PLANNING FOR PANDA! The good news is that we were able to snag business class reward seats (120,000 each R/T) from Florida into Tokyo and returning from Hong Kong on Delta, which is inaugurating new service to Asia next spring, so there are some reward seats still available. If you're trying to find a way to join us for PANDA (or have booked already and are looking for air connections) check with Delta. They are using new Boeing 777 from/to Atlanta across the Pacific, and we have found those planes quite good for passengers. Delta accepts transfers from AMEX Membership Rewards, and the transfer goes through almost instantaneously, so that's great – no more waiting for the non-reversible transfer to go through while some other agent might grab the scarce reward seats (you thought) they were “holding”. As a result, we will not be starting our cruise in Alaska, but instead have booked the Tokyo-Kyoto pre-cruise tour, which sounds fabulous (thanks Marc).

The bad news is that the Terracotta Warriors tour for 2007 is being offered between Shanghai and Hong Kong, not between Beijing and Shanghai. In any case, my idea to take the train instead of flying from Beijing to Xian on the Terracotta Warriors tour went down the drain at least as far as Regent is concerned because they don't even entertain 'deviations' to existing (established) tours. They say it causes them too many hassles and introduces risks they don't want or need to deal with. The only way to do it with Regent would have been an independent tour arranged by their Concierge, which would have put the cost "over the moon", particularly after you pay $100 per day (non-refundable) just for the planning. Then you get to pay for the whole thing up front, and again that's non-refundable. NG! So . . .

We are exploring the possibility of using a reputable established China-based travel agency to arrange an independent Beijing – Xian – Shanghai tour for us. The Regent tour of Beijing and the Great Wall, etc. from the port of Tianjin included in the cruise is scheduled for Monday Oct 1 and Tuesday, Oct 2 (incidentally, these are the first two of China’s 3-day “National Day” holiday, for whatever that’s worth). We are looking (via the Internet, mainly) for a reliable agent to arrange an independent tour for us. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, RESPOND HERE OR E-MAIL ME (count_Florida@hotmail.com) and I'll keep you informed - no obligation.

When main group returns to ship Oct 2 afternoon, we would like to remain in Beijing and take best 'Z' deluxe category Z19 train to Xian overnight, This train leaves Beijing West station 20:28pm Tuesday and arrives Xian 07:58 Wednesday morning Oct 3. We would tour Xian area, including Terra-cotta Warriors, etc. that day and if recommended, the next day. Remain overnight one or two nights, then fly from Xian to Shanghai to meet the Voyager, which arrives there 7 AM Friday Oct 5. We can spend night of Oct 4-5 either in Xian or in Shanghai, and there is a safety net because the ship remains in Shanghai until 1 PM Sunday. We have asked several agencies to recommend a specific sight-seeing itinerary, things to see, do, etc. and to make other suggestions for our consideration.

We would use only the Z train - 2 berth deluxe ‘soft class’ sleepers with private toilet on the train, have dinner before boarding and breakfast after arriving in Xian, and stay in at least 4 or preferably 5 star hotels in Xian and, if included, in Shanghai (the cost for 5 star hotels is very reasonable in either city). We would use only regularly scheduled airlines with Boeing or Airbus planes for the Xian to Shanghai flight and include an English-speaking guide to get us from hotel to train in Beijing, in Xian and to get us from plane to hotel or cruise ship in Shanghai.