We are looking at three RSSC cruises that interest us for the summer of 2005.

Anybody looking at any of these?
Diamond 7/2 Venice to Rome
Diamond 7/9 Rome to Monte Carlo
Navigator 8/10 NY to NY Bermuda Cruise

We are already obligated to doing the Infinity to Hawaii in April and will probably do the Silver Whisper 11/21 10 day RT FLL.

What cruises are you thinking about for 2005???

Don, I have it narrowed down to a Voyager Med October sailing. It took me all week long to get that far! As soon as Ngaire comes home, I will choose one of these:

Voyager Oct. 8th Venice to Rome
Voyager Oct. 15th Rome to Monte Carlo

It looks like we both picked similar itineraries, just different ships :)

Karen, aren't you also on PIP????

We will be on PG for the PIP B2B in May and Mariner Hong Kong to Singapore in the fall.

Karen, those sound like great itineraries. For those who purchase air from Radisson, the Voyager fares are actually better than the Diamond 2 for 1 fares, which is a bit of a surprise to me. I wonder if they have the same policy as this year of $1,000 off cruise fare if you book your own air for Voyager?

I'm looking into several Asian itineraries, as well as New Zealand and the Norwegian Fjords and a couple of cruises in Europe (not Med or Greece, though). Just have to figure out which one to choose

Marc, As Sheri calls it, I am jumping ship on PIP.

Karen, I'm sad to hear you're jumping ship on PIP....this comes as a big surprise because you were one of the ones quite awhile ago recruiting. Is it the May date that's not working for you and Mark?

The "Montana" contingency is seriously looking at Radisson Diamond 02/15/05.
That would be are group of 6 couples + any others we can talk into joining us.

2005 will find us cruising the Baltics - Either Navigator, Copenhagen-Copenhagen, July 9, 11 days or another Baltic cruise, in July, on Voyager, 7 days.

Olivia, if you are looking into Europe, how about sailing along with us? We could use a seasoned expert!

Where's the air deals or $1,000 off for these itineraries???? I checked Baltics on the Voyager - no air deals at all :(

Right now, we don't see anything at all that whets our appetite. We have friends in BC who want us to meet them somewhere during the year, but they aren't able to do a RSSC cruise. Then we have pretty well decided to take all the kids/grandkids back to WDW, and that takes a CHUNK of change (10 of us total).

There's always that spur-of-the-moment thing, but it won't be Europe.

Marcie, I said all along that I probably wouldn't stay booked on PIP. Ngaire thought I should depostit just in case I might go because the booking window was so small.

Right now I am seriously considering B2B on the Diamond Istanbul to Rome to Barcelona. I had really wanted to do a Vietnam on the Silverseas but it seems they will not be doing the 1 particular port I want to see next year. I also have several land tours in mind but then what else is new! I am always dreaming & planning. And it is still only April. But as far as RSSC goes, it is those listed above. Now if some extra special cheap deal comes along...that is how I ended up on the NorFjor723 this year. $1000 off + $99 supplement + my Goldpoints. Too cheap to pass up.

We always have a particular problem with planning our next cruise. Tom wants to either leave and/or return from a US port - most favorable to a return to Florida. We like long cruises - 21 days or more. BUT, with these two parameters is mind, we don't usually come up with anything new.

I've looked at 2005 but haven't found anything that's just right yet, but if anyone has advice, please let me know.

I'd love to do the Baltic, but we can't seem to get the first or second part of Tom's requirement.

2005 will include:
May 21 PIP (Paul Gaughan)
Oct 15(Diamond B2B Istanbul to Rome to Barcelona)

Margo,

I sure hope you will be able to convice Tom to sail to the Baltics. We'd really enjoy meeting you both!

We are seriously considering PIP in May and either London, Paris or Italy or a driving trip maybe to Zion/Bryce National Parks and Grand Canyon/Sedona for a photography trip. Depends on how good business is in the next few months. The harder I work, the more I can travel!

I've got a few in mind (I think Peter will be shocked when he gets back from HKG when I show him the list of ones I want to do) but we probably will only be able to only on one. At this point, it is not necessarily destination that is driving us (just a lot of R and R!!), it is how far we have to go to catch the ship and how fast we could get home if we had to...our eldest will be at least 3 come Jan. 05 and our youngest 18 months...I think we still need to stay close to home (mama boats need to hug the shore!!). Tops on my list right now are the following

• Navigator NYC to NYC in June 05
• Mariner YVR to YVR in July or August 05

If we could stay more than 12 days away from home, I would dearly love to do a Panama Canal on the Mariner. I would also like to do a DUB to ROM or whatever incarnation it will be in a couple of years.

I would still want to do the Seward to Tokyo for 05, but I think TYO is too far away for us right now. I am going to have to wait.

Speaking of waiting, once the girls are a bit older, I defintely want to do a crossing to FLL from Barcelona.

If Peter manages to sell a lot of Elvis in the next couple of years (he just got the license) then MAYBE we will be doing a Baltics very soon on Voyager.

