ninjacat123 said:

I am planning a 10 day cruise starting out of Rome and porting in the Greek Islands next Oct 2023.  I have been doing exactly what you suggested, tracking the high and low temps for the port on the day we would be there.  Gives me a better idea of what to pack.  

I have a Thanksgiving cruise coming up and I will be checking out temps in Nassau ahead of embarkation.  Always good to be in the know👍 

We lived in Rome and later sailed the eastern Med many times in the Fall. Normally the rainy season begins between October 1st and December 15th. That's the averages. Winter just be prepared for light snow. During the rainy season it will be cold and drizzle to pour a lot. Do not wear corduroy because they hold that cold water. I wore water-proofed short leather boots, tall merino socks and bespoke jeans so I did not get the evil eye while doing my daily shopping just like the Italian ladies. So plain on anything from a longer raincoat to clear ponchos that dry fast once back on ship. 

We are heading out soon for our February holiday and hope one of the B2B cruises are warmer than Tampa. I will wearing cashmere or more casual sweat shirts for the car and dinners out. 

I have quarter and full zip Aruba Tommy Bahama's for adding when I am cold which pretty much covers the entire state of Florida due to A/C. 

It has finally happened. After 30 years in a chair my knees that recovered to almost normal with rehab and helped my husband transfer me via a standing pivot no longer is very safe for both of us. We will take a gait belt and sliding board but we would buy a portable hoyer except I gave up flying so our van is already filled for back2back cruises. Any companies or does special needs for Celebrity handle these? I would love to arrive with it already in our HC suite.

On 12/31/2022 at 12:54 AM, Ski Mom said:

Hello! Thank you for your response! I have decided to book a River cruise with American Cruise Lines on the Columbia Snake River.They are a smaller ship and can pull right up to the dock therefore avoiding tender ports. They welcome people with physical disabilities and also have buses that they use on their excursions that have lifts and priority seating for people who need them. They do have accessible staterooms but they are limited but are willing to provide items to a regular stateroom to make it more accessible. It definitely doesn’t sound as regal as Viking or the larger cruise lines but we’re going to try this more laid back way of cruising. At this time American Cruise Lines does not have a great Great Lakes cruise on their roster but plans on adding one in the future. I believe Pearl Seas cruises which is owned by ACL offers a Great Lake cruise but I don’t know anything about it.
     After talking to Viking they advised me that the expedition cruises are geared more towards active travelers and their wouldn’t be much as far as shore excursions for me and that I should look into one of their ocean cruises. It’s a bummer because I think the Great Lakes itinerary looks like something I would love to do! They also told me that they would not assist in any way with helping me on and off the ship. I use a transport wheelchair when I travel and my husband is perfectly capable of pushing my wheelchair but when I cruised with both Princess and Celebrity they went above and beyond to assist us getting on and off the ship. I guess I thought all cruise lines were like that but unfortunately Viking is not. Hope that helps!

Please do review your cruise back here! I have been looking at the Columbia, Snake or both for awhile. I believe Pearl line goes around most of the Great Lakes but after the warmer weather ends they head up past Quebec and sail along the east coast and does the coastal areas of the Mid-Atlantic before heading to the Gulf of Mexico for the much warmer winters. The American Cruise Lines uses 2 of their paddle wheel type ships from St Paul, MN down to Saint Louis, MO then Saint Louis, MO to New Orleans. We saw one of their ships at dock in LaCrosse, WI. If you are more of a gourmand than the ship serves there are at least 3 very decent restaurants within an easy walk or roll including one French. The best part of the area from Saint Paul to about Dubuque is why we often go up the Great River Road. I would love sneak peaks of HC suites including bathrooms.

