Proud of you Val for posting on LCT - you and Mike are going to have a wonderful time!

Working on flights and trying to decide when to arrive Istanbul.
Would have liked to do the extra excursions but think we will be arriving on the 4th and just doing Istanbul.
Has anyone stayed at the AMIRA Hotel in Istanbul?
It looks really nice and they have a "Cultural Package" which looks
like it would work well for us.
Don't think Jeff and Helen can arrive until the 5th or maybe even the 6th.

Jim,
I haven't stayed here but it sounds terrific. We have stayed in this area and I highly recommend it for ez walking to the sites. IMO choosing a hotel with a rooftop breakfast room/restaurant/bar etc. is a must to really enjoy the magnificent views of Istanbul.
If possible, a room with your own balcony is also a real plus.

Jim, I stayed there in early April after a cruise with my two daughters and husbands. I chose the hotel for the location in the Old Town, as well as the many recommendations on Trip Advisor.

Just don't expect the big chain hotel experience, with all the same furnishings etc. you see in all of them. It is a small hotel, and they seem to know you from the start, but there aren't the bells and whistles of a big hotel experience, like a grand lobby, big bar, and all that. But unlike the chains, were you cannot remember anything about the hotel right after you get home (because they are all the same) you will remember it.

We stayed for two nights, and the staff could not have been any nicer. The roof top terrace was being renovated, lots of construction, so all I did was look out the window and it looked lovely.

We didn't have a package, but on arrival in the morning from the ship, the manager sat down with us in the breakfast room with maps, etc, and arranged for an afternoon walking tour for us on the spot at our request. Be sure you tell them you do not want a rug tour, as every guide in Turkey I think saves time for that within any tour, including Regent. As I remember, we found our own way to the main Bazaar after the tour.

Needing 3 rooms, I was going for a moderate price. We were all pleased, especially one daughter who got a huge room that was really for a family. The manager Arthur arranged for airport transfers for all of us to the airport at two different times. He also recommended and arranged dinner reservations, both restaurants within walking distance. One was a seafood restaurant on the water, another a Turkish restaurant on a quiet street with a pedestrian walkway, and we ate outside. Not on a back terrace, mind you, but on the street. We loved both.

Jim,
I have never stayed here before but we are currently holding a reservation for Oct. 2-4th.

All:
Be sure to check out the Sultanhan Hotel, where Penny and I stayed for three days post-cruise a couple of years ago. Fantastic place..boutique hotel, not expensive, located just a few blocks from the Old Town sites, rooftop restaurant with spectacular view of the Blue Mosque. You can't go wrong..check it out on Tripadvisor.
Tim

Thanks to Clay Keene we FINALLY have our flights.
Jan and I will have to get to and from Billings to Minneapolis
on our own then we are doing Business class round trip the rest of the way.
On Delta / KLM / Alitalia
Oct 3rd
BIL to MSP 6:20 am arrive 9:25 am
MSP to AMS 3:15 pm arrive 6:25 am
Oct 4th
AMS to IST 11:25 am arrive 3:45 pm

Oct 17th
FCO to BOS 11:00 am arrive 2:20 pm
BOS to MSP 6:15 pm arrive 8:36 pm

Oct 18th
MSP to BIL 11:30 am arrive 12:40 pm

Also made reservations at the Amira Hotel in Istanbul for 3 nights.
4th, 5th, 6th "Cultural Package" which includes transportation to the hotel and to the ship and a 1/2 day tour.

Good news Jim. We know that feeling of relief when you get flights oh too well. It is going to be such a fun cruise for us!

That's exciting, Jim!
Alice and I are going to stay in Italy until Sunday. Otherwise we'd probably be going home on your flight from Rome to Boston. That would be fun. But, more importantly, we're looking forward to meeting you and Jan!

Have any of you looked at the excursions list?
See where we can start reserving them 02/08/2013

What a great group!!

I sure agree with you !!

Signing up for shore excursions is tough on an iPhone. But it's done!!!
We got out of Boston yesterday -- a day ahead of original plan, necessary in order to avoid being stuck by the blizzard! We're in Tahoe for what is now an 8- day instead of 7- day ski trip!

