Michele, thanks so much for your input. I'm so surprised about it being warm on the crossing. I thought that in November it might be a little chilly. Great advice.

Your highlights sound wonderful! Just the sort of things I'm interested in. Thanks again!

You're very welcome. You know, it was folks like "you all" that made it so special. I would definitely try to get some nightlife going, though, on the sea days. I was a bit surprised that there was NOT a lot of dancing, partying, etc. going on. We really wanted to do a lot of dancing. That was the only drawback for us. But, with your group, I would think that you could make the nightlife happen. We took dancing lessons during the day & had a good time sweating in the exercise room.

I took the Cordon Bleu class & the chefs made it so much fun - not just in the classes, but with all kinds of crazy antics during the crossing. I'm really glad I took the class with them.

- :) Michele

We're definitely up for the nightlife!!! Jerry likes to spend time in the casino, but we both enjoy hanging out in the Horizon Lounge after dinner (and since it will be all inclusive on this cruise--so much the better!!). Both of us like to dance, but we don't do as much of it as we used since our old bones protest when we do :(

Hi! Chatkat and all:

Never been to Barcelona CK? - well you are in for a treat. We have been several times and had several tours including private ones, cruise ones and last year via the on/off public bus service which, quite honestly we enjoyed the best. Maybe it was the well informed guide or being able to chat with many different tourists or maybe even being able to see a great deal more of the remarkable city in the short time that the ship is in port.
In fact we have enjoyed these on/off bus tours in many European cities. By the way you can get full information about the tours available on line.
Hope you enjoy the next few days hot weather Chatkat - we are going to spend the evening restaurant hopping in Oxnard!!! It should bee a little cooler there!!

\

Denise, we are so glad that you and Alan are going with us. Now the pressure is on for us to consider even harder doing the full Grand Crossing instead of just the TA part. I think it would be so much fun all of us doing the excursions together. I just don't know if I can get off of work for that long of a stretch.

I can rationalize why we have to do this. First, is the price to do both. Secondly even though we have done Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Valencia, and Malaga before, we have reasons to go back to each. Especially Malaga, since we had reservations last time to go to the Alhambra, but after we boarded the ship, we found out that it was closed due to a Foreign Ministers Conference. :mecry:

I just hate it when work stands in the way of our cruises! :D

Well guys - we will just have to make sure that nightlife happens - be it the Horizon Lounge or the Voyager Lounge. We had several party nights on WINE in the Voyager, they had a great duo that played and when they were done, they put on music, but some nights there were other things like Lipsync and stuff - we enjoy dancing too and I enjoy the casino, so does Frank if he's winning! I'm pretty sure this group can make it happen.

Don - keep working toward it - will have to work on Mark and Karen while on MUSH to add the med portion too.

Sounds like fun, fun, fun, until they drag us off!

Kenny Smiles was on our crossing. Can't remember the other talent on board. We kept trying to exercise since the food & drink were so fabulous. David & Betty kept our supply of champagne from dwindling! They gave us theirs & we happily accepted. They had a lovely horizon suite - wasn't that right, David? It was so nice for them having a huge balcony & I think I recall you had no problems with the vibration. If my memory serves me correctly, we had calm seas all the way across. - Michele P.S. Don, you've got time to make it happen!!

JoAnn, and this time it is All-Inclusive! Could be dangerous. Imagine Lipsync after a few too many drinks! It might be more like Lipslur!LOL

Boy, we would love to do both. We will keep working at it. I know Michele, we do have time. A lot can happen in 440 days!

Well, as if we need a reason to have a party onboard, we will be spending my birthday in Barcelona. I know we will have a great time in the Voyager or Horizon Lounge. I hope Hal Fraser is still aboard when we CROSS.

David - we love the hop on/off bus way of seeing a place. So much tour in so little time. Las Ramblas is a must. Frank has been there a few times but this will be my first. I also want to see some of the Gaudy architecture.

Gibraltar is an amazing sight at night. I brought the wrong camera up with me so next time I will be prepared for the photos.

As far as Malaga goes, we did go to the Alhambra and I won't go again. Will have to see what alternative tours would be good. Maybe one to Granada.

Hi Don and Diana,

Would so enjoy having you both with us on the entire crossing! We are still trying to figure out how to squeeze so many days away into our work schedules. Hoping everything comes together for us all, who are still working. We set our sights high and hope for the best! You could book both segments and then cancel one if you needed to. YIKES - Did I just say the dreaded "C" word?????

Hi M & D:

You are right on all counts!! I wish we could do it again it was so good and meeting you two and your friend from PD was an added pleasure.

Hi! CK:
We saw lots of Gaudy from the bus but did not have enough time to explore any of the buildings as we had done when we had been there on a prvious trip.

The cruise is the THING - it is 150% perfection.
You lucky people! enjoy, enjoy!

Yes, it's hard to be gone from the office for nearly 3 weeks by the time we travel to and from. I hope that I will still have a great assistant otherwise, my laptop won't just be for photography. Nice that I can at least work virtually to some extent. The other good thing on this is that we'll be Gold so that our phone time will be 4 hours unless they change the SSS program or tier benefits

Michele, Donna & Betty/David -

This cruise and itinerary gets such high marks from all of you! CROSS is sounding better and better with each post!

