CPAP Cruise or Conference

[rock and roll]

Hello everyone! I am still around though have not been as active on the list. But I am still a hosehead and I would love to put this thing together and meet everyone in person.

I am a certified specialist in all cruise lines, resorts, Las Vegas and own my own Agency Franchise. So I can put together anything the forum wants. This means I can get group rates and better.

For those worried about cruising, the virus rate per cruises done is far less than plane crashes. Meaning you are more likely to die in a plane crash than get the virus. I have taken two or more cruises a year on all the cruise lines for 28 years and have NEVER had any problem, and I have sailed almost all the ships that had the problem. They blow it way out of proportion anyway as only a small amount of the passengers ever got it on those ships. IMHO is just is not something to worry about. They are a blast, have something for everyone and I have never had a client that wishes they had never taken their cruise. In fact most book another cruise within weeks of returning.

Resorts can be a lot of fun as well though offer a lot less to do. Vegas can be a lot of fun but if kids are going, well, let's say you will have to answer a lot of questions you most likely would prefer not to.

It all depends on what the group as a whole wants. But I can set anything up. WE need to find a sponsor to get the best overall deal. Anybody that might have a connection for this please contact myself or Mark.

Earl

[goose]

To add a little to what Earl said above -- I was one of those that avoided cruises for years because when I travel I like to see the "backroads" and the ships stop at the "tourist spots".......
True statement, but you can get off the ship and see the backroads if that's what you want to do....

After I took my first cruise, I was sold!! We've been on 2 others and had one planned for last year but due to my job being sent to another country, we had to cancel -- I'm hoping that I'll be working in enough time to participate in this one if it gets off the ground.
For a first cruise I wholly recommend Alaska. An absolutely incredible place to visit. I've been all over the world and if it wasn't so bloody cold in winter, I'd probably settle in Alaska!!!!
Mexican Riviera is also a very fun trek (mucho tequila!!!)....Caribbean, Panama Canal, the routes are nearly limitless.....

You can view it as a hotel that moves with you. You unpack once, visit all kinds of interesting places, you party hearty, go to bed and -- next morning you're somewhere else to visit.....

What do I enjoy most?? The food and fresh fruit. I have never had such an abundance of fresh fruit in my life (and I love fresh fruit!!!!). I really miss the fruit on the Lido....
I will have to admit that I'm a Holland America bigot -- in my opinion it's the Rolls Royce of cruise lines. I'm sure there are other opinions and other folks that will say essentially the same thing -- perhaps about other lines......

Bottom line is -- I realllllly hope I'm employed by the time this thing all happens so I can send in my deposit and plan my shore excursions!!!!!

Take care
cheers
goose

[Fredman]

Goose, thanks for your thoughts. I am thinking if we can get some sponsors, it might help get this thing off and rolling. Earl thinks that will help as well and it may even help getting some good prices for us via the cruise lines.

Sounds like one of the issues last time was trying to get some consensus. Thing is we will never get 100% of the folks happy.

Like you said you are a HAL fan. I haven't been on cruise yet...my first one this coming January with Carnival. I have a friend that is a RCL (Royal CarribeanLines), so everyone has a preferred line, but I hear is that they are all pretty good...just different flavors!

I am thinking it would be great also to have some seminars from leading sleep docs, researchers, manufacturers, some of our folks here, open panel discussions.

[TheDreamer]

Guess, I resurrected this thread by finding it in search and voting

But, I like cruising, and I'm always thinking of when my next cruise might be. And, I had been looking into it before I knew that I had OSA or needed a CPAP. And, I had looked at themed cruises as a possibility, though the more major themed cruises tend to have an add-on fee that makes them even more cost prohibitive.

I've always solo cruised...so I'm already paying for two.

But, if an affordable CPAP related cruise did come along...I'm sure I'd be game.

I've only done 3 cruises in my life so far....first in 2000 (November -- grandparents' 70th wedding anniversary), after which I apparently talked so much about my next cruise....that some of my relatives thought I had been on a dozen cruises by the time I went on my 3rd cruise. Second cruise was in June 2005 (3 weeks after it ended they laid off just about everybody at work, the writing was on the wall that they'd eventually get rid of me)....3rd cruise was a mini-reunion.... in December 2005...came back into work on Christmas eve.... Left early that day, after packing as much as I could into what boxes I could find....

Anyways... I'm looking to figure out what my next cruise is going to be...though it doesn't look like it'll be this year...and since there's seems to be a pattern here...I think 2010 would be an excellent year for me to go on my next cruise.

