One more escorted cruise for 2013. We have six cabins booked and that means if I am free at that time I will go ahead and escort. Always a nice cruise to Alaska without that long flight home to or from Anchorage. Same itinerary as BEAR but with the port of HOONAH.

No wonder there is no pooch game going on; Ngaire is planning even more escorted adventures. :D

:lct:

I thought you were on shore!! Mary Ellen and Jim are about to board if you want to visit come to the Navigator lounge soon.

Well, if this isn't some of the best news ever! :woh:

Very interesting! Kathy, does that mean you and Al are booked on this?? It could be the making of a MOOSE reunion!

We have a similar SFO-YVR cruise booked but it departs SFO on May 1 2012 (which we absolutely cannot go one). It was our FUN2 onboard booking. So, I think we'll move it to this one in 2013.

Yes, Kim, we are booked and I think you and Alice are definitely needed to start a MOOSE reunion!!!! Then we can get to work on the rest of them!!!!! :app:

I was wondering the same thing. Do you think Clay would think it a GREAT idea to arrive home from TAJ MAHAL and 2 weeks later leave for SFO? I will have to ponder this one. Maybe MOOSE reunion would work. No, he would say, "MOOSE who?" :)

OH, great, Kathy!!! We could be reminiscing about NILE 2 with you and Al while we are on MOOSE 2! heheh!!

Calling all MOOSEies! Whadaya think, Karen?!!!

WOOO HOOOO Betty!!!!!
Remember in the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" how the women said that the secret to getting their way is to make the men think it was their idea???? YES! I think Clay would think it a GREAT idea to arrive home from TAJ MAHAL and 2 weeks later leave for SFO! That way you wouldn't have to unpack! (You can do it.)

If it's a MOOSE reunion, I'll definitely be there. In debt, but I'll be there! Hello, Ngaire/Julie.

Glad to hear that, Betty...I'm sure Clay will understand!

Wow, what great news! Can't wait to see who joins us onboard. C'mon Betty!

Not sure yet if we'll be joining in, but it's very tempting!

Please, please!!!!! You picked the BEST name - now you just HAVE to come! :3smile:

Thanks, Kathy. If we went, it would be our 3rd Alaska cruise. We'd definitely do one again, but I'm concerned about the timing on this one. It's very early in the season and 2 of the excursions we've never done might not be offered: the dog sledding and the train that goes to the Yukon Territory. I checked the 01May2012 cruise and neither excursion is offered. But looking at one in June 2012, both are offered. So, I'm worried it's too early. Of course, there is plenty else to do, but paying that much money and not getting to do those excursions again stinks. So, I'm kinda stuck.

I totally understand your thinking.....May 10th is really early in the season. Fortunately we will still see you on Nile 2! Maybe then we can do some arm twisting! ;)

Well.... sometimes too much thinking can be a bad thing. We're coming along!

Yea Kim and Alice! :app: :app: :app:

This one is talking to me, for some reason.

Pam........because it's a good itinerary and GREAT people. Hope you are listening. :)

We were really looking forward to this cruise, but we have opted to cancel and book the MARINER cruise instead: Istanbul to Rome 07Oct2013. We'd love to do both, but since we didn't win the Mega Millions last week...we still only have limited vacation time and funds!

Kim, ..so that's just a rumor that you won Mega Millions ?? :D
Unfortunately we didn't either... :mecry:

Oh No, Kim and Alice. We will miss you! Had a feeling this was coming though..... :mecry: :mecry:

My parents recently booked this cruise and the Mrs. and I may join them. Although we are going on this same repositioning cruise next month, doing the cruise again next year would still be something to look forward to. Alaska is so beautiful!

Is there a formal roll call for this sailing?

This cruise seems over priced. Over $500 per day for window and $600 per day for balcony. That is almost as much as Taj Mahal and that trip includes flights to/from Bangkok and Delhi and a post cruise to Taj Mahal.

Does anyone remember cost for this itinerary in the past? Given that it is wide open, any thoughts on pending cost decrease? Or, does this itineary always fill up?

thanks,

Hi Marc. My impression is that Alaska always is expensive, more so than you would think, but your post got me to thinking so I looked back at our invoice. We had the benefit of an onboard booking discount, an itinerary change credit from a previous booking, SSS credit, and non-use hotel and air credit because it will be a simple flight for us from Dallas. Those advantages, plus Ngaire's discount for an escorted tour, got the pricing much better than what you were seeing, for an E cabin. Private email me if you want more details. Can we lure you and Arlene onto this cruise? Just a hop-skip from Taj Mahal.

Marc, I just did this trip last month. SF - Vancouver, 11 nights. The base per diem, before any of the deductions, and including air, was about $580 pp per night. This was for an E balcony suite. Excursions are very expensive in Alaska, and the ones we took were of quite a high quality.

Priscilla, we are thinking about it. Marc's Dad really wants to get to Alaska, but the cost and the 100% single supp for his Dad is probably going to be cost prohibitive. Still....you never know!

Wendy, that is exactly what Marc and I were thinking that the higher cost is probably due to the cost of the excursions, and since Marc's Dad won't want to do many of them it causes a problem. This is the one time I wish excursions were not included

There are some sedate excursions, of course. But I agree about the 100% SS. Perhaps you might consider Silversea or even Oceania for Alaska?

The Regent 100% single supplement is prohibitive for most. I have switched to Silversea where SS is 50% but sometimes 25% and sometimes even 5%! Service is equivalent or better and you can buy a lot of tours for the difference!

David, I like Silversea, too, having cruised them twice, only once as a solo, but I don't think it is always 50% single supp, is it? Of course, they do have much better deals at less than Regent ever does for certain cruises. But in Alaska? Would love a link where you see this.

I'm with David

David, Wes or anyone - does Silversea have free shuttles into port towns like Regent does?
I am also having to change cruise lines due to the single supplement issue. Doing a crossing in Sept that is only 10% ss.

One less zero on the single supplement is huge, Betty! Congrats. Our loss, though, those of us still on Regent who miss seeing you.

Well I just booked this cruise and the one thereafter, Vancouver to Vancouver as a back to back. Very excited, this will be our first B2B cruise.
I did the same SFO-Vancouver reposition cruise last month and loved it! Can't wait to do it again next year, although this time I get to stay on for another week of cruising!

CvH, I am glad to hear you booked another (2) cruises! While I don't repeat cruises one after another, I do enjoy repeating some itineraries. (Alaska, been there 3 times!) I bet if you haven't tried the Med yet, it would be another favorite. Or Asia....or Panama Canal....or Antarctica.....

jhp, there are indeed many fascinating places to visit in the world. Alaska so far is our favorite.
I have been to the panama canal twice. The Med and Antarctica are future interests. (The one nearest the top of my list is the Circle South America, it would take me back to where I grew up). Asia, is not for us. But we're still in our 20's, so plenty of time!

"David, Wes or anyone - does Silversea have free shuttles into port towns like Regent does?
I am also having to change cruise lines due to the single supplement issue. Doing a crossing in Sept that is only 10% ss."
Betty: Yes free shuttles have been provided on past cruises.

except if you are an Auburn fan :)