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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93336
11/06/06 08:56 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
jhp
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OP
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Posts: 7,967 |
Oh wow, USAir let me extend for three more days.
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93337
11/09/06 03:30 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
AndreaN
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Just heard from Ngaire - the pre-cruise portion is $3745 per person.
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93338
11/09/06 03:40 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
jhp
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OP
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Posts: 7,967 |
Today, some nice lady finally extended my award travel on the outbound to 331 days before the return! I still have to get home!
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93339
11/09/06 03:43 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
jhp
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OP
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Andrea, what is that for, 4 days and includes Tokyo that you wanted?
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93340
11/09/06 03:46 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,641
joannapv
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I don't do well with the FF "stuff" - I do have good flights to CPH (Fjords) and thank God there was a problem with Alitalia return (multi stops) so now we are on good return (Delta) from Rome into Atlanta...now working on GREECE - I don't enjoy the "chase." Good job Olivia!!! Hope all the Panda gang has good luck - Joanna
Joanna
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93341
11/09/06 03:51 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
AndreaN
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Olivia, so glad to hear that! What a pain to have to keep calling.
I'm worried about booking the return next week as the best option is on Cathay Pacific, and I've read that their award seats are limited.
Yes, that's the 4 day precruise including Tokyo and Kyoto.
Joanna, glad to hear you got a better return from Rome!
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93342
11/14/06 08:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 672
FDV72
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Posts: 672 |
Hi Masaki Carla and I are on PANDA: Let the party begin! Frank
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93343
11/14/06 08:51 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,051
Mrs. Masaki
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Woo hoo! More people to party with!
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93344
11/15/06 12:17 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244
Masaki
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It'll be quite a party with this group! Welcome aboard, Frank and Carla!!
Masaki
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93345
11/17/06 07:23 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 50
Penny
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Posts: 50 |
Hi all. We booked this trip yesterday with our friends Gene & Linda so add 4 more to your list. I have been a lurker for awhile but am very excited to be going on an escorted tour with Ngaire. Any advice on what airline to take from LAX. We are thinking of going 2 days pre cruise and staying 2 days post should we use the Regent packages or do our own thing? Also I am not sure about this off of the ship excursion if we do Bejing & the Terra cota warriors does that mean we are off ship 3 nights? thanks for any advice and again we are very excited. Penny & Gary we are in G GTY Linda & Gene 1004
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93346
11/17/06 03:17 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 50
Penny
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Posts: 50 |
Sorry Linda & Gene are in 1006
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93347
11/17/06 04:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244
Masaki
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Welcome Penny, Gary, Linda & Gene! Yes, we'll be off the ship for 2 nights, I believe, with the Xian excursion but Regent will put us up in nice hotels (the Shangri-la, if I remember correctly from previous posters).
Masaki
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93348
11/17/06 04:50 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,335
AndreaN
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Posts: 2,335 |
Welcome Penny! Glad you delurked.
Hopefully Dena will chime in since she's flying from LAX, but I think your best bet is Japan Airlines into Osaka (you'll probably have to change planes in Tokyo) and Cathay Pacific for the return. We were both able to get our award seats taken care of this week - yay!
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93349
11/17/06 04:57 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,907
Sheri
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Is Cathay Star Alliance? I thought they were until I called USAIR and they indicated that Cathay wasn't a partner. :(
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93350
11/17/06 06:08 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,079
DenaH
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Here I am, chiming in! It depends on whether you have any loyalty to a particular airline or alliance. Andrea and I were getting award tickets through American, so we used JAL and Cathay Pacific as the best options. Both go nonstop to their respective hubs from LAX. American also flies LAX-Tokyo, but my personal opinion is you get better service, seats, etc. on foreign carriers. I have not flown JAL, but Cathay Pacific business class is excellent.
United flies nonstop LAX-Tokyo and between Tokyo and Hong Kong, so that may be a good choice. They also have a nonstop from San Francisco to Osaka, and from HK to SFO, which allow for connections to LAX (or even Burbank if that is convenient for you).
Sheri, Cathay Pacific is in OneWorld (American's alliance).
