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Cruises: Non-smoking rules get stricter

We grew up in an era when smoking was considered cool. As soon as we were teens, most of us were already hooked. Why not? Shills gave out free cigarettes on campuses. Ads proudly showed cowboys and movie stars puffing away. Even The Hit Parade, the favorite teen TV show that hyped our pop music, was sponsored by Lucky Strikes.

Then we suddenly realized cigarette smoke kills the longtime puffer and anyone else unlucky enough to have to breathe the smoke. Although cigarettes are now banned from many areas, we never thought cruise ships would join the campaign. After all, that’s why people sign up for a sea voyage, to relax and indulge in any doggone pleasure they want. Food, booze, sunning and puffing away.

Now, the major cruise lines, Princess, Carnival and Holland America will ban smoking in cabins on all the ships of all three lines by the end of the year. Princess will also include cabin balconies in the clean-air clean-up.

Dining areas on the ships will be smoke-free, but bars, dance areas and casinos will still be smoke-’em-if-you-got-’em areas. Other cruise lines already have some smoking restrictions in effect.

The rules on the three major cruise lines also come with punishment for offenders. Hey, smokers, if you’re caught sneaking a puff in smoke-free areas, they’ll tack a $250 cleaning fee to your bill. Sort of like being sent to the principal’s office after being nabbed smoking on the fire escape.

Hamad Airport, Doha, Qatar: Terminal Walkway

Seen through the lens of your ever-alert, on-the-road travel4seniors.com editor/photographer. Information for those seniors now shoveling in Philly, New York and New England, the Qatar temperature was 75º.

Osaka, Japan: Ancient And Modern Blend

Osaka is a great destination for senior travelers. The city has a great mix of modern life and traditional Japanese culture without the big-city crowding of Tokyo.

The subway and train systems are excellent and cover just about the entire city area. The subway offers a one-day pass for $12, and has a great website in English offering detailed schedules and maps.

The Osaka Aqua-Liner tourist boat sails the Okawa River. Among the many historic sights along the route is Osaka Castle, an ancient fortress, featuring a museum with fascinating examples of Japan's feudal past.

While Tokyo may have more fancy Western-style restaurants, Osaka has more authentic Japanese cuisine, along with Asian-influenced flavors. The classic Dotonbori restaurant district offers a great variety of traditional Japanese food choices.

San Francisco: Cable Car Halfway To The Stars

Liverpool, England: Ultimate Beatles Fan Destination

First Person Report: Loyal Beatles fans since we first saw the Fab Four 51 years ago on a small, black-and-white TV screen. It was on that February 9th night when they performed live on the Ed Sullivan TV Show.

Several years ago, on a visit to London, we took the journey north to see the city where the mop-haired quartet got their start. It’s a two-hour train ride from London Euston Station to Liverpool Lime Street Station.

Cruising Safety Tips For Smooth-Sailing Seniors

Cruising is statistically much safer than flying and driving. However, cruise ship problems, such as health and cleanliness issues, always make the news.

Seniors cruise because they’re very convenient. Once aboard, everything is just a few steps away: entertainment, pools, spas, sunning, scenery and dining. When visiting ports, there are excursions, shopping, and other diversions.

A cruise vacation can be even more enjoyable when you’re constantly aware of safety. These five key tips help make your sailings a pleasant experience:

Bring All Daily Meds x 2: Check with your physician before sailing and stock up for double the number of days of the cruise. This allows for unexpected delays that could result in running out of meds.

In case of emergency illness or injury aboard, carry proof of insurance, Medicare, and other applicable IDs. If you take special med equipment, be sure it's in good working condition.