GeezerCouple

There are outside companies that handle assorted special needs rentals. Depending upon passenger need and also ship appropriateness/permissions, one can rent various equipment... but for the duration of the cruise. The equipment is typically waiting in your cabin when you arrive, and you leave it there when you leave the ship. This can be wheelchairs of various sorts (manual, motorized), scooters, and even in some cases (double check with cruiseline in some cases) things like hospital beds or automated recliner chairs. Some cruise lines have specific companies they need passengers to use, I think. GC

Uh, why ask *anyone* "about Harry & Meghan"? I'm happy to let them be left alone, and, importantly, I'm even more happy not needing to get involved in a discussion about them... and especially with strangers. We'd rather not get involved in discussing specific people at all if the purpose is just gossip. Yeah, I guess maybe it's better that we prefer 2-tops for our meals, eh? 😉 GC

There have been occasional times when the regular gangway is too steep for me to do easily or comfortably. The first time one of the crew helpers at a gangway noticed my hesitation, they suggested that we use a different gangway from a lower deck, one usually for the crew or perhaps supplies (?). That one was not much off horizontal. A bit off, but not much at all, and the slope was of zero difficulty. So now, we just look for that, or ask about it if the gangway is steep. We've done this on more than one ship and cruiseline. GC

I'd suggest posting your questions on the "Ports of Call" section of CC, where it is more likely to be seen by "locals" or other travelers also interested in that area. And also on your specific "Roll Call". There may be others who are interested in sharing a private excursion. GC

Right. That last time stamp helped a LOT in quickly figuring "how far back" to look without unintentionally re-reading some posts a second time. A *lot* of information is contained in the current formatting, and almost all of it was lost. So much better the first way. GC

Thanks for posting about this. We had never heard of Planet Labs/TeamLab. I'm not sure if we'll have a chance to get back to Japan (would be very nice!), but apparently there are a few other locations. Fascinating!! GC

Thus far, on all cruise lines where we've had butler service (and this is by no means "all of the cruise lines... just a few of them), "The Butler Did It". 😁 However, keep in mind that the butlers also like to get some sleep, so there is someone like a separate "Night Butler". Depending upon the size of the ship/hotel/etc., this might be a rotating position, or there may be enough need that there is at least one regular night butler. How much they all really pool tips - or not - I don't know. We almost never encounter a night butler; it's almost always (very close to *always*) our regular butler who shows up, but we've never ordered anything in the true middle of the night. Sometimes the butlers work very hard indeed. They need to juggle quite a variety of requests. We rarely have a need for something at a very specific time. (Just about the only exception is breakfast timing IF we need to be off the ship at a specific early time.) Anyway, whenever possible (and it's almost always possible for us) we tell our butler that we are quite flexible, and that IF other passengers have request times that compete/interfere with ours, to *please* just let us know and schedule our request a bit earlier or later... that we'll let them know if there is some unusual situation where timing is important. There is usually a specific "butler" phone number to call or a service call automatically goes to the butler number. GC

Welcome to CruiseCritic. I'd strongly suggest that you contact Special Needs at Celebrity to discuss what special services that might be available for you. For example, for friends of ours where one has severe hearing impairment, at least on another line, they can get a cabin where the "alarms", which are usually auditory, are accompanied by flashing lights (and perhaps vibrations in some cases). But this would need to be arranged in advance, to make sure they get an appropriate cabin. Special Needs may also be able to tell you about any other services they have that might be helpful on the cruise. This is your first *solo* cruise, but apparently not your first cruise entirely? If so, then perhaps you are already familiar with some of the features? GC

Why don't you ask this again on the section of CC that is specific for Insure My Trip. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2481-qa-with-insuremytrip-january-2024/ I'm sure they'll be able to explain it to you. GC

... or that make the situation *worse*... make it *more* difficult to do whatever one would be doing. GC

We *are* from the USA. And I cannot even begin to imagine wanting to discuss "any of the above listed topics" with strangers or other vague acquaintances on a cruise over dinner. Or ANY other time, either! GC

With people you know, and are probably traveling with? Or with "other passengers you've just met on the cruise"? If the latter, then... hard NO. And not only "at this time". Not at any time. GC

We have been fortunate to have wonderful butlers on different ships/cruiselines, with a single exception being the first time we had a butler and we didn't know any better. So we tip generously, and that then includes all of their services through out trip - assuming that we continue to have such good service. We do make use of the butler's services, and it does make a difference in our trip enjoyment. Therefore, we do not tip for "each service". RM