Like Andrea, we got our award reservations done this week. There is one little change I'm hoping to make, but overall we did well with our flights.
Now that the flights are booked, I can relax and look forward to seeing everyone in Osaka!
Dena
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93351
11/30/06 07:50 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 50
Penny
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Posts: 50 |
HI everyone I am back with more questions. We are still trying to decide if we should do our own air. Now any input on the pre & post options. We have never done pre or post with regent they seem rather expensive. Thanks for any advice.
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93352
11/30/06 10:17 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244
Masaki
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I think most of us should do our own air - you can probably get coach tickets to and from the west coast Osaka and Hong Kong for less than $1500/person. And you'll get the flexibility of booking the schedule and routing that you want. We're also doing our own pre and post though I haven't figured those out yet!
Masaki
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93353
11/30/06 10:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
jhp
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OP
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Dena, were you able to get biz class all the way with award travel on American? United won't release biz flights to me, even though I have given up the points. I am biz on USAir from East Coast to SFO, but on my United flights over the Pacific (the really important ones!), they say nothing available SFO to KIX(Osaka) and return from Hong Kong. I started booking 331 days out.
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93354
12/01/06 05:48 AM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,079
DenaH
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Posts: 1,079 |
Olivia - yes, we were successful in getting business class from LAX to Tokyo on Japan Airlines (via San Francisco) and then from Hong Kong to LAX (via Cathay Pacific). I started booking as early as possible and was unable to get the JAL nonstop from LAX to Tokyo. The strange thing for us is the domestic Japan flight that we booked from Tokyo to Osaka - there is an odd Japan Airlines rule that award travel can't be booked into domestic J class (business class) no matter the availability or what award is used. It's only an hour flight so we will certainly survive.
One of the agents I spoke to at AA said that Asia award travel is in extremely high demand at this time. I also booked as soon as the flights came open for booking.
Good luck, maybe something will open up for you.
Dena
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93355
12/13/06 07:06 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,917
ssclbc
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Posts: 1,917 |
Just signed up for the Xian/Terracotta Warriors trip and am currently waitlisted for the Tokyo/Kyoto pre-cruise.
I'm looking to book 2 nights in Hong Kong independently, has anyone found good deals? RSSC's package at the Peninsula is outrageously priced!
Lauri
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93356
12/13/06 12:22 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244
Masaki
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Posts: 6,244 |
Didn't know that we could sign up for the Xian trip already???
Masaki
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93357
12/14/06 04:55 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,917
ssclbc
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Yep, in fact you have to sign up for it before you board. Ngaire quoted me $1450 double $1575 single.
Lauri
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93358
12/14/06 09:58 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244
Masaki
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Posts: 6,244 |
Yeah, I knew that you had to sign up beforehand ... just didn't realize that we could sign up THIS early ... :)
Masaki
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93359
12/15/06 11:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244
Masaki
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244 |
OK, we're signed up too. :)
Masaki
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93360
12/19/06 10:34 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 365
count Florida
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 365 |
PLANNING FOR PANDA! The good news is that we were able to snag business class reward seats (120,000 each R/T) from Florida into Tokyo and returning from Hong Kong on Delta, which is inaugurating new service to Asia next spring, so there are some reward seats still available. If you're trying to find a way to join us for PANDA (or have booked already and are looking for air connections) check with Delta. They are using new Boeing 777 from/to Atlanta across the Pacific, and we have found those planes quite good for passengers. Delta accepts transfers from AMEX Membership Rewards, and the transfer goes through almost instantaneously, so that's great – no more waiting for the non-reversible transfer to go through while some other agent might grab the scarce reward seats (you thought) they were “holdingâ€. As a result, we will not be starting our cruise in Alaska, but instead have booked the Tokyo-Kyoto pre-cruise tour, which sounds fabulous (thanks Marc).
The bad news is that the Terracotta Warriors tour for 2007 is being offered between Shanghai and Hong Kong, not between Beijing and Shanghai. In any case, my idea to take the train instead of flying from Beijing to Xian on the Terracotta Warriors tour went down the drain at least as far as Regent is concerned because they don't even entertain 'deviations' to existing (established) tours. They say it causes them too many hassles and introduces risks they don't want or need to deal with. The only way to do it with Regent would have been an independent tour arranged by their Concierge, which would have put the cost "over the moon", particularly after you pay $100 per day (non-refundable) just for the planning. Then you get to pay for the whole thing up front, and again that's non-refundable. NG! So . . .
