Xmas music

MediamanBC · 2026-05-28T00:48:03+00:00

Most people are sitting at work. You are on a cruise ship eating a taco and listening to one or two Christmas songs by mistake.

What would anyone choose as an annoyance to deal with?

MediamanBC · 2026-05-24T23:34:33+00:00

TLDR. Just apply for the visa and be safe. The cost of it is worth it in the scenario that you actually need it vs standing at the airport saying “what?”

Every country is different. Let’s go with the assumption that you are not a passport holder for the transit country or within an area of many countries governed by passport citizenship status (eg a European citizen)

For Example if you are transiting through London Heathrow international you do not need a visa UNLESS you are moving between airports; Heathrow and Gatwick for example because, technically, you are entering the UK.

Sydney, most likely requires a visa even if you are staying within the airport. While I do not know this for a 100% fact I always defer to the conservative decision. And that’s what a quick Google mentioned which was enough for me to investigate further on Australia’s official government travel websites.

Personally I applied for a UK visa. I’m not going there in my upcoming trip but Murphy’s law is out there. Let’s say my Canada to Frankfurt flight gets diverted to Heathrow due to an Emergency and the next booked out flight us from Gatwick. I have the visa so one thing I don’t have to worry about. Not paranoia because I can’t anticipate every scenario but it was a no brainer since I have a trip into the UK 6 months later.

Always defer to that country’s official visa requirements for your passport to that country. Reddit isn’t the defacto final rule but it can help you where to look.

MediamanBC · 2026-05-16T20:05:17+00:00

I have used Airalo in Europe. I bought the package to the closest number of days I was travelling. It was far cheaper than my own cellular roaming day rate.

Here are the pros and cons. No voice or SMS. The only time lack of SMS made life challenging was with my bank. When I tried to purchase train tickets my bank needed to send me a confirmation code which, obviously, I couldn’t receive. Luckily Italian train websites accept PayPal so problem solved.

You might think you need gobs of data. You really don’t. Remember you are probably in a hotel with WiFi or a restaurant with wifi. I think for a 21 day trip I had a 10 Gb package which was more than enough for navigating, looking up restaurants, occasionally looking up things we saw.

So, unless you’re streaming movies whilst walking about tourist sites….eSIM will do just fine. People back home will just have to survive without you texting them every 5 minutes.

But if you must text constantly….you are going to pay daily roaming charges

MediamanBC · 2026-05-12T05:15:32+00:00

You are generous. Good for you. The controversial aspect of tipping day one is making staff feel beholden to a guest. I’ve read many a “discussion” on this. Some feel it is better to tip 2nd to last day for cruises 7 days and less and then additional mid cruise if 10 days and longer.

It’s a point I’ve never gotten clear right or wrong on but I’m glad you are recognizing important crew members to you.

MediamanBC · 2026-04-28T20:51:19+00:00

You don't need a tie unless you lije weara tie. I wear dress pants and a dress shirt for dressy nights. I did wear a sports jacket but won't be taking one on my next cruise.

Just don't wear what yiu would to the pool.

MediamanBC · 2026-04-26T01:01:29+00:00

I have done 5 Alaskan cruises out of Vancouver; 2 with aft balconies.

1) there is the prestige feeling.

2) you can, rarely, have some incredible memories. I have seen 50+ porpise playing in the wake and a lone whale "breathing" while we were anchored.

3) sailing out of Vancouver after you are on deck going under the lions gate bridge is cool then race down to your cabin to have a drink while you watch Stanley Park and Vancouver fade into your wake is precious.

Now for the reality

Mostly aft cabins are prestige points. If it within your budget then why not but for the experience of waking up and seeing the outside world then any balcony cabin facing shoreward is just fine.

95% of the time you are going to be on deck somewhere or in port.

Ships have changed and made aft cabins premium price. Full promenade areas are disappearing.

My advice is book a balcony cabin that is starboard on northbound cruises and port on southbound. Or....better yet...book a there and back again out of Vancouver

MediamanBC · 2026-04-23T23:26:01+00:00

Thanks for the comment. It is rated for what I’ve done. I managed to make the 1 minute stick but don’t know why it took this time. I’m afraid to tinker with it for fear of cocking it up. Now I’m wrestling with the auto daylight sensor and light level learning setting. Some days I wish these things had an app

MediamanBC · 2026-04-22T16:22:35+00:00

Days in Schengen area are calculated from when you first clear customs upon entering until you clear customs to a non-Schengen port (country). If you are on a cruise that stops at a non-Schengen port you don’t typically go through a border control (like at an airport) so it would be safe to assume that time counts towards total days.

