They say it is alot less crowded in the early morning.

On the plus side, we'll get to spend some time in Jaipur and Delhi to get a little bigger "taste" of India. Also, I've heard that the best time to see the Taj is at sunrise (assuming you can even see at that time of morning :rolleyes: ) Regardless, it'll be a great trip.

Too bad we won't be there april 25 for the full moon when it is open at night.

Am I reading this correctly? We will be disembarking for the post trip to the Taj as soon as we dock in Mumbai ie 17th April and not the following day when others will disembark. Just trying to work out flights from Delhi.

Sheila and Ken, we actually will overnight on ship in Mumbai, getting off on 18th. Flights early morning on 21st back to states; don't know when eastbound flights leave.

Thanks Marc for the information. Think we'll be getting a SQ to Singapore and they leave about 8am. I'm hoping to get a QF points flight from Singapore to Brisbane hence the need to know the exact date a year out.

I moved the link for the Taj Mahal land trip to the Taj Post Cruise thread where it belongs, but since I'm here, is anyone planning to do the pre-cruise trip to Angkor Wat? That looks like a great trip too. I guess we'll do both, since we haven't been to Angkor Wat.

Can someone pack me in their suitcase? Please?
The stupid single supplement is killing me!

I think we will do both. We have not been to Angkor Wat or the Taj Mahal so this will take care of two things on our bucket list.

Carolyn and Don

Carolyn, fantastic--glad we'll have some friends around to enjoy Angkor Wat with us.

Regretfully, Tom & I have decided to cancel. Just can't do them all and luckily, we've already spent quite a bit of time in both India & Thailand.

As I type this: we plan to do both the Taj & Angkor Wat pre & post.
Just not sure which is pre & which is post....

Then, we'll have to focus on air and hotels.

We'll get there & deal with it all soon. What a great group on this trip!

(still in a glow from ZODIAC!)

Doug

Taj is post. Angkor pre. Do folks think it is worth it to do Regent pre trip or do it on our own? Will miss you Marcie.

Oh Marcie I am so sad to hear this. Marc and I were so excired when you booked it, but I know Tom was never that excited about this one. You are so right, we can't do them all. You and Tom will be missed

We were at Angkor last December. It was a sensational experience. And the prices there for both accommodations and private guides are quite reasonable. My recommendation would be to allow for at least three full days and enjoy the luxury of a private guide. There is lots to see and do. In addition to the ruins, you can book tours of both floating and land villages. We did both as we were there for five days. A totally memorable experience. Cambodia is pulling itself up by it's bootstraps and doing it in part with tourism. They get it. They do it well. And it is paying off for them. The people are WONDERFUL.

FYI - you get your choice of the three land packages included with the cruise fare.

If you want to do both a pre and post you pay for the other land program

Here are the prices
Taj Mahal is $1899 per person
Ankor Wat is $2099 per person
Chiang Mai is $1499 per person

So those that want to do two programs one pre and one post simply pay for the less expensive and take the other one as the included land package.

Just send me an email and let me know your wishes if this is not already on your invoice.

Ken and I have been to the Taj but we still plan on coming on the post trip as so many of you are doing this do not want to miss out on the fun.

We are not going to do a pre-cruise program just fly in as usual on the embarkation day if we can make it in time.

Ngaire

Although I will agree with Pat that our Siem Reap/Angkor experience was superb, I am not sure that I would agree that one could do a lot better than the Regent package in that same time frame.

Sure, 4 or 5 nights there would be better than 3; but the Regent package appears to be a pretty good deal based on my (admittedly very quick) review of the hotel prices. Raffles is an expensive hotel (considerably more expensive than the hotels Regent is using for the India package). The two days of touring around Siem Reap are pretty intense but will provide a good exposure to the Angkorian temples and the floating village life on Tonle Sap Lake.

Andi, I would suggest that you do a cost analysis of what your tour would cost on your own, as opposed to using the Regent package. The private tour factor is, of course, something that can't really be easily quantified and may be, in many occasions, "priceless".

Ngaire, could you tell us what credit we would receive for a non-use of the pre- or post-cruise package? That would be of great help in determining the value of the packages offered.

A million thanks. Fred

Fred the credit was $1000 per person for the non use of a land package but now pricing is out and varies so much I already have an email in to confirm if this is still the case. Not heard back yet. However I imagine that will not have changed.

So you would have to be able to do the packages on your own for $1000 pp in order for it to be a money saving issue.

I know for sure that you could not do the Taj package for that price. The logistics of all the transfers on a private basis it would get very expensive.

As you say you have to weigh the convenience and hassle free nature of a Regent tour to the independence that a private tour offers and not having a whole group with you at every turn.

Anything goes wrong with a Regent tour you are taken care of anything goes wrong on your own tour you are "on your own". Not a big thing but something to consider in the decision.

Thanks for the input Fred, Pat and Ngaire! Lots of homework to do.

Jack and Sue have also signed on. We're in a GTY at present.

Welcome to LCT, Jack and Sue

Welcome to the Taj group Jack and Sue. I look forward to meeting you both!

Well - It's looking like my family could possible be with the Taj Mahal group.

We have waitlist for both the Dec. and Apr. India Cruise .

Hopefully 1 (April) comes through - Crossing my finger's. (X)

Dave

Dave, if December Taj wins out we have a moderately active roll call on Cruise critic, y'all are welcome anytime if you end up booking (the more weather friendly Taj & India/Asia cruise). Plus you will get 18 days vs 17 with visits to Bali and the Maldives too for about $1500 less.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1552920&page=8

Wes, the December cruise has six sea days to just three in April. In addition, the April cruise has ZERO Formal Optional nights versus two in December. Also, the April cruise has overnights in Bombay and Cochin while the December cruise has zero overnights. It is nice to see that Regent is not doing "cookie cutter" repeats of itineraries but giving choices.

