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Uber as well as Lyft are classic examples of dynamic pricing in play. The price quoted to the customer fluctuates based upon distance, timing, driver availability, pick up location and destination - according to some mystery algorithm. Taxis are regulated by usually municipal entities which set fare rates by time and distance alone. The meter is running whether you are zooming on the freeway or sitting in traffic. So sometimes the quoted taxi price is not the final price. The rideshare prices are fixed once you agree and book. Uber/Lyft are generally cheaper than taxis for most rides - that has been their business advantage. Drivers are available to accept your ride request but do not really know the price you have agreed to. But demand and supply also drive the pricing, so higher demand allows for higher prices by the algorithm (e.g. picking up at cruise terminal at disembarkation time). A recent article in the WSJ noted that hidden fees built into the advanced scheduling feature for Uber/Lyft often raise the final price of the rideshare request to sometimes more than if you called/booked on the spot. But remember demand also drives price. I have had it work both ways. Lately I will book a scheduled ride at a reasonable price. There is usually a window of free cancellation prior to the driver committing to your ride. Before that window closes and I am ready to go, I will see what the current price for the ride would be. Then opt for the cheaper option. Using Uber/Lyft, like everything, is a learning process.

This is $50,000 coverage for emergency medical, per insured, per trip. With $500,000 medical transportation coverage. That would generally cover most incidents until you are back home and your health insurance would apply.

Yes, I have the annual Allianz AllTrips Premier Plan (as previously mentioned by @Tree_skier) which is well priced and very cost-effective if you travel at least 2x/year or more. After 4 days in Florence in 2022, we became positive for Covid prior to getting on B2B cruise on Odyssey to Israel & Greece. RCL refunded our full fare for the first leg but we had to self-shelter in place for 12 days in Italy. Allianz covered our 12 days of lodging, transportation and meals (just keep all receipts) while in Tuscany and the west coast of central Italy. We tested negative by time the second transatlantic leg on Odyssey boarded and got home to the USA 16 days later. I filed the claim electronically. And got the checks in the USMAIL within a month or so. In fact, never needed to speak with an agent or TA for buying the policy or managing the claim. Their website and app are clear and easy. I didn't get trip based travel insurance previously until our trips went from infrequent 7 day sailings to longer and more frequent cruises per year. But found the individual trip costs were better managed by the annual plans. The main driver is to have medical evacuation & repatriation coverage which normal health insurance usually does not cover. That expense alone can easily reach into the tens of thousands of dollars. If you travel frequently or for long periods (but <90 days each), the annual plans are the way to go.

@Sea Dog Hi Greg, I did use an iPhone decibel meter in some of the venues and most are in the 90-95 dBA range when I think it's pretty loud. In the Icon Music Hall with the Phoenix band I recall it around 100 dBA. We couldn't stay there for long despite how good the band was because of the loudness. Below here is the OSHA PELs guidelines from the OHSA website. There is an attached chart. With noise, OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 90 dBA for all workers for an 8 hour day. The OSHA standard uses a 5 dBA exchange rate. This means that when the noise level is increased by 5 dBA, the amount of time a person can be exposed to a certain noise level to receive the same dose is cut in half.

The pods in the Overlook area have stair steps as the only access for the elevated pods. There are some ground level seatings which would be accessible, there are ramps to that area from the AquaDome theater level.

@Miaminice This is a bit late to your postings but thank you for a very nice review of your travels in Japan and insights on Millennium this fall. We are on Millennium in April 2024 with a similar Best of Japan itinerary but with some different ports. But your tips and photos are great. Especially your Yokohama excursion to Kamakura, which we may try to replicate.

I found that the cheapest and easiest plug is an old school 3 way grounded extension one like this one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-15-Amp-3-Outlet-Grounded-AC-DC-Adapters-White-LA-10/306625668. I also bring a simple two thin round prong Euro converter plug that fits in both the stateroom and around the ship (when you need to charge something when you are out and around). These are the easiest and smallest items to pack/bring.

Yes, I missed seeing the Vanguard as well. Our local high school band director and instructors are all Vanguard and Blue Devils alumni. I actually remember the days when they were both new corps on the scene, and even before DCI which started in 1971. The marching pagentry is always so spectacular, but now there is a ton of showmanship and theater. We're traveling on the day of finals but will look for YouTube postings later on.

@Sea Dog Hi Greg - Got to see a DCI West (Drum Corps International) Show at Stanford Stadium earlier this month, hadn't seen one in person for several decades. The top corps have all evolved with much more theatrics, dancing about, costumes, etc... but still great musicianship in the horn and drum lines. Recalled chatting about such shows with you. Many more shows throughout the country with the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis on August 12th. It was a kick to see the units perform. Marty The Blue Devils - from Concord, CA.