Whatever in the world does this mean!? People who voice their opinions ... lose their self-respect? How does that work!?? And it shouldn't matter whether they were "for or against", but in this case, the "Naysayers", as you put it, were the vast majority *and* were what the forum Mods decided as well. So... "Huh!?? " However, we do hope you cheer up soon somehow! 😀 GC

It's likely going to depend upon which specific policy you get. And it might also depend upon which is your state of residence. Insurance is regulated by the states, and what is allowed in one state may not be allowed in a different state. So *always* make sure you are asking about - and preferably *looking* at - your specific policy. ETA: If you are going to purchase your travel insurance through Insure My Trip, then you should call them to discuss what is the best policy for your specific needs. GC

Yes! The old formatting is back! To quote from Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky": "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!” [We] chortled in [our] joy" To the Mods: Many thanks for listening to the opinions. A suggestion for next time: Perhaps give us a heads' up! And also maybe start a new CC section for us to try it, so it (whatever "it" it is 🙂 ) doesn't interrupt ongoing discussions? Or perhaps a true pilot test. I'm sure you can find some CC members who are likely to enjoy something new and some members who are, er, let's call them [us!? 😉 ] more like traditionalists at heart or maybe just old-fashioned... but also include some who might tend to focus on some of the intended/unintended consequences. GC

BridgeMates brings up something that could be VERY important if it's a big medical bill, and this is regardless of whether it's from the ship's medical center or a hospital in a foreign country. Many travel insurance policies are what's known as "secondary". That means that one must *first* submit to any other possible insurers (e.g., Medicare, one's own employer-based medical insurance, etc.). Then the "secondary" insurer will pay whatever the other insurer(s) did *not* pay. The way to avoid this is to get travel insurance that is "primary". That means that it will pay "first", and no denials from other insurers are needed, even if they would have paid/paid first. (Or one could still only send to the travel insurer whatever other insurance didn't pay.... but... why!?) Some travel insurance policies are automatically "primary". For those that default to "secondary", one can sometimes pay a bit extra (not necessarily much at all) and have that same policy become primary. (This is what we do, and it's not at all expensive, but one needs to think about this and remember, or have a travel insurance agent/broker remind one, and make sure it's primary coverage.) Anyway, this could make a major difference IF it's a very $$$$ expense, given that with travel insurance, one must usually pay the entire bill out of pocket, and then get reimbursed later. This is when one probably would NOT want to have "secondary" coverage and thus need to wait weeks or months (!) for the claim submission to another insurer simply to get the *denial*... and then finally submit the claim to the travel insurer. And then, some travel insurers pay quickly (ours does), and... some don't... Note that some travel insurers can/will make arrangements with the medical provider to guarantee payment or to actually wire some (or all) of the charges so that the traveler/patient does *not* need to fork out the money if it's a very expensive bill. There was one hospital ER billing office (obviously in a very "touristy" area 😉 ) that had a sign on the wall that said something like: "We only accept travel insurance guarantees from the following insurance companies..." and there was a list of several of the major insurers. Possibly the hospital would try to work with other insurers for guarantees, or perhaps manage to get the money wired. This is something to think about given that in non-USA hospitals, there is no requirement that they provide you with initial emergency care without regard to ability to pay. Some hospitals will require a very large up front payment, sometimes before even *starting* to treat you. And other overseas hospitals in certain countries won't charge you a cent for whatever treatment you need! Anyway, we travel with several charge cards with quite a large combined credit limit, just in case. GC

