Tim Russ made many changes to the script to ensure that Tuvok's backstory was consistent with the established Vulcan culture.
The original script featured a scene with Uhura but Nichelle Nichols declined to reprise her role. George Takei pleaded with her to reprise her role but Nichols felt it was too limited and still refused. The scenes between Tuvok and Neelix and Tuvok and Kes were added to fill the time.
This episode, which reunited Star Trek (1966) original series cast members George Takei and Grace Lee Whitney, was considered for use as a back-door pilot for a series involving the adventures of Sulu and Rand aboard the U.S.S. Excelsior. Production was scrapped, however, when Paramount decided to produce Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) instead.
George Takei (Captain Hikaru Sulu), Grace Lee Whitney (Commander Janice Rand), Jeremy Roberts (Lt. Dmitri Valtane) and Boris Lee Krutonog (Lt. Commander Lojur) all reprise their roles from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).
While experiencing his memories on the Excelsior, Tuvok tells Janeway that he was 29 years old, and that the memory he was experiencing occurred 80 years ago. Therefore, we can deduce that Tuvok is 109 years old.