Tagged With "Cruising the Caribbean"
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Re: Canadian snowbirds: Don't clip our wings!
The current Canadian plan covers only a fraction of the billed amount the snowbirds might encounter with an emergency medical problem in the USA, Mexico or Caribbean. Most of the snowbirds I know have a supplemental travel policy that protects them fully in case of emergency.
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Re: Canadian snowbirds: Don't clip our wings!
I believe one may have a right but still be thought presumptuous for taking advantage of, I suspect, unintended benefits. I think there are more equitable ways of spending taxpayer money. Maybe rather than re-include Ontarians(?) they might cut off everyone else. If it means fewer Canadians in the Caribbean as a result, so be it. I don't think beach is a right either.
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Re: Boston in the fall - suggestions please!
Take a look here for some ideas. Most have All-Inclusive packages. But that doesn't stop me going off exploring on the bus and getting a B+B overnight ! You're not glued to the hotel. Plus you don't want to be on the go EVERY day. Relax and take in the countryside. https://www.thomascook.com/holidays/caribbean/cuba/
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Re: Thousands of flights cancelled
Winter has yet to arrive in Western Europe. While the Jetstream continues to push warm air up from the Caribbean it will continue to be frost free.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Here's a link to the current rates: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty The rates are based on distance from London to capital of the other country; for U.S., that's 3661 miles and the rate converts to about $108, twice that for any class above cattle class. The APD particularly bites for Caribbean people living in UK; they're in the next band up and that means a family of 4 visiting home pay about $750 round trip on top of the tickets!
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Re: Frommer's New EasyGuides: A Future for Print
I know Paul - I'm just being a bad traveller ! It's like folks go to France and complain that Parisians don't smile! But they do when they know you! I just find big cities much the same. Like Havana is the same as any other overgrown City in the Caribbean! Crumbling Spanish Architecture. Dominican Republic is another good example. I must be getting Claustrophobic Paul ! Give me the wide open spaces of Delaware State Park and I'm in heaven. Some days I have the whole Park to myself. Solitude...
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Re: Venice's ban on huge cruise ships suspended
A big "Don't Like" for the lobbyists and court in Venice. What, I wonder, is the "practical alternative" for the city that's being irreparably damaged by the transit of these ships. I suppose the usual, take the bribe and leave it to their children to fix.
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Re: Venice's ban on huge cruise ships suspended
The only alternatives I can see are to build a new cruise port outside the lagoon. Chioggia might be too far, but perhaps just north of the main way into the lagoon, across the inlet from the Lido. That would provide land-based alternatives for other day trips from the boats, and could also be served by vaporetto-sized boats heading into Venice itself. Of course, I haven't consulted the folks who live there and run campgrounds there...
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Re: Venice's ban on huge cruise ships suspended
A perfectly logical solution if, indeed, logic applied in a system that officially condones adding insult to the injury Venice is already suffering. I predict, not in our lifetimes.
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Re: Airline fees hit new $7 billion record
I can get 2 weeks in an all inclusive Hotel in the Caribbean including flights for less than my Trans Atlantic flight UK - NY. Of course the US Traveler is getting ripped-off. The rest of the world is enjoying the benefits of cheap-fuel flights. The sooner Ryanair make inroads into the US the better. Maybe Mr O'Leary is guilty of copying the ideas mentioned above for adding on fees !
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Re: In Egypt: Up the Nile
Egypt is always going to be a conveyor belt for most visitors, outside of the resorts, and it's hard to get around this, given the country's geography. But PM is right to take the costs on the chin; how many times are you going to be there in this life ? Obviously didn't miss much, from her photos !
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Re: In Egypt: Up the Nile
Back in 1989, when TWA still existed, took their 14 day tour. I believe there were 35 of us. We started in Cairo - 4 days staying at Mena House opposite the pyramids A huge WOW! During our stay there we traveled to Sakkaha and Memphis. Boarded a bus that took us to Alexandria - 2 days staying at Montazah Sheraton. From there we took a train to Aswan (dirty dishes - everyone sick). In Aswan, we stayed on Elephantine Island's Loews Aswan Oberoi. Went to Temples of Philae and flew to Abu...
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Re: Hacienda Esperanza, Manatí, PR: A history of sugar and slavery
Excellent piece of History, Jonathan. It was interesting to learn that PR followed the line of many other Caribbean Islands. Nice presentation too. Really enjoyed reading it. Thanks.
