Wonderful idea, Fred, but isn't this "out of the box', which N can't do next year? Or are you talking about something already in the pipeline?

Editing to say sorry, fred was talking about curise he already has planned, not a BK group cruise

We'd love a med cruise particularly May/June when the evenings are so long and the weather is warm but not too hot.

AMA in Vietnam pending reports back from Fred and Mary Ellen in November 2011 would be a possibility in 2013 and yes an "out of the box" event to some extent. However, I have a great relationship with AMA so that helps and I have been to Siem Reap so all that makes it very doable.

I will be able to fit in about four to five trips in 2012. So what will suit some will not suit others. These threads are good to throw ideas around.

Black Sea if there is enough interest is a possibility.

A TUT like itinerary for those that could not do CLEO and if this was followed by a MED or Black Sea cruise all the better. Ken and I could stay on board to do both.

A Med Cruise in May/June or October with some new ports is a strong possibility.

I do like to find a cruise that is less expensive and if possible with the lower single supplement. This usually means crossings which many like to do. Be nice if they would put a few new ports on the way. Maybe a repeat of Splash with Morocco that was cancelled for 2011. So many wanted that itinerary so that would be great.

Christmas or New Years could work too. New Years has traditionally been the Panama Canal and we have only done that once. Things may be different in 2012 if the world cruise is a non event and the Voyager stays in Europe again.

AMA Christmas market. Ken and I really enjoyed PARIS and loved those small German towns. We would be up for a repeat of that particularly if a new AMA boats with the larger cabins and multiple restaurants was doing that trip. We could do this EARLY December. Cheron and Mark want to do this they are busy with their new house and have not posted but I know this is on their wish list.

Of course there could be a surprise in the 2012 itineraries that could be in Asia or even one that touches on India or Burma or somewhere we have not considered that will be a winner.

See how well it all starts to fall in place when discussions take place.

Aloha
Like this topic but just a heads up that the 2012 Summer Olympics will be held in London from July 22 to Aug. 12.

John

Although we would definitely prefer Regent (finally will make Platinum after Canada), the Silver Spirit has a wonderful 14 night Southern Caribbean itinerary from Ft Lauderdale on 20 Dec 2012. If this same itinerary were offered at the same time on Mariner for around $1,000 less per person it would be a wonderful choice.

We prefer Regent too -- we're already Platinum and the perks are too good to give up--especially if another line doesn't compare favorably for cost. Besides, we're close to Titanium so we need to devote all our cruise nights to Regent for the time being :D

Ngaire -

If you do a Christmas market cruise then I think that we will join you - we love the Christmas markets and have never done a river cruise in winter!

So please - do it!!
Gerry

Love reading this thread....and drooling over all the wonderful travel possibilities. BUT....I'm just astonished that it's going to be TEN years. I still remember Arlene's pipecleaner Reindeers that she gave to all of us at our first get together! :app:

We're on CLEO in 2011, then spending some time in Istanbul, touring Cappadocia, then taking the overnight train back to Athens ( I LOVE trains!) to re-board Mariner for the 10-day "Black Sea Odyssey". That way we only have to fly out there once! And we'll have "done" the Black Sea, finally (I've wanted to for years). And they recently cut the price of the BS Odyssey $500 per person.

What we'd like to do in 2012 is a Baltic Sea cruise, like the back-to-back Silver Whisper cruises from Stockholm to Southampton (Voyage 4219-10 days) to Lisbon (Voyage 4220A-9 days) with port calls in Tallinn, Estonia, St. Petersburg, Russia, (for 3 days, making an excursion to Moscow eminently possible) Helsinki, Finland, Warnemunde (Rostock), Germany, Transit the Kiel Canal, Southampton, UK (overnight), Bordeaux, France (overnight), Bilbao, Spain, Gijon, La Coruña, Spain, and Vigo, Spain. This seems like a great itinerary visiting many places we'd like to see and/or spend more time in - we've not been to Lisbon, for example, and only spent one day in Stockholm. Only problem, it's expensive, and we don't get all the benefits we get with Regent Platinum. But maybe Regent has a similiar cruise - we have to wait to see when their 2012 schedule comes out.

We would be interested in a Panama Canal cruise at New Years or thereabouts. That's one I've wanted to do for a long time, with places we haven't been.

If there are new ports on a Med cruise, that could be tempting too. Same for Baltics. On the other hand, we're thinking we're overdue for a France or British Isles land trip some time in 2012, so a Panama Canal cruise at the end of the year could be at the top of the list for us. So much to think about .... not enough time or $$$$.

