DRLPP

Great question. I am a transplant recipient and take 12 different meds. I have a 2 week pill holder that I take preloaded with my meds. I always carry a printed list from my medical records of all my meds just in case I am questioned. I do carry my 2 main rejection meds in the original packs just in case. Those are my main meds that I can't do without. A couple other thoughts, I pack an emergency 2 day kit in a separate area just in case I am separated from my other meds. It gives me a window to get an express delivery just in case. Also I am going on a B2B cruise to SP and NZ, 24 nights total. I plan on having my doctor write a letter on official letterhead with a list of my needed meds and reason for them. hope this helps.

This August will be 21 years. My wife was my donor. Our miracle.

This August will be 21 years. My wife was my donor. Our miracle.

This August will be 21 years. My wife was my donor. Our miracle.

This August will be 21 years. My wife was my donor. Our miracle.

This August will be 21 years. My wife was my donor. Our miracle.

This August will be 21 years. My wife was my donor. Our miracle.

This August will be 21 years. My wife was my donor. Our miracle.

Great question. I am a transplant recipient and take 12 different meds. I have a 2 week pill holder that I take preloaded with my meds. I always carry a printed list from my medical records of all my meds just in case I am questioned. I do carry my 2 main rejection meds in the original packs just in case. Those are my main meds that I can't do without. A couple other thoughts, I pack an emergency 2 day kit in a separate area just in case I am separated from my other meds. It gives me a window to get an express delivery just in case. Also I am going on a B2B cruise to SP and NZ, 24 nights total. I plan on having my doctor write a letter on official letterhead with a list of my needed meds and reason for them. hope this helps.

Great question. I am a transplant recipient and take 12 different meds. I have a 2 week pill holder that I take preloaded with my meds. I always carry a printed list from my medical records of all my meds just in case I am questioned. I do carry my 2 main rejection meds in the original packs just in case. Those are my main meds that I can't do without. A couple other thoughts, I pack an emergency 2 day kit in a separate area just in case I am separated from my other meds. It gives me a window to get an express delivery just in case. Also I am going on a B2B cruise to SP and NZ, 24 nights total. I plan on having my doctor write a letter on official letterhead with a list of my needed meds and reason for them. hope this helps.

I agree with pick a budget and stick to it. Our "budget" has been super low, inside cabin,  without spending an extra dime other than gratuities which we prepaid all the way to a suite for a special occasion but still with limits.  Personally I do not see the need for specialty restaurants as the included food is just fine. Also prepay any thing you can before the cruise. Watch for the discounted planner deals. Last thing, I never skip when it comes to tipping the staff. They work way too hard to make me a happy cruiser.

On Oasis there was a very nice selection of breakfast items. More than enough to choose from especially to take back to your room. I asked a staff person for a tray and they did accommodate me although I have seen others post say trays are not available. Doesn't hurt to ask for one, can only say "no". I have never been refused.

Did a cruise out of Barcelona a few years back. There wasn't a hotel that  we found that was super convenient to the cruise port so we stayed by the Basilica in an apartment about a block away, Marina Apartments on Marina. It came with a full kitchen, living area and king bed. We used the Hop on Hop off bus, a three day pass I think, to move around the city. Besides the Sagrada Familia we enjoyed the Casa Balto, Park Gruell, and Magic Fountain area. Are only day tour was to Montserrat which was very informative and beautiful. Las Ramblas was cool to walk but I would not eat there, lots of better restaurants around. Do hit a few neighborhood tapas bars, soo much fun. Make sure you purchase tickets ahead of time. You will save so much wait time. We took taxi from airport to apartment for convenience. Subway system was easy to use as well.  Check out TripAdvisor and you tube for info and videos. English was spoken by most staff. After cruise we took RC transfer to airport with no issues. Always felt safe and followed the same common sense we do back in the US. 

Did a cruise out of Barcelona a few years back. There wasn't a hotel that  we found that was super convenient to the cruise port so we stayed by the Basilica in an apartment about a block away, Marina Apartments on Marina. It came with a full kitchen, living area and king bed. We used the Hop on Hop off bus, a three day pass I think, to move around the city. Besides the Sagrada Familia we enjoyed the Casa Balto, Park Gruell, and Magic Fountain area. Are only day tour was to Montserrat which was very informative and beautiful. Las Ramblas was cool to walk but I would not eat there, lots of better restaurants around. Do hit a few neighborhood tapas bars, soo much fun. Make sure you purchase tickets ahead of time. You will save so much wait time. We took taxi from airport to apartment for convenience. Subway system was easy to use as well.  Check out TripAdvisor and you tube for info and videos. English was spoken by most staff. After cruise we took RC transfer to airport with no issues. Always felt safe and followed the same common sense we do back in the US. 

My first cruise was before Disney Lines started and the family did a combo 4 days at Disney and 3 nights on the Big Red Boat. Had a blast. Very informal and there was a midnight buffet one night and a chocolate midnight presentation on another night. Most memorable part was finding my 15 year old daughter at the pool bar drinking an alcohol  Strawberry Daquiri with a crew member. Yes I did create a scene!!! ?