We are exploring the possibility of using a reputable established China-based travel agency to arrange an independent Beijing – Xian – Shanghai tour for us. The Regent tour of Beijing and the Great Wall, etc. from the port of Tianjin included in the cruise is scheduled for Monday Oct 1 and Tuesday, Oct 2 (incidentally, these are the first two of China’s 3-day “National Day†holiday, for whatever that’s worth). We are looking (via the Internet, mainly) for a reliable agent to arrange an independent tour for us. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, RESPOND HERE OR E-MAIL ME (count_Florida@hotmail.com) and I'll keep you informed - no obligation.
When main group returns to ship Oct 2 afternoon, we would like to remain in Beijing and take best 'Z' deluxe category Z19 train to Xian overnight, This train leaves Beijing West station 20:28pm Tuesday and arrives Xian 07:58 Wednesday morning Oct 3. We would tour Xian area, including Terra-cotta Warriors, etc. that day and if recommended, the next day. Remain overnight one or two nights, then fly from Xian to Shanghai to meet the Voyager, which arrives there 7 AM Friday Oct 5. We can spend night of Oct 4-5 either in Xian or in Shanghai, and there is a safety net because the ship remains in Shanghai until 1 PM Sunday. We have asked several agencies to recommend a specific sight-seeing itinerary, things to see, do, etc. and to make other suggestions for our consideration.
We would use only the Z train - 2 berth deluxe ‘soft class’ sleepers with private toilet on the train, have dinner before boarding and breakfast after arriving in Xian, and stay in at least 4 or preferably 5 star hotels in Xian and, if included, in Shanghai (the cost for 5 star hotels is very reasonable in either city). We would use only regularly scheduled airlines with Boeing or Airbus planes for the Xian to Shanghai flight and include an English-speaking guide to get us from hotel to train in Beijing, in Xian and to get us from plane to hotel or cruise ship in Shanghai.
[size=8]Too Many To List - 416� days & counting on Radisson/Regent, and 150+� days on 8 other lines, with one cruise booked next month on the Mariner, Miami to Honolulu 22 days
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93361
12/19/06 10:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244
Masaki
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244 |
Is this for certain, that the Xian excursion will take place between Shanghai and Hong Kong? That would be really unfortunate seeing that we'd be looking at shortening one or the other city and that both cities are very high on our list to maximize our stays in ...
Masaki
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93362
12/20/06 06:44 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,434
Dreps
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,434 |
Maskai, at least one Xian excursion is already listed for PANDA in 2007 (see Shanghai excursions)--Terracotta Warriors and Li River Cruise. We signed up for it, and according to Ngaire, a number of other people have already done so. It actually works out pretty well, you only miss a morning in Shanghai because ship departs at 1:00 PM and an afternoon in Hong Kong because ship arrives at 1:00 PM (but aren't you doing a post-cruise in Hong Kong anyway). There's a sea day in between while you're on the excursion. As you probably know this excursion has to be signed up for in advance.
------------
Eugene
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93363
12/20/06 08:12 AM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 9,100
Ngaire
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 9,100 |
It all depends on your point of view but I think going from Shanghai works fine.
Actually some people have had positive comments about Dalian and even though it is a short stop you dont miss this port this way. Most people do feel it is a nothing port.
It is as Eugene says really no loss in Shanghai and just really miss a day at sea. When we did it we went from Shanghai.
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93364
12/20/06 08:29 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,094
petlover
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,094 |
Although I don't know the exact itinerary for PANDA, on our WC (for what it's worth if anything).....
We're doing similar to what Eugene is talking about. We are leaving the ship from Shanghai in the morning (ship leaves later that afternoon) and flying to Xian to see the TerraCotta Warriors (have a guide lined up to pick us up and deliver us back to the airport late afternoon). We then fly to Beijing for 3 nights (also have guide and hotel booked). We then fly from Beijing to Hong Kong and arrive 1/2 hour later than the Voyager is scheduled to arrive. The Voyager overnights in Hong Kong which makes me feel good in the event our flight were delayed etc.
