delraydoll

On our last (and only) Azamara cruise in 2018, we were in a CC suite (last minute booking could only get a handicap cabin with large roll-in shower).  Now we just prefer a regular shower, not a tub for mobility issues.  Anyhow, the room is definitely larger, and we were very pleased.  The butler on the first day kept popping in asking if we needed anything 'til we finally told him no hors d'oeuvres in the afternoon or added fruit as we didn't want to over-eat plus prefer to meet/mingle with folks in the public areas rather than stay in our cabin.  We'll be on the May 2 Onward inaugural Monte Carlo-Venice cruise and really looking forward to traveling again. 

We booked the inaugural cruise as well and have a CC suite with walk-in shower, which we now prefer over a tub for mobility reasons (previously, hubby was the "bubblebath king!"  Our first (and so far, only other) Azamara cruise (I think it was the Journey) was a handicap CC suite as it was the only such suite available.  Found it to be most comfortable.  We loved that cruise (Rome-Barcelona with 2 days of the Monte Carlo Grand Prix) -- only complaint was... it was only 8 days, the shortest cruise we've ever been on.  

We're actually doing this cruise in conjunction with a Vantage Travel Holland tulip-time river cruise, followed by a week in Brussels & Luxembourg on our own (lived in both cities in the 1980s/90s).  Will spend 2 nights in Nice before the cruise and probably Uber from our hotel to the Monte Carlo port on May 2.    

We're booked in a Concierge class cabin on Regent so the pre-extension in Singapore was included. Frankly, we seldom use a tour company's pre/post options as we've travelled so extensively. But in this case, because Dubai is a bit more "exotic," we decided to book Regent's post-extension in Dubai (at quite a cost pp!) only because I didn't feel like booking a hotel thru my usual source (booking.com or one of the major hotel's website), then individually booking all of the tours that are included. Plus transport from port and after our 3 days/to airport is also included.

Here's a portion of what I just posted on a roll call for our Mar 20 2019 Regent Singapore-Dubai cruise. Might be of interest to other folks going to Singapore.

Spent some time in Singapore from 1996-2000 when we lived in KL; revisited in 2013 after an Oceania cruise. Architecture is fabulous, and I'm sure in the intervening 5 years there will have been lots of changes.

Definitely recommend at least 1-2 nights on your own (if not doing the pre-cruise pkg). Great views from the Ferris Wheel, good Hop On/Off bus routes, orchid garden, zoo, China Town, Marina Bay Sands hotel rooftop view - fee for elevator if not a guest). There's a casino as well in the hotel, but smoking was still permitted when we were there so walked in and walked out just as quickly. Weren't impressed with Indian Town. A big tourist draw is a Singapore Sling (way overpriced!) at the Raffles Hotel (the Long Bar has been closed for renovations but should be open by 2019 -- have a Sling at any other venue)! A famous night time "food court" is Newton Circus (named for the traffic round-about). Eating at any of the outdoor food courts is very safe as sanitary conditions are very strict. Just be careful if you order any shrimp or other seafood as pricing is based on the "catty" (spelling may be incorrect) -- a weight measurement. We remember the king prawns (size of a lobster tail!), clams and lots of other goodies. Harbor boat rides a must as you see the bldgs. from the river (including Singapore's symbol, the Merlion fountain). Walk along Clarke Quay (pronounced Key) and choose a restaurant or bar and people/boat watch. Unfortunately last time we were there was during Chinese New Year's and many, many restaurants/venues were closed.

We're a couple who'll be 71/81 next year. We'll be in St. Malo again in Sept. 2015 and would like to travel to Jersey, Guernsey and possibly Sark for about 2 nights on each island (we took the ferry for a day trip in 1990 from St. Malo to Jersey). Any suggestions/recommendations? As I don't check CC very often, pls send any reply to cyr13408@yahoo.com. Thanks.

A few yrs ago, we rec'd a disc when we told 'em we were senior citizens (over 65 I believe). Can't remember how much but doesn't hurt to mention it.

The category Spain should be amended to Spain and Portugal. Lots of ships are docking in Portugal!!