I've also made up my mind that we won't be doing the PG until our 10th anniversary (and that is 2009) :p

If all else fails, we would do Mexican Riviera again, early Dec. 05...see my note on R and R above! <img border="0" alt="[sleep]" title="" src="graemlins/sleep.gif" />

So far, I'm definitely going to do:

Dubai to Rome world cruise segment
Diamond October 15 & 22 (B2B).

PIP is a provisional "to do" but will most likely be cancelled because it's too close to the world cruise segment. My preference would be to go somewhere "cooler" during the height of summer (basically Alaska again on the Mariner or Norway/Baltics/Bermuda).

Yeh Lawrence

The Istanbul to Barcelona list is starting to grow already & know one has booked yet, although I have already called about it. Will you be ready by then to try the "correct" way to drink your wine?

I have no idea at this time what we're doing for 2005. PIP is on the schedule and we're probably going unless events change. The question is what else we're doing ... if anything. We'd dearly love to do the Med or something else in Europe - we'll have to see what specials Ngaire is running when she gets back.

Masaki

I booked Voyager Oct.8-05 Venice -Rome,this will continue my goal of once a year Med. cruise!Macy

We've deposited for B2B June 4 and 11 - Athens to Istanbul and Istanbul to Istanbul - on the Diamond. Marilyn

Jim - where does that Diamond cruise go? We (and another couple) are either booking 1st or 2nd week of Feb with RSSC or Windstar in the Caribbean. No prices on that Diamond yet, are there? None for Windstar up yet either

Diamond 2/5/2005 Itinerary

Bobbi:

Here's the link to the Diamond Itinerary...San Juan-San Juan 4 nights - fares are there.

Thanks Margo (you are always coming to my rescue!!!) I'm bummed it's just a 4 day-er.. We want at least 7 days.

He said Feb. 15, not 5. It is a 7 day 2fer

Hi Bobbi:
If you go to Radisson web page you can see the itinery as well as the price.
We are waiting for Ngaire to get back before deciding.
The 02/15/05 date is the only 7 day cruise showing so that is why we picked that one.
Or group did the Paul Gauguin on 02/15/03 so would be wonderful to be able to do the same date.
We have a minimum of 6 couples from Miles City interested, but also have 6 couples from all over that are interested too. Hope it works out.
As soon as I get info from Ngaire we will have a meeting to decide.
One negative is air fare. $999.00 per person is terrible to try and go through Radisson.
It is to bad, but air fare may be the reason we have some that won't be able to go or some of the group may decide that we do something different.
Jim :hello1:

Hi Bobbi:
Some how I got a double post so thought I would get rid of one.
Jim :hello1:

Diamond - February 15, 2005


Sorry, misread the date, I think this is the correct link!

Any idea why the LAX to YVR next year on the Mariner has no discount/??

For 2005 it's:

PIP PIP HOORAY!!

And probably part 2 of Marcie's B2B, (but leaning toward the whole B2B...hate to miss a party)

Ah, alas, my pockets aren't quite as deep as I would like them to be, so I will only be doing PIP in 2005! It looks like there are several of my buddies out there who are "jumping ship." I am really sorry to see that. I will miss you!
Sheri

LA to Vancouver is 12 days, and I find those longer ones usually come out in the beginning with higher pricing. This year, it is only 7 days, and is a steal. I would bet some better pricing comes down the road. It's rather early for Alaska season. Single supplement is also 30% for standard cabins, steeper than most.

Hi Olivia,

Thanks for the insight. Hopefully there will be better pricing in a few weeks.

BooHoo, we had to cancel our Diamond cruise for this year due to some circumstances at work. Fortunately though, the 2005 schedule and 2fers came out just in time on RSSC, so we made the change to next year, but decided on the Venice to Rome Itinerary on July 2nd instead.

Anybody else want to join us?

Of course, this could all change when Ngaire gets back home.

The Navigator March 2, 11 days. My sister won't do Europe at this time and since she is my cruise buddy I have to compromise.
I have been drooling over segment 1 and 2 of the World Cruise. Did anyone notice that port charges were 1816.00 for all segments? Yikes. :ohmy:
Suz

Ok convince me.
02/15/05 7 day Diamond 700 passngers. Maybe hotel included in San Juan night before.
02/08/05 Oceania Reggata 12 days 600 passengers
airfare included. Realize they charge for drinks and you have to tip.

You might want to check out Glenda's (Luxury Lady) review of her Oceania cruise. Diamond, 350 passengers.

Now Jim - let me throw one more out at you: Windstar....(OR WINDSPIRIT or something). Small ship - newly renovated - 150 pax. All small islands - goes St. Thomas to St. Thomas.
Yes - drinks are extra...but have heard they;'re not averse to you bringing some on board for your room. Prices not out yet. But last year, they were about $1700 pp...w/o air.

I think I mentioned to all of you that I have been bitten by the cruise fever - and yes Sheri I understand about deep pockets - I like to pretend I have them but I do not!! But it sure is fun to talk, plan, dream, right?? We have June 7th cruise and then MINT and just found out we are going to Ireland in July for two weeks with the McWilliams land trip....Jack, Kathy and moi are all Irish and taking the lone Eye-talian with us!!!! Joanna Anyone having Ireland (west coast) info pls e-mail me -

I think a combo of the Black Sea and the Greek Islands may be in order for 2005.