We chose to do this on our own so we are able to see both Xian and Beijing....not to mention we're doing all this (including hotel, guides, and 3 flights for 2 people) for less than what RSSC was charging for ONE PERSON to go on Xian excursion.
In our case we still have one full day and night in Shanghai as well as an overnight and full day in Hong Kong.
Marcie
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93365
12/20/06 09:56 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 842
McKeever
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 842 |
Dalian can be missed without regrets.
none
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93366
12/20/06 12:22 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244
Masaki
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,244 |
Hmmmm, thanks for the info. I will have to discuss with my other half. It creates interesting logistical issues for us since we were hoping to have Little Fish join us in Shanghai/Hong Kong being brought by Amanda's parents.
Masaki
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93367
12/20/06 03:07 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,917
ssclbc
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,917 |
Can you not do Xian from Beijing?? I thought that's what I signed up for. It is still offered on RSSC's web-site...OK, I'm just confused 
Lauri
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93368
12/20/06 09:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 365
count Florida
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 365 |
Marcie, if you don't mind, how did you locate your travel agent or contact in China, and how do you judge their reliability? Anything you can offer or suggest would be a help. I have located several agents/agencies, and corresponded with one, but I’m not sure how to judge reliability. Also, I have learned that the Chinese National Day holiday - October 1 to 3 - is a very heavy travel period in China, almost akin to our Thanksgiving weekend. Perhaps that's why Regent is not doing the Xian excursion from Beijing, but later from Shanghai, after the holiday period is over. The way you are doing it should avoid the peak period as well. Lauri, I got the Xian excursion write-up from Ngaire, and I believe she got it from Regent. It clearly shows the tour as operating Shanghai - Xian - Hong Kong. The one I saw on the web site is for this year's (2006) tour they are apparently not offering in 2007. Here is a copy of the write-up I received: RSSC Programs for Shanghai China Transport: Plane, Coach and Boat Terracotta Warriors & Li River Cruise SHA-P003 This optional tour must be pre-purchased, and is not included in the regular tour program. If you have not already pre-booked this optional shore excursion, please contact Regent Seven Seas Cruises Reservations at 1 (800) 285-1835 to verify the current status of this program. Limited space may be available, and should be booked via reservations. You may also check with the Travel Concierge Manager upon embarkation to verify if this tour is still available. RSSC reserves the right to withdraw this program if minimum participation requirements are not met. A 100% cancellation penalty applies to overland programs cancelled within 60 days of departure. Explore the spectacular ancient Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, City Wall and the Big Goose Pagoda during a scenic visit to historic Xian, followed by an unforgettable picturesque cruise along Guilin's majestic Li River. October 7, 2007 - Shanghai/Xian Depart from the pier to Shanghai Pudong Airport for your flight to Shanghai, then a connecting flight to Xian. Upon arrival in Xian, you'll be greeted by your guide, then transfer to a local restaurant for a delicious lunch. Afterward, you'll visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses at the 150,000 square-foot Museum of Qui. In Pit No. 1, you'll see a truly remarkable sight; several thousand amazing life-size terra cotta warriors and horses created after Duke Xian's ascended to the throne of the State of Qin in 384 B.C. These amazing figures are displayed in battle order, rank by rank, with some mounted on horse-drawn chariots, others in infantry groups armed with spears, swords and crossbows. For centuries, the famous terra-cotta warriors guarded the tomb of Qin Shihuang Di, first emperor of a united Chinese people. At the conclusion of your visit, you'll check in at the Sofitel Hotel - Xian, then transfer to the Tang Dynasty Theater Restaurant for a truly memorable dinner show. Afterward, enjoy an overnight stay at the hotel. October 8, 2007 - Xian/Guilin Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then depart for a visit to the City Wall and Big Goose Pagoda Built in 589 A.D., the Big Goose is one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China. After lunch at the airport restaurant, you'll fly from Xian to Guilin. South China's magical City of Guilin is home to some of the world's most awe-inspiring natural beauty. Situated in the NE Guangxi Zhuang Region, Guilin features verdant mountains, inviting waters, magnificent crags, and fantastic caverns. Upon arrival in Guilin, you'll meet your guide and transfer for check-in at the Sheraton Hotel - Guilin. You'll spend the rest of the day at leisure, then enjoy a delicious Western-style buffet dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel. October 9, 2007 - Guilin/Hong Kong Following breakfast at the hotel, you'll depart for the drive to the picturesque Li Jiang, or Li River, which begins in Guilin and winds its way through the mountains and villages. Relax and enjoy a scenic cruise along the river, then visit Elephant Trunk Hill Park before driving back to the Guilin Airport for an early-evening flight to Hong Kong. