Just completed our questionaire from Capt. Dag re three different options for the 2006 World criuse aboard Voyager. Option 1 goes from FLL around the east coast of South America to Valparaiso and then across the South Pacific to New Zealand. After that it's pretty much a repeat of the 2005 cruise, except that the Med port are mostly in North Africa instead of Europe. Option 2 is pretty much a repeat of the 2005 cruise. Option 3 is the one we've been waiting for. First leg isn't great from LA-FLL, but the second, third and fourth legs are really interesting. From FLL-Rio and then across the Atlantic to Cape Town and up the east coast of Africa/Madagascar, Mauritus and up to Mumbai. From there on it's the standard Asian ports and back to LA thru Hawaii. Might figure in the 2006 safari planning if we can convince RSSC to do it. Anyone else get the questionaire?

So if we waited until 2006, we'd be seeing much of what we'll see on ROAR?? I never received any such questionaire...how were you selected Doug?

Doug, I did not receive the questionaire from Radisson. The reason we moved over to a land trip was because of the ports on the east coast of Africa, and too many that weren't as interesting as the itinerary we came up with in the time we had to spend on the trip. (Silversea will be there in 2005, so we knew the ports) Also, not enough time in Cape Town. Mauritius was the shining star, however! Then there was the problem of fitting in the days we wanted for safari, which is the reason we wanted to go to Africa to begin with! Once we found rovos rail, it had truly turned into a "land cruise" because of the all-inclusive nature of the time after Cape Town. We have enough to fill a dining car, and have two lodges filled with just us.

I got it yesterday - Joanna

I feel so special. Mine came today and with a "personal message" from Capt Dag himself. Right!!!
I can't believe that I received this when others didn't. I have to call Janet at RSSC every 6 months to have her put me back into their computer system. Neither the old system or the new one seems to want to send me mailings. If you all didn't mention when you receive brochures, I would never know when a new one was out.
I like the option with South America the best. I think it is Option 2. But part of the world cruise will occur during ROAR. I guess a person can't do it all at once. :mecry:

Dont feel bad Betty, you are not alone. When they converted to the new computer system the mailing list was all messed up. Many many people are not on the list and they seem to be having great difficulty getting this straightened out.

On a positive note there are some new features of the new computer system that are really very good and make aspects of the bookings system so much better.

My questionaire arrived today....will look it over tomorrow.

sounds like the questionaires are coming by mail as opposed to a survey last year which was emailed . . right?

Peggy

I received it Thursday..........

Claudia

Ours came yesterday, and we filled it out last night. We think it's great that the questionnaire is circulated, however, we didn't think there was always enough information to answer the questions adequately. For example we're not sure exactly what is meant by "comfortable and acceptable ports." Also, in determining sea days, I guess we're to assume that if "overnight" is not indicated, the ports listed just involve one day. Most important, we were very disappointed that the options did not include an Auckland-Sydney segment as in the 2005 World Cruise. (Now two segments are required, and it seems the area is not covered as intensively.) It also seems that the summary sheet at the back is somewhat redundant. Is Radisson really trying to find out if we rate a segment Excellent, but are Not interested in actually taking it? It will be interesting to see the end result of all this.

Dreps

We got one on Thursday. Too busy with packing and wrapping up work to do this right now.

We received our survey today. I have just completed it. It was really a hard choice but I voted for option 3. The letter stated a return envelope was enclosed but we did not receive one. Should I sent the survey to the Ft. Laud. FL address, or was another address listed on the return envelope. It will be fun to see what RSSC comes up with for the 2006 WC.

Carolyn

Gosh, I wish they would have sent me one! I hardly get any mailings from RSSC anymore, and I have been on lots of cruises. However, I am not ready for a world cruise, so not sure I should be telling them where to go anyway.

Dreps, I agree with you all the way on the Aukland to Sydney leg. I only got that legfor Jan 2005 by itself after getting on the waitlist very early. There is a demand for that itinerary and it confounds me that now they have cut it out (into I know not what, as I didn't get the mailing)

You may still get it Olivia. Mine only came today. If not I will send you mine. I have it at the office.

