No post today…We’ll be back tomorrow…
Flight delays during holidays?…What are your rights and options as a traveler?…
This morning, we encountered this article that may impact many of our readers as they go home after the Thanksgiving holiday.
“Is my flight delayed? Here are Sunday’s flight delay cancellation numbers
Zach WichterKathleen WongJosh Rivera, USA TODAY
Early reports signal little travel disruptions nationwide as millions of Americans hit the road or take to the skies post-Thanksgiving.
According to FlightAware’s flight-tracking website, only 43 U.S. flights had been canceled by 8 am ET, and another 568 had been delayed. It is worth mentioning that Saturday saw 6,357 flight delays, while today is expected to be the year’s busiest travel day.
Airlines have urged travelers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport, and a few have issued waivers for changes or cancellations due to weather concerns.
TSA reminders
Today, TSA projects are one of the busiest travel days.
Enjoy your worry-free vacation: Best travel insurance policies.
“Many members of the TSA workforce will be on duty throughout Thanksgiving Day and week, and I am immensely grateful for their selfless dedication and professionalism,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a news release. “I encourage travelers to plan, follow TSA’s travel tips, and take advantage of programs like TSA PreCheck – simple steps that will make everyone’s journey smoother, our skies safer, and TSA’s job easier.”
As a reminder:
The TSA advises passengers to start packing with an empty bag to reduce the likelihood of bringing prohibited items through a checkpoint. All liquids, gels, and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or less when packed in a carry-on bag.
Certain foods—considered liquids or gels —such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam, and preserves—must be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces.
“If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, it is a liquid, aerosol or gel and must be packed in your checked bag if it exceeds the 3.4-ounce limit,” TSA said. “As always, passengers may bring solid foods such as cakes and other baked goods through the checkpoint.”
And yes, breast milk is an exception to the liquids rule.
What day will be the least busiest one to fly?
Today will be the busiest day for air travel, while the least busy days were Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28; Black Friday, Nov. 29; and this coming Tuesday, Dec. 3.
What is the DOT Dashboard?
The Department of Transportation created a dashboard so travelers can easily access information about U.S. airlines’ services in case of cancellations or delays.
Click here to access the DOT Cancellation and Delay Dashboard.
A new DOT rule that went into effect at the end of October requires airlines to refund passengers if their flight is significantly delayed for reasons within the carrier’s control. The rule also makes airlines more responsible for following their own customer commitments in those cases.
What is a significant delay?
The DOT defines a significant delay as a departure or arrival three hours late or more for a domestic flight or six hours for an international flight.
What is a controllable delay?
According to the DOT, an airline-caused delay is controllable. Controllable reasons include maintenance or crew problems, cabin cleaning, baggage loading, and fueling. Weather or air traffic control flow programs do not count against the airline.
What am I entitled to if my flight is delayed?
If your flight is delayed significantly for a reason in the airline’s control, you are entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel. If you decide to stick it out, you may still be entitled to some compensation or accommodation, including rebooking on another flight or airline at no cost, meal and lodging vouchers for qualifying delays, and other benefits.
No U.S. airlines currently offer cash compensation for delays. Still, the big four (American, Delta, Southwest, and United) all offer hotel and ground transportation vouchers for overnight stays due to a flight cancellation.
What to do if your flight is canceled
Your best bet is to know your airline’s policies before your trip and be your advocate. Get in touch with the airline however you can, whether through the app, social media, phone, or at the airport help desk if you’re already on your way. It’s usually a good idea to have some alternative flights in mind when you speak to an agent, and be sure to ask for any accommodation or refunds you may be entitled to if you plan to take advantage of those policies.”
Hopefully, the above information may be helpful for you during the busy holiday season. With more and more travelers after the end of the pandemic, the entire scenario has changed, and it’s imperative to stay up-to-date on your rights and options. Although “reading the small print” is irritating and time-consuming, it may be a good resource for transportation issues.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, December 1, 2014:
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Replay of our podcast on Garage Logic….
Our niece Kristi emailed us yesterday that Garage Logic posted a replay of our visit to their show in May 2022. If you haven’t had an opportunity to see and listen to this podcast, please click the above red GL link. Once you land on their page, click the arrow at “Listen Now” on the right side of the page. You will be able to listen to the podcast.