Just posted this under another thread for Paris. It's a list I share with folks in my community -- we lived in Paris in the 60s/70s and have visited several times since. Prices haven't been updated in 2 yrs.

A few Paris restaurant Ideas and Sightseeing

Le Grand Bistro 17

108, avenue de Villiers - 75017 Paris (metro Villiers)|

definitely need Réservations : 01 47 63 32 77

Open 7 days a week, 12:00-2:30, 7:30-11:00 ('til 11:30pm on Friday/Saturday)

3 course menu, presently € 44 each which includes a bottle of wine (approx. 11 choices ea for entre, main dish, dessert, coffee. They also served us a free kir but maybe no longer.

http://www.bistrocie.fr -- this website lists other similar bistros. Another one under this group that we went to some time ago:

Le Bistrot de Breteuil

3 place de Breteuil - 75007 Paris

45-67-07-27

(near Hotel des Invalides -- Napoleon's tomb)

Le Congres Maillot

Place de la Porte Maillot

80, avenue de la Grande Armée - Paris 75017, Métro Porte Maillot

45 74 17 24

Mainly seafood but other dishes as well. Not cheap, but we adore the sole meuniere -- might be cheaper at lunch.

Le Relais de Venise (practically around the corner from Le Congres)

AKA L'Entrecote

271 Blvd. Pereire - Port Maillot

01-45-74-27-97

http://www.relaisdevenise.com/index.htm. Only one item on the menu: Salad w/walnuts, Filet steak cut like flank steak with a mustard sauce to die for, best French fries, choice of dessert (can't remember if included). No reservations and there's always a line. You'll see knock-offs on the Champs d'Elysees and other places (called L’Entrecote, which is the cut of beef that the steak is cut from), but they can't compare.

There are a ton of restaurants in the Latin Quarter/St. Michel area with touts standing outside trying to get you to come in. Set menus are probably the best deal. Some will be better than others.

Take time to stop in any café and order a café crème (like a latte). You can order decaffeinated (pronounced “café day-ca”). Or if it’s cold outside, chocolate chaude (hot chocolate). If you use sugar substitute, keep a few packets from home in your purse as the French stuff has a different taste.

One of our favorite salads is Salade chevre chaud (green salad with warmed goat cheese with 2-3 pcs. of small baguette). And baguette (French crusty loaf bread) will be put on table. Instead of using butter (which may or not be served with it), just ask for Dijon and put some on to be really like the French.

Try North African cuisine (Tunisian, Moroccan), a good chain is Chez Bebert (I think there’s about 3 of ‘em). The most popular dish is couscous (semolina wheat sort of like pasta) with meat (there’s chicken, beef, fish) and lots of veggies and the sauce. A good appetizer is a brick (pronounced breek) which is a pastry with an egg in it, veggies, folded over and fried. I don’t like soft cooked eggs, but Leo just loves this dish. In the Latin Quarter you’ll see other similar restaurants.

If you like scallops, try the French ones (coquille St. Jacques Provencal – with tomatoes, garlic) – they’re served with the roe attached (edible).

Try the onion soup – under potage (soups) or entres (which is actually the appetizer course), it might be listed as gratinee – that’s the cheese that’s cooked on top over a pc. of bread, often with a little bit of white wine poured over it.

Sightseeing/Transport

Paris sites: http://www.tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i16746-Top_20_things_to_see_and_do_in_Paris.html

I agree with this list.

For the metro, best off buying a carnet (book of about 10 tickets). Just be careful in the metro – lots of pickpockets. Leave your passport in the hotel room’s safe, along with most of your valuables. You only need to carry a photocopy of the front page of your passport. Just keep your purses close to your body, use a money belt (bought a really nice soft one at AAA). Can go into the restroom to get your credit card. The metro tickets are also good for the buses. Check bus routes as often it’s so much nicer to ride outside rather than inside the metro where you don’t see anything. Always get on the bus in the front and put your ticket in the machine to be stamped – exit any door except front.

Museums not to be missed: Louvre; Musee d’Orsay (impressionists + too much to mention); Rodin (museum/gardens, very close to Invalides); Picasso. Probably can only fit in 2 a day as there's so much walking involved. If possible, use the audo guides that are available.