2010 is over and done
so now we turn to lots of FUN
and part of that fun is to look and see
what 2012 cruises there might just be
that will produce a trip that is a perfect 10
like a Deutchland cruise with Ngaire and Ken
so hurry and contact your friends at BK
to learn about the opportunity to have a great stay
in small German towns in early December
it will be a trip you will long remember
please join us and the anticipated hord
and we will almost guarantee you won't be bored
these Christmas markets are calling your name
if you aren't there, the season will be lame.

Mark, you've done it again with another great poem. I'd love to cruise with you and Cheron again, but a cold weather cruise? BRRRRRRR..... Not sure.

I love cold weather cruises!

I think Mark's pleas and wonderful poem has convinced Ken and I so we cant say no. I think the 2012 Christmas Market cruise going to an escorted trip and we will do the same Mosel River, German villages itinerary that we did for Paris that was my favorite of the two river cruises we have done. The little towns are wonderful.

black sea or med sounds great. we are missing a cruise badly....roar will be wonderful, but I miss my feet on a moving boat....We are working on my boss and his wife......they would love either.

Checked with AMA and the 2012 trip will be December 3 to 10 and that will work. It is called the Rhine Winter Voyage Amsterdam to Basel so it is a little different from Paris in 2009.

AMACELLO will be the ship as the new ships are not doing the Christmas Cruises.

So we are making it official and will be escorting that trip. Still waiting to find out if the prices are set and if reservations can be made or I need to just do a waitlist.

If the single supp is not 100%, please waitlist me, and also my sister

Looks like a lovely cruise, with opportunities to do Christmas markets. Ngaire,I notice in AMA website that for the reverse itinerary, Basel to Amsterdam, they offer an option for a couple of nights in Zurich, couple of nights in Lucerne. They don't show the detailed itinerary in reverse (Amsterdam to Basel). Do you know what land options (if any) they'll offer for the Amsterdam to Basel itinerary? Thanks.

ken and i would be very interested in this holiday! - would you please add us to the list to receive more information or waitlist (i'm not sure of the process) - sounds like a lovely holiday to celebrate our 20th! -

I got an email back from AMA that date is off and they are going to let me know the correct dates for 2012 tomorrow.

The land package will probably be offered again with the same options either pre or post cruise depending on the itinerary.

Be back to you once I have more information.

Dec 6-13, 2012- Amsterdam to Basel with optional land program of 2 nights Luzern and 2 nights Zurich after the cruise Dec 13—17, 2012.

This is the date that we will probably do and be back in time for Christmas.

I am waiting for AMA to get pricing and more deails and then let everyone that is interested know the booking process.

Hmmmm?? Interesting.

Thanks Ngaire, pls. keep us posted.

sounds good to me

Ngaire, I like the sound of the Christmas market also.
I was also hoping you would repeat the Moscow-St. Petersburg river cruise in 2012.
Lynn

Anyone in for a 2112 Indian Ocean Rhapsody?

Voyager is doing a Singapore to Dubai - Mar 12

Singapore to Dubai is on MY bucket list but everytime it comes out I have a conflict. I will be in Egypt on Nile 2 when it happens in 2012.

I am hoping to do this itinerary in 2013 and am going to be sure I keep my Safaris and Niles away from that time frame to finally fit it in.

Russian River Cruise?

A summary of 2012

January - Prince Albert - Antarctica
March - Nile 2
May/June - Voyager - London - Reykajvik - CPH
July - Mariner - Black Sea
Sept - Safari
Nov - Mariner - Monte Carlo to Rio
Dec - Amacello - Christmas Markets - Amsterdam to Basel

After this last year I have found it is too much to have trips so close together so doing everything to keep at least 4 - 6 weeks inbetween. Missed that goal a couple of times but it was just the way it worked out.

Just cannot fit in the Russian River Cruise as well.

Below is the link to the Christmas Market cruise. Just put this up yesterday and not proofed yet and no links from my web to these pages.

I cannot add this link to my two main web pages, BK Travel and BKRSSC as these are now in the new format. I did not have time to learn the new software and do not want to mess anything up so have to wait for Julie to get back at the end of this week to "train" me. She published the new BK website the day before she left for the Mariner so you may find some links not working but we will get these fixed when she gets back.

http://www.bkrivercruises.com/12_the_Rhine_Winter_overview_ESC.htm

Ngaire,
I don't hsve time right now, but it looks Like a "go" for me. Lynn

royal palace train sounds like a winner some time. We met some people who had done it on our last crusie and loved it.

We'll do the royal palace train anytime!

I'm also interested in the Royal Palace Train, Andi. Doubt if 2012 would work for me though.

The trip Ngaire mentioned for 2013...Singapore to Dubai...maybe we could tack it on at the end or beginning? The cruise goes to India, so we could backtrack a little.