…international calls. (3) Electrical and other stuff For visitors from the USA this is very simple as they have the same 2 pin plugs and voltage as in the States. Travelers from other regions need to make sure they have USA style plugs and if from the UK/ Europe as the voltage is lower things like hairdryers will not work at full force. Of course the other famous, or is it infamous, part of Japan is the toilets. The Japanese have quite complex toi…
…so strict. Give Duty Free a miss at the airport. If you are flying to the USA you will not be allowed any liquids and so they will take booze, perfume etc away. If you really want something buy it on the plane as most airlines have a fairly good lien up and most UK airlines let you order on-line in advance these days and collect on the flight to make sure that it is in stock for you. Try and be patient. It is very likely flights will not go on ti…
St Thomas Palm Trees In episode 177 of the Tips for Travellers audio podcast, Gary Bembridge shares his observations, tips and advice for visitors to St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. He talks about how his initial impressions of it being an uninspiring America off-shoot too focused on duty-free shopping changed as he explored the island more and engaged with the communities. In addition to talking about the history…
…ter lines like Princess and Holland America) pulled all their ships out of USA waters. They have been out of the US for months. Many of Carnival Cruise line ships stayed close to Bahamas or other Caribbean islands, while others sailed to Europe or Asia to repatriate crew. But a few are now heading back to the USA to start the process of being able to sail again. The Carnival Horizon was the first ship back, and it returned to Miami early on 23 Nov…
…to over 18s and so on Second: Lines ban people under 18 (or 21 out of the USA and Canada) travelling without an adult. There are some exceptions to this: if you are a couple is aged 16 to 18 (21 in case of USA) and are married (and can prove it when booking) or if you are in the military. It is also worth noting that most lines ban under-18s (under 21s again if sailing from USA) from sharing a cabin with someone also under those ages . You can ge…
…ve been some Mexican pharmacies closed for selling fake drugs. Second, the USA FDA rules don’t appear to allow the importation of prescription drugs purchased outside of the USA. And thirdly, the US FDA also recommend that you never bring more than a 90-day supply of medication with entering the US, whether you’ve bought those in Mexico or they’re your normal prescription. Tip #6: Tips ONLY Cruisers Over 18 Should Know About – The Mobile Phone Tra…
…see/south-beach-art-deco-district #4 Key West Both Ernest Hemingway and ex-USA President Harry Truman fell in love with Key West and had homes there that you can now tour. Both provide fascinating insights to the stories and lives of these influential men. Key West also has the iconic marker for the southernmost point of the USA that every visitor lines up to take his or her picture with. Cuba is just 90 miles away from there. Eclectic, vibrant an…
…ld on-board capacity for testing of crew and passengers. Travellers out of USA ports have to be tested before boarding pier side and also before disembarking. The first major announcement was made in recent days on this. Viking cruises confirmed that it has completed installation of the first full-scale PCR laboratory at sea. This new onboard facility enables Viking to conduct PCR testing of all crew members and guests. The laboratory has enough c…
…move to test cruise stage. If you want to keep track of the ships entering USA waters and so in the first stage of the CDC program to return to sail, visit the CDC cruise updates page. If you are booked on any ex-USA cruises in 2021, it may be worth looking to see if your ship has joined the process yet. So, taking all that into account, where are we on test cruises? The lines are staying very quiet on this. No cruise line has announced any dates…
…how to be a responsible and safe cruiser. Click here to browse/buy in the USA – Click here to browse/buy in the UK Click here for the UK Kindle version – Click here for the USA Kindle version Essential Cruise Tips Do you want to go on a cruise but have questions or need help navigating through all the complexities and conflicting advice? My Essentials Cruise Tips book is designed to make choosing and getting the most out of your first cruise simp…
…a reminder, if you’re sailing out of Vancouver on Alaska, and you’re not a USA national, you’re going to need a US ESTA or visa if you are going to Alaska. If you are a USA citizen the rules are slightly different, again showing how we all need to make sure we know the exact requirements. At the time of making this, the Canadian government does not require US citizens to have a visa. No matter where you are cruising to, you must check if you need…