If you are using a travel agent use them for this; if not email and follow up by snail mail to the address for passenger questions. Ask for simple pictures of the tendering area. We went on Crystal's Serenity Northwest Passage cruise from Anchorage to NYC complete with our own ice breaker through a good deal of it. I know I did not have the balance for a RIB but my husband did and a table mate, retired Navy Captain with a posterior cervical injury while mine is anterior, also did once. He can walk well on flat services but brought a lovely old silver topped cane just in case. After getting back from a rather smooth ride about 500 meters each way his back muscles were telling him where they were and that was as wobbly as mine if I needed a muscle relaxer. My husband walked on down and did keep a decent grip on the bench edge. Then let me know why they were wiping me out of the line up of shore excursions that their department for such things had assured me were no problem for a person who could not, even a little bit, walk or stand. All the places that were marked tender I had questions about and why I called rather than use their app. First with a regular adult size Quickie manual there was no way to get down the narrow downslope to the tender area and most tenders like Nome would either leave me in the RIB or my butt and chair seat soaked through getting the last few feet to solid beach. They straight out lied about inaccessible school buses in Alaska. We still hoofed it in Dutch Harbor to get pictures for my cousin as my Uncle has been on the Wichita up there before being called back to head to the Coral Sea. But St John, NB, Bar Harbor, ME and Newport RI have always been a tender for most ships. If you get a company like Holland America they brought the tender on the old New Amsterdam up over the davits about 3 decks higher than for the able bodied folks and once secure they swing the tender door open and I rolled over and a crew member helped my casters make a soft landing. Then we went down to the rest of those going ashore and loaded them. The reverse was the same with letting the majority of first then further up me, my husband and a women using a rolling walker. Silver Seas ships are, I believe, even older than Crystal's 2 ocean going ships. My husband did get a great pic for his abilities with anything digital of a polar bear on an small ice flow having his lunch of seal and the red blood against the blue white ice and the yellowish bear came out with sharp edges of contrast between each. As we left the Passage and headed to Greenland we had a decent display of the Northern Lights. But 2 days later for the last RIBs scheduled just to cruise the UNESCO site for most calving glacier coming off northeast Greenland just a few made it as close as our drone's, the Captain and the last icebreaker after ours thought safe. They turned the other groups back before they got to the walkway down and several in the first group were very happy they had worn the rental tall wet boots. 

So, good pictures of the tender area including how you get there are needed. Be honest with yourself about your abilities but hey, we all have to go sometime. And have every measurement and weight anyone could possibly need in both American standard and Metric. Oh, and try the Silver Sweethearts idea and go to their blog or any where someone might be able to answer questions and may get you a pic of that area of the ship.

Thanks for the explanation uktog and Riocca. I did know about the Global Refund and lines should include that during the noon Captain's message instead of letting the CD hog the mic. 😉

10 hours ago, uktog said:

It’s because the UK is currently in the EU as is Spain so the Spanish tax stands 

Next year ..............well ..... it will all depend when (if) the UK drops VAT. 

When we first started cruising within and to Europe the VAT only was applied by Barcelona. Once a ship left their waters no one else added VAT. Maybe the change hit a few years later when the cruise companies would try to arrange a break from the EU by stopping in Israel, Turkey or even Tunisia and then reentering the EU? I readily admit I am totally at a loss with Euros but had no problems living in southern Germany and later Rome calculating about 6 different currencies and juggling borders at 2am on trains.

Do any other EU departure ports now impose a VAT other than Spain? I know about 10 years back we did a transatlantic from the US to Harwich that stopped in 2 northern Spanish towns and no VAT was added onboard for drinks or specialty restaurants while in those ports.  Just curious about how the other EU ports now handle this.

Having had to ship our last dog, an 18 month old golden retriever, from Berlin to Baltimore-Washington by way of Atlanta I know there is a pressurized and temperature controlled area in passenger jets. The problem for pets is the heat or a/c only gets turned on when the plane takes off and overheating deaths were the cause of why most airlines now restrict pets to under the seat or service dogs. And now, the reason for shipping her, scares the beegesus out of me for any dog in that hold. My wheelchair, stripped of arm rests, foot rests and gel cushion, has been mangled by other gate checked luggage on a regular basis by American based carriers. It appears other countries' airlines know how much some of them cost both to fix and to be left "legless" as Senator Duckworth put it after her powerchair was pretty much destroyed recently. 

As far as make up exploding in the regular hold that must be a rare occurance as the military ships 500 pounds of cargo by plane for military families to survive on until their remaining belongings arrive by ship and train. I have never heard of anything exploding although it is possible I guess for something in the main hold to freeze and break. 

I just keep everything but my brushes and travel make up mirror in my wheelchair back pack or my small personal item with my medications and eReader. BTW, the TSA has now added tablets to iPad and laptops that need to be removed for scanning.

Nordski, I agree with you that this cruise with the original itinerary would make a wonderful annual repositioning cruise with one exception. We knew that we would be hit by the VAT tax while in Spanish waters but one, how did Spain stretch that all the way to Greenwich; and two, would a stop in The Channel Islands cut that off since I believe those are a tax haven outside even London's reach. Does anyone know?

SKP, I guess that is about as accessible as any small ship can get! I'm not sure I would try the zodiacs unless they were the RIB versions but this is very reassuring for when we talk to SB and start booking flights. 

