I think we may do the same thing Kristin......i'm saving miles for Roar...... probably still wont' have enough!

Oh how I WISH, Peggy! :hug:

Well have spent several days working on air with FF miles and finally have it all in place.

We arrive in Athens at 4:30 on Oct 1, staying two nights at the GB. So excited to stay here and looking forward to a leisurly day in Athens on the 2nd.

On the way back we fly thru Madrid, and had a forced overnight, so decided to stay another night to have a chance to see some of the city. Arrive back home on Oct 19.

Using Iberia biz class, except last leg from Chicago to Regan, which is AA first. Worked out pretty well, although I would rather have had the direct MAD - IAD flight, it doesn't operate on the 19th, thus we have to fly thru Chicago, but thats on the end so not such a big deal.

Looking forward to seeing everyone. Like I said in a much earlier post, for those in Athens on the night of the 2nd, I would be happy to arrange a dinner get together, but we can work that later, just thought I'd throw it out there for everyone to think about. Frank and I plan to go back to Psara Taverna, which is where we did the group dinner for B2B, we liked it so well and its always fun to have company.

Count us in for dinner JoAnn - I booked GB for 2 nights, too, could not get in 2 days early just 1 but we all know how that works - things change with these FF mile reservations and delta notorious for changing flight times etc - I go thru JFK hate that part - maybe I will luck out for an Atl flight and the 2 days early - you are going to love the GB!!!!!

Joanna - you are #1 on the dinner list!! :app:

Carol and I will also be at the GB on 10/2/10 and would like to join the group dinner. Sounds like fun.

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will be coming from Vienna - most likely on 10/2 and staying at the GB. We stayed there about 10 years ago, right before the remodel, loved the location but I am really looking forward to seeing the NEW GB. If we arrive on the 2nd count us in for dinner - will let you know.

Got it, Ralph and Carol you are in.

Leslie - keep me posted. Lots of time to plan.

JoAnn, we'll be there for dinner and we're staying at the GB also. We plan to get in October 1 but we're booking flights through Regent so don't have the flights or time yet.

The group dinner sounds good to us to. We don't land in Athens though until Oct. 2nd @ 5:30.

Count me in for the dinner, Joann. I just reserved at the GB for one night. Haven't even started to look at air options yet.

Keeping a running list.

Marcie - we will just plan for maybe an 8:00pm reservation which should give you time.

Thanks JoAnn for setting up our dinner. It will be lots of fun. We too are staying at the GB.

I am so excited to stay at the GB, we were at the Intercontinetal for B2B, as were most of us, and it was very nice, but when I saw the GB on our private tour on Sunday, said to myself, next time GB!!! It came sooner than I thought - LOL.

I think you'all will really like this restaurant - it was a big hig with the B2B'ers, some of whom will be on TUT.

we had lovely room with balcony would have been easy to buy some wine and have people in - if we get good room again will do :)

Woohoo!. Party time!!

We booked a Deluxe room, as they were a bit larger than the Standard. Got an offer to upgrade to Jr Suite, but I called and the Jr Suites don't have balconies and we definitely want a room with balcony.

I did not make any requests past visit - using SW pts, again, will have to see how that works out - balcony is nice JoAnn! We had one full and 2 mini - luck of the draw I think for us past stay

For all of you AMEX Platinum card holders - booking the Grand Bretagne through them gets you:

an upgrade, if available
breakfast for two
late check out - 4 PM
85 euro spa credit

also, you can now book AMEX Fine Hotels and Resorts online and not have to call!
booking link

Being one of my favorite hotels in the World and jealous that we will not be joining everyone and being an SPG nut I thought I would post the options available for anyone booking the one and only GB...

Checking in on 10/1/2010 one or two night stays...

299 per nite in Euros
20,000 Starpoints per nite
8000 Starpoints $ $150 US Cash & Points, The best deal I think.

Also all Amex Plat Card holders are entitled to Gold Elite in SPG which entitles you to an automatic upgrade and 4pm Late check...

The spa credit and breakfast is a nice perk, only sometimes Amex rates can be a bit higher than on SPG.com...

