Aunt Tina

I just signed up with Godfrey Tours. They will take you into town in the morning for your choice of shopping times, an island tour with two free drinks, then swimming for your choice of length of time. All for $35 pp. Check this site further and Trip Advisor.

The last time I took my mom on a cruise we were able to use a wheelchair the ship had for the entire week, including taking it on shore. There was no cost, and the staff were outstanding in helping to get her around and on and off the ship. She did not regularly use a wheel chair but the long distances and sometimes rocking of the ship made walking too difficult for her. We were on the Celebrity Solstice. Check with your cruise line.

Trunk Bay can be very difficult to get out of if there are waves, I've gotten rolled in them a few times! However, it is a beach not to miss.

We stayed one night at the Hilton Garden Inn at the airport, and flew out the next day. We requested an 8:45 am time to leave the ship, our driver from All Around Italy Tours was waiting for us and we were on the road before 9. There were 6 us of and all our luggage. They sent a second van to accommodate all the luggage to the hotel. We were able to check in at the hotel immediately on arrival. Then we went on an all day tour with them. Our flight was 10:50am the next day. It was a great way to see the area outside Rome and was an easy shuttle bus trip to the airport terminal the next morning.

Just got off the Silhouette in Rome on Monday after the April 20 transatlantic cruise. Great ship and staff! Breakfast was open very early on Monday- 6am. Walk off started very early too. There wasn't a problem getting off - you just have you ship's card ready for exit . There isn't an immigration or customs check. The limo drivers are at the door of the terminal with their signs.

We were told by our driver and by our hotel that 3 hours is the recommended time for processing through the airport. There is a separate international check in building where there is higher security. Then you get bussed to another terminal. All this takes time, and if you want food there, it takes more time because there are long lines. Watch for specials at the food counter, our terminal had a special for a pastry, tea and bottle of water for 3.5 euro.

We tried to check in the day before our flight, but United wouldn't let us. However, others with a different airline had no problem and also has TSA pre-approval.

I thought that there wasn't a roof on the sunset verandas. It rained everyday the week I spent in one on the Solstice - making the veranda useless!

I went to the ports threads and searched for Lisbon walking tour and found all kinds of good recommendations, including my old post! We had Isabel who is fluent in 4 languages, and could be reached at http://www.lisbongt.com

The great guide we had in Normandy is Jacques Perreau. His e-mail is perreau.j@wanadoo.fr

Our tour of Monet's garden from Le Havre was great. He had previously done the Normandy beaches with one of our cruise mates.

I will need to check the Lisbon guide in my photo album from four years ago! I will get back to you!

I have done 4 TA's and will be going on my 5th Easter weekend. We have joined or organized private tours in the ports with other roll call members. Many TA roll call members have traveled extensively and know great tour guides and companies. Traveling with 4 to12 people is much nicer than tour buses with 40 passengers and a very scripted tour. I have done a walking tour in Lisbon with a great tour guide, and toured Monet's house and garden with a guide who also does great Normandy beach tours ( he was a child in WW11 there). Our tour guide in Dublin took us to his home at lunch time. The best whale watch I have done was on a private tour in the Canary Islands. On a recent Caribbean tour we did a private 6 hour "wet" tour in Dominica that was the best tour in the Caribbean I have ever done.

Join your roll call and watch for the invitations to join groups. Use the port threads to check out info on the ports and tour companies to guide your decisions.

I was on the Summit March 1 - 8 and got specialty tea free at Cafe al Bachio twice with my Elite plus card. Also got free delicious cake that I hadn't seen anywhere else on the ship. We were told tea was included by the hostess who was visiting each morning in the Elite breakfast. I did have a problem the second time when it was charged, but I got it reversed at the main desk.

I loved my second cruise to Alaska - with a 5 day pre-cruise tour to Talkeetna and Denali. We took the dome car train twice - with spectacular scenery and breakfast and lunch on the train. There were guides on the train telling us what we were seeing , and the history of the area. There were wonderful tours in each location including white water rafting, sea planes landing on the glaciers, and sled dog camp tours where you were each greeted with a puppy as you got off the bus. One of the hotels had a free tram ride up the mountain where you could hike, or eat at a luxury restaurant way up in the sky! The hours the ship spent in the Hubbard Glacier was a breathtaking experience ( and I've seen plenty of snow living in Rochester!) Whale watching in Juneau was wonderful. I think the variety of tours and activities available give people of all ages a chance to experience opportunities of a life time!