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Re: Is it time to regulate airplane seats? Chris Elliott thinks so!
This debate seems to accept that the profit margins of Trans-Atlantic Flights are squeezed by costs outside the carriers control. The only solution they have is squeeze more seats in to control income. Last month I paid £759 ($1245) for 1 seat UK to Philadelphia - Return - with an American Airline. 7 hours in the sky. Each way. My £759 will also get me a flight to the Caribbean from the UK. 10 hours in the sky. 14 nights in a hotel. Food and drink included. And flight back. The Caribbean...
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1940's and 1950's
Thanks! They're all sweet, but my heart really beats for the MG T series...and that's a beauty!
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1940's and 1950's
Great! Love the 1950 Mercury!
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1940's and 1950's
And I'm partial to the 55 Bel Air. Probably the subdued black and white, not the peacockish "Jamaican Bay" color.
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1940's and 1950's
The stuff that dreams are made of ! The '57 Bel Air has to be the one above the crowd. Loved the MGs and memories of the time when you could fix your own Midget and Sprite without a College degree ! Happy Days !
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1960's (Part 2)
Hi Ottoman. Cristobal was wonderful ! It went up to Iceland and brought the UK warm Caribbean air - and back into summer.
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Re: Cruising through the holidays
Looks beautiful, Marilyn. I think I may consider this option for next Christmas (or any time of the year for that matter!)
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
I've really enjoyed this journey...thanks! For anyone who hasn't, I'd suggest checking out the first 3 parts as well. It's amazing to realize how varied the architecture and the wildlife and even the river itself seem at different points along the way. Some of the variation serves to remind us, as well, how many many years went into all this; all of our civilizations are young by comparison, no matter how old they seem to us!
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
What a fabulous conclusion to a delightful series, Mac. Thanks so much for sharing this journey with all of us. I've wanted to visit Egypt for some time, but have always been a little reluctant to go somewhere I might get targeted for extermination simply because I'm a visitor from the west. But your series has made me want to see this sooner, rather than later.
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
Although I've wanted to go to Egypt most of my life, to Egypt and Japan, for some reason I haven't made it to either place (except through the Suez canal, which hardly counts). Your pictures of the colonial-era hotels, though, may be the encouragement I need to finally get there. It's probably less crowded now than it will ever be, also an encouragement.
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
An incredible series on Egypt! I too want to go now sooner rather than later!
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
Thank you kindly fellow Gumbo-ists. You have rightly detected that we greatly enjoyed our trip and it is so photogenic and endlessly fascinating. I always feel a total dullard when going to the tombs and temples and hear all the lists of Pharaohs, dynasties, goddesses and gods - all doing fantastic things at the same time as us Brits were living in mud huts.... I do encourage you all to go and visit now. You will never get better deals than now (but go in the cooler period). You will be well...
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
Mac, can you tell us which company's boat you sailed on? You may have said it but indulge me please with the name (again)?
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
A truly wonderful journey you've taken us on, such a well written piece! Bravo!
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Re: Cruising down the Nile (part 4)
..an amazing journey, Mac, thanks for sharing it with us...and for anyone who hasn't been to Egypt, forget all the bad publicity you've heard and make this a priority on your adventure list; as someone who has been there, I can highly recommend it
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Re: Gallery: Borneo, Market in Sibu
You can always get me with a market, but this one was especially interesting because of the display of canned goods. Living in a neighborhood with many Caribbean, Asian and South Asian neighbors, I see some of those brands and products in our local fruit stands and small groceries. Truly "world food!"
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Re: Old San Juan - Museo de las Americas is a Must See
I've only briefly visit Old San Juan once (part of a cruise), and it did fascinate me. Thanks for tell us about this great museum, Jonathan. It does sound like a MustSee! Conde Naste just did a brief piece calling Puerto Rico the new Caribbean hot spot. Here's a link to their piece.
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Re: Rose Hall Great House, Jamaica
Thanks Paul. A good story and some interesting photos to accompany it. In my visits to the various Caribbean Islands I have seen voodoo is still in practice. "my son had a stomach ache and the Doctor came to visit. He rubbed his legs with grass and the pain went away. He said the words too. He told me it was caused by not chewing his food enough before swollowing it" Going horse riding at first light I've seen burials on the beach. All ceremony gone home before the tourists arrive to sun...
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Re: Thinking Cuba? Tickets not so easy yet!
