On a brighter note - got the passports back with the extra pages in today's mail. WHEW!

On to the Chinese Visa process ...

Cheers, Anne

We have passport scariness issues too. Jerry's passport is currently with Zierer to get expedited additional pages and return to us by Aug 1 prior to a scheduled trip to Belize. We get back from Belize Aug 10,then we'll fed ex the passports to Zierer again for the China visa we need before we leave for Anchorage on September 10. Zierer tells us that as long as they have 20 calendar days, there's no problem getting the visa to us (for a rush fee, of course). Like everyone else, I hate having to send off our passports! Hopefully this will work as planned.

Peggy - let us know when your passports are safely at home. Are you planning any dives in Belize?

Cheers, Anne

Sending good thoughts your way Peggy :hug: :hug:

Anne, I can't believe this, but we never have taken up diving. We'll probably dive into a few cosmos, however. And we'll undoubtedly do some snorkeling (in the water, not in the cosmos). We're going to Belize with some friends who are going on business. He will be installing a water treatment plant at a new resort on Ambergris Caye -- his wife and Jerry and I will be supervising from the beach. :app:

Peggy, don't you just love those "opportunities" such as friends who need you to go to Belize with them on business? Have fun.

Now THAT is the job I want!

I went and picked up our passports at the chineese embassy today, so we are all set!! <img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" />

My VISA was just delivered!!! <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" />

Ours arrived today. Whew! Glad to have my passport safe & sound back at home.

Amazing .. in less than three weeks, sent passports to US Passport Agency for expedited new pages, got passport back, sent in for Chinese visa, got passport back. The Goddess (Jennifer at B&K) must have sprinkled lots of stardust in the bureaucrat's eyes. We are grateful!!

Cheers, Anne

We're still waiting for Jerry's passport. We sent it in with a check to expedite putting in additional pages five weeks ago :eek: We sent it through Zierer Visa Service because I thought it would be faster -- guess not. The good news is that we got an email a few minutes ago saying that it was fed-exed out tonight to arrive on Monday. We'll have less than a month to get our China Visa when we get back from Belize and this experience is making me very, very nervous about that.

Yes, but since you have been in their (Zierer) hands all along, don't you think they will get it done?

You are definitely having a different experience from Anne and Gary.

Peggy we are doing a land trip to China in September (Yunnan provence & Tibet) - leaving here on August 28th. From what I've read it shouldn't take too long to get Chinese visas even if you don't request expediting - maybe a max of 2 weeks for the whole process?

I sent our passport and visa requests to CIBT last Friday - (www.cibt.com) - they have an online status check so you can see where you are in the process. Right now ours are at the consulate for processing. It is a nice feature to be able to "see" where you are in the process and I think the status check will show us a tracking number when they send back via fedex.

Peggy - I believe Zierer and CIBT are part of the same group. I originally planned to use CIBT for all the passport stuff for Panda. When I called, though, they told me they were only expediting the additional pages for customers who had an air itinerary showing a departure within the next two weeks. Did you have a similar discussion with Zierer? CIBT indicated the non-expedited extra pages was about 4 weeks plus mailing time and felt confident they could get everything done on time. That timeline sounds consistent with Jerry's passport.

Cheers, Anne

Actually, we were told it would take two to three weeks to get the additional pages--but it's been nearly five weeks. Could be my fault though, because I indicated we had to have the passport back by August 1. We'll have it by then, so I guess I got what I asked for. Zierer also has an online status check which I've been checking periodically. When I looked at it yesterday and it still said the passport was being processed, I called them. Apparently that got some action, because they sent someone over to the State Department today to pick it up. They emailed the Fed Ex tracking number a couple hours ago, so it's on it's way. Zierer is telling us it only takes a few days to get the China Visa and it appears that was the case for Anne and Gary, so hopefully it will work for us too. Lesson learned, though, this time I'll say we need it back ten days or so before we're supposed to leave.

Well, here's a completely different approach ...

We're CHEAP!! After all, every dollar saved is worth $100 (my own personal calculation) toward the next cruise. Zierer does a very good job, but I was looking for something less expensive. For the WC, Zierer did all our visas as part of our fare, but for PANDA we're on our own.

I looked online and found the Chinese Visa Office in Houston -- www.visa-chinese.com/contact-china-visa.htm -- I admit I was nervous, but we sent off our passports and $138 for BOTH of us. We sent them 7/17 by registered mail, enclosing a priority mail confirmed envelope for their return. Today, just ten days later, we received them back!!

I'm amazed!! I'm thrilled!! And think of all the hundreds of $$ we have toward the 2009 WC!!!

So maybe this is something others might try ...

Betty

That's great, Betty! Thanks for the tip.

