PoppyVelvet

For our 2026 cruises, my husband starts planning his big birthdays a LONG way out… like nearly 5 years! I decided to lock him in when we settled in the cruises (having been through a variety of other options) We’ve always said that happiness is having an overseas flight in our Qantas bookings or a cruise booking. Makes finishing the current holiday a bit more bearable!

My father had Parkinson’s and this brings back memories. It is also similar to how I have to help my husband. He has low vision in one eye and none in the other so he doesn’t see in 3D. I have to tell him about cobblestones or low or high gutters (“big step” or “litt.le step”). In New York I have to constantly warn him about the fire hydrants that stick out of buildings at knee height. When we get to a new hotel or cabin I have to warn him if there is hard to see glass shower screens in the bathroom and of any steps up or down. One hotel we stayed at had the bed on a platform not much bigger than the bed and he was stubbing his toes or falling off it constantly. Our last three week stay in New York the room we were assigned had a huge step up into the bathroom. I got us moved to a different room to avoid the problems it would have caused.

So far the invitation to join us has resulted in deafening silence, which is pretty much what I expected! Those Viking Nile river cruise boats don’t hold a lot of passengers so I hope no one decides to book later but misses out.

I don’t think most smokers know how far the smoke travels and they need to be aware of it. Also how much they smell of it in close situations like lifts 😖

My mother had a massive stroke at 63 the week before she was retiring and lived the rest of her life in a nursing home unable to even take herself to the toilet. I’d been urging her to retire for years - she wanted to save more money to leave my brother and I. We didn’t need it. I’m 56 now my husband is 58 and I have decided to retire by 60. It’s scary thinking of having no salary coming in so heartening to read all your stories. Thanks!

We’ve booked in Jan/Feb 2026 for my husband’s 60th - he’s always wanted to do a Nile cruise and safaris in Southern Africa. We’ve booked the Nile cruise with Viking and invited all our friends and family to join if they can. We wanted to give everyone plenty of time to plan (and save!) The Southern Africa is just us, with Silversea. It’s fun having travel to look forward to so far ahead.

We take a Heymix GaN charger each - they are tiny and plug into the PowerPoint and have 1 x USB A and 2 x USB C plus we each take a ChargeASAP fold out charger that plugs into the Heymix (C to C) and does our iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously. It uses a C to C cable so when our iPads, camera gear or my MacBook Pro need charging we remove it from the three way charger and use that. My Bose headphones are micro USB as is my make up mirror so a USB A to micro looks after those. Our Philips toothbrush charging case has built in USB A so that goes in the Heymix charger too when required (about once every two weeks). The only other thing is my hair styling tool, which uses AC power. It doesn’t have dual voltage so I have an Australian version and a US version. I have adapters for EU and UK for the Australian one. This is a long description but it all packs into a very small pouch each and is lightweight.

I asked for that didn’t I

I’m Australian so keep in mind it may be different to be a returning citizen than a visiting American, but I never take medications in or out or anywhere I’ve been for that matter, nor do I carry a doctor’s letter or the prescriptions and I’ve never had any trouble. I’ve entered Australia, USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore with both OTC and prescriptions medications. In Australia domestically there are no liquids restrictions but some airports require aerosols to be taken out of your carry on and put in a tray to go through the scanner.

I don't think the knickers would hold up my husband's monster Lumix camera though!

I’m in a hotel for a week. I washed a pair of undies in the shower yesterday and set up our camera tripod to dry them in the sun from the window. Like you, I don’t know what housekeeping thought!

Does the Plus package include bottled sparkling water?

Yes I was happy to find that but I’m dreading my non-Australian cruises being spoiled by smoke I’m in London RN and was surprised, when sitting in a restaurants outdoor space where people were eating, to have people lighting up at the next table! Ugh! This doesn’t happen in Australia (although people can and do light up in the public space right next to the eating area - but I will ask them to move if they do). This is a great idea. I’m neuro divergent and my husband is legally blind. We find that it is usually reasonably easy to get assistance with his vision issues but not so much for my autism ☹️

Above anything, get rid of smoking indoors (if I had my way there’d be no smoking anywhere indoors or out where it can waft on to other people and I’m not just talking cruise ships here)

Good on you! I love your attitude to saving for your special trip. I’m sure you will do just as well with your BI cruise next year. I can “hear” your excitement!

Not sure exactly what you consider luxury but KEIO Plaza at Shinjuku is amazing, particularly if you book a club floor room (can’t remember if that’s the exact name). We’ve stayed at the Celestine in Kyoto and love it and there are two Celestines in Tokyo. One is at Ginza

Thanks. I feel a bit nervous about it so I’ll have to have a think about it before deciding

What’s the traffic like in the area? We’ll be there with Oceania in October and self drive sounds interesting but I’ve never driven on the “wrong” side of the road and my husband is blind so he won’t be driving!

We haven’t cruised Japan or anywhere yet but I’ve been there three times, most recently in March this year. We find it very easy to get around and the exchange rate is pretty good right now. I look forward to combining our love of Japan with cruising in future.

One size fits all is usually a bit small for me but these ones from Tokyo stretch so they fit me quite well

Great! My husband just joined the FB group (I don’t go on FB anymore). Unfortunately we are going to Singapore/London/Frankfurt over the first half of May so we’ll have to wait for the next one 😢

I’ve seen those laundry hampers. In hotels we use the laundry bags that come with our Away suitcases and I thought for a cruise I’d use it and attach to a wall with magnets.

Good idea about the hotel slippers. Can they be bought or do you take them from hotels? I have a nice pair from our Tokyo hotel a couple of months ago but they don’t last long.

No I didn’t know. Thanks!

I’ve already booked 5 and haven’t stepped foot on a ship yet!