captaingail

Any one signed up yet? Gail

Hi from Gail R who had the colon problem, had to cancel the Millie cruise and ended up in the hospital for 6 days being shot up four times a day with prednisone to calm down the colon. Diagnosis: Ulcerative colitis, minus the ulcers. The bonus was the birth of our first grandson who was born a week after we would have returned from the Millie trip. We booked the trip not knowing daughter was pregnant. Anyway, woud love to see all posted photos. My e mail (please do not use for forwards or jokes or stuff like that) is captaingail###### I have just booked Princess Alaska Cruise Tour 21e meeting in Fairbanks on July 29th for 6 night land tour (including that special Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali). 7 night cruise part starts in Whittier/Anchorage and ends on August 11 in Vancouver. We may fly to Fairbanks a day or two early so thatwe can take a tour up to Barrow Alaska by Alaska Air and visit an exotic place the farthest north in the U.S--Arctic Ocean, polar bears, etc. I had wanted to visit Kenai peninsula and Homer and Dawson and so much more, but, although retired, don't want to take a month off in summer when we sail our boat on the Jersey coast near Barnegat Bay. Sailing season is short enough as it is. The problems of retirement should be all your problems someday Should anyone be interested in this cruise and tour, let me know. We'll start a forum page. Happy Holidays. Peace to all. Gail R

Hi Guys, Wishing you all a wonderful trip. Have learned so much from you and will miss not meeting you. Unfortunately we had to cancel last week. Developed a stomach problem from food poisoning a month ago, had two relapses after antibiotics, many lab samples taken, a very good gastro doctor, and he said he may need to do a colonoscopy if I don't get better soon. Am too tired to sight see for hours each day, something we love to do. And I can't eat! The weight loss is welcome, but not this way. So, we will reschedule this cruise, probably for May. Be well all. And I hope to read your postings with all the fabulous details after you return. Gail R

Hi Tony and Jackie. Unfortunately, we do want to leave early, probably by 8:30 a.m. It will be a long day. Looking forward to meeting you though. Gail R

Thanks Shannon, Fair looks like fun. Will probably wait until arriving in Barcelona to book a car for Saturday. Jerry likes to drive and we will explore the Costa Brava. If a couple wants to join us on that Saturday the 28th, let me know. Our only criteria for company are adventurous people who like to be on time. Gail R

Shannon, You asked about a week ago (I just saw it) if we were going to the festival in Girona. We are arriving in Barcelona on the morning of the 26th and plan to rent a car and go up the coast and to Girona, maybe on Saturday the 28th. Tell me about the festival. Gail R

Joey, BA is not requiring the clear plastic bag anymore. Also, we arrive in Barcelona on the 26th and will look for all of you on the evening of the 28th. One of the days we are there we will rent a car and drive to Girona. Any other suggestions? My condolences to you also Gail. Gail R

Hi, For moreup to date info on luggage and carry on for those traveling through England, go to this link: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport...icle1578736.ece Also, we two would be happy to meet all of you for drinks on the 28th in the evening. Gail R

Just checked out my carry on bag. It's 22 by 15 x 8, but won't weigh more than 20 lbs filled with my secret weapon for overnight flights-a king size pillow to cushion the bod of a short person trying to get comfy in those ridiculous seats. Do you think they will trade me the extra five inches for those 30 lbs? Or won't they notice? The Brits are less obese than us Yanks. So it stands to reason that their aisle is 5 inches shorter. Right? Or they just want to make the luggage industry richer. All the other airlines take this wider width bag. What's wrong with these Brits? Just tired and musing over the sad state of our world today. But travel, if we can get there with sense of humor intact, makes it all worth while. Looking forward to making your acquaintances. BTW, who said they live in Bucks County? And cruisergal, where is that travel to do list?

Just got off the phone with BA. If the entire flight itinerary is on one ticket or e ticket , two 50lb bags are allowed. If the flights are broken into separate tickets, then only 1 bag is allowed. This applies to anyone laying over in England and having 2 separate tickets. Each additional bag over the one costs $100. Two carry on bags are allowed. One up to 50 lbs is supposed to be no larger than (inches) 22 x 10 x 8. The other should be no heavier than 13 lbs and be no larger than 17 x 13 x 6 inches That's the deal for today, kids.

Joey, I found the countdown clock, but how do I attach it automatically when I post? Captain Gail

That will be fine on outbound. Returning, we are stopping in London to spend three days with friends. I assume if I show them my complete itinerary, they will allow us the extra bag. How have you translated the carry on regs?

Is anyone unfortunately flying British Air? Their web site is contradictory on the number of checked bags. Weight seems to be 50 lbs. Unclear if it's one or two allowed. As for carry on, they're writing one small carryon allowed, about the size of a notebook computer case, but 8 inches deep. No mention of a personal bag, i.e., handbag minus cosmetics, of course. This is all very concerning. Do you think they will take away the large support pillow I will need for the seat if I carry it on in addition to my miniscule carry on?

