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?