Just back from the Owners Signatures conference in San Diego. Regent news as follows.

The winter collection for Regent is due to open soon. Rumor says around October 8th I am glad I will be back in town by then.

The Mariner will probably do the usual South American itinerary. I also heard that the Mariner may be doing Alaska! I like the Mariner in Alaska and I may consider the re-positioning cruise from CA to Vancouver via Alaska. I always enjoy Alaska.

I bet the Navigator will do the Caribbean during the winter months as usual but if the Mariner DOES do Alaska what then for the Navigator?

The Voyager ends up the 2015 schedules in Beijing so will be doing the Asian area but I think it will need to probably end up in the UK or Copenhagen ready to do the Baltic's that is the normal pattern. That could prove to offer some interesting itineraries towards the end of the winter collection as the ship re-positions to Europe.

Explorer 2016 wont be out until later and will start sailing at some time in 2016. Hopefully we have those itineraries in January/February with the release of the Summer collection.

I did hear at the Signatures meeting that the maiden cruise for the Explorer would be offered by tier level. Order I assume would be Titanium, Platinum, Gold and Silver and then the general public.

Great assurances from NCL, Regent and Oceania that the three brands would remain completely independent operating separately. The savings from consolidation would be more in purchasing power, for fuel, food etc things that are back office and not really affecting each brand.

Interesting news, Ngaire! I will be curious as to where the Navigator goes in the winter months, too!

Ngaire, you sure do stay busy! Thanks so much for the updates.

Karen, there are lots of places for Navigator to go in the winter, but I would assume they stay in the Caribbean. As for the summer, instead, maybe she could switch to French Polynesia, with Hawaii along the way over, as summer is the "dry season" in FP.

We certainly will have a lot more choices once the Explorer is in the mix. I'm so excited.

Ngaire -thanks for that update.

Was there any information on the dry dock for the Navigator which had been scheduled for late next summer but now seems to not be scheduled. Lots of talk on CC about that refurbishment, and at one point there was a blank in Navigator's schedule which has now been filled. As you mentioned one of the discussions was about Mariner going to Alaska, which would be great for the SFO to NYC trip I would think.

Olivia, the FP/Hawaii routes would be a great addition to the RSSC schedule.

Silver seas, Oceania are both out with early 2016. Why is Regent always so late? Looking at our calendar we have Jan feb March free in 2016 and need to start thinking about filling it up. Oceania has a few interesting trips but want to see Regent before I choose but then worry the cabin we might want will be gone. They are the same company. Are they doing this on purpose? Frustration!

And for what it's worth, Crystal posts - and books - their cruises way ahead as well. They came out with the 2017 itinerary during the 2014 World Cruise.

Peggy

Not sure why Regent is slower but it has always been that way. May even be slower than usual with the announcement of the Explorer schedule coming as well. These ships often are delivered late and it makes things complicated.

I have been thinking about ALL of 2016.

January – Antarctica

March/April – Egypt I am doing a land trip to Egypt. Susan Walsh is over there right now and said things are great. Had a list of people waiting for me to decide to do this again and I think I will do this in March.

May – Alaska. I think I will do the California to Vancouver Alaskan cruise. The Mariner it appears will be back in Alaska and I always enjoy that trip.

July- Safari Group.
Rest of 2016

Explorer will probably be doing Europe in 2016 as it is being built there. I may focus on Regent and the Explorer in the summer and fall. If one of the other ships has a great itinerary that is always a possibility as well. If I am going to do that this is also why I decided on Alaska instead of a European itinerary in the May/June time frame. I can go to Alaska over and over again those “foodie” shore excursions and the wildlife always ring my chimes.

October 8 the schedules will be released and I can hold group space but NO booking actually being made until a week later.

So in this “winter” opening the only Regent cruise we will be escorting is the May Alaska trip. If you have an interest in this then please email the office or post here.

I am on the Silver Explorer right now with internet but expect to lose it tomorrow and not have it back until about September 27. Clay will keep a list for me of any emails

We definitely want to be on list for the Explorer!

We too would be very interested in the Explorer. At one time Susan was keeping a list of those interested in something on Explorer during the inaugural season and we had emailed her to put us on, but am posting here again to be sure.

Hopefully we're already on the list for the Explorer, but if not, we sure want to be there. For some reason or other I haven't been able to log in to LCT for quite some time. I'm using Firefox today, so I guess it has something to do with Internet Explorer.