We were both still recovering from Covid-19, and it’s evident in our voices. We’d tested negative for and felt comfortable being on the show, although we still felt under the weather. As it turned out, it took months for us to recover while I suffered with long Covid for another 18 months.
At that time, we’d been traveling for ten years, and recently, on October 31, 2024, we celebrated 12 years since we left Minnesotan to begin our journey. Wow! It’s even harder for us to believe we’ve been living this lifestyle for so long.
Tom replayed the podcast this morning, and we chuckled over our responses. We were excited to share it with their over 2 million listeners worldwide. Much to our delight, the show has had quite an impact on our readership. The guys on the show, mainly Joe Soucheray, mention us and our website address every day (five days a week) when Tom continues to submit “This Year in Minnesota History” the night before each broadcast.
We’ve been offered other opportunities to appear on shows and podcasts, but this hasn’t necessarily worked out based on our location at any given time. Nor are we interested in “celebrity status,” As much and as detailed as we share our lives, our worldwide readership fulfills all of our needs in that area.
We never intended posting our stories and photos to feel like a “job.” We love the simplicity of only having to write a new post most days and taking photos when we are in an area with photo ops.
I saw Louise’s Facebook post this morning with a video of our beloved nyalas in their garden: Norman, Nina, and the family. My heart flip-flopped in my chest with sheer joy. I can only hope they will continue roaming the exact location of our upcoming holiday home, which is only a few doors away from Louise and Danie.
We’ll be there in 93 days. It can’t come soon enough. Sure, the journey to get there is daunting, especially with my awful memories of having Afib for 12 hours on a flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta. I don’t have any Afib symptoms now, but that bad memory lingers in my mind from the last time we crossed the Atlantic on a 16-hour flight.
But it will be different now with my newfound improved health and improved level of fitness. By the time we leave for South Africa, after continuing my workout routine for the next three months, I should feel fit and optimistic when we board the long flight again. The total time from airport to airport is over 30 hours, which is a long time to go without sleep since neither of us can sleep on the plane other than occasionally nodding off.
Nonetheless, we are excited about leaving here two weeks from today and then leaving the country again for more international travel.
Have a lovely weekend!
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 30, 2014:
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Recovering After a Thanksgiving Feast: A Journey of Gratitude, Rest, and Reset
We hope our American friends/readers, and family had a fantastic Thanksgiving Day. Ours was atypical when this year, I made Tom several dishes he enjoys, along with two roasted turkey breasts. He asked for mashed potatoes with gravy, bread sausage, onion and mushroom stuffing, and the usual green bean casserole, none of which I eat.
My only indulgence was homemade keto pumpkin pie topped with real whipped cream. Otherwise, I had turkey breast and salad, after which I was still hungry. Subsequently, rather than wait a few hours, I had my pie shortly after dinner. Tom enjoyed his Costco pumpkin pie a few hours later.
When I made Tom’s side dishes, I made extra for several future meals. I froze several portions. When the turkey runs out in a few days, we’ll buy other meats he can have with the leftovers. I am having a salad with lots of veggies, diced turkey, and gorgonzola cheese tonight and may repeat this tomorrow night.
Although I didn’t make all the usual side dishes, I still spent considerable time in the little kitchen, chopping and dicing. It’s a relief not to cook for a few days.
Here are a few comments about recharging after the big event for those who indulged in the entire Thanksgiving dinner feeling stuffed and bloated today:
Recovering After a Thanksgiving Feast: A Journey of Gratitude, Rest, and Reset
Thanksgiving dinner is more than just a meal. It’s a glorious, belly-filling celebration of abundance, family, and tradition. But let’s be honest: after the turkey’s been carved, the mashed potatoes demolished, and the pies devoured, we’re often left in a state of culinary aftermath. It’s not regrettable, exactly. After all, we live for these moments, but the sensation of overindulgence is real.
So, how do we recover after eating Thanksgiving dinner? The process isn’t just about soothing an overstuffed stomach; it’s a chance to reflect, reset, and gently guide ourselves back to equilibrium.
1. The Art of the Digestive Pause
First, let’s acknowledge the truth: digestion is work. After a Thanksgiving feast, your body is like an overbooked restaurant kitchen—working overtime to process that mountain of food. One of the kindest things you can do is pause and give it space to catch up.