@thethreeofus We have stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites - Seattle Downtown. We have used public transportation (bus/metro) with convenient stops near the hotel to get to Pike's Market and the cruise port. You can walk to the Space Needle Park if you have time before the cruise. You can get an Orca card (order online) if you are a senior for discounted fares. Sunset from the top of the Space Needle is great with clear skies.

@mac_tlc Thank you for an enjoyable live review of your Norwegian adventure on Jewel. Appreciated your tidbits and advice on excursions and sights along the way. We just booked the similar Jewel Arctic Circle sailing for next July 2024. Looking forward now to seeing Norway which we will miss on this year's Jewel transarctic sailing which goes to Iceland, Greenland & Nova Scotia.

@BonTexasNY Happy Birthday Bonnie. Enjoy your special day! Our best wishes for you and Jack.

You have probably gotten the gist that most who have brought laptops, iPads and other electronics onboard have felt reasonably safe leaving them in their staterooms without being in the safes. I agree and have more recently had no or much less concerns - so much that I often have left the devices charging and on the desk while out of the stateroom. I actually am much less trusting in the various hotels we use pre and post cruise and would try to use such safes or keep the devices hidden in our luggage. But if you prefer some security - there are the cable locks for laptops which can be attached to immovable parts of your stateroom. I used to carry those as well in the earlier days. Not much need for them now onboard.

@nasa1974 and @Coralc Thanks for the explanation and pictures of the Bridge Climb in Sydney. I was not aware of what that really is and it indeed does not seem a good activity for the mobility challenged. I think in this day and age a drone can be best used to get such scenic pictures.

Glad to hear that John. Hiking poles might be helpful too, provides just a bit more stability. Was great to meet you and Laura and so many other new friends on Oasis!

subscribed as well.

Beats tires I think. Happy Birthday this week!

I agree, the cyber criminals now are more and more sophisticated and can gain access to your information. I did engage with a private VPN service which works globally and help reduce these risks. Just have to remember to leave the VPN on.

We used individual trip insurance in past years but in the last two years have gotten the annual AllTripsPremier Plan from Allianz Travel Insurance. This is very much worth it if you travel at least 2-3 times or more a year over individual trip coverage. Most important is actually the evacuation costs should you need medical/emergency transportation back home when aboard. Most health insurance will not cover that cost. We did have a trip interruption claim last year and were compensated within two months of filing the claim. More than made up for several years of annual plan fees. So very much worked out for us. But I hope we don't have to make any/many more claims at all. Have not used the RCI cruise line coverage which would be more like the individual trip policies, the coverage of which is based upon the costs of cruise/travel. Lots of websites are available to explain the wisdoms of travel insurance.

Sharing the Diamond drink vouchers on your seapass account is not a problem, either between traveling spouses/partners or with other friends/guests. But a poster on another thread mentioned a great and generous idea which I intend to do on my next sailing. Inquire of your cabin steward if they have a preferred soda or drink that you could get for them if and when you have excess drink vouchers for the day. The crew get water, ice tea, lemonade, etc.. like we all do with meals but sodas are an extra expense to them. Sharing some beverages like that would likely be welcomed and much appreciated by our hard working cabin staff. A little courtesy & generosity makes everyone's day a bit better.

I am glad the bag did arrive safely to you, including the Murano glass you got. We saw these Murano glass balloons in a little shop in Rome.

We are on a British Isles cruise on the Jewel OTS, 12 nights, on 8/16/2023, out of Amsterdam. A little pricey now but here's the itinerary below, seems to meet your ports of interest. AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS INVERNESS/LOCH NESS SCOTLAND GLASGOW (GREENOCK), SCOTLAND BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND HOLYHEAD, WALES WATERFORD(DUNMORE E.)IRELAND CORK (COBH), IRELAND DOVER, ENGLAND

@RCCL Fan What happened to one of your bags? Another case of lost luggage? Did you finally get it back? Hope so. Great review and thank you for your thoughts on Odyssey.

@exm Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Odyssey sailing. Would be interested when you get to Greek ports if additional testing is needed for the vaxxed but unboosted. Have a great time. Sailing on Odyssey in two months and looking forward to it.

If it is any help, Costco sells an Alaska Airlines voucher for 10% off when booking their fares ($500 gift card for $449.99). Seems to work well if you use Alaska and understand their cancellation/change policies.