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, you'll transfer to the ship. Please note: An individual visa for China is needed for this program. Flights are based on current schedules, and may be subject to change. The order of sites visited may vary to avoid crowds and congestion. Included: × Coach class air tickets Shanghai/Xian/Guilin/Hong Kong. × 1 night at the Sofitel Hotel - Xian × 1 night at the Sheraton Hotel - Guilin. × All lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary. Local beer, wine and soft drinks to accompany lunch and dinner where included. × Tang Dynasty dinner in Xian. × All transfers and sightseeing as per program. Not Included: All meals and drinks not specified above. Gratuities to drivers and tour director. Gratuities, laundry, telephone calls, cancellation insurance, and other personal items. Availability and prices of tours are subject to change.
[size=8]Too Many To List - 416� days & counting on Radisson/Regent, and 150+� days on 8 other lines, with one cruise booked next month on the Mariner, Miami to Honolulu 22 days
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93369
12/21/06 03:13 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,917
ssclbc
cruiser
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cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,917 |
OK, I'm just going to go with the flow!
Lauri
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93370
12/21/06 05:24 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,094
petlover
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,094 |
Count, I found our guide in Beijing recommended on several other message boards like tripadvisor and fodors and just emailed her directly. Guess we'll find out how reliable she is in March!
Marcie
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93371
12/21/06 08:14 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,369
Marc
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cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,369 |
count and Marcie, contact information for guides would be appreciated. I am trying to plan an overland trip using the train to Lhasa and perhaps bus from Lhasa to Katmandu. Don't know if it is best to take train all the way from Beijing or fly to Xian and catch train there. I am still looking for information on the "luxury" train that is supposed to start service to Lhasa by end of 2007.
thanks,
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93372
12/28/06 04:34 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 365
count Florida
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cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 365 |
Marc, read all about it at http://www.seat61.com/China.htm#Lhasa%20&%20Tibet Extract: Lhasa & Tibet: New daily train from Beijing & Xian to Lhasa..! Regular passenger trains to Lhasa: The railway to Lhasa in Tibet has been completed, and the first regular passenger trains started running on 1 July 2006. There are now 3 trains a day to Lhasa, including a daily express from Beijing and Xian. These are modern air-conditioned Chinese Railways trains, with soft & hard class sleepers, soft & hard class seats & a restaurant car. Photos of the new Beijing-Lhasa train interior. Train times & fares for the principal trains are shown below. A train Guangzhou (near Hong Kong) to Lhasa is due to start on 1 October 2006, and a train from Shanghai may be introduced later. Right: The destination plate on the side of the Chengdu-Lhasa train. Photo courtesy of Keith Crane. Deluxe tourist trains are due to start running some time in 2007, but dates, times and fares have yet to be announced. They will be marketed as Tangula Express (Google this), running from Beijing, Xian and Shanghai to Lhasa with luxury sleeping-cars with double beds, private shower & toilet, restaurant cars and lounge-observation cars. The Tangula Express trains are a joint venture between Chinese Railways and a western company called RailPartners. The highest railway in the world: The new Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the highest in the world, climbing from 2,829m above sea level at Golmud (Geermu) to 3,641m at Lhasa, much of it built on permafrost. Its highest point is in the Tanggula Pass, at 16,640 feet (just over 5,000m) above sea level. Because of the lack of oxygen at that altitude, all passenger coaches have extra oxygen pumped into them, and oxygen is available to passengers through tubes if they have