Should also visit Napoleon’s Tomb (Invalides – refers to former old soldiers home where tomb is now located). Eiffel Tower. Montmartre (painter’s square) – very touristy but nice view of Paris + visit Sacre Coeur church. Notre Dame and that whole area -- walk down the quai on the opposite side (left bank) and take a photo of the church from that angle. On weekends there are stands with books and old prints/postcards. This area is close to the Latin Quarter.. Near-by La Conciergerie (former palace/prison) where King Louis XV & Marie Antoinette were held before being be-headed + nearby Sainte-Chapelle with fantastic stained glass windows.

While we've never taken it, there's an On/Off bus. Whenever we've taken one in other cities, we often ride it around the whole loop to see all the sites, then decide which places we actually want to visit. You might want to take a regular sightseeing bus tour (Grayline or similar) which would zip you thru the Louvre. Be sure to take photos of EM Pei's pyramid in the courtyard.

As you walk down from the Louvre (either thru the park or on the side of the street under the "Arcades" so you can see all the shops), towards the Champs d'Elysees, you'll come to Place de la Concorde. In the right hand corner, across the street from the Hotel Crillon (pop in and see how the other half lives), is the American Embassy. Kind of catty corner, in front of the Embassy/Crillon is a statue. This was actually the spot of one of the guillotines during the revolution.

Marais: Considered the Jewish quarter. Victor Hugo's house/museum overlooks the square.

Champs d'Elysees. Near-by is the Presidential palace (Palais d'Elysees), within walking distance of American Embassy on Faubourg St. Honore. This is the street with a lot of designer shops.

At the end of the Champs is the Arc de Triomphe, also referred to as Etoile (Star). There's a pedestrian tunnel to take to get to the center (you don't go thru the traffic). Tomb of Unknown Soldier. Take elevator to top for great views.

Eiffel Tower. Best view is from platform at Trocadero (site of 2 museums). Down the street from the Arc.

Good book to buy: Michelin Green guide. Has suggested walking tours, museum hours, etc. Might find one at the library. Copy pertinent pages so you don't have to take the whole thing.

Paris is a city for walking so check out walking tours on the web. While we've never done an organized walking tour (since we lived there!), one website I found is http://www.paris-walks.com/.

Versailles: If you have time, take the train to Versailles for the royal palace tour. The line will be VERY long if you don’t do this by a bus tour from Paris. I actually suggest a bus tour as you'd forego the long lines waiting for tickets.

You might also want to consider a tour that takes you to Giverny (Monet's home/gardens). The gardens won't be so great in October, but then again, the crowds will be less. If you have free time after the tour, walk up the street (as you face the house, go to your right), and the little church on your right is the burial place of the Monet family.

And you might find a day's tour to Loire Valley, but this is probably too much.

Check out Viatours. They offer some small group tours.

Passez un beau temps!!

Lived in Paris in the 60s/70s and visited several times since. Here's my list that I share with folks in my community when asked: some of the prices haven't been updated for 2 yrs. Sorry this is so long but...

A few Paris restaurant Ideas and Sightseeing

Le Grand Bistro 17

108, avenue de Villiers - 75017 Paris (metro Villiers)|

definitely need Réservations : 01 47 63 32 77

Open 7 days a week, 12:00-2:30, 7:30-11:00 ('til 11:30pm on Friday/Saturday)

3 course menu, presently € 44 each which includes a bottle of wine (approx. 11 choices ea for entre, main dish, dessert, coffee. They also served us a free kir but maybe no longer.

http://www.bistrocie.fr -- this website lists other similar bistros. Another one under this group that we went to some time ago:

Le Bistrot de Breteuil

3 place de Breteuil - 75007 Paris

45-67-07-27

(near Hotel des Invalides -- Napoleon's tomb)

Le Congres Maillot

Place de la Porte Maillot

80, avenue de la Grande Armée - Paris 75017, Métro Porte Maillot

45 74 17 24

Mainly seafood but other dishes as well. Not cheap, but we adore the sole meuniere -- might be cheaper at lunch.

