I had lasik done monovision three years ago and it is still wonderful. I had done monovision first in contacts, then glasses. The glasses took 3 days for full adjustment. I felt a bit drunk for awhile. The contact adjustment took 24 hours. The lasik was immediate.

The only drawback is when I lie on my left side,I can't watch TV as my right eye is only for reading! It is great not having multiple glasses

Cyndi, I too have been thinking about getting disposable contacts to snorkel with, so I'll be interested to hear any responses to your questions.

But with that route, I still have the "up close" problem, unless I go with bifocal contacts. And since I've never worn contacts before, and probably don't want to start to wear them generally, I suspect this would not be an option.

For me, since my sight is not overall that bad, the best compromise may just be no glasses.

"Tahaa and Raiatea correctly"

I beleive I heard when we were on the PG you pronounce every letter.....
TA HA A is the way to say Tahaa... I think.

Sorry so late with this. The 4 x 4 trips that we took were REALLY bumpy, if I had a back problem, I would not do them. (just my opinion)

Bob

Thanks Bob!
Wendy, I wear disposable's, not bifocal though. I go under water, snorkel, etc. no problem.
Hey Suzanne, WEAR the bikini!!! I think we should all make a pact to wear what we darn well please and make no apologies :banana: If we were men, that's what we would do (no offense to the men) ;)

Bob, yes, that's the right way to say Taha'a.

And Raiatea is something like:

Rah-ee-a-tay-ah

And Moorea: Mo-oh-ray-ah

And Papeete is: Papa-ay-tay

Bora Bora is interesting--they kind of soften the "r" a bit, so it comes out kind of like a spanish r, not the rolled one, but the soft one. Pretty difficult distinction for my ear.

Go for it Suzanne :cool:

For what it may be worth (to me, a lot; to you, ?), Marsha gave me a prescription mask for Christmas in 2003 (before our last trip to FP). Since I'm a SCUBA diver, am just short of not recognizing myself in the mirror without my glasses (bifocals), and was going to be diving just about every day for two weeks in the tropics, it seemed a wonderful gift.

It was. I saw everything clearly, near and far (thanks to the bifocal lenses in the mask). The one thing I was quite glad of was that I'd spent time looking at multiple mask designs and going for one that made the bifocal approach usable.

That's my testimony to prescription diving masks. Your mileage may vary!

george

Thanks George. I'm sure a prescription bifocal mask would be great, but I'm just a snorkeller, and only get to snorkel every few years for a week or so--not a diver. So, I don't think it's worth it to me. But it sounds great!

Wendy - Another option, depending upon your prescription, is to get a mask with one of the "set" corrections in the lens for each eye. I am nearsighted and that works very well. The dive shops have lenses for every .25 correction. At the suggestion of my opthalmologist, I just went for the correction just above my prescribed one for each eye. This is much, much cheaper than having lenses ground to a prescription and works well unless you have major astigmatism, too. (I have some of that; but the stock corrective lenses work fine, since I, like you, only use this mask every few years.) Cheers, Fred

Suzanne,

Believe me when we say go ahead and wear the bikini. I'd rather have all eyes on you then on me in my one piece with pareo on top!

Kimmi, you are on to something!!!! You're my kind of thinker!!!!!

For the visually challenged:

Well, I will tell you that I am eyeglass city. I have bifocal glasses for everything vision, when I am not wearing contacts. I have a special pair for computer work. I have an all distance pair with some clip on sunglasses. I generally wear my disposable contacts for regular distance but I do need readers over them to work and read. I often make people (especially my assistant) hysterical, because I will have a pair hooked on my shirt collar and sometimes two, and one on top of my head like a hairband. The readers are all over the office and I have pairs all over the house and the car.

