CruisingAlong4Now

Just want to add a comment that Medicare in the US will usually pay for a rollator if medically necessary.

I believe in human inertia.

What do you do with the prepaid gratuities at the end of your cruise? 79% I leave the gratuities on my invoice. 18% I remove all prepaid gratuities and leave my own tips to specific crew members. 3% I remove all prepaid gratuities and do not tip at all. 3,566 people have voted in this poll Cruise Ship Tipping and Prepaid Gratuities: Should I Tip More? - WanderWisdom

My understanding is that while wage income is taxed in the crews' home countries, there are some countries that do not tax gratuities. I cannot post a reference to this, but I was told this many years ago.

Some of the all-inclusive luxury lines run sales that make them cost competitive to some higher priced mass market lines.

IMHO, people who have an expectation (or fear) of boredom usually are bored.

I find that insurance is like a suitcase. Whatever I used for my last trip, just doesn't seem to work for my next trip!

Balconies don't generally interest me. But then again, I don't cruise the Caribbean where they might be more enjoyable. I'm more interested in the food, the level of service, and the feeling of quiet luxury.

Yes- and they code share

Seabourn's "little sisters" were true luxury at about 200 passengers.

Luggage Forward has an excellent reputation. I've used them several times and it was relaxing not having to deal with checked bags. Check out this current thread.

...

I just ran the flight. On AA, nonstop flight AA79, the main cabin Flexible Fare from LHR to DFW on July 21, 2024 is $2670. Seems totally in line with other long-haul transatlantic fares.

Luggage Forward was well worth the cost. It was so nice to travel with only a small carryon for our pre-cruise vacation. I would advise however, to follow their instructions precisely with regards to what can and cannot be packed.

Someone who really understands the purpose of insurance. Kudos to Mr. VentureMan!

Thanks for the replies. Sadly, this cruise is not for me. I am not looking for an expedition. I'm looking for a cruise. I associate "expedition" with less traveled and less "first world" experiences. I was just looking for an easy cruise that circumnavigated the Isles.

I'm looking at the 14-Day Lands of the Celts cruise around Great Britain. Boarding (at Greenwich) and all the ports say "TENDER BY ZODIAC". I'm surprised to find a Great Britain cruise is an Expedition voyage. Am I reading this correctly?

Hope hubby is doing well. You certainly got the "Paris unknown to most tourists" tour. No one needs insurance until they need insurance. Too many people focus on recovering the cost of the cruise, which is a sunk, known, and limited expense. They really need to look at the unknown and unlimited expense of medical and evac costs.

I flew non-stop Narita to JFK. 13 hrs. Wonderful flight. I'm glad I didn't break the journey. My first trip to Australia, I flew JFK-LAX, LAX-SYD. 2-3 hr connection time. Arrived in SYD more tired and headache-y than on any other trip. Next trip to Australia, I flew JFK-SFO, SFO-SYD. I overnighted in SFO and felt a little better than my first trip, but still not great. If I had my choice, I would push for a non-stop Watch this video review fo the non-stop flight:

Crystal cruise line offers double cabins to solo travelers at a significant discount to usual solo fare. Crystal Cruises | Offer Details

Can't say that I'm interested in any of the people from school. We were friends many years ago. If I were interested, I'd have arranged seeing those people. Are school reunions a thing?

Check your airline. When travelling intra-Europe, I had my carry on bag weighed! 2023 Carry-on Luggage Size Chart for 64 Airlines [Dimensions] (upgradedpoints.com)

With so many flights flying full, I'm not sure that Delta (or any other airline) could easily put you on another flight. However, JetBlue is also flying to other US cities. I think they are also flying to Boston. You are not totally out of luck. Getting from BOS to NYC is not difficult so this is another option. In reality, if the problem is a weather related issue, all airlines will be affected and if it's a mechanical issue with the plane, this could happen to any airline. It's not as if they have extra planes in reserve waiting to be used. If there is a problem with a flight and you are at the airport, I have found that using the app or calling the airline's hot line to arrange alternative transportation during a problem is more effective than waiting at the gate with several hundred other screaming people. Read post #8 on Delta ATL to LHR - Cruise Air - Cruise Critic Community

Deleted. Duplicate

The cost of insurance generally reflects the period of time at risk. So a 4-night cruise should be less expensive that a world cruise. You have to determine what is at risk and what needs to be insured. "Cruise insurance" encompasses many different areas of financial exposure. You have to decide what you want to insure. 1. First is the cost of the cruise if you cannot travel due to "covered" reasons. This is a finite amount which you have already paid. This may reimburse you and make you whole. Losing this amount is upsetting, but not financially devasting. At worst, you don't have a vacation. 2. The cost of medical expenses you incur during your cruise due to illness, death, or injury. This may be an amount that could exceed your financial resources and cause you long term financial insolvency. Very few US medical plans cover expenses incurred outside the US. Many hospitals outside the US require a deposit be made before treatment can be started and the bill must be paid in full before you leave. See a recent tale of uninsured Americans being treated at a hospital in Mexico: Florida couple stranded in Mexican hospital after cruise pit stop takes a horrifying turn - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale There are many other components to "travel insurance". Read through the posts and decide what risks you want to self-insure and what risks you want to transfer to an insurer.