Welcome to CruiseCritic! What a nice trip you have planned. But "all things for all people" is going to be tricky. Could you help us to help you by giving the ages (and numbers) of the younger members? Meanwhile, please take a look at the CC subsection on "Family Cruises": https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/28-family-cruises/ This will be a good place to ask about "babysitting". That's not necessarily available on all cruises, but last I knew (that was pre-Covid, so IF things have changed, I don't know) there were at least *some* ships that offered some "babysitting". Otherwise, there are more ships that at least have official "clubs/activities" for children, so that would be worth looking into as well. And what is your approximate price point/range? The ships that have serious activities for children probably aren't the best ships for "peace and ease for the old folks". However, some of those ships may have somewhat more private areas that tend to be quieter. But those areas are also more expensive. For those with limited mobility, keep in mind the ports of call. By "limited mobility", do you mean "slow walking, needing frequent rest"? Or walker/scooter? Or wheelchair? There are two ways to get to "land". One is by docking, and that will be accessible for all. The other way is by "tendering", which means taking a small boat from the ship to the shore. That "small boat" can vary a lot; it could be like one of the ships own lifeboats or it could be something a bit larger (or perhaps even smaller?). In many cases, when tendering, it will be very difficult or even impossible for someone in a wheelchair or using a scooter to get off the ship there, and it may be difficult for someone who uses a walker or rollator, too. If there are mobility limitations like that, then you might consider looking for cruises with few or no "tender ports". You might also want to study the "deck plans" of some ships you are considering, keeping in mind how "close together" you think everyone might want to be. You could get several (many? how many will there be in your family?) cabins or suites right near each other. Or perhaps you'd prefer to have everyone a bit more spread out...? One thing we've done when traveling with kids and grands is we get a nice suite, with plenty of space. The kids and grands may be in a much less expensive cabin, maybe without a balcony, but then they spend a lot of time with us. their cabin is really only for sleeping/napping, so "tighter quarters" isn't a problem. Note that IF the larger cabins/suites are in a more private area (not all ships have something like this), there may be restricted entry. I mention this in terms of the "peacefulness" issue, although that's never *guaranteed*! In this case, I'd double check to make sure that others in your family would have access to *your* accommodation, although they may well not have access to the more private areas such as lounge areas, extra pool, or such. And especially if you will be sailing during the Christmas/New Year's holiday time, things can get a bit crowded, as there are likely to be more children (ditto during any school vacation time), and that can make things... uh... less peaceful, at least in many areas of the ship. Enjoy the planning, and then enjoy the cruise! 🙂 GC

Tigerlily75... We absolutely loved the Lincoln Center chamber music. We've only had the one HAL trip, and it was to your part of the world, from NZ to Sydney. 🙂 In fact, in Melbourne, DH spent a few hours with a friend from decades ago, someone who was originally from the USA, but she and her husband had moved to Australia many years ago. She was since widowed, so it was nice for her to see an old friend from home, etc. And now they chat via Zoom every few months. It was nice for them to get re-acquainted again! Now, about Lincoln Center, we had "just discovered" HAL, and very importantly, Lincoln Center, and we *love* classical music. I don't know if "our" chamber group was unusually good or if they all tended to be, but we had decided: "This is for us!!!" .... and then... and then... we find out Lincoln Center is about to bite the dust. 😡 If you happen upon any "replacement classical music", would you mind posting here about it and let us know how it was? Or if anyone else has determined IF there really was some sort of replacement? We went to *every* performance of the true "classical" music, which was (I think I'm remembering correctly) in the afternoon. There was a second performance later, but that wasn't quite the same. The venue (on Noordam) was MOBBED. So each day with a performance, I'd show up **very** early, book in hand, and get two prime seats. For us, *viewing* the performers makes a huge difference, and in that venue, one could be quite up close and personal. Then DH would join me before the performance. Did I mention that we LOVED it? 😉 We haven't sailed since the "before times", so I haven't even browsed the itineraries/listings... so I have no idea if there really is any nice classical music nowadays. Anyway, enjoy your cruise. It sounds like a fascinating itinerary! GC

Hmmm. On at least two other cruise lines, when there was an increase in gratuities, it was made clear that IF one pre-paid them by <date>, then the old/lower rate would be honored for the sailing. But if one waited to pay after that date, either by waiting until the last minute or by pre-paying but at a later date, then the new gratuity rate would be in effect. There was a lot of chatter about hurrying to pre-pay the gratuities before *that* date. GC