For a reason, a slow, meandering walk after dinner is a time-honored tradition. While you might feel like collapsing into a couch cushion, a gentle stroll can help stimulate digestion without taxing your body. Bundled up against the November chill, this walk offers a perfect opportunity to share laughs and stories with loved ones or savor the quiet glow of the evening.
2. The Hydration Reset
Thanksgiving feasts are notoriously salty, such as gravy, stuffing, and casseroles, and even turkey brings its sodium A-game. While that’s part of their irresistible charm, it can leave you feeling bloated and dehydrated.
Water is your best friend here. Sipping warm water with lemon or herbal tea like ginger or peppermint can work wonders. These liquids soothe the digestive system, combat the meal’s richness, and gently rehydrate your body. Plus, a mug of something warm feels like an extension of the meal’s comfort without the weight of another slice of pie.
3. The Nap Dilemma
Ah, the infamous post-meal nap. Turkey often gets the blame for our sleepiness due to its tryptophan content. Still, the reality is simpler: when you eat a large, carb-heavy meal, your body redirects blood flow to your digestive system, making you drowsy.
If you must nap, make it short—a 20-minute power nap can help you feel refreshed without plunging into the groggy depths of a sleep cycle. For those who stay awake, embrace the cozy magic of Thanksgiving evening: sink into the couch with a favorite movie, engage in board games, or scroll through family photos while nursing your food coma.
4. Reflecting on Gratitude
As your body works through its turkey-and-stuffing to-do list, take a moment to reflect on the spirit of Thanksgiving. Gratitude is like a balm for the mind, helping shift focus from feelings of overindulgence to appreciation for the meal and the moments surrounding it.
Think about the effort that went into the feast—whether you were the chef or savored the fruits of someone else’s labor. Consider the laughter across the table, the traditions upheld, and the love shared. These thoughts, light as they are, can make the fullness in your belly feel a little more bearable.
5. The Gentle Morning After
The morning after Thanksgiving can be a mix of sensations: lingering fullness, slight sluggishness, and a fridge filled with leftovers calling your name. Starting your day gently is key.
Begin with something light and hydrating, like a piece of fruit, a smoothie, or yogurt with a sprinkle of granola. While leftovers are tempting for breakfast, saving them for later in the day gives your body a chance to reset.
Movement can help too—whether it’s a yoga session, a brisk walk, or even stretching on your living room floor. This movement doesn’t have to be about “working off” the meal; it’s about restoring energy and helping your body find its rhythm again.
6. Revisiting Leftovers with Intention
Speaking of leftovers, let’s give them the respect they deserve. Thanksgiving leftovers are not just food but an extension of the celebration. But instead of diving headfirst into another heavy plate, approach them with balance in mind.
Pair rich dishes with lighter fare—think a salad with shredded turkey or roasted veggies alongside a smaller slice of pie. This way, you can enjoy the flavors of Thanksgiving without overwhelming your system all over again.
7. A Reminder to Be Gentle with Yourself
It’s easy to feel a twinge of guilt after a Thanksgiving feast, especially if you ate more than you planned. But here’s the thing: food is meant to be enjoyed, and Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate abundance in all its forms. A single day of indulgence doesn’t undo your health or habits; it often reminds us of the joy and connection that food brings.
Instead of dwelling on how much you ate, focus on how much you enjoyed. Thanksgiving isn’t about restraint. It’s about embracing the fullness of life in every sense of the word.
8. Carrying the Spirit Forward
Finally, as you recover, think about how you can carry the gratitude and warmth of Thanksgiving into the days that follow. Small acts of mindfulness can extend the holiday’s magic, whether it’s sharing leftovers with neighbors, calling a family member you missed, or simply journaling about the day.
In the end, recovering from a Thanksgiving feast is less about undoing the meal and more about embracing it fully—its flavors, emotions, and memories, and finding your way back to balance with gratitude and care.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 29, 2014:
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Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate..
Today’s post is #4477 after writing to each of you over the past almost 13 years (as of March 15, 2012). Yes, we’ve missed posting a few days, especially at the beginning of our world travel when we didn’t post daily, on travel days, on sick days, and mainly on days with a poor WiFi connection.
