3113Timmy

I'm a doctor and I'm (relatively) young and fit, but yes I do get altitude sickness and fully expect it. I have limited time off so I don't like "wasting" time on sea days and I love to get to places with the minimum amount of wriggle room! Unfortunately, on some occasions I have come to grief. I'm looking at meeting the ship further down the line in Pisco or even La Serena, Chile.

I'm considering doing the cruise from Fort Lauderdale to South America on the 40 day version debarking at BA in Oct-Nov. Is it permissible to do your own overland excursion for Macchu Picchu, for example, leaving at Lima and picking up at Pisco? Do they allow you to do your own thing and come back on a later port? I am happy to pay for my own expenses in the meantime.

Thinking about going on the Voyage of the Vikings Rotterdam-Boston this summer via Iceland. The Berlitz guide did not give an inspiring review of the included food on HAL ships, stating they were lacking in "passion and taste" and there is overuse on rice and iceberg lettuce and a deficiency in green vegetables (read: blatant cost-cutting). Food is a huge factor in choosing yea or nay on a cruise for me, I don't need lobster every night, but I don't accept boarding-house-grade-slop either. Went on Royal Carribbean in Alaska 11 years ago and the food had no issues at all - every meal was tasty. Any opinions?

Way back in 2010 I spent six days in Paris in the middle of winter and saw the biggest sights. I am returning post-cruise in the first week of May this year. I have four full days. I want to go to the Musee D'Orsay and Versailles. I went to Versailles last time but nothing was growing and it was bare. The former I haven't been to, only the Louvre and I love Impressionism. I also want to fit in a visit to my friend who lives in Orleans. This is a plan: Day 1: Musee D'Orsay and Orangerie, maybe Pompidou Centre time permitting and an evening dinner cruise on the Seine River? Day 2: Giverny in the morning and Rouen for the afternoon and evening? Day 3: Train to Chenonceaux, then return to Orleans in the afternoon, have dinner with friend and return (stay overnight in Orleans?) Day 4: A day trip to Versailles and finish up sightseeing in Paris in the afternoon I want to go to the D-day beaches and Mont St-Michel but would that require six days? I could try and play around with my itinerary to fit in 5 days but 6 would be pushing it. I am young (42) and fit and can do a lot of moving about in a day! Any suggestions please?