mamkmm2
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Posts posted by mamkmm2
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My safepac purse that doubles as my carry-on and holds all of my important documents, electronics, $$$, and any other valuables that don't go in the checked luggage.
The safepac purse then doubles as my day-bag and/or purse when we are out on excursions.
I was actually told about safepac here on CC on a roll call. I've been testing it out and taking it on various trips and excursions in preparation for our BI cruise in July. It is great.
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I asked the cruise line because I have Type II and while I'm not on insulin I do have to make sure and keep my glucose balanced and can get faint, especially if the day is warm or the activity strenuous. The word is that no food ... period ... is to be removed from the ship. I might get away with a prepackaged granola bar or some glucose tablets but that's as far as the cruise line was willing to go. They said every port can be different so to be aware that I will need to be flexible. Fine by me. I hit the duty-free shop as soon as we disembarked in Cozumel ... water and snacks. The local enforcers at the port were being extremely strict ... if they didn't catch people before they left the ship they certainly caught them immediately afterwards, and they weren't fooling around.
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My honey got me a Conair noise machine for our traveling.
I too use a fan. and the noise machine works wonders. Took me a few tries to get it just right-- it makes 10 different noises-- then the loudness...
perfect
I would recommend any kind of sound machine. My husband is a snorer and I set the thing to automatically turn off after an hour and I'm usually hard asleep to the point that it takes a real window-rattling snort to wake me up all the way. If you have a balcony room you can have the door partially opened and the sea/ocean/etc will make the equivalent noise but you may also hear your adjacent neighbors cutting up.
If you have an iPhone there are some really nice "sound machine" apps. I'll list the few I have on my phone:
Sleep Pillow Sounds (free)
Sleep Machine Lite (free)
Free Bed Time Fan (free - white noise)
White Noise Ambience Lite (free)
Um, did I mention my husband snores worse than a freight train on its last leg? And loud. Let's not forget loud. His mother was the same way. OMG. I wouldn't know how to survive without my sound machine and white noise creators. LOL
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Pure hypocrisy, I will wear whatever I like, but don't you dare wear ......
Minimum standards enforced for health and safety reasons is about all I see the "casual diners" asking for.
I was on a Carnival cruise where the wait staff didn't enforce the rules for the buffet area and there were several bathing suits and unclothed/barely diapered children in and around the buffet lines. Thank goodness it was only a four day cruise. We started eating in our room because it was just kinda nasty.
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Call your cruise line and double check. Then make sure you get the name and employee number so if they are wrong you have something/someone to complain specifically about. I've noticed that while the rules are supposed to be applied across the board in the same way, some ports and airports and TSA, etc. are definitely more strict when applying the rules. Also, make sure that there isn't going to be any problems with the immigration authorities in the ports.
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There is always the odd experience that you hear about but by and large I've never heard of luggage problems directly attributable to a cruise line alone ... private transfers, people not going to the naughty room for a piece of luggage, not labeling their luggage correctly or putting it out in the hall by the requested time, etc. yes.
Now airlines are another matter but even there it is more about damaged luggage rather than something that was completely lost and unrecoverable.
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For those that simply want to walk around in Cork the City Council offers some suggestions and a brochure with a map.
Just thought I would pass that along.
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Going back to Carnival after 4 year hiatus from a flooded week long cabin in 2012. I really enjoy everything about Princess, so going back for 6 days is stressing me a bit. I'm not looking forward to drunks in the hallway at 3am. Luckily we are back on Princess in October. We started out on Carnival, learned the ropes and then after awhile it got stale and we moved on and I say up. But every year on the same line can be the same-o same-o. If I want Frenzy, it's Carnival. If I want soothing, it's Princess.
Our experience between Princess and Carnival was not favorable to Carnival. It wasn't hideous but we figure it had a lot to do with the itinerary and the clientele on that particular trip. Drunks in the hall at 3 am? Try drunks in the hallway at all hours ... ALL hours. Every hour on the hour. On all decks. There was no escape. And I'm not a prude but honestly some of the "outfits" that both genders were wearing gave me a the huge ick factor considering they were traipsing through the food areas while wearing (not wearing) said outfits/clothing.
I will say I haven't taken a Princess cruise in the Caribbean but the above was our experience on Carnival in the Caribbean.
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Why on earth would someone join CC just to complain about their own failure to follow directions? While I have compassion that they had an uncomfortable wait, I hope they learn the lesson about personal responsibility when it comes to being educated about check in times, etc.
You know those TSA lines at the airports? You need to accept you are going to have to deal with the same thing at the cruise ports, especially after the recent incidences in Belgium and France, etc. And you need to also realize that trying to jump the line simply doesn't work with the cruise lines because the port authority, immigration, TSA, etc all put strictures that the cruise line has to follow before addressing passenger wants.
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Cultural and societal norms are different all over. There are some locations and itineraries that are more formal simply because the majority of those utilizing those itineraries have that as their cultural norm. Probably why the Asian cruises are more formal in general on all nights.
