jacketwatch

:cool: Well 25 c for a stamp is probably the only bargain on GC. It is very $$$$$. Very nice too. :cool:

:cool: I agree. Kinda cool :cool:

:cool: I WILL post more often. Actually you can board 8/15 in Papeete but embarkation is 8/16. Thanks guys. :cheesy: :cool:

:cool: Hi QOS: I think JA. gets a bad rap, at least sometimes. I recall hearing that B4 too but read that if you are openly friendly to Jamaicans they will return it to you with interest and found that to be true. We ahve been there three times and had no issues at all. it would be a shame if you stayed on board I think. Do try Dunnd river Falls. You will be with a group no doubt and all will be well. yah mon. :cool: In GC Sting ray city is cool to see. Also do bring a lot of $$$ in GC. Its expensive, though for you it should not be an issue as the biggest cost is eating out. Cheers, Larry :cool:

:grin: :grin: Hi guys: Sorry to be away so long. Possibly as soon as Thurs. I will put a dep. for the Tahitian Princess cruise to Tahiti and the Cook islands. Dudes and dudettes I am stoked. :grin: We are really looking forward to experiencing a smaller ship for its ambiance. Cheers, Larry :cool:

:cool: Thyanks JB. I'll look into those sites. Actually the reason we are cruising FP is because its too expensive to stay on land there. The reality of the $25.00 hamburger hits one up in the kisser. :grin: Thats just obscene. LOL! Larry :cool:

:cool: :cool: JB thanks so much for sharing the pics. I really appreciate that link. It looks like you had a great time. Can you recommend guides or tour operators? Sincerely, Larry :cool:

:cool: Thanks JB. I am just popping in now bot the better half bekons :cool: so I look into the details later. Larry

:cool: Thank you. All is well and I'll keep checking. Life is busy and I'll get here when I can. Thank you for the concerns. This is a very friendly forum :grin:

Hi guys: :cool: Well as the better half has her sights set on a FP/Cook islands cruise on the Tahitian Princess next yr. there is no sense thinking about anything else so I'd better get planning. :grin: So my question to the members of this fun :cheesy: forum is what to do about tours? I normally prefer to do it ourselves so when we disembark at the various ports will there be plenty of independent tour operators awaiting or should I look for some ahead of time? Your suggestions please. :cool:

:cool: Thanks Karen. Actually I did some digging and found a world weather data base and I agree the weather is practically the same for this time period. I think we'll shoot for the Aug. 15th sailing. Cheers, Larry :cool:

I think so too, unless its over, say Xmas which of course it is not in this case. I would luv to see FP but have heard too many stories about the $25.00 hamburger to want to stay on land. A cruise seems the best choice. :cool:

:cool: Actually I received a quote from Princess inre to the air for the July 2 sailing. I didn't ask about mid August but I would hope it would be the same or less, esp. if this is the last cruise of the season. They quoted ne $1250.00 or so R/T Chicage-Papeete which seemed OK. I have used Costco for 4 0f our last 5 vacations and their prices are always lower so we'll see. First my wife has to get her vacation time approved. Usually for me its not a problem. :cool:

Good morning everyone. :cool: Well my better half and I are 90% sure of taking the Tahitian Princess next summer for a 10 day FP/Cook islands cruise. My question has to do with when to go. The rates are quite a bit less in August, esp. mid August. vs. the July 2 sailing. How is the weather in mid August? I do kow this is the winter for the So. Pacific which means its pretty nice for us but is mid August (8/15 sailing date) still nice there? Thanks a bunch, Larry :cool:

Thanks guys. Skipper I may take you up on that and I'll look into Uniworld. So far all I have heard of is the Viking line. Its good to hear that an experienced ocean cruiser liked the river cruises so much. Thanks again, Larry :cool:

Hi guys: We have looked at Viking river cruises which go on the major rivers of Europe. Pretty different than the normal cruises we are used to but they look nice in and of themselves. Has anyone ever taken one and if so what do you think about them? Thanks, Larry :cool:

What cruise line are you taking? Princess did not allow you to bring in hard spirits but once on board you could buy it from them for use in your cabin. The $ was quite reasonable. One litre of Absolut vodka was only $20.00.

LOL! FWIW = "For What Its Worth" :grin: Ask away whenever you're ready. I'll check from time to time :cool:

J aand D! FWIW we spent a day in Rome in 2002 as a port stop for the Splendour. I loved Rome though I am a bit of a history buff so being in Rome and seeing ruins from 2000yrs. ago was pretty neat for me. As we disembarked there were plenty of cabbies just waiting for you so we negotiated a price to see the sights. The difference in $$ was incredible. The ships tour was $170.00 pp so for the three of us it would have been $510.00 but we got the cab for $200.00 and were on our own time as well. We hit all the major sites including the Vatican, the Sistene Chapel, the Coliseum, etc. Do be aware that if you want to enter St. Peters shorts are verboten. You must have longpants and no tank tops so we missed St. Peters. Hwever as it was late July it was H O T in Rome then so it would have been pretty uncomfortable to see the rest of the city uncomfortably dressed. In short Rome is an amazing city to see and we really just saw a small part of it. I would love to go again and have more time to see it all. Any other specific questions? :cool:

Thank you Shari. Somehow I sort of feel drawn to Santorini and if missed it just wouldn't feel right. We'll just have to go I guess. :cool: :smiley:

As for meeting the captain there is no sgn up. Just read the "Princess patter" and check activities. I hink it was on our 3rd or 4th day for our particular cruise. They do offer a galley tour and though we did not take it I'll bet its worth seeing. Bon voyage! :cool:

Skipper: I think that did it! Now Santorini is a must :grin: . J and D: You're welcome. BYW the area its in is very good too. It just came to mind that there is another hotel in the same price range called the Colon and its next to a cool attraction, the Barri Gothic Cathedral. :cool:

Shari: Thanks and I sure would like her impressions of Santorini. I have heard so much and actually I saw a Princess cruise which includes Santorini and now I stoked. :grin: Joey and David: We stayed at a hotel ideally located in the Ramblas. We really liked it. Here's the web address for it: www.avenidapalace.com. The rates include breakfast and its not too far from the pier. :cool:

You're welcome. BTW consider going to the "meet the captain" session. We did and he is a really cool guy, humorous and with many funny stories to tell. If you go ask him about the time he "bumped" into a Japanese destroyer in NY harbor. Hilarious. :grin: :grin:

Ah yes. There is always the next one. :grin: BTW if you can try to spend some time exploring Barcelona. It is a beautiful city rich in Gaudi architecture. Have a good vacation. :cheesy: :cool: