Email From Captain

Today, we both received an email from the ship's Captain.  So it looks like things are progressing along for this voyage.  Here is that email.

Captain Andrea Poggi was born in Rigorosco, Arquata Scrivia, Italy.
He graduated from the Nautical Institute in Genoa, 1971, the largest port of the Mediterranean Sea. After spending two years with the Italian Navy on a submarine, he started his service on passenger ships in May 1983 with Sitmar Cruises. He was promoted to Staff Captain in August 1991 onboard the Crown Princess and Captain on Regal Princess in 1999. In past years, he has commanded the Crown Princess, Regal Princess, Ocean Princess, Dawn Princess, Island Princess, Sea Princess and most recently, the Grand Princess.

Captain Poggi likes to spend his spare time motorbike racing and tracking on the north Italian Alps.

Excursions and Final Payment

Shore Excursions were finally released for booking.  We have gone over everything and did decide to book the Taj Mahal 3-day excursion. No other overnight excursions have been offered, ie, Machu Picchu, Angor Wat or Ayers Rock.  A disappointment at this time.  The Taj Mahal excursion is a little expensive, but you never know when you will get back this way.  There are several excursions in Thailand and some of the African countries that looked intriguing and we booked.  Our experience is that if you really want a particular excursion, it's always a good idea to book the excursion online well in advance of sailing.  Once onboard, excursions get filled very quickly. 

Today we made final payment through our travel agent for this grand adventure.  So there is no turning back now.  We have started to look very closely at just what we need for the trip and what really isn't necessary.  Camera equipment is really taking up room in the carry-on luggage, but can't really leave home without all the little things for photography (telephoto lens, manuals, batteries, cleaning material, cables, and DVD discs for backing up all the photos).  Then there is the laptop.  The goal of course is to take everything we will need without being so heavy we are over-weight on the flights to Fort Lauderdale and return from Rome.

Still have to get a couple of vaccinations for some of the more remote locations.