conan

Info received with gratitude

Happy sails!

Conan

It's been a while since i posted on Cruise Critic

During our research prior to our last stop in Civitavecchia, someone had made available a video about getting from the cruise ship to the train station and acquiring a ticket for Rome or Pisa. However I can't find it any more. I'm trying to help a friend who is relatively new to cruising to get to Rome for a day. Can anyone direct me here?

Also, I am unfamiliar with a 12Euro BIRG ticket. Can someone clarify for me and tell me how to get one, preferably in advance of departure?

Thanks

Conan the Librarian

I've been away and not following the O board very closely lately as O cruising is only one aspect receiving my discretionary travel $$. I don't have nearly the O credits that many posters here seem to have but my experiences there allow me to highly recommend the carrier to any potential cruisers who seek information. Out of curiosity, I decided to look into this forum when informed of the sale by a fellow passengers on our last O cruise from Barcelona to Dubai. I find the tumult amusing! A tempest in a teapot, Really. As another poster noted, NCL is not stupid, that's why they bought Prestige. As I understand it, NCL proposes to maintain Prestige as is. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! That's why they invited FDR to stay on. He could take the money and run, after all. We don't know why he is staying into 2015. Perhaps he'll renew beyond that or, as others have suggested, become chair of NCL. Therefore loyal O's should expect a continuation of the outstanding product they have subscribed to in the past, including the loyalty points system. Pricing maintenance will be made through economies of scale purchasing and administration co-ordination as they've indicated. Why would all these intelligent passengers doubt that? If NCL were to mess with the golden egg by charging for water bottles, charge extra for specialty dining etc., they do so at their peril. There is too much competition out there for our discretionary dollars. We don't have to threaten them with it, they already know. Take the high road, stay calm, wait and see. Nuff said, I'm done

Don't you just love it when you seek information and the place you are seeking info about gets slammed? No help there. How adventurous are you? How comfort oriented? Are you a shopper?

Hop Le truck and head out of town to just beyond Punaauia to find the Museum of Tahiti and It's Islands. It's a bit of a walk from the main road but the flowers and gardens enroute make up for it. It's a nice way to look into polynesian cultural artifacts, geology with a little history thrown in. If you have independent transport then Vapahi Gardens in the same general direction beyond Mataiea is nice for an hour or so. The Gaugin Museum isn't worthy of a visit in my opinion but the restaurant next door is interesting especilly if they are feeding the fish and sharks in the enclosures on the seaside side. The Captain Bligh Restaurant up the road from the Manava Suites hotel has a lagoonarium. You descend to below water level via a shark's gullet and observe the colourful fish at eye level. A visit to the market is interesting especially the floral market and the handicrafts for sale (not the made in China ones) as is the fish market all under one roof. Sometimes there is a flea market in the Bougainville Park. If it suits your fancy, have the Meridien concierge make a reservation for you at the Belvedere restaurant. They'll come and get you and return you home (though not perhaps when you want to leave, they need a van ful to make the trip worthwhile) The road is not suitable for a novice to Tahiti driver especially after dark. Try to time your reservation for sunset over Moorea and note that the sun sets quickly in this latitude. The food is no great hell but the sunset view over Moorea (if there are no clouds) is stunning. A visit to the black sand beach and the lighthouse at Venus Point where Captain Cook started all the hulabaloo is worth a brief stop if you are circumnavigating the island. Just beyond is the Arahoho blowhole (worth 5 minutes of your time but not much more) Keep your eyes peeled for the access to the waterfalls up the Papenoo Valley.

Tahitians go to Moorea for the weekend. If going over to Moorea, contact Albert's Transport to get a price and transport for a motu picnic. A lot of them leave from the dock at the Bali Hai Hotel. Alberts can also provide a Moorea tour which would include the pineapple distillery and the Belvedere overlook of Cook and Openohu Bay. They can also provide a quote for the Tiki Gardens dine and show experience but this is more than a one day trip since the show does not finish before the last ferry back to Papeete. Consider Marama Tours at maramatours dot pf if you want a tour operator on Tahiti. Yes Papeete can be ugly and expensive (especially food). It was a whaling port and never shook off that heritage. It is noisy and bustling as any place with its population crammed between the shore and a high place. I found we got the best price break buying CFPs at an ATM rather than from the hotel desk or a bank. Everything closes down on Sundays,

Hope this helps! Good luck!

If you go into the Ports of Call Board on CC and select Mexican Riviera you find some musings from past travellers about Izapa. My impression is that the site is not very well developed, is very "rustic" and unless you are a fan of archaeological digs, there is little there to commend the effort of getting there. Since this is a relatively new port, it seems like they're scratching to find things to do. In any event, going to that board and reading what others have said may help you make up your mind, chocolate or no chocolate. Can you do chocolate without the attendance at the ruins? We are "in the same boat" as we are visiting this coast on Regatta in early February and not finding a lot. Mighty Quinn's comments above gave us food for thought and we are grateful.

Happy sails!

Conan