Confidently, we can say we haven’t discussed politics, sex, or religion (other than worldwide cultural observations) or made any effort to impose our beliefs on our loyal readers. Based on our personal experiences, we’ve made endless suggestions about world travel, safety precautions, locations, venues, travel-related expenses, and health and food-related topics.
Sometimes, our suggestions have proven wrong, outdated, or biased. We apologize for any inaccuracies or unintended misrepresentations. We’ve overwhelmed our readers with my health issues and resolutions, endless exercise and fitness routines, and continuing passion and dedication to a low-carb/keto way of eating, suitable for me but not for all.
Above it all, through it all, and beyond it all, we are thankful. We are grateful for our loyal readers who’ve continued to read our posts during outrageously boring times when we haven’t posted interesting photos and experiences, even during the ultra-dull ten months we spent in lockdown during the pandemic in a hotel in Mumbai, India, in 2020/2021 or after many months of recovery after my open heart surgery in South Africa.
And, most recently? Where do I begin? You’ve read about my unrelenting fear, expressed here, of having another open-heart surgery after being misdiagnosed with valve disease by three cardiologists in three countries, including the US, only to discover after coming to the leading cardiac center in the world, Cleveland Clinic.
Ultimately, they discovered that I didn’t need surgery after all. I developed Afib the day I tested positive for COVID-19. Later, I took drugs for Afib, which resulted in side effects with symptoms indicating I had valve disease on tests.
Once off the drugs, these awful symptoms are now gone, and although I still have heart disease, I don’t need surgery now or in the near future. The Afib, from Covid-19 has ended. We’ll have spent 3½ months in Cleveland, staying longer than expected when only weeks ago we were given the “good to go” by the cardiac doctors saying, “You can return to your life of world travel with peace of mind.”
No, this isn’t a guarantee that something won’t change in the future, but I’ve let those thoughts waft away as we’ve begun planning our future travels with hope and joy. Thank you for hanging in there with us. We leave here in 16 days, heading to Nevada, and then flying to South Africa in 93 days.
The bottom line is that we are thankful for my newfound good health, safety in our travels, the love and acceptance by our family, the friends we’ve made throughout the world, the opportunity to continue to travel the world, and for each and every one of you who have shared this at-times-unusual and more often enchanting journey with us.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate this US holiday and to those readers worldwide that we thank today and always.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 28, 2014:
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Part 4…We booked 4 cruises!…Here are prices, itinerary and details…Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate…
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| The skeleton of a humpback whale at the Whalers Village before it was destroyed by the fires in 2023. |
This morning, I prepped the stuffing for tomorrow’s turkey. What a lot of work! Without a fully equipped kitchen, it was incredibly challenging. We have one large tinfoil roasting pan and not a single oven-safe casserole dish. Instead, I placed the stuffing I had prepared in three tinfoil pie pans, lining them with parchment paper and covering them with tin foil.
I’ll bake one pan of dressing each day, leaving the other two pans for the leftovers we’ll have after roasting two whole turkey breasts. Since I don’t eat any of the carby sides, only turkey, veg and salad, Tom will be on his own, eating all the leftover side dishes. He won’t mind a bit.
We’ll have plenty of turkey breast meat to last for several days, and I’ll freeze any leftovers we can eat in the next two weeks. With 17 days until we depart, it will all work out well, and I won’t need to order any more meat during our remaining days. We’ll use whatever we have left in the freezer.