Cruisergal, I'd love to see that to do list. Bet lots of us would. Please post it.

Gail, I solved the cell phone problem by purchasing a Mobal GSM World Phone from Mobal before our last Europeon trip. Once you purchase the phone you don't have to change the chip every time you change countries. With this phone you only pay when you use the phone, no monthly service charges. The phone worked great on our recent Baltic cruise and we'll be carrying it on this cruise. The charges per minute vary by country. In Italy the cost is $1.25 per minute in country :smiley: and calls to the USA are $1.50 per minute. If you are interested go to [url=http://www.mobalrental.com/]http://www.mobalrental.com/ for details. oldefox With TIM through picell the rates in Italy are 10 cents/min. to the us from italy 21 cents/min. from other eu countries to us 99 cents/min Shannon, try the picell site and note that it comes up as a software company with no info. Maybe there is a typo somewhere. Oldfoxe, our T Mobile cell is equipped already, according to one customer service person I spoke with, to make and accept calls in Europe. My rates are .99 a minute in each country but Greece where it is $1.49. Not that I plan on talking much, but daughter is pregnant and due a few weeks after we arrive home. If I check in every two days, it's o.k. I just can't figure out the availability of pay phones. Someone told me that because of all the mobility of people from country to country in Europe, the phone cards are very popular and dirt cheap, pennies under 10 per minutes, when purchased here or billed to our credit card. I'll give it more thought. If anyone has any other info about pay phone availability or phone service, please weigh in. Gail R

Shannon, Subway sounds better than bus and all that surface traffic. Last in Rome 23 years ago. They didn't have a subway then. I was told there is now a tram from the Spanish steps to the Borghese. My friend took it a few years ago. Don't know if it will cut the time to get there. Do you have any additional info about the train departure times? I lost the link to the train. Also, are you or anyone on this forum familiar with use of pre paid international calling cards bought in the US to use in any country? Prices are cheap for a call, 3-20 cents a minute depending on whether there is an access charge. However, what is the chance of finding telephone booths? They are very scarce in the US. Have not been to Europe in 10 years.

Shannon, There are two Gail's on this forum. Which are you addressing? I'm captaingail or Gail R. You, Gail R. I should have been more clear. Will this be your first trip to the Borghese galleries? If so, I wanted to make sure that you knew to get advanced reservations. Yes, Shannon. Thank you. It is on my list of things to do. Thinking this through right now, we arrive at 7 a.m at the port., but probably won't be able to disembark until 8 or later. Trains leave at 8:08 and 8:41. I'll check the next train just in case. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to Roma Termini. then switch to a bus to the Gallery. Use same ticket. Get it validated before leaving train station. I'm thinking a 11:30 reservation is doable. What do you think? Gail

Shannon, There are two Gail's on this forum. Which are you addressing? I'm captaingail or Gail R.

MaryAnn, How do I send you an e mail re the Santorini tour? Gail R

Gail and Jerry Raznov are also flying Philly to UK, then to Barcelona

are you sharing? :grin: Links below to Hellenic culture site. 1st is the welcome page with a lot of interesting links. 2nd is the archeological link. Akrotiri and ancient thira are under this link, as well as the Athenian sites. There is a link on each site's web page with ticket and operating hours information. Speaking of tickets.... anyone planning on visiting the Borghese gallery while in Rome? http://www.culture.gr/home/welcome.html [url=http://www.culture.gr/2/21/toc/index.html]http://www.culture.gr/2/21/toc/index.html Shannon, We're planning on visiting the Borghese Gallery. Gail R

By the way, who in this group lives in Bucks Co, PA? We are in Holland. Gail

MaryAnn, We and our 2 friends are early seating also. First time for us, but because we like to do it all, the show, etc, can't imagine getting up at 7 a.m. everyday to get ready to sightsee, return at 4p.m, dinner at 8:30, then the show at 10:00, then dancing. We would be exhausted. So this way, dinner at 6:30 I believe,the show is earlier, can dance after and go to bed by 11:00 instead of burning the candle at both ends. If we want to miss the early dinner, there is always space somewhere at the late dinner, if not the buffet. Somehow it will work out. Gail

I am impressed with the knowledge base this group has accumulated and their access to resources. So, what's with the transportation in Venice from the ship to Piazzale Roma where we can pick up the bus to the airport? The tourist agency wrote me that I could walk with my luggage to P. Roma. That's a laugh. Celebrity rep said I could take their bus from the port to the airport. A bus? That's an even bigger laugh. Perhaps he meant mini bus, but I don't think buses go up steps. So, do any of you have an info on this problem which could be solved by paying Celebrity $30 per person for transportation, water taxi and bus, I assume. Thanks, Gail