Olivia: Planning is half the fun for me - 7 nights for Europe, too short, and if you do pre and post (another 6 days?) means unpacking, driving etc - 14 nights Italy/Greece, for us, perfect ...we go into Copenhagen 2 days pre Fjords and then Rome one week following - counting flying time 25 days gone - most we can do with Tony still working -

That sounds like a wonderful 25 days, Joanna! I don't know of a working stiff other than Tony that can take that much time off! More power to him!

Well you can if you're self employed - it just means very tiny paycheck once you return - ;)

Yes, but he keeps planning it out, again and again once you decide. Tony is great!

Well good way at looking at it!!! Plus he is married to a cruise "NAG".. I did get the lecture no more Fjords too much $$$$ need to look at value cruises such as Lamb -

I would love a cruise from England to Rome with different ports such as Brugge, Coruña( to go to my beloved Santiago), Lisbon, Gibraltar, Mallorca, Ibiza, etc., etc. Although, I might not cruise on 2008 as I have 2 cruises for 2007, and that's unusual for us.
But if there is something we like, I'll probably do an onboard booking during CROSS.

Can somebody remind me: if I book a cruise let's say in March, can I later do an onboard booking in Nov. and apply it retroactively?
Thanks!

Olivia, if you want some tips for Scotland let me know! I was there for a week in January, going again in three weeks and will be there in July. And, of course, born and raised there!
Wendy, we would love to cruise with you and David again. We so enjoyed your company on SAND!

Wandra, no, I am actually on Princess. This will be a new experience for me. I have never wanted to be on a big ship.
Lynn

I would also love to see a Venice-Istanbul cruise (in the Fall to avoid the crowds & heat). Can't wait to see what is in store for 2008!

Hey Julie, mutual! So great that you have so much time in Scotland this year. I've been there three times, and love it very much. Don't know when we will get back there, so many places to go. But it's definitely a favourite of mine.

I too would love Venice to Istanbul, or something like that, in the Aegean/Adriatic of some sort. But in the spring! Regent doesn't seem to do much eastern med in the spring, so we may be stuck with O, or just do a land trip (we have friends who spend a couple of months in Crete every year, and they have been inviting us to visit them.)

I don't mind a mix of land and cruise, as long as I can park my cruisewear somewhere so I don't have to lug it around. We tend to try to plan it so we're not relocating every night, and dress very casually when we're travelling that way. Love the freedom of a little car when appropriate to let you follow your nose, or just spend an extended period in an interesting city, like Istanbul or Amsterdam (2 more favourite places!)

Julie, thanks! Maria, the rule is that you can book retroactively, provided the same priced cabin is available when you do the on-board booking. Not sure how strict they are. I've always been lucky the few times I've done it this way.

I'm interested in Mideast - Egypt - Jordan itineraries. Silversea has some interesting ones, like Dubai to Athens in April '08 - 35% savings applicable.

Thanks Olivia!

Dubai to Athens, 4/08, that's one we have our eyes on too. Like the itinerary, # of days-15, & season. Haven't tried Silverseas yet.

Michele & Leslie:

This is part of the World Cruise that we plan to be on.

http://www.rssc.com/voyage/details.jsp?code=VOY080327


Cheers! Ray & Penny

We'd like to do Dubai to Athens also. Ray, the World Cruise segment looks good, but since it's the world cruise, I wonder if there's any cabins left? And more importantly, will Regent let Ngaire do a group cruise on a world cruise segment?

The itineraries differ between the two - Silversea is 15 days vs Regent 19 days - also there's a BIG fare difference. Silversea starts at $5846 - $7246 for a verandah suite vs Regent starts at $11,350 in H.

Peggy you're right, I doubt Ngaire could get a group on a world cruise segment.

I hadn't thought of the WC! I was just thinking of the Silversea's 15 day, April '08(& the 35% savings). Yeah, getting a Ngaire group on a WC segment is probably impossible.

Going to Petra and Dubai is VERY high on my list. I am extremely open to considering putting a group together on Silversea for an itinerary like this. Possible also that the new Navigator itineraries may be in this region of the world and would of course be priced less than the Regent world cruise segment.

Silversea I think has two trips, one on the Cloud and one on the Whisper. I am MUCH happier on the Whisper.

