Texas Jake
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Posts posted by Texas Jake
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I prefer a wheeled duffle bag since I use packing cubes and compression sacks to organize my luggage. The duffle has straps to be worn as a back pack. My carry on bag is a backpack. If needed, I am physically able to carry wear both bags with one on my chest and the other on my back across unpaved surfaces such as beach sand or a gravel path. I have been a backpacker since my elementary days when I started using small stuff sacks to organize my trek pack.
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A backpacking pad can be used as described in the OP and would be more durable and less likely to deflate during the night.
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10 hours ago, twangster said:
Royal starts theirs normally upon boarding but only serve with Texas tagged bottles that have paid the TABC duty. That limits certain choices as Texas has not approved all beer/wine/liquor.
For example, a vodka & tonic is available but it might not be the type of vodka you prefer if your vodka isn't approved in Texas.
Once outside of territorial waters a few hours after sail away the Texas tagged bottles go away and the full bar is opened up.
Another example... Amstel Light beer is on the Diamond Happy Hour menu but not available during the day one happy hour until the ship is in international water. Amstel Light isn't approved by TABC, the state control board.
Your comments about TABC approved is misleading. Royal doesn't purchase certain brands with the TABC tax stamp based on a business decision (I don't fault Royal for making this decision). Amstel Lite is available throughout the state. -
34 minutes ago, globalgertie said:
I have AT&T and use its international Passport plan. It includes lots of data, unlimited texting, and reduced rate voice for 30 days for US$60. It works in most countries. For this trip, I have to figure out which 30 day period I want, since I will be away from home for 31 days. Since I will be meeting friends in Yokohama on the 27, I will probably start it on the 27th and take my chances in Sydney that I won’t be needing the phone just to get to the airport.
I have used AT&T International Passport plan and the AT&T International Day Pass at $10 per day (24 period). When cruising you are only charged for the days the phone is used to connect to a cell tower.Just another option. -
Not disputing your claim, just confused. What border can you cross these days without a Passport? Or, are using a Passport Card?
If your travel has been on cruises, then I get it.
If your state has an Enhanced driver's license/ID, you can cross by land or port between the US/Canada and US/Mexico.
My Texas DL has the gold star which indicates, the DL is the Enhanced DL.
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I also have a passport card since I cross the border driving. It is very easy to have a new passport issued if you have the card.
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Bringing kids that require a "diaper bag" and "two strollers?" Leave these small children at home...they won't remember where they are or what they're doing there anyway, so save yourselves and everyone else the trouble!
Your statement is so true.
When our oldest was a toddler, we were at a convention in Orlando. Everyone would ask if we took him to Disney etc. Our response was no, we just let him ride the multiple escalators for "free" at the convention center. He was happy riding those.
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I use compression sacks for socks and other items which can be wrinkled. I started using cubes while backpacking on 2 week back country trips. With cubes I can use my suitcase as my dresser.
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You are of course free to believe what you want but the regulations weren't written by congressmen, they were written by DHS bureaucrats. I have read the regulations (including the proposed ones) and the exception was there from the beginning and the reason for it as well- the low risk to the national security. Yes, lack of passports was given as one of the many reasons for towing to the US, the main reason was because the ship was closer to the US by the time the tow ships reached it. And again, for the purposes of this discussion what happened to the passengers off-loaded in St Marten is more recent and on point.
Lobbyist work with bureaucrats to draft and create regulations across all agencies. (You are free to believe otherwise)/ The FCC rewriting net neutrality rules was influenced by lobbyist.
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They might be opposed to requiring US passports but that had little to nothing to do with the regulations included an exception for closed loop cruises (and FWIW there are 9 exceptions for passport requirements if memory serves). DHS determined that a US citizen on a closed loop cruise poses a low risk to the national security and it is risk to the national security that is the key in requiring passports. If the Carnival ship is the one that I was thinking of it had drifted closer to the US and that was the deciding factor in towing it to the US.
The Carnival Triumph departed Galveston and drifted close to the Yucatan peninsula which was one of the destinations. Carnival decided to tow the Triumph for 5 days to Mobile. The ship was towed to the closet US port of Mobile. Lack of passports among the 3000 passengers was a reason given for the multi day tow.
Cruise lines have associations and lobbyist in Washington. Exceptions don't just happen in Washington given the number of lobbyist in Washington.
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Mass cruise lines are opposed to requiring a US passport since it is a barrier to a cruise. Passport required cruises are usually more expensive and provide a different type of vacation.
The lack of passengers with passports is the reason Carnival had a shipped towed from near Mexico to New Orleans when the ship lost power.
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We tried walkie talkies on our Reflection Caribbean cruise last December with very limited/inconsistent success. Honestly I did not know that this was frowned upon though - I'll say that we never got any unhappy stares or comments from other passengers... ;p
A cruise ship is a Faraday cage. The radio communication distance is very limited without repeaters. The radios are frowned upon because of the loud talking and loud garbled sound from the devices. I have seen an elderly woman telling her husband to hurry since the theater doors are open. Both were garbled communication and she yelled louder into the radio.