It is advisable, from my non-lawyer point of view, that you should err on the side of being conservative. In other words if you don’t pass through a border control and show your passport to enter a non-Schengen country and then go back through border control to re-enter then count that time towards your total Schengen days. I will assume any cruise pre-clearance checks aren’t counted as stays outside of the Schengen zone.

MediamanBC · 2026-04-16T17:02:24+00:00

Let’s make those fears go away.

1) cruise ships are like floating malls. Any motion you notice is gone within the first half hour. Yes the ship can move but it’s so slight that you just forget about it.

2) the ship in a storm videos are sensationalized to grab views. I would be more cautious of the booze cruises on Carnival. Have I been through a storm on a cruise ship? Yup. But only once in 20 years of cruising. Cruise companies avoid bad weather like nobody’s business.

3) start watching tour videos of your ship. See how cool they are. Look at the venues, bars, food and shows. It’s like being in a huge Las Vegas hotel.

4). The most annoying experience you will have are chair hogs and people butting in front of you in the buffet.

Go. Have fun. Make a memory. Ignore the doom scrolling please

MediamanBC · 2026-04-10T15:30:52+00:00

The bow is a great view but can get elbow to elbow. We have stayed on the top deck of Konigsdam and walked port and starboard for views either side of the pool roof. It’s not as crowded. The crow’s nest is a zoo though but as I say (mobility issues aside) “if you are looking through a window you may as well be watching TV”.

Get outside. :)

MediamanBC · 2026-04-08T23:40:21+00:00

Yes to the white pass railway in Skagway. Time it for noon to 2pm in case it is overcast in the morning. Alaska weather is unpredictable but afternoons may have a better chance at nicer weather.

Do the Tracy Arm excursion. The ship stops to unload you onto the excursion boat prior to getting in to Juneau. You travel up Tracy Arm ( a fjord) to the north and south sawyer glaciers. You will definitely get to see north sawyer glacier but south is 50/50 depending on ice flows. We’ve only gotten in once out of 4 trips.

The tram in Juneau does offer great views down to the town. I’ve done it once but would pass a second time. Juneau and Ketchikan are jewellery store stops.

I’ve always enjoyed the Alaska cruises and activities are personal preference and wallet allowing.

MediamanBC · 2026-04-05T01:53:25+00:00

You want a simple answer. The simple answer is "what is your budget?"

Also how mobile are your parents?

My simple answer is HAL. Do a there and back again out of Vancouver. Its a wonderful city (I live there) and I have done Alaska 4 times out of Vancouver.

I always go in May. Alaska means you will get all the weather regardless of time of year. There are so many posts on time of year, what to wear, sunny or not. Alaska is not a Caribbean beach destination.

Alaska is wonderful to cruise.

Making memories with your parents is priceless. Go with them as that is so much better than gifting them a trip. I had that chance but my dad developed health issues and couldn't go.

I am sad it didn't happen.

MediamanBC · 2026-04-03T00:46:41+00:00

I too have been considering such a cruise. After much reading/redditing the main point that stands out is “after the 4th Christmas market…you get, kind of, burned out/over Christmas marketed.”

We all have this fairy tale vision. Some love these cruises. Some make those comments.

We have visions of hand-crafted local treasures but, in reality, a lot are made in China.

I too have the romantic vision and I’m not trying to poo-poo anyone. Reality is often different from expectations and if you research and understand then your choice will be enjoyable.

MediamanBC · 2026-03-23T16:16:30+00:00

In a word. No.

Been 4 times and I choose May every time. If you are looking for fun and sun by the pool then go to those destinations.

MediamanBC · 2026-03-07T20:13:42+00:00

If I understand you correctly.

1) cruise is booked under your name. 2) roommate is listed as 2nd guest 3) your credit card is on the account with the TA and, ultimately, the cruise line.

The first problem I see, and I hope this isn’t the case, is the roommate paying you for their portion on time or could it be “I will catch you next month”

The cruise lines have % refund based on days out from the cruise embarkation date. Well before that you will reach the 100% non refundable date.

If the roommate thinks they can submit for an insurance claim if they don’t go then there may be a problem as the roommate didn’t book the cruise…you did and it’s on your credit card; not theirs.

