BigNance

We found a great boat charter snorkel excursion on TA. I am not sure if I can post their name on here. Is that allowed? They had fabulous reviews and I got in touch with them via e-mail.

We had a great 2 hour snorkel tour. We went in February and I think we were VERY lucky with the weather. Sunny and 80. This group does 4 and 6 hour tours. Fishing, beaches, snorkeling. Private. IF someone knows if I can publish the name, let me know and I will.

I would use them again.

Great list is right! If we get diverted to the Bahamas because GSC isn't available on our August trip, I'm thinking the rum distillery and the brewery are on our list next time!

Has anyone who has sailed on the Norwegian Sky after August 2017 arranged their own tour on land? Are we allowed to? Several of the proprietors that I have e-mailed have assured me that Americans can use their services, but I want to make sure I don't get in trouble with the US government for some unsanctioned excursion/activity/etc....

Thanks!

Thank you! We are looking forward to it! We booked the B-1 Veranda rooms so we could be more midships. Now the excursion planning frenzy starts!

Thank you! That helps!

We are getting ready to book cabins on the Riviera. Looking at the B verandas and thinking about the A - Concierge level verandas. Trying to determine if it is worth the price differential. Can anyone let me know what the Concierge lounge is like? I see that there is a Concierge in there to help/serve/etc, but what kind of offerings do they have in the way of snacks? I have seen the other amenities offered, but was curious about the lounge.

Thanks very much!

GMT

You are on point!

Our private tours were great. We used Tours and Excursions Seychelles for a day long tour of Mahe and a private catamaran excursion to Praslin and La Digue on the second day. That one also included ground transportation to Vallee de Mai and Anse Lazio on Praslin and to Chez Jules (for lunch), the giant tortoise reserve and Anse Source L'Argent on La Digue. Excellent trips all the way around.

On La Reunion, we used Nicolas from TRANSUNION.COM Nicolas

+262 0692 810 313 for the Cirque de Salazie tour and a tour of La Piton de Fournaise (major volcano and surrounds) (full day tours each).and terrific lunches.

Mauritius we used ecoholidaysmauritius for a full day tour of the island. Great tour guide, good tour of the island, very good lunch.

The Costa tours we saw while we were out looked really crowded. I would opt for private if you can.

Looks like a terrific experience! Your pics are great - we can enjoy that area of the world vicariously!

We were on this cruise. We missed the riots, as we were busy at the bar ;-)...

We were disappointed that we weren't going to Madagascar, but knew that the cancellation was inevitable. Too bad Costa didn't cancel it sooner and let people know about it. We had scheduled private excursions at each port (thank you, CC contributors), and when the companies were notified, they were all very reasonable. The one that we had paid in advance, REFUNDED all of our money. The 3 companies were all grateful that we let them know that Costa wasn't coming, because Costa had NOT notified them.

I think those people that had scheduled Costa Excursions were given ship board credit and not refunded their $$. This is heresay only as I did not speak directly to anyone that was involved in one of these excursions. They also gave 150Euro refund to each person for the ship skipping 3 ports. Seriously?

I will be doing a separate review, but I will say here that many of Costa's policies are terrible. The service on the ship from the service people was outstanding, waiters, waitresses, bartenders, cabin stewards, etc... The front desk did what they could, but I think Costa does not give them the authority to make reasonable changes, accommodations, etc.

N

Hi Alicat,

Thanks for the info. I read a post that stated the person was only charged half price because they had the Piu Gusto drink package. We have that, so I am going to check it out.

This is only our second cruise, ever. So we are on the bottom tier!

Yes, working for vacations... that is me also!

Will wait for further posts! I may review when I return.

N

Alicat!

Great reviews and pics! Thanks so much. We will not have the upgraded room you do, but our friends will. We will just mooch off of their balcony ;-)

The meals in the St Tropez look pretty snazzy. Maybe we will upgrade a night or 2. We have a "premium" outside room. I'm not sure what that means, other than we paid a premium for it. Do you know if it is better to try to get into the upgraded restaurant the first night of the cruise?

By the way, great bag from Ibiza!!

Thank you again and looking forward to the rest of your posts!

N

That is helpful! Thanks!

I look forward to your postings! I have the work thing also, gotta pay for these vacays!

This is the first review of yours I have read. I'm trying not to laugh at work and I am snorting. killing me!

I have to look for your older reviews!

This is great!!

Hi Alicat,

How was the neoRiviera? We are sailing on it the end of this month. Any pointers for meals? which bars are the best? is there shade on the deck?

Thanks!

We did book all of our excursions early. We are a group of 16 and were able to do private tours for less than Costa. We are going for the private catamaran tour of the 2 islands. After reading your review about their excursions, I wasn't going with them!

Thank you for the info! I believe we are going to get the Piu Gusto package and want to order it ahead of time so I don't have to deal with that on the ship.

TenPIn,

What is the discount on the drinks package if purchased before boarding? AND, how did you find out about it? We did register for the Costa Club as soon as we made our reservations.

Thanks!

Thank you!

Thank you very much! That is helpful. That half day catamaran tour is fairly reasonable (80E or so), so we may schedule that. I would like to see some of the other islands, so we may just arrange the ferry rides ourselves and see about private tours on Praslin or La Digue. Did you arrange your private tours when you arrived on the islands? I wasn't sure if we should do that or if we should use Trip Advisor and book a few tours ahead of time.

How was Mauritius? Did you tour there or drive yourselves around? On Reunion, did you use the Costa tours or book your own?

I appreciate any info you can provide!

Hi!

We will be taking the neoRiviera Nov 2017. Can anyone give some feedback on the Costa arranged excursions, versus making your own arrangements? Specifically, I am interested in the Catamaran tour of North part of Mahe (Seychelles) and the cruise and tours of Praslin and LaDigue.

Any information on any of the other tours would be greatly appreciated also!