Saturday, April 6, 2013

DON'T FORGET... Your Cruise Polo Shirt



JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER, PLEASE PACK YOUR CRUISE SHIRT....

A group photo will be arranged once we able to meet with the Ship's Photographer. 
We will call you in your stateroom with a date, time and location once this is established. 
Thanks!!!
Diana & Roger

DOOR LABEL CONTEST


Congratulations to Michael Murphy for winning our Door Label Decoration Package at our Cruise Orientation Luncheon. Michael, you and your wife Jo Mary can pretty much cross off this task, with the exception that you have to remember to bring your door label with you on the cruise. Heh, Heh...

For the rest of us, we still have a couple of things to prepare for and so I thought I would give you a check list of what you can do for this group activity project if you wanted to participate. Following are my suggestions and recommendations, if you care to join us:

  1. Step One, gotta remember to bring the door label. So add it to your list! 
  2. Consider placing your door label between something flat so it won’t bend. The label is 8”x14”. 
  3. IMPORTANT - KEEP YOUR DOOR LABEL BACKING SHEET. The Door Label is a REMOVABLE label and so on your last day of the cruise. You can peel your label off your cabin door and re-stick it to the backing that you kept and did not toss away in the trash. This will allow you to be able to re-pack your door label for your trip home.
  4. Since the label already has a design on it. You can opt to make it simple and just add a post-it note pad and a elastic/string cord for the pen. You’re done! (Hint, this however this will not be your best avenue to winning the prize!) 
  5. Be sure to allow enough length on your pen cord so that your guest can easily write. You can also attach/stick velcro on your pen. But be prepared to bring extra velcro and pens as I have had to replace my pen in the past due to cruisers actually stealing my pen. Which is why I go for the elastic cord!
  6. FOR YOUR INFO, Recommended pen to attach is a "Sharpie". This way at the angle that your guest will be writing your note on the post-it note will allow the ink to flow. Regular pens do not work consistently.  
  7. You can personalize your label by adding a photo of you and your roomie, stick a theme decorative embellishment like those used for scrapbooking or simply add a sticker. You can also add your favorite travel quote and use a label maker to print it or simply type it on your computer. And what new creative idea will there be this cruise??? 

For those wanting to participate in the Door Label Decoration Contest please have your 
label decorated up on your door by April 20th (Ports of Call Singapore). We will then walk around to each of your cabin on April 21st (Sea Day) and announce the winner at Dinner that night. Good Luck!

CARDS ANYONE?


Anyone who hangs out with Roger or Diana regularly, knows that they love playing 'Progressive Rummy' specifically. Its a card game that is actually quite easy to learn and play. And the great thing about it is that you can actually drink, eat and play all at the same time! These things not necessarily in priority order, seem to be top choices for things to do with the Davis'. So if you are incline to give it a try and join in. There will be a number of our guests who have played so ask them to teach you. Don't be shy to inquire. So who are they,  you ask?...well... Kelly, Rocky, Peggy and Roger to name but just a few... also if you find that you really like the game and you run out of scoresheets. Ask Kelly, Rocky or me, Diana and we will have extras for you. 

During this trip we will be having a bit of fun competition for those wanting to play this card game. NO, of course it's optional. YES, it includes winners, prizes and verification of scores of course. You really thought we would trust you? Not when it comes to cards!...oh so now you want to play huh? Well join in, hang on to those scoresheets as we will be keeping track to determine who to award the prize. We will have two prizes for each cruise segment, 16 day cruise & 32 day cruise for the top winning score.

More specific details for the rules of the game can be found in your "Thank You Gift" with the deck of cards and scoresheets. It’s really not all that hard...trust me, it's a lot easier to join in and pick it up from actually playing the game...did I mention, it's not hard and a really a fun thing to do on our Sea Days ...give it a try and join us!

Friday, April 5, 2013

Keep Your Stuff Safe When You Fly


Our cruise journey begins with a very long flight. This means that your step in your journey begins with at least a 10 plus hour flight as most of us will be having a layover. For Roger and I,  it means a 13 plus hour flight to Seoul South Korea and then our final layover flight  to Bangkok. Yes, I’m sure we will be tired and with all the excitement our heads will have to stay focus and clear so that our guard and caution tactics are in full operation. I brought to you warnings about RFID for your credit cards and for some this maybe important on new passports & driver’s licenses. But I also wanted to share this article about keep your stuff safe while you are flying. Yes, even with your carry-on by your side...your organization and caution is required! Very helpful tips

Seven Ways to Keep Your Stuff Safe When You Fly
Photo provided by Flickr.LeoReynolds

Helpful Tips for Your Flight Over to Meet the Ship!




