marelind

Does anyone have any information on the Sun in September?

"I contacted our local Alzheimer's Society for any info and tips that they could pass along about travelling with dementia and one thing that they mentioned is that the reduced oxygen in planes. It is my understanding that you could ask the flight attendant for some oxygen to help calm them down."

DH is on oxygen and I doubt the flight attendants can access the oxygen unless it is an emergency like a heart attack. DH travels with an FCC approved Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC). He has to have a prescription for O2.

I first read this thread before taking off on our cruise, and my response may not help in the least, but I have been thinking about it each day as I shower. We are in an Owner's Suite on the Norwegian Jewel. Many of the suite showers have a shower head with a hand held and two nozzles that spray at an appropriate height for personal cleaning. It wouldn't necessarily work if someone was unable to stand, but I must say, if nothing else, this thread has given me more compassion for those who have to face this type of disability.

I wouldn't for a couple if reasons: I want to know where my things are, and embarkation day s extremely busy for the staff, especially the butlers who have several cabins to assist. Spending thirty minutes unpacking you takes a lot of time on a busy day.

With that said, my 80+ mother was absolutely wiped from a rough embarkation and asked the butlers assistance. He was reluctant because he had a lot to do, but he came through, putting things where she told him to, then wrangling her suitcase under the bed. We were so appreciative!

I have had the card for about three years in which time I've one about three cruises. I've redeemed points effortlessly all but once. That time Something got messed up between Norwegian and BofA about a year ago. Let's just say it took about five hours on the phone over two weeks to get resolved. Keep working at it. The thing that finally got it resolved was going up the chain of command at Norwegian. There was a supervisor who promised to resolve the problem and get back to me, which she did. It took a week or so but it did get fixed, and I've had no problems since. If you have a PCC start there.

By starting IV's do you mean he has to get a new puncture every week? DH had to have an IV at home and they put a picc line in that stays in all the time and all we had to do was hook it to the pump. Is this a possibility for your DH. Any one could hook it up we had to change the medicine daily . We had a cruise booked thru RCCI and called the special needs dept and they said there would be no problems with this. Unfourtunetly we did not get to go on that cruise due to a medical emergency so i can't tell you how well they did .

Thanks for your answer, kassimer1. DH does get a new puncture every week. Simply put, he will have these infusions every week for the rest of his life. The picc lines have to be replaced on a regular basis and there is a risk of infection. He has chosen not to go through the picc line route. I'm sorry you missed your cruise. :(

kitty9, I think that is my question... Is the ship set up to provide these services? My guess is that they would charge for those services, and then I wonder if the med insurance would reimburse. In addition, how much practice do they get in the medical center on the ship in starting IVs. It is a skill, and trust me, not everyone has the "touch".

I can guess, and I can ask the cruise line access desk, but I was looking for anyone who has some experience.

Hi Kris! What our doctor has told us is to go and enjoy the cruise, and don't worry about the infusion. It is not crucial to have the infusions every week, but that overall having them consistently is the main thing.

DH has been infusing since 1994 when he was diagnosed. Early on, some suggested having a double treatment, i.e., infusing twice as much every other week, would be as good as a weekly treatment. So he used to have a double dose before a cruise or trip. They backed off that and said there is no research that supports the double treatment.

He/we aren't that worried about skipping treatments, but just thought I'd ask if anyone does have a way to infuse. I have talked to people who infuse themselves by starting their own IV. I have even suggested that I learn how to start the IV, but DH will have none of it. Gee, I wonder why?? :D

Is there anyone out there who infuses Alpha-1 replacement therapy (Prolastin, Aralast, Zemaira) while they cruise? DH infuses once a week and while we cruise he skips his treatments. We have a nurse who comes to the house to start his IV, and he is understandably cautious about who starts his IV. I was just curious if there is anyone out there who has an alternative to skipping treatments. We are taking a 17 day cruise with two additional days on the front end, meaning he will skip for over almost 3 weeks.

