Ok, here it goes!

1. Do i need tennis shoes or hiking shoes for hikes provided like trails of the ancient or to hike to belvedere lookout?

2. Should I bring a rain poncho or extra umbrella?

3. Do I need an adapter to plug in my camera/ ipod or cell phone or are they the standard jack?

4. Can someone go into more detail about the BB lagoonarium? IS this like a zoo where the animals are all in a tank and you get in or is it more out in the open? If its the first I may feel sad for the trapped animals??

5. did anyone experience car sickness on the 4x4 excursions? I usually get car sick in the back seat, but not sure about an open jeep.

6. Will I have any need for sweats for the evening to lounge in or is it too hot?

Ok, that should do it for now, Im sure I will come up with more and do HOPE you guys don't mind!!

Big Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

mshieny, I say all you need is tennis shoes. I can't imagine hiking to the top of Belvedere, we rode a scooter and it took quite a while to get to the top!

You shouldn't get motion sickness in the jeeps, I can't sit in the back seat of a car either and I was fine.

I can't remember if you needed adapters for the outlets :(

I would bring a pair of comfy shorts to lounge in the evening. Especially if you have a balcony and plan on sitting on it at night!

I always carry one of those tiny fold-up umbrellas in my excursion bag.

Karen, thanks so much for putting the picture on for me!!! You are so kind!

The Lagoonarium is a lagoon, so it's saltwater, but it is fenced so that you can swim with sharks, rays and fish in somewhat shallow waters. I did not find it cruel at all.

As to adapters, there are standard US plugs in the room. I brought a 6 strip surge outlet so that I could plug in my camera's battery charger, cell phone charger (I do have to call home everyday and T Mobile works there on the VINI network - the cellphone company of FP)and my hairdryer at the vanity. Was very happy to have that.

Also, a staple LCT favorite for travel is the clear plastic over the door shoe bags. The closet in the standard room is more of a cabinet. I was very glad to use that for shoes and accessories. They travel flat, you leave them behind on the way home.

Melissa, it's a great picture!

Melissa, everyone has their favorite excursions for this itinerary! I think my very favorite was the wave runner excursion in Bora Bora, followed by the 4x4 on the same island the next day. Very bumpy ride, but you look young and ready! Great views. In the afternoons, we would go to the motu on BB. On Moorea, I would say the Aito ATV excursion comes closest to describing (on cc) the one I took pre-cruise that had the waterfall hike, but no such hike on this one. Over the years, I have heard comments both good and bad on the ancients hike. It is long, and involves no "cooling" off in water. My twenty somethings did some sort of excursion on Moorea that involved feeding sharks and rays and snorkeling that they really loved. Highlight of what the ship offers is the moto day at taha'a.

Something I just saw in Bermuda this fall is the "noodle" floats. Seems like they could fit in a big suitcase without too much trouble, and they are run. Best of all, no blowing them up like a float.

Your avatar picture looks great!

mshieny, a disclaimer: I have not done the Lagoonarium. But, I did do an excursion with a marine biologist who ranted about it. Significant coral was damaged in making it, and animals apparently die quite routinely and are replaced. I'm sure they are treated very well, but it is definitely a zoo, and not a very environmentally sensitive one. (Sorry to all who loved it, but that's what I was told.)

Hi Melissa,

Tennis shoes were fine for us on Trails of the Ancients. Actually, Mark Eddowes wore flip flops! Not recommended for us regular people.

I'd just take rain ponchos. Ours (never used but they've been to lots of places!) are small enough to fit in sandwich-sized ziplock baggies. I remember seeing some umbrellas for passengers to use. But, I don't know if they had enough for everyone.

It depends on which 4x4 tour you are on, maybe. The Bora Bora one we did was quite a roller coaster ride! Lots of fun. Fortunately, I was in the front seat facing forward. The seats in the back are side facing. There are canopies that cover it in case of rain, I guess. We had someone on our ride who didn't want the canopy rolled up. She wanted sun protection. So, it's not always the case that the jeeps are totally open. I wore my Relief Band just to be sure I didn't get sick. If you aren't familiar with them, check them out. I love it!

Have a wonderful cruise!

As far as the original questions are concerned, "yes" to #1 and "I don't know" to #4, but the rest are "no." As far as unbrellas are concerned, you should find two in your suite closet. In addition, these are furnished at the exit point from the ship, when appropriate.

You certainly will not need "sweats" as it's way too WARM for them in the deep topics where you're going. But you will need plenty of shorts, polo shirts, "T" shirts and the like. Also, we found an extension cord helpful, as the suites on the PG (below the really BIG suites) don't have enough outlets for all the chargers we carry these days. And the strongest insect repellant you can find. This problem comes and goes, so you never know.

If your digital camera has a cord that plugs into the camera and goes to the "A/V" jacks on TV sets, the sets DO have A/V inputs on the back of them. This allows you to view your own pics of paradise on your TV in your suite.


Thanks,
Richard

Richard is right, there are umbrellas in your room but they are the giant regulation size umbrellas, not easy to tote around with you.

We wore hiking sandals on trails of the ancients. THey strap on a little better than flip flops. The bus takes you up to Belvedere and you walk down. Easy walk, not too fast, not a smooth, raked surface but a path thru a wooded area complete with tree roots and branches.

It did not rain while we were there (june).

If I remember there were outlets for both American And European appliances in the cabin.

My husband got sick in EVERY SINGLE 4 X 4 even when he rode in the front with the driver. After 2 disasters we cancelled the rest of them. He gets car sick if he tries to read while I drive but he can read in a plane.

