born2cruize

I was born with a congenital birth defect that went undiscovered until my mid-40's. I'm 58 now and am active and symptom free. Sadly two separate cardiologists in the past 2 months have both predicted I've got 10yrs till aortic valve replacement will have to been done. I'm kinda in shock as I just never really thought it would come to that - easy to believe when you have no symptoms. :o

 

So as my health and fitness will begin to decline leading up to replacement -- I'm figuring that I have 7 or 8 years to cruise without too much anxiety. I'm trying to get my bucket list cruises booked or on the list because I believe that after surgery -- I think I will not be comfortable being out of the country or out to sea. :(

 

I'm not disabled - but I don't know else where I should be asking these questions. Is there anyone else out there cruising before or after aortic valve replacement? How has this changed the way you cruise or the insurance that you purchase? Does getting away from known medical care cause you worry? Any words of advice are welcomed!!!!

 

The good news is that they are doing TAV (replacement through the artery) on older - high risk patients today instead of the full blown open heart surgery. While today I would have to have open heart surgery -- I'm praying that when my time comes that this will be more common practice and available to me.

While I haven't had a valve replacement, I did have 3CABG in 2009. I think the main issue is to follow your doctors advice. Never miss an appointment. Make sure you attend your cardiac rehab therapy.

I never let my medical history (I've had other issues) affect my life. I did a 2 week Alaska Cruise two months before my surgery, 4 months after I spent 2 weeks in Hawaii. The only thing I can say about my stamina was that while cruised in 2010 and 2011. I had no stamina I did very little on the cruises. It also forced me to retire at the end of 2010 because I was missing so much work. My 2011 cruise was a 5 day land and 12 day cruise in the Mediterranean. But I'm glad to say that by following my doctors recommendations, my stamina has improved to the point that since 2011, I've been to Europe in 2013 & 2014, did another Alaskan cruise in 2012 with land tour, did 2 Hawaii cruises in 2012 and have done land vacations in San Diego, Anaheim x3 and Hawaii. Next year I have planned 2 weeks in Anaheim, B2B Alaskan cruise & 2 weeks on the Big Island and Maui all within a three month period.

As far as your "shock", my wife discovered that she had a weak heart, she hated doctors, missed appointments and died this past July from heart failure. Two different people with two different outlooks on life. My vacation are worked around my medical appointments but I will continue to live my life to the best of my capabilities.

Keep up with your appointments, follow their advice and when it's time for surgery have it done and don't look back you'll have many more years to go.

My father has a buggy and he and my mother will be accompanying us on our cruise in May. From prior experience we know that the buggy is a PITA on ship excursions in the Caribbean at least, so I am looking for suggestions either for private tours who can accommodate a buggy, his is reasonably small and can be taken to pieces to fit in the average boot/trunk. He can get in and out of most vehicles on his own. There will be 5 adults.

Stops are

 

Dubrovnik, Croatia 7:00 AM 5:00 PM

Athens, Greece 7:00 AM 7:00 PM

Izmir (Ephesus), Turkey 9:00 AM 6:00 PM

Crete (Heraklion), Greece 9:00 AM 7:00 PM

Valletta, Malta 7:00 AM 5:00 PM

Palermo (Sicily), Italy 7:00 AM 4:00 PM

Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 7:00 AM 8:00 PM

Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy 7:00 AM 7:00 PM

Marseilles (Provence), France 9:00 AM 6:00 PM

 

The 3 of us want very much to see as much of the 'tourist' places in Rome and Athens, plus Pisa (I am going to see the catacombs in Sicily but dad wont want to go) but are very open to anything for the rest of the stops but with a leaning towards culture rather than thrills/swimming etc.

I've got pretty much a different view on most of ports you mentioned. The following are the ports and years that I used a scooter full time.