The 2 pack radios sold in the US should not be used in the EU since the GMRS channels assigned in the US are assigned to emergency services in some EU countries.
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Haha, it sounds like you have to go old-fashioned on a cruise ship. I've read people saying "bring sticky notes and pens" so you can leave messages for your cabin mates. Maybe another alternative is to get a chalkboard or whiteboard vinyl sticker and use it to write messages to each other (and the cabin steward??). Amazon has them for about $5 to 10 and they come off easily, leaving no marks.
Would the Cruise Ship protest anything on their walls, though?
Some ships prohibit anything being attached to the walls with tape or magnets and some ships prohibit over the door shoe hangers.
A simpler approach is to buy the wifi plans if you need to be in communication with your party throughout the day instead of trying to use the GMRS radios in a Faraday cage.
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Me too. I could go for one of those In-N-Out burgers I had down in Dallas last summer. :hearteyes:
Go to the Grape on lower Greenville which is the only time the burger is served. It is the best burger in Dallas. Order a cinnamon roll to complete your food coma.
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Under $60 CAD each way for the car. About $15 CAD each way for the passengers. Meals can be purchased on the ferry or you can bring your own.
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I had not even considered the cost to do the ferry crossing. Trip would be rent in Vancouver, ferry to Victoria, do Butchart Gardens, poke around Victoria, Maybe stay overnight there, back over ferry, drive to Seattle, drop at air port or closeby, then fly out. I'll check ferry prices b4 we plan this end cruise excursion. Might get expensive but we'll most likely only be there one time.
Also, thanks for the customs links. Sent them a message.
Last summer we did this trip from DFW to Seattle to Vancouver to Victoria and back. The terminals in Canada are not close to the either city. From Vancouver, you board the Ferry in Tsawwassen. The Butchart Gardens are outside of the city. You will probably spend more than $100 CAD on taxis if you objective is to accomplish this in one day.
My sons are piano players so we had to stop at the beach for them to take turns playing the piano on the beach.
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What ID card would that be?
If you are talking about an Enhanced Drivers License, they are only available to residents of a few border states.
(The Real ID driver license is not acceptable for international travel, only domestic flights).
If you are talking about a Passport Card, the application process is identical to that of the Passport Book, just saves a few dollars. And is not good for international flights so inexplicable to me why anyone would not just pay the difference for the Passport Book.
Other than those two I am clueless as to what you may be referring to.
(And welcome to Cruise Critic, by the way)
The passport card is a good option if an individual frequently crosses the border by land since the passport card is smaller.
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Read the GMRS laws. They well could have a permit.
We’ve used FRS/GMRS combo radios with decent success.
No GMRS license for a business such as the local golf course. Those channels are reserved for individuals to use. I have my GMRS license. No license is required for the FRS channels.
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I will take a "walkie talkie" just to listen and chuckle at others trying to communicate clearly with the devices. Just reading someone uses the radios to communicate made me chuckle. The local golf course uses GMRS radios (technically not legal) which has some interesting chatter between cart girls.
The only time I have used the devices to communicate on a cruise was during an Alaskan hike when cell service was non existent.
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The OP is in the US...not likely she will have a foreign currency fee in Alaska.
The OP specifically mentioned CAD. At least one port will be in Canada.
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Just a warning some credit cards still charge a foreign currency fee of 2% to 3%.
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As to why T-Mobile works all over the world (with no additional fees) it seems to be related to the fact they they are owned by a major European provider.
That's not true. Each carrier has to have their own agreements with the international partners including foreign subsidiaries. T-Mobile decided to offer international roaming to consumer plans while AT&T and Verizon decided not to offer the consumers international roaming. When I traveled internationally for work, the corporate AT&T plan operated similar to T-Mobile's consumer international roaming except with lower airtime rates and faster data speeds. T-Mobile throttles international data speeds for consumers.
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Also the freedom to tr6 something different, knowing that in effect it costs nothing to try it.
I always try a different drink with the package. I will order a new drink if the ice melts or the drink becomes warm. No need to rush down the drink.
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A passport “card” will do no more than a BC and drivers license.
Save your money and get the passport renewal either expedited or just use the birth certificate and drivers license and renew it when you return.
Have a wonderful cruise!
That's not entirely correct for the passport card which can be used for land and port entry between selected NA countries (Cube excluded). A BC and DL will not allow for the extended train excursion into Canada while on a closed loop Alaskan cruise. I realize a passport card can not be used for international flights but it carries greater weight than a BC and DL for states which are continuing to phase in and replace DL's with compliant DL's.
passport. upgrading from card to book
in First Time Cruisers
Posted · Edited by Texas Jake
Washington state is 1 of 4 states to issue enhanced driver's license which can be used for border crossings into/from Canada. Just curious why you would need the passport card in addition to your DL for crossing the border into Canada. I am in Texas and I have to use my passport card or passport book to cross into Mexico by land.