Le Relais de Venise (practically around the corner from Le Congres)

AKA L'Entrecote

271 Blvd. Pereire - Port Maillot

01-45-74-27-97

http://www.relaisdevenise.com/index.htm. Only one item on the menu: Salad w/walnuts, Filet steak cut like flank steak with a mustard sauce to die for, best French fries, choice of dessert (can't remember if included). No reservations and there's always a line. You'll see knock-offs on the Champs d'Elysees and other places (called L’Entrecote, which is the cut of beef that the steak is cut from), but they can't compare.

There are a ton of restaurants in the Latin Quarter/St. Michel area with touts standing outside trying to get you to come in. Set menus are probably the best deal. Some will be better than others.

Take time to stop in any café and order a café crème (like a latte). You can order decaffeinated (pronounced “café day-ca”). Or if it’s cold outside, chocolate chaude (hot chocolate). If you use sugar substitute, keep a few packets from home in your purse as the French stuff has a different taste.

One of our favorite salads is Salade chevre chaud (green salad with warmed goat cheese with 2-3 pcs. of small baguette). And baguette (French crusty loaf bread) will be put on table. Instead of using butter (which may or not be served with it), just ask for Dijon and put some on to be really like the French.

Try North African cuisine (Tunisian, Moroccan), a good chain is Chez Bebert (I think there’s about 3 of ‘em). The most popular dish is couscous (semolina wheat sort of like pasta) with meat (there’s chicken, beef, fish) and lots of veggies and the sauce. A good appetizer is a brick (pronounced breek) which is a pastry with an egg in it, veggies, folded over and fried. I don’t like soft cooked eggs, but Leo just loves this dish. In the Latin Quarter you’ll see other similar restaurants.

If you like scallops, try the French ones (coquille St. Jacques Provencal – with tomatoes, garlic) – they’re served with the roe attached (edible).

Try the onion soup – under potage (soups) or entres (which is actually the appetizer course), it might be listed as gratinee – that’s the cheese that’s cooked on top over a pc. of bread, often with a little bit of white wine poured over it.

Sightseeing/Transport

Paris sites: http://www.tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i16746-Top_20_things_to_see_and_do_in_Paris.html

I agree with this list.

For the metro, best off buying a carnet (book of about 10 tickets). Just be careful in the metro – lots of pickpockets. Leave your passport in the hotel room’s safe, along with most of your valuables. You only need to carry a photocopy of the front page of your passport. Just keep your purses close to your body, use a money belt (bought a really nice soft one at AAA). Can go into the restroom to get your credit card. The metro tickets are also good for the buses. Check bus routes as often it’s so much nicer to ride outside rather than inside the metro where you don’t see anything. Always get on the bus in the front and put your ticket in the machine to be stamped – exit any door except front.

Museums not to be missed: Louvre; Musee d’Orsay (impressionists + too much to mention); Rodin (museum/gardens, very close to Invalides); Picasso. Probably can only fit in 2 a day as there's so much walking involved. If possible, use the audo guides that are available.

Should also visit Napoleon’s Tomb (Invalides – refers to former old soldiers home where tomb is now located). Eiffel Tower. Montmartre (painter’s square) – very touristy but nice view of Paris + visit Sacre Coeur church. Notre Dame and that whole area -- walk down the quai on the opposite side (left bank) and take a photo of the church from that angle. On weekends there are stands with books and old prints/postcards. This area is close to the Latin Quarter.. Near-by La Conciergerie (former palace/prison) where King Louis XV & Marie Antoinette were held before being be-headed + nearby Sainte-Chapelle with fantastic stained glass windows.

While we've never taken it, there's an On/Off bus. Whenever we've taken one in other cities, we often ride it around the whole loop to see all the sites, then decide which places we actually want to visit. You might want to take a regular sightseeing bus tour (Grayline or similar) which would zip you thru the Louvre. Be sure to take photos of EM Pei's pyramid in the courtyard.

As you walk down from the Louvre (either thru the park or on the side of the street under the "Arcades" so you can see all the shops), towards the Champs d'Elysees, you'll come to Place de la Concorde. In the right hand corner, across the street from the Hotel Crillon (pop in and see how the other half lives), is the American Embassy. Kind of catty corner, in front of the Embassy/Crillon is a statue. This was actually the spot of one of the guillotines during the revolution.

