In January the remainder of Regent's 2010 will come out. I have had a lot of requests for LCT trips for 2010. Since it appears that early booking will be the ticket to best savings for 2010 we should look at this when the schedules first come out.

Here is where we are now.

January 24 - February 24- Lima to Rio
I will escort this trip. It is a long and expensive trip and probably will not be a large LCT group but already have about 10 LCT'ers on the waitlist. With the deviation to go as far south as Paradise Bay in Antarctica I think it makes it a special cruise. The segment bookings for South America open on January 2nd. I already have the waitlists in place to be filled the minute the books open on that day so we get the desired cabins.

March 20-30, 2010 Nile River Cruise
Already an LCT tour

Sometime in September 2010
AMA Waterways River cruise between Prague and Budapest.

Quite a few requests for two Regent cruises that conflict with each other. We will do one of these, the most likely New Zealand as we have more requests now for N.Z. over the Voyager Transatlantic.

New Zealand - Navigator - Mid November - usually 14 days
Voyager - Transatlantic - Early to mid November.

I know a less expensive cruise would be a nice thing to have so we can get more people to participate. It appears all the cruises may come out very well priced to begin with. So the old thought process of the Transatlantic being cheaper may not be as true as it was in the past with the more appealing cruises being offered at the lower per diem rates initally and then going higher later where the Transatlantics would stay at the lower prices. So we will have to look at this closely and calculate the per day diems to be sure that we make the best choices.

The rest of the year I think that LCT'ers should look at the schedules and make some suggestions and lets see where the most interest lies. Ken and I are very open to going where the majority of the LCT'ers want to go.

We know the following.
NAVIGATOR will do the Caribbean, Alaska - then the Grand Asia Pacific Cruise back to USA - Panama Canal and then Caribbean.

MARINER will do South America and then do a crossing and be in Europe - mostly the Mediterranan - then the Discovery cruise to Africa then to FLL.

VOYAGER will do World Cruise then do the FLL to Reykjavik - Southampton crossing to do Europe with the Baltic's and a little Mediterranean then crossing to FLL and then the Caribbean.

So please post some of the possible desired destinations you may wish to consider in 2010. I really think price wise the cruises INITIALLY will be more closely priced on a per day diem than in the past. Air costs will be more of course for the more exotic itineraries.

Oh how I wish I could take the South America cruise. :(

The Sydney to Auckland sounds like a winner, too, and may fit our schedule. I went to look at the 2009 Sydney to Auckland itinerary to get an idea of ports and the cruise is missing. Could this be a charter in the middle of GAP or are they just rerouting the ship?

It is nice to see the Mariner in the Med instead of the Navigator. Mariner is still my favorite ship and it would be fun to sail her in the Med.

I can't wait for the schedule to be released so that we can see where groups will form. :lct:

2009 Sydney to Auckland is still on the schedule. I have found several situations like this recently. The computer conversion is still causing some issues.

Here is the 2009 schedule for that cruise.

19-Nov-2009 Thu Sydney, Australia - embark B Overnight
20-Nov-2009 Fri Sydney, Australia B Overnight 6:00 PM
21-Nov-2009 Sat Cruise Cape Howe C
22-Nov-2009 Sun Hobart, Tasmania, Australia B 8:00 AM 7:00 PM
23-Nov-2009 Mon Cruise Tasman Sea C
24-Nov-2009 Tue Cruise Tasman Sea C
25-Nov-2009 Wed Cruise Milford Sound C
Cruise Doubtful Sound C
Cruise Dusky Sound C
26-Nov-2009 Thu Port Chalmers (Dunedin), New Zealand B 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
27-Nov-2009 Fri Lyttelton (Christchurch), New Zealand B 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
28-Nov-2009 Sat Picton, New Zealand B 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
29-Nov-2009 Sun Wellington, New Zealand B 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
30-Nov-2009 Mon Napier, New Zealand B 8:00 AM 2:00 PM
1-Dec-2009 Tue Tauranga, New Zealand B 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
2-Dec-2009 Wed Auckland, New Zealand B 8:00 AM

Aloha
Christina and I are very interested in the route from Mumbai to Capetown.It would be nice but don't know how the rest of you feel.I know a long way to go for a "segment" but look at the positives;
danger, excitement and the possibility of being a hostage! What more could a real cruiser want! With tongue firmly planted, we would like to see your comments.
John & Christina

Ngaire,

I think you've posted the itinerary for the 2008 Sydney to Auckland cruise I just completed. The 2009 cruise begins on Nov. 18th and adds a stop in Eden, Australia between Sydney and Hobart. It is a 14-night cruise as opposed to this year's 13-night cruise.

Hi Dave:

I just looked at the new web site and it is different from what I posted above for 2009. I copied what I posted straight from the old RSSC web site and the dates on the ports of call are 2009 not 2008. Cannot even see 2008 anymore to copy it.

You are right though the ship does leave on November 18th in 2009.