Meanwhile, looks like I found the answer I had about CPAP and cruising....mainly whether there would be an A/C outlet near the bed or if an extension cord was available, and whether I should disclose the need to the cruise line (sounds like a good plan to make sure there's distilled water).

Of course, I still don't know what I'm going to do when it comes to CPAP and travel. I was planning a trip in March to visit my grandparents...which'll be before my follow up appointment with my doctor on March 30th. Wonder if I'll have a reason to go see him for something else before then. Though I definitely have a trip planned for the end of April, I'm going to Penguicon 7.0. So, strange now with this extra thing I need to work into my travel plans....

Beyond those two...I'm contemplating two other trips in the fall, as well as to whether there'll the annual obligatory one to see my parents (though they've been talking that should be a cruise one as well....the December 2005 cruise started as my parents wanting us to get together somewhere warm, and other relatives joining in... They are talking about it again, because this last holiday get together occurred during the coldest week in December....especially for Calgary. I've lived in other parts of Alberta, so I've experienced colder....but it was still pretty miserable, especially since I don't own that kind of winter gear anymore.

My fall trips...one is themed around Linux (Ohio Linux Fest) and Doctor Who (fan club where I used to work, amazing that I used to live in Ohio...but never new of the Ohio Linux Fest, but now that I don't...I went to it last year. None of the fan club members work for that company anymore...) The other is themed around my profession. Right now neither are set, and they might occur too close to each other...making me choose which one to go to....

Still, that's a lot of travel planned for this year...and having a CPAP wasn't part of things when the planning started....

The Dreamer.

[nobody]

My fall trips...one is themed around Linux (Ohio Linux Fest) and Doctor Who (fan club where I used to work, amazing that I used to live in Ohio...but never new of the Ohio Linux Fest, but now that I don't...I went to it last year. None of the fan club members work for that company anymore...) The other is themed around my profession. Right now neither are set, and they might occur too close to each other...making me choose which one to go to....

Still, that's a lot of travel planned for this year...and having a CPAP wasn't part of things when the planning started....

The Dreamer.

I had to Google for that linux fest, that seems interesting, I never knew of it. I used to use linux, still have it on my machine, but there are some things it still can't do...like run the Encore Pro software. So since the fest is themed around your profession, are you able to take a tax deduction for attending it?

[TheDreamer]

I had to Google for that linux fest, that seems interesting, I never knew of it. I used to use linux, still have it on my machine, but there are some things it still can't do...like run the Encore Pro software. So since the fest is themed around your profession, are you able to take a tax deduction for attending it?

I hadn't thought to investigate it...since it was not my intent of attending it. I'm slowly trying to run more Linux at home (and maybe get a Mac or two), but its things like EncoreViewer that keep me trapped on Windows. But, XP isn't going to last forever...or more likely the machine that I have XP on isn't going to last forever.

OTOH, I'm the weird guy at work...I'm the only one in the office that is running Windows (at work)....But, I do have a Linux box, a Solaris box and a MacBookPro in my cube as well. In fact, I'm wondering if there's a way to get another monitor on my Windows machine at work.

The Dreamer.

[Debjax]

Hubby won't do a cruise....might be able to get him to a conference if it is in a fun place.

[goose]

If you do Linux for a living you should be able to deduct any expenses surrounding keeping yourself up to date with the technology (I am not a tax expert nor a tax lawyer, but I do my own taxes and have for years). I've been doing Linux since Red Hat ver. 1.0 -- it's come a long way baby!!!!
When Red Hat went commercial and left those of us who put them on the map behind, giving us Fedora Core -- I did Fedora for a while, but I don't particularly like to update the OS constantly. Fedora only updates 2 versions behind (1 year approximately) so unless you continually upgrade (which causes many headaches because Fedora is always "Development" and always has issues) you can't get security updates etc. after a year. I also get tired of doing constant development myself. I enjoy a machine that just works!!!!!
I don't know how many notes I've written to Red Hat asking them to keep Fedora security updates online past the "end date"....won't do it.

Anyway -- I now use and really like Ubuntu......

I know -- Big time OT, but.......

cheers
goose

[packitin]

I agree with Debjax. A conference that is well planned would be the best.
I didn't know that this had ever been discussed, since I joined the forum in July last summer.
After reading the thread from 2006, it seems that the idea of a cruise, while intriquing, is not going to fly.