To continue with the information for the four cruises we booked with Royal Caribbean, please see below:
24 Night Cruise from Brisbane to Seattle
Royal Caribbean
Voyager of the Seas
24 Night Cruise
Departure Date: Tue, Apr 14, 2026
Embarkation Port: Brisbane
Return Date: Sat, May 09, 2026
Disembarkation Port: Seattle
Non-Refundable Deposit
| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Tuesday, April 14 | Brisbane, Australia | 4:30 pm | |
| Wednesday, April 15 | At Sea | ||
| Thursday, April 16 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, April 17 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, April 18 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, April 18 | Cross International Dateline (Cruising) | ||
| Sunday, April 19 | At Sea | ||
| Monday, April 20 | At Sea | ||
| Tuesday, April 21 | Papeete, Tahiti | 7:00 am | 11:59 pm |
| Wednesday, April 22 | Moorea, Society Islands | 7:00 am | 8:00 pm |
| Thursday, April 23 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, April 24 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, April 25 | At Sea | ||
| Sunday, April 26 | At Sea | ||
| Monday, April 27 | At Sea | ||
| Tuesday, April 28 | Honolulu, Oahu, HI | 7:00 am | |
| Wednesday, April 29 | Honolulu, Oahu, HI | 8:00 pm | |
| Thursday, April 30 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, May 1 | Kona, Hawaii, HI | 8:00 am | 7:00 pm |
| Saturday, May 2 | Hilo, Hawaii, HI | 7:00 am | 5:00 pm |
| Sunday, May 3 | At Sea | ||
| Monday, May 4 | At Sea | ||
| Tuesday, May 5 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, May 6 | At Sea | ||
| Thursday, May 7 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, May 8 | Seattle, WA | 6:00 am |
Cost for two $6947.66 
$495 Digital Costco Shop Card
Tomorrow, we’ll be back with a short post with Thanksgiving wishes.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 27, 2014:
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Part 3…We booked 4 cruises!…Here are prices, itinerary and details…Excitement for the future..
The days are flying by. In only 18 days, we’ll be on our way to Nevada, arriving on December 18. It will be Tom’s birthday only five days later, which we’ll celebrate by heading out to dinner. A few days later, it will be Christmas, which we won’t do much to celebrate. We don’t mind at all.
This will be our 13th Christmas since we left Minnesota in 2012. We don’t put up a tree or decorations since it’s neither practical nor necessary in our unusual lifestyle. The meaning of Christmas is always in our minds, and we have been able to observe the holiday season in our hearts.
Following is the information on the third cruise we booked:
12 Night Cruise from Singapore to BNERoyal Caribbean
Voyager of the Seas
12 Night Cruise Departure Date: Mon, Dec 01, 2025 Embarkation Port: Singapore Return Date: Sat, Dec 13, 2025 Disembarkation Port: BNE Non-Refundable Deposit |
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| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Monday, December 1 | Singapore | 4:30 pm | |
| Tuesday, December 2 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, December 3 | At Sea | ||
| Thursday, December 4 | Benoa, Bali, Indonesia | 7:00 am | 10:00 pm |
| Friday, December 5 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, December 6 | At Sea | ||
| Sunday, December 7 | Darwin, Australia | 9:00 am | 5:00 pm |
| Monday, December 8 | At Sea | ||
| Tuesday, December 9 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, December 10 | Cairns, Australia | 8:00 am | 5:00 pm |
| Thursday, December 11 | Airlie Beach, Australia | 9:00 am | 6:30 pm |
| Friday, December 12 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, December 13 | Brisbane, Australia | 6:30 am |
There’s not much on the agenda for today. The workout is going well. Each day, I increase either the time on the treadmill or the elevation. Today, I did 17 minutes on the treadmill with 7 minutes of elevation. Once I get to 20 minutes, I’ll focus more on time and elevation rather than increasing the time.
I’ll miss five days while we travel to Nevada, but once we’re situated in the condo in Lake Las Vegas, the next day, I’ll start up again, hoping to pick up where I left off. If not, it should only take a day or two to return to my previous level. I keep track of each day’s workout stats on my phone’s calendar app, attempting to improve daily.
Thanks for staying with us through this long and less exciting period.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 26, 2014:
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Part 2…We booked 4 cruises!…Here are prices, itinerary and details…Excitement for the future..
The following is information on the second leg of the triple back-to-back cruises on which we’ll embark beginning next October. We are thrilled to be able to do back-to-back cruises, but unfortunately, we couldn’t get the same cabin for all three of these cruises. The fourth cruise we booked is at a later date, which we’ll share in Part 4 in a few days.
We’ll have to change cabins twice, but the crew usually helps with this process. We don’t unpack everything when we cruise; we only unpack those items we know we will wear during the cruises, plus necessary toiletries. We’ve moved to other cabins in past back-to-back cruises, and usually, we can accomplish this in less than an hour, including packing and unpacking.
There were a few options to stay in the same cabin, but none were balcony cabins, and the cost was at least another $2000 per cruise. It wasn’t worth the added expense to us. We are comfortable with what we’ve chosen.
