Quackattackaggie

I just moved from Jamaica. The Hyatt is my favorite hotel. However, the beach isn't impressive. I'd still recommend it for a day pass.

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Sorry if this is old news. I was on the Glory last week and bought the social plan. The news, stocks and weather apps were blocked as expected (as well as snapchat, which was specifically listed as being allowed). However, I could use siri on my iPhone without any problems. Hourly weather, stocks, simple Google searches, etc.

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Wow:eek:, what job is that, if you don't mind my asking?

I'm a diplomat. The test isn't just trivia, it also has a writing section and personality test. But the major part is all kinds of trivia about history or technology or math.

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Your experiences remind me of an issue my father had with a particular trivia answer on our first Carnival Pride cruise. My DH wrote about it in his cruise "memoir" here on CC years ago...

 

 

 

(now to see if I can figure out how to cross-quote from a different thread:rolleyes:...)

 

 

 

(apparently, I can't:o. So, I've just cut-and-pasted the relevant chunk of the post below. )

 

 

 

 

 

On previous ships, Dad has almost put the host in a headlock while arguing the answer to a trivia question. I remember this one clearly – the trivia question was “What countries participated in the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War?” More trivia questions followed. At the end of the questions, we began going over answers. When this answer came up, the host said “the answer is North Vietnam and the United States”. Well, Dad almost busted an artery while disputing this answer.

 

 

 

“I was at that party, and there were more than just those two.” he said to the host.

 

 

 

He wasn’t rude, and didn’t yell, but he was very insistent that the answer was more complex than just these two countries. The host insisted that the answer written on her sheet was “North Vietnam and the United States”.

 

 

 

The argument here is that there were at least 3 countries involved in the Tet Offensive – North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the United States. If you want to argue that North and South Vietnam are two halves of the same country, then the accepted answer shouldn’t say “North Vietnam”, it should just say “Vietnam”.

 

 

 

If anyone reading this happens to be a Vietnam vet – first of all “Thank you”. Dad was an Army grunt from ‘66 to ‘67, 9th Infantry Division.

 

 

 

So, the host awarded him the points, and he won his “vessel on a trestle” trophy. This isn’t the only time that we’ve had issues with trivia games, it just happens to be one that I remember. Wifey’s family is very trivia-competitive, and I just sit back and drink. One of the old stand-by games at the family gatherings is Trivial Pursuit (all editions). You wouldn’t think that Trivial Pursuit is a lively game, but it is in this family.

You're talking to a guy who had to pass a trivia test just to be allowed to take a test to be allowed to take a test to apply for his job. Fortunately, my wife isn't into trivia so our marriage remains.

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they tried to tell me Washington had teeth made of wood. I put ivory and they wouldn't acknowledge it as correct. If only I had my GW biographies with me to prove them wrong.

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Great you posted this message.

 

It's so important for people to understand there are situations we cannot anticipate but when there is an emergency, who wants to have to deal with travel documents along with whatever else is happening.

 

 

 

I wonder if you or someone can explain why a passport card is not acceptable for domestic flights? I understand why it cannot be used for International Air Travel but why is it of less value than a driver's license?

 

 

 

Thanks anyone who can answer.

 

 

 

Actually, an ID is not technically required at all for a domestic flight. TSA states that passport cards are acceptable for domestic flights.

Source for both of those statements: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification

You'll find anecdotes where people were turned around with passport cards on domestic flights, usually where the card is unfamiliar (aka most airports to begin with). USA Today agrees http://traveltips.usatoday.com/identification-requirements-domestic-air-travel-united-states-64080.html

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My two have expired passports but we were just weighing options. You convinced me with the emergency flight to just get the passport books again. You just never know and they will be good to go for 10 years.

 

Thanks for your responses!

I'm a consular officer in Jamaica (which also covers cayman) and you'd be surprised how many of those flights we unfortunately handle. I'm a fan of always being prepared!

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I am on the glory in a week and it said sold out until about 45 days out. They were available for 4-5 days before selling out again.

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I don't see any advantage to book a future cruise on Carnival or even Princess. Take advantage of any "cruise deals" that you receive in your email or at their website. On our future Canadian cruise we have a $850 OBC, something we would have never received if we booked on board. Keep the money in your pocket as long s you can.

How do you build up credit like that? Price drops?

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I'm going to start by saying I haven't used one before. But I recommend against them and here is why.

The value of having a passport as ID on a cruise, in my opinion, is so if something happens you can fly back home. The passport card is not valid for air travel. I personally suggest using a full passport.

Now, if you're looking to save some money, consider a full passport for kids 16 or older since those don't expire for 10 years (as opposed to 5) and let the younger ones travel on their BC or the passport card (if the fee is worth the convenience of not having to carry around the BC).

