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

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Thailand/Central_Eastern_Thailand/Bangkok-1445238/Tourist_Traps-Bangkok-Scams_and_Conmen-BR-1.html

Scams in Vietnam

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

Avoiding Common Tourist Scams in China

http://www.china-mike.com/china-travel-tips/avoiding-scams/

Buyer Beware 10 Common Travel Scams

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/travel-tips-and-articles/75907

State Department Travel Tips

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

Photo provided by Flickr.photogism

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”

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/10-tips-for-keeping-house-safe-while-on-vacation.htm

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

http://voices.yahoo.com/tips-keep-home-safe-while-away-on-418455.html

Home Security Tips

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

Photo provided by tlc.howstuffworks.com

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

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

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

http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/stay-connected/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

http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/travelers-ed/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

Internet Access in Your Stateroom

Below is information for Internet Access for Diamond Princess while you are in your cabin. Yes you will need to bring your own equipment (computer/Ipad etc) .The best bet is to purchase your access in advance from Gift Services. 

Information received from Alex....
Wi Fi is in the cabins if you want to bring your own computer but it's the same price as using their Internet Cafe on board ship.

Pay as you go is .79 per minute
15 minutes is $8.99
100 minutes is $69
200 minutes is $99
400 minutes is $159
600 minutes is $199

Internet Access 
(Information from My Princess/Gift Services)

Perfect for those who like to stay in touch or need to manage their affairs on a daily basis in order to put their minds at ease. Help a passenger relax and fully enjoy their Princess vacation by giving them Internet access for news, information and web-based email.

120 minutes
Item #6038 – $72.95
(Includes $69.00 for internet time plan + $3.95.  One time activation fee)
(Includes 20 bonus minutes for
pre-purchasing an Internet time package.)

240 minutes
Item #6039 – $102.95
(Includes $99.00  for internet time plan + $3.95. One time activation fee)
(Includes 40 bonus minutes for
pre-purchasing an Internet time package.)

460 minutes
Item #6302 – $162.95
(Includes $159.00 for internet time plan + $3.95. One time activation fee)
(Includes 60 bonus minutes for
pre-purchasing an Internet time package.)

680 minutes
Item #6301 – $202.95
(Includes $199.00 for internet time plan + $3.95. One time activation fee)
(Includes 80 bonus minutes for
pre-purchasing an Internet time package.)

1100 minutes (for World Cruise only)
Item #6300 – $252.95
(Includes $249.00 for internet time plan + $3.95.  One time activation fee)
(Includes 100 bonus minutes for
pre-purchasing an Internet time package.)

Photo provided by Flickr.BlixtA

SOUTH KOREA & JAPAN - Table Manners & Etiquette

Our final two countries that we will be sailing to before we head to Anchorage Alaska are South Korea and Japan. Busan will be our port of call in South Korea and if you checked out your itinerary and sailing the 32 Day Cruise we stop twice! Our first stop will be shorter time frame then our second by the way.  Then onto Japan, Nagasaki/ Hiroshima, Osaka/Kyoto (32 Day cruisers)  and Yokohama/Tokyo (32 day Cruisers)....
hope these links have helped you to understand 
a little more of each of the Asian cultures we will 
be visiting.

South Korea - International Dining Etiquette

http://etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table-etiquette/pacific_dinner_etiquette/south_korean.html

The Do’s & Don’t, Dining Etiquette & Table Manners in South Korea

http://ingenira.hubpages.com/hub/The-DOs-and-DONTs-in-Korea

Korean Table Etiquette

http://koreanfood.about.com/od/koreanfoodbasics/tp/Korean-Table-Manners.htm

Japanese Table Etiquette

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2005.html

About.com- Japan Travel

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/tablemanners/a/tablemanner.htm

http://goasia.about.com/od/Customs-and-Traditions/a/Japanese-Dining-Etiquette.htm

Japanese Table Manners

http://suite101.com/article/japanese-table-manners-a197103

Photos provided by english.visitkorea.or.kr  and chef taro.com                   

VIETNAM & CHINA -Table Manners & Etiquette

Sailing along we head to two ports in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City & Nha Trang and then for China, we will visit Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Dalian China if you are joining Roger and I on the 32 Day Cruise. Enjoy the journey of preparation, I do think some times the anticipation of our cruise is just as exciting as the port of calls we will be visiting....


Vietnamese Food Ettiquette

http://vietnamfoodtour.com/foodculture_q3_vietnamese-cuisine-traditions-and-etiquette.html

Vietnamese What & Where to Eat

http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/vietnam/what-and-where-to-eat/index.html

Vietnam Cuisine

http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/vietnam/what-and-where-to-eat/index.html

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China - Customs & Etiquette in Chinese Dining

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_table_manners

Chinese Table Manners

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/chinese-etiquette/table-manners/

China Flavors

http://www.destination-asia.com/china/about/taste/

Photo provided by the hungryhoss.com