Monday, July 13, 2009
Packing is such a pain.....
As I get closer to my departure I am forced to take the whole packing thing more seriously every day. I have packed more "warm clothing" than I have worn in years. I may be packing a little on the conservative side when it comes to staying warm but that's OK.... I don't do cold well. Besides, after the Voyage of the Vikings some of this stuff is going directly to the Amsterdam where I will be visiting tropical paradises like Alaska, Antarctica and the ever so warm Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia. I will definitely find a place for warm clothing. I'm afraid when I visit Asia it could be a little on the cool side as well. The biggest challenge.... maintaining my tan. It could in the end be a causality of this amazing journey..... I will have a shipment picked up to go to the Maasdam on the 21st.... I'm well on the way to making that commitment. I have taken care of most of the little details; passport, visas, hotels, flights, airport limos, booking tours, making arrangements to have the house & car taken care of, money, travelers checks, bill paying, creating packing lists, and on it goes...... I fly out on the 24th, getting closer.
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10 comments:
Jeff you can call a toll free number if needed.
1-800-rentatan
It's a canadian number and I will answer!
Have a good one.
I can't even imagine packing for so long. How many bags do you take? When you board the Amsterdam do you keep the same cabin for the entire voyage? It won't be long now.
WOW!!!! Your Picasa album is fantastic. Thanks for sharing. Of course, we will be following along on the next adventure.
John and Marlene
Jeff,
Can you share with us on how you go about getting visa's for such a lengthy voyage? We visit Brazil on our 21 day TA, the visa must be used within 90 days of issue (the first time). Are there special services that cruis lines offer on extended journeys to ensure that you can obtain neccesary visas?
Hope all is well-
Dennis
Visas are a major challenge for me. On this long voyage there were two mandatory, before you get onboard, visas. They were China and India. I already had a five year India Visa but had to get a Chinese Visa (and a new passport). I had some assistance from Holland America and Zierer to get the 1 year multiple entry Chinese Visa because my first entry wasn't going to be until next April. As for the others, I am at the mercy of Holland America and have to purchase them onboard (sometimes at a huge premium). The reason I have to get them onboard is the exact issue you bring up Dennis....must be used in 90 days, only good for 6 months, etc.
In the end I will probably have at least 8-10 bags when I get on the Amsterdam. When I get on the Maasdam I will probably have 4-5, two of which will go to the Amsterdam, confused.... me to!
I will be in the same cabin for the duration when I get on the Amsterdam. It is a cabin I am fairly comfortable with.... I have spent about a year in that cabin since 2007.
Jeff,
Thanks for your wonderful blogs. I look forward to seeing your pictures and hearing about all the fantastic ports of call you will tell about.
Be safe.
June in Florida
Looking forward to another wonderful blog of your travels, Jeff. Thanks so much for taking us along!
Jeff, I hope you will be attending the Tattoo whilst in Edinburgh.
Have a fabulous trip! I'll be eagerly awaiting your updates.
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