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Quicksilver catamaran trip
My wife is concerned about the logistics surrounding this activity. What can anybody tell us about the "platform"? What kind of changing facilities are there for those that swim? What about the semi submersible? Can anyone describe or recommend it?
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Was there time for a person to do both?
I would still check the forums for other info, but it sure would be nice if Tauck activated email alerts when a new post has been added to thread you are following.
Thanks, Bill!!!
Question- what is included with the Tauck tour and what is not? I would assume the helo ride is extra $.
Regarding getting a notification when you receive a reply on the forum, it used to work, do wish they would re- instate, it has to be a simple thing to do. Plus, I am almost positive that when you hovered over the poster's name, you saw a profile of all their previous posts to get an idea of what someone was about---the variety of mine would make interesting reading these days. It really would be nice to know of any of the first time posters see any replies. A few months ago I was thinking it was not worth Tauck spending the money on forum improvements, but now I am re-thinking.i don't do Facebook, so no idea how active that is for Tauck questions
When this Forum appeared all that useful, but strangely organised, information was lost. Just wiped out.
Now we have a body of information that could be a very useful resource. But people don't seem to look for any answers or to sift through the available answers for ones that might suit their question, or indeed their opinions.
Now, judging by comments from one of the moderators, it looks like we are set for another reincarnation the Forum. I wonder what that will bring. Will we all have to start from scratch? Again?
Over all these years I have become used to people asking questions, sometimes urgently ... sometimes vehemently. If they don't agree, I guess they don't say thank you, or carry the conversation any further. So often you have no idea if your answer was useful or not. I do sometimes wonder why I persist. Possibly because I'm an Aussie of Irish extraction. Possibly because I'm not a US citizen and I know there are other people in the world who travel, and travel with Tauck, who appreciate different points of view. And also because, occasionally, some of the questions are so awful, so ... out there ... and some of the answers so funny, how could someone resist. Not a passionate traveller and scribbler like me, anyway.
Cheer,
Jan
I, too, am a leftover (VERY bad choice of words...perhaps, alumnus) from the "Ask and Share" era and am so sorry that all of that great information was lost. After 13 Tauck trips, I have found the Forum/Ask and Share (what's with the Tauck "Ask and Share", "Hope and Trust", etc. compound verb tag lines) to be incredibly helpful. While I have been disappointed about the number of fellow travelers on any given trip responding to my posts, I have found the posts of previous travelers the most helpful part of planning for a future trip! On a positive note, I have posted my personal email on a number of posts and have been amazed by the number of folks with whom I have corresponded. When I look back at my "Tauck Folder", I am reminded about those posts, and many of those people have responded to me and continue to do so as they continue to travel with Tauck. We compare trips and tips! I would hate to se the previous posts lost to a new format. Hopefully, the new format continues with the history of the destinations!
Joyce
Cheers,
Jan
This will be our third Tauck trip, but our first post. What is the protocol on posting questions? If I am looking for information on other aspects of the trip, should I do a separate post?
Jan is the expert, she is Australian and lives in Melbourne and travels extensively. Alan is good at techy stuff. I have done the Tauck Australia tour a few years ago and just got back from the New Zealand tour. They are exactly the same separately as together, though there have been changes to hotels and even itinerary in the past couple of years.
You can obviously tell how often people post by the number by our names. I have done about 18 tours with Tauck plus quite a bit of independent travels. Don't hesitate to ask, you'll get a variety of opinions and tips
The first thing I do when I consider a new trip is to make a "book"- First, I read all the the reviews and forum questions/comments. Then, using my computer - I cut, reformat, and paste the Tauck itinerary into an MSword document. I add the route map, photos of the hotels, and photos of many of the on-tour attractions to the facing pages, opposite the itinerary (typically 1 to 3 days of the itinerary per page). I use this full color "book" to make my pitch to LOML.
