I just noticed that the second leg of my B2B on the Diamond in October is no longer on my cruises page on the RSSC site. It is also missing on the Diamond cruises web page. Rome to Barcelona.
Could this have happened because it is fully booked? If so, why have they taken it off my cruise page?
I will be very sad if has happened!!!

Uh-oh, Betty. I just looked at the RSSC site too and saw the same thing. Has the second half of our back-to-back been eliminated???? I sure hope not. I loved the second week itinerary together with the first week. Without the second week I don't know exactly what we would do. It's a long way for a 7-day cruise.

Of course, all this probably is jumping the gun. We have to wait to see what the overall status of the Diamond is, too. I may check in with "she who knows everything" and see what she thinks.

I am surprised we haven't heard from her, but I know she is so busy with the new Africa branch of her business. It must have just happened yesterday or today. I agree about the distance for only 7 days. We can always hope.

Priscilla and Betty,

I hope this is just a case of your cruises being sold out rather than canceled.

Please keep us aprised. I wish you both well, as I know how much you've been looking forward to these wonderful cruises.

Denise

I thought of you today. I remember you saying, "Will I ever get to Istanbul?" That is how I feel today. Now if RSSC would give us free air, that long flight might be worth it. The week before our cruise is almost what we have planned in reverse so that doesn't work. I just think it is very strange that when I plug in my booking # on RSSC site, it does show the second week. That is why I am a tad concerned.
My fingers are crossed.

It is a weekend, as we all know and most TA's are closed and sometimes have personal plans of their own. I'm sure you will get an update by Monday, as is the practise according to the website.

Oh Gee, Betty and Prescilla, I so hope that your cruises are not going to be cancelled. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Betty

Hold a good thought, Betty. I know how you feel when travel plans abruptly go awry. We were very fortunate to have visited this fascinating city last year and I hope you will be able to do the same.

Hopefully, on Monday, you will get some of the answers to your questions.

Took the night off and went to dinner with Ron and Linda. We never have time to talk, too busy in the office, and have not had dinner together since our cruise last year. We only live one block away and yet never seem to have the time.

This whole Diamond thing is up in the air I really dont think that anyone but the top brass knows what is going on and even they may not be sure - it is all about negotiation. Time will tell. I imagine they just would not continue to sell cruises they think may not take place.

I think we must all just hang tight and see what develops. I still think that the Europe season will finish out but that will be it and the Diamond will leave and not come to the Caribbean late in 2005. My guess is that if the cruise is off the web that is a good indication that it may not sail but you never know. Just hang in there everyone and we will see what develops.

There may be no answers yet. I am sure that RSSC wants a resolution as much as the passengers do.

Wow, we almost booked that one with you, Betty, but then we decided on the land tour of Italy. We'll keep our fingers crossed that it is still sailing.

Ngaire, glad you took SATURDAY NIGHT off!!! Nobody expects you to be at their beck and call 24/7. About the Diamond, you of course are absolutely correct. It's wait and see now. I imagine scenarios change daily as the negotiations proceed.

ChatKat, I just noticed your "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore." Just wondering, did you grow up in Kansas by any chance? I did, and I've been known to quote Dorothy lots of times -- but of course you don't have to be from Kansas to love the wisdom of "The Wizard"!

Kathy

We would have loved to have you all with us. The B2B is (was?) a grand itinerary. Priscilla & I are keeping our fingers crossed. She and I have talked about doing this since July when we left Norway. I know it isn't the end of the world but I sure felt disappointed yesterday when I noticed it.

Priscilla - Where did you grow up? I live in Missouri but I'm a tried and true Jayhawk!

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for both of you that the ship sails as originally scheduled!

The Wizard of Oz movie is very special to us - we own a Cairn Terrier. With today's almost tornado, we were saying "Run, Toto, Run" to our Daisy - a Toto look-alike.

Betty, we would have loved that Diamond cruise. But, when it came down to booking, we decided we've done so much the last few years, that a land trip might be nice.

