Bomb Threat on Jan 28th Mariner of the Sea

We left the ship early in the day in Puerto Vallarta. When we came back to the pier, my friend noticed many police vehicles with flashing lights. I had been focusing on the unusual long lines of fellow-passengers trying to board.

We stood with three extremely obnoxious guys who took pleasure in telling us that our ship had received a bomb threat. At this point we weren’t certain if passing rumors was part of their charm, or the truth.

It was when we saw the Military with their automatic weapons and the Coast Guards with scuba divers in gear that we realized the threat was extremely real.

Royal Caribbean was allowing passengers to board in groups of 20 after individual searches. This heightened security was disconcerting as at the two prior ports, Royal Caribbean limited their concerns to passengers bringing alcohol on board, which might interfere with their profit margin.

Though passengers asked what was happening, we were told everything from, “this was a safety drill,” to “the machines that document passengers coming and going are broken,” to “staff has no idea what is going on.”

The ambiguity in the answers caused undue stress for most passengers. We could see something was going on. And not keeping people informed or lying only increased everyone’s anxiety.

We eventually found out that an hour after we left the ship, there was a lockdown. A bomb threat was phoned in, (by what group we still do not know), while ‘procedures’’ were followed. Even the vendors in the flea market on the pier were cleared out.

No one was able to get off or on. The 2^nd and 3^rd floors were evacuated while the ship was ‘swept,’ with law enforcement personnel and bomb-sniffing dogs. Passengers that were stuck on board told us that there were a slew of government vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances surrounding the ship for several hours.

Passengers overheard discussions of ‘orderly evacuations’ from top operations staff.

Yet, when fellow passenger Andy Smith from Liverpool, England suggested to staff that precedence be given to the elderly, the disabled, children and pregnant women, those suggestions fell on deaf ears.

Royal Caribbean’s procedures need changing. Passengers have a right to know exactly what is going on…as it is happening. They do not need to hear rumors about Terrorists or the Mexican Mafia. Passengers have a right to choose whether or not to proceed with the cruise, or to fly home.

We certainly had questions. While the Captain did make an announcement of generic details at to what occurred, it was several hours too late and way too vague.

The offer of one hour of free Screwdrivers or Mimosas for our inconvenience was not okay. A bomb threat is far from an inconvenience. The fact the Captain would make himself available for a few minutes, and we couldn’t find was unacceptable. He should have made himself or one of his right hands accessible all evening.

It was a rude awakening to hear that other cruise lines have experienced the same thing, yet it hasn’t been publicized.

Terrorism does cross my mind when I travel, and it is my hope that bomb threat procedures will be re-evaluated, heightened and standardized, as cruise ships are a venue that is extremely vulnerable. How can port security be so careless? Many passengers continue to feel uneasy as we head to Los Angeles.

What Guarantees a Good Night Sleep?

The newest trend in hotel marketing is that really comfortable bed.

The Westin Heavenly Bed, The Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed or The W Difference; sounds enticing, huh?

Travel and Leisure has an article called Battle of the Beds, but who will write up the Battle of the Bang.

I can't ignore unwanted noise. That mandatory aspect of a good nights sleep is often ignored

Noise is the most important consideration that will disturb a hotel guest’s sleep yet it is a detail frequently ignored, or value engineered out during hotel construction.

Who cares how great the mattress if you hear doors slamming in the hall, elevators opening and closing, or television sets in adjacent rooms?

I do not want to hear the person above me flushing their toilet or showering!

I can't tell you how often I have had to call a front desk at a 5 star properties with noise complaints.

While the manager will often offer a discount, I'd rather be able to sleep.

Noise mitigation is easy when a hotel is being built but if attention isn't paid to this in the design and construction phases, the guests have to pay in more ways than one.

I am looking forward to a day when hotels advertise "Dreamy Hotels" and what they mean by dreamy is a place you can dream because it is a noise free!

The Vulnerable Traveler; Are You An Easy Target?

I recently sat next to a highly respected government official.

My lengthy flight went quickly as we talked for hours, actually he talked and I listened. All he asked was to keep his position and identity confidential when writing this article, which I will.

I have rarely felt unsafe or vulnerable anywhere I have traveled though I am aware that traveling makes you somewhat vulnerable.

Lets face it, being alive makes you vulnerable.

Petty theft is the biggest risk a tourist faces.

Do you think you are a tough or easy target?

Whether you are male or female, are you well dressed?

Are your hands well manicured?

Are you wearing anything shiny?

Is your purse or briefcase worn, or new? Does it look expensive?

Even if your watch is fake, would someone staking you out across the street know that?

Are your glasses this year’s style?

Are your clothes elegant and appropriate?

When the man I was talking with pointed out I was quite the target, I thought he was joking.

After all, before I left home I took off my engagement ring.

I replaced my good watch with a watch that I bought for under a hundred dollars.

I changed my normal red nail polish to a neutral color.

And I changed from my designer handbag to a non-descript one.

He shook his head explaining that my entire persona screamed ‘target.’