I did not need sweats but I do have a pair of work out pants made from t-shirt material instead of fleece. They would be good for when Ted wants the AC cooler than I do.

Hope this helps. Enjoy the trip and report back.

About the umbrellas - they are supplied by the boat as mentioned above. However, we never used them. As Karen said, they are a bit bulky to lug around, and we spent so much time getting wet anyway that we didn't really mind getting rained on a couple of times.

We never felt cold on the trip, except possibly at Dinner or one of the shows where the AC was pumped up too high.

They are just about the size of a "golf" umbrella, and do not fold up/telescope to purse size.

The only time we used the golf-type umbrellas was when we got trapped in the Grill by a major downpour as we were having dinner there! It was really pouring and there is no way to leave the Grill except by going outdoors. The Grill staff got a bunch of the umbrellas and we were glad to have use of them if only for walking to the other side of the pool where you can go inside and get to the stairs. Otherwise, when we were on shore, we either waited out a cloudburst under cover, or didn't mind getting wet if more of a drizzle. The provided umbrellas are too big, in my opinion, to carry around off the ship.

Dena

Speaking of the Grill, Dena, can you give your thoughts to Melissa about this dining venue? I
never went there. I didn't think it was attractive (an area sort of behind the pool grill), and they had these clear plastic curtains to pull down for rain or wind, no real "on the deck" atmosphere things as I remember.

Melissa, you might find water shoes very useful. I brought two pairs of Tevas last time we were on the PG and used them in and out of the water.

I think I bought mine at Walmart for all of us at $5 per pair. Your choice. We used them ONLY in the water. On last cruise, I bought rubber soled sandals at $20 for our rafting trip so my sneakers would not get wet!

Hmmmm, I was planning on wearing flip flops a bunch. Is this not a good idea? Not in the water, but walking around on board, or at the ports?

Flip flops are great for EVERYTHING other than the times underwater where you might need them to say on your feet, an you run into rocks or that coral that might cause stinging. Of course, for serious hikes you would bring something else. You already know that. I was only talking about water shoes, which is a strange concept to me, since I live on the water and never wear them! That's why I did not want to invest in expensive ones, ergo my Walmart trek.

We also bought cheap water shoes (on line from a couple of aquatic sites, since we refuse to set foot, aquatic or otherwise, into a WalMart - destroyer of small town businesses) which we used on the cruise and then just left on board. I also had Teva's but did not wear them in the water, since they would not protect my feet from coral cuts and tend to slip a bit in water. I did wear them on board and on land. Better than regular flip-flops for moderate hiking.

If you have any problems with vertigo or similar phobias regarding elevation, proximity to cliffs, hyper-testosteroned guides driving jeeps on the very edge of reason (we found that to be the most fun part of the tour but that may just be us, since our driver looked like a young Tom Cruise with very cool Polynesian tattoos on his shoulder and thigh...), you should decline the more radical 4X4 trips. They are not for the faint of heart.

We always left the umbrellas in the cabin, determined that if it rained, we would just get wet and would thereafter dry quickly, since we were only wearing t-shirts and cargo shorts.

Cheers, Fred

I brought two pairs of these (they come in many colors!) Target has them and so do some sporting goods stores (Big 5 has them) You can wear them swimming or on the beach and they are very comfortable, like a pair of slippers. They take a day to dry so two pair are a good idea!

Flip flops are fine, Melissa. I just meant for being in the water you'll want something protective. I took two pair so that I always something dry to put on.

Thanks, you guys are so helpful!!

Melissa,
Hi there and welcome. We are just back (18 hours or so) from 18 days on the PG. I will try to give you more info as soon as i unpack these 3 giant suitcases of dirty clothes!! I wear alot of flip flops, i just like open toed anything!! I brought some gym shoes for working out, and was really glad i had them for the 4x4 in Moorea, as there is some hiking. It was great!! Can't imagine being car sick on that, but we are not prone to that, good thing as we had some really rough seas. I will get a review together as soon as we get adjusted. It was a great trip!!! You will love it. Mostly the crew. They were just fabulous.
Cindy

Welcome home Cindy! I can't wait to hear all about your trip. We sure have missed you!!

Thank you Karen, I have missed you all too, i think I even have David "interested", as some mornings he said "do you want me to check that luxury thing for you???". I got a real kick out of it. I am really glad to be home, but when serving up the wine tonight, we just sort of looked at each other with a sad look...........we miss it already! So glad to talk to you though!!! Planning something in 07!!! yeah! Have to book in the next 8 days or so. Need to talk to Ngaire soon...........
Cindy

Cindy: Missed you! Book June 2007 Norway - Joanna

Joanna, looking at it right this minute............sounds great !! Welcome home to you too!!
Cindy

I have never been a real advocate of "Le Grill." I am not fond of humidity and love my air conditioning, but over Christmas another couple asked us to join them up on deck so we did. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. The grilled seafood and steaks as well as service were great. However, I personally would not recommend it while in port. I would recommend booking a night after you are sailing so that you can get a breeze. The atmosphere in my opinion is much nicer in the main dining room, but "Le Grill" is a nice casual atmosphere, more like a BBQ.

Welcome home Cindy, I cant wait to read your trip report!!!

Welcome home Cindy and David!! Anxious to hear all about your PG cruise!!! :banana:

Cindy & David, welcome home! We really enjoyed reading your posts while you were on the PG. Looking forward to reading your review when you finish up all that laundry! :) - Michele