Asia Cruise Blog
ASIA CRUISE BLOG
Introduction
Sept. 11, 2018 Welcome to the personal log of Lois and Dan O'keefe who are on the adventure of a lifetime. We are sailing one week from tomorrow on Princess Cruise Line's Coral Princess, from the Port of Los Angeles (San Pedro) for a 2-month cruise to Alaska, Japan, China, South Korea, Okinawa, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Hawaii!
Sept. 16, 2018: Here is a look at how we prepared for this trip, starting with making the reservation one year and one month ago, up to what is still left to be done.
The first six months, we dreamed and planned. Then in January, we kicked into gear. The list of projects we had was daunting, but we slowly checked everything off the list, as we added new items. Here is a peek at what we did to prepare for 2 months away from home in a very foreign area of the world: renewed our passports one year early so they would not expire too soon after the trip; applied for, and received, a Known Traveler Number from the TSA to make going through security at the airport a little easier; researched Travel Insurance companies and selected one; researched Visa Services and selected one to help us obtain a Visa for China (no easy task); arranged with my orthopedic surgeon to have my left hip replaced so that I would be able to walk the GREAT WALL OF CHINA; (This was after having the right hip and knee replaced last year - yes, I am bionic!); researched telephone services for international calls - finally bought an international cell phone, which I now think was a mistake! ; looked at dozens of cameras to use since my old one qualifies as antique; bought a fancy new camera, which I promptly returned as being too complicated; bought a second camera, which I like, but still am not sure how to use to its full capabilities (I'm learning); had my hip replaced, went through physical therapy and s-l-o-w-l-y recovered; researched packing cubes and folders; made temperature charts for each area of the world we will see so I could figure out how many wintery outfits, and how many summery outfits we would need; researched shipping companies to send 3 pieces of luggage directly to the ship; bought one new large suitcase; and started packing. Then I called all of our credit card companies to see which ones did not charge currency conversion fees for charges made in each country; looked for Roman Catholic churches in each port we would be in on a Sunday (no priest on board Princess ships!); made arrangements for automatic online payments for all our household bills; canceled the newspaper; shipped the 3 bags to California; finished packing 3 more bags to take with us, in addition to 2 carry-ons and one tote bag; updated the ADT house alarm list, arranged to have the mail held; went to the bank to convert some US money to currency for Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam; made itinerary lists for all the neighbors looking after the house and friends getting us to the airport and home again; and now we are so tired, WE NEED A TWO MONTH VACATION OF BEING WAITED ON AND PAMPERED! Whew!!!!!
We are now 2 days away from departure for Los Angeles, and we look back on all the details we had to think of to make this trip a reality, and decided it was all worth it! And, the truth be told, we are really not that tired - just very excited.
I must give thanks to several dozen people who we met through a Facebook Group, called Princess Cruises Information. These cruisers are an exceptionally kind, helpful, thoughtful and sometimes funny group of new friends. I really don't think we would be this prepared if not for their advice on insurance, shipping, visas, packing shore excursions, etc., etc. They sometimes answered questions we didn't even know we had! It's a great group.
Tomorrow is our last day at home for a while, and we still have a few details to finish. For instance, we are going to 7 am mass, then out for breakfast - you know, important stuff! Next installment - after our flights to LA, the hotel in San Pedro and boarding the ship!
The first six months, we dreamed and planned. Then in January, we kicked into gear. The list of projects we had was daunting, but we slowly checked everything off the list, as we added new items. Here is a peek at what we did to prepare for 2 months away from home in a very foreign area of the world: renewed our passports one year early so they would not expire too soon after the trip; applied for, and received, a Known Traveler Number from the TSA to make going through security at the airport a little easier; researched Travel Insurance companies and selected one; researched Visa Services and selected one to help us obtain a Visa for China (no easy task); arranged with my orthopedic surgeon to have my left hip replaced so that I would be able to walk the GREAT WALL OF CHINA; (This was after having the right hip and knee replaced last year - yes, I am bionic!); researched telephone services for international calls - finally bought an international cell phone, which I now think was a mistake! ; looked at dozens of cameras to use since my old one qualifies as antique; bought a fancy new camera, which I promptly returned as being too complicated; bought a second camera, which I like, but still am not sure how to use to its full capabilities (I'm learning); had my hip replaced, went through physical therapy and s-l-o-w-l-y recovered; researched packing cubes and folders; made temperature charts for each area of the world we will see so I could figure out how many wintery outfits, and how many summery outfits we would need; researched shipping companies to send 3 pieces of luggage directly to the ship; bought one new large suitcase; and started packing. Then I called all of our credit card companies to see which ones did not charge currency conversion fees for charges made in each country; looked for Roman Catholic churches in each port we would be in on a Sunday (no priest on board Princess ships!); made arrangements for automatic online payments for all our household bills; canceled the newspaper; shipped the 3 bags to California; finished packing 3 more bags to take with us, in addition to 2 carry-ons and one tote bag; updated the ADT house alarm list, arranged to have the mail held; went to the bank to convert some US money to currency for Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam; made itinerary lists for all the neighbors looking after the house and friends getting us to the airport and home again; and now we are so tired, WE NEED A TWO MONTH VACATION OF BEING WAITED ON AND PAMPERED! Whew!!!!!
We are now 2 days away from departure for Los Angeles, and we look back on all the details we had to think of to make this trip a reality, and decided it was all worth it! And, the truth be told, we are really not that tired - just very excited.
I must give thanks to several dozen people who we met through a Facebook Group, called Princess Cruises Information. These cruisers are an exceptionally kind, helpful, thoughtful and sometimes funny group of new friends. I really don't think we would be this prepared if not for their advice on insurance, shipping, visas, packing shore excursions, etc., etc. They sometimes answered questions we didn't even know we had! It's a great group.
Tomorrow is our last day at home for a while, and we still have a few details to finish. For instance, we are going to 7 am mass, then out for breakfast - you know, important stuff! Next installment - after our flights to LA, the hotel in San Pedro and boarding the ship!
Wow! I am exhausted just reading about your preparations! This is amazing! Have fun amd Blog away!!!!
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