June 29th, 2007
Talk About Travel; Trip Tips and Deals
The Post’s Travel Section Flight Crew will take your comments, questions, suspicions, warnings, gripes, sad tales and happy endings springing from the world of… the world. Of course, the Flight Crew will be happy to answer your travel questions — but the best thing about this forum, we insist, is that it lets travelers exchange information with other travelers who’ve been there, done that or otherwise have insights, ideas and information to share. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain’s chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers.
The Post’s Travel Section Flight Crew will take your comments, questions, suspicions, warnings, gripes, sad tales and happy endings springing from the world of… the world. Of course, the Flight Crew will be happy to answer your travel questions — but the best thing about this forum, we insist, is that it lets travelers exchange information with other travelers who’ve been there, done that or otherwise have insights, ideas and information to share. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain’s chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers.
Re. Norway (last week): Union Station has their salute to Norway this holiday season, and during the day there is information available at their kiosk by the big Christmas tree.
Anne McDonough: Ah, hope the poster from last week is chiming in again today-thanks!
Also, I forgot to say what the winner of today’s chat question contest thingie will get: A travel toothbrush that comes with a special case that supposedly de-bacteriazes it, and a t-shirt and perhaps something else from the box o’junk.
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Gaithersburg, Md.: I asked this a couple of weeks ago. Is there a drinking age on cruise ships. We are cruising the Western Caribbean Dec. 24-29; my 17-year-old thinks he’ll be allowed to drink, drink, drink. What are the official rules, and do the ships enforce them? Thanks!
Cindy Loose: Each cruise line has its own rules. We wrote about this in coming and going, but I can’t remember which cruise line has which rule. I’m sure you can contact the cruise line you son is using to find out.
Those that have rules enforce them, although if your son is at all coniviving, he can probably find a way to get older friends to carry the drinks. If that’s his goal and you’re coming along, you will have to be vigilent even if the rules deny him. If you aren’t going, maybe he shouldn’t either.
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Northern Va: Hi Crew -
Thanks for the great chats. Here’s my question: My family is surprising my mom with a trip to Hawaii for her 60th birthday. Problem is, she gets very seasick on boats and somewhat motionsick in cars, and we’d like to drive the Road to Hana in Maui and do a cruise along the NaPali coast in Kauai. We’d like to avoid medications such as dramamine because she is on a number of medications already and we’re always worried about interactions between the different medicines. So, any suggestions for non-pharmaceutical remedies for seasickness and other motion sickness? I recently heard about accupressure bracelets, but don’t know if they really work. Thanks!
Anne McDonough: Let’s open this one up to the chatters–anyone have personal experience with non-pharmaceutical remedies for seasickness? We’re not endorsing any of these, by the way. Informational only. PSA over.
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Anonymous: I am planning a long term trip to the Caribbean. Have some places to stay nailed down, want to bounce around a little and island hop. Are there any specific rules I need to know? I have been researching open ended travel and long term stay, but wonder what you travel gurus can share with me! Thank you.
Gary Lee: Your question is very general so am not sure where to start. Having done a bit of island hopping, I did want to offer a couple of thoughts. Keep in mind that most islands are distinct countries that require you to go through customs, etc every time yoo come and go. Since drug smuggling is sometimes an issue, the local authorities can sometimes be more agressive with searches than you would think.
On the positive side, I have found that in most cases, you can find your best lodging options by just showing up and asking around.
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Nervous about Delta in Washington DC: I heard on the news a few days ago something like this: “Delta’s cockpit crews are meeting to authorize a strike.”