Once we have all the 2008 itineraries we can see what looks best and take it from there.

If it will work you can count on me being on a trip with this itinerary.

Priority list: Roar ll, Petra/Dubai, Greek Islands and Baltics.

OK, we're waiting patiently for Regent to announce their 2008 itineraries and we'll go from there. Ngaire, if you do a group on either Silverseas or Regent, we're there with you!!!

<img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> I want this one!! Please Ngaire, it's perfect, # of days, itinerary and ship!

Ngaire, what were the single supplements on segments of the WC this year? I can't find them.

This year's Dubai to Athens on Silversea is now at 50% off. In fact it has been for the past couple of months. I would have jumped on it, but I was already committed to TAP.

Would we just need one of us who is a member of the Venetian Society to get the rest the discount (if it is a society sailing) if our itineraries are linked?

Ngaire,

I was fortunate to go to Petra when I was on a land tour in Israel and Jordan back in 1996. Petra is spectacular! I hope you will have the opportunity to go there.

Nancy

I can't tell from the website whether this is a society sailing, but if I go, will offer whatever perks I get for others to get the discount! I thought that was a Crystal thing, where you could share. Ngaire has so many exciting possibilities for our 2008 planning!

We need more information to make wise decisions on both the Regent and Silversea cruises. Should not be too long now until we have what we need to decide. I bet within a month we will have made a decision.

The "Friends of Venetian Members Program" is applicable to only select voyages.

I guess that should have been my question, Ngaire whether it was a "friends" itinerary.

As for Leslie's earlier post on price differential, Regent's pricing includes free air, and Silversea does not, so have to wait to see what the credit is if you book your own air, and Regent cruise is longer. Idea of flying to Bombay just to have 2 sea days doesn't appeal to me, as I would not book pre-cruise as a solo traveler. So many variables, too, as ports are quite different, one line staying mostly in the area East of Suez canal, other adding European ports that are familiar.

I love the color of the Adriatic and there are some rarely visited (by us, anyway) countries, such as Montenegro and Albania.

And in that area Venice and Greece are very convenient, also. We've been to Croatia and Bosnia, but wouldn't mind going back by ship.

There are plenty of possibilites for an interesting itinerary in that region.

I'm also interested in Dubai and other peaceful Mideast nations.

TedC, I notice you are new here, so welcome aboard lct! Not sure what post you were talking about being "convenient to Venice and Greece", as there are many itineraries being bandied about. Can you expand on your comments? Always nice to have a new voice!

At this time the 2008 schedules on the WHISPER shows that it is not a Ventian Society Sailing.

VOYAGE INFORMATION


Dubai to Athens
Dubai, U.A.E. to Athens (Piraeus), Greece
15 Days - Silver Whisper - Voyage 4810

Date Day Port Arrive Depart
20 Apr 2008 Sun Dubai, U.A.E. 7:00 PM
21 Apr 2008 Mon Fujairah, U.A.E. 8:00 AM 1:00 PM
22 Apr 2008 Tue DAY AT SEA
23 Apr 2008 Wed Salalah, Oman Noon 6:00 PM
24 Apr 2008 Thu DAY AT SEA
25 Apr 2008 Fri DAY AT SEA
26 Apr 2008 Sat DAY AT SEA
27 Apr 2008 Sun Jeddah 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
28 Apr 2008 Mon DAY AT SEA
29 Apr 2008 Tue Safaga, Egypt 7:00 AM
30 Apr 2008 Wed Safaga, Egypt 6:00 PM
01 May 2008 Thu Aqaba, Jordan 7:00 AM 10:00 PM
02 May 2008 Fri Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt 7:00 AM 2:00 PM
03 May 2008 Sat Transit Suez Canal
04 May 2008 Sun DAY AT SEA
05 May 2008 Mon Athens (Piraeus), Greece 7:00 AM
VOYAGE INFORMATION




Dubai to Athens
Dubai, U.A.E. to Athens (Piraeus), Greece
15 Days - Silver Whisper - Voyage 4810