Dubrovnik (2013), Athens (2013), Ephesus (2013), Rome (2013 & 2014), Pisa/Florence (2013 & 2014)

I wasn't going to let anything in my way for any of these stops. None were tender ports and I have a travelscoot so was able to fold it into the trunk or in the case of the minivan in Pisa and Florence the back end.

In Dubrovnik I used a ships tour. The only difficulty was going down into the old town, just go slow and you'll be fine. The other people on the tour helped me lift the scooter up a few steps at a couple of sites.

In Athens I did a private tour but can't remember the name it was a standard car with just my wife and I. We went to the top of the Acropolis using the elevator toward the back, and visited all the buildings on the Acropolis. We also visited many other sites that was customized for our ability.

In Ephesus, I sure did use my scooter to go down the hill to visit all the ruins. The volume of people was more in the way than the roadway although it was rough. Go slow and take your time.

In Rome there's nothing you can't do. In 2013 we were in Rome on a land tour and saw almost everything that the "normal folks saw". The only exception was the Vatican Museum. We, my wife and I visited the floor that the lift to the Sistine Chapel was on. While the others visited the floor above. I can confirm that going from the SISTINE CHAPEL TO ST. PETERS BASILICA is not possible without retracing your steps from the Sistine Chapel out the Museum around the museum and into St. Peters Square up to the Basilica and into St. Peters. Because of that we were not able to do the Basilica that year.

The following year we did a ships tour that just dropped us off near St. Peter's Square and we were on our own. Because we had to wait for no one, we visited everything we saw in 2013 plus took another elevate up to the floor above and saw everything on that floor. Again because we were on our own we actually did make it into St. Peters Basilica and stayed to our hearts content.

In Pisa/Florence we did a private tour with RomeinLimo. About an hour in Pisa and the rest of the time in Florence. Unfortunately in Pisa because of the morning time we were there, we could not enter the Basilica because of services. And in Florence we ran out of time.

Hi Everyone,

 

Just booked an Alaskan cruise on CEL that visits Tracy Arm Fjord.

 

My question to those that have experienced Alaska is there a big difference between viewing Tracy Arm vs Glacier Bay vs Hubbard Glacier? If so could you please elaborate why one is better than the other.

 

I received some great insight &I feedback pertaining to my previous cruise and would value some insight into Alaska.

 

Thanks!

This question is asked several times a season. It's like someone asking which is better, Apple Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie or Pumpkin Pie. It's all in the eyes of the beholder. Budget Queen gave the best answer, they're all good just different. Our society is hung up with "the best" without consideration of individual preferences.

I would love to hear more detail about the boat ride that goes to the bear viewing place. I understand that the trip is about two hours long, in each direction. Is the scenery quite handsome along the way-- or is it mainly about getting to see the bears at the end? How does this boat excursion compare to others as far as likelihood for sea-sickness? How about the general comfort of the boat?

 

I know that in other ports, bear watching is not good in May, because the salmon are not yet running. But is my understanding correct that for this trip, the salmon would not be a factor as the bears eat vegetation rather than salmon? Are these different bears from the ones at Anan (if I'm remembering the name correctly)?

 

Thanks for replies, and for pointing out any other things I'm forgetting to ask.

We were on the initial Celebrity Infinity cruise in May 2007. Our port stop on May 12 was Prince Rupert and we did the bear viewing cruise to the Sanctuary. We only saw two bears but hung around for awhile. The tour was a five hour cruise and as you mentioned it took almost 2 hours to get there, we did do a detour as there was some whale sightings from another area and we went to check it out. You are right that salmon is not the reason bears come down the mountains. From what I understand due to hibernation they are stopped up and need the skunk cabbage to free everything up. It's apparently a great laxative.

We had great weather but cool in the morning so dressing warm is a must. Scenery is wonderful, think mini Misty Fjords. With the sun rising in front of you you can get wonderful pictures. Most of the people on our tour stayed inside the boat which I thought was a terrible waste of time as you had to be out on the water to enjoy the scenery and take pictures.

