Did you guys get this email from Brown & Keene today? This looks so exciting to me as I've always wanted to go to Istanbul. Nothing like planning way ahead! :banana:
http://www.bkrssc.com/07_VOY070929.htm

Got that, and some very enticing Silverseas offers. Couldn't get to the prices with out calling, but a similar to WAVE thing is being offered, but later in July. They were so much higher than RSSC all along, I am not surprised. It was 11 days, but you can't get the pricing from the SS website that I could find. Most I could see, they are finally getting close to RSSC pricing on this cruise. Go figure, they do it at then end, and we seem to be a group to advance plan. Still works out in the end. Especially with two day gratis pre-cruise with certain RSSC cruises. Too bad I'm not on one!

This one has $1,000 off or free economy air AND 2 nights hotel in Istanbul when booked through B & K (duh, like I use anyone else). I love Venice and I'm sure I'd love Istanbul too.

That is shown as when "booked through B&K" because it is not on the Regent specials it is a bona fide group special so you wont see that offer on the normal Regent website.

I'm sure this is a great trip. Denise and I did the Greek Isles trip which took in Istanbul, which is a fantastic city. Marcie, I would do it if you haven't done it.

Ngaire, do you still get the two nights hotel if you don't use Regent air?

Yes, nothing to do with Regent air.

I see their single supplement has risen to 40% now. I am very disappointed.

Hey we'll do it!!! I have wanted to do Venice/Istanbul!!!! We'd probably do 2 nights in Venice pre - YEAH!!!!!

Joanna let's count on it. Maybe a good one to transfer one of our onboard bookings we currently have to. I'm sure we'd do a couple nights in Venice too.

I wish this cruise wasn't so close to British Isles, I love the ports, and didn't spend any time in Istanbul when I was there for Black Sea cruise!

Is this hatching into another group get together? H-m-m-m.....Will Ngaire make it an escorted cruise? Looks good for a B2B too. :ch:

No escorted cruise...It seems Ngaire has her calendar full :(

Sorry to hear that! Joanna, guess you're our escort!

Ah Joanna and Marcie, how envious I am! This IS a really nice itinerary, and we missed Istanbul last year when we lost our Diamond itinerary, although we still got to Kusadasi (with Joanna and Tony!). But, for us as with Olivia, it is too close to the British Isles cruise. Oh well ....

Joanna, your jumping on this itinerary reminds me of when we heard the Song of Flower was leaving the fleet and I called Ngaire and within minutes had scheduled one of the last cruises, even though we had returned from a Navigator cruise just a few weeks before. It was one of my most fun impulsive moves ever!

I have bever been to Istanbul and Venice was 35 yrs ago so I am way overdo!!

All the better, Joanna! I would love to go back to Venice -- we were there maybe seven years ago -- and Istanbul remains high on my list. So I'm planning how to stow away with you .... :D

NOt a problem Priscilla - I have a suitcase that will work perfectly for you "Miss Tiny"

Joanna, I am at your beck and call, whenever and whatever -- No one has called me tiny in years!!!!!

This does sound good and we have an open booking to use. Hmmm, lots of cruise talk at our house this weekend.

Yes Yes Yes Donna!! So when is the PUBS cruise that's messing it up for Olivia and Priscilla?
Editing: just found it on B & K website. Look at it this way...you have 12 leisurely days to get to Venice to join us!!

This is pretty tempting! Depends on how our trip to see the polar bears pans out.

This looks like a wonderful itinerary. Alas, it is at the end of a quarter and definitely off limits vacation time for me. :(

But, have you noticed that Ngaire's offer also extends to the next two cruises? So, we have booked a back to back and will make this our "big" vacation for 2007. We'll be on the 10/6 Istanbul to Athens and then the 10/13 Athens to Venice. We have never been to the Greek Islands or Istanbul and the only time I have been to Venice was back in 1976 while I was in high school.

Maybe we can meet up for lunch in Istanbul on October 6? We'll fill you in on Istanbul and you can tell us about Santorini, Kusadasi, Mykonos and Venice! :3smile:

Mary Ellen

Great idea Mary Ellen would love to see you two again - Donna would love to see you and Alan too!!!!Joanna

We're officially booked! Cabin #645

Would not count on the polar bears Andrea. Not enough interest to form a group based on Mark's post.

So Andrea how does Venice/Istanbul look????

It's looking pretty good Joanna! It just wouldn't be right for me not to have anything booked in the fall - of next year! :D

Those dates actually work out perfectly because I need to be in the office for reporting on the 6th business day. Plus, since I didn't get to do my Med cruise for my 40th last year, I can celebrate #42 a few weeks late! <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Andrea: We booked too - please come - I always need something cruise wise to think about ...not that Mush and Fjords aren't great - BUT I have wanted Venice/Istanbul for sooooo long - and you and Tony can celebrate birthdays (belated for him 2007) 42????? you are a baby...we could be your parents but our kids would say "don't scare Andrea!"
Joanna

Oh Andrea, please come! We can celebrate both of our birthdays on board!! You haven't lived til you meet Tony Mondae! :app:

HEY~!~! What about his wife?????????????

hahahahahahahahahahahah!!
Forgot about her..sorry! Yes, definitely a wonderful package deal!

Andrea, TWO good package deals, and I come with good knowledge, having cruised with them land and sea!

Thanks Olivia - you are more convincing than what's her name??? - Tom Matassa, like Tony Mondae, is a PRINCE :p :p :p

Marcie,

Looks like they're going to need to put a nameplate on the door of that cabin that says:

Official LCT Cabin
Marcie and Tom
Kathy and Frank

That's our cabin too! Visiting it in less than a week now!

Andrea,

You'll have so much fun with the Matassas and the Mondaes - you should definitely sign up. We'll look forward to getting the latest info from all of you before we start our cruise.

I just wish we could go that week too.

Mary Ellen

Yes Mary Ellen...lunch in Istanbul sounds great!!
Kathy, you're right...need a name plate. #645 is the cabin we have for '07 WC too so take good care of it for us next week!! I chose it again for this so we'd really feel like we were coming home!

Such bad influences on my wallet! ;)

I'm in. This is a long dreamed-of itinerary for me. I also remember Ngaire mentioned something about pashminas in Kusadasi that were fabulous too.

Hopefully you won't all be sick of me by the time this rolls around, what with MUSH & FJORDS.

YIPEE ANDREA!! I promise you we won't be sick of you....can't guarantee you might not be sick of us though!

I am so happy Andrea - I love the itinerary too!! Yes pretty pashminas in K - I brought a bunch home as gifts - never kept one for me - good reason to return!! We loved Santorini but most of other ports will be new for us - Joanna