Once she has agreed ("relented"?) and months before we are due to travel, I do more research. I re-read all the forum posts for that particular tour and related tours, and start another document. I do a "cut" of useful and interesting forum info and "paste" into another MSWord document, e.g. the posts about Quicksilver, the Agincourt Reef diving platform, helo, and semi-submersible (thanks British, lvgregger, and Bill!). According to the Quicksilver website, the helo makes a very brief 10 min. flight, so is a bit pricey, but hey, you only live once. I add my own notes, Wikipedia info, links to websites, and even photos, etc. when appropriate. On days where one or more meals are scheduled to be "on our own" I use Google to investigate restaurants mentioned in the forums, at the hotel, and in the surrounding area. I will often print out their menus. Before I did this, both of us found we were wasting too much touring time, especially searching for places to each lunch. Sometimes I will also do a Google Maps "street view" walk-around of certain areas to determine if we want to walk there, e.g. I did this earlier today to check out places to eat dinner when we arrive in Ennis, Ireland and to see what it would be like to walk from our hotel to Kilkenny Castle later in the tour (Answer: No).
This process is certainly not for everyone, but I find it really helps when we have decisions to make, like what to do if we arrive early, during our free time, or where to eat. I think it enhances our trip and in no way detracts from the Tauck experience or those little Tauck surprises. But that is just me and my wife says I'm a tad OCD : )
Great tips, though. Really. Yep, wandering around looking for somewhere to have a quick bite at lunchtime when you could be enjoying a wonderful view with a take away sandwich. (And I do mean a simple sandwich, not a roll and not half a cow!
Cheers,
Jan
A bit like Alan I plan and plan and plan. It helps pass the time between booking and going and sometimes it has really helped. I only post advice on the trips I've taken and thus my posting history has slowed up these days but I like this forum and the sound advice that the "regulars" give to the newcomers. Now back to watching the possibility of a cyclone developing in the north of my state.
I couldn't see any cyclone warnings on the BOM site, Rod .... are you looking at that blob over the Coral Sea? Hope it doesn't turn nasty on you. Lotsa rain is one thing, but lotsa blowing is another.
Cheers,
Jan
Correction: 5 old posters.
Regarding Great Barrier Reef and Quicksilver - it has everything as noted. Do see the You Tube which makes it clear how easy it is to get in/out of the water. There are a zillion staff people on hand who can help with everything.
Several additions:
1) there are special goggles for people who wear glasses. When you get your equipment, go to the goggles first to get one that suits you if this is important.
2) We went snorkeling with a Marine Biologist who is aboard the craft. Our guy Tom was great, took us out beyond the area where most of the group was swimming and we where could see more. He was just terrific. You can sign up for an hour with a Marine Biologist when you are on board.
3) Our one regret is that we did not use the next day, a 'free day' on the itinerary in Palm Cove, as a time to return and do more diving.
Palm Cove is quiet and cute, but does not offer much to do. You cannot charter a boat from there to go out, as all charters leave from Port Douglas. We'd really have enjoyed another opportunity at the GBR and could have done that if only we knew in advance to make those arrangements, as most companies who go to the GBR will readily come and pick you up.
I'll add one note about goggles. SCUBA divers and serious snorkelers already know this, but, if you plan to snorkel with goggles instead of a face mask, be aware that you can't go too much below the surface (must stay within the top 5' or so. You can't dive down to look at anything on the bottom without significant eye/face discomfort. Unlike you do with a face mask, you can't exhale through your nose to add additional air into goggles to equalize the pressure as you go deeper. The farther from the surface you get, the tighter goggles press against your face/eye sockets. It is probably not an issue, since most people using goggles will not be attempting to go much below the surface anyway, but I just thought I would mention this.
A couple of other options if you need corrective lenses, are unable to rent a corrective mask, and don't want to buy one and carry it with you-
1. you can wear most contacts as long as you are careful and don't blink if your mask fills with water or you remove the mask when your head is under water,
2. Buy a corrective "drop in" insert (see first pic-it must match the style of mask, however),
3. I haven't seen these lately, but there used to be a suction cup device that allowed you to mount a pair of glasses (with ear pieces removed) to the inside of the face plate of a classic oval mask. For that you can use an inexpensive (<$5) pair of cheaters. If you are handy, you might be able to make a set.