Marais: Considered the Jewish quarter. Victor Hugo's house/museum overlooks the square.

Champs d'Elysees. Near-by is the Presidential palace (Palais d'Elysees), within walking distance of American Embassy on Faubourg St. Honore. This is the street with a lot of designer shops.

At the end of the Champs is the Arc de Triomphe, also referred to as Etoile (Star). There's a pedestrian tunnel to take to get to the center (you don't go thru the traffic). Tomb of Unknown Soldier. Take elevator to top for great views.

Eiffel Tower. Best view is from platform at Trocadero (site of 2 museums). Down the street from the Arc.

Good book to buy: Michelin Green guide. Has suggested walking tours, museum hours, etc. Might find one at the library. Copy pertinent pages so you don't have to take the whole thing.

Paris is a city for walking so check out walking tours on the web. While we've never done an organized walking tour (since we lived there!), one website I found is http://www.paris-walks.com/.

Versailles: If you have time, take the train to Versailles for the royal palace tour. The line will be VERY long if you don’t do this by a bus tour from Paris. I actually suggest a bus tour as you'd forego the long lines waiting for tickets.

You might also want to consider a tour that takes you to Giverny (Monet's home/gardens). The gardens won't be so great in October, but then again, the crowds will be less. If you have free time after the tour, walk up the street (as you face the house, go to your right), and the little church on your right is the burial place of the Monet family.

And you might find a day's tour to Loire Valley, but this is probably too much.

Check out Viatours. They offer some small group tours.

Passez un beau temps!!

This probably won't work for you, but for others who see Bordeaux on thread, just wanted to post that Viatours has several day trips to either St. Emilion or Medoc wine growing area (one tour will combine the 2 with a picnic lunch), Arcachon dunes and oyster tasting and other surrounding areas.

We're doing a Vantage Seine river cruise next August. Since they don't offer the Bordeaux pre-trip for our date, we're going to fly into Paris early, spend a night at a hotel near Gare Montparnese (in order to leave majority of our luggage), take the TGV (fast train) to Bordeaux for probably 3-4 nites, then back to Paris for a nite (to get our luggage) and then go to wherever our ship leaves. I might add that we speak French (altho' I haven't really spoken it in a couple of years).

Bon voyage!!

Having lived in France and visited many times:

Musee Rodin (and it's gardens), which is very close to Les Invalides (Napoleon's tomb). Picasso (hopefully reopened now). Victor Hugo's house at Place des Voges (Marais).

The rest of your ideas sound great. Good luck on fitting everything in. If not, just go back!!!

We lived in HK in the late 70s and visited again in '96. Have been to Macau several times in the 70s and for a nite in '96.

After our Uniworld China river cruise in May 2015, we will stay in Hong Kong an xtra night, then (leaving most of our luggage at the HK hotel) will take the jet foil to Macau for a nite (followed by 2 more nites in HK).

Viatours and other companies offer a 1-day trip from HK to Macau. Unfortunately, I haven't had much luck finding a guide/sightseeing company for sightseeing just in Macau. Any suggestions? Please email me direct as I don't check CC very often: cyr13408@yahoo.com.

Thanks.

Give me a break -- Jeans are worn by MANY Europeans! Albeit with a nice blouse/blazer perhaps. Personally I have to wear "sneakers" as I have bad feet and feeling good trumps looking pretty. Wear black sneakers and you'll fit right in.

Bank of America ATM: You'll get the best rate by using an ATM card. We use our BOA ATM regularly, associated with BNP (France), Deutsche Bank (good in Germany/Austria/Italy), Barclays (UK). Some years ago when we checked in Rome about cashing $$ into Euro, an exchange place wanted 17% (that's not a typo). The rate at the bank (we found Deutsche bank all over) was 1%. BOA used to charge an additional $5 per transaction if you used a bank that wasn't in their network. Check with your bank. Always advise your bank (the # is on the back of your ATM card) of your travel plans before you leave so the card won't be blocked. This should be done for all your credit cards in any event.

BOA Trip Rewards visa, CapOne visa have no foreign transaction fees. Luckily, I have a true chip/pin visa card from State Dept. Fed CU.