problems. See the photos below. Before the railway was built, travellers had to take a train to Golmud then a gruelling 48 hour bus journey to Lhasa. Permit for Tibet required: In addition to a Chinese visa, foreigners still require a special permit to enter Tibet, although there is talk of discontinuing this requirement in the near future, so please check. The only way to get a permit is through a Chinese travel agency, for example ChinaHighlights.com who can arrange both trains and tailor-made tours. Summary of times & fares for trains from Chengdu & Xining to Lhasa One-way fares per person Hard sleeper Soft sleeper Beijing to Lhasa, bought at reservations office in Beijing: RMB 813 ($102) RMB 1,262 ($158) Beijing to Lhasa, booked in advance at www.chinatripadvisor.com*: $119 $183 * Please check if www.chinatripadvisor.com are now offering these tickets, as they are difficult to get at the moment. Traveller Keith Crane reports: "We had great trouble finding somebody who could book me a ticket independently (we were in Guangdong province - and tried calling Beijing) as all the agents wanted to offer a fully inclusive tour for between 5,000-7,000 Yuan. Finally we found an agent in Chengdu, www.dreams-travel.com, who could book the ticket and our Tibet pass very efficiently. They also run the very good Wen Jun Mansion Hotel, a recommendable, cheap place to stay. Chengdu is also the home of China's Panda research and breeding base so you can see the cuddly black and white creatures close while you wait for your train! Chinatripadvisor was pretty slow off the mark, not knowing much more than anyone else before bookings opened. Anyway our combined ticket (soft sleeper and Tibet pass) came to about 1,700 Yuan each in the end and off we went. Despite reading stories of altitude sickness we suffered none - and if the train was pressurised, we found the toilet windows open throughout the journey. The soft class accommodation is comfortable - there are western-style toilets - but the catering facilities are limited - a 44 seat dining car for a 15 carriage train! And not enough refrigeration for cold beer.!"
[size=8]Too Many To List - 416� days & counting on Radisson/Regent, and 150+� days on 8 other lines, with one cruise booked next month on the Mariner, Miami to Honolulu 22 days
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93373
01/02/07 03:28 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967
jhp
OP
cruiser
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OP
cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,967 |
Can anyone who is, was, or is no longer on this cruise let me know if I should make changes to the roll call on page 1? You only need to post if I need to add or delete you from that list on page one. What a great group we have!
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93374
03/30/07 05:05 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,369
Marc
cruiser
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cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,369 |
An update on the luxury train service from Beijing to Lhasa; doesn't look like it will be available to PANDAers. All aboard for the Tangula Express
BEIJING: The world's next great train journey will take passengers on a high altitude, luxury journey to Tibet.
The Tangula Express, travelling between Llasa, Lijiang and Beijing, will begin operations in mid-2008 after an extensive marketing campaign in Asia, Europe and America.
Dates, timetables, fares and booking opportunities will be revealed in May.
Ninety-six passengers on the Tangula Express will be carried in 48 luxury suites, enjoying 24-hour butler service, queen-size beds, en suite bathrooms and showers, on-board guides, broadband Internet, flat-screen TV and DVD players. There will be two dining cars in the middle of the train.
Kempinski Hotels will manage the luxury train which is a joint venture between Chinese Railways and Canadian company, RailPartners.
Departing from Beijing, the five-day/four night journey to Lhasa crosses the mystical Tibetan plateau.
The Beijing to Lijiang route also takes five-days/four nights and explores the landscapes of Guangxi and Yunnan provinces.
Tangula trains leaving both Lhasa and Lijiang for Beijing will follow a four-day/three night itinerary.
Speaking to TravelMole Asia, Bill Edward, vice president marketing for Tangula International, said the new train would be different from the recently launched 48-hour train journey between Beijing and Llasa.
"The Tangula Express will be a five-day, four night journey which will give passengers time and opportunity to stop along the way to explore this amazing part of the world," he said.
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Re: PANDA, who's on?
#93375
03/30/07 05:43 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 50
Penny
cruiser
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cruiser
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 50 |
Sorry to say that Penny & Gary Gene & Linda are not going on this trip so you can remove us from your roll call
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