Coach here too!!

Conga line on ATN flight # 1!!!!

I'm trying to decide if we will deviate coming back or not. We live in Toronto, so the flight from L.A. is about 5 hours. At the moment we have 4 hours between flights at L.A., and will arrive home about 9 p.m. local time.

Both times in the past we did a deviation and spent the night in L.A. coming home. First time it worked well, because we were on a day flight from PPT, last time it did not work well. Why? We were on the night flight, and arrived in Los Angeles at 9 a.m. I had asked our hotel if we could get an early check-in, and they said they would try, but could not promise. It turned out they could not, and we had to hang out in the lounge until 3 p.m. check-in.

That was gruesome, especially since David's sister, who lives in L.A., had her phone out of service and didn't know it. So she could not come and rescue us.

I'm wondering if we could find a hotel which could do better for us or not. The alternative would be to book a hotel for two nights I guess. Or stay with my sister-in-law, or maybe get her to rescue us at the airport. Any thoughts?

Wendy,

If you have an Amex Platnium, you can be a gold level Starwood Preferred Guest member. You get automatic early check in and late check out IF a room is available and you get the club floor. There are usually a couple of water bottles and some other treat (Fruit/Cookies) and upgraded amenities. There is a Westin and a Sheraton at the LA Airport.

If your sister-in-law can't "rescue" you,
and/or you don't want to spend time with her, I'd try to waitlist for an earlier flight home.

It's a long day sure, but we've all done it coming home from Europe (West Coast) or S. Pacific (East Coast). I wouldn't spend the $$ on a hotel, I'd just want to spend the night in my own bed.

Suzanne, thanks, that was my thinking as well--better to be tired in my own bed! As for the earlier flight, I presume you mean from Papeete. Yes, that is certainly something to consider. Do you know it's waitlisted for sure? I can ask Ngaire about that, thanks.

(Edited to say that there is no earlier flight from Papeete, not on ATN.)

Wendy, if it was me and I could afford it, I would just book the hotel for the 2 nights. You don't want to scrimp on the end to a wonderful vacation if you can help it. You won't remember the extra $$ as much as you will the comfy bed to drop into in the morning upon arrival in L.A. Just my opinion :)

Yep, I'm with you on that Cyndi. I'll talk it over with David. At the moment he thinks we should travel straight through, and does not seem interested in seeing his sister. Guess he thinks it's her turn to visit us!

On another note, I tend to stalk the PG before a cruise, especially on Friday night and Saturday.

Here's the link: http://www.tahitinuitravel.com/webcam/

I *think* that's the PG there, although with the new cruise dock, it's hard to tell--you don't get a side view of the ship like you used to. I have often wanted to see if I could watch it saiing away, but have never managed that. Looks like it might be raining right now.

Wendy, hope it all works out for you.

And I love the webcam site. I'll start stalking it Friday and Sat. too!!! Anything related to PG is exciting for me :D

Hi, changed our flight to LA from Toronto today. We get to have dinner with my sis-in-law Diana and her family. Our original flight did not leave T.O. until 7 p.m., which was kind of nuts. Anyways, we now arrive around 3, time for a shower and a nap before getting picked up for dinner.

So, with family visit requirements satisfied, decided to stick with flying straight back home at the end of the trip.

Oh, and the weather looks great today on all of the webcams!

Wendy, sounds like you've solved your problem. That is wonderful. Now you can relax - at least on that front :) . Lots more to plan, I'm sure.

"Yeah" to good weather. Keep it coming!!!

Darbie, something tells me you are excited about your upcoming PG cruise :D :D Don't blame you at all!!!!

Well Cyndi and I compared flight info and we are booked together with seat rows next to one another! We'll warm up the flights for you - any one else going in 5/17? We're returning the 28th on the redeye.

:woh: :woh: <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" />

We are all beginning to get a bit crazed I think.

Am picking out bathing suits. I usually buy from Lands End so I don't have to go out and try them on. They have lots of tools to help you choose. They also have some nice looking sea-to-shore shoes in two styles for $29.50. I'm going to order myself a pair today as soon as I can decide which one to get (but beware, at least one of them is back-ordered--no instant gratification). You can see both of them here:

http://www.landsend.com/cd/index/fp/0,,58083,00.html?sid=4048132179224123090

:3smile: <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" />

Wendy,

That catalog is on my desk. The thongs and sandals are cute too. I already ordered a couple bathing suits and they are arriving on Monday.

Am I getting crazed? :3smile: - only with work and other than tidbits of occasional fun, this is why I book a trip right after tax season. I want to have a reason to work this hard.