Flying Time is a must on this particular trip. Some are excited and others not so.
The preparation and planning of this portion of our journey could help in making the
actual time and even the recovery portion of the flight a lot easier. So browse through these 7 helpful links with tons of helpful ideas and tips to make flying time a whole lot better for you.


5 Foods to Avoid Before Flying

Traveler’s Tummy
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/safety-and-health/travelers-tummy

Sleeping on Planes
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/travelers-ed/sleeping-on-planes

Five Things You Shouldn’t Wear on the Plane
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/air-travel/five-things-you-shouldnt-wear-on-a-plane

Surviving the Middle Seat

Fighting Airplane Cold
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/air-travel/avoiding-the-airplane-cold

Jet Lag
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/safety-and-health/jet-lag


Photo provided by Flickr.TheAndy

Thursday, April 4, 2013

IMPORTANT BLOG ARTICLE ... TOURIST SCAMS




Hate to offer this unfortunate view of the glorious exotic destinations that we will be embarking upon during this trip. But I know offering this IMPORTANT BLOG may very well make a difference in alleviating an awful circumstance. 

Our friend Russell ran into a scam in Barcelona on our Med Cruise. In fact he was a veteran visitor to Spain and yet this exact scam, I shared in our Med Cruise blog is what had happened to him. And yes, he of course didn’t read my article! So, PLEASE don’t let this happen to you and open these links and start to read some of the popular scams that go beyond pickpocketing. Awareness and knowledge is the first barrier to protecting yourself and to having a fabulous getaway. 



8 Popular Scams in Southeast Asia

http://goseasia.about.com/od/travelplanning/tp/southeast_asia_scams.htm

Scams & Con Men in Bangkok


Scams in Vietnam

http://goseasia.about.com/od/vietnam/a/scams-in-vietnam.htm

Avoiding Common Tourist Scams in China


Buyer Beware 10 Common Travel Scams


State Department Travel Tips

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html

Photo provided by Flickr.photogism

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

DIAMOND PRINCESS EMERGENCY CONTACT


So you filled out the My Princess Cruise Personalizer with all your details including your emergency contact here at home. But what if your family or friends wants to get in touch with YOU because of a dire emergency? Following is an excerpt from PrincessCruise.com Contact Phone Number information which may hopefully be something you don’t need to use.....


To provide greater peace of mind while you’re away from home, give friends and relatives the following information on how to telephone you. For all ships in the Princess Fleet, call 900-329-SHIP (900-329-7447) from the US or 900-565-2800 from Canada. The 900 service can be used to call or fax the ship and will be charged to the caller's telephone bill. When calling, please include passenger name and stateroom number to ensure quick delivery.*

Calls can also be charged to a credit card in both the US and Canada by dialing 877-656-7447. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card (not Canadian) are all accepted. The cost for each call is $8.95 USD per minute or $11.95 CAD per minute and is subject to change without notice.

Passengers may use their personal mobile devices onboard while at sea in international waters and in other areas where such use is permitted. A compatible mobile device and a service plan capable of roaming internationally with Maritime Communications Partners AS is required. Please contact your wireless service provider for availability and rates. 

For calls originating outside of the US and Canada, the following numbers should be used, preceded by your country's International Direct Dialing (IDD) code and the global ocean code 870. Please contact your long distance service provider for pricing. For example, if you would like to call the Ocean Princess in the Pacific Ocean from the United Kingdom, dial 00 870 331 050 510.

SHIP: DIAMOND PRINCESS
PHONE NUMBER: 331040410
FAX NUMBER: 331040414

Don't forget YOUR...
CRUISER NAME: --------------
STATEROOM NUMBER: ---------------


* Please note that 900 telephone service is not available from all areas, and may not be accessible from the caller's home phone.


Photo provided by Flickr. Nathaniel R Brown & Peter Konnecke

Keeping Your Home Safe While You’re Gone


We have covered a number of preparation and planning points for our trip. But don’t forget one of the most important item...YOUR HOME! I have compiled a few links that you seriously might want to check out and be sure you have covered these suggestions.
It may seem like old hat to you. But, I do think these links are  helpful reminders and certainly worth it to be sure you come back to your Home Sweet Home just the way you remembered it! Helpful Tips are always welcome support....