FARES DID NOT POST OVER WELL - HERE IS THE LINK TO FARES ON SILVERSEA WEBSITE

http://www.silversea.com/destinatio...ype=viewfarelist&page_id=destination


Suite Savings APB*
(until 23 Oct 2007) EBI**
(after 23 Oct 2007) Published Fare
Vista Suite 35% $5,846 $6,296 $8,995
Terrace 35% $6,431 $6,926 $9,895
Veranda Suite 35% $7,276 $7,836 $11,195
Midship Veranda Suite 35% $7,666 $8,256 $11,795
Medallion 35% $10,201 $10,986 $15,695
Silver Suite 35% $10,916 $11,756 $16,795
Royal 1 Suite 35% $13,841 $14,906 $21,295
Grand 1 Suite 35% $14,556 $15,676 $22,395
Owner's 1 Suite 35% $16,701 $17,986 $25,695
Royal 2 Suite 35% $18,391 $19,806 $28,295
Grand 2 Suite 35% $19,106 $20,576 $29,395
Owner's 2 Suite 35% $19,821 $21,346 $30,495


A Silversea Air Programme add-on is available from 75 gateway cities as follows:
Economy Business
Promo Business


Silversea Air Programme applies to guests originating from the United States and Canada only. For air arrangements for all other guests, please contact a travel agent in your country of residence by clicking here.

Single Occupancy starting at: Vista - 125%; Veranda - 150%

Do not compare this with Regents World Cruise itinerary. All keep your fingers crossed for a Navigator Itinerary. That offers the same options of balcony and non balcony cabins for those who want less expensive cabins.

Olivia - my price comparison was just from the base - not factoring in any air, B&K or other potential discounts, so it's not a "real" price comparison. I'm with you on the downside of the world cruise itinerary - I wouldn't be interested in flying to Bombay either for the start and then having several sea days. I'm most interested in starting in Dubai and experiencing one of those crazy/luxurious hotels for a night or two. Looking forward to more details from Regent!

Hold my hand Leslie....I'm right behind you! :banana:

Leslie, I think this may be a great reason to have a "first" BK group cruise on Silversea if the itinerary is right! Actually, today at work when I did a brief per diem comparison it was probably 30-35 per day more for Regent (not a deal breaker), but they include those wonderful segment excursions and whatever goes along with being a WC'er. In the end, it is itinerary, and in this part of the world, I have no idea the difference, unfortunately. There are great differences in the itinerary. Like Ngaire said, we need more information, but it is something to look forward to!

If ROAR 2 weren't in the same calendar year, we'd be very interested in this. (Not enough vacation time!) Greg really wants to go to Egypt (a lifelong dream), and a Suez Canal transit would be awesome!

I also want to experience the UAE! We'll keep this on our radar and see what Ngaire ends up deciding.

So I'm interested in the difference between the Whisper and the Cloud??

Wendy, the Wind and Cloud are the smaller, older ships, whereas Whisper and Shadow are newer. Bigger cabins and balconies and bathrooms in the latter two. Also more passengers.

Age
The Cloud and Wind are the two original ships built in 1994 and 1995. The Shadow and the Whisper are the two new ships built in 2000 and 2001.

Size
Cloud and Wind, 16800 tons 296 guests
Shadow and Whisper 28,258 tons 382 guests

Cabins
The Cloud standard cabins are 240 sq.ft.
The Whisper standard cabins are 287 sq ft.

Many people like the Cloud and the Wind particularly those who have sailed on them since the beginning. Kind of like those that loved the Song of Flower. Personally I highly prefer the Whisper or Shadow. I just find the newer ships are more comfortable, bigger cabins, higher ceilings.

I will be in Dubai several times this year for work. I would love a Greek Isles/Baltics...am open to Silversea or Regent. Less excited about Navigator (mostly due to fewer dining choices) but if Ngaire was taking us as a group, I would sign up.....

Tina, it seems the Baltics are always one after another on the Mariner throughout the season, and not available with a combo like Greece and the Med, that are a bit closer. Navigator is a great ship in my mind after 3 cruises. Just doesn't have the multiple dining venues that the bigger ships have, not a problem for me because I prefer CR anyway! Especially would not discount this ship for that reason!

I like CR a lot but also really enjoyed Latitudes in October. I couldn't put my finger on it (and I tried....thinking it was Dining, staff, etc) but for some reason I liked the Voyager more. However, as mentioned I would not be against Navigator if it had the right itinerary. Lets keep our fingers crossed for great things in 2008!!!