Does LandsEnd run true to size? I have the catalog, but never ordered from them. I hate that red back-ordered message!!! Always seems that I finally sit down and go through an entire site and have this huge order....and then, half of the items are back-ordered. Drives me nuts :mad: Boston Proper is famous for this, EVERYTHING is always on back order. They should have that message on the actual item as soon as you click on it. Is it obvious that's a pet peeve?!!!

Well, as for sizing, they provide lots of tools on their website to figure out what size you should order. I also use the "Virtual Model" feature so that I can try to judge what something looks like on. And I have my measurements stored. That being said, I haven't bought any clothes from them for a while, I really would rather try something on. But they also have a very good return policy.

I would be so afraid to try to buy a bathing suit from a catalog. Since I don't have a perfect body (or even close :D ) I always have to try on about 50 suits to find one that is somewhat decent. I got my current one at a store called "Everything But Water". It is at one of our malls and is a store devoted entirely to bathing suits. They have a fantasic selection. I need to go back and get at least one more.

I have oredered swimsuits before by catalog and been quite surprised how well I did I got several suits from Everything but Water (when I was a smaller size). They do not have a good selection for us bigger girls. There is a specialty retailer for size 14 + that has really good quality called Junionia. I like the selection and they have a good return policy.

Kathy, that is why I had to try on 50 or so suits at Everything But Water. Finally found the only one they had that fit me. Lots of cute ones for the smaller sized girls of the world. :(

Is Junionia on-line, catalog or retail store? I've never hear of them.

Kind of along the same lines. . . . I pulled out my old, old water shoes and tried on. They are tourquise and blue, almost like new and they match my current bathing suit perfectly! How lucky was that? Cross one item off the long, long list :)

Question for Wendy or any other expert on PG . . . Being the A/R person that I am, I am working on what clothes I'm bringing. I'm trying to limit the # of items I bring and trying to get things I can mix & match and wear more than once. Therefore, I'm figuring it out by the days and evenings. To help me out, I was wondering if there is a particular night for the Captain's reception (like always on the Sat night or Mon night, etc. or does it vary from cruise to cruise). I've read that people tend to dress up a little more this night. Did you find this to be true? Of course, it's no big deal which night it is . . . it's just that I am A/R and want to know :)

Thanks!!

I know people pack light for this one - is there a limitation to one suitcase or can I bring two (per person)if I want? I will probably do my usual overpacking since I also have 3 days precruise.

Kathy, I checked out the Junonia site. They have some cute things. I liked the looks of the European Style Mermaid and the Junonia Athletic tank.

RE: luggage. I'm sure some the past PG'ers can help out. But I just went to the website for ATN and they said allowed 1 carry-on max. 22 lbs., plus a purse or briefcase, etc. and 2 checked bags, max 70 lbs. each. My bigger problem is that for the inter-island flight to Bora Bora, Air Tahiti only allows 1 carry-on at 6.6 lbs. max (that would be my purse!!) and for checked a total of 44 lbs per person. Yikes!!! I'm going to have to really be careful. Another advantage to stay on Tahiti for pre-cruise. Oh well. . .

Cyndi, there is a place you can store luggage at the Papeete airport. I read about it over on the Tahiti Explorer website. I'll dig it up for you if you like. That way you can have a suitcase full of "cruisewear" that you don't have to take with you to BB.

As for the PG itself, you can take as much as you like. But don't overpack. You can reuse or recycle outfits for evening easily enough. There is a captain's reception and dinner, I believe it's the first night after embarkation, that would be Sunday. I'll check that too. It's a little dressier, if you want it to be, but you don't have to make it so.

I had dreamt of doing the PG with just carry-on. But for two weeks I just can't. Plus I like to take my skirts and tops on hangers, in a suitbag.

But I think the luggage storage is just the thing for you.

Or maybe it was on Cruise Critic, on the South Pacific board.

Editing to say: yes, my guidebook says there is luggage storage. As I remember from the posting somewhere, it's not an airport facility, but kind of next door, outside. Faa'a is a very small airport!

Of course, you can take more luggage to BB, you just have to pay the extra charges, whatever they might be.

I'm betting Kathy Z. is our expert here.

Wendy, thanks so much for the tip. I think I remember seeing something about the storage too. I'll look through my folders. Should be there somewhere. I have read several posts that says Air Tahiti doesn't always enforce the weight rules and that if they do, it isn't a huge charge. If that is the case, I'll just try to pack light (want to anyway) and see what happens. If I have to pay, it won't be the end of the world. Might be easier to plan on that, rather than trying to locate and deal with the storage place after a long flight. I'll talk to Tom about it.