A conference, on the other hand, might work. It would have to be well-planned, ideally located somewhere in the center of the country, probably at some resort area. There should be some big names, such as experts in the field of sleep studies, researchers from colleges and universities.
If this were well organized, it would draw some attention from some of the heavy hitters in the health supply field. Perhaps they would even become interested enough to offer some corporate funding, since there could also be an exhibition room for displaying latest equipment, innovative approaches, etc. Plus it would help keep the cost down. There wouldn't have to be an intensive program, but some scheduled talks from some of the best-known experts in the field would be enough to draw a lot of support. I was thinking of something of a 2-night trip, where the first night could be devoted to the social scene, such as a mixer, or even a dance, so that everyone would have a chance to meet and intermingle.

Just a thought. From what I've been reading, there is a huge chance that new administration is going to take a serious look at the world of sleep medicine and what it is costing the government to fund. For instance, if we assume, conservatively speaking, that there are 18 million persons with sleep apnea, and with an average cost of sleep study of $2500, this could be a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Say there are 200 sleep centers in the USA, and having an average of 3 rooms available. (here in my city there are two, with multiple rooms, and the technician told me they were mostly full, every night) A little calculation shows that that's a half billion per year - just in sleep studies in the USA. My point is that we cannot sit back passively and wait for the government to severely cut out funding - such as a drastic cut in Medicaid.
A conference would draw a lot of attention and would signify that we are a large body, and we are organized. We would thus wield a lot of weight and influence. The powers that be would certainly take notice and realize that their actions would be subject to a lot scrutinization from the world of sleep well-being advocates.
Something to think about.
Jay

[RipVW]

My wife and I have always wanted to go on a cruise--would be great to go with the cpaptalk.com crowd rather than a bunch of strangers with whom we'd have nothing in common. Cool idea!

[OutaSync]

I have been on two cruises since I started with CPAP. Every time, I look around and wonder how many other people are on the hose. It would be great to get together and share our war stories and our success stories. I, for one, would love it, as long as it's not a short Carnival ride. I am a Holland America fan, as well, but there are other good lines. I just got back before Christmas and am already searching for my next one. Keep the cost at under $100 a day and it is the best vacation value out there.

I was thinking that planning a cruise that far in advance is pretty difficult. I don't know where I will be in my life in 2010. Putting down a deposit on something that far off would be like throwing money away. 6 months is about my outer limit. Never know when the axe will fall at work.

Bev

[packitin]

That's news to me Out-of-sync. I didn't know there were cruises for $100 per day. How many days?
Jay

[TheDreamer]

I've only been on two cruiselines so far....both have been enjoyable. My first two were with Princess, and my third was with Holland America. I would probably be interested in another Holland America cruise. Though at this point....its between whatever I can afford or NCL (because I would like to do Hawaii someday...and so do my parents).

I had originally intended that I would cruise for my 40th birthday...but I went to Ohio Linux Fest and LISA last year, so squeezing in a cruise in between those events wasn't too practical. And, I couldn't really afford it. And, this year doesn't look too good either. So, the long distance planning is more so that I can try to have money saved towards it.

Not sure when I'm going to start saving towards my next cruise. Need to pay off holiday bills and then the medical/CPAP bills.... Don't want to think about whether or not I'll still have a job or anything yet. Not sure I could deal with that happening, plus it'll probably be even harder to sell my home....

The Dreamer.

[OutaSync]

Packinitin,

There are hundreds of cruises for less than $100 a day. I've seen a 5 day cruise for $39. Not a day, just $39. If I was retired and lived in Miami, I swear I would get off of one ship and get right on another.

There are a lot of discount cruise websites. For instance, vacationstogo.com. I have been on 7 cruises and never paid more than $100 a day and that includes all of the food and entertainment. I believe I can eat $100 a day in food. The rest is just bonus! I admit, that since my first cruise in 2001, I have become a cruise junkie.

Bev

[goose]

There are plenty of cruises out there for less than $100 a day. Just gotta look for 'em....
HAL sends me fliers all the time since I'm in the Mariners Club and a 7 day Mexican Riviera, outboard cabin can be as low as $450 -- inboard is like $389.....
Especially in these economic times, the lines are just trying to fill the rooms -- their costs are pretty much the same whether the room is occupied or empty!!!!

Las Vegas would be a cool place for a conference!!! I still think that all of us in our jammies and masks walking around the place could be hilarious. But, it also could be that in that town......we wouldn't even be noticed!!!!

Having been unemployed for the past 2 years, I'd love to cruise, but no tengo dinero!!!!!

cheers
goose