How could we not want to be with the Ngaire group on Explorer. Put us on the list. Pam and Jim

I'd be interested in the Explorer for fall.

Add me to the group interested in the Explorer, please.

I am hoping Jan and I are on the wish list.

Ngaire...Penny and I definitely want to be on your Explorer list! Can't wait to see the ship!

i hope that rosanne and myself get invited to the explorer as well


never know??

We also would be interested in a group trip on the Explorer.

We're also interested in a group cruise on the Explorer in the fall of 2016. I read Ngaire's post to say that the schedule for the Explorer will not be released next month but will probably be released in Jan. - Mar. 2015 with the rest of the 2016 Summer and Fall Collection.

Dave & Joan

i have just spent 8 days in mayo clinic to stop smoking

so maybe they will let me on board
\


as now i am a non smoker

Please add Kathy and Al to the list for a fall cruise on The Explorer.

Bud and Sherry would like to be on the list of those interested in a group trip on the Explorer as well.

Well Regent winter came out today. I am busy with Antarctica and a land trip earlier in the year so cannot do any of the itineraries until later.

I have some who want to do the ALASKA 14 day itinerary on May 18th. First time they have offered a 14 day trip without simply repeating a 7 day trip that I can remember. Happy to do the Mariner again in Alaska as well. So Ken and I plan on doing this trip.

ITINERARY
Date Port Arrive Depart
MAY 18 WED VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA 5:00 PM
MAY 19 THU CRUISE THE TRACY ARM FJORDS & SEYMOUR GLACIER
MAY 20 FRI KETCHIKAN, ALASKA 8:00 AM 11:00 PM
MAY 21 SAT WRANGELL, ALASKA 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
MAY 22 SUN CRUISE TRACY ARM
MAY 22 SUN JUNEAU, ALASKA 1:00 PM 11:59 PM
MAY 23 MON SKAGWAY, ALASKA 8:00 AM 7:00 PM
MAY 24 TUE CRUISE THE PACIFIC OCEAN
MAY 25 WED ANCHORAGE (SEWARD), ALASKA 6:00 AM 5:00 PM
MAY 26 THU CRUISING HUBBARD GLACIER
MAY 27 FRI ICY STRAIT (HOONAH), ALASKAAnchor Port 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
MAY 28 SAT SITKA, ALASKA 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
MAY 29 SUN PRINCE RUPERT, CANADA 1:00 PM 9:00 PM
MAY 30 MON CRUISING THE OUTSIDE PASSAGE
MAY 31 TUE VICTORIA, CANADA 8:00 AM 11:59 PM
JUN 1 WED VANCOUVER, CANADA 7:00 AM

http://www.rssc.com/cruises/MAR160518A/summary/default.aspx

We like the the Singapore to Bangkok or Hong Kong on the Voyager on Jan 18, 2016 -- anybody else interested?

I may be! Myanmar has been on my bucket list for a long time.

That is on my bucket list too Olivia.

I am trying to figure out a way to get to Myanmar and check out the two new river boats doing this area. AMA and Sanctuary. Both good lines but I want to see them both and then do a river cruise at some point to see more of the country. No idea when I can fit that in though.

Seeing it from a Regent ship may be enough anyway.

The only other time we may be able to do another cruise is in April.

One includes Yangoon however, many have just done India on Dubai to Cape Town this November so this is similar. I do not mind going back to India I am a shopper in that country. There is a pre-land program to Ankor Wat free for concierge suites and $499 for regular cabins. Same thing is offered on the cruise Peggy likes.

ate Port Arrive Depart
APR 12 TUE SINGAPORE 6:00 PM
APR 13 WED KUALA LUMPUR (PORT KLANG), MALAYSIA 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
APR 14 THU PENANG, MALAYSIA 9:00 AM 6:00 PM
APR 15 FRI PHUKET, THAILAND 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
APR 16 SAT CRUISING THE ANDAMAN SEA
APR 17 SUN AT SEA
APR 18 MON YANGON (BURMA), MYANMAR
APR 19 TUE YANGON (BURMA), MYANMAR 12:00 PM
APR 20 WED CRUISE THE INDIAN OCEAN
APR 21 THU CRUISE THE INDIAN OCEAN
APR 22 FRI CRUISE THE INDIAN OCEAN
APR 23 SAT COCHIN (KOCHI), INDIA 4:30 AM 5:00 PM
APR 24 SUN MANGALORE, INDIA 9:00 AM 6:00 PM
APR 25 MON GOA (MORMUGAO), INDIA 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
APR 26 TUE MUMBAI (BOMBAY), INDIA 8:00 PM
APR 27 WED CRUISE THE ARABIAN SEA
APR 28 THU CRUISE THE ARABIAN SEA
APR 29 FRI MUSCAT (PORT QABOOS), OMAN 8:00 AM 7:00 PM
APR 30 SAT FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
MAY 1 SUN ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 12:00 PM 11:59 PM
MAY 2 MON DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 7:00 AM