Sue, I grew up in a small town north of Wichita named Moundridge. By small I mean a population of about 1,200. I still have family there so I'm back in Kansas several times a year. Oh, and I have a degree from KU so I'm a big Jayhawk too! Rock chalk ....

Kathy, I can't believe how terrible California weather has been recently. Totally unlike normal. Hadn't heard about a near-tornado today though. Stay safe!

I just read this message in CC from a poster that received some Diamond scheduling information.

good catch Maria, thanks..r/wes

I called Radisson myself to double check the Diamond scheduling info and was told emphatically that no decisions had been made and a decision would be announced in two or three weeks. Go figure!

I LOVE the staff in Omaha who answer your calls when you call in. They are a terrific group of people, that I highly respect and I think they do a great job. I could not do it without them.

That being said everyone who calls believes that what they are told is "Radisson gospel". It is not.

They do not have inside information as regards to things of this nature and you are getting peoples best guess in an effort to help you.

This is why there is so much "different" information or "misinformation". They do bookings, gold points all these things and are wonderful at their jobs but they dont make Radisson policy or have any insight into Radisson policy UNTIL IT IS OFFICIAL.

I often know something and in fact people on this board often know something before the people that answer RAdisson calls know something.

If it is not "officially" announced then please all remember you could call Radisson four times and get four different answers.

We just received notice from our TA that our fall Diamond crossing has been cancelled. No other news other than "incentives for cruising in 2005 will be forthcoming".

This sounds familiar...

The Song's final final was to be Rome to Barcelona (I heard this from a Song "senior" crew member) and it was scaled back one cruise do to where and when the new owners wanted to take possession.

onamountaintop, sorry your cruise was cancelled. I guess since the ship is headed for Hong Kong, didn't make sense to have it come to the US first.

I have not heard anything official or unofficial yet at all. I think since the October cruises are off the schedule that 2 and 2 are making 4 but I have not been told that by anyone at RSSC that would have that knowledge.

It is possible that RSSC is sending out or informing agents now and they have just not contacted me yet.

An update I received:

It is a definite. My Rome to Barcelona leg has been canceled. Now I have a decision to make. Do I take the Diamond's farewell cruise - which I have always said I wanted to do - or - do I look around for something different? Have been looking at Ngaire and Linda's escorted Singapore to Syndey. But the leg before that one Hong Kong to Singapore has more ports that I want to see. Of course, that price is higher & doesn't offer Ngaire, Linda or Ken.
I will probably stay with the Diamond, but am looking at all itinaries at this pont. PARTY is out - the only time of year my son comes home & I will save Alaska until my knees have totally given out & I can't fly long distances. Anyone else on the Diamond's Farewell?

Betty, we will be on the Hong Kong to Singapore leg on the Mariner...always glad to have more. We can at least see Ngaire and Ken in Singapore before we leave.

I had a feeling from what I heard from the staff - not the captain, who was giving out the company line more or less - that RSSC was trying to "extend" their lease until late fall. Guess that fell through.
I'm glad I had a chance to experience the Diamond. I hope that the staff can find positions on other RSSC ships (or new ones to come.) Some mentioned transferring to the land side of the business.

Can anyone tell me when date and destination of the Diamond farewell cruise? Although it is doubtful, I would sure love to do it.

Sally

Sally,

The last Diamond cruise leaves Istanbul on October 15, goes to Ephesus (Kusadasi), Santorini and on to Italy, ending up in Rome on October 22. Right now my husband and I are booked on it, but like Betty we can't decide exactly what to do since the second week of the back-to-back we had booked is gone. The two-week trip provided such a wonderful variety .... Decisions, decisions!

Priscilla and Betty - Sorry to hear that your cruise was canceled. How about touring Tuscany during that 2nd week? If you've not been, you will LOVE it!

If you have the opportunity to be on the final cruise of the Diamond, take it. When Suzanne, Crys, my mom and I were on Song's Swan Song in Oct. 03, it was wonderful. Besides the "parting gifts," it was filled with people who loved the ship as much as we did and felt the passing of the Song of Flower as a bittersweet journey. Odd, but the Song disembarked in Civitavecchia on Oct. 23. Funny coincidence!