Silver, thank you for finding the small print. We are just home from an Azamara cruise that went from Barcelona to Greenwich with the highlight being at the D-Day beaches during the 75th anniversary. The downside to debarking in Greenwich was that ship's many tiny steps  gangway combined with rain and low tide to the local tendering platform. That descent was way too steep for me to want to repeat it whether a Captain OK'd it or not. 

But with an itinerary that includes 3 of our big bucket list items on it I just want to know what is truly reasonably doable if weather, tides and the land side are agreeable. 

Thank you both!

We have been on Crystal Serenity and the tendering area is not accessible by wheelchair. The path to the tenders is an inner walkway that is both narrow and once to the tenders they are the pod type meant to be self righting after immersion. I had no problems with Holland America on the Amsterdam and except for a monsoon in Kotor would have been fine on the Rotterdam as both ships bring the tenders up to the davits on deck five and open the railing for those who must stay in their chair to get around. Then they lower the tender to deck 2 to collect any other passengers ready then. On the return we reversed the process. The doorway into the tenders is just one step down and level enough to easily hold manual wheelchairs. 

I am not exactly planning on heading out in the Horn area but am planning on seeing anything and everything possible going north and into the Amazon. Thought I would ask here before talking to SB about this. We are booked but let's just say that after Crystal and the 2016 Northwest Passage I am leery of being told what I want to hear by the excursions department. I should have known when they said Nome, Bar Harbor and Newport were tenders and that they would not be a problem for a non-walking, non-standing person. There were several "are you sure" as I have seen Bar Harbor and Newport many times from a cruise ship and they are not accessible due to tides or port side issues. How a company that only had 2 ships could get something so wrong is beyond me. So now I want things like pictures, names of excursion staff, etc before final payment for any trip that even vaguely might have problems within the company's ability to control like knowing if tenders are accessible.

Is the tender area accessible to a fulltime wheelchair user? And on Qwest are the tenders accessible? I realize the port side area may not be accessible and, of course, weather can cause problems. We are booked on 57 days starting late in February from San Antonio, Chile and ending in Miami. No, I have absolutely no plans to get on any zodiac. Thanks 

The Azamara Journey was also there for the 75th. They actually started off having shore excursions for the 6th before I am sure the French, Americans and Brits organizing the ceremonies introduced them to the facts of life and the stickers for each zone the coaches would need. We had found an accessible small van with a French driver and an Ex-Pat Brit available for the 5th well before the rest of my fellow passengers were aware of the security on the 6th. We had always wanted to go as my husband's Father was there on Day 2 arranging Mulberry boats and was the expert on the ground to keep the supplies moving. So he and his brother were both hyped for our tour of Omaha, a slightly off road and wet field trail up to the tops of the Utah cliffs where we had a decent but damp view of the entire landings area, a stop in Saint Marie sur Eglise and after lunch the very somber walk/roll at our pace  through the American Cemetery. Our guide did point out where Teddy Roosevelt's son was buried and spoke about the 4 women also buried there. We had heard rumors of a funeral that day of old remains found that were to be interned also. When all of us who had ever served went to attention as the first notes of Taps played I realized that this was probably true. Even the workers placing flags stopped and stood for the duration.  This was to be the last planned large anniversary celebration. The  military members from many countries and wearing everything from their current fatigues to WW2 dress greens wondered around all the places in the area that had a place in freeing Europe from the Fascists. Even the nurses in dress greens from that era had their hair and make up done in 1944 fashion, my Mother in Law served in the India-Burma area and looked just like so many did on the 5th. The smaller roads were filled with restored Willie's jeeps to duce and a halves plus the weapons of the era were all over. It was an amazing day for the 4 of us and yes, kleenex were a necessity.

We were on the Journey during its first year with Azamara. There was a small ramp on the port (smoking) side down to the dance floor and a single lit step on the starboard side. The Quest in 2016 had the reverse set up. The problem with having both sides ramped were/was the difference of less than 2" on the placement of wooden columns you would have to get through to reach the ramp on the opposite side of the ships if they were installed.

I was not too thrilled to be back in the balcony stateroom we had back in the early fall of  2007 (?) but now called a suite with an appropriate rise in price. We had loved that repositioning cruise and afterwards my review took an hour to type up. They had gotten everything about that cabin right for any fulltime wheelchair user. It was well put together and beautifully decorated to boot. Who decided to remove the ability to turn all the cabin lights on from the center area of the headboard should be taken out and shot. I use a manual wheelchair when traveling that has a rigid but normal size frame and on this past cruise I rudely found out on day 1 that the faucet over the vanity is both too high and tilted, the faucet, to send water right down any long sleeved top when washing my hands. We were in 6057 and the shower needs all the grab bars replaced. They have been broken and glued back together.  The staff remains great but I do miss the full wheel of Parmaggano and leg of prosciutto that was actually used at the back area of the buffet area and the huge trays of lobsters and filets we had up in what is now part of The Patio area.  