Perhaps TG Guru GarryRF can add something on this...he's been there often. My impression is that the lack of facilities may be overstated, because Canadians, Brits and others have been going there in large numbers. Of course, if you double that without building, there will be a problem, but I don't think the numbers will go up that fast until the hotels and airlines start offering the kind of attractive packages they do for other areas of the Caribbean. It may be a self-solving problem.
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Re: How a super-ship manages 12-hour turnaround
Sometimes when I'm in Vancouver I head to Canada Place to watch the cruise ships coming and going. You actually get to see the belly of the ship being loaded. The dozens of palates of food that go on is amazing. Would you have thought a cruise ship would consume 3 massive containers of potatoes in a week? 2 of onions? Might even have been more, that's all I saw. It is truly a model of efficiency.
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Re: Cruising solo just got more affordable
That is nice news! And its such a rare thing for a company to do.
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Re: Ferry Service to Cuba Approved by US
I'm thinking that maybe $300 doesn't compare too badly with round-trip airfare...especially if you really are carrying 200 pounds of baggage... In the long run, I've always thought, Florida to the Caribbean seems like a natural for a high-speed catamaran service...
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Re: Visiting Cuba.
It's similar rules for people like me coming from the Caribbean into Cuba. I flew via Panama and I was surprised how easy the process was entering Cuba given some horror stories I have heard. I planned my entire trip, thankfully with the help of locals. The only stress was getting an internal flight from Santiago back to Havana before we arrived (which I tried to do the minute we arrived). After a week of trying I finally scored the last two seats on the last flight out before our connecting...
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Re: Cruisers told: Leave your water home!
Looks like I'm back to Vodka in a Listerine Mouthwash Bottle then. 1 drop of green and 2 drops of blue food colouring.
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Re: Cruisers told: Leave your water home!
You're a crafty fellow, GarryRF! Resourceful and sly -- features we like about you.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#117)
IDK good one to be stumped. Thought a Caribbean or West African Nation capitol; then the Christmas Trees brought us back to North America, and we settled upon Harrisburg, PA. Probably early in December since no snow outside. Beautiful building, the eye can't take in all the detail, wherever it is. Missteacher411
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Re: Liverpool - What do you mean. It has a Beach ?
The Temperatures for Liverpool rely on the strength of the Gulf Stream which sends warm water up from the Caribbean to the West of the UK. It follows the Jet Stream. It means that we can grow Palm Trees in the West - right up to Scotland ! Without this we would freeze in winter because we're that far North. Near to the Latitude of Alaska. But we don't !
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Re: Not Again!? British Air Tax Increase confirmed
The ones who are hurt the most are people with family on both sides of the Atlantic; many families split between Britain and the Caribbean simply can't afford family trips because of it. And the British travel industry has complained of huge losses as well. Some of them have joined together to campaign against the APD and its constant rise, and they are asking the public to sign an online PETITION
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Re: Where's a Warm Spot for March
Welcome, Gulliver, and two weeks will give you a nice break. I'm not sure where you're traveling from. Easiest and cheapest place for a warm break from North America is to head south, especially to Florida or the Caribbean, or from the West coast to Hawaii or Arizona. But the south of Europe is also quite nice this time of year. Italy, Sicily, Greece are places I'd consider going, depending on what interests you and where you've traveled before. Do any of these interest you? Are you...
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1920's
Love that onomatopoeic license plate: "Ah Ooga!" Blows my horn, for sure!
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1920's
A very cool collection of classic cars! Look forward to seeing more!!
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1920's
There must be more ! Can we see them soon ? Great photos.
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1920's
Hi Garry RF You are correct in assuming there are more cars. Actually, my next "Cruise Night" blog will be published tomorrow (Tuesday, August 12/14) featuring five cars from the 1930's. That blog will be followed in a few days or weeks with another "Cruise Night" blog featuring cars from the 1940's and 1950's, which will be followed in another few days or weeks with another "Cruise Night" blog or two featuring cars from the 1960's, which will be followed in another few days or weeks with...
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1920's
Ottoman. You must have a production line working overtime ! Remember those happy days when you just had Sunday off work - and you spent it under your car ! Greasing those bits and bobs so you'd survive another week !
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Re: "Cruise Night", Thunder Bay, Ontario: The 1930's
Wow !! Cant believe you have more of these beauties to share ! Nice, clear pix of metal artwork Ottoman ! I keep going back for another look ! Hope I don't wear them out !!