I took the 5 day pre-cruise tour and the southbound Millennium tour in August 2012 and loved it. At that time there was a husband, wife and daughter team who were our land tour travel guides - they were outstanding. We really enjoyed having the tour before our cruise - we got to meet so many people on the bus, train and at the hotels. We took a TA on the Brilliance of the Seas in August 2013 and the food and service could not begin to compare with the food and service on the Millennium, or on the Summit which we just took two weeks ago.

We ate at the Bistro on 5 on the Summit two weeks ago and loved it. They had great paninis and dessert crepes. The $5 charge covered all food on the menu - you can just keep eating! They were open earlier for lunch than the buffet, which was a great help since we had to be on the dock for a tour at 12:15.

We just came back from the Summit sailing on March 1 - and loved it. Many times what we did that day- scheduled tour or just walk around- determined what and where we ate. With only one sea day we were very busy touring the islands. We had a tour that required us to be on the dock at noon - the only place open for lunch before noon was Bistro on 5. We really enjoyed it there - and got immediate and great service - you can have anything/everything on the menu for the $5 cover charge. Don't miss the dessert crepes.

We had a 6 hour tour we loved on Domenica, and got back after lunch, but had a choice of the great poolside hamburgers, pasta made to order and pizza.

Don't miss the cakes at the Cafe al Bacchio on 5 - there is no charge for the cake and pastries - only for the speciality coffee and teas. We didn't see those cakes anywhere else!

The sub place at the back of the buffet has great croissants and breads they will make paninis with.

Enjoy!

I was on the same ship but different van on Roothy's tour. I wore a long sleeve rash guard while I was swimming and fortunately wasn't bothered by what our guide told us were "sea lice"! I wore Lands End water shoes which worked very well for walking and swimming in the cool pool. If you wear glasses and need to wear them down to the snorkel area, make sure you have a hard case or shoes to leave them in when they are on the rocks!

Just returned from a cruise yesterday- the Bumpiing "wet" tour was the best tour I have taken in the Caribbean. I swim in the Finger Lakes in New York State- the gorge water isn't any colder than swimming in our lakes in June/ and early July. They currently have several feet of frozen ice!

I bought an IPad Mini just before my fall TA. I needed help with everything from fellow passengers until I got used to it! It takes the best pictures which I can then edit and send to family immediately! Hopefully you have more experience than I had with the technology.

If you buy it ahead you can also get the case and screen protectors much cheaper.

Be careful - they are hot items for being stolen.

I hope they haven't closed - but I haven't been there since last March.

I look at the linen shops in both St. Thomas and St. Maarten for several things. They have beautiful lace cardigan jackets that I wear on formal nights with a long black dress. I have black/gold, all white, and all gold. They are very reasonable and make a different look with the same dress! I also buy table runners for gifts.

Another favorite item is Rima beachwear. (factory outlet in St. Maarten is the best place to buy!). They have beach covers, caftans, pants outfits, shirts etc in great colors in a polyester that doesn't wrinkle. There are other manufacturers. There is a flea market at the top of the shopping district where you can see many of the items displayed. Be sure to browse and BARGAIN!

Two years ago our cruise ended in Civitavecchia and we were picked up by Rome Cabs and did the Christian tour of Rome. They arranged for a private tour guide for just the Vatican which was very helpful. They have tours and prices on their website.

I just returned last night from the TA on the Silhoutte. Our first port was Lisbon where 9 of us did a great walking tour with Isabel of Lisbon Tour Guides www.lisbongt.com or lisbon@lisbon@lisbongt.com . She was our favorite guide for the 5 ports of call. She is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portugese. She met us at the ship with 1 day bus passes and we toured for several hours.

Don't miss the lemon cream tarts the area is known for!

I was very impressed on one of the ship's tours of the bridge I took, to see a live camera view of the children's room on the desk of the Captain. If you are concerned about the safety/security of your children, call the Captain's Club and ask what happens on the Summit. That ship put the safety of the children right up there with the safety of the ship.

Everyone I know whose kids have been involved in children's club activities - the kids have not wanted to leave the children's club!

Tried for the past two days and just got the Intercontinental for 4/29 for $115. Bid 4 stars and resorts. Started yesterday at $95 and used all my bids stopping at $110. Today I got it on my third bid at $115.