On the other hand, given the world's current economic situation, a cruise line would be complete fools to alienate an entire population and socioeconomic group simply to satisfy a group that many will see as "elitist" and "exclusionary."
Just because your dining partner isn't wearing a tux in no way prevents you from wearing a tux. Same for other types of formal wear. There should be a minimum dress code for all dining rooms ... and I know there still is because I saw it the other day but didn't have the impression that it was anything other than commonsense.
If you are so sure that your choice is the correct one then stick to it.
And the itinerary should impact application of minimum dress codes. You shouldn't see bathing suits, thongs, etc. on either gender or on any age group (including children) in a dining room or the buffet either. That is simple health and hygiene. Neither should I have to partner with someone wearing a parka or fur coat in a crowded dining room where they will impeded traffic around the tables.
Maybe those of us with allergies should start saying that women and men who refuse to moderate their cologne and perfume usage should use room service.
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When I visit anywhere I also look for locally sourced foods.
As a New Mexican the thought of going into Pancho Villa's in Edinburgh makes me cringe.....
This place calls to me http://www.michaelneave.co.uk/menus/fixed-price-lunch-menu/
I think I saw them mentioned on Frommer's online website.
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When I visit anywhere I also look for locally sourced foods.
As a New Mexican the thought of going into Pancho Villa's in Edinburgh makes me cringe.....
This place calls to me http://www.michaelneave.co.uk/menus/fixed-price-lunch-menu/
LOL! I definitely understand. I can just see it if I tried to find Yellow Rice and Black Beans any place else but here in Florida. It just wouldn't be the same. And definitely what I think of as a "crab roll" and a "stuffed potato" would not match up with the food of other nationalities and ethnicities. ROFL! By the way, if anyone of you reading this is ever in Tampa, FL, USA I can highly recommend a little hole in the wall called Brocatto's. It's been owned and managed by the same family for over 50 years and the size of the sandwiches (from Italian to Cuban) and the portions of their other foods is very much worth the price you pay. And if their doors are open they are busy.
I think those two kids ... well they seem like kids to me anyway ... have a thing for spring rolls. I've watched some of their other travel videos and they've likely tried spring rolls in just about every flavor and location imaginable.
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Globaliser, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this. Much appreciated by those of us unfamiliar with the system.
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We will be there a day with the cruise line but our plans are to return in the not too distant future.
As for the "food" video, yes it is a bit of tourist silliness but it is the sort of thing people are likely to run into in the tourist areas to excite the "foodies". To really experience true Scottish cooking ... or any true national cooking from any country ... I'd follow the locals. One, the price is probably better than in the tourist areas and two, the food is probably more traditional. But when you area stuck on foot for a single day in a small area that is intensely tourism-driven you generally have to deal with the way things are. It is nice when you can get off the beaten path but that isn't always possible.
We have places in Tampa, FL, USA that serve great ethnic/cultural/local dishes but rarely does a tourist find them unless a friend takes them there.
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Speaking of postcards ... you know those photo boxes you can get for about $2 or so? I have three of them stuffed full with postcards that I've been collecting since I got married; so about 28 years ago now. LOL :D
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Itinerary first. Then we look for the best deal ... unless we see a great deal and then snag it because we happen to like the itinerary. LOL
After that it is a matter of going into research mode and finding as many private tours as I can, assuming we don't just do the self-guided thing.
Hubby and I also enjoy watching youtubes of the areas we are going to visit. It gives us a more realistic expectation of what we'll find there.
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Hurricanes aren't the only kind of storm that can affect cruise itineraries. Living here in Florida for most of my life I've seen it all. Our afternoon squall lines are sometimes stronger and do more damage than Cat 1 and 2 hurricanes, it all depends on the winds and volume of wet stuff and how fast it comes down.
Last August was our first Caribbean cruise. Honestly? I probably won't do one again, at least on Carnival. I see that kind of stuff every day. Had more fun in Key West than we did Cozumel. I watched the other passengers get in a funk and worry about a hurricane that threatened our trip. It did affect some of the eastern cruise itineraries but we weren't the least bit affected except for the extra heat and humidity.
There isn't a thing you can do to change the weather so just be prepared.
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Just thought I would share some of the resources I have been using for planning our port of call in Edinburgh. This is by no means an all inclusive list. Mostly it is a broad starter list of resources. As I get a grouping for specific attractions or points of interest I'll add them.
