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How do you prevent someone from falling off the balcony of one of those balcony cabins?
We do not book balcony cabins for our members. 1st choice is an ocean view (window) cabin.
If we are booked into an upper deck we will allow staff into a balcony if it means we can keep
everyone together around us. Balcony cabins are now a very high percentage of the available
cabins on board the newer ships but we do not feel comfortable with our members using them
without supervision. We do allow our members access to the balcony with staff. It is fun to
use when arriving into and leaving a port. When our members are on the upper outside decks
there is always staff present.
What about medical insurance. What works and what does not work?
Medicare works everywhere in the United States. That includes Puerto Rico and the United States
Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Medi-cal which is issued by the State of California is useless
outside the state. Kaiser and other HMO's can be questionable outside their designated territories.
Since we are outside the United States for a portion of every cruise we cover everyone in the group
including the tour staff with a travel insurance policy from Travel Guard which includes medical
insurance to a certain limit and medical evacuation. Check them out at www.travelguard.com.
What size of suitcase should I bring?
A duffel bag with wheels and an extending handle measuring 15" X 30" approximately is just fine.
Anything bigger is not necessary. You can get one for around $30 - $40 at COSTCO or WalMart.
Remember you are going on vacation, you are not moving, so pack light. It is warm down in the
Caribbean even during December so you can leave your heavy sweaters and jeans at home.
Everyone will receive a packing list and it is a great idea to go by that. Do not pack anything sharp
into your carry on bag. Also leave your pocket knives at home. TSA security will find them and it
will delay all of us while you try and explain to them why you have one. The weight of the bag when
packed cannot be any more than 50 lbs.
I have to bring medication. Any problems with that?
No problem. It is fantastic if you get your meds blister packed for the trip. Your pharmacy knows
what that is. We cannot give you your medication. We can remind you to take it, but you have to be
able to self medicate. We do have a medication chart which your tour staff will help you with and it
can be returned to your care provider, Q, or your parents. You prescription has to be printed on your
bottles or on the blister pack. DO NOT PACK YOUR MEDICATION INTO YOUR CHECK IN BAG.
Keep it on you or give it to your tour staff.
Will I get seasick on the cruise?
The ships we travel on are so big that you can hardly feel them moving. There is a doctor and a
medical station on board and if anyone does get queasy they can provide us with some medication
to make you feel better.
Can we get in touch with you while you are on a cruise?
Yes. You can get to us through the operator at the cruise line. You need the name of the ship and
the passengers name. It is not cheap. $9.50 per minute! Our cell phones now work while we are
on most ships but they will be roaming. Check with your carrier to see what the roaming charges
will be! When we are on a road trip you can get a hold of us at any time. Most of our members and
all of our staff have cell phones. On board the ship we use 2 way radios for communicating. All the
staff have one and any of our members who can use them will also have one.
How come your prices are so much higher than the listed prices we see on the cruise line web sites?
We include just about everything the listed price does not. Included are hotel charges, port taxes,
fuel surcharges, air fare, gratuities, shore excursions, food, sale taxes, insurance and supervision 24
hours a day. Also included is ground transportation between the airport, seaport and hotel. In Las
Vegas, Miami and Hawaii the new one is resort fees!!
Why are your prices so much cheaper than some of the other organizations that are doing this?
We are pricing our trips from a major transportation center (Los Angeles) while other organizations
have to price their trips from wherever they are based. Organizations on the east coast would have
cheaper Caribbean cruises than us because they are obviously closer to Miami / Ft Lauderdale. Our
trips to the Mexican Riviera would be cheaper than theirs. Other organizations on the west coast may
not be based in a major transportation hub and would have to include transportation from where they
are located. We can take advantage of being close to BUR / LAX / LGB and the Port of Long Beach.
We also avoid traveling during the major holidays.
Can we get a passport card instead of a regular passport?
I know some of you are asking what on earth is a passport card? It is the same size as a drivers
license or state photo ID and it allows you to enter the United States from a land border or a sea
port. You cannot use it to fly into the United States. In case of an emergency and we have to fly
someone back to the USA you will need a regular passport in order to board an aircraft.
PLEASE get the regular Passport Book.
How do you prevent someone who cannot drink alcohol from getting a drink from one of the several
bars on board a ship?
With a Sharpie Pen. In order to get a drink on board a ship you have to show your Sign and Sail
Card. We write NO ALCOHOL with a water proof Sharpie on the card. We also talk to the bartenders
to back up what is on the card. Most of our members take meds that cannot be mixed with alcohol.
Some of our members can have alcohol and they keep it at one or two a day. There are non-
alcoholic versions of most of the drinks on board. The strawberry daiquiri becomes the strawberry
smoothie etc. and our members do get those!
With all the drug related violence aren't you afraid to go to Mexico?
Most of the ongoing trouble is right along the border with the United States. We stopped going
across into Tijuana from San Diego back in the 1980's. We used to go over to eat lunch and shop
but it was difficult for our guys to answer all the questions that the US immigration officers would
ask. This was before we had to have a passport to get across. Today we would not even think
about going into T.J. The cruise lines are no longer stopping at Mazatlan on the Mexican Riviera
Cruise so we took that one off our schedule for now. Ensenada is still very quiet so we will continue
going there. We do not venture out of the tourist zone on any road trips. We have never
had any problems in the Eastern Caribbean. Two of the islands where the ship docks are US
Territory and the third island is under the jurisdiction of the Netherlands and France. We will
continue to monitor all the places we visit on an ongoing basis.
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