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The ship in question was a Zenith cruise ship capable of carrying only 1800 passengers.

 

The big guys hold in position as described above with a GPS operated autopilot. They also move during the day based on wind and wave action, some very little and some several hundred yards.

 

UH grad and hunter here Quackattack!

 

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Quackattack for the university of Oregon. Aggie for utah state university. Sorry to let you down!

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To be accurate, ships do not anchor in Grand Cayman. They take their assigned positions and maintain that spot with automatic thruster operation based on satellite GPS tracking. I believe that anchoring ships is not allowed because it does not allow for precise position maintenance and could do serious damage to the eco system under water.

They anchor. One of the ships destroyed a reef a few months ago with the anchor.

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Is Zika only dangerous if you're pregnant?

Yes. Otherwise it is flu like. Rarely there is some paralysis.

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Can you order food to snack on all day or do you get lunch all at once?

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You may wish to confirm this with a little research but I read the other day the mosquitos transmitting Zika virus are day feeders. Also, some ships that call at San Juan don't leave until late.... 10 P.M. or after. My late DH and I love that port and we always enjoyed a wonderful dinner ashore and then boarded for sail away. Check your itinerary to see if you sail at dusk or later.

 

 

 

I live in Jamaica. This is the guidance we were given by the embassy doctors. It's the times they're MOST active. But not the only time they're around.

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Most decent credit cards offer trip insurance and they have been great to me. The health side is really important though. As a consular officer serving in a cruise destination, believe me when I say nobody thinks they need it until it's too late.

Luckily my health insurance covers air ambulance though.

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Do your research on the CDC web site. The specific mosquito that transmits zika (CHIKV and dengue) lives in urban areas, primarily snacks on humans, and bites during the day (not at night). Anywhere there is standing water, there is the possibility of a breeding ground. DEET is your best defense.

They bite most often at sun up and sundown. If you can avoid being outside at those times, it helps a lot.

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I did guarantee for a cruise in two weeks. My room is the tenth deck.

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Any opinion on Rackams?

Coming from Jamaica, so I'm not interested in jerk this trip. Doing two all inclusives later, so I just want a nearby beach with fish n chips and places to walk around. Any ideas?

I only am familiar with resorts. Holiday Inn Montego Bay and Jewel Runaway Bay are my favorites. I assume you're flying to montego and not Kingston. They're both fairly pricey, holiday inn is cheaper. Both are all inclusive and I believe both have a shuttle to the airport.

Actually it probably IS NOT:rolleyes: The fatality rate per resident is higher in the USA than Jamaica:

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

 

 

 

 

 

I won't worry any more in Jamaica than I will going to work every day in the US. Your comment that "accidents happen hourly" in the DC area pretty much sums thing up.......why would that be safer than Jamaica?

I responded earlier but I just noticed only the population ratio is low. Most people in Jamaica don't have a car, so that makes sense. But the ratio of cars to deaths is 5x more in Jamaica than the USA. I'm fact, the US State department has an 8 paragraph warning on their Jamaica travel page about the dangerous driving conditions.

I'm not saying don't visit or don't take an excursion. Just know the dangers of driving.

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Actually it probably IS NOT:rolleyes: The fatality rate per resident is higher in the USA than Jamaica:

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

 

 

 

 

 

I won't worry any more in Jamaica than I will going to work every day in the US. Your comment that "accidents happen hourly" in the DC area pretty much sums thing up.......why would that be safer than Jamaica?

The fatality rate is low because speeds are low. Injuries and pedestrian deaths are common. Driving in Jamaica is absolutely a safety issue. Roads don't have railings or signs, speed limits are ignored, potholes are massive and rarely fixed, public transportation doesn't have seat belts, etc.

Here is a blog article with video that I wrote about it https://ficklomat.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/welcome-to-jamrock-driving-in-jamaica/

The first video is kingston, which has the best roads. The roads on the north coast are more comparable to the Mountain Road in the second video.

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A little drastic don't you think? Are you worried about driving in your home town every day? Without even knowing where you are from I can pretty well guarantee there has been at least one fatal accident this year somewhere in your area.

Accidents happen. It absolutely sucks that it happened to people who were on vacation. I guess that's why you should enjoy the time you have, because you really never know what could happen.

Driving in Jamaica is insane. It really is. No respect for lanes or lights or pedestrians. Plus traffic is horrific. My 6-8 mile commute can take over an hour.

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You should consider getting a better credit card for travel. I have about 26 different cards and I'd be shocked if 5 don't have travel insurance. It came in really handy during a cruise I cancelled last year.

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