We use a money belt when travelling. Got a really nice soft one from AAA and it goes under my shirt. Since most hotels/ships have safes, you only need to carry a photo copy of the front page of your passport + some cash for taxis/transportation. We only carry 2 credit cards with us. The visa card and perhaps a Master card in the event Visa isn't accepted.

Watch for pickpockets any place you go.

We like to have a drink at a cafe so need cash, but with the chip/pin card or even regular visa card, no problem with charging usually, not in major European cities. While we now have that chip/pin card, we've never had to use it before as we always got metro tickets from a manned booth, but they're becoming more and more difficult to find.

As I understand from those who were on the cruise with us, US and Canadians had to pay in full within the same month as the deposit (altho' we got an exception after complaining to HQ). Yet Brits and Aussies don't so availability of cabins for serious folks is certainly NOT a factor!!!

And 3% from a $8,000 pp trip is a whole $240 so not much of a discount in my book!

Many of the itineraries are similar. As stated previously in other parts of river cruising posts, there may be differences in price depending on the company. Grand Circle is less expensive but their accommodations cannot be compared to Uniworld, Avalon or Viking. Uniworld certainly includes almost everything -- we've been on 4 of their cruises and would use them again in a heartbeat.

That being said, we're thinking about a Vantage cruise for 2015 (2 of their cruises being combined into 1) as we weren't happy with Uniworld's cabin choices for a similar trip.

Uniworld (and Avalon) gives a hefty discount if you pay in full. If you book thru -------, you get an additional discount for Uniworld/Viking, and if you've traveled with Trafalgar/Grand European Tour, you might also get a discount; Avalon/Globus are partners. We've also booked thru ----------------- and you get another discount! You simply have to shop around.

We're very dissatisfied with Viking's payment policy -- no discount if you pay ahead. I'd haggle with them as they usually want full payment by the end of the month in which you make your initial deposit (for US clients). After much to-ing and fro-ing, we didn't have to make final payment 'til about 5 months before trip. For this reason, we probably wouldn't use Viking again -- but if the itinerary is right...

We always arrive at the beginning city at least 1-2 nites beforehand. If you've not been in Europe before, you might want to take the ship's pre-post extensions, but we lived in Europe for 16 yrs. so we always do our own, using booking.com for hotels. If a cruise line is using a certain hotel, i.e., Hilton, I'll make reservations thru that hotel's website as we earn points for various chains: Hilton; Sheraton; etc. And we often stay at the end city for 1-2 nites as we often continue on for other visits.

If you want to contact me separately, feel free to do so as I don't regularly check CC: cyr13408@yahoo.com.

You'll see ruins of castles all along the Rhine.

If you want to visit the inside of castles, besides Versailles, you should go to France's Loire Valley, which is about 1 hr. south of Paris. Travel to Orleans to visit Blois, Chambord, Chennenceaux, Amboise. You'll need at least an overnight. Check on tours from Paris. If you go to France, you MUST stay in Paris for at least 3 nights -- there's just soooo much to see and do.

Whichever city you go to, check the hop on/off bus.

Check out weather.com for averages. Can be very changeable. We did Basel-Amsterdam last May and had to use blankets on top deck some days, and other days we sat in T-shirts. Be prepared to layer. You don't have to dress up at night but you'll want a jacket or something to go over your back just in case. Especially if you're from FL like us! We also had to contend with a lot of rain. Luck of the draw.

April/May is white asparagus season for Europe so if you like 'em, eat your fill as they're yummy!

I called the Turkish Embassy in DC. Turns out if you arrive by ship, visa NOT required (at this time!). This includes if you spend a night on the ship and leave the next day. We are staying at a hotel the night we arrive and leave the following morning. Visa clerk wasn't sure, but we'll take our chance at the airport and say we overnighted on the ship! If we "get caught" so be it, we'll pay the US$30 each.

I'm registered on the Department of State's travel alerts for certain upcoming port visits. Here's the latest info for Turkish visas:

Embassy of the United States of America

Ankara, Turkey

February 20, 2014

Message for U.S. Citizens

Transition Period: Turkish Airport Visas

Revised Information and Fee Increase

This supersedes the Message for U.S. Citizens sent on January 16, 2014 regarding visas on arrival in Turkey.