Hi Marc, Agree, these are two very good Voyager itinerary choices for SE Asia. Our preference (we actually prefer formal nights(why we also like to sail on Silversea)--must be our military background) is for more vs less formal nights (would watch your itinerary as you get near sail date, per Regent policy voyages over 16 nites will have formal optional nites, we had two of them on our 17 nite Dubai to Athens voyage in April). We also prefer traveling when it is cooler than warmer--if we were booked on the April voyage, I would need multiple head bands for many of the excursions. Our itinerary does have one overnight (Singapore). As a scuba diver, very much like that two dream dive locations phuket and the maldives, are included on our itinerary. Also, we like the superstar crew leadership we have for this voyage: Captain – John McNeil, GM – Franck Galzy, CD – Jamie (and of course Dana) Logan. Regardless of which itinerary you are fortunate to sail on--December or next April-- both voyages willbe fabulous voyages.

ps..Ida and used Travisa outsourcing for our Indian visa's. If you want to save some coin, we paid $194 for our six month indian visa's vs Regents price of $518 (259 ea.) Pix attached. Took us six days to get our Indian visa's from Travisa--superb svc.

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #235415 11/27/12 02:39 PM Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,569 Any Regent ship will do.... Mrs. Marc cruiser Mrs. Marc cruiser Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,569 Any Regent ship will do.... Unfortunately Marc and I have had to cancel this trip. We are really going to miss all of you, and will be looking forward to sea mail as this is a trip we both really wanted to do. Arlene Adventure before Dementia!

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #235416 11/27/12 04:02 PM Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 814 So. Cal. and NZ Ralph W. cruiser Ralph W. cruiser Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 814 So. Cal. and NZ Sorry to read this. Was looking forward to cocktail time with Marc. PS. Love it when you are there also.

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #235418 11/27/12 05:13 PM Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,967 jhp cruiser jhp cruiser Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,967 Cocktail time is always fun with Marc, Ralph! Having just been with them for Grand Prix, I can attest to recent contact! Sorry you had to cancel, Arlene! I figure it is about 11 pm now in Rio, and I'm tired. Long trip home, but going from South America to the east coast where the time change is not so bad, and more time to sleep on the plane is really good. I was on same flight with Eugene and Gail, and we had a couple of hours on the ground in Sao Paulo before Dulles, then I had to fly to Philly to catch a plane to my regional airport in SBY, so almost 1/2 same time again to get all the way home after arriving in Dulles. It's always good to come home after a nice long cruise!

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #235421 11/28/12 05:57 AM Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,434 Washington, DC Dreps OP cruiser OP Dreps cruiser Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,434 Washington, DC We're also sorry to here that Marc and Arlene. ------------------- Eugene and Gail

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #235425 11/28/12 12:44 PM Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,471 New York State sedona cruiser sedona cruiser Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,471 New York State Likewise...will miss our buddies

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #235427 11/28/12 03:58 PM Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,335 Boston A AndreaN cruiser AndreaN cruiser A Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,335 Boston Very sorry to hear Marc and Arlene, especially since I had to cancel GP You will be missed!!

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #235431 11/29/12 04:52 AM Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,991 Fort Worth, TX pwolftx cruiser pwolftx cruiser Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,991 Fort Worth, TX Oh No!! Who'll drink "Blue" with Jerry?? We'll really miss you. Peggy

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Ralph W.] #235462 12/01/12 03:24 PM Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 6,369 Georgetown, TX Marc cruiser Marc cruiser Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 6,369 Georgetown, TX Originally Posted by Ralph W. Sorry to read this. Was looking forward to cocktail time with Marc. PS. Love it when you are there also. Ralph, I will definitely miss our cocktail hours. Jerry, I will miss our after dinner "Blues," too. Alas, need to spend more time with our parents. Arlene left today for LA to spend the next month helping take care of my father; I will join them over the holidays. With so much going on, vacation time became a real concern.

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #235546 12/06/12 09:00 AM Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 49 H2O Bound cruiser H2O Bound cruiser Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 49 December '12 - Voyager Taj Mahal Dave

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #236311 02/04/13 10:53 AM Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 1 Houston, TX L Linda H cruiser Linda H cruiser L Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 1 Houston, TX Bryan and I are new to Luxury Cruise Talk. We are doing the Beijing to London 78 night cruise. We will be in cabin 815 for the cruise. Looking forward to meeting new friends. Linda and Bryan Humphries

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #236313 02/04/13 12:17 PM Joined: Jan 1970 Posts: 15,174 Palm Coast, FL KarenS Moderator KarenS Moderator Joined: Jan 1970 Posts: 15,174 Palm Coast, FL Welcome Linda and Bryan, what a great cruise you are doing! Karen Live long and prosper

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #236810 03/12/13 10:47 AM Joined: Jan 1970 Posts: 15,174 Palm Coast, FL KarenS Moderator KarenS Moderator Joined: Jan 1970 Posts: 15,174 Palm Coast, FL Very cute pin! Karen Live long and prosper

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #236811 03/12/13 12:07 PM Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,991 Fort Worth, TX pwolftx cruiser pwolftx cruiser Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,991 Fort Worth, TX Love the pin!! Peggy

Re: TAJ MAHAL Roll Call [Re: Dreps] #236817 03/12/13 06:15 PM Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 961 Ohio Anna B. cruiser Anna B. cruiser Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 961 Ohio Great pin - I love it! Looking forward to some great sea mail from this group! Kathy