Our experience is from just barely "pre-Covid" (late Nov to mid Dec, 2019), and many things have changed since then, everywhere. DH was diagnosed very late in life with full celiac disease (*not* just a prefer gluten free, etc.), so it's been a constant learning experience for us for just under 10 years. First, *definitely* contact the Special Needs section of HAL (or *any* place you are going that serves food... hotels, restaurants, etc.). Given them advance notice so that IF there are any changes necessary, they'll have the time. For a large facility like a major cruise ship, "gluten free" is frequent enough these days that they will already have appropriate foods. The trick is to make sure that "appropriate foods" get to *you*! In addition to advance notice, we ALWAYS announce the "medical need for gluten free" when we arrive someplace. If it's a hotel or cruise ship, that means notifying the cruise line in advance AND then once on the ship, finding the appropriate person. On some ships, there will be a designated contact person to discuss your dietary needs from the start. Depending upon the type of need, one may need to request meals a day in advance, if special preparation is required. Then, when being seated at a restaurant (at land or sea), we ALWAYS announce/remind them of the "medical need for gluten free". Then, when someone from the waitstaff comes to take the order, we *repeat* this! Then we order. And EVERY TIME something is served, we ask, "This is GLUTEN FREE, correct?" and we make sure that they are paying attention and not just nodding a polite "yes" without quite noticing. We also try to find good waitstaff, even though we dislike assigned times/seating for meals. So if we find someone(s) good, we'll make a note of their name and location, and then when we arrive at the check in desk, we'll ask if we can be seated at a table with <name>. But we still ALWAYS repeat the "GF" statement when ordering AND when being served. We found that HAL (this was Noordam, in NZ/Australia) had a good selection of GF food available, including breads and rolls. ONE TIME, the wrong basket of bread/rolls was brought, so it was a good thing we asked and double checked *each* time. It was promptly snatched back and the proper basket brought. That didn't happen again with that group of servers... In DH's case, fortunately, he won't get seriously ill if he happens to eat something. He'll have some damage, but it wouldn't be catastrophic. Some allergies are much more serious in that the consequences are much more severe, and at times very quick. We are incredibly careful now, but we'd only need to be a bit "more careful" otherwise. Also: We, too, always travel with some GF snacks, such as snack bars. That way, he *always* has "something else" to eat if some food prep site isn't properly prepared. Some years ago, having/traveling with celiac disease was probably much more difficult. These days, with some high visibility adverse outcomes for a variety of food allergies, the dietary/nutrition area takes this all more seriously and is also generally better prepared. Still, the responsibility is on the *person* with the allergy to double check. There's just no way around that! By the way, before we went to Italy for the first time after DH's diagnosis, we were pretty discouraged, because of the great pasta. We also figured it might be difficult to avoid "pasta". Surprise: ALL of the restaurants had lots of choices for GF pastas! 🙂 However, in some cases, the menu mentioned there might be a bit of a longer wait, but there was indeed always GF pasta, and it was *very* good! (I think it's required nowadays.) GC

I agree with klfrodo (again! 😉 ) and figured you weren't from the USA (it would help to state what country you *are* in someone knowledgeable from that country could chime in for you. [Oops posted in error too fast!] Might a possible fix be to have your mother complete her own insurance form? Could it be sent in separately, for her privacy? GC

GOOD! It's Friday.... I'm waiting for this to be "over"! Better hurry if it's to be over "before the weekend", but that would be such a relief. If for no other reason, the SCRAMBLING of the posts should be the reason to end this. If replies don't *quote* the previous comment, then the reply itself might have no meaning. For example, the "Don't worry" above. Just what was it that I or anyone might be "worrying about" anyway? (I admit, this "loss of logic is less serious right here. But if JRG had written instead something like, "Your post #X <blah, blah, blah - where the "blahs" are "real content">"... except the "real content won't make sense because no one can find *that* post #X, because all the posts have been scrambled.) I'm hoping for a happy and more peaceful *weekend*. Cheers! 🙂 ETA: Also, it's now virtually impossible to know what the "unread" posts are, or where that nice "line" was showing one had read "to this point" previously. Oh, how useful that was, in retrospect. Now? MANY new posts will be totally overlooked, because they are now scattered about, and not at the "end" where they used to be... where the thread automatically took someone. That was nice. GC

Ditto! And to the Mods: Guess what.... I *did* just "vote"! I "liked" cruisemom42's post above. AND when I did that, I did NOT scramble the order of the posts! 🙂 As an aside, would someone PLEASE explain why the page numbers now appear BELOW the First Post on each subsequent page (not the first)? It took me too long (my bad!!) to realize the page number hadn't just vanished, but were in hiding after the first post. But whyyyyy? OKAY IT IS FRIDAY. Mods, *PLEASE* end this. When the posts get SCRAMBLED, the entire thread logic vanishes. Thank you. GC (both of us)

You REALLY think that what one person thinks is "the best answer" about "good scenery" is going to be the "best answer" for everyone else? ... that YOUR "best scenery" should be decided as THE best scenery? ... or "my" best scenery? I have NO thoughts whatsoever that what I think is "the BEST scenery" will be the best for others. All I could ever imagine - or claim - is something like, "Here is some scenery that I/we think is spectacular, so perhaps consider traveling here..." To have MY "best" scenery "upvoted" (which is clearly oh so different from "voted"... how?) as THE BEST SCENERY FOR ALL? Really!?? GC