September 2008
In this issue
- Welcome To the Newsletter
- Cruise Industry News
- Entertainer of The Month
- Green Room News
- Travel Medicine 101
- Air Passenger Rights Pt. 1
Welcome to the third issue of the Entslist / Green Room Newsletter. We'll be bringing you the latest news and information from entslist.com and our interactive social network The Green Room. We will also bring you travel & health information geared to the professional entertainer.
TO YOUR HEALTH
By Jim Coston
Overseas Travel 101
With more more individuals traveling internationally, there is an increase in health problems that range in severity from unpleasant to life threatening.
For people who are planning travel outside
of their home country, a healthcare provider
should be consulted at least one month prior
to traveling.
The provider can give immunizations, travel medications or may refer you to a specialized travel medicine provider for some or all of these immunizations, medications and advice.
Allow sufficient time prior to travel to
schedule appointments for pre-travel care.
There are a number of steps that you can personally take which will help minimize the possibilty of your trip being interupted by a medical problem
In areas where sanitation and personal hygiene are poor, food and water precautions are essential for reducing the risk of these infections.
Tap water that looks safe to drink can carry infection-causing organisms, but boiling the water for three minutes, followed by cooling can kill these organisms.
Alternately, two drops of 5% bleach or five drops of tincture of iodine in two quarts of water kills most organisms within 30 minutes.
Travelers can reduce the risk of infection by using the following precautions:
Do not drink or brush the teeth with
unboiled tap water.
Do not drink beverages that contain ice made from unboiled tap water.
Drink only boiled tap water, drinks made from boiled tap water, beer, wine or carbonated beverages.
While bottled water is safer than unboiled
tap water, the source of the water and bottling
conditions are not standardized; thus, other
drinks are probably safer than locally bottled
water.
Food can also harbor infection-causing organisms. Reduce the risk of infection by following several food precautions:
Do not eat unpeeled fruit. Peel any fruit yourself before eating it.
Do not eat raw vegetables
Do not eat or drink unpasteurized ("raw") dairy products
Do not eat raw or rare meat, fish, or shellfish (including ceviché)
Insect and arthropod bites — In certain areas of
the world, insects (mosquitoes, flies, fleas,
bugs, and lice) and arthropods (ticks and mites)
can transmit a number of potentially serious
infections, including malaria.
Whenever possible, avoid insect-infested and arthropod-infested areas
Wear protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and pants; treating clothing with permethrin can improve effectiveness
Follow good personal hygiene
Use insect and arthropod repellents that contain DEET or picaridin
Use mosquito netting over the bed; treating the
netting with permethrin can improve effectiveness
Check skin regularly and remove any insects or
arthropods Whenever possible, minimize time
spent outdoors after dark.
DEET, permethrin and picardin are insect repellants
that are widely available at sporting goods stores
in the United States.
Remember that personal medications available in your home country may not be available in other areas.
Travelers who must take medication regularly should bring enough with them for the duration of their trip.
Medications should be taken on the plane in a purse or other carry-on bag, rather than packed in luggage, to avoid loss or theft.
Travelers who require syringes to administer medication should carry those syringes along with a letter from a healthcare provider documenting a medical need for the syringes.
For More Information, Visit the CDC Website
Jim Coston is not only an entertainer but was an ACLS Paramedic for 12 years.
Beat The Airline Luggage Fees!
In some cases, it's actually cheaper to send your luggage via UPS or FEDex !
A 55lb bag from Philadelphia to Los Angeles (R/T) will cost you a whopping $160.00 on Delta.
You can ship the same bag via UPS Ground for $133.84 or Fedex Ground for $106.30!
Similiarly, you can send a 75lb bag from Salt Lake City to Washington DC via Delta for $300.00 or let UPS handle it for $165.76 or Fedex for $132.84!
For more details go to airfarewatchdog.com
TRAVEL INFO
From the
US State Dept.
There is a lot of talk these days about Cruise Ships and Public Health & Sanitation. Cruise Ships are routinely inspected and are rated 1 - 100 ( a score of less than 85 is considered unsatisfactory). Here are the top & Bottom ships in the latest rating.
