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In-Air Gripes: Who’s Your Worst Fellow Traveler?

Recently, a woman flying Southwest from Los Angeles to Houston started painting her nails. Knowing the smell is sharp, she asked passenger around her if it was OK. All agreed, but not the flight attendant. There was a ruckus and the nail-painter was arrested when the flight landed.

Even if she didn’t offend anyone in-flight, there are others who do. We asked frequent flyers who are the worst five of the worst, and these were the results.

1. Seat back pusher: The inconsiderate person in front of you who suddenly tips the seat into your tender knees or loaded lunch tray.

2. Crying kid: Overtired and overwrought, the little angel in the seat next to you screams during the entire flight. Of course, the diaper doo just adds to your misery.

3. The 300-pounder: When this enormous anatomy plops down next to you and overflows into your seat, you know you’re in for a bumpy flight.

4. The great unwashed: Your seatmate is in obvious need of a bath and mouthwash, and the fragrance drifts over to your unwilling nostrils. Inevitably, the clothing and breath smells are enhanced because this is also a heavily addicted smoker.

5. The yakking seatmate: You settle down in your squeezed space to catch a few winks, listen to music or do some iPadding. The passenger next to you needs to hear your entire family and career history. Then, you’ll be obligated to listen to that person’s long, boring tale.

If you’re a frequent flyer, we’re sure you also have your own list of the worst of the worst passengers. Of course, you’re not one of them!
Our cruise log: RCL's Radiance of the Seas PDF Print E-mail

NCL's Radiance of the Seas

Radiance of the Seas approaches Ensenada harbor

We recently returned from a five-day Royal Caribben Line Mexican Riviera cruise out of San Diego, including port stops at Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas. In the days before the cruise, we considered cancellation because of a big tropical storm with 120+ mph winds heading straight for Cabo, and due to hit on our arrival day.

When we called our travel agent, we were assured that the ship’s captain would never sail within 100 miles of any storm, and the route would be changed if there were any possibility of danger. With some misgivings, we boarded the ship in San Diego. We could have left our worries at home. The storm suddenly veered far south of Cabo, and the cruise was absolutely smooth and a total pleasure.

Radiance of the Seas offered us many fun features, including shore excursions to the colorful Mexican ports. On board, there was great live entertainment, games, comedy, first-run movies, excellent sit-down dining, as well as a big buffet restaurant and a bunch of snack shops.

On deck was continuous live music, dancing, a rock-climbing plastic mountain, large pool and several spas. For adults only, in a luxurious, glass-enclosed, flower-lined Solarium, were a pool, spas, snack bar and booze bar.

A great feature of the Radiance was its glass interiors and exteriors all around, including outside elevators that whisked us up and down 14 decks with excellent day and night views of the passing ocean. We also had a balcony cabin, and it afforded impressive views as we sailed out of San Diego and into Ensenada’s colorful port, and then on to Cabo with its world-famous rock formations.

For more information, check with your favorite online or neighborhood travel agency, or go to royalcaribbean.com.

 
 
 
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