Also, since I posted my question about the Captain's reception, I read another past post that agrees with you about it being on Sunday night. Don't know yet what I'll wear to that. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

It just occured to me that I need to start working with Tom on what he wants to wear and needs to buy. If I leave it up to him he'll wait until the morning we leave and just start stuffing things in the bag and asking me "what should I take?" :D :D :D

cyndi,

have Tom check www.nordstrom.com tommy bahama
online, pick what he likes, show it to you and you can pick it up at your local nordstrom or
pay the shipping (if over $100 think it is free).

Anyway, this is my kind of shopping--finger tip,
no driving, no crowds, get what you like, then go play tennis or whatever...contrary to what Ida did yesterday; drive to largest Mall in Georgia (for Cold Water Creek store) spend the whole day...she left at 11 am back at 7 pm...she snagged about two dozen items (gulp!) but at least she is happy...

r/wes

Wes, great, great tip. He HATES to go shopping, yet when I try to guess for him while I'm out shopping, he never likes what I pick. Your idea is a great solution. Duh - I should have thought of that before :D He does like the Tommy Bahama style shirts. So do I.

I bet Ida had a great time at the mall (especially Cold Water Creek!). Sounds like my kind of day :) Tell her for me that she did good!!!

Cyndi,

Which hotel are you at for the single night pre-cruise in Papeete? If you are with us at the Beachcomber, you can leave your excess bags with us and we can bring them to the ship. We'll need a big van, but what the heck! We'll board with our 4 and your two or so excess bags.

I love Coldwater Creek too. They have a store here in the Valley. I loaded up from there when we did the New England Itin. last fall. I am wearing an outfit from them today. Hmmm. Maybe I will check out their spring stuff too.

You might try looking here as well:

http://www.uniquebatik.com/

I have a pantsuit in cotton and linen that is quite nice (when I can fit into it). Haven't bought any of her rayon batiks yet.

Not a great selection, but some things look very nice.

Talking about husbands. I have to laugh when I think about planning for our first PG trip. David is an academic (a physicist), and lives in blue jeans most of the time. In those days, he also wore cowboy boots most of the time. I had to convince him that he could not wear his jeans, and that he would have to buy a pair of shoes, as well as a bathing suit (he never swims.) I bought him three pairs of nice summer pants, a half a dozen shirts, and a bathing suit, all from Lands End. Oh, and a belt!

I was so successful that, except for the jeans and the shoes, I buy almost everything he wear now.

Wendy,

That is funny. Frank gave up wearing suits years ago and was wearing Levi's and hiking boots to the office frequently and occasionally Docker's and polo's - still with the hiking boots. I have to take the jeans out of the suitcase and pack more docker type slacks when we travel. Can't get him out of those hiking boots, although for FP he knows he'll have to wear his shorts (he hates them) most of the time.

Today, he dressed himself in Khaki's and a liught color plaid shirt (that doesn't match well) with a dark color t-shirt under the plaid shirt. I told him that everyone is going to think he's single because no married woman would let her husband out dressed like that (lol).

Kathy, we will be staying at the Beachcomber in Papeete that first night! Your offer to hold our bags is generous. I'll keep it in mind. I probably will not be able to decide what to leave and what to take to Bora Bora (one never knows what one might need :D ) so most likely we'll just take it all and pay whatever charges we might incur for extra weight. I'll let you know. Thanks again.

I broke it to Tom about no jeans or shorts in the dining room at dinner. He took it very well. He even said - "well, it looks like I better go shopping for some new clothes" Just when you think you have them pegged . . . . He does love flip flops, t-shirts and shorts, tho. He'd wear that every day of his life if he could. And Docker's, Tommy Bahama's and polo's sounded fine with him. Yeah!!!

Cyndi,

When you do those multi island trips, you really need to pack for TWO vacations. When we do a Tauck Tour or multi-city thing, I pack outfits together in plastic bags so I have to pre-plan each day of a trip and live with it. I take a few multi purpose things but when you are in a different place every day or two it really makes it easier.

Yes, I agree with the separate packing. When we went to Greece last summer, on the Diamond, we left our large bags in Athens for 6 days, and travelled with one overnight bag, and beach bag.

I had packed those bags very carefully, so we had all our essentials, with beach, cafe and ruin-wear.

You will be having a very laid-back time in BB, Cyndi. You won't need alot of clothes, believe me! And you will have pareos to buy, which you will then wear!

I haven't posted in quite some time, but since PIP is getting closer I thought I would chime in to say that Heather and I will be attending this extravaganza. This will be our second time on PG. After sailing with Ngaire and Ken last year to Bermuda we are looking forward to sailing with them again and meeting many of you. We don't have any excursions planned yet, but I am sure some ideas will come to us.

Michael,

We'll be looking forward to meeting you and Heather on PIP! I see that you are from Colorado Springs. Tom and I lived there from 1979 to 1988. Still one of my favorite places.

Did you have any favorite excursions from your 1st PG cruise?