Maria
I like your idea of having a base in Florence. No unpacking every day that way. Like Priscilla, i am starting to get excited about the land possiblities. But unlike Priscilla and John, I have sailed on the Diamond several times & it is my favorite ship. I know they felt this way about the Song. It will probably be a good thing to do a land trip afterwards so I would not be sitting on a long plane ride home, being sad that it is truly over.
It will all work out.

Priscilla,

There were many passengers on the final Song cruise who had never been on her before and had no idea it was her last cruise. Even though you haven't enjoyed the Diamond before, you know and love Radisson. It will be an extra special time for you all and can help Betty enjoy this grand finale. The after trip through Italy sounds wonderful.

Priscilla and anyone else interested in my Tuscany recommendations -

Here are the websites for La Locanda Del Castello
www.lalocandadelcastello.com

and Ballooning in Tuscany
www.ballooningintuscany.com

I hope you find this helpful in your plans. A land tour after the cruise will be fantastic! Wish we could join you!

I, too was on the cancelled fall transatlantic. It was my understanding that the $250/pp credit could be applied to a 2006 sailing as long as it is booked by 12/31/2005.

We're trying to decide what to do in light of the cancellation. We had chosen the Diamond, first and foremost because I prefer her intimacy to the larger Voyager. But also because of the earlier departure date. We return to Madeira in mid December and the later departure leaves little time in between the two trips. Plus the Voyager is a day shorter. Even 9 nights is too short for me, and we probably would have ended up booking the 4-day Caribbean extension like I did this year. 8 nights hardly seems worth the effort of packing the formal clothes. However, I would have considered the Voyager in spite of this, if RSSC had offered a positive incentive. Their no apologies, take it or leave it attitude leaves me cold. Don't get me wrong, I realize that the circumstances were beyond their control. But how they handled the cancellations was entirely in their control. I'd consider transfering the credit to the spring crossing, as I could drive to FLL with some artwork that I've been dying to take to Madeira, but that isn't even up on the website. Right now RSSC has agreed to refund the onboard booking deposit. I don't want to lose it by waiting too long to make a cancellation decision. Given that I am traveling to Madeira every other month, it's not likely that we'll find time for any non-crossing cruises in the near future.

As it stands, I'm looking at alternative crossings for the fall. However, since we will already be in Madeira the options don't look very bright. Seabourn does a crossing from Tenerife, but you just can't get between the two islands. Canarias airlines can't even give me a schedule that far into the future. We could always take a short hop back to Lisbon for a departure if the timing was right. So far nothing seems to fit.

So I suppose the spring crossing will be my farewell on the Diamond. I'll really miss her! I hope that her wonderful staff finds positions within RSSC or are welcomed onto other cruise lines.

Joanne,

I am so sorry to hear of the cancellation of your cruise. I know how disappointed you must be, and Betty and Priscilla too. I do hope that alternative plans will work for all of you.

I echo your sentiments about saying farwell to the beautiful Diamond.

Good luck!!!

Betty

I hope all of you that have cancelled cruises will be able to find appropriate replacement cruises. :(

Masaki