Cheers, Anne

We finally got my mom's passport after a mere 13 and a half weeks!!! :eek: ...and as my well-informed LCT friends had shared that Chinese visas were going up $50 on August 1st, I sent our passports off immediately. Wouldn't you know it, we missed it by ONE day, and it cost us $150 more!!! :mad: ARGH!

Oh well, I guess I have to have the "...wisdom to know the difference!" :rolleyes:

Good news is that we will have all our passports and our visas SOON!!

Sheri, glad to hear that you are "legal" and we will be seeing you and your folks soon.

Good news, Sheri. Well, we do finally have Jerry's passport in hand and now we're off to Belize in a couple hours. When we get back we can start sweating out getting the China visas before we leave for Anchorage and pre-PANDA.

We got our visas back this week. For the same reasons as Betty, I shopped around for the lowest service fee I could find and we paid the same fee as Betty ($19 each) and included our own prepaid return postage.

I put our passports and applications in the mail on July 24 and they were back on July 31. I too was a tad nervous but it worked out fine. Since the service was recommended on the China consulate's website, I figured they were legitimate. It worked very well and I would not hesitate to use this company again.

BCV Visa and Passport Services

Dena

we got our passports back with the extra pages this week - they arrived at USPassport Service on May 15th.

I'm always happier when I know where they are and are in MY possession.

Peggy

Just got my Chinese visa back today, well, I guess that it what is in that unopened overnight thing at the office. 10 days start to finish. Sounds like Dena found the better deal.

A word of caution about CIBT - I literally had to pry our passports and visas away from them. The Chinese visas were processed July 26 but for some reason CIBT just sat on our passports since then.

I needed to scan the visa and front passport page and send it on in order to get our Tibet travel permits processed. After promising they would send them last Friday, as of yesterday they were still sitting at CIBT. My follow up e-mails to the "promiser" and calls to the dept. manager went unanswered. Fortunately I got a conscientious person in customer service to advocate for me and they showed up via fedex today.

So, I will stick with Zierer in the future who I have used before satisfactorily!

WHEW, Leslie! Glad you finally got everything in order! That was nerve wracking, given that you are leaving on the 28th!

Leslie, you must have been a wreck!! So happy you got them in time. Like you, we've never had a problem with Zierer before either.

Leslie - Yikes! I've used CIBT for several years (they were our passport service at work). This was not a good time for them to drop the ball, that's for sure.

Have a very good time! We will look forward to hearing all about your trip.

Cheers, Anne

Yippee, we just got our passports back with the China Visas. This must be a speed record, it only took 8 days start to finish. Now we're ready to roll on PANDA!

Fantastic! We'll see you onboard. Cheers, Anne

Changing the topic: On Regent's site, a one category upgrade is no longer listed under our tier benefits. Does anyone know what has happened? Surely they can't take away benefits they have already given!

Ardis,

I looked at the 2007 list of tier perks and didn't see the upgrade. Somehow, I think it's for returning world cruisers.

Peggy

I remember one thing - we had free pressing??? whatever tier I am 125 nights??? Zapped - I thought it was tacky to take away pressing!!!!!!! Offered and then GONE!!!!!!
Indian giver is an American English expression used for any individual who gives something and then either takes it back or wants to take it back

I didn't realize they took away pressing! We are hoping it is just another example of Regent not being too careful with their site. I emailed Rose and hope she will answer today.

For Gold, they took away unlimited pressing and said we can have only two items pressed.

On Fjords, instead of wanting pressing on a formal night, I sent in two things two days before debarkation. Morning of debarkation, bill had $4 charge. I called, and, after more arguing than it should have taken, the charges were reversed.

All of these modifications to the SSS are just nickel and diming. Until they give away free cruises, there is no real money involved. I went through $300+ of internet time on Fjords but I wonder Regent's true cost. The other benefits are non-existant. The $600 saved via goldpoints was more valuable than all the other SSS benefits put together.

I agree, Marc. They should tie in some percs in their hotels with the crusies. Even if they aren't ready to give away free cruises, they could offer substantial upgrades, free nights in the hotels if you book 2 or more nights, better hotel rooms, etc.

Rose says that the one category upgrade is not linked to tier benefits but is "on select voyages" only.

Few things about Regent have annoyed me and I am not a complainer - but we all have our "buttons" this is one of mine - I am married to a guy who irons but not my things - I take a lot of linen and was sooo looking forward to a press or two or three - my perk was sooooo easy - just don't give me one and take it away!!! Hotel perks , free trips??? If pressing is a NO - well????

Joanna, the Regent website indicates that Gold Seven Seas Society members still get free pressing for up to 4 items for a 7 day cruise. Can't remember, did it used to be more than that?

Still correct Peggy - I think I just wrinkle often :eek: :eek: I just was disappointed it was intially a perk for gold (unlimited pressing) then withdrawn -

Well in that case, if we EVER get to cruise together, you can use some of my pressing. Since I travelled so much for work, just about everything I own is wrinkle-free :) .