Probably early 2006 the schedules for RSSC for 2007 will be out. They came out with the world cruise and South America earlier than in past years so the same may hold true for 2007 regular schedules.

In order to get the less expensive cabins like we did for MUSH it is not too early to start thinking about 2007.

I have had people ask me to do a Galapagos/Machu Picchu combination group where you can do both or just one of those as you so desire. I am curious how many may want to do that. I want to go back to Africa of course and may do one or two trips there. These need to fit in around the cruise schedules and look at the times of year for these trips.

LCT'ers have expressed interest in British Isles, Greek Islands, Tokyo to Hong Kong for Radisson. Some want the Med again as well. Also a cheaper Caribbean trip early in the year just to get together is also a possibility. Of course a lot of us are on the Hanseatic so this would not be possible until late Feb/March for me. We may need to wait and see what offers the best value on that type of cruise.

To do a Silversea group we would have to take a period of time where we expect a special to arrive late and then fit that in the schedule. Big problem here is it is hard to use miles for the airfare at a later date.

As to the RSSC schedules I think if you look at 2006 and just imagine similiar dates for 2007 you wont be far off. I have heard that it is planned for the Navigator to spend time in the MED next year rather than doing the Baltics with the Voyager. That remains to be seen but I do believe that is the plan.

Here is my best guess:
Greek Islands is bound to be on the Navigator probably early May/June or September

Mariner will be doing Tokyo to Hong Kong about the exact time of year September.

If the Voyager does the British Isles again about the exact same time - late August to September. It has sold well this year so I expect that will be on the calendar.

Caribbean - January to March, Navigator. (Voyager will be on the world cruise and Mariner will be in South America.

So lets start day dreaming. That is always fun as well. Quite frankly you all decide what you want and I will just come along and form the group so we all get the extra group savings as well. That is what happened a lot in 2006.

You choose and I follow!!!

Sigh,

Sign me up for the Galapagos/Machu Pichu trip. (What about Egypt/Petra??)

Pushing back bathroom/kitchen remodel to 2009.

Yes, I like to do Egypt again, I really enjoyed it BUT that would have to be when it is not too hot. Even in March it was pretty darn warm. The Nile cruise was great.

We're in for Galapagos/Machu Pichu trip (plus India & Petra/Egypt)....hopefully, not all in 2007! Thanks again, Ngaire. We are pushing our house remodel around too... - Michele

All I can say is:

"Have dual voltage straightening flatiron...Will travel"

We need a kitchen, but am up for a Carribean trip or Galapagos or British Isles or Asia

Galapagos or British Isles sounds interesting or maybe the Carribean trip. What am I saying? We're already juggling so many cruise plans. Ngaire, you are a bad influence on me :)

Ah Donna at this time it is just dreaming anyway, 2007 is still a long way away.

Well, like Alan says, if you don't dream big, the small dreams don't happen. See, it's his fault, too! He's the one who taught me to dream big and look what he created? A travel monster. Two bad influences in my life. Gotta love it!

It's no so far away. I just booked teaching a workshop in Tubac, AZ for the second week in Jan. 2007. Personally I'd love anything from after Sep 23-Nov 20. I'm open to anyplace, although I really couldn't do more then 12 days total.

I may or may not be able to do something in Feb-May depending on a special project that may or may not come through. If it does come through, then the only time i'll have is fall, but i'd love to party with y'all!

We have two ideas for our 2007 travel schedule: Baltics or Australia/NZ. We are limited in travel dates by the tax calendars so May, June, part of August/Sept or November are all good for us. Since we have three planned for 2006, we can probably do just one cruise for 2007 if those are our choices.

My kitchen redo might have to wait to 2008 - just finished the last of the three bathrooms, sigh, all over budget...unless I take the "easy cash financing option" which would give Frank a reason to divorce me (lol) .

We're in for Tokyo - Hong Kong if you go again in 2007. :)

Masaki

Arlene, you're coming to Tubac? That's just down the road from Tucson. After all our 2006 travels, I'll definitely be home in Jan of 2007. If you have time, maybe I can drive down and meet you for lunch. We'll talk about our 2007 cruise with Ngaire :D .

Donna, I'm so glad you said something. I'd love to meet you and chances are pretty good I can convince Gil to join me for the week. ;) I'll be teaching during the day but will be free anytime after 4 PM. Perhaps we can meet for dinner? If Gil comes, we'll have a car.

We're doing renovations right now, since we will be selling the house in 2007, decided to fix up the major things now so we can enjoy it. This includes a new kitchen floor over the holidays (after Christmas day, I think!)

But because 2007 is moving year, not alot for us, a cheap Caribbean trip would be very appealing, but would have to be at very specific times (Xmas or mid-Feb). I suspect we will just to go the cottage, and wait until 2008 for another major trip.