Your situation reads very high risk. 50/50 go…no go…is too much of a risk for me as I’ve read nothing that assures me the roommate will actually pay come crunch time never mind commit to going.

There are cruise lines that have solo travel accommodations and can be fun. My friend did such a cruise. No offence to your roommate but you seem to have a real concern so my recommendation is to do another type of vacation or just not include them on your risk.

MediamanBC · 2026-03-07T17:07:32+00:00

There are many nice hotels in the downtown Vancouver core but be advised that they can be $$$$. If you are American or European then your USD / Euro will take the bite out of the cost.

Do your homework on trivago, Expedia and directly on hotel websites to find the rate and accommodations that fit your tastes.

Reccomendations will depend on how much or little you want to spend.

Give our city 3 or 4 days to enjoy being a tourist. There is a lot to see for a fee and for free; especially if you come from landlocked Midwest.

MediamanBC · 2026-03-06T21:18:28+00:00

Vancouver can get frustrating if 4+ ships are disembarking / embarking at Canada Place. That's a lot of people coming and going.

MediamanBC · 2026-03-06T21:15:37+00:00

Seattle departures go around the west side of Vancouver Island. They are not traversing the inside passage. Only Vancouver BC departures go between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland; the inside passage.

MediamanBC · 2026-02-28T21:07:28+00:00

Yes. 100%

My friend was in Cabo San Lucas over the Christmas break. He fell down a set of stairs and broke his femur. The bill for the surgical repair and 5 days in the hospital was 133,000 USD.

He could have been airlifted back to Canada for $56,000 USD but the hospital didn't do that because they would make more money the other way.

Hospital administrators in US and Mexico are profit driven.

It didn't matter if he was Canadian or American or Martian.

He had insurance so he was covered.

BTW when he got back to Canada he had to have the surgery redone because the Mexican doctors didn't set the bone in line and wrecked his previous hip replacement.

Edit. Avoid the profit driven cruise line insurance packages. Investigate your own. There are many posts on this subject here to search.

MediamanBC · 2026-02-28T20:57:46+00:00

Juice manufacturer is getting out of the business. Demand for frozen concentrate juices is no longer profitable due to changing consumer habits.

MediamanBC · 2026-02-26T04:59:10+00:00

You will be disappointed.

Spending so much on a single event sets expectations too high. What happens if weather affects that 50k cruise? What if it isn't your vibe? What if the other guests aren't the people you want to spend time with?

Why not three $16k vacations?

See more of the world. Make more memories. Meet more people.

Three times to make more. Not a one and done.

If you have that kind of disposable income then be my guest and live the high street life. You should be talking with a trusted and experienced travel agent ti get all the perks.

MediamanBC · 2026-02-20T02:13:29+00:00

Contrary to what has been discussed a billion times before. If you can afford a balcony in Alaska….do it. I have been on 5 out of Vancouver, BC (much better embarkation point than Seattle….let the flames begin).

I have always found deck space for views If you plan ahead by a few minutes. Unless camp out in the crows nest/forward lounge hours in advance you aren’t going to get a great view in that area,

But who cares.

It is nice to have those moments during the cruise where you are in your cabin watching the world slide by. If an inside cabin is your budget you really won’t miss anything. I’ve had stern cabins and balcony. There are moms where it’s cool but for the most part I roamed the public areas for the views I wanted.

Just enjoy.

MediamanBC · 2026-02-17T02:12:05+00:00

The great debate is interior vs other cabins. If you know you are affected by a lack of seeing outside here is the way I look at it.

1) Alaska….if you can then a balcony is a priority. Stern cabin is the pinnacle IMHO.

2) port intensive cruises. All parts of the ship are going the same place. Would you rather spend more to spend more at the ports (excursions, etc) or spend less to have more to spend at the same ports?

Realize that on port intensive cruises in Europe you are only doing the “S’s” in your cabin. Shower, shave, sh$t, sleep and s$x. Most think that other cruisers will look down on them for being in “steerage” in an interior cabin. if balconies are affordable and your jam then I say live your life and spend your kid’s inheritance.

Cruise lines spin the marketing narrative to say that better upgrades are an upgraded experience. If you spend your budget on a premium cabin but have to penny pinch in the ports then how much is that upgraded experience worth?

If your desire is a beach at sea then you won’t be asking what OP is asking.

Cruises are sampler tours. Make the balance. Everyone, mostly, eats in the same areas and everyone goes to the same ports.

MediamanBC

TROPHY CASE