deadzone1003

There is no "medallions waiting in the rooms" option for Princess. You have to pick them up at check-in else you don't board.

Try La Plage Tours. If you rent their Champagne Boat, it comes with a driver/guide. It can be pricey for 2, but it can hold up to 12. We had 6 in our boat, but 8 would still be very comfortable. It ended up to be the best tour we ever did in Bora Bora (or anywhere else with the exception of visiting Coron Island in the Philippines). Because it is a private tour, you set the itinerary. Most people just go around the island and let the driver/guide set the itinerary.

Transpacific. Excluding the Alaska/Japan route, most transpacifics tend to go through tropical waters so they are much warmer than transatlantics unless you do the Europe to South America repositioning cruises.

In the past they start letting people into the terminal around 11am. People queue up next to building, but there are benches nearby where the elderly and the young could sit while you stand in line. However, if it is sunny, it might get a little warm sitting on the benches while people queuing will be in the shade.

Granted, Azamara is not geared for kids - if you pick a very port intensive itinerary, like in Europe, the kids will really don't have much free time. Sort of like a cross country travel by car - how much time do your kids will interact with other kids, especially if every day is a new day to explore? If there is alot of sea days, pick a different line.

No such animal as "Ipanema Street Party". She may be referring to Banda de Ipanema - that gay group bloco which is the biggest bloco in Ipanema - you can buy one of their t-shirts and join the parade group, we were there in 2017 and we still have their t-shirts. However, they move at a snail's pace, like many popular blocos in Rio. Problem with many popular blocos, they are crowded like a Tokyo subway during rush hour. Amazing atmosphere is right, but crowded. If you are covid-shy, don't bother with Carnival.

Running into "gale strength winds or heavy swells" in French Polynesia would be a very, very small probability. Don't talk yourself out of something just because you think you are most unlucky person in the world.

There is really no advantage to either hotel as to how close it is to the metro. The area around both hotels is flat (just go to Google Maps and look at the exterior/360 option and see how flat the area is around them). I wouldn't be surprised if both are build on landfill. One major recommendation is that since both of you are in your mid-80's and you will be quite near the equator, I recommend taking a taxi to the Gardens. It is a somewhat of a long walk from the metro station to the entrance of the Gardens. The temperature will be in 80's, but it is the humidity that will exhaust you. Stay at the Bliss Hotel so you can easily afford taxis, LOL.

I believe they still do plus they are planning to eat at 8 or later when walk ups are more easily available, but this is all academic since they are a party of 12 and will require two tables, at least, so some booking ahead will be required.

If you like to eat late, like 8pm or later, and you are more than willing to share tables, you should be able to eat at most specialty restaurants each night by just walking up to the restaurant without reservations (that's how they filled those tables with 6 to 8 diners, usually). You may have a good chance of reserving a table for 6 or 8 on the same day. Most reservations are made for 2 to 4 people and at an early time. Unless there are big groups who happen to be on your cruise, those larger tables are usually available.

Please elaborate. We will be on the Sirena in December.

Those solo cabins are the oceanviews from 6030-39. These are those 143 sq ft oceanviews with door entry from the side. If they left the original double bed in there, it may be adequate. If they reduce the size of the original bed to a twin. It will be more than adequate in terms of space. Also these rooms never had a couch, if I recall. Have you considered calling Oceania?