Opus Voyage

That is odd because when I was there, everything brand name was named the same. Granted the text was in Spanish, but as someone with sinus problems, I know which meds work for my symptoms and which don't... even if they aren't my usual brand.

 

The off-brands were in 100% Spanish, but it's not hard to figure out the "comparar con Aleve/Tylenol/Zyrtec/whatever" (my Spanish is hit/miss... but I think that's the form of compare they use on the packages) on the pack.

 

However, maybe living around a large Hispanic community has altered this white boy from the Midwest a bit more than I notice???

You're right, the brand names were the same, but the symptoms they treated were in Spanish, which only matters if you are looking for meds to treat your specific symptoms.

No iron in the cabin, so I do the following: 1) When we get into the room and unpack, any items that need a little refreshing get hung up in the bathroom, then I turn on the shower very hot in order to steam out any wrinkles but if there are some that need an iron, then 2) I use my flat iron to take them out. Even if you don't need one for your hair, they are fairly inexpensive and pack well.

Other items we bring:

Nightlight

travel clock,

battery candles,

post-it notes,

address/email labels to hand out to new friends,

outlet strip (you can get a 3-outlet at home improvement stores that take up less room than a surge protector)

One of the best things I take is a plastic insulated mug. Fill it up at the WJ with lemonade or tea or coffee and always have a drink with me when I find my special place to sun or read.

Also, I am very prone to illness after flying and invariably spend my cruises sick, so now I start with lots of vitamin C, etc a couple of weeks before a cruise, take the cleaning wipes on the plane, and take meds with you so you have what you need when you start getting sick. Buying meds in the gift store is expensive! Once, in Puerto Walmarto, there must have been a dozen of us in the OTC cold /flu section and NONE of us could read spanish enough to understand what the medicine treated. Funny if we all weren't so pathetic. ;-)

DH and I are arriving in Vancouver in Sept the day before we depart on Hal Volendam. Decided to take the FREE airport shuttle to the Ramada Airport Inn on Westminster in Richmond. The next morning after our breakfast we can walk to the Brighouse Station and take the Skytrain to Canada Place without having to pay the extra fee we would have to pay from the Airport.

My experiences:

1. Carnival

2. HAL

3. Celebrity

4. RCCL

5. Norwegian

West Indian Pumpkin Soup - to die for!!!

Also the vegitarian couscous and roasted veggies. Very good.

Sarah, Thank you for such a great travelogue! You have done an awesome job - Lots of details & tips, personal narrative and I love the pics, especially the food! :D We are booked on the Volendam for September; you have piqued my anticipation! Looking forward to more from you!