Beth

Beth
I love the idea of parting gifts. Are these the ones that had to be pried off the wall at 2 in the morning?

Denise
Any suggestions on the best way to "tour" Tuscany? I know this isn't Tuscany, but it would be nice to see Venice after the cruise. Priscilla & I are just happy we have 10 months to work this all out.

Betty and Pricilla, how disappointing. But at least you now have some time to consider other possibilities.

Denise's suggestion is a good one. You might want to read one of Frances Maynes books to get a feeling for the area. I loved "Under the Tuscan Sun".

Betty, I know of only one person who enjoyed a "parting gift" pried off the door at 2am. We were given a lovely commemorative SOF throw and lapel pin. One evening we enjoyed a special pre-dinner party of oysters, steak tar-tar and flowing champagne (see Suzanne's photo under signature). We had a wonderful send-off to my favorite cruise ship. I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

I am sure Radisson will do a similar event for the Diamond.

Betty and Priscilla,

I think hiring a daily driver to tour Tuscany is a wonderful idea. I was not terribly pleased with the service that was used for this touring and would not recommend them. I would suggest contacting one of the many drivers that have been recommended on this board and ask for a good referral.

When we went to Italy in 2003, we hardly had enough time to really see this lovely part of Italy and I want to go back again and do it right, devoting far more time.

We stayed at an awesome castle (La Locanda Del Castello), and also took a hot air balloon ride over Tuscany (Ballooning in Tuscany), which was such an awesome experience. I STRONGLY recommend both.

Venice is magical. You could very easily wander this amazing city on your own. We did some of that, but also took some very good and informative walking tours with Walks Inside Venice. I would recommend them - Ask for Roberta for your touring needs. She was marvelous and very knowledgeable.

I hope this works out for you and Priscilla.

If we hadn't taken the exact cruise (although it was a back to back Rome to Istanbul)in 2004 I certainly would consider it. Priscilla and Betty you are going to love it! A post cruise in Tuscany sounds great.

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. We have decided to stay with our Oct. 15 Diamond cruise, and now I am so excited. When we were considering cancelling, I think I was having a knee-jerk reaction because we loved the second week itinerary also. But now -- even before signing on and seeing these suggestions -- we are getting excited about planning the land part of our journey, probably a little time in Rome and then who knows what. Denise, I definitely will check out your specific suggestions. We have been to Tuscany but didn't have enough time there. We are going to have the best of all possibilities open to us now -- a wonderful Diamond cruise combined with a wonderful land trip!

Beth, thanks for the encouragement about being on the final cruise. I know how you loved the Song -- and that's how we felt about it too. The difference here, for us, will be that we never have sailed on the Diamond so don't have that already-existing affection for it, but that won't affect our enjoyment of this special cruise in the least. In fact, I may not feel as weepy as I might have on the Song, so that's even better maybe!

Thanks again, everyone. No doubt I'll be back to you for recommendations in Istanbul (pre-cruise) plus Rome and environs post-cruise.

Priscilla and Betty,

I think the silver lining in this cloud is that you could use that week to explore the marvelous country that Italy is. Rome is my favorite destination in Italy but anywhere you go in Italy is magical. Tuscany is very special. I don't know if you enjoy traveling by train but the Eurostar service from Roma to Florence( 1 1/2 hr.) and from there into Venice( 2 3/4 hrs.) is very fast and comfortable. You could base yourself in Florence and do day trips from there and you wouldn't even need a driver.

Perfectly put, Maria. We have stumbled onto a silver lining, indeed. We definitely want to spend a day or two in Rome because our visit there a couple of years ago was only for a little more than a day -- way too fast for seeing all we wanted to see, let alone to soak up the ambience of that wonderful city. From Rome, we haven't decided exactly what route to go. Thanks for the train tip. I'll check that out.