My first cruise was before Disney Lines started and the family did a combo 4 days at Disney and 3 nights on the Big Red Boat. Had a blast. Very informal and there was a midnight buffet one night and a chocolate midnight presentation on another night. Most memorable part was finding my 15 year old daughter at the pool bar drinking an alcohol  Strawberry Daquiri with a crew member. Yes I did create a scene!!! ?

Hi Jane, I'm Larry and I'm an over packer as well. After multiple cruises, I continue to slowly whittle down on the amount I bring on vacation trips. With each cruise I continue to reevaluate what was taken and unused.  My wife and I will be at wits end on what to pack as we prepare for a Down under trip consisting of 4 nights in Sydney followed by B2B 12 night cruises to NZ and SP especially difficult due to expected different weather patterns. Our current focus: 1, dress in layers for flexibility  2, 3 pair of shoes per person(sandels, semidress and tennis). 3, planning on using the ship's laundry deal on each leg of cruise as well as a Tide stain stick, 4, One formal attire with extra top for changing as I don't care if people notice. 5, pack for the expected is a great guide as too many times we never used that 3rd or 4th sweater/pants...6, plan to buy some health and beauty products once we get to Sydney and chuck them when we head home. 7. if we do find we forgot something such as a jacket or hoodie we buy them as a souvenir(dual purpose). As a personal challenge I would love to try and pack in a small suitcase but I still value my marriage too much. My wife would remind me every minute of the day what we don't have with us. I will save that for a Transatlantic solo cruise some day. I am always checking the forum for other tips and ideas to make cruise travel easier. Thanks for your thought and ideas.

A Baltic cruise is on my list as well. Any info or insight is appreciated as the blog has very limited input from European and Down Under cruises /ports. Will follow.

Great info from Traveler. My two or three cents: With the cost and time needed to fly to Europe we always try to maximize our sights. Have a cruise coming up in 2020 that leaves out of Barcelona. Originally we were going to fly to Paris  for a few days then take the speed train to Barcelona for a few precruise days there. Saw that the price to fly to London from Pittsburgh was direct and was cheaper by $250/person so...now we are off to London for 3 nights with hotel close to the Tube, train to Paris for 3 nights then onto Barcelona for 3 nights. Now, must say that internet travel info is my hobby so please read travel forums and TripAdvisor for hotels, tours and other recommendations. Always travel with a good city map and at least learn a few key words in the native language as it goes a long way. Final thought, don't be afraid to use the Metro systems. Lots of info online esp. YouTube that will walk you through it. Just give yourself plenty of time as you travel. Another final thought(really), pre-purchase all your tickets to sights, will save you lots of line time!!

Great info from Traveler. My two or three cents: With the cost and time needed to fly to Europe we always try to maximize our sights. Have a cruise coming up in 2020 that leaves out of Barcelona. Originally we were going to fly to Paris  for a few days then take the speed train to Barcelona for a few precruise days there. Saw that the price to fly to London from Pittsburgh was direct and was cheaper by $250/person so...now we are off to London for 3 nights with hotel close to the Tube, train to Paris for 3 nights then onto Barcelona for 3 nights. Now, must say that internet travel info is my hobby so please read travel forums and TripAdvisor for hotels, tours and other recommendations. Always travel with a good city map and at least learn a few key words in the native language as it goes a long way. Final thought, don't be afraid to use the Metro systems. Lots of info online esp. YouTube that will walk you through it. Just give yourself plenty of time as you travel. Another final thought(really), pre-purchase all your tickets to sights, will save you lots of line time!!

Great info from Traveler. My two or three cents: With the cost and time needed to fly to Europe we always try to maximize our sights. Have a cruise coming up in 2020 that leaves out of Barcelona. Originally we were going to fly to Paris  for a few days then take the speed train to Barcelona for a few precruise days there. Saw that the price to fly to London from Pittsburgh was direct and was cheaper by $250/person so...now we are off to London for 3 nights with hotel close to the Tube, train to Paris for 3 nights then onto Barcelona for 3 nights. Now, must say that internet travel info is my hobby so please read travel forums and TripAdvisor for hotels, tours and other recommendations. Always travel with a good city map and at least learn a few key words in the native language as it goes a long way. Final thought, don't be afraid to use the Metro systems. Lots of info online esp. YouTube that will walk you through it. Just give yourself plenty of time as you travel. Another final thought(really), pre-purchase all your tickets to sights, will save you lots of line time!!

In  March/April 2020 wife and I are doing B2B out of Sydney, one to NZ and then South pacific. Radiance, same balcony cabin. Spending 5 days pre-cruise in Sydney. I agree that we are not looking forward to the flight from Pittsburgh via SFO or DTW. Liked the idea of B2B so we didn't need to shuffle too much. Radiance is my favorite class esp for port intensive trips.

You can refill your personal water bottles at multiple locations. They just ask you not dispense directly into your container but instead fill a provided plastic cup to fill your vessel. Main dining attire is casual, similar to Carnival. For formal nights a sports coat is fine, many people don't even do that.

We tip in either Australian or US dollars when we cruise out of Sydney, it just depends what currency we have with us.
 

My husband and I just cruised out of Sydney on the Ovation last month.  We pre-paid our gratuities and used US Dollars on the cruise for extra tips.