Kim, I'm glad you and Alice got out of Boston and made it to Tahoe (one of my favorite places). I too just signed us up for our excursions:

Dikili (1 Day(s) in Port)
PERGAMUM – THE ASCLEPION & ARCHAEOLOGICA -
Oct 8, 2013 10:00
MATASSA, MARCIE -
MATASSA, THOMAS
-
Ephesus (Kusadasi) (1 Day(s) in Port)
No excursions selected for this port.

Mykonos (1 Day(s) in Port)
MYKONOS AND MONASTERY -
Oct 10, 2013 10:00
MATASSA, MARCIE -
MATASSA, THOMAS
-
Santorini (1 Day(s) in Port)
WINDMILLS & AMAZING AKROTIRI -
Oct 11, 2013 09:00
MATASSA, MARCIE -
MATASSA, THOMAS
-
Valletta (1 Day(s) in Port)
VALLETTA AND THE MALTA EXPERIENCE -
Oct 13, 2013 09:00
MATASSA, MARCIE -
MATASSA, THOMAS
-
Trapani (Sicily) (1 Day(s) in Port)
CORNERS OF ERICE BY CABLE CAR -
Oct 14, 2013 08:45
MATASSA, MARCIE -
MATASSA, THOMAS
-
Taormina (Sicily) (1 Day(s) in Port)
EXPLORE TAORMINA ON YOUR OWN -
Oct 15, 2013 09:30
MATASSA, MARCIE -
MATASSA, THOMAS
-
Sorrento/Capri (1 Day(s) in Port)
SCENIC RIVIERA AND TASTE OF SORRENTO -
Oct 16, 2013 09:15
MATASSA, MARCIE -
MATASSA, THOMAS -

Here is what Jan and I booked today!!

8th Dikilli DIK-022 Pergamum Acropolis & Asclepion 4 hrs 10:00 am
9th Ephesus KSA-005 Ephesus & Terrace Houses 3 hrs 08:30 am
10th Mykonos MYK-001 Mykonos & Monastery 3.5 hrs 10:00 am
11th Santorini JTR-007 Windmills & Amazing Akrotiri 4 hrs 09:00 am
13th Valletta VLT-005 Three Cities & Valletta Harbour Cruise 4 hrs 09:00 am
14th Trapani TPS-005 Corners of Erice by cable car 4.5 hrs 08:45 am
15th Taomina TAM-005 Hidden Sicily - In the Footsteps of the Godfather. 4.5 hrs 01:00 pm

Did not want anything over a 4.5 hour tour and thought these would work Ok.

Subject to change after I do a little more research, Joan and I booked the following excursions:

Dikili (1 Day(s) in Port)
PERGAMUM ACROPOLIS & ASCLEPION -
Oct 8, 2013 10:00

Ephesus (Kusadasi) (1 Day in Port)
DISCOVER EPHESUS WITH AN EXPERT -
Oct 9, 2013 11:30

Mykonos (1 Day(s) in Port)
THE ISLAND OF DELOS -
Oct 10, 2013 09:15

Santorini (1 Day in Port)
WINDMILLS & AMAZING AKROTIRI -
Oct 11, 2013 09:00

Valletta (1 Day(s) in Port)
A TASTE OF MALTA -
Oct 13, 2013 09:00

Trapani (Sicily) (1 Day(s) in Port)
MARSALA WINES & MOTHIA -
Oct 14, 2013 08:30

Taormina (Sicily) (1 Day(s) in Port)
MOUNT ETNA -
Oct 15, 2013 13:30

Sorrento/Capri (1 Day(s) in Port)
ANCIENT POMPEII -
Oct 16, 2013 08:30

We've never been to any of these ports before so comments on our choices and/or suggestions for other excursions would be greatly appreciated.

Dave,

We did "Ephesus with an Expert" a couple of years ago. If it is the same "guide" he is not only an expert but THE expert! The Terrace Houses are his baby. When we were leaving the houses the entering guides were startled to see that he was actually leading a tour. I believe he is also the curator or director of the local museum. Great tour!