I agree that the original itinerary would make an excellent repositioning cruise on a recurring basis. I am speaking of the original schedule. But getting off that ship at that angle in Greenwich in the rain was scary as hell! I trust the housekeeping staff and pool butlers who get the job and we tip them every time their help is needed. But the angle we went down in the rain was well above their job description that day. The Journey, unlike The Quest has exits and entrances on the 4th and 5th decks plus tendering from deck 3. The authority for the Greenwich tendering facility will get a suggestion from us about limiting the angle of descent that passengers leaving any ship, especially those with mobility problems, can be subjected too. The 3 who helped me were great and made sure they had their footing before moving me down another step. But even then their eyes and mine were wide and looking for a brake or something because twice we almost flipped.

We are glad we booked an expert guide and driver for the 5th well before shore excursions came out. I understand several people booked a ship's tour on the 6th.  Seeing all the different coaches out on the 5th along the beaches and the Cemetery also put closed to the idea that cruise ships cannot find lift equipped coaches. Does no one at RCCL know that the EU has equality for the disabled in their Constitution!?

And Debbie like you we both, especially me, wanted to see the Tall Ships up close. About all we got in that steady rain was the security staff both on land and sea do their thing from our nice dry cabin. We did get to see some of the Seine on leaving. The Journey was apparently a huge draw to waving pensioners and many kids along with several dogs whose primary job is to bark at passing boats and ships. I so wished they had kept that a daytime passage.

We just returned from a Barcelona to Greenwich cruise followed by a week in London. We had an overnight in Lisbon again and we managed to get the same private guide as before. The weather was much better and we headed out to Sintra and soon had to discuss options because the palace was closed for a state occasion. Our guide spooked at his phone a bit and we were off again. We visited the furthest west point in Continental Europe and went through a forested area recovering from a drought fire several years before. Our guide was a volunteer fire spotter in the area as a teen. Then off to a long lunch out in a small beach side town that was delicious! Fresh grilled sardines, grilled octopus and garlicky little clams and huge salads washed down with vino verde. This was more driving then our previous tour due to anot approaching holiday. From how crowded the beaches were mile after mile it appeared the holiday had started. And Lisbon and the beaches north of it have wheelchair accessible to both sand and, when reserved, beach chairs that go into the water. There are mats that get you down to the sand area.  

I learned about MyWay 2 days before we left Lisbon the last time. I told our guide we had booked to take us to the airport too and he said no problem. He helped load up a trolley with our luggage and got us to the phone. He did not abandon us until he saw the MyWay staff member head our way. They have a lot of accessible and new vans to help get those who are flying from a gate without a jet way get to the elevating lifts and Yes! people actually trained to lift and understand balance issues and they also drive the lift trucks. I have yet to meet one person truly trained to do a 2 person lift of a passenger who cannot walk at all in any American airport. Maybe ask your hotel Concierge for help on any future trips with booking this terrific service. 

On 5/24/2019 at 1:24 PM, Hoyaheel said:

Nordstrom Half Yearly sale is on now so you can check to see if they have any Clinique deals 😉

Now you tell me? 🙂 Ulta also now carries most Clinique and MAC products. 

On 5/23/2019 at 10:28 PM, msdiggerj said:

Thank you for the tips; much appreciated!  I love Clinique products so I'll look for the BIY tint. 

 

Your trip sounds amazing - have a fantastic time!

Same here with much of Clinique. I use their foundation and the Drastically Different Moisturizer and when not sunny out just dark spot corrector. For flying a drop of BIY added to the moisturizer is fine for me. I found Lancome and Stila's tinted moisturizers to not be moist enough. That and Neutrogena lip gloss because planes are so drying. 

On 5/23/2019 at 9:35 PM, slidergirl said:

Which MAC shadows did you find?   I have some old standards in neutrals - Coquette and Wedge.  

  

I normally stay away from shimmery near my eyes but the neutral is Naked Lunch Frost and actually does brighten instead of highlighting any tiny wrinkles. The peachy look is Fashion's Field Day Frost. This one can double as a light blush. I still use Moon's Reflection in the veuve pearl fashion lightly on the outer eye or as a light liner but the Naked Lunch is great for the inner eye area.