9 Tips Keep your Home Safe

http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/safety-and-health/keep-your-home-safe-on-vacation-9-essential-tips


TLC Home “10 Tips to Keep Your Home Safe While on Vacation”



Tips to Keep Your Home Safe While You Are on a Vacation



Home Security Tips

http://seniortravel.about.com/od/travelsafety/a/Home-Security-Tips.htm

Photo provided by tlc.howstuffworks.com

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Lost Luggage?





As we start to make plans to pack our bags for our cruise. We never dream that we could loose our luggage. But traveling 8,263 miles between Los Angeles and Bangkok and some 23 plus flight hours with connecting flights...hmmm, there is a chance! So here is an article, I came across with helpful tips and troubleshooting information that will hopefully help to alleviate and bring down the chances on our luggage being lost.

Lost Luggage

http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/troubleshooting/lost-luggage



Photo provided by Flickr. ShanghaiDaddy

Monday, April 1, 2013

Food Safety: How to Avoid Getting Sick While Traveling


You arrive in Bangkok and you decide that your first adventure after a great relaxing sleep is to fill your hunger both for adventure and your tummy. So off you go to be the next Tony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmern of The Travel Channel.  Your destination is the Floating Market. You notice a number of small stalls and boats selling local fruits, produce treats, snacks and oh does that noodle dish look so yummy. And what about that grilled BBQ “whatyoumacallit” on a stick? My gosh it’s cheap, so of course you immediately want to buy-try-savor, right?... BUT WAIT.....Salmonellosis, E.coli, Norwalk virus, intestinal distress, traveler’s tummy, Montezuma’s Revenge, Traveler’s Trot,  the Toltec Two-Step, Delhi Belly, The Runs, TD (Traveler’s Diarrhea) are you listening here! IS ANYONE LISTENING??????

As a Smart Traveler you have got to be wise in your choices. It’s not to say that these local fruits, treats and snacks are all gonna make you sick! But there’s no guarantee that it won’t either. The reaction by one visitor may not affect the same way as in another. Below are some articles I came across that will hopefully assist you in guiding
your decisions to try various street food, colorful drinks and even safety on eating a local fruit. 

You be your best advocate! Princess Cruises may sponsor the shore excursions but understand that they use local guides and operators. So the guides may not think about reminding you about food safety and how to potentially avoid getting sick. 

An added note the photographer had was this notation under his photo which was taken in Bangkok Thailand...a good note to remember: " ...street food looks tempting, 30 degrees Centigrade being on the street for hours at night makes this a risky adventure, when it is healthy, its really tasty, when it isn't healthy, it's time for the emergency room"
  
Food Safety: How to Avoid Getting Sick While Traveling

http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/safety-and-health/food-safety-how-to-avoid-getting-sick-while-traveling

http://zesterdaily.com/world/asian-street-food-safety-tips/

http://www.travelfish.org/feature/235

http://goasia.about.com/od/Food-and-Drink/qt/Street-Food-in-Asia.htm

Photo provide by Flickr.drbutoni


Sunday, March 31, 2013

INTERNATIONAL CELL PHONE




In this world of technology, I am sure many of you many want to take advantage of keeping yourself connected by your cell phone. But what is the best way to do this without costing you lots of money?  I don’t know the right answer for you as each cell plans vary upon your carrier. Below are some informative articles by Independent Travelers, hope this will assist you in understanding your options before you visit your carrier representative.


International Cell Phone Guide
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/stay-connected/international-cell-phone-guide

Traveling with Smartphone:Cut Costs Overseas
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/travelers-ed/traveling-with-a-smartphone-cut-costs-overseas

Use Your Cell Phone to Travel Better

How to Escape While Staying Connected
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/stay-connected/how-to-escape-while-staying-connected

Photo provided by Flickr.GaetenLee

TRAVEL APPS for YOUR SMARTPHONE



Applications (APPS) for your iPhone or Smartphone are an amazing new technology to me.
So I am not by any means an expert. But I am for handy tools and I believe this is one of those amazing tools that can aid us travelers. If you haven't downloaded the Starbuck's
Living Earth app. I highly recommend you do. Last night I was browsing and found that it was so convenient  to open this app to find the temperature of each of our ports....100 in Bangkok and 34 in Anchorage. 

Cristin also shared with me a handy app called appsgonefree which is an app that accesses other apps that are free. Thanks Cristin...

Five Easy, Essential Mobile Travel Apps
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/travelers-ed/five-easy-essential-mobile-travel-apps

Essential Travel Apps, Part One: The Basics

Essential Travel Apps, Part Two: Accessory Apps
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/travelers-ed/essential-travel-apps-part-two-accessory-apps

Video Provided by YouTube.com Rocketboom Tech  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_fnTHJ-Ar0