libtrek

Recently cruised on Jewel to Alaska with hubs who uses a cane and has been diagnosed with dementia. His memory is bad, he is slow walking, he gets cranky but not violent. Some suggestions from our experience. 1. For slow cane walkers, request wheelchair service for airports and embarkation/debarkation. 2. Assume you will need to help him. Take advantage of ship laundry and only bring one big suitcase. Get string type lightweight backpacks for both of you. One easy carry on, stack on big case? 3. If going to Alaska during light season, assume it will cause disorientation. Keep curtains shut, bring an eye mask, tell him they are having a Lone Ranger contest. As mine got up at 1am, assumed it was afternoon, got dressed and tried to leave, bring bells or something for door so you will wake up. 4. I understand you can request a kids ID bracelet that has your information. Tell him if he wears it all cruise, he will get a free beer. 5. I found fellow cruisers to be very kind and helpful. I just smiled and said thank you. You never know how much time you have or if there will be a next time. 6. KISS. I made things too complicated. Go for direct flights, closest hotel to port, etc. Extra cost will be worth it.

Yes, he has changed in many ways. Way less active and sleeps a lot. Thanks for the hug! Have contacted local aid agency but still thinking about what I want to do. No home care help yet but I can see it in our future. I want to keep him home as long as I can. He is cranky at times but every day is Ground Hog Day.

We’ve cruised to Alaska 5+ times. This was the first with Hubs using a walking cane and newly diagnosed with beginning dementia.1. I should have requested a wheelchair for airports and embarkation/debarkation. 2. Also, I didn’t realize how disorienting almost 24-hours of daylight would be. I learned new coping skills! Suggest a bell on the door or something similar in case they get up, get dressed, and try to leave thinking it’s 11am not pm. 3. Go light with luggage. Use the laundry service. Trying to juggle 2 suitcases and a slow, somewhat clumsy person is impossible. 4. Bring distractions for the dementia, colorful brochures, games etc. 5. Be honest with yourself, it’s a lot for one able person. I have to say, though, fellow passengers were VERY kind. When he got restless on the plane and wanted to get off, the lady sitting with us engaged him in a computer game on the screen. Another time, a young women came over after hearing him being very cranky and said she was a nurse on a dementia unit and offered to help and gave me suggestions. The cruise itself was, for the most part, great. 1. Embarkation in Vancouver was smooth BUT once on the ship, rooms not ready until 4pm. 2. All food was fine. We really liked ChinChin, had 4 specialty, Moderna, Cagneys, LeBisto, LaCucina. Service and food impressive. 3. We usually book our own tours, but with Hubs, decided to do ship tours. I was pleasantly surprised how well they went. It seemed like the operators are experienced in handling disabilities. Alaska is beautiful. I LOVED the train ride from Seward to Anchorage. 4. The staff did seem overworked and I miss having 2 room services a day. Despite that, staff was friendly with big smiles. Overall, I loved the cruise but came home exhausted from traveling home. It was bittersweet because I know we might not be able to go again.

OMG, I feel like an idiot. We too were on Jewel in a 11th floor club balcony. I used the two door closet and the couple desk drawers. As we were leaving yesterday, I asked hubs to check everywhere so we wouldn’t forget anything. He opens the small panel next to the closet and there is the safe and 3 good sized drawers. That I didn’t see or use. After 30 cruises, I was so surprised there was no safe in the room. Smacks head, I am getting old.

Question. We have 2 dinners as part of package and 2 for platinum. I was told to use platinum benefit first for Moderno. Plan to use the other for Cagneys. Do we automatically get the wine with Moderno or can we wait for Cagneys? Le Bistro and Cucina are our other restaurants.

Diverse? Open minded? Not so much in our thumb area. Our Lapeer public librarian was threatened with arrest over a LBQ book. The prosecutor backed off when a backlash occurred but it was obvious from his statement that he hadn’t actually read the book, only the jacket blurb.

More detail about FLIX bus. We fly into Seattle, then will take an Uber or taxi to S. Lane Street. There is a huge market there, Uwajimaya Seattle, where will lunch and shop until our bus comes. We purchased tickets online for about $37/person and got assigned seats and luggage tags for our suitcases. It will cross the border, I think we have to get off, walk through a checkpoint, then back on the bus. Drops us off at the Pacific Central Station in Vancouver. Again, taxi or Uber to hotel. Direct flight to Seattle from Detroit was much cheaper.