Here is a thread that is going on the Carnival site on Cruise Critic

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=47957437#post47957437

 

Yes and Princess is doing the same thing. I can not understand why they would rather allow a Travel agent to give you a better solo rate than you can get directly through them. I prefer to book directly with the cruise line. They have to pay the Travel agents a fee why would they not give it directly to their stock holding customer. As a stock holder I question the mentality of that decision. Keep your customers that like to cruise happy! I had a long discussion with Princess customer relations with a person that was pretty high up yesterday. They give the TA special promotion rates to sell out their ships. So why not offer it directly to the customer as well.

Makes no sense to me....! Princess is also a Carnival company!

There prime interest is NOT the solo traveler. More bodies on board means more revenue. They are not in the business of charity.

Just a question to ponder while counting down to the next cruise...

 

On my upcoming Star Princess cruise, the current pricing has insides starting at $919.00 per person, OVs starting at $999.00, balconies starting at $1,149.00, minisuites at $1,379.00 and suites at $2,099.00...

 

AND for a 3rd or 4th passenger in the SAME CABIN, it's $234.00 for an inside, $274.00 for an OV, $349.00 for a balcony, $464.00 for a minisuite and $699.00 for a suite...

 

So, here is the question: Why should it cost $40 more for a third passenger in an OV than in an inside cabin? Or $115 more in a balcony cabin...and so on?

 

Princess is getting its price for the dual occupancy. That third occupant is really just an extra--not taking up any more space on the ship...

Yes, of course, they are eating...and taking up space in the showroom and consuming other included services... and, of course, that is why you DO have a 3rd/4th person charge...

 

But that 3rd in an OV or balcony isn't eating or consuming any more than the 3rd in an inside. It doesn't cost Princess one cent more if the couple in the balcony cabin brings their kid than if the couple in the inside cabin brings theirs...

 

Wouldn't it make more sense that all 3rd and 4th passengers should be at a standard rate--straight across the board? Or does Princess just do this because they can?

 

It's been a long, long time since I've booked a cruise with a third and fourth...not since my now grown-up kids were little...but, I guess I'm a little bored and I was looking at the booking page and it caught my eye...

Using your logic, why should an OV be more expensive than a Inside, Balcony more than an OV. They don't take up any more space on the ship, they don't eat or consume any more. I believe the 3rd/4th pay more is just like the original 2 passengers, for the privilege of traveling in a higher grade cabin.

Besides the simple answer is because they can.

I've also been on all three ships, though I was on the Island before the drydock. It does depend on your habits. While the Island and the Coral are smaller, as a person who like to take photographs they are the WORSE for taking pictures. If you are just going to look they are very good but on the open upper deck area you are looking through blue/green colored panels. The Star on the other hand while larger has plenty of open unobstructed viewing area on the upper decks.

This for all the good info, has anyone taken 2 batteries on board?

Actually I take 3 on board the plane because my late wife and I both have a Travelscoot. Plus we had a spare between us.

I have a satchel that not only do I put the 3 Travelscoot batteries but my Oxygen Concentrator also uses Lithium-Ion batteries so I carry 3 for it. While the O2 uses smaller batteries (about half the size of the Travelscoot Lithium-Ion), 6 batteries are pretty hefty. The second time I went to Rome I used a Respironic EverGo that took 2 Lithium-Ion batteries. I had a total of 11 batteries for the O2 alone.

My sister has flown with her scooter many times. She gate checks the scooter and never takes the battery onto the plane with her. She always leaves it on the scooter (she has a Luggie). She's never had any issues.

Does she have a Lithium-Ion battery or a Lead Acid battery? Two different ways of handling them.

To the best of my knowledge, any Li-ion battery installed in a device is fine for air travel as checked baggage. TSA does not allow loose batteries of this type in checked baggage. So, unless you are taking a spare battery, you should be fine.