Edinburgh
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland/edinburgh
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g186525-Edinburgh_Scotland-Vacations.html
https://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/edinburgh/see-do/
http://wikitravel.org/en/Edinburgh
http://edinburghguide.com/venues/visitor-attractions
http://www.edinburghtourist.co.uk/attractions/
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/edinburgh-sco-loth-edin.htm
Bus Tours of the city:
http://edinburghtour.com/compare-tours
Walking Tours (some guided, some not, some free, some pay):
http://www.newedinburghtours.com/daily-tours/new-edinburgh-free-tour.html
http://www.viator.com/Edinburgh-tours/Walking-Tours/d739-g16-c56
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/edinburgh/747066
http://eatwalkedinburgh.co.uk/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g186525-Activities-c42-t183-Edinburgh_Scotland.html
Some recommended reading (non-fiction/fiction/movies/etc.):
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland/books-movies
Video links:
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/edinburgh
Maps:
http://podcasts.ricksteves.com/pdfs/edinburgh-royal-mile-map.pdf
http://www.tripomatic.com/lp/Edinburgh-Printable-Tourist-Map/
http://www.tripomatic.com/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Edinburgh/
http://www.mappery.com/Edinburgh-Scotland-Tourist-Map
http://www.visitacity.com/en/edinburgh/attractions-map
Videos:
[YOUTUBE]Qk6B4YyQSbo[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]LX2nq-tthxs[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]8vYdq7WXSK4[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]mA9KsQrRixU[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]vpTZikbDykI[/YOUTUBE]
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Like any Gun Served soda it varies, from bar to bar even on one ship.
I have found that if I mention it, t does tend to improve.
On the same theme it is amazing how much the taste varies in cans and bottles in different locations.
Here in Florida they have started to sell the Coca cola products that have been bottled in Mexico because they are made with real cane syrup as opposed to the processed sugar that is used at the bottling plants in the US. You can really tell the difference ... or in my opinion you can.
On a bit of a silly note, I've been to the Coca cola museum in Atlanta and the last stop on the tour is their tasting room where you can taste coke brand products from around the world. OMG! What some countries call "cola" and what I call "cola" don't even exist in the same dimension. ROFL!!! I guess it is all what you are used to.
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When we visited Alaska we loved this because we were on the ship so much. I've rethought the option however for our upcoming British Isles cruise because it is a port-intensive and we'll be off the ship more than we'll be on it when we would use the unending soda, etc. option, or so it seems. Not to mention at $8.05/day for 12 days it is no small chunk of change.
Ah well, there's time to think about it some more. But it if it was a shorter cruise and less port-intensive I would definitely go for it again.
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My understanding ... and correct the heck out of me if I'm wrong ... is that you only use your card on entry, not on exit. If you don't have enough on the card to enter then you can add it at a kiosk or something similar, then you enter.
ETA: aha, now I know what you mean. I'd be interested in this as well.
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/oyster/using-your-oyster-card
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What a neat idea. I know when we travel on land I made a point of taking pictures at "Welcome to ..." signs. LOL The kids say they can track their age just by looking in our photo albums (now all digital) and thumbing through them.
A couple of years ago, as a gag gift, I gathered as many of those pictures as I could from our collection and put them in a photo album for my husband. He keeps that album on his desk and on stressful days I've seen him pull it out and just flip pages and slowly a smile forms on his face.
I have a friend that takes pictures of all the little towel critters she finds in her room when she is cruising. She's taken to doing the same kind of weird stuff that people do with "elf on the shelf" at Christmas. Some of them are disturbingly humorous. I've told her she should post them online but she says they are for her own personal amusement. LOL Weird.
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Hello
I see a lot of people mentioning taking a power strip on board. What types of sockets are available to plug the strips into.
I need a small three pin and wonder if they are all US type? I will take a multiplug anyway.
I am travelling on the Nautica (Oceania).
Thanks.
I don't know about Nautica but on Princess and Carnival cruises I've generally found that they have "US" or "North American" type outlets. I've heard some say they have both "US" and "British" with one above and the other below but that may be on limited vessels, I've just never seen them. I think it may be because most cruise ships are registered in the Caribbean and that's the types of plug they use there from my understanding. And many of the cruise ships are built in Japan and they too use the same configuration as the US/No. America.
Hope this helps.
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What's the brand of packing cubes that you purchased on Amazon? Or perhaps you can post a link?
The brand is "Baglane" and the set I purchased was a set of 8 for $36.99 in various sizes.
If you put "Baglane" in the amazon search engine you find they have quite a few different variations on the sets, both color and set composition/sizes included. You can buy four of the same size, four of four different sizes, buy 1 large one by itself, 2 XS in a set, etc. And each set tends to come in sufficient colors that you do it anyway you want to. Personally I started out with the 8 pc green set and if I need to add on I can though it would probably be cheaper just to buy another set of 8. Or I'm contemplating getting my husband and each of my kids their own sets in a different color. I tell you they make a great gift (birthday, holiday, whatever) for people who travel regularly. Even my kids who still do summer camp came up with uses for them.
I saved the two large one for my husband's clothes and used the three medium ones for my clothes. I used 1 small and got all of the remaining little odds and ends like my hair bands, nightgown, slippers, and my delicates. Both the handles (wow, that's useful) and the zippers are both sturdy. The netting lets you squish the contents without popping the zipper because of excess air. And I'm not kidding when I say that you get more in there that you think you will. I easily got 15 t-shirts and a skirt and sweater set in one medium bag and all I had to do was fold neatly and I probably could have stuffed one or two more tshirts in there but I didn't need to so didn't.
Here's the set I got:
imitate a fan?
in First Time Cruisers
Posted
Being from Florida the last thing I would do is leave the AC running while a door or window is open. Why on earth would you be so snarky as to assume I would.