donaldsc

Does anyone have any idea how the new member photos are picked? DON

Another thought to get to see glaciers that most people do not think about. If you are cruising in or out of Whittier there are some really good glacier day cruises out of Whittier. I am not recommending this specific company as I have not done a tour w them but this is an example of the Whittier day cruises - https://phillipscruises.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAkMGcBhCSARIsAIW6d0DekrLPeAWA3ab1_sM9XcMqE2NWGIfIDnp_pz2a-vR5B_EvAga-oAQaAv43EALw_wcB DON

This was not the Royal but we did 2 weeks on the Star Flyer this summer and we had no problem w storage. When we got on the ship it looked as if there was not a lot of space but there were lots of nooks and crannies where you could store stuff. Our 2 large suitcases went under the bed. We followed up our 2 weeks on the Flyer with 1 week on one of the Viking river boats and there was more room in the Flyer cabin than the Viking cabin. DON

This is not the Royal Clipper but we did 2 weeks on the Star Flyer this summer and we did not see any problems. We also loved the cruise and would do it again if the right itinerary came up. DON

You might try typing "star clipper reviews" into Google where you will find some non-CC reviews w photos. DON

When we did an outback tour of Australia, we were given the opportunity if you want to call it that of trying Witchetty grubs. This is a link to the Wikipedia description of Witchetty grubs - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchetty_grub. Also a copy of description of these critters "The witchetty grub (also spelled witchety grub or witjuti grub[1]) is a term used in Australia for the large, white, wood-eating larvae of several moths. In particular, it applies to the larvae of the cossid moth Endoxyla leucomochla, which feeds on the roots of the witchetty bush (after which the grubs are named) that is widespread throughout the Northern Territory and also typically found in parts of Western Australia and South Australia,[2] although it is also found elsewhere throughout Australia." "Are witchetty grubs safe to eat? Witchetty grubs are traditionally eaten live and raw. Their meat is rich in protein and makes for a highly nutritious snack if you're tramping through the bush. Raw witchetties have a subtle, slightly sweet flavour and a liquid centre. Barbecued, witchetties are often eaten as an appetizer." I passed on that opportunity. DON

Your idea of buying a cheap dumb watch for the cruise is a good one. Makes life much less complicated. DON

Actually every 4 nights - front / back and then turn them inside out and repeat. LOL!! DON

I totally agree but still if it is a law it should be enforced. As a general thought and not just for the Real ID issue why pass a law in Congress if you don't plan to enforce it. I would add as a more general comment that most of the so called security stuff they do at airports is theater. A person with very little technical smarts could think of lots of ways to bypass their so called security measures. DON

I agree that most folks don't travel and/or fly. However if the government and the airlines make it clear that nobody is going to get on an airplane anywhere in the US regardless of the need or the severe emergency it might induce some holdouts to get the Read ID. And I mean that regardless of the emergency - death in the family, a sick child, your dog is dying, anything - you do not get on any means of interstate commerce. DON

Don't write them. Call them IMMEDIATELY. If you write them they can take their time responding or just ignore you. BTW - you have any paperwork confirming your reservation? DON

The law specified that the Real ID was required on a specific date. The law did not give the states the right to refuse to comply. If then government had made it clear that people were not going to be allowed on planes and also made it clear that enforcement was not going to be delayed for any reason the states would have found a way to comply. The effect of the consistent compliance delays by the states was that they figured there would be no negative results if they did not comply so why bother. That assumption by the states was obviously correct since the requirement has been delayed - again. DON

I just love posts like this. Give us a bit more information about yourself and your selection parameters and you might get some useful answers. Right now anything that we can tell you would be useless. DON