Anyway, I am going to get the rx mask at the dive store. Even if I don't use the mask for several years again, I don't anticipate being in Tahiti or elsewhere to snorkel for a while. If you are spending $5,000 for a week (give or take), I'd rather spend an extra $100 to have a really great experience than miss it. My disposable contacts are $75. for 6 lenses. Other brands are about $35.00 at Costco for 6 - depends on your RX. Since the lasik, my vision in my two eyes is too far apart to be without one form of correction or another. If you have an astigmatism be careful with lasik. If you are over 40, you will need reading glasses if you get full correction for distance. I had the same thing with my old Gas Perms. The disposables are very comfy. If I had worn them before I had the lasik, which they said I couldn't do, then I'd have never had the lasik.
I am one of the lucky ones who is 100% correctable and no side effects post lasik. Some people cannot have correction to 20/20 post lasik if they did not get a good result.

Wow! A wealth of information here from all of you!!! I'm impressed. Now I'm going to sit down and digest it all and MAYBE make a decision about what to do :D :D

fyi, susan walsh our T/A pointed out to me the new excursions on the PG (See Wendy's earlier post)..decided to sign up for the Jungle hike to waterfalls (see below)..upside is it is an excursion we both can do together (earns brownie points with ida) downside is now will do only nine dives versus ten...will report back on how it goes..r/wes

Jungle Hike up to the Waterfalls

Tour code: RAI6881.
Duration: 4 Hours.
Difficult Walking.


A 15-minute transfer by minivan will take you over to the Hamoa valley, from where you depart for this refreshing hike to the waterfalls of Raiatea, on the eastern coast of the island.
Follow your guide an experienced botanist on the path running next to the Hamoa river, up to the numerous waterfalls at the bottom of the valley. All along the way, learn about the rich tropical flora of Raiatea. You will discover numerous flower & fern species, among them the mape (local chestnut tree) and the very useful purau (wild hibiscus)

It will take you about 1½ hour to reach the first cascade and another 20 minutes to reach the second one, making your way through lush vegetation, slippery rocks and entangled roots. There are ropes to hang onto at the most steep passages. The reward for your efforts is the pleasure to have a bath into a beautiful natural basin of clear and cool water!

Please note: Availability of this tour is subject to good weather conditions. This is an extremely strenuous and very physically challenging hike that involved scaling rock formations with the use of permanently attached ropes. This tour is for trained hikers who love to and are physically able to hike for 3 hours (2 hours uphill and 1 hour downhill), with an elevation gain of 600ft / 200m. Plastic sandals or trail shoes with anti-skid sole are the best footwear as the trail is very slippery. Wear your swimsuit and bring insect repellent. There is no restroom stop on this tour.

Col Wes, Is there a way to look at all the excursions if you are not going to be on a cruise within the 2 months prior? I thought Marc had a post, but I can't find it. Boy you and Ida are really going to be busy diving!! Thanks, Mounds

Mounds, I found a PDF file that's downloadable here:

http://www.rssc.com/specials/detail.jsp?offerId=230939

If you click on the link that says, "Tahiti Tours", you can download a PDF which has everything in it.

But I don't see the new excursions there, at least not the hiking trip on Raiatea. (Which is much too strenuous for me, by the way. I used to be a serious hiker, but that hike looks too much for me, especially in the heat.)

Wendy, I could be wrong but I think the hike is listed on our trip. I just went to our date and the itenarary and clicked on the port and the excursions popped up. Or, are you talking about something else?

Wendy, Thanks so much for the PDF file info. I had no idea it was there. I had been looking all over the Radisson site for something like that. Yeah!!!

Wes, the hiking trip on Raiatea sounds like a wonderful time. But I'm afraid I have to agree with Wendy about it being too strenuous for me (I'm a wimp, don't forget :D ). But I can't wait to hear all about it from your first hand experience. Aren't you getting very, very, very excited? Your time is almost here!!!!!!!!!

We made some tentative decisions on our excursions. We have decided for the more sedate versions. We'll live vicariously thru all of the more adventuresome PIPSTERS.

Raiatea - Island Tour #RAI3568
Tahaa - Motu Mahana, OF COURSE!!!!
Bora Bora - 1st day - Motu and play the rest by ear
Bora Bora - 2nd day - Shark & Ray Feeding Snorkeling Tour #BRB1606
Moorea - 1st day - Island Drive & Belvedere #MOO1794
Moorea - 2nd day - Dolphin Watching Expedition #MOO1798

Of course, we reserve the right to change our minds :D :D

Sounds perfect, Cyndi. No decisions here yet. My husband David doesn't like to think about these things until a little closer. When the date approaches where we can choose on-line, then I will barrrage him with suggestions. I'm thinking of parasailing on Moorea on one of the weeks. And I think I want to do the shark and ray feeding again! So maybe I'll be out there with you!

