Best Of
Re: The apparent new Covid policy
Why should guests with Covid be treated any different than those with the flu, colds etc? I frankly think drawing this Covid phobia out any further is just silly. When will this end? What a waste of time and effort. Traveling can be stressful enough without having to worry about being thrown off a tour for a malady that is basically no different from many others.
Re: The apparent new Covid policy
I'm a Nurse who has been in the trenches of COVID since day 1. I've seen it all - final good-byes via an iPad, proning patients, face breakdowns due to 16hr shifts in N95s . . . and all along, Virologists, Infectious Disease MDs, & everyone tracking this have told us that COVID would eventually be treated like a common cold. WE ARE THERE!!
That still doesn't mean that long-term COVID no longer exists (it does), or that elderly and immunocompromised people are at a higher risk (they are) . . . but it's time to move on and treat it like a cold or flu. Get vaccinated and take precautions. Don't get on a plane with 300 strangers and travel with a group of 44 if you are scared of it. Or do, but keep a mask on. Most likely you are grocery shopping, in line behind people, sitting close to people in restaurants daily who have COVID. Happens here in your hometown just like on a trip. Be wise, protect yourself, if you are immunocompromised - don't travel with herds of people.
On our most recent Tauck trip last month - that was both a land and river cruise tour, some wore masks, some didn't, many had coughs and runny noses. It's going to be the new norm and a risk we are willing to take if we choose to travel. I don't even think testing is a requirement anymore by most travel companies. Most say to use precautions if you are sick - whether it's COVID, cold, flu, GI, etc.
COVID is here to stay, will continue to change & form new strains. All the travel companies are following the correct recommendations now.
Re: Lessons learned?
This was the trip that sold us on Tauck forever. In spite of several weather-related challenges (Hurricaine Michael), Tauck handled everything flawlessly. My only advice would be to buy the opals if they grab your eye, do the excursions if they speak to you, buy the photo with the koala, and don't sweat the small stuff. Have the hotel do some laundry if needed instead of wasting an afternoon in a laundromat. You didn't spend all this time and $$ to go pinch pennies. It is a long and fairly active tour. Give yourself a rest and let Tauck spoil you. Kia Ora!
Wind Star Ship
I'm at the end of the Tauck Treasures of the Mediterranean cruise and want to post my thoughts about the Wind Star ship while my memories are fresh.
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In about 1976, when I was in the beginning of my career, I upgraded from a 1962 Volkswagen Bug to an almost new Honda Civic hatchback. The Civic was a good reliable car but it was basic. It had roll up windows, a manual transmission, AM radio, and rubber floor mats – no air conditioning. But it got me where I wanted to go and it was very reliable. The designers could have made it more basic, like a military vehicle which has only the absolutely necessary features and functions, but they didn’t. They tried to make it attractive as well as reliable, while still meeting their chosen price point.
I drove that car for many years and then sold it to my sister who passed it along to each of her kids as they reached driving age.
Twenty-five years later, I bought a Mercedes S-430. Very different car, with lots of creature comforts, automatic transmission, electric windows, air conditioning, nice interior, air suspension, etc. But, like the Honda, its function was just to get me where I wanted to go, perhaps in greater comfort.
The Wind Star story is similar when compared to one of the luxury cruise lines, such as Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea, or Regent Seven Seas. The Wind Star was built in 1986 and was probably built to the standards of luxury at that time. But that was 38 years ago and what is considered “luxury" in a cruise ship has moved on.
The regular cabins on the Wind Star are small, the bathrooms are very small, and there are just port holes to the outside – no balconies. Closet space is limited. It’s like the Honda Civic – it has everything you need, but nothing extra.
The ship itself was designed to a similar minimalist ethic. For example, there’s no elevator, just stairs to go between decks. To reach the Veranda restaurant you must go outside. I don’t know what they do if it’s raining. [Side note: I asked what they do if someone has mobility issues. They said they tell that person not to book on this ship.]
Being small, the ship moves quite a bit more in rough weather.
It has all the required things, a restaurant, a lounge, a coffee bar, a gift shop, etc. And the staff has been excellent.
The ship has been renovated recently, 2018 I think, but there’s a limit to what you can do in a renovation. It would be difficult to reconfigure the cabins to make them larger, for example.
The ship does what it was designed to do, get you to the various islands and ports on your itinerary.
In the end, it all depends on what you want. The Wind Star can provide a nice cruising experience, but it cannot provide the luxury experience you’d get on one of the modern luxury cruise lines.
Re: Non Disclosure of total costs- AWFUL!
I agree with all the posters who said this was not new and well-deserved. However, what I don't like is carrying hundreds of dollars/euros/etc* throughout the trip to have the tip ready at the end. For that reason alone, I'd prefer that the "standard" tip be rolled into the trip cost. The option, as always with tipping, would remain to recognize extraordinary service with an additional gratuity.
- since I think the standard language is ambiguous about the currency, I compute in dollars but if in the Eurozone convert to Euros since many of the TDs on those tours are based in Europe. I expect that the mishmash of currencies and the large amounts cash the TDs end up with makes it harder for them to get it in their desired currency and into a bank.
Re: Non Disclosure of total costs- AWFUL!
The problem with providing a high level of detail on the website, etc. is once they do that then they must keep the info updated which, as we have often seen, is no easy task. Incorrect information can actually be worse than no information at all. To get important or critical info not on the website or in our final documents, we call.
We take plain envelopes or use ones in the hotel for the tips, but on several occasions, have 'made' special ones. I take a blank standard #10 envelope and print on it a small color collage of places, animals, etc. we expect to see on tour. I leave a spot to write in the TD's and driver's names. Below are two examples. Sometimes we include a photo of ourselves so the TD will remember us or has something to throw darts at! We included a photo of us in safari gear from K&T for the Botswana tour tip envelope.
Re: Accessibility for people with mobility scooters
I you look at the health considerations for this cruise Tauck specifically says they "cannot accommodate wheel chairs or motorized scooters". The tour coaches aren't set up for this. The ships do have elevators that go between the interior levels but can't go to the upper deck which is occasionally required to get on/off the ship. Getting on and off the ship is often a challenge. The gang plank is narrow and can be at steep angles and in some cases require steps to get to. I've seen all sorts of configurations. Often a challenge even for people with no walking issues.
I've been on cruises with people who had serious walking issues. They either spent most of the cruise on board or in one case the lady had 3 adults with her to help. The crew and TDs can't be expected to provide that sort of help. This is Europe which has completely different laws wrt disabilities. Many towns and tourist sights aren't built to accommodate them.
Re: What type electric outlets in British Air lounges at LHR?
This falls into the paranoid area, but I don't like to plug into USB outlets in public places. The reason is that it can give software behind the plug access to your phone or iPad. I use a charger and plug that into the power outlet.
My experience is that most public places, such as airports, have universal electrical outlets that take almost any plug. But you can't depend on that. In Europe, almost all places will take the European two round pin plugs.
Re: itinerary Sheets Essence of Japan March 2024
They don't allow swimsuits in the Onsens at Hakone or Gero - separate men's and women's areas. It was nice, you should go. I never changed dollars to yen, I took too many yen. I don't know of anyone who booked an excursion in Kyoto but the last day there was time in the afternoon. The Sumo demo was at the welcome dinner - it was great!
I posted the itinerary sheets because that is always what I wish others would do - its so helpful for planning.
Also, we flew into and out of Tokyo, taking the Shinkansen back from Kyoto before our flight. It worked great - the Japanese train system is very efficient!