adventourist2

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Cruise Port fees and Taxes

Are Alaska or Panama Canal cruises on your bucket list? Alaskan cruises, with its spectacular landscape of mountains, glaciers and wildlife or gliding through the locks of the Panama Canal where construction on them began Jan 1, 1881. Magnificent places both of them. I would recommend both of these cruises to everyone, with a caveat. While you are getting excited and picking the CruiseLine, looking at cabins (I personal would recommend either an Oceanview or Balcony cabin) please keep in mind these 2 cruise destinations come with a hefty Port fees/taxes add on.

The Panama Canal has a reservation system and charges for every sailing vessel who transits through.

Alaska only allows 2 ships a day into Glacier Bay, this is also set in advance.

Cruises to the Caribbean and Europe have port fees/ taxes that range from the $120s USD per person/per cruise to the $200s USD person/per cruise. (Depending on Cruise Line and ship)

For the Alaskan or Panama Canal cruises these fees are substantially higher.

A 7-day Alaskan cruise round trip Seattle has Port fees /taxes from $200s to $300s USD per person/per cruise (Depending on Cruise Line and ship)

A typical 14-day Panama Canal cruise port fees/taxes can be $350s USD per person/per cruise to $550s USD per person per cruise (Depending on Cruise Line and ship).

Hopefully this helps you to plan ahead for the cost of your bucket list cruises. What other questions can I answer for you? Let me know in the comments. Follow me on Twitter @Adventourist2

What you might see on an Alaska Cruise.

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Having an adventure on the Farm!!

https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Tiffany-Adventures-Amber-OHara/dp/1649571070/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?crid=3QRNYHQH0FYFE&dchild=1&keywords=princess+tiffany+book&qid=1634095921&sprefix=princess+tiffa&sr=8-7

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Princess Tiffany ,Adventures on the Farm

I am Very Excited to say I am a published author!!!

My children book Princess Tiffany Adventures on the Farm is now available on Amazon!!!

Princess Tiffany is a small Yorkie puppy who has flown from London to Minnesota to her new home on a very large farm.

This would be an amazing Christmas present for the children in your life! Grab your copy now and have an adventure filled with curiosity !

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1649571070/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_vote_lft?ie=UTF8&csrfT=gmfiIaSz%2B0IAPBruXev44fhkolg6Wtbcjz6fv7QAAAABAAAAAGFVvchyYXcAAAAA%2B4kUEk%2F7iMGR3xPcX6iU&reviewId=R3VL8X5LVRYXX2#R3VL8X5LVRYXX2&

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View from an Ambulance

One thing you never want to happen on a cruise ship is getting really ill.

Don't get me wrong cruise ships have amazing Doctors and nurses, most are from the Doctors Without Borders program.

While on my Caribbean cruise, Feb 2018, I started to get some abdominal pain. I started really noticing it while snorkeling at Magens Bay on St Thomas.

After returning to the ship I laid down to rest thinking, hopefully, it was bad indigestion. The pain just kept increasing.

After dinner I went to medical. I explained what was happening. The doctor on board told me that it was possibly diverticulitis (Diverticulitis is the infection or inflammation of pouches that can form in your intestines). The medical staff gave me pain meds and sent me to bed.

St Maarten was the next port stop. In 2017 St Maarten had been hit hard by hurricanes Irma and Maria. Still stunningly beautiful azure waters and friendly people! I really wanted to get out and enjoy the port.

What happened was an ambulance ride to the hospital. Not how I had intended on spending my day in St Maarten.

Through the small back windows of the ambulance I could see the gorgeous azure waters and swaying palms of the Great Bay Beach. What a unique perspective I was presented with.

The hospital was in bad shape. Running on generators with missing windows and doors. Those hurricanes had really ripped up this amazing island.

Here's why you get travel insurance my friends. None of us expect to get ill or break a bone on vacation.

My trip to the hospital came with an ultrasound, x-ray , blood work and CT scan. Cha Ching ! The diagnose was the same. I had a diverticulitis outbreak. It was a bill of over $2000 onto my credit card.

Thanks to my travel insurance I got this money back!

So, before you travel ,check into travel insurance .

Most ,like the one I had Allianz, are based on your age.

Here is a quick list of US available travel insurances

https://www.travelguard.com/

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travelinsurance

https://www.squaremouth.com/

https://www.aardy.com/aarp/travelinsurance

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Same Latitude Relaxed Attitude

Hawaii has always been a place of tropical relaxation , Green mountains against sugar sand beaches and a blue ocean filled with wonders. Being in Hawaii during December through March gives you an opportunity to see the enormous humpback whales breach the oceans surface and splash down.

 The Aloha spirit is a gentle welcome home along with sunshine and rainbows.  Along with this amazing experience comes a hefty price tag. The hotels are moderate to very expensive . Most Islands you visit require a car rental which is another chunk of cash, plus hotels and resorts charge you a daily fee to park.

As much as I love fresh Mahi-Mahi , poke , sashimi and Mai Tais, going out for meals adds up very quickly. A dinner for 2 of mahi-mahi tacos and mahi-mahi fish and chips with a drinks totals $85. 

 I love Hawaii for all its tropical beauty, although, I have now found an alternative choice for Tropical relaxation and whale watching!

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is the same latitude as Hawaii and comes with beautiful beaches, swaying palm trees , warm weather and YES! Breaching humpback whales!!  This spot on the Pacific coast is also breeding grounds for humpback whales. 

The hotel and resort stays are much cheaper in Mexico with some hotels/resorts offering prices with all-inclusive (food/drink) or an option for buying all-inclusive packages. This makes dining and drinking a fraction of Hawaii prices. 

If you like sampling different restaurants you’ll experience shrimp/prawn tacos, ceviche , table side guacumole ,homemade salsa , fantastic chile rellenos along with Mahi-Mahi , Sea bass fresh and mouthwatering. Don't forget the refreshing Margaritas!

We stopped for dinner at a Marina restaurant and enjoyed huge coconut shrimp , spicy beef fajitas and delectable sea bass with 2 Margaritas for $473 pesos ($23 USD) , Yes, I typed that correctly!  

Puerto Vallarta offers whale watching excursions like Hawaii along with the beautiful sculptures you can view on the Malecon , which is an amazing walk way with beach on one side and restaurants , shops on the other.

If you are worried about speaking Spanish , although it helps to know some phrases and words, from my recent visits most of the Mexican people I encountered spoke English or would ask someone to assist with translation. The Mexican people are gracious and fun loving just like the Hawaiians. 

Both Hawaii and Mexico offer so much more than sun and fun. Their cultures worth experiencing first hand!

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For Me 2020 hasn’t been as bad as it has for some people I spent the beginning of March through the beginning of April on a cruise ship sailing around South America through the Panama Canal to Miami. Home in Colorado our Virus numbers weren’t that bad which allowed me some freedom of movement and I also traveled to Las Vegas ,Phoenix and Honolulu.I’ve always paid attention and have been aware of washing my hands and taking care of myself. I’m hoping that 2021 will bring more travel and ease of movement and economic strength!

Happy New Year!🎉🥂

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