TOP Ratings (Scored 100)
Seadream I Sea Dream Yacht Club 12/09/2007
Noordam Holland America Line 10/24/2007
Norwegian Dream Norwegian Cruise Lines 10/21/2007
Carnival Glory Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. 07/08/2008
Carnival Miracle Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. 07/07/2008
Tahitian Princess Princess Cruises 06/19/2008
Coral Princess Princess Cruises 06/16/2008
Star Princess Princess Cruises 06/15/2008
Caribbean Princess Princess Cruises 05/29/2008
Sapphire Princess Princess Cruises 05/28/2008
Diamond Princess Princess Cruises 05/27/2008
Rhapsody Of The Seas Royal Caribbean International 05/25/2008
Sea Bird Lindblad Expeditions 05/25/2008
Seven Seas Voyager Radisson Seven Seas Cruises 04/30/2008
Oosterdam Holland America Line 04/29/2008
Infinity Celebrity Cruises 04/28/2008
Emerald Princess Princess Cruises 04/11/2008
Royal Princess Princess Cruises 03/31/2008
Norwegian Sun Norwegian Cruise Lines 03/22/2008
MSC Lirica MSC Cruises (Mediterranean Shipping Company) 03/12/2008
Norwegian Dawn Norwegian Cruise Lines 03/10/2008
Regatta Oceania Cruises 02/25/2008
Aurora P & O Cruises 01/31/2008
MV Explorer V. Ships Leisure USA 01/27/2008
Queen Mary 2 Cunard Line 01/20/2008
Norwegian Gem Norwegian Cruise Lines 01/19/2008
Norwegian Pearl Norwegian Cruise Lines 01/11/2008
Bottom Ratings
| Amadea | V. Ships Leisure USA | 4/4/2008 | 84% |
| Astor | Transocean Tours | 8/5/2006 | 83% |
Nautilus Explorer |
Lever Diving | 6/24/2007 | 74% |
| Legacy | Windjammer Cruises | 5/26/2006 | 72% |
| Stad Amsterdam | Stad Amsterdam | 3/29/2007 | 56% |
Want to know if YOUR Cruise Ship passes muster? Visit http://wwwn.cdc.gov
ENTERTAINER OF THE MONTH
 |
The Hermosa Beach Playhouse proudly mounts this world premiere musical! The buzz about the music is hot! Be among the first to see it fully staged. Among the songs in it's highly acclaimed score is the comedy song "It's All About Me" which was the winner of the 2005 Songwriter's Guild of America - Musical Song of the Year. Previews: Tuesday, May 19 through Thursday, May 21. |
Read More about it at The Green Room
GREEN ROOM NEWS
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After several different incarnations, we've added what we hope will be our "final" Chat Client. It's now available on our main page.
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We've added "quicklinks" from our main page with some of the most valuable websites on the web for Entertainers. Check it out!!
AIRLINE PASSENGER RIGHTS
Part 1
Flying can be a very stressful mode of transportation these days - from weather delays to lost luggage, mishaps at the airport can strike at any time. That's why it's important to know your rights (and their restrictions) as a passenger.
Your Tickets
Reservations:
Once you have a confirmed reservation, you are confirmed on the flight even if there is no record of your reservation in the airline's computer system. If you have a ticket that shows a confirmed reservation for a specific flight and date, an agent cannot deny you boarding because you have no reservation in the computer.
If you don't show up for a flight and fail to cancel the reservation, you are considered a no-show and the airline can cancel any continuing or return reservations.
Lost Tickets:
Refunds can be difficult to obtain if tickets are lost or stolen. You will need your ticket number; look for it on your credit card receipt, travel agency itinerary or canceled check.
You may be required to buy another ticket in order to continue your trip. Once you prove that you actually bought the ticket, the airline will begin processing your refund application, with a waiting period of two to six months.
Refunds:
Refund guidelines vary from carrier to carrier, but there are a few general rules. If you need to cancel a ticket purchased under a nonrefundable fare, you may be able to apply the fare you paid toward a future flight, minus any applicable change or cancellation fees.
If you need to cancel a refundable ticket purchased by credit card, your refund will be issued as a credit on the same card you used to make the purchase. (Contact your credit card company for support if you have problems getting a refund from your airline in a timely manner.)
If you purchased your ticket with a personal check, you will usually receive your refund through the mail. Tickets paid for with cash can generally be refunded immediately by your carrier or travel agency.
Note that if you have been issued paper tickets (regardless how you paid for them), you will have to return the unused tickets to the airline.
At The Airport
Check-In Times:
Even if you have already checked in for your flight, an airline can cancel your reservation if you are not at the departure gate on time, so don't wander too far from the gate!. Your seat may be given to another passenger, regardless of whether you have an advance boarding pass or an advance seat assignment.
If you do not check your baggage in sufficient time for it to be loaded on your flight, the airline will not responsible for any delay in the delivery of your baggage to your destination. To avoid these problems, it is reccomended arriving at the airport at least two hours before departure time.
All adults are required to present photo identification upon check-in and at boarding. (Most minors under the age of 18 do not need to provide ID for domestic travel, but airline policies may vary; consult your airline before your flight to be sure.)
You also may be subject to a physical or electronic search throughout your travel. If you don't want to be searched, you will likely be denied boarding and may lose the money you paid for your ticket.
Delays/Cancellations:
Airlines are not required to compensate passengers for delayed or canceled flights. Each carrier differs in its policy as there are no federal requirements. Most, however will try to book you on the next available flight.
If your plane is delayed, the airline may agree to pay for meals or a phone call, so it doesn't hurt to ask. Some will offer no amenities if the delay is caused by bad weather or other conditions beyond their control. Compensation is required by law only if you are "bumped" from a flight that is oversold.
If you are traveling through the European Union, under certain circumstances, you do have the right to compensation if your flight is canceled or delayed.
The airline does not have to provide compensation if they can claim "extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken" -- this could include weather, political instability, security issues and other similar situations. For more information, visit the European Union's Web site.
Part 2 in Next Issue!!
