Me too Kathy!!

Congratulations, Priscilla, on your 1004 posts!
Good that you were able to find the Cousteau information on the website.

It just would make more sense to fill the sea days with interesting and informative lectures. With the first segment so port intensive, I wonder how lectures are integrated into port days and excursion times. I, personally, wouldn't want to and will not cut short time spent touring if it becomes a matter of choosing one over another.

We got lots of first-hand negotiating opportunities in Greece and Turkey. Now, we're ready for the souks!

Your excursions sound like lots of fun, Michele. Too many decisions and such limited time at each port!

Betty, You will see the infamous Goats In Trees on the Touradant excursion. Our guide did not want to stop of for a photo op, but we insisted. I also enjoyed seeing the Atlas Mountains as we rode through the countryside.

Denise, I'm with you... I love those cultural enriching experiences, too.

JoAnn, Touradant is an excursion from Agadir, I think.

Beth, I can't imagine the guide not stopping to allow a photo op. There must have been a mutiny!

Culturally enriching experiences is truly what travel is all about for me! The more the better!

Whoops, thanks Beth - guess I just got mixed up. :o :eek:

Maybe I'll need to nap so I don't get confused?????? :p Or obviously I will need Denise to keep me straight!!! :D

Hang with me, JoAnn. We can do major damage in 8 sea days! ;)

Oh yes Denise - you got that right!!! I'm with you - <img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" /> :D

You lucky guys, I'm so envious of this Grand Crossing.

Kathy, if you like to haggle, you're going to love Istanbul! Try to make time to go to the Grand Bazaar, but if you don't, there's a very nice smaller bazaar near the Blue Mosque.

I'm looking at the excursions for Casablanca. Anybody planning to go to Rabat? That's probably what I'd do, since there's no option on either port to get to Marrakesh. Rabat's supposed to be very nice.

Wendy,

I have been looking at the Rabat excursion with some interest.

Anyone been to Rabat?

We loved the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, as well as the Spice Bazaar. I somehow pictured the Bazaars to be more "rustic." I was very surprised to see how clean and "modern" they were.

I've signed up for the Rabat tour on TAP. Will be able to report back in May.

That's great, Betty. Looking forward to lots of TAPper reports and pix!

Yes, Betty, you will be part of our advance team for CROSS. How lucky are we? I'll be really interested to see what you think of the various excursions.

After reading Wendy's pos. comments about Rabat, we signed up for that one too.

I am interested in hearing about this excursion. Hope you will post your experiences when you return.

Have a great time.

Since I am only doing the first segment of TAP, I may be the expert on either being super busy or a lazy bum. I have done the crossing before on the Prinsendam, and I was a lazy bum, but I suspect there will be a few TAPPERS who will not allow that.
Lynn