Day Port Arrive Depart
Nov 18 Sydney, Australia
Nov 19 Sydney, Australia 18:00
Nov 20 Eden, Australia 08:00 18:00
Nov 21 Cruise Cape Howe, International Waters
Nov 22 Hobart, Australia 08:00 19:00
Nov 23 Cruise Tasman Sea, International Waters
Nov 24 Cruise Tasman Sea, International Waters
Nov 25 Cruising Doubtful Fjord, International Waters
Nov 25 Cruising Dusky Fjord, International Waters
Nov 25 Crusing Milford Sound, International Waters
Nov 26 Port Chalmers, New Zealand 08:00 18:00
Nov 27 Christchurch, New Zealand 08:00 18:00
Nov 28 Picton, New Zealand 08:00 18:00
Nov 29 Wellington, New Zealand 08:00 18:00
Nov 30 Napier, New Zealand 08:00 14:00
Dec 01 Tauranga, New Zealand 08:00 18:00
Dec 02 Auckland, New Zealand 08:00

Strange dont know how that happened to be wrong on the RSSC web. I know I just went there and cut and paste. Just another mystery of life.

This was just an example of what the 2010 cruise may be and they usually basically the same. We do not know yet exactly how the 2010 itinerary will shape up yet.

Hope you enjoyed your Australian - New Zealand cruise. I have not been to EDEN how was that port of call.

Where is the excitement?

In past years, we have all anxiously awaited the new schedules with discussions on possible cruises and possible groups. In fact, for 2006, there was a large group formed for MUSH before the schedule ever came out.

I think it will be great having the Mariner in the Med especially if they start doing longer cruises with an occassional sea day. 14 days on B2B without any sea days was just too long. A nice 10-12 day itinerary with one or two sea days would be great. I am also waiting to see if Regent adds any new ports; would love to go to Israel and Libya sometime.

Any other thoughts? Wish list? Plans for 2010?

Marc, I agree with you where is the excitement. But, I am also frustrated that it has taken Regent this long to publish their 2010 full cruise schedule. Most cruise lines have had their schedule out for months now.

Carolyn

Marc, we've taken forever to plan 2009. Now I have to think about 2010 already :D ?

Seriously, I think that the economy is causing all to pause and think about 2010. We'll be traveling but need to choose wisely.

But, high on my travel list is an Antarctic Cruise on Silversea's Prince Albert. However, we are doing 30 days on Mariner in October 2009 and that may be too close for another pricey trip. Ngaire's Nile River Cruise is also calling my name but unfortunately Alan's hearing is different than mine. New Zealand looks good as does the 1st leg of 2010 Voyager World Cruise. And, I can't forget about Ngaire's fall river cruise in Eastern Europe.

Two months ago, the middle east was on our to-do list. I haven't been back to Israel since 1978-9 and would love to see it again, as well as Egypt and Jordan. Gil has never been there. However, now it might be best to take a wait and see attitude...sigh.

I like the idea of Mariner being in Europe. Who knows, maybe we'll manage one of these. But lots depends on the economy, for sure. We may just hunker down and cocoon.

Now that the 2010 schedules are out; is anyone making plans? I need to wait until I start new assignment before we can book. :( There is a limitation on vacation time taken per month so I might have to compromise on cruises; we will see.

We plan to take the 30-day Lima-Rio cruise on the Mariner next January that Ngaire and Ken will be escorting. Hopefully, we'll do a pre-cruise to Machu Picchu.

===============

Gail and Eugene

2010 is difficult to figure out. We really want to book a Penthouse suite with Bus. Class airfare included. Guess that means Europe. We also really want to meet Ngaire and LCT members on a cruise that isn't longer than 14 days (have to think of our "senior" kitties. So, for now, we'll take a "wait and see" approach.

Good Morning All !!

Anyone interested in a two for one Southern Caribberan on the NEW SS Sprit in November 2010??

Rod

Sounds like the May 26th trip on Navigator, SF-Vancouver is a done deal as an escorted trip!?

Hi Wendy. Yes, it is. Ngaire signed us up for it yesterday. The itinerary is just too good to pass up.

Kathy

Ngaire, any idea what the economy air package prices for this will be? I don't see that air is included on the web site.

Wendy are you asking about the Navigator Alaska 2010 cruise mentioned in the other thread where Ngaire said that air was included?

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Eugene

The SF-Van one, yes. The website doesn't mention it, so I assumed it was not. That certainly changes things! Thanks, Eugene!

ALL 2010 cruises include the Free Air OR Air Credit offer. For Alaska if you do not take their air the air credit is $700 off the fare. In Europe the air cedit is $1000 off the fare.

The free air or air credit is good until 3/31/09. It may or may not be extended and will probably be on a cruise by cruise basis.

Where on the website does Regent indicate free air for 2010? It is rather confusing to go to fares, see a price and then at the bottom, a notice to call Regent re air pricing. Makes the pricing look more than it is.

Thanks Ngaire, I got confused by their website. are there Society savings for these cruises as well, or not?

Society savings are not on Regents web but they are on my web. If you look under 10 SAVINGS the society and onboard booking discounts are listed. Regent may change these of course at anytime but this is the last information I received.

http://www.bkrssc.com/I_2010_Society_Main.htm

This is a special offer ONLY guaranteed until 3/31/09 and I do not know why they are not showing it. Maybe it will be added soon. I know they are really focusing on the excursions and dining reservations on line so perhaps that is where their IT people are spending their time right now.