FV

Thanks to you Frank I booked our first stay there due to your recommendation thanks! - I used Amex plat pts then but the SW deal is hard to beat this time -

The Amex rate is higher - 340 euros - but you get the free breakfast - worth maybe 35 euros and the 85 euro spa credit so that brings the "net" rate down to 220, assuming you plan to use the perks. And an upgrade is likely, though not guaranteed.

Joanna's points/cash deal is the best though - thanks for the heads up on that.

We too used our Starwood cash and points. Some times we get upgraded since we're Gold (anyone with Starwood cc is automatically gold). Unlike some others, we won't be there long enough to use the spa.

I don't quite have enough Starwood points for the reservation and was thinking of buying 1500 more - but then I realized that you can transfer Amex membership reward points over to Starwood... so that's what I will do and change to the points/cash offer.

Well we are good to go. Got the air all done, transfers in Athens, hotel in Athens, hotel in Madrid. Just have to work the transfers in Madrid, and will probalby use the concierge at the hotel per Leslie's suggestion. Will just do land taxi in Venice to airport.

Have list started for Saturday night dinner group in Athens. What will I do for the next 10 months, as Frank said. Oh wait, I know, plan a road trip to Charleston and Savannah in April.

Looking forward to seeing everyone, should be a great trip.

Just back from Mariner's Xmas cruise and can't wait to get on Voyager in October. Based on the recommendations, I've also booked a room at the GB for us when we come in on the 2nd; splurged on the Acropolis view. Also got our miles business class seats confirmed for the whole trip so we are good to go. We look forward to seeing everyone but will likely want to do a private little dinner for 2 that eve after the long flight.
cheers,
Kent & Jeffrey

Look forward to seeing you both again - Joanna and Tony

Looking forward to meeting you both. If you decide you want to join in for dinner, there is plenty of time, just let me know.

Any thoughts on the overnight offered in Israel or other recommendations? Regent is offering:
http://www.rssc.com/cruises/landhotelprograms.aspx?VoyageId=VOY101003&DisplayType=Program&Id=ASH-02|False&TimeType=OV

We've booked the overnight in Cairo with the line unless anyone has suggestions. Having been before, I think the day trip from Port Said and back isn't enough.

Kent

Kent:

I was all pumped up about the overnight in Israel until I saw the $1000 per person price tag.

Ngaire: Can you use shipboard credit on a excursion?

One of the main reasons I'm on this cruise is to visit Israel.

Pondering. Hope there are some good alternative recommendations forthcoming.

Cheers! Ray & Penny

Kent:

I would like to provide some insight on the overnight in Israel. I was planning on waiting until the other excursions are listed but I guess I can answer now.

Bottom Line: It is the biggest waste of money!

I have two major issues with this tour. First, they stay at King David hotel where rooms start at over $400 per night. Last month, we stayed at an apartment 15 minutes walk from the hotel but did celebrate our anniversary at their wonderful restaurant; La Regence. On this tour, you won't have that opportunity. It is a Friday night and the restaurant is closed. That is why the tour includes a Middle Eastern restaurant as most restaurants will be closed. Second, the second day of this tour is terrible. Maybe I shouldn't put it that way as you get to see some fantastic sites - Zippori and Casearea. However, Nazareth is only five miles from Zippori but you don't stop there?!?! If I remember correctly, on the trips from Haifa, you can actually go to Nazareth and maybe Galilee (will have to wait until tour is posted).

Here is my recommendation; particularly for Christians. I would engage a private guide. I would do a similar tour on the first day seeing all you can in Jerusalem. Going to Bethlehem is hard and time consuming so I would skip unless mandatory. The tour of Jerusalem would be fantastic. Then, I would drive the two hours to Tiberias and spend the night there. You aren't missing anything driving at night. Besides, no night clubs are really open Friday night if you were staying in Jerusalem anyway. The next day you could see Mt of Beatitudes, Capernaum (St Peter's house), Tabgha (Fishes and Loaves), Nazareth (Church of Annunciation) and maybe a bit more before heading to Haifa to join the ship. The problems with all the Churches are the opening times. However, if you are already in Galilee and see those three sites before 10am, you can probably add Cana to see the Church for the Wedding Feast before having a quick lunch in Nazareth before sightseeing.

