…m on land. Health authorities estimate that up to 20 million people in the United States and up to one million in the United Kingdom contract it every year. It is contagious, and spreads easily through touch. This is why outbreaks are often centred in places where people congregate or pass through, such as hospitals, schools and ships. How can you avoid getting Norovirus on a cruise? The best way to prevent contracting it is frequent and thorough…
…Ponant. Although a less well-known name to many cruisers in countries like United States and United Kingdom, they are worth taking a closer look at. There have a number of features and things they do that set them aside in the luxury segment. Who are Ponant? Ponant was founded over 30 years ago by a group of young Frenchmen, all of whom had been in the French Merchant Navy. Its name at inception was La Compagnie des îles du Ponant, a name the line…
…ion and over-the-counter For example, if you’re cruising into Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, there’s a lot of drugs are illegal – like any drugs with codeine. Even simple drugs like Tylenol (Arthritis relief) is illegal in that country and can get you in a lot of trouble. A gentleman was arrested and held in prison for many months for trying to bring Temazepam into the United Arab Emirates. In Japan there’s also lots of restrictions as well –…
…on has to give 60-days notice to the court before their ships can re-enter United States waters. Carnival removed all their ships from United States waters not long after the CDC no-sail order. Many of them are off the coast of the Bahamas waiting to return to start sailing out of US ports. This could really impact when they could resume cruising when the no-sail order is lifted, as it would take at least two months before they could head to USA p…
…latest move by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in the United States. In the past week they surprised pretty much everyone by ramping up their advice against cruising to the highest possible level. It is now “Level 4: Very High Level of Covid-19”. It says (and I quote) the “CDC recommends that all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high”….
…volunteering for one of the free test cruises the lines have to run in the United States may not be as good a deal as it sounds. I explore 8 things you need to know about the test cruises that all cruise lines are required to run in the United States before they can return to running regular cruises with paying passengers. PLUS some big watch-outs to help you decide if you should volunteer. You can watch My Test Cruises video on my YouTube Channel…
…e specific ports or places you absolutely want to visit or (in the case of United States) you want to go on a cruise longer than 7 nights (as they are banned until at least November) I’ll come on what to do before those months in a bit. But let me explain why you should only make new bookings for the end of year at the moment In various travel agent sessions, which I reported on in past episodes, the cruise lines themselves are encouraging agents…
…hile some USA “closed loop” cruises (which means they start and end in the United States) to places like Alaska, Caribbean, Hawaii and even New England and Canada, allow US residents to travel with any government issued ID, they said many cruisers make the mistake of not making that a passport. All too often they have had to try and help get someone home due to an issue at home, a medical problem or something curtailing the cruise. To arrange to f…
…look at interline fare agencies to see if you qualify. For example, in the United States, there’s sites like interlinetravel.com, absea.com and myinterline.com and in the UK there’s touchdown.co.uk But, if you or your family’s job can’t unlock free, or next to nothing, cruises, maybe one of your vices or guilty pleasures can. Taking a Gamble Jen, a follower of the channel, certainly has. She gets offered, and goes on, multiple cruises a year acros…
…identification. Passport/ ID While some cruises starting and ending in the United States, like some Caribbean cruises and Alaska cruises, allow US nationals to use a birth certificate and a government issued photo ID. However, every single cruise line I checked with recommend using a passport, even for those. If something goes wrong and you need to leave the ship and return home, not having a passport makes it extremely difficult. However, if you…
…nal drugs are legal, they are not on any line or ship. For example, in the United States cannabis and related products are legal in several states for medical and recreational use for adults over 21 years old. But it is prohibited to bring cannabis, or even CBD and related products like gummies or digestibles on board even if the ship is leaving from a state where it is legal. And if you’re caught, you could be refused embarkation and completely b…