The Travelscoot Lithium-Ion battery is not the same as loose Lithium-Ion batteries. Under no situation are large (Travelscoot size) Lithium-Ion batteries allowed in the cargo hold of commercial airlines. Federal regulations differentiates between different size Lithium batteries.

Been to Glacier Bay 3 times, Hubbard Glaccier 3 times and College Fjord once.

First off Hubbard Glacier is like no other glacier you'll see in Alaska. The sheer magnitude is spectacular. However of the three times I've been there we failed to get into the bay once because of fog and once we had so much ice that the Captain turned around in the bay and did not get as close as I've was the first time.

If your more interested in the scenery as well as getting close to a glacier then Glacier Bay is the choice. You'll generally see 3 or 4 glacier including a hanging glacier.

College Fjord glaciers are not necessarily impressive but the sheer number and variety is interesting. We did not get close to any of these glaciers. We saw all the glaciers from a distant.

All three glacier areas form their own weather by the sheer size of the area so don't expect clear skies and sunny weather, dress warm.

Because I've lived in the Pacific Northwest for 45 years I'm jaded when it comes to the scenery. I get spectacular views of Mount Rainier whenever we have a nice day. None of the three areas have scenery to match Mount Rainier. Not even Denali.

I am considering the NCL trip to Lahaina. Does anyone know how frequently it runs? Or when the last bus is from Lahaina?

This is not a shuttle, they take you to Lahaina, drop you off and then pick you up at the designated place and time, generally by the old Banyan Tree about 3:00.

As of right now no lava is flowing into the ocean which would be the only time that you would see any activity from the ship. Lava is flowing on land but that changes often. POA hasn't done a lava sailby in years.

As far as Na Pali coast. Initially the port side is the side for viewing. You'll start seeing the coast around 4 - 4:30 for about an hour to 1 1/2 hours depending on how slow the Captain goes. When the ship gets near the end of the coast he will turn the ship around and head to Honolulu. After the turn around he's not nearly as close to shore and he travels at a faster cruising speed.

We will be in Rome on a HA cruise on Sept. 8. What kind of a tour did you do that was able to take your wheelchair? All that I have seen are private and cost a fortune. DH has a mobility scooter and will be using it for the first time. So we are novices to all of this. Thanks

Last year was our third time in four years to be in Rome. The last 2 I have been using a scooter. In 2013 we were on a land tour but last year we just let Princess provide the transportation into Rome then we just cruised around. While the transportation from Princess provided 9 hours, 3 hours was the actual time between the port and Rome. While we didn't use the HOHO bus system that is a possibility for someone who hasn't been to Rome. All the sites are W/C assessable

maybe a little bumpy over the cobblestone but doable.

If you're asking about travel for the entire cruise tour the answer is NO. They ALL offer combinations between rail and motorcoach. Often the longest stretch is the rail but not always.

Little OT but we generally eat in the Crown Grill the first night on every cruise. We'd like to eat more often but we'd sink the ship with the weigh gain.:D

So my wife spoke to Princess and was told we may only bring onto the bus, and have access to during the day, one bag per person no bigger than 14 x 17 x 4 inches. We've laid out binoculars, camera, water bottle, sunglasses case, Kindle, a couple of energy bars, medications needed during the day, collapsible walking stick, sunscreen, foot care items for all the walking, hand sanitizer wipes, iPod and earphones, and clothing items for the suggested "layering." No way does all this fit into 14 x 17 x 4. I have a hard time going through that list of items and identifying things that wouldn't make sense to have during any given day or excursion for the 8 land days we'll have via the bus. Wearing all the clothing all the time obviously defeats the purpose of layering plus would be too warm on the bus.

 

Am I looking at this right? Can any land-sea Alaska veterans suggest a packing strategy that fits the limit we were told?

That rule only applies to items that you take during different transit days. You also have your luggage that meets you at the lodge that evening. You also have the options of designating luggage that you won't need until you either get on the ship or don't need until you fly home, depending on which way your land tour is either before or after you cruise. That rule also does not apply to medical items.