Wendy, I'd love to share the shark and ray feeding with you guys! Hope it works out that way. I understand what you mean about David - I've been bombarding Tom with question, after question to get a feel for what he'd like. I think he's just been saying "That sounds nice" to get me to shut up <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> . But SOMEONE has to worry about all of this :D He always lets me plan the entire vacations we go on and he's usually happy with it.

Wendy - I have worn progressive lenses for more than 15 years (no visible line but sort of like trifocals). But my prescription lenses in my snorkeling mask correct just for distance. Since George is a diver I'm sure he needs to be able to read gauges etc. But for just snorkeling the distance correction alone works fine for me.

Thanks Kathy, that's good advice! You've reminded me to make an appointment to have my eyes checked!

Kathy, I was just wondering yesterday if I would really need to see close up for snorkeling. Thanks for the input.

all PipSTERs, fyi

for our PG cruise, I signed up online the day all the excursions were available
4 Jan….then when I saw Susan Walsh's post on the new excursions (e.g. jungle hike (decided to give up one dive, so Ida and I could do this one together)

After I signed up I got an email confirmation for this excursion…and it got me thinking
I did not receive any confirmation on the 4 Jan excursions…

I called RSSC, they just said redo them and the new requests will supercede any excursion requests before them..


I Did that last night and got most of the excursions I wanted..unfortunately, the

Dolphin watching expedition was sold out during the first week..and we are renting a car in Moorea the second week with LCTr's Kim and Hans..hopefully, I can sign up when I am on the PG during the first week.

The lesson learned for PIPSTERs is when you sign up online, make sure they you get an email confirmation….I would not have been happy, if I boarded the PG, and after spending 30 min on 4 Jan to sign up for excursions, I was not signed up.

Happy excursion planning & booking.

r/wes

Wow, what a drag, and thanks for the heads-up. This online thing is a mixed blessing, isn't it? Sorry about the Dr. Poole trip, hope you get a cancellation on the ship.

Don't know why RSSC can't get their web act together! I updated our guest info forms a while ago, and only some of the info that I put in there "took", so I have to fax a bunch of changes.

Now that I think of it, I wonder if doing the excursion booking by FAX would be more reliable? It worked last summer for our Diamond trip. I wonder if the FAX forms will be available about the same time frame?

Wendy, the difference is timing..with the web online booking for excursions--you are suppose to get availability 60 days out...with the fax form (comes in your cruise docs package) you get this about 27-30 days out..so by booking online
you get about 30 days preference...that is, if it works...good luck..r/wes

Good to know, Wes. Thanks.

Wes - I hope this will work out for you. When we went last year we prebooked Dr. Poole's excursion and were on a very full boat but did not see a single dolphin or whale (it was whale season then). Because the excursion had sold out and they had several more passengers that wanted to do the trip they opened up a second Dr. Poole trip the next morning. That much smaller group of passengers were treated to sightings of several animals. Knowing you though, you may already have something else planned for that following morning.

Thanks Kathy, yes, diving at Shark Gallery, but if they offer a second expedition during week one, I may forgo shark gallery since I am doing it again the following Friday..r/wes

caveat: Any "confirmation" I have received from booking "on-line" has specifically said that this is merely a "request", as I think the fax forms do as well. All the more reason to do one or the other before boarding. That being said, I have never been shut out of any excursion I booked with either of these methods. However, I did get shut out on PG for on-board booking, when that was the only available method, because I took my time getting to the desk after boarding! In the end, it all worked out and we got what we wanted, just not all at the same time.

Wes, thanks for the info on the booking. It will help us to know to watch for the confirmations. I sure hope you can get the Dolphin excursion booked once you get there. Do you think you could keep trying to book online even now, in case there might be a cancelation - it couldn't hurt.

I need some expert help.