I'll complete mine tomorrow...maybe I should mention this missing Auckland to Sydney segment....although there is NO WAY we're doing a World Cruise 2 years in a row. (there's questions such as "how likely are you to cruise etc?) If there's anything you want me to mention...speak now and I will be happy to vote the way you want. Should I choose option #3 as the favorite?

They probably won't take much credence in whatever we suggest since we're not viable passengers! I'm happy to vote anyway you choose!

I hope a lot of people DO NOT vote for option 3 since it excludes Australia and New Zealand completely. Marcie, your comments allude to the point I was trying to make. Namely, that I don't think the questionnaire does enough to distinguish the difference between finding an itinerary interesting or well thought out and the likelihood of the respondent actually selecting it for a cruise in 2006.

Dreps

Sorry Dreps! We have been waiting for RSSC to do the South Atlantic, South Africa and the Indian Ocean( Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles ) for quite a time now. We're firmly in the camp of Option 3! RSSC has and has had plenty of cruises going to Australia/New Zealand; it's time for some variety.

Dreps, Voyager did Grand Pacific in 2004. Included 22 day segment around Australia. In 2005, the World Cruise will go to both New Zealand and Australia. Also, in the fall, there are Singapore Sydney and Sydney Los Angeles segments of the Grand Pacific Voyage on Mariner. Its time to provide some variety to those that schedule the trip annualy AND to those of us just trying to see the world for the first time.

We'll we're just trying to see Australia and New Zealand for the first time. Did Tahiti and just returned from Alaska. Not planning a 2005 cruise at this time.

Dreps, have you looked at Silversea itineraries? Not sure whether they will be doing Australia and NZ next year, but I can promise you that after having sailed for the first time on the Silver Shadow, you will be hard pressed to see the differences in the two lines, other than the all-inclusive policy on SS.

Doug,

I am with you, option 3 sounds wonderful.

Carolyn

We didn't get a survey either, but the more important thing is to get back on the mailing list, it seems to me. Particularly as we're booked on two cruises now, with more planned.

We are taking 2 segments of the 2005 world cruise HK-Singapore and Singapore-Dubai. Would love to see Radisson do Option 3 (Africa and Indian Ocean etc) in 2006 as we begin to knock off an around the world cruise segment by segment. Agree with Marc that Radisson and others seem to offer a lot of options to see Australia and New Zealand year in and year out. Do only former world cruisers receive the survey? We're past Radisson but not on a world cruise. Thanks...

Greenflash; I think the selection for the questionaire was kind of random. We only have @ 130 days aboard RSSC ships, but we have had 6 cruises with them in the past 2 years and 3 more scheduled. We board in Singapore and go to Rome, so we'll see you aboard. You can most always find us on the dance floor whenever there's music playing.

Those of you who like option 3, do you realize that the ship would be going against the time zone on most of the cruise? That means you will be losing hours on quite a few of the segments. We have done it before and you really feel the hours that you lose. That means less time to party.

We sent our survey in, and I guess some of us just love the segments in the South Pacfic....We were on the first segment 2 years ago on the Navigator and now we'll be on the 1st segment onboard the Voyager. We've been all over the Med. and So. Europe.....there is just something special to us as far as the South Pacfic goes....I'm sure there are some who don't even like these segments, but they are few and far between....And so far we've never meet any.(well maybe a few on Christmas Island).

To follow-up on Sealover's comments regarding traveling against the time zones: as much as passengers feel the loss of the hours we have the option of sleeping late and skipping any/all activities. The Staff and Crew does not. Sailing in this direction is FAR harder on them than on any of us.

Peggy

Peggy

Greenflash (and others), I am keeping a roll call of those from this board doing any (or all) of the segments....please let me know names, cabin #'s so I can add you to our rollcall:
http://www.luxurycruisetalk.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000105

Is there any updating needed?

Dougburns,
We'll look for you on the dance floor! We hope to get some dance lessons in before the trip so we can twirl away too.
Greenflash