PennyAgain

I agree with the above post. I would book directly with British Air for several reasons, not the least is getting Avios points for your flights (which may not happen with a discounter.

I always give myself at least 2.5 hours to change planes in LHR. Not only can it be busy, but it can be confusing especially after flying overnight.

I'm not as good as I used to be at dashing through airports.

My thanks for all the replies.

A refrigerator doesn't do me much good as I have to keep my medicines with me at all time including shore outings.

The Frio is working for me today even though it is raining and the humidity is high. I hope that is a good omen for future use.

Friends who have used them on flights have told me that they work well as long as they are out of your carry on bag where the air can circulate.

I'm sure the same issue would be true for carrying a Frio around in a purse.

$169 pp is a good deal. I would jump on it. I am a small person, certainly not at all tall and I would do it as I have no status on United.

Thanks for the great reply! Yes, the Frio is a product still made in the UK but available in the US from Amazon.com (and other sources.)

I live in a very dry climate so the Frio works for me at home and away as it works on evaporation.

I get 3 to 4 days of use out of it, before giving it about an 8 minute soak to recharge. It really is a genius product.

So I was worried that it might not work in a more humid environment like a ship.

My Epipens are not supposed to be chilled as in a refrigerator and I need to keep at least 2 of them with me at all times.

I could use advice on how well a Frio cool pack works on a ship. The Frio packs are for drugs of various sorts are can't be allowed to get warm, but the Frio packs use water and not ice.

My Frio pack works well for me in dry Texas. I need to know if it will work in a maritime environment.

Thanks.

If you order room service coffee (or more) please tip the waiter a buck or 2.

I don't order room service hot tea as it is generally served in a coffee server and tastes dreadful.

Every ship I've been on has some sort of early bird coffee and snack area set up as part of your total cruise price. On some of the larger ships it is open 24 hours.

Check your ship's info for particular information to your ship.

My DH had severe neuropathy in both his feet, ankles and hips at a young age. If you would look at him he looked like a strapping, healthy football player. However, he couldn't lift his legs up more than a few inches but he could walk. Later in his life walking became almost impossible and he had to use a wheelchair.

 

Because he couldn't lift his legs to enter the bathroom we had to have a HC Cabin. In the beginning of his illness people would see us leaving the Cabin and make comments or give us a funny look!

 

Sometimes you can't always see the handicap and not all handicapped people are in wheelchairs.

 

His illness taught me a good lesson in life, "it's best not to judge other folks unless you walk in their shoes!"

My husband is not allowed to lift more than 5 pounds due to an injury. People do stare and wonder why I am doing all the lifting. He can get humorous about it and tells some folks that he has me 'well trained' but the truth is that he could really hurt himself if he did heavy lifting.

While we agree with the OP's sentiments we need to point out a few things. Over the years DW and I have cruised on 14 different cruise lines and more then 70 ships. On every one of those cruises, the ship's own excursions have been given priority at tender ports. The general pecking order at tender ports is that the cruise ship's own excursions get the highest priority, then there are often other priority groups such as Platinum and Elite on Princess; Elite, Elite Plus etc on Celebrity; Diamond, Diamond Plus on RCI, etc. Some lines also give special priority to those in the more expensive suites. Once all those priority groups are accommodated they will begin a tendering process generally based on first come first serve.

 

So the bottom line for the OP is that this is just the way it is! If you do not like the procedure you can either not cruise, take cruises with no tender ports, or just go somewhere and cry. One other alternative is to cruise a lot and get yourself into one of the higher categories of frequent cruisers that get tender priority.

 

Hank

The bottom line is that no one is forced to cruise.

When we had to wait our turn to get off the ship, we just planned our breakfast accordingly and walked off at the appropriate time.

We fly to UK every year around. June-July time and typically prices are in the $1200 range, direct DFW-LHR. This is even booking 6 months out

Choice Air will always be cheaper:)

 

In the last 5 years the cheapest we have flown in June direct was $749.00 pp

Must of been a sale or a once off offer.

 

US-UK flights peak as soon as school kicks out in US early June all way through to school holidays in UK which runs till end of August.

 

If you fly into LGW, this is no problem, actually cheaper to get to Southampton

My experience has been much the same. The cheapest I can recall paying was $635 pp and that was in a March during a cold winter.

With the departures of huge cruise ships, the more expensive tickets will e those for day of departure flights.

I can always do better doing my own bookings than I can with Cruise Air but I've been doing this for a very long time.

LHR is very doable if you understand how it works. The amount of carryon stuff you are allowed varies by the class of service you purchased.

I have never had any issues with restrictions on Duty Free items but that may be in part because my carry on bag does not have wheels and is much smaller than the allowed size.

My 'personal item' is a small tote bag that can hold my last minute shopping and my purse.

My travels are much easier since I gave up using a carry on with wheels.

My checked bag has wheels so when not flying I can connect things together and use the wheels on that bag.