Beginning April 11, 2014, the Turkish authorities will start to phase out the practice of providing visas upon arrival at points of entry in Turkey. Once this program is phased out, all foreigners will have to obtain their Turkish visas from Turkish missions aboard or from the e-visa application system, depending on eligibility.

For a transitional period during the 2014 tourism season, before the program is phased out, foreigners arriving in Turkey without visas will be able to obtain e-visas via interactive kiosks at Turkish airports. The fee for an e-visa upon arrival for Americans is US$30.00. The fee for e-visas obtained prior to arrival in Turkey is US$20.

PLEASE NOTE: The e-visa system is only usable for travelers entering Turkey for tourism or commerce. For any other purpose of travel, the applicant must obtain a Turkish visa in advance from a Turkish diplomatic or consular post. Information regarding Turkish e-visas and the application process can be found at: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/

Contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Turkey:

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara is located at 110 Ataturk Boulevard, tel: (90)(312) 455-5555, fax (90)(312) 468-6131. The Internet address is http://ankara.usembassy.gov.

The U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul is located at Uçsehitler Sokagi No. 2, 34460, Istinye, Sariyer, tel: (90) (212) 335-9000, fax (90) (212) 335-9102. Istanbul-specific information can also be accessed via the Consulate's web site at http://istanbul.usconsulate.gov/.

The U.S. Consulate in Adana is located at Girne Bulvari No. 212, Guzelevler Mahallesi, Yuregir, Adana, Turkey. tel: (90)(322) 346-6262, fax (90)(322) 346-7916, web site: http://adana.usconsulate.gov.

The Consular Agency in Izmir can be reached at tel: (90) (232) 464-8755, fax (90) (232) 464-8916.

We're doing this cruise, using a big credit from last May's Berlin-Prague cruise that was curtailed due to flood waters. Frankly we would have used Uniworld for the Portugal trip otherwise as we were disappointed in Viking overall altho' I must admit they did an excellent job of substituting places/transport due to the flooding.

Made reservations several months ago at Tivoli thru http://www.booking.com for 2 nites for total cost of $478 for the 2 nites which includes breakfasts (always look for free cancellation, just in case!). I'm sure Viking will charge a lot more.

Since Viking seems to just dump us back in Porto, we'll probably take the train back to Lisbon -- staying at the Tivoli for that night before flying back home.

As we travel, from time to time, I always check our credit card bills on line from time to time to be sure no unauthorized charges are made. Usually only take BOA's Trip Rewards Visa and Cap One Visa cards with us as there's no foreign transaction fees, plus the BOA visa card has a chip embedded in it. I understand Cap One has that feature now so must check on that. I believe most other cards (other types of Visa cards, Master, AmEx) have 3% foreign transaction fees. That adds up!

Yikes, already booked on the LA-Papeete cruise and have discovered that Dec is one of the wetest months altho' it's great weather for the 4 Hawaiian islands. Did anyone go on the 2013 cruise (assuming there was one). Comments re your weather would be appreciated, realizing no one knows for sure what a year will bring!

Additionally, besides informing credit card companies of your itinerary, be sure to let your bank ATM folks know about your travel plans, at least if you expect to use an ATM in whichever country.

Keep seeing this abbreviation. What is it?

Will be on Regent cruise which leaves LA Nov 19, 2014: 4 Hawaiian islands (Nov. 25-28), then eventually Nuku Hiva, Fakarava, Bora Bora, and Papeete (12/3-7). Now I understand Dec is one of the months with heavier rain. Is it best to find another cruise during better months?

Additionally, we're thinking of spending 2-3 nights in Moorea. Is it best to stay 1 night in Papeete when we arrive (mainly to leave majority of our luggage at that hotel - Intercon or similar ?), take the ferry to Moorea for 2-3 nights (Hilton or similar ?), then ferry back to Papeete for 2-3 nites -- or a different combo of the extra time.

All suggestions appreciated. Please note hubby and I will be 70/80 respectively but quite mobile (so far!!).