If you don't want to spend the overnight, and you don't mind a couple of one hour bus rides, I think the Regent tours should be sufficient. However, if anyone is interested, I can provide the travel agency in Israel we used. While we have had better guides, their arrangements were fantastic and I am sure they have many guides to choose from.

Thanks guys,

My thought also...$1000/pp seemed high. Only reason I often like the line's excursions is they are liable to get you back to the ship. We are a group of 4 so might be interesting to put something together outside of the line (private tour) perhaps with a few others in Israel unless the Line's day tours look sufficient.

On Cairo, again $1000PP seems a bit high as I spent only $1200 for a 3 night pre-cruise stay there with Silversea just a few years ago, so we would be open to suggestions. We like the private museum tour included. Again we have a group of 4. Tour companies in both Egypt and Israel people have used would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Kent

Thanks guys,

My thought also...$1000/pp seemed high. Only reason I often like the line's excursions is they are liable to get you back to the ship. We are a group of 4 so might be interesting to put something together outside of the line (private tour) perhaps with a few others in Israel unless the Line's day tours look sufficient.

On Cairo, again $1000PP seems a bit high as I spent only $1200 for a 3 night pre-cruise stay there with Silversea just a few years ago, so we would be open to suggestions. We like the private museum tour included. Again we have a group of 4. Tour companies in both Egypt and Israel people have used would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Kent

I adn't noticed any day trips listed, at least last time I checked, to the pyramids or to Jerusalem/Bethlahem, only the two overnights shown under land excursions. Asdod didn't even show any excursions and in Cairo it was just around Cairo - did I miss something?

We are planning on doing the overnight from Cairo and re board the ship in Alexandria, as the main reason we took this trip was to see the Pyramids and the Sphinx, and the overnight trip seems much less hurried and rushed compared to some of the 13 hour day trips that have shown before - I don't do well on those very long day trips, so we tend to avoid them if we can, there are always exceptions of course.

We've been to Cairo so may skip that excursion but have never been to Israel. Tom and I would definitely be interested in using a private guide instead. I'm clueless to these towns/cities and appreciate your input Marc. We're use to doing our own thing (pre-arranged but not with Regent)so no fear using a reputable outside tour company to save $.

My problem with these trips is the use of $500 per day hotels when you spend so little time at the hotel.

I would really appreciate input on private guides and itinerary for Egypt tour. I agree with JoAnn that we would like to avoid the long bus trips but don't see why the Regent tour would be $1K per person.

After a little googling, I'm finding lots of options for Cairo for less $$. Memphis Egypt Tours (/www.memphistours.com/) for one offers similar overnight tours (from/to port transit) as the line for ~$200PP. Recommended on Trip Advisor. Anyone have experience with them? Sure there are similar options in Israel that aren't so overpriced.

Kent

Marc, thanks very much for your detailed insights about touring with the time we have in Israel. Our main reasons for taking TUT are to see what we can in Israel and in Egypt, and I've been wondering about how best to approach the ports in both countries. We definitely would be interested in receiving contact information for your travel agency in Israel. We'd like to explore private touring in Egypt also.

Kent, Maybe you can find out more on Cruisecritic from others? We've done Egyptian excursion overnights(Cairo and Valley of the Kings), but both times they were included in the World Cruise so I'm no help for tours. BTW, glad you and Jeffrey joined TUT, it will be nice to see you again since NZ-CA crossing.

Marc:

First of all, thanks so much for the good info. on Israel. I too don't like to spend a lot on hotels, the one exception being the Oberoi
Amarvilas in Agra, India when visiting the Taj Mahal. That place just blew us away and still dream of the beautiful surroundings.

Here's my video of the pyramids and at the very beginning is the guide's biz card. You can hear his voice.

Shame on you for not being at the HoDown ;)
=======================================
Part VIII - Viewing time - 44 mins.

http://gallery.me.com/ray.schuette#100629

INDIA: Suez Canal, enroute Giza & Pyramids, Cairo, Alexandria

GREECE: Rhodes & Athens

TURKEY: Kusadasi & Ephesus

===================================
Cheers! Ray & Penny