Yes I am a little afraid of the tundra motels. I think town will have to be the way to go.
Marc you check this out if you wish and see what looks best to you, when I get back from the Voyager I have about 10 days before joining Marcie and clan on the Mariner. It is very tight time wise right now for me but I will get on this as soon as I return from those trips.
Lets narrow it down to two or three providers and then I will see what I can do for a group for a discount. Disclaimer here - I am a beginner at this trip so I am certainly no expert on which operator or hotel etc is the best. If only you and I want to go Marc no problem I will be there with bells on!! Group or no group. This is something I really want to do. I think this is high on Ralphs list too so I am sure he would come along. He has told me for years "put it together and I will come". I think Linda and Ron will be up for this also. This is not for everyone though. Must be a person who loves to see animals in the wild to really enjoy this trip. Do not expect luxury that is for sure.
I mapped out a "guess" of the schedule based on posts here and emails that I got where the primary interest seems to lie.
January – Hanseatic
April – Crossing to Funchal or Funchal to Monte Carlo (normal route) RSSC - cant fit in a fall crossing.
July/August – Africa
Winter, cheaper rates, no mosquitoes for sure - cold in the morning but warm in the afternoon -dry season. I want to try this time of year anyway.
Early Sept – British Isles - RSSC
(same time frame as this year 8/26/05)
Early October - Tokyo to Hong Kong - RSSC
(same time frame as this year 10/04/06)
Nov first week – Churchill
Late Nov - perhaps over Thanksgiving – Peru/Galapagos
Other interests are Egypt which would be done in Feb or March if there is enough interest. It will be cold in the morning but warm up to a nice temperature in the afternoon.
There is a little space in there for some last minute Silversea offering or something that comes up where a bunch of you want to go - super value cruise or something of that nature.
Preliminary list all HIGHLY subject to change of course.
Baltics and Norway. I have done repeatedly in the last two years need a break from that. Hope they offer Norway though this year - you never know.