I have a ton of experience at car and van packing.

The breaking point may come if you have soft-sided and/or semi soft-sided bags that do not lay flat and stack evenly which can happen if such bags are really stuffed.

Also most bags are not perfectly square so as you are loading you may need to alternate that stacking so that the bottom end of one bag is lined up with the top end of another bag. Gee, I hope that makes sense!

If you really want to see this sort of job done properly, go to a hotel and watch how the bellmen load vehicles!

Any medicines that I can't live without travel in my carry on bag in their original containers, fully labeled.

I travel too much to take chances.

Period.

Margee, the bad news is that the people who check your carry on baggage at LHR (London Heathrow) are not American Airlines employees. They are airport employees who are famous for being difficult to deal with on carry on luggage especially bags with wheels. It seems they adore saying 'no' on bags especially for those of us returning to the USA.

American Airlines can't and won't help out sort this out.

LHR has its own sizers!

In my small wheel free carry on bag I put the things I cannot live without (medicines etc) and my comfort items. Things to do, a change of clothes, eye shades, shaw, slippers, snacks and water (bought when I am in the secure area of the airport) and my electronics and chargers.

My purse will easily fit in my little carry on if it comes to that.

Sorry you can't return that new bag. I guess you can check it.

All airlines have gotten tougher on carry in bags sizes even Southwest which likely would allow your new bag to be a carry on

My carry in under seat bag has no wheels and in 9 x 11 x 19 inches. I keep it under 17 pounds total weight. I always have one bag to check as I carry tools that the TSA doesn't. Allow in a carry on bag.

Yes you can fly with a carry on larger than mine but it is the total weight that is an issue on some airlines.

There is also the issue of getting on and off the tour bus as there will not be anyone to assist.

This is getting to be more and more of an issue with cruise line tours.

An alternative may very well be to book a private tour and see what you can see and do.

Telephone Southwest and get confirmation of this policy as of the day you make the call.

My typical habit is to cruise northbound to Alaska late in the cruise season on whatever deal I can get. I then stay over for a while to experience the change of season and the beginning of winter.

The least I've ever paid was $235 on HAL double occupancy our of Vancouver (yes I had to pay for airfare). However haven't seen a price like this in a very long time. I'm on the email lists for the cruise lines.

I've found over the decades that a northbound cruise helps me to mentally get away from my everyday life and to prepare for visiting Alaska at my happiest time of the year.

After a Texas summer I'm really ready for cold/cool damp and shorter days.

This is all my own opinion!

Many people believe that a 'direct' flight is the same as a 'non-stop' flight. A 'direct' flight can have stops.

What you are seeking are 'non-stop' flights from FCO (Rome.)

I will be interested to hear from those sailing Pearl Seas Mist's inaugural sailing tomorrow. I've never seen a sailing without any fanfare. No pre-inaugural sailing for the media and travel agents.... First sailing for the crew and passengers on a ship that has been sitting idle for years....

I'm waiting for some information as well.

The Smithsonian Magazine often has an add for this company and that is about all I know at this point.

It appears that the same people who own American Cruise Lines (Yorktown, etc) own the Pearl Seas company. Major league tour companies such as the Smithsonian Journeys people use many of the ACL ships for their tours.

I have traveled with ACL on a Columbia River trip on the Queen of the West and long ago posted a review.

I am interested in a trip on the Great Lakes right now but haven't seen a price point that I can live with with Pearl Seas.

There is plenty of information available on American Cruise Lines.

I always have sleep shades in my carry on bag. Always! Very handy for all sort of travel and while on long flights.

EBags has a fair selection.

Keith, thanks so much for the top class write up. My first ocean voyage was on the QE2 a long, long time ago. It was from Southampton to New York City in April of that year and was a rough and wild crossing.

I have found that Cunard is very helpful in a situation where you want to compare prices to those of the airlines.

We were not allowed to put anything heavy on that shelf. There was plenty of room for coats and hats.

Yes, we did dress for travel in those days with most of the women still wearing dresses, skirted suits with hat and white gloves in summer. My hair do required pin curls and hair spray.

I can remember when flight attendants passed out packs of cigarettes and playing cards. Many adults smoked in those days. I still own my train case that I used for make up. Checked baggage was weighed and you paid dearly for overweight baggage.

Suitcases were heavy empty!

My new hearing aid has a variety of adjustments that I can make to help with hearing in dining rooms, but the genius who fitted it can make adjustments on her computer (with my aid connected) that can do a wonder of improvements. I just tell her what my needs are when going to a big meeting and she helps me out.

I am also very new at this and am thrilled by the improvements I've gotten by having a fine hearing aid.

The shuttle officially starts on June 1.

Give them a call to ask your questions. Nice folks there.

Most cell phone plans include free long distance calls to Alaska. (907) 276-3119. and outside Alaska (800) 488-5592.