The bags you designate as "meeting you at the lodge" will be in your room shortly after you check in. More than likely that luggage arrives before you do.

Whale watching definitely out of Juneau. In Ketchikan I'd choose either floatplane or totem poles at with Totem Bight State Park (my favorite) or Saxman Village. As others have said Skagway is your walking around port unless you want a train ride.

While it's been a couple of years since I asked it was free in the morning but not in the dining room for dinner. We use to always get it after dinner but then they started charging for it or said not available.

I was at Ephesus in June 2013 with my Travelscoot. Had no problem going from the top to the bottom. Would not work if going in the opposite direction. It is no easy but doable. As long as you weave around the street it can done. I think only once or twice did I have to stand up and walk my scooter out of a hole between cobblestones. You must be able to use your legs because in certain areas of the marble street it gets slick going downhill and you'll need your feet and legs to break your momentum. In fact I'm thinking of returning for our third time.

The only stairs was to the area currently being excavated and in the area around the library if you wish to go into the library structure. Which I didn't see the need to do. I didn't go into the Great Theater as I was pretty tired by then and we were running out of time.

I can only base it on July/Aug of last year out of Southampton. Both I and my wife's internet minutes did roll over to the next cruise. Haven't cruised since so don't know if they "fixed" this "problem".

Yes, scooters are welcome and yes they attempt to keep a group together. However, I believe only the HC person and “helper” are free of charge, thus you may have to wait until your other companions purchase their tickets.

 

If you look up the Vatican on the internet, they still may sell tickets on line. If so, that would eliminate the ticket line for those that have to purchase one.

 

The last time we were there, they were doing some restorations and we had sort of a strange route getting into St. Peter's Basilica.

 

Have a wonderful cruise,

Betty

We were in the Vatican Museum in July of last year. At that time there was no way for a person in a mobility scooter to get from the museum to St. Peters without going out and around an entering from St. Peters Square. along the right side you'll find a ramp that takes you to an area that has an elevator that will allow you to get to the entrance of the basilica. There is a small lift that takes you from the museum to enter the Sistine Chapel. But from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peters are stairs.

A group of 11 will be visiting in June and after our Bennet Scenic tour with Chilkoot, will spend some time in the town. I want to visit the Red Onion Saloon and thought about the tour with a "madame" but we will have a 1a or 12 year old neice in our group (not sure of her age). I know it's not going to be X-rated or anything like this, but for those who have taken the tour, what do you think?

view some youtube video for Red Dog Saloon.

Hard to know what some folks might consider offensive or inappropriate.

Red Dog is in Juneau, Red Onion is in Skagway.

At least in 2013, they gave everyone on the ship water taxi tickets. But it wasn't charged to your account until you used them. Since we has been on a land tour we didn't need them and was not charged.

Thanks to all for the great info!

 

To clarify....we were looking at May and June of 2016. With schedules only out til April, that explains why those were not available.

 

Also, was not aware there was a "season" for the California to Hawaii cruises because we've never followed them before. A little adjustment to April and we might be in luck!

 

THANKS AGAIN!

Princess is the only West Coast homeport to Hawaii out of LA or SF on a regular basis. Most others only go to Hawaii during repositioning between the Caribbean and Alaska. Princess West Coast ships transition to Alaska around May to September and that is why there is generally no Hawaii cruises from May through September except Pride of America (NCL).

I only see two options for you. Either change the timeframe you want to cruise to Hawaii or if May/June is a must then consider NCL (Pride of America).

You gave the impression that you weren't keen on taking the short NCL cruise, some people do not like the long flight between their home and Hawaii. If that doesn't bother you consider an NCL cruise and a stay on the islands. Also when you consider Hawaii, the cruises from the West Coast only spends 4 days generally on the islands on a 15 day cruise. The Pride of America spends 7 days on the islands for a 7 day cruise. I guess the bigger question is why are you going to Hawaii, to be on a cruise or visit Hawaii?