skyview851

Our shore excursions just posted, and I am concerned with the warnings on several of them:

Please note: As this tour involves rough off-road driving, it is not recommended for guests with back and/or neck problems, who suffer from motion sickness or vertigo or women who are pregnant. This tour involves very little walking.

Are these trips really that rough? We have some older family members traveling with us, and I am worried these rides would be too much for them. Any info greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much! Now to excursions :)

We are doing the Nov 18 Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society islands cruise. Do we need to change money for these islands? I understand that US currency is accepted in Papeete, but what about the other ports? Advice on where to change money & how much would be needed for Tshirts, trinkets, etc?

Thank you

Any updates on transit times in LAX? We have 2 hrs and 50 minutes to make the connection coming back from PPT, do we need to look for other flights?

We will be traveling with 2 older ladies, both in their 80's. They are both quite active, and both snorkel, but I am concerned about the trips described here. Would it be too much for them? Is there a more appropriate tour?

It's been 10 years since we cruised PG, and I seem to remember that evenings were a little dressier, at least for women. I know DH wore slacks and TB type shirts, but I think most women were in cocktail dresses, or dressier slacks. I don't remember capris, but maybe they weren't popular back then? If an outfit is acceptable for a business casual workday, would it be ok on the PG? Thanks for the help!

Elderly parents are doing this trip, so it's probably safer for them to stay with HAL. Would you expect a lot of walking during these 2 stops? It doesn't sound too tiring, and I think they would enjoy it.

HAL is offering this trip:

Cross the Arctic Circle! A circular land mass encompassing the earth’s farthest north polar regions, the Arctic Circle formally marks the "Land of the Midnight Sun." The Arctic Circle Air Adventure takes you north from Denali across the expansive Yukon River Valley and into the Brooks Mountain Range (the Alaskan Rockies) before landing just east of the gates of the Arctic National Park at Coldfoot, Alaska. The 2½ hours spent on the ground north of the Arctic Circle focus on visits to two very different wilderness communities, Wiseman and Coldfoot, both offering the unique opportunity to learn firsthand how the very few residents living in this remote arctic region have adopted creative strategies for surviving extreme winter temperatures that can drop to -80 F. Earn an Arctic Circle Certificate upon return.

Questions-Is this a worthwhile trip and does anyone have any idea of how the 2 1/2 hrs are spent? Is there an hours worth of sightseeing in each town?

Portofino

Portofino, Italy Sept 2009

We used All around Italy (http://www.allarounditaly.net) for our tour in the Naples area. We were picked up ship side by our driver, Mariano, and then we went to Sorrento, Positano, Ravello, and other towns on the Amalfi coast. We stopped for lunch in a great trattoria in Ravello and then went to Pompeii. At Pompeii, we had arranged for a private guide who took our group of 6 on a 2 hour tour of the ruins. Because we had the private guide we were allowed into some areas that others were not.

We also used this operator in Rome & Florence/Pisa and were very happy with their service & knowledge. The price was very competitive and I highly recommend them.

Lisa

I called their TA & she had me call RCCL. That surprised me, I would have expected her to handle it. I hope if anyone ever wants to give me onboard credit that my TA would take care of it! Anyway, I called & the gift is purchased, and I am sure that they will be able to find a use for it. Thanks for your help!

I really appreciate the feedback on this. I think I will call their TA & see if she can arrange the onboard credit for me. If not, then I will call RCCL directly.

Friends are traveling on Sovereign of the Seas for their honeymoon. I would like to get them a gift to enjoy on the cruise. Does this ship have a specialty restaurant that I could get reservations for them? How about spa packages? Or on-board credit for them? I looked at the packages that are offered (choc, champagne, etc) but none of those really interest me. In fact they seem a little pricey for what you get. Having never sailed with RCCL, I don't know what's available, but I know the members of this board will! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.