pandlpa12

I am 70+ and have been married for 7 years. We recently got back from a 32 day cruise from Buenos Aires to Los Angeles.

We have 3 land trips booked for 2015. Living on the West Coast, we do not have the opportunity to do last minute Caribbean cruises.

Welcome aboard Talisker92. Got a question for you:

Not sure what cruise line you sailed around South America with, but we are taking the same trip in March 2016 on HAL. Wondering if you have any opinion on the cruise, as far as scenery, types of excursions that might be offered, ratio of sea days to shore days, etc?

pandlpa12

Wizard-of-roz:

Your post is very interesting and brings up a topic I know other 55+ cruisers have thought about from time to time - the procedures and requirements for cruising on different cruise lines with Service Animals.

I don't intend to comment on the rules and regulations associated with service dogs on different cruise lines - these are easily found in the rules and regulations published by each cruise line. If you have difficulty finding them on a specific cruise line web site, then simply call the company (or have your travel professional do so) and they will be glad to provide you with their cruise line's conditions and requirements.

However, if any of you that are watching this link have had experiences that would help out others requiring Service Animals during cruise vacations, or indeed have had humorous experiences that we could all chuckle along with as we learn, then I think it would be most interesting to hear from you.

Happy travels to all those Way over 55 Cruisers out there! :)

Pandlpa12

Interesting comments folks.

My, now 90 year old father-in-law sends his regards from approximately 900 nautical miles south east of Hawaii.

I is certainly enjoying himself, as are we. The Oosterdam crew has been excellent. And, yes, there are many folks at or near his age, all with some level of mobility challenge. Interestingly, there is a gentleman on board who just celebrated his 100th birthday a few days ago. Now that's dedication to cruising.

For those who are in need of mobility assistance, and would like to investigate a level of assistance slightly above a walker, there are a number of Aussies and North Americans on board who have brought their new portable electric scooters. Not only are these excellent shipboard and dockside, but the airlines are now beginning to accept them more readily for cargo transport - providing they have dry cell batteries. They're worth checking out, only if for your peace of mind.

Keep on cruising folks, and continue to use this thread to your own advantage.

Pandlpa12:)

My wife and I have joined the ranks of the 60+ cruising enthusiasts, and intend to 'keep right on cruising'. However, we are but mere babes in swaddling when it comes to my father-in-law. In March 2014 he turned 90 and decided to celebrate an addition to his 250+ lifetime days of cruising by accompanying us on a 29 day HAL re-positioning from Sydney Australia to Vancouver, BC. Hail and hearty health-wise, his legs and balance do present some problems, but nothing he can't live with.

So I've started this thread as a tribute to the real 55+ cruisers. I invite anyone so inclined to regale us all with tributes and stories of similar experiences.

To start you off: at 89 years of age, the father-in-law turned in his 5 year passport and informed his family he had obtained a 10 year passport and was ##@@"" well going to use up the full 10 years. He might just make it, as the average age for passing of most of the males in his family is 96. :)

pandlpa12 - Oosterdam - April 13, 2014 - 29 Day South Pacific Crossing - Sydney Australia to Vancouver BC