Gaudi architecture is a major draw for us in Barcelona. With a day and a half there, we can cover some substantial ground.

For anyone interested in Gaudi (Not to be confused with gaudy - meaning tasteless ;) ) -

Gaudi Architecture

I was just browsing the Travel and Leisure Magazine that came in today's mail. One of the articles is a list of dream trips taken by various TA's. One of them felt the Grand Crossing (but started in Istanbul) to FLL was her dream trip on the Voyager.

FYI, Diana and I did Barcelona this past year and just caught the Hop on Hop off bus right at the port. It cost us 18 Euro each and took you around a pretty full tour of the city with stops at the major sights (such as La Sagrada Familia) where you get off and then get back on later.

Barcelona Bus Turistic Hop On Hop Off Bus

We also did the same thing in Valencia.

Valencia Bus Turistic

Thanks, Don. Just bookmarked that site.

We did hop on/off in London and Paris, in addition to some private touring. They were terrific touring options.

Have you decided upon the full crossing yet? :D

We did a Gaudi tour with the taxi driver/guide we had last year, and hit all the places mentioned in Denise's list. He was quite knowledgeable and pointed out so many details of what we were seeing. I thoroughly enjoyed that day!

Don

Can you post again with the Valencia link, please? Both links are for Barcelona.

Thanks!

Denise, it is all fixed now.

Thanks, Don!

We received our Regent Cruise Atlas 2007 today; and it shows that the TA part of the Grand Crossing will offer the Cordon Bleu class. Yippee!! When can we sign up?? The class on WAVE was great fun, even though most of the dishes were absurdly complicated and required a dozen different pans, which is fine when you can leave them for the "staff" to clean, but not so good if the "staff" is you. Nonetheless, I will definitely be in the class, with bells (and apron) on. Anyone else going to join in the culinary festivities?

Hey all~
This is really the trip I want to take! I will be working on DH between now and next June! I have been looking for an excuse to go back to the Med since we took the fam there Spring '05!

Jen

OK, Lots of intense pressure on you to do this, Jen! CROSSers can be relentless!

Jen, we can be very persuasive while on SAND. Can't we Karen and Kathy?

Freddie, we will be there as well. What is the earliest that you can book a spot?

Fred,

Only if you and I partner! Then I will have a third cookbook.

JoAnn, are you in? We can cause some good commotion! Fire in Latitudes anyone? Oh, wait , that was on Mariner. Much better class facilities on the Voyager!

Denise,
You are a lucky ducky! I'm pea green with envy.
Have a grand time!
Love, Elena :3smile:

Kathy - will keep it in mind.

Have to think about whether I want to do that again, it was fun and of course with a group of CROSS'ers it might be even more fun.

Freddie,

No cooking class this time around for me. I'm hoping there's a class focusing on relaxation - I really need to learn how to do that!

Elena,

We would really enjoy your company on CROSS. Care to consider? Please!

Maybe we should consider starting a list of those whose arms need some twisting.

Kathy,

Please change us to B2B on the rollcall list. Thanks.

After last year's cruise I posted a review which you may find informative, as if you didn't have so much so far!! The link is http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=14030
Hope you enjoy.

Neil and Carol are b2b too Kathy - forgot to tell you that.

David and Betty, thanks for the link to your review. It was very informative.

I have some questions about the Cordon Bleu class.
How hard is it to get into, what is the earliest that you can book it, and an idea of the approximate cost?

David and Betty,

Thanks for the link to your review on CC.

Don - you need to sign up as soon as possible. I don't know if CB class is open yet for that sailing, but have B&K call them and if it is sign up. They only take 16 in a class, but they have been known to add extra sections if there are enough people on the wait list. Cost is $399.00 per person. If you don't get in, get on the wait list.

I am calling RSSC tomorrow to check for my couple traveling with us on CROSS as to when I can sign them/her up. Will post here what I find out.

Thanks JoAnn, I just emailed Linda.

Heads up all those interested in doing the Cordon Bleu class, I talked to RSSC this morning and it can be added now, the cost is then added onto your balance due (and be aware if you take their insurance, the cost of the insurance will increase slightly). I just added it for our friends traveling with us, and for myself, and have new invoices showing us confirmed. My advice is that if they say its full, get on the waitlist, they usually add extra sections if there are enough on the waitlist, and I have never heard of anyone not getting in.

Whoo Hooo

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:
I wonder if we should request that we all be in the same class?

I don't know if or how we can do that, as to book it you just call Reservations, or of course have your TA call, and they just confirm the class and add the amount to your invoice. Maybe they will set up the classes in order confirmed?????

I'm thinking of doing this with my mom. How are the waters in a Nov crossing? We both get seasick and will be on our first cruise this Oct.

JoAnn, thanks for the information. This is sooo exciting.

Kathy, that would be great. I wonder if they do end up having multiple classes, if that can be arranged.

Tina, I have heard that the last few years have all seen very smooth crossings.

if we're in different classses, we can go to reception and request that we are in the same class. We did that on WAVE and we did that in the Panama Canal too.