Hi everyone! I have been away from this forum for quite a while. Our last RSSC cruise was the Diamond in the Med July 2004 although we did book a fabulous two week adventure in New Zealand through B & K earlier this year. Now we are just waiting for Susan to get back from vacation to put down a deposit on the 10/4/06 Tokyo to Hong Kong cruise on the Mariner. So excited to be sailing RSSC again! We haven't been on the Mariner or to the Orient so does anyone have any tips about the ship or the destination? Should we take a Cat G guarantee or reserve a specific F cabin? Anyone else sailing on this cruise???

Welcome back, I missed you! Do you mind if you end up with an aft G cabin? If you do, I would choose the F.

I booked an H Guarantee on my first RSSC cruise on Mariner in Alaska and ended up in a D category.

Today, knowing the ships, I'd book anywhere on Mariner, but on Voyager, PG and Navigator, I want a specific cabin to avoid vibration and other noises.

That's the best thing about the Mariner, the H cabins are in the best location for the best price but I am assuming those were all reserved already?

Already replies, thank you! It is so nice to be back!!! Yes Karen sadly the H categories are not available. This cruise is one segment of a Grand Asia Pacific cruise so maybe H is reserved for those completing the entire trip???

we took this exact trip last year and had the best time. The free excursion to Beijing was unbelievable, esp considering we did not pay extra for it. I cannot encourage you enuf to take the optional excursion to Xi'an. We bought a Terra Cotta Warrior to take home (we had it shipped as it weighs like 150lbs. It is in my garden and reminds me every day how very special that trip was. You will love it.

Thank you for posting MS Understood! I read your wonderful review on cruise critic!!! We are doing a couple of days precruise in Tokyo and a couple of days postcruise in Hong Kong. I will look into the terracotta warriors extension. You didn't find it too hectic to add this and did you feel you missed out on anything in Shanghai?

well it was a little hectic but I am a Type A anyway. My husband who is somewhat less "enthusiastic" then me agrees that he would not have wanted to miss it.I did feel that I may have missed something of Shanghai but on the one day we had there, we went on an Amex shore excursion to a fishing village and altho it was pretty interesting, in hindsight I would have probably rather seen more of Shanghai. But not instead of Xi'an. There are others on this board who have spent some time in Shanghai and are in a better position than me to advise about that. I personally think RSSC should skip Dalian and add another day to Shanghai. I would do this trip again in a NY minute!
Much as I try, I must acknowledge that you can't do everything!

Well I went ahead and added the two nights in Xian in mid-cruise to our itinerary and I am really looking forward to seeing the terracotta warriors!

I LOVED the Xian warriors trip and highly recommend that excursion. Would not have missed that for anything! Smart move to book that.

We will be on the same trip including the Xian extension. Hope we get to meet you when you board in Tokoyo.

Jan and Gred

We will look forward to it Jan!

I did the Tokyo to Hong Kong last year (same sailing as Ms Understood), and had the time of my life! The Xian extension is definitely worthwhile.

I did an obnoxiously extensive trip report in the reviews section of this board, if you're having trouble sleeping. It's buried back in October 2005.

That was an excellent, detailed review of your cruise Crystal. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! We are stopping in Hiroshima on our cruise instead of Nagasaki but otherwise it sounds pretty much the same.

hi Crystal! Linda and Larry who post here every now and then were also on that trip but I don't recall if they posted a review or not?
sundial, you will not regret this decision! Also when we went, the folks on the Xi'an trip stayed at a different hotel then the ones who were going back to the ship and the hotel we were at was fabulous (China World, not to be confused with Wally World) and walking distance to the Silk Alley which is a MUST.

I appreciate all the input and I am really excited that we added the trip to Xian. Silk Alley sounds interesting too.