Relooking at Beachcomber reservations. Now that we are in penalty period on cruise, looking at changing to nonrefundable hotel. The difference between "breakfast included" and non-breakfast rate is $50 USD per day. Anyone know what the breakfast costs? If we get breakfast included, does that include the canoe delivered breakfast to OWB?

Any recommendations?

thanks,

Sheri will be the expert in the OWB as this will be her third time in one at the Beachcomber. Hopefully she'll jump in here...

I seem to recall from Todd's review of his time at Le Meridien that breakfast purchased separately was a fortune, so to get it included (for a smaller fortune).

I did find this on the Beachcomber's website:

"It's star product for those staying in an Overwater Bungalow has got to be the Outrigger Canoe Breakfast. It appears as if by magic from across the lagoon and delivered straight to your terrace by a smiling island vahine. The most romantic breakfast ever! Book the night before."

I would assume ( :rolleyes: ) that if you had breakfast included all you needed to do was to tell them the night before that you want it delivered...

Sheri, set us all straight!

Marc, not sure what you mean by a non-refundable hotel. Are you looking at different hotels? $50 for two breakfasts does not seem out of line for Tahiti. I can't lay my hands on any hotel restaurant rates right now, lost all my bookmarks yesterday, but I'm betting at least $20 for a continental breakfast would not be unheard of. Don't know about the canoe breakfast, sorry. Probably Ngaire knows what's included in your package.

Wendy,

I think Marc is booking on his own, not through RSSC. The Intercontinental's website has a number of different rate types (30 day advance purchase, 30 day advance w/breakfast, flexible rate etc.) Some of them have penalties that apply if you cancel...

Ah, okay, I understand. Marc, good luck! There's always the Radisson, but no OWB there.

Thanks Suzanne and Wendy! If $20 pp is probably min, I will just inlcude in hotel. My current rate is 37232 XPF for AAA rate. As Suzanne found, I can get 30 day adv purchase with breakfast for that same 32732 XPF rate. Since VAT on meals is about same as total tax on room, doesn't seem like there is any advantage to paying separately for breakfast.

I'll go head over to the Air France Flyertalk board where Sheri has been lurking... :D

...and see if she has anything to add.

Again, thanks,

Hey, cool that you have that flight/cabin attendant looking after you!

If she can request your AF flight, she may be able to help you and Arlene "switch" to more forward seats... ;)

If Tahiti Meridien breakfast prices are anything like the Moorea Beachcomber, they are over the top, like $45, or so as I remember, and that is not for canoe delivery, just the rather mediocre buffet of standard fare (yes, included are omelettes, but forget about Eggs Benedict) Fortunately, our breakfasts in Moorea were included in our Pre-cruise price through Radisson. Much less than now, because the FP exchange is tied to the Euro. However, canoe was separate and extra, and would have cost another $47 as I remember. I saw that Buffet at the Tahiti Meridien when we got off the ship and checked into the hotel. Lots of flies, and birds waiting at the gate (it is open air). It was not much, believe me. The way I see it, just find something you can tolerate and don't make it a dining "experience". This is part of the reason I recommend a pre-cruise over a post-cruise. Anything is going to be a step down from the PG.

Well, I solved it for us. I just called Beachcomber reservations. There are no flights on Wed to FP, so we are going in on Tues. I booked an OWB originally for 3 nights and called to add a night. I originally booked a refundable with breakfast rate of $533 US per night. New Rate same room i $409. but I had to prepay for the first night non-refundable. There are two kinds of OWB's - regular with sitting area and Jr. Suite. The Jr Suite would be $533 at the non-refundable prepaid rate with breakfast included

Kathy, they maid me pay for both nights to get that rate. Oh well, we save $100 and won't have to worry about a large Amex bill when we return.

Olivia, thanks for the info. I think we will try to get out of Papeete as cheaply as possible. We have pre-paid hotel with breakfast now. We won't plan on anything fancy for either dinner. We'll wait for the PG to be dazzled.

Olivia,

Good info for me. I don't like breakfast in general and NEVER eat it except on RSSC.

Sheri and I are in the Junior OWB suite. I am happy to save another $40 and walk into breakfast.