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I have not been to Barbados, St Lucia or St Maarten yet. Does anyone have suggestions for must dos in those ports that are not the beach or water related?

Prednisone is not a chemo drug but a steroid. Be prepared for unexplained weigh gain if your dosage is high. After 3 months you can't just stop taking it, the dosage has to be stepped down gradually. I was on it for 7 months high dosage, then 2 more months with intervals of decreasing dosage. I gained 70 pounds without the pleasure of eating it on and it doesn't come off like it went on. Google it for uses and side effects if you aren't familiar. I've taken it for a week here and there for allergic reactions throughout the years. Positive point is all your joints will feel like a million bucks as it's a super anti-inflammatory. I hope this does the trick and resets your immune system away from your kidneys. Do you have a balcony so you can at least enjoy the fresh air while staying out of the crowds? I'd bring out the masks again for the plane and ship in your situation. You sound determined to make the trip work so safe travels.

what is the name of your chemo drug cause I've got things to tell you if it's Cytoxan

Does anyone have a suggestion for a must do or must see in any of these ports? I've been to about half of them - don't care to beach everyday so looking for inspiration for other things to do.

You went up the center of the island before past Dole so I assume it was roundtrip. If you haven't gone to the east coast side, my favorite drive by far, the hike up Diamond Head, so worth it. The drive takes you past Hanauma Bay (if you snorkel it's a calm bay), Halona Blowhole, Chinaman's Hat and Makapu'u Point scenic overlooks, Sealife Park, Polynesian Cultural Center (tourist trap but rated high by said tourists), Kualoa Ranch where so many movies and tv shows have been filmed (Jurassic Park for one). A prebooked UTV filming tour there is a blast. The Byodo-in Temple & Japanese gardens has are very unique. Waimea Falls may be a little past these roads to return on or you may have gone there when at the North Shore. Come back down by Pali Hwy stopping at Pali Lookout or take the Likelike Hwy just for the scenery and round it off with a visit to the Punchbowl Crater National Cemetery (or start there). You packed a lot into one day on your last visit. I dedicate an entire day just to Pearl Harbor to include Ford Island with the USS Missouri and air museum. If anything on this list interests you fyi Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay both require reservations like Pearl Harbor does and many of these have entrance fees. And then there's Wakiki Beach of course and I also love an evening luau. You can't go wrong in Honolulu even if you only go to the zoo!

Your doctor should definitely give you the name of your disease so you can research and aid in your treatment. As with me in the beginning, you are treating your symptoms, cholesterol & blood pressure. You need to look beyond. Ask "What comes next to redirect your immune system if it doesn't self correct?" Don't stop at your kidney function numbers. Albumin, protein, bun are all numbers you should learn to understand. Ask about a 24 hour urine catch to pinpoint these because simple blood and urine tests don't tell the whole picture. I'll check back to see how your next appointment goes, but please be proactive with your questions to your doctor. Yes, I am booked on this cruise with you. I've been loyal to Holland America for quite a few years so I haven't sailed Carnival in ages. The new ship design and a casino offer were too good to pass up. I've been to half the stops but excited to see some new ones. Leaving from NYC was also an attraction. I may go in a day or two before the cruise. Undecided as my usual cruising companion has backed out on me, so I'm currently looking for a replacement. If not, I'll sail alone. I find solo sailing very restful. I have not used cruise mate but will look it up. Here's my formal introduction: I'm Harriet and lived in Texas the majority of my life. El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, Galveston, McKinney, McAllen and Austin, every part but the panhandle. I raised my 2 boys in New Braunfels between San Antonio & Austin. One lives in Austin with his wife now and the other I live with here in Mexico City with his wife and my 3 granddaughters. Now we've met online and hopefully will meet in person in September. Take care.

Other than just getting the bus transportation out to the glacier there are vendors at the tram location who for a few dollars more take you on a designated bus with a designated driver who gives commentary on the drive, drops you at the visitor's center for an allotted amount of time (which was plenty to hike to the falls and look at exhibits) and then stops at the whale statue fountain in town for photos as well. No waiting for the return as he has given you the time to report back to the bus. I did this twice last year with no problems or disappointments. I think it was $55 but to me worth the little extras.

I just booked this last night on a whim when I saw the offer in my email. There are so many sea days I couldn't think of anyone I'd want to spend all that down time with so I booked me as a single. I don't need to be entertained every minute as most of my traveling companions seem to expect. I've not done a transpacific cruise so no help there. Been around Australia and New Zealand where the winds get out of control at times. At one port in New Zealand we couldn't leave due to winds and were not only still tied to the dock but had a tugboat pinning us to the dock all night. I did enjoy Sydney and hopefully I'll have forgotten how miserable that flight LAX to Sydney is after a year and half has passed before doing it again. I also love Honolulu though we only get one day there and so many things to chose from to see and do. So at least there will be 3 of us on the ship!

Me again with a Carnival question. I've been sailing only Holland America since cruising resumed after the Covid break. Their life boat drill is a video that plays on your TV and a room key scan at your designated muster station at your leisure. No life jackets, speeches, etc. Has Carnival adopted the same program as their sister line?

I can relate to your kidney disease. Since it has been diagnosed as auto-immune has it been named? I have membranous nephropathy, currently in full remission, which is also an auto-immune kidney disease only diagnosed after a kidney biopsy. I assume you've had one. I was fortunate enough to be seen at the Mayo Clinic. I'm assuming yours is not membranous as you are able to lose weight, while even with the losartan (blood pressure med that aids in processing protein) and lasix ( a diuretic) I retained nearly unbearable amounts of fluid. The similarities to your meds and diet make me wonder though. Do you know your protein count (urine & blood) as those were more important than kidney function numbers in my case? You're near Houston so I'm assuming you are in good hands medically. I'll be watching for updates from you. Take care and keep going. I never stopped either.