I am just hoping for warm and dry! Wisconsin has been just chilly and sodden this spring.

I try to stay minimalist on trips and so my make up and medicine and Nook go in my small item Vera Bradley bag. My brush set I toss into a checked bag last thing along with my make up mirror (wheelchair user and theirsee are never where I can use it). Flights to and from I have discovered Magic! Clinique now sells actual tint in a BIY (Blend It Yourself) very tiny plastic squeeze bottle. You find your tint then a few drops can be added to moisturizer or color corrector and mixed on the back of your hand then just apply liberally. I have tried many tinted moisturizers and none seem moist enough so this is perfect for me. You can also add it to sunscreen. I save foundation for evenings and I get compliments about being younger than I am. I also just found 2 new MAC eye shadows for summer and one easily doubles as a tiny bit of blush which I normally do not wear. What I pack going in checked baggage are make off remover towelettes and just leave any I do not use onboard. As long as you close the pouch anD then turn it over so weight keeps it sealed a 24 pack stays damp for a full 24 day B2B like we do most Januarys. This next trip starts in Barcelona and end a week after we hit Greenwich 14 days later so I will bring a long a few single samplers for those last few nights. I need to get in my beauty sleep as we head to Chicago tomorrow for a relaxed night before a late flight to Spain on Friday and we board the Journey on Tuesday.

The tags arrived today and we drive to Chicago tomorrow for Friday's flight to Barcelona. We have ID on and in every bag we take but have had those printable tags ripped off toof often to print any more. This is vacation and chasing luggage is not part of it. We have also run across one cruise where the hotel we were staying at could not print the tags at all. This is one of the few areas where I prefer wasting their heavier and self-adhesive paper than our basic printer grade sheets. Last night with the pup for awhile but countdown to vacation has begun!

1 hour ago, laurieb said:

In the US, Azamara will mail you really nice luggage tags at no cost. If you use a TA, they can request a printed booklet to be sent to you that had your cruise docs and luggage tags. They just need to call Azamara and request. No charge

This is what normally happens. We have had the same TA for 18 years and we actually trade a lot of information back and forth as we are also more than acquaintances. We fly out Thursday and last Thursday we received the full color printed booklet overnighter from her. And yet only one tag that we could do reprints of.  And pack a stapler too? I just emailed their customer service and gave names, cabin, sailing date and how many tags we needed. I received a reply on Friday saying 7 to 10 days. At least I got a fast reply.

On 5/16/2019 at 10:09 PM, jlp20 said:

The dressing is not the issue. Our only experience with "packing" was done by a doctor. I can't see doctor/nurse using anything you provide to pack into open wound just due to liability. 

No matter what the cruise main office says, ship's medical staff will have final say.

All packing equipment for individual use is almost always packed in single use, sterile packaging. I have never dealt with a packed wound but I never travel without everything needed for a stage 1 or 2 pressure sore since after 24 years in a chair I had my first. Other than allergies most packing is more about costs than about super sterility for medical clinics. The nurse would provide her knowledge and sterile not just clean gloves which are harder to travel with.  

Have you ever tried Salon Password brand capsaicin patches? As long as the skin is closed they stay put for days if you want although 4 hours is the recommended time on the package. Always check after about 30 minutes to make sure the adhesive is not a problem for you. I have had several doctors recommend them for both muscle and neuropathic pain. You can find them in most pharmacies OTC. I would not fly with one on as gawd knows what the TSA swabs will think they are. But they have no problem with them in my carry on bag.

Actually the Lisbon Airport is very friendly to those who need access help. Google MyWay Lisbon and call 48 hours or more in advance and you will be met at the curb. There is even a taxi space especially for accessible vehicles. We were just there 6 weeks ago and had my best flight in a long time. I do use a wheelchair full time but the airport has many wheelchairs who do not have their own.

The cruise ship versus land based help is also a US thing due mainly to union employee contracts.

I am a fulltime wheelchair user and HAL tendered me into Sitka in 2011. This was on the Amsterdam and they bring the tender up to the davits on deck 5 and those who cannot walk or need assistance get on there. Then the boat is lowered to deck 2 where the rest of the guests board. On returning the reverse happens with most getting off at deck 2 and then the tender being brought up to deck 5 and the crew helped bump me up the one step with my husband. I would not try this or ask anyone to help me with my powerchair. 

And yes, there is now a dock there so try and find out which lines or ships normally dock.