The government has delayed the requirement for having a Real ID drivers license again for another 2 years. That makes it how many times that they have delayed the program. One wonders why they just don't just drop the whole program completely. This is part of the reason that they give - "Several travel and airport groups worried that implementation next year would lead to confusion and chaotic scenarios at U.S. airports, as noncompliant air travelers would be turned away from boarding domestic aircraft. Although the Transportation Security Administration accepts other forms of Real ID, such as a U.S. passport, none are as ubiquitous as a standard driver’s license. “This extension will allow individuals more time to obtain compliant identification, helping to prevent undue travel disruptions and preserving the health of the aviation system as we continue to navigate the pandemic’s impacts on global air travel,” said Kevin M. Burke, North America president of the Airports Council International. The U.S. Travel Association, which had been advocating for a Real ID extension, said in a statement that moving the deadline is “the right decision” to prevent significant travel disruptions." I don't see why we should be worried about the travel disruptions for the people who can't be bothered to get the Real ID license. After all people have been warned about this for years. If the people have their precious travel plans disrupted that should be their problem. They deserve to have them disrupted. After all the Real ID program was supposed to take effect in 2008. That was 14 years ago. The program must be really important and useful if it hasn't been implemented 14 years after the required implementation date. DON

I am not going to comment on seeing aurora from a cruise ship as I have never taken a cruise with the goal of seeing them. However if you are serious about seeing them it is best to do a land trip with the specific goal of seeing them. What I did was take an almost 2 week trip to Fairbank in February times for no moon and the International Ice Carving festival. As part of the trip I went to Chena Hot Springs with is outside of and north of Fairbanks for I think 4 days. We had fantastic aurora every night. There is always a chance of not seeing aurora on a trip but the odds of not seeing them on my trip were much lower than if you are on a cruise ship. I will add that it was really cold up on the hill outside of Chena Hot Springs. DON

Definitely the Fantasia/Poesia because of the land tour. DON

Yes but based on the above response #41 they will let you travel anyway. DON

That is the problem w requirements that really aren't requirement. Requirements should be enforced absolutely. No Real ID - you don't fly. No exceptions. DON

Backwards. DON

You missed the best option of all - a 7 day one way trip to or from AK with 7 or more days on a DIY land trip. DON

Sounds like what you are saying is that Princess is looking at the worse dressing people on the cruise and adjusting the policy to meet the lowest common denominator of dress. This basically means that they will have no dress standards at all as there will be at least a few people to try to get into the MDR in a t-shirt and bib type jeans. There should be some sort of standard that is enforced. With regard to the person who posted that this will end up with fashion police at the door to the dining room - I say why not? DON

I just got today (3 Dec 2022) an e-mail from Clipper for deals some of which expire on 30 November. Does anyone in their office own a calendar? DON

Have you been to St Lucia w/o a passport? I have never been there at all although we will be there soon on a cruise. Also I never travel overseas w/o my passport. I have looked at several references and I can not find anything that says that you can get into St Lucia with just a BC and IDF. You may be referring to this part of the WHTI rules "U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) are able to enter the United States with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents" but this refers to documents need for your return to the US and not for entry into St Lucia.". Can you show me anything that specific says that you can enter into St Lucia w just a BC and ID. DON

Rogue waves can occur anywhere. Check these out - https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/03/rogue_waves_kill_two_on_medite.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-baoQQAeM3w https://buffalonews.com/news/cruise-ship-was-hit-by-a-rogue-wave/article_317fef4e-1c00-5057-9815- https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/19/nyregion/landfall-in-manhattan-after-a-70foot-wave.html DON

Note to Essiesmom. This is from the US Government travel site - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SaintLucia.html#:~:text=Entry%2C Exit and Visa Requirements&text=NOTE%3A Generally%2C all U.S. citizens,anticipated departure from the country. BTW - this is a WHTI A WHTI-compliant document including: U.S. Passport. U.S. Passport Card. Trusted Traveler Card (SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST) Valid Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business. DON "Passports and visa: U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport that is valid for the duration of your stay. No visa is required if you have an onward or return ticket, confirmation of accommodation, and can produce evidence of your ability to maintain yourself.NOTE: Generally, all U.S. citizens are required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to Saint Lucia, as well as proof of anticipated departure from the country. This includes travelers arriving by airplane and by private sea-going vessel. Those traveling to Saint Lucia on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document. However, we strongly recommend visitors obtain a passport before travel in case of an unforeseen emergency that requires a cruise passenger to disembark and return by air.HIV/AIDS: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Saint Lucia.Find information on dual nationality, prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations on our websites.