17 Night Cruise from Cape Town to Singapore
Royal Caribbean
Voyager of the Seas
17 Night Cruise
Departure Date: Fri, Nov 14, 2025
Embarkation Port: Cape Town
Return Date: Mon, Dec 01, 2025
Disembarkation Port: Singapore
Non-refundable
| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Friday, November 14 | Cape Town, South Africa | 7:00 pm | |
| Saturday, November 15 | At Sea | ||
| Sunday, November 16 | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | 7:00 am | 8:00 pm |
| Monday, November 17 | At Sea | ||
| Tuesday, November 18 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, November 19 | At Sea | ||
| Thursday, November 20 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, November 21 | Pointe des Galets, Reunion Island | 7:00 am | 5:00 pm |
| Saturday, November 22 | Port Louis, Mauritius | 7:00 am | 7:00 pm |
| Sunday, November 23 | At Sea | ||
| Monday, November 24 | At Sea | ||
| Tuesday, November 25 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, November 26 | At Sea | ||
| Thursday, November 27 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, November 28 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, November 29 | At Sea | ||
| Sunday, November 30 | Singapore | 6:00 pm | |
| Monday, December 1 | Singapore | Disembark |
It’s been a busy morning. I worked out first and then started prepping for tonight’s dinner of Keto Tuna Patties, which I made enough to last through Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, like most people in the US, we are having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, mainly for Tom, since I’ll only eat turkey, veggies, and salad. Tom doesn’t like cranberry sauce or sweet potatoes, but I’ll make the remaining traditional items. More on that later.
We hope those who celebrate have a safe and pleasant Thanksgiving week. In tomorrow’s post, we’ll be back with Part 3 Cruises.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 25, 2014:
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Part 1…We booked 4 cruises!…Here are prices, itinerary and details…Excitement for the future…A weird glitch…
Yesterday afternoon, after Tom’s considerable research, we booked four cruises at Costco Travel. Over the next four days, we will present one cruise and all its information, including prices, itinerary, and miscellaneous details.
It took us most of the afternoon on the phone with Costco, especially when we ran into a glitch. Since we have a Costco Citibank credit card we use primarily for Costco purchases, we wanted to use the card for the four deposits totaling $3900 since we receive 3% cash back plus more credits on our annual Costco rebate.
When the Costco Travel rep tried to use the card, which we’ve used many times, it kept getting declined. We didn’t want to use another card and miss the perks associated with this card. We didn’t owe a balance and had never had a late payment. While on the phone with the Costco Travel rep and later with Royal Caribbean also on the call, there was nothing they could do to get the charges to go through.
Frustrated, we called Citibank while the two companies were on the line. Citibank insisted something was entered incorrectly when attempting to process the charge. To make a long story short, we used another card after trying to figure this out for over an hour.
Costco assured us once we figured out the issue, they’d reverse the charges on the second card and charge the Citibank card. Tom called Citibank and got nowhere. I went into the bedroom to work on it alone and resolve it once and for all. I asked for a Citibank manager or supervisor. Once someone took the call, I explained the scenario once again.
After checking and checking, precipitated by my relentless persistence, the Citibank rep figured out the problem was due to our billing address’s zip code. The four-digit number at the end of the main zip was on their system as our billing address, but it wasn’t used when Costco or Royal Caribbean tried to enter the charges.
The Citibank rep removed the four digits, after which we called Costco back, and they could process the four transactions. In the next few days, we’ll see the $3900 credit on the second card we used and get the perks we were entitled to. What a hassle!
Only our enthusiasm for booking these four cruises got us through this laborious, time-consuming process. We were anxious to wrap it up before sharing the information in our posts.
