ASK JOAN:Your travel questions answered
Cruising options for four?
My three friends and I are celebrating a big birthday and have been saving to go on a cruise in 2012. We want a bit of luxury and were thinking of doing a northern Europe cruise.
MK, Wicklow
The benefit of the cruises I am suggesting here is that they either begin or end in Ireland. The first will be in June departing from Dublin on Oceania's Marina, oceaniacruises.com, to Scotland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway and returns from Copenhagen, from €2,326pps.
In July, I have two suggestions; Saga's Sapphire(it says for over 50s but the age group is higher) will depart from Southampton to Iceland via Scotland and the Orkney Islands and return to Cobh, over 13 days, from €1,900pps, sagaholidays.com.
A more luxurious cruise will depart from Copenhagen on Azamara Questand over 11 days it will visit the fjords of Norway, Iceland, the Isle of Man and arrive back to Dublin. Prices are from €2,500pps. Azamara tends to have more active passengers and plenty of sightseeing opportunities, azamaraclubcruises.com.
In August, Silversea's Silver Explorer, departs from Tromso in the north of Norway for a 14-night journey down the coast of Norway, to Scotland before arriving in Dublin. Prices from €5,699pps, silversea.com.
MSC Cruises have two cruises departing from Cobh in August over 10 and 11 days, visiting the Netherlands and Germany and back to Dublin. Discounted prices are from €999pps, mscruises.ie.
In the summer, Royal Caribbean will have a lot of cruises from Harwich and Stockholm to Northern Europe and the Baltics and will visits cities such as Helsinki, St Petersburg, Riga, Latvia, Gdansk, and Copenhagen. See royalcaribbean.ie. These can be booked with John Galligan Travel, 01-2076555 and jgt.ie; Cruisescapes.ie, 01-2744040; Cruiseholidays.ie, 01-8173558; and e-travel.ie, 01-4081999.
Ways to get a J1 visa
Is it possible to get a J1 visa independently of the student travel agencies? My son used one in 2009 and felt ripped off, as they push added extras on you, which in his case turned out to be of no use. I have tried the US government website, but they seem to mention sponsoring agencies too. We have relatives in the US who could sponsor my son. MMC, Cork
Yes, a student can apply for the J1 visa directly through the US embassy. All the details are on the website, J1visa.state.gov. Students must have a designated sponsor/employer in the US. His relatives will not be able to sponsor him. The process is quite detailed and he should read everything carefully before filling out the forms. There are two fees involved, a visa fee of €112 and the Sevis administration fee of €30. He should also take out travel and health insurance.
Agencies can be useful in cutting through the red tape and there are some added advantages, such as being able to change routes and dates, insurance to cover having to return to re-sit examinations and reduced priced travel insurance. The sale price for processing a J1 visa for this month is around €100. The agencies are Usit.ie, Go4Less.ie, and Sayit.ie. They will be having US employer road shows around the country, which is a way for your son to find a sponsor.
Costa Rica bound
My husband and I would like to go to Costa Rica in February or March. We would like to travel from Dublin with just one stop, not a very long one, to change flights. We would stay there for a week and then head to New York for 10 days to stay with friends. Could you recommend the cheapest and most comfortable way to travel there?
JB, Dublin
It’s not cheap to get to Costa Rica. One of the best routings I have come across is with Continental/United Airlines via Newark, continental.com. You depart Dublin in the morning, spend five hours at Newark and arrive in Costa Rica the same evening. It’s non-stop back to New York and costs around €1,000.
American Airlines has a cheaper price at around €850 with more stops on the way out and back. When using these websites, look for the multi-city option for booking flights and it will combine the best prices for each routing, aa.com.
You could combine an Aer Lingus return to New York with a US or Central American carrier such as Lacsa.com to San Jose from JFK. Aer Lingus fares in February are around €450 return and you would expect to pay between $500-600 return to Costa Rica, though not all flights are non-stop. Shop around with Clubtravel.ie, Ebookers.ie and Gohop.ie, they may have some cheaper agency fares.
Travel insurance for over 80s
I will be 81 years of age shortly and will need travel insurance for a trip to Canada. My VHI multi-trip policy excludes the US and Canada for over 80s.
POB, Dublin
There are a number of companies that will insure you and each has different rules and prices, depending on length of stay, destination and pre-existing medical conditions. Ones to try include cleartotravel.com, 0818-286520, Zurichinsurance.ie, 1850-444500, and Chartisdirect.ie, 1800 344455.
Email queries, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com