We are flying to Seattle, then taking FLIX bus to Vancouver. I will post after June12-19 cruise. We are going a day earlier and staying an extra at the end.

I have a two word first name, Mary Lou. It has been a pain for 70+ years. That said, my first and last names are always the same. It’s that darn second name. Sometimes put as first name, sometimes in full as middle name, sometimes an initial. It does seem to be more of a problem lately. Passport and divers license are correctly 2 word first, no middle. Thanks, Mom. NCL has it the “correct” way. Crossing fingers no problems.

I agree cruise insurance for we Medicare folks is almost mandatory. Cousins husband had heart attack on our cruise which necessitated 911 call onboard and emergency surgery in Dominican Republic. The bill was over $10,000 and thank goodness they bought cruise insurance. Still had to charge bills and then do reimbursement.

As a fellow two-word first name, no middle, I have been fighting the fight for 70+ years. I’ve had problems with passports, social security, etc. mothers, don’t do that to your babies. LOL

This makes me so sad. Forever they have said reading is a skill that ALL others build on. To eliminate our professional skills in libraries is so short sighted. I am sure any public library (my world) would welcome you and your skills onboard. Mary Lou

We wanted to stay in Seward for a day after embarking and enjoy the port. But we found rather limited options the next day to get to Anchorage flight. Ultimately chose debarkation train (early) to Anchorage, hotel for the night, and tour the area before late flight home. May have to take a nap at the airport, LOL.

Love your blog. As I’ve mentioned I have your dads brother from another mother in my DH. They have similar complaints. Mine is now obsessed with rocks. He picks them up and fills his backpack and pockets whenever we go to shore. On our last cruise he got into a scuffle with security who told him to dump the rocks. I had to do some fast explaining, and DH complained about those guys for hours. Expect the same on our June Jewel. Mary Lou

I must be easy to please. We were higher level Carnival before we switched to NCL. Don’t know if they still do it, but we would receive a gift on every Carnival cruise, branded tumbler, beach bag, small cooler, dop kit bag, photo frame. I still use all of the above. Listening, NCL?

Hi all, we’re the folks that booked atrium for better or worse. For dinner near there on our one pre cruise night I see Vancouver has pho, one of my favorites. There is NOTHING resembling it in my small-town, thumb of Michigan home. (We have MacBurgWen in town, and 3 total restaurants and China Buffet). So, best Pho ideas? Mary Lou

Us too. Maybe we’ll have a chance for a toast. I will be having a landmark bday just before we go.

Specifically on the Jewel, what is the difference between club and regular?

Thanks for the shout out! I have never met a library I didn’t love. We are doing this from NCL. I was uncertain about booking it, but glad we did. Been to Skagway before but took the trip with Dyea Dave and his top hat. RIP. My DH loves baseball hats so we will be getting the special. I have a quick question for you. In Vancouver for the night before we leave June 12. I booked the Atrium. Some have said it’s by skid row, etc. we will taxi there from bus station (took cheaper flight to Seattle) and will take hotel shuttle to pier. Are we ok, or should I try to cancel? I trust a fellow Librarian, after all we know everything, or so says my DH when he’s cranky. Mary Lou PS the hair switch would have resulted in a hard hair pull from my crank.

You know what, I think I’m an old softie. I love that your grand wants a princess moment. How about you other ladies wear a fancy top with your plain pants and let her shine. One fancy will fit in the luggage. I’m sure other passengers will compliment her, I would, who doesn’t like smiles? Mary Lou

My DH is a year older than your dad and showing dementia signs. I have to laugh at your dads comments, I hear the same every day. I am trying to copy your patience. We are going on Jewel in June, crossing my fingers and thumbs that DH will do well. Retired librarian Mary Lou

My new thing is just turning to idiots and saying bless your heart with a smile. This Michigan girl loves the way the south makes their thoughts known.

I was thinking about this too. My DH has some dementia and can be unsteady on his feet. But, for the most part he looks “normal” (whatever that is when you’re 80). We are platinum so that might help too. Things sure were simpler when we were 40.

It appears some people did NOT learn what they needed to know in kindergarten. Bless her heart.

Yikes, I am thinking we need to ditch this reservation pronto. Thanks Martincath for your candor. The hotel looks so nice on their website. We are taking a FLIX bus from Seattle arriving in Vancouver late afternoon at the pacific central station. We need a hotel close enough to taxi or walk to. After breakfast next morning. We will head to the ship. Not much time to play tourist, just dinner. Any suggestions? Mary Lou