Would a thief know my shiny watch wasn’t real gold?

My rootless blonde hair and recently manicured hands say ‘well-kept.’

Designer or not, my purse didn’t have a scratch on it.

My shoes were clean and looked new, as did my clothes.

The style of my eyeglasses was current as any eyeglass ad out there.

I guess you have to be extremely vanilla to not be targeted.

Forget that manicure before you travel.

Things you wouldn’t be caught dead in at home might be perfect for traveling,

unless of course you are taking pictures.

But carrying that expensive camera also makes you a target!

Look for significant insight in the upcoming series called Better Safe Than Sorry at www.travelersanonymous.com

What Will Connoisseurs of Luxury Overlook for Good Service?

If a property is a bit rundown but the staff responds as quickly as humanly possible is it easier to overlook things?

Last week end , a friend of mine and her husband vacationed at The St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, California.

When they opened the door to the oceanfront suite the first thing that caught my friend's eye was a small hole in the fabric of the sofa.

Just then the suite’s doorbell rang. The butler was inquiring if she could make them reservations for any upcoming meals.

My friend and her husband decided to checkout the facilities before they unpacked. They returned to fresh flowers in the room, a bowl of fruit and bottled water, which made the hole in the couch virtually unnoticeable.

Hearing this I wondered if the hole in the couch was there in October 2008 when AIG sponsored their retreat at this property after accepting the federal bailout money.

Anyway, late in the evening, day two of my friend's weekend trip, the cable connection in their suite failed. The television screen just went blank. My friend phoned the front desk who sent up engineering in less than 10 minutes.

After analyzing the issue, the engineer explained that fixing the connection was no small task. He offered to work on it immediately, or he return in the morning at a time convenient for them.

They decided to give up television that night and schedule the service call the next morning. Unlike many appointments made in this fashion, the same engineer showed up and the service call was an unobtrusive as possible.

Now if I was the guest, I would have been on the phone with the hotel's general manager. I would have demanded a discount on my bill. If I was paying $750 a nigh for a suite, no matter how unobtrusive the service, I would expect everything working in the room 100% of the time.

No matter how small a hole, holes in couches are not okay for me a $750 a night.

Though the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resorts future is uncertain due to financial woes what is certain is that they can still get $750 a night for a suite with imperfections, that is, if I am not the guest staying there.

Coupons and Online Travel

Always look for Coupons if you are shopping for travel online.

Coupon Craze

Coupon Cabin

Most of the time the coupons listed work.

If you don't try, you won't save.

Learn to Hold It, or Budget for the Bathroom in Prague

In Prague everything costs... everything.  Watch your liquids and your fiber especially if you will be sightseeing all day or if you are on a limited budget.  Secure a 'bathroom budget.' Using the toilet will cost.   

Plan to pay anywhere from 5 czk to 20 czk (about 28 cents to $1.11).  Thank goodness they don't charge by the minute or one could really go broke.  Because when you gotta go, you gotta pay! That applies to restaurants, churches, etc.    

While having breakfast in our hotel, I had to go.  Since we were eating, it was free. Instead of leaving my friend and going to my room, I asked to decided to use the hotel's restroom.   I was directed down down a winding staircase to a ladies room located by the Spa.  

I entered the room, went in the stall and sat down to do my business.  

Now I don't dilly-dally.  Even my husband has commented about how fast I am.   I go, wash my hands and leave.  But in Prague it is not so fast.   

Where were you when the lights went out?  I was in the bathroom in our hotel's restroom in Prague.   So now I am sitting in the bathroom stall in the dark trying to remember the way out and cursing under my breath.  

After my eyes adjusted, I decided to feel my way out.  I got up from the you-know-what, which apparently triggered the light sensor and my problem was solved.  I flushed, washed and hurried out of there.

  

So if your stomach rumbles, you can go into an upscale hotel but beware of light sensors.  

Or  go to a cafe and order a drink albeit  coffee, bottled water or beer.  You can stay all day if you need, and can use the toilet as often as you'd like.  

As ludicrous as it sounds, as long as you are spending money,  no one cares how long you sit. And if  you are with someone else, only one of you needs to order something.

Prague is not America, land of the Pee for Free.

Crossing from Hungary to Slovakia

Many beautiful cities sit along the Danube and river cruising is a very convenient way to see them. The ship is a wonderful base to explore each city as the attractions, for the most part, are within walking distance. It is a great way to sample of each stop. I will review River Beatrice next week on Travelers Anonymous.

It is now morning. I am listening to Elton John's Tiny Dancer as I sit on UNIWORLD's River Beatrice sun-deck. I woke up in time to see the largest lock we will pass this trip. It is a man-made canal built inside the Danube. We left Hungary but haven't yet entered Slovakia. There are lots of tiny villages along the river. In the distance a man rollerblades pushing a stroller.

I can't imagine taking a Danube Cruise in the winter but it is July and the weather is perfect, just perfect. Moody Blues New Horizons is now playing on my Ipod as sip a great cup of coffee.