Thus, here is the information for our first of the four cruises, all of which we are with Royal Caribbean, Voyager of the Seas:
18 Night Cruise from Barcelona to Cape Town
Royal Caribbean
Voyager of the Seas
18 Night Cruise
Departure Date: Mon, Oct 27, 2025
Embarkation Port: Barcelona
Return Date: Fri, Nov 14, 2025
Disembarkation Port: Cape Town
Non-Refundable Deposit
Total Package Price (for two): $3,582.62
Your booking includes a $210 Digital Costco Shop Card Shop Card
| Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
| Monday, October 27 | Barcelona, Spain | 5:00 pm | |
| Tuesday, October 28 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, October 29 | Tangier, Morocco | 7:00 am | 6:00 pm |
| Thursday, October 30 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, October 31 | Grand Canary Island, Canary Islands | 8:00 am | 8:00 pm |
| Saturday, November 1 | At Sea | ||
| Sunday, November 2 | At Sea | ||
| Monday, November 3 | At Sea | ||
| Tuesday, November 4 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, November 5 | At Sea | ||
| Thursday, November 6 | At Sea | ||
| Friday, November 7 | At Sea | ||
| Saturday, November 8 | At Sea | ||
| Sunday, November 9 | At Sea | ||
| Monday, November 10 | Walvis Bay, Namibia | 6:00 am | 10:00 pm |
| Tuesday, November 11 | At Sea | ||
| Wednesday, November 12 | At Sea | ||
| Thursday, November 13 | Cape Town, South Africa | 8:00 am | |
| Friday, November 14 | Cape Town, South Africa | Disembark |
When we arrive in Cape Town on November 14, we will stay aboard the ship for the next leg. We are doing a triple back-to-back. We wouldn’t want to stay in South Africa so close to the holiday season and during the hot summer months in the Southern Hemisphere, and thus, we’ll continue on.
Other than the $210 Costco Shop card, there are no special perks. Tips, at $37 per day for two of us, totaling $666, and drink packages and WiFi services are not included. These costs could easily add another $1500 to our cruise bill.
Tomorrow, we will be back with the next leg of our triple back-to-back, and on the fourth day of posting, we’ll share the details of the 2026 cruise.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 24, 2014:
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We’re back!…Planning future international travels!!!…Looks like a new itinerary for us is upcoming soon…
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| A manmade pond on the golf course in Maui created a pretty scene. |
We’ve got the bug! As much as we wanted to wait to start making new plans, Tom spent considerable time yesterday checking out cruises for 2025. When new sailings are posted, they are often at their lowest prices for some time, which has proven to be a good time for us to begin booking cruises far out.
The disadvantage is that the cruise line will have deposit(s) for so long. If something goes wrong, passengers can get the deposit back if they booked a “refundable” fare, which we don’t prefer due to the increased cost.. Before COVID-19, depending on the cruise line, passengers had 60 to 90 days before departure to cancel. But everything changed since the pandemic. It’s essential to check on cancellation policies for each cruise.
Of course, if the cruise line cancels at any point, which happened to us for eight cruises booked for 2020-2022 due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the entire deposit and/or total payments were refunded to the original credit card we used for the bookings.
Once the final payment is made, each cruise line has its refund schedule for customer-generated cancellations, depending on how close to the sailing date the cancellation has been made. There are no exceptions for illness, only for a death confirmed by a certified death certificate.
Right now, we are considering four cruises for 2025/2026. The deposits for each cruise are either $450 or $500 per passenger and non-refundable. Thus, the total deposits will be $4000 if we book these four cruises. In an earlier post, after sailing on Azamara, we made a statement in a few posts that for future cruises, we’d most likely book Azamara’s smaller ships with about 600 passengers.
However, as time has marched on and prices have changed due to losses incurred by the cruise lines during the pandemic, it makes more sense for us if we book all four cruises on Royal Caribbean. Yes, their ships are more significant, with more passengers, but we always had fun on those ships, regardless of the size.
We will report back with the information on these cruises, which we may book with Costco Travel over the weekend. It is exciting to be at this point after all this time.
Otherwise, we’re doing well. Three weeks from today, we leave for Nevada, but we won’t begin packing until a few days before we depart. Since we’re driving an SUV, we have no concerns over the weight of our bags. That will only become an issue when we leave for South Africa on March 1. Wow! Having this extended break from international travel certainly makes planning future trips exciting.
As for my workout schedule, I am up to 18 minutes on the treadmill and have recently added elevation to make climbing hills easier. Walking around the Village at Lake Las Vegas, there are numerous hills, which I struggled with a year ago when we were there. Hopefully, I’ll experience enough progress in the next three weeks to improve over last year’s hill walking struggles. We shall see.
If we book these four cruises, we’ll share pricing, itinerary, and details in posts over the next few days. Hmmm… it looks like an itinerary posting is coming soon now that we’ve started to accumulate enough international travel.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 23, 2014:
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