Glad to see that the site at Akrotiri has reopened as it is truly unique.

Hope you have a little time to explore Taormina itself as it is one big photo opp and utterly charming!

Thanks, Suzanne. We have friends who also took the Ephesus with an Expert excursion a couple of years ago and they raved about it. Since our Mt. Etna excursion doesn't leave until 1:30 pm, our plan is to spend a few hours in Taormina in the morning.

Dave,

I'll have to echo Suzanne's comment about Akrotiri. It is amazing. So glad to hear that is is opened again. Some of the original art is in the Athens museum now.

I wasn't a fan of our Mt. Etna excursion, but it could just be me. Our guide was in love with "The Etna" to ad nauseam. We were there in October and it was really windy.

In Sorrento, be sure to get some Creme de Limoncello. It's delicious.

Thanks, Beth. I'll think about the Mt. Etna excursion and do some more research. I appreciate your input.

Several years ago at Mt Etna - amazing to see roofs and chimneys poking up from the lava - I hope residents fled in time and had insurance!

Thanks, Ted.

Ted, why don't you come with us on MARINER and check it out?

Would LOVE to, but single supplement apparently100 percent - UGH!!!

that is sooo ridiculous - especially for dedicated long term Regent cruisers - Regent should be ashamed!!!

Gosh. ONLY :-(215 days until we board the Mariner.

Hi Everyone
I am writing this for Helen and Jeff Reid (HMR)
Jan's brother and sister in law.
When we get to Rome they plan on staying an extra day before flying home.
Questions:
Would anyone be interested in doing a private tour with them?
Jeff has been in contact with Francesca Saurini,who Jan and I used, but the quote was 500 euro to pick the two of them up at the ship and take them to Rome and do some site seeing.
300 euro if they can figure out how to get into Rome on their own
and be picked up at the hotel or somewhere.
If anyone is interested or have ideas to help them please
feel free to contact them at JEFFLreid@aol.com

It's about 9 euros to take the train from the port to Rome. I'm sorry I haven't yet sent Jeff any info on how to take the train. I did contact him last month about the train. So, I'll try to send him some info soon. Also, I'll forward some info on the audio guides from Rick Steves that Alice and I used a few years ago . We just did everything on our own with those audio guides. Worked out great!

Edit to add:

I sent him info on how to get train from ship to Rome:
http://www.reidsitaly.com/destinations/lazio/rome/transport/to_ship.html
and
Rick Steves audio guides:
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/0602/rome_downloads.htm

Thank you Kim.
Really appreciate your help.

Please could you put Ken and Sheila on the roll call. We are staying on until Monte Carlo. Cabin 745.

Wonderful News!

I am surprised that we have not had some names to add
to the roll call.

I find it interesting that when I receive a new brochure from Regent Seven Seas there never is anything about our cruise?
They will have before and after but not ours?
Maybe it is sold out but does not show that when you go to
RSSC web site. Just find it interesting.
139 days from TODAY!!

Same with PAGODA Jim, sbc's, other amenities, signature benefits, etc, being added to the segments before and after, but nothing on that segment.

I don't think MARINER & PAGODA are sold out but they appear to be selling well. Hence, there is no reason for Regent to add goodies to them as it has done with other cruises that are not selling as well. I guess this is what we get for picking popular cruises.

@Dave you are probably right.

We are sure looking forward to this cruise!!If there's any changes to the roll call let me know so I can add you.

It will be here before we know it.

We are now going on to Monte Carlo as well.

Mark and Cheron......That is wonderful news. Just knew you couldn't resist keeping us company from Rome to Monte Carlo! It's a great itinerary.

Sitting at Phillips in BWI waiting for my crab cakes. 50 minute flight delay so far. Thinking YEAH I'm looking forward to this cruise too! Gotta learn some Italiano first . We're staying in Italy 3 extra days. Jealous of Mark and Chevon though! Heading to Cayman on Saturday for a week. Hmmm might be a good opportunity to work on that Italian! As the saying goes .... Live is good.