The steward cleans the room and fills the ice bucket. The butler handles the room service most of the time, keeps your coffee bar filled, brings the afternoon snack, and oversees the steward. Also, if you have any maintenance needed in the room he will see that it is handled. We had key cards that didn't work properly and he ran down to the reception desk to clear up the problem.

I usually start at $10/person per day for the butler and $5/person per day for the concierge. From there I adjust up or down depending on how much I used them and how enthusiastic or much they take the initiative.

On our 7-day Pacific Coastal DH and I tipped the following for the two of us:

Room Butler - $125 (we used him very little and he didn't seem as outstanding as some other butlers we've had)

Concierge - $125 (We called on Anna Maria a lot to help us with wheelchair service for our family of 7, making reservations, etc. She went above and beyond.)

Steward - $30 (additional to DSC as she accommodates my late rising husband)

Courtyard Butler - $50 (he brought us lunch in the courtyard almost every day; often making multiple trips as people came and went)

Cagney's Maitre'd - $20 (he kept Cagney's open late on embarkation as we had been through a long embarkation and then gave us extra attention during the week)

This seems to be around the average for what I've seen on many discussions on CC.

We have dined at Cagney's on each of our seven cruises. I only order the filet because I find most other cuts to have more chance of being tough. Every steak we have had at Cagney"s has been cooked to my specification (medium rare) was tender, juicy and flavorful. I couldn't say why your experience was so different. Just thought I'd share mine.

As for the MDR, in the last couple of cruises I've had problems ordering beef medium rare. The first time I said "medium rare" and the waiter repeated back "medium well". I corrected him, saying "medium RARE". He repeated medium rare and the steak came medium well. The next time I ordered I said medium rare and the waiter repeated correctly. Again it came medium well. Both times I sent it back and it returned correct.

http://lindgrenphotos.shutterfly.com/pictures/457

Still trying!

Edit: I did it!! I had a password protected account with shutterfly. When I took off the password then it would download the picture.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7ce37b3127ccec2358e0b20e600000010O00BbNWzJm5bMQe3nw4

 

I have tried this different times and haven't been successful. I'm curious if I have finally learned how to put a picture straight into my post.

 

Edit: Ack! it didn't work

I think I got it now!?

Edit: Nope, I give up

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b7ce37b3127ccec2358e0b20e600000010O00BbNWzJm5bMQe3nw4

I have tried this different times and haven't been successful. I'm curious if I have finally learned how to put a picture straight into my post.

Edit: Ack! it didn't work

14010

14506

14006

14512

14012

 

Does anyone have any preference to these rooms? Are any better?. Some are at the front of the block of suites (behind the garden villa's) and some are in the middle, and some are at the back near the smaller suites. Any ideas of which might be better? If I'm going to plunk down that much $$$ and almost all of the rooms are available I might as well do my research and try and get the best sq ft.

If I

Thanks,

 

Roveer

I learned this on Cruise Critic. If you look at deck13 there is a little "bump out" at midships. This means that for 14512 and 14512, which are aft of the "bump" the balcony looks straight down to the water. Those villas forward have a little awning sticking out 2-3 feet below their balcony. I don't know which is better as there may be trade-offs: better view of water vs. protection from beign viewed from below. As far as I know all of these have exactly the same square feet.

A year and a half ago they sent "official" luggage tags via snail mail along with documents and shore excursion information. Do they still do that?

My pattern:

1. I get very excited just before and after booking. Definitely giddy.

2. Then I level out to a general enjoyment of the boards and researching ports and excursions. This phase can last months.

3. Now, at about three weeks out, I am almost feeling grumpy because it will just never get here. I try to deal with it by being online and making up my packing list. But it all seems hollow right now.

4. The week before I will be very up and excited and packing. That is another GIDDY phase!

5. The night before I am a wreck. I feel awful, knots in stomach, worrying about what I forgot to pack, worrying about timing, feeling it will never happen and wondering why I EVER go on vacation and swearing I never will again. (I know, I am just a tad moody.)

6. The morning of, I let all that worrying go and have a wonderful time no matter what. DEFINITELY GIDDY!!! :D

Have you been watching me??!! :p

Sounds like a wonderful, well needed cruise. Would love to hear more.