Only other option in April 2016 is Bermuda
ITINERARY
Date Port Arrive Depart
APR 8 FRI MIAMI, FLORIDA 6:00 PM
APR 9 SAT NASSAU, BAHAMAS 8:00 AM 2:00 PM
APR 10 SUN CRUISING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
APR 11 MON HAMILTON, BERMUDA 3:00 PM
APR 12 TUE HAMILTON, BERMUDA
APR 13 WED HAMILTON, BERMUDA 4:00 PM
APR 14 THU CRUISING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
APR 15 FRI NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 8:00 AM 11:00 PM
APR 16 SAT CRUISING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
APR 17 SUN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 8:00 AM
APR 18 MON CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 4:00 PM
APR 19 TUE PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA 10:00 AM 7:00 PM
APR 20 WED MIAMI, FLORIDA 7:00 AM

If anyone has any interest in either of these trips just email or post here.

Olivia, we'll talk .
The April 12 Singapore to Dubai is a lot like SPICE which we're doing in a few weeks which is also like the cruise we took from Bangkok to Dubai in 2013 -- we did a pre-cruise to Angkor Wat on that one. So I still like the Jan. 18 itinerary that includes both Myanmar and Borneo.
But we would be interested in the April cruise to Bermuda!

Peggy - I think you will be happier with 3 days in Myanmar in January than 1.5 days in April. There is so much too see in the country and it is soooo fascinating! I looked at the list of excursions offered and several look good. Would like to suggest that if you do the January itinerary look into doing your own trip to Bagan. Pagodas as far as the eye can see. Mandalay is also interesting but I would rank that city 3rd. I think January would be a better month to go as far as temperature and greenness of the landscape. Also - tour the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon in the morning. Since you must remove your shoes at the site, the bottom of your feet can get very burned.
All of this is only my opinion.

The January trip Peggy mentioned looks great. I'm interested. Maybe we can discuss further on SPICE.

No doubt the January trip is better and different from what we have just done, but unfortunately not in the cards for me this year. Something always seems to come between us and Myanmar but I will get there at some point.

It looks like there's some interest in Jan 18. Ngaire, could you send one of your staff to herd us in January? Or maybe we could have a group without a leader???

Love the thought of Bermuda, but it seems strange to have a port in Norfolk, which is only an hour from our house LOL. Noticed the excursions included one to Williamsburg, which is 4 miles from our house. Waiting to see what else comes out later, can hardly deal with 2015 right now. :)

Peggy, that is a great trip and I will get one of my staff to escort that trip. I feel bad that I cannot do that myself. Not sure WHO yet but we will get someone on that ship from the Brown and Keene office. Hopefully we can get that sorted out before the 15th opening to book so you can get prime cabin selection.

In the mean time I have enough to start a naming contest for Alaska 2016 that is always fun. I will ask Karen to get that going.

OK, we like the Bermuda cruise also -- I like the idea of just flying to Miami and back for a change, so we're definitely interested in that one if Ngaire does a group.
Joanne, as you know, Norfolk is a great stop. If you're on that cruise you could run home and check on the house . I love that they're staying overnight in a couple of the ports--lots to do in Bermuda and Charleston!!!
Bottom line -- we'll probably do both of these cruises.

We are on for the Alaska trip.

We like the Bermuda cruise too!

I have some emails about BERMUDA and with Jerry and Peggy and Al and Kathy as well we will go to Bermuda also. I have not been to Bermuda for years and I like the Mariner a lot. So its a go.

So two escorted trips by Ken and Ngaire in 2016 winter opening.

BERMUDA - Mariner 12 nights April 8th, 2016 to April 20th, 2016 - Miami to Miami.
http://www.rssc.com/cruises/MAR160408/summary/default.aspx

ALASKA - Mariner 14 nights May 18th, 2016 - June 1, 2016 - Vancouver to Vancouver.
http://www.rssc.com/cruises/MAR160408/summary/default.aspx

YEA!!!! So glad to hear this!

The 4 of us would be interested in the Bermuda cruise :- )