International Certificate of Vaccination (Yellow Card)

The International Certificate of Vaccination" or Prophylaxis (ICVP) also known as "Yellow Card" is mainly required for proof of vaccination when going to or from countries that are at risk for Yellow Fever. However, it may also be used for recording all of your travel immunization.

This tool is approved by the World Health Organization as the official document verifying that proper procedures were followed in administering vaccination for foreign travel and is used to demonstrate receipt of required vaccinations for entry into foreign countries.

This small foldable "Yellow Card" as often referred to, is a paper document that is filled out by your health specialist and validated with date and an official stamp. This document easily fits within your passport which makes carrying quite convenient.

I cannot find anything that states we need to have it for our trip especially since you might be finding out that many of us will not be needing to get the Yellow Fever vaccination. However, if you are visiting your doctor for your immunization ask them to provide you this handy travelers' tool and have them fill it out with your vaccination. I even had CVS Pharmacy mark my influenza (flu shot) vaccine.

Just another travel tip which I learned from Alex... Thanks for the tip!

Let’s hope not, but .... LOST & STOLEN PASSPORTS

Back in September, I recall giving all of you a heads up to check your passport for expiration dates and applying for passports if you needed too. And because I know each of you are very conscientious travelers you have all ready completed this task or in the process of doing so. Fantastic! 

Now many of you probably made copy of your Passport and Driver License for your China Visa? If you haven’t copied your passport and ID to Alex. I might highly recommend you do so. This way she can be your “friend” who has a copy to assist in case you needed it.

Now also make a few copies of your passport and leave one at home and be sure you bring a couple with you. Also bring a couple of recent passport size photos of you these extra copies will be handy in case you need it for replacement due to loss or stolen passports. These are the “just in case” back-up. This should not be a bad burden as we currently preparing to check off our checklist for our China Visa and so grab a couple of extra photos. Remember if you are a Costco member, this service is very inexpensive and they give you plenty of extra photos. 

Below is a link to the Lost and Stolen Passport article I came across. The article had additional tips like scanning and emailing your passport to your In Box for access. Great idea especially if you are the technical type. There is good information and I always find that preparation is a key to avoiding potential mishaps.  Enjoy the resource and tips....

Lost and Stolen Passports

http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/troubleshooting/lost-and-stolen-passports  

Photo provided by Flickr.Rakka

DIANA’s TOP FIVE TRIP THOUGHTS FOR NOW

Embarkation for boarding the Princess Diamond may seem a far distant day in the future. But in reality, your successful vacation getaway begins today, in the preparation and planning. I wanted to get you thinking, excited and most of all prepared so you won’t get caught off guard  So here are my TOP FIVE TRIP THOUGHTS to think about to get you planning and prepared about your upcoming journey!

No 1. PRE-CRUISE & POST CRUISE PLANS

As you are aware, our destination begins in Bangkok Thailand and ends in Beijing, China if you are 16day cruiser or Anchorage, Alaska if you continue on with Roger and I on the 32 day cruise. Either cruise options will have you reflecting on how many additional days you will need in add to your booked cruise. As you try to figure this out, keep in mind that you will be crossing the International Date Line which may make a significant “day” difference. As you journey across the sea to this exotic world,  think about the must see sights, places and things of this area. So this is a good time to think of your bucket list and see if there are places or things that you must do and see while you are there. If you can spare the time my recommendation is to go and do it! 

No. 2. PAPERWORK

If you haven’t found your passport or your birth certificate.....this might be the time to do it. Alex will be asking you for your passport information as we get closer and we will also be needing Visas in some of the countries we will be visiting. So know where these important documents are and nows a great time to check the expiration date on your passport!

No. 3. SHORE EXCURSIONS

In addition to the sailing days of the cruise, Princess Diamond will be visiting a number of Ports O’ Call and you can count on Princess Cruise will be offering a number of shore excursions for you to consider. So become familiar with the visiting ports, know what you would like to see and do, consider your activity level and ability, budget your costs and yes there is a time limit so pick wisely as unfortunately we can’t have it all. 

FYI...Princess Cruise on-line has shore excursions posted for your viewing. Alex is also working on some Pre-Cruise and Post Cruise Excursions that she hopes to offer us after her research, so stay tuned. 

No. 4. STUDY GROUP

Roger and I will be hosting a Study Group for those that might be interested. We did this for the Mediterranean Cruise and it was a great success as well as a good reason to get together. I understand that since our guests are not all located in the Southern California area you all won’t easily be able to join our particular group. So may I offer up a recommendation that you think about who your travel companions are and start your own group either face to face or use today’s technology and share, share, share via the internet. We will look at starting our study group come this Fall 2012, so more information will be forthcoming.

No. 5. AIR TRAVEL

Yes come April 2013, we will all meet and embark on the Princess Diamond in Thailand. Specifically, Laem Chabang, Thailand. This is the port where we will board the Diamond Princess. Some of you may choose to book your own air flights, others will look at using Princess Cruise Line Air and still others will be looking at me and saying what are you doing? One of the joys for me in working with Alex is that she truly knows Roger and me! Our choice is to get to our destination safely, make our timeline without worrying and to be as cost effective as possible so that we have more money to spend else where whenever possible. I will be asking Alex once again to help us out on searching for a way to get us to Asia and back with all these criteria. So think about what you would like to do about your flight arrangements as in the upcoming days ahead we will be touching on this topic and yes, inquiry minds will want to know what you would like to do.... so start thinking, preparing, planning and having your decisions and answers ready to go!    

Photo provided by Flickr: Gwen's River City Images