We're open to join in on a cruise. What would likely work best for us would be before October '06 or after June '07 as we'll be on the WC from January-April. I like the idea of the British Isles on Radisson or Silversea....but we're open to lots of destinations.

My goodness I think someone should go into the kitchen remodelling business. Do you note how many are redoing their kitchen!!!

British Isles is bound to be late August or early September if they offer it. Works with the Baltic Season that way.

Decisions, decisions. Does anyone want to go to Norway?

I'm up for pretty much anything, but would love the Galapagos/Machu Picchu trip. Any idea what time of year that would be? Of course, I'm with Marcie on segment 5 of the WC, so something in the second half of the year would probably be best.

This is so true Donna, it helps to see it in writing!! Alan's a sage!

I'd love to do Macchu Picchu and Galapagos...2007 is my 40th b-day and I wanted to do Tahiti on the PG as my b-day present...but Galapagos is on my list of must do before I die....decisions, decisons!!

Machu Picchu and the GAlapagos.

Well the rains in Peru come from as early as September to April with the most rain December through March. In the dry months, May, June, July, August it can be quite cold in the mornings below 30 degrees it does warm up in the afternoons.

We went in November and it was absolutely glorious weather. Little cool but not cold in the morning to an afternoon high of about 70 degress. PERFECT. Everything was green. OUr guide said the best months were September, October and November.

Here are the seasons for the Galapagos the link below relates to the birds and animals at different times of the year in the Galapagos
http://www.bkgalapagos.com/W_Wildlife_Seasons.htm

January to May - The Wet Season
During the "hot" season with it's frequent afternoon rain showers the islands are generally much greener and the land birds most active. It is also during this period that the ocean temperature is warmer for swimming and snorkeling. Seas are calmer. If you are prone to sea sickness this is the time to visit. The rain showers are short and pass quickly and leave behind a bright blue sky. There is no reason to avoid the rainy season it is a great time to visit.

June to December - The Dry Season
During the "cool" season the sea mammals are most active. This is the best time for observing courtship displays in the sea birds. Chicks are in abundance in November. Seas can be choppy though seldom deemed rough. Sea surges can make landings more difficult. Ironically the skies are more often gray than blue during the dry season (especially August and September) because of overcast thin cloud layers

Linda went to the Galapagos in November and again in February. She highly preferred November due to the chicks that were everywhere. They had calm seas in November.

So I think the September - November time frame might be best - leaning towards the late October to November dates as the best.

I am sure the British Isles, Greek Islands are going to be at this time of the year also. Of course I love September to November for AFrica too due to the whales in Cape Town area.

Thats the problem. I need to define my schedule and need to see what suits most of you more. I can do both British Isles and Peru/Galapagos if the dates are spread apart enough to allow me to catch up inbetween trips.

Galapagos and Norway/Iceland are our interests.

---
Leslie

I would love Galápagos but we can only cruise in the summer months which doesn't seem ideal for that area. My other preference would be a Med cruise or a Greenland/ Transatlantic.

i've been wanting to see the Galapagos and Machu Picchu forever. I just have to convince a certain man that it would be fabulous, ;) and i love your time frame for it.

Hmmm, I was just thinking we need to start thinking about the 2007 travel schedule. We're not too warm on the idea of Machu Pichu (I get horrible altitude sickness), but might think about Galapagos. We're also very interested in a fall transatlantic cruise. All the other places you mentioned sound good to me--we're just waiting for you to set your group cruise schedule so we can decide which one(s) we want to do. We have a RSSC Greek Isles cruise deposited for 2006, but will probably want to push that back to something in 2007 (Asia, Greek Isles or British Isles--they all sound good.)

If you get altitude sickness you should not go to Machu Picchu Peggy it would not be a good thing to do.

Since I have done all these cruises before Hong Kong to Tokyo (Pearl market always beckons) British Isles (I really loved that and would enjoy that again) and Greek Islands (how can Santorini and Mykonos not be great) I am so flexible. I will definitely be doing one of these they may all hit the schedule at about the same time.

After we discuss it a bit I will decide where the prime interest lies and then schedule accordingly.

A crossing is something I have not done and I need to see Funchal. Remember Tim and Jan from Norway - they are working with RSSC to consider some type of "fun" things on the crossing like they used to do on the Diamond. They are really wanting me to join them in a crossing so that may well be in the cards fall 07 if I am not too busy it seem everything is in the fall for 07.

We've got a shipboard credit "parked" for 2007. Our itinerary interests are British Isles, Med (to include St. Tropez, Bordeaux, etc.), and Norway.

What will determine our choice will be a great deal, moderate in price, and time of year (ideally Sept. or Oct.).

of course the British Isles and or Greek Isles sounds wonderful too, and probably a bit more doable for me. sigh...so many places, so little time!

A couple of years ago I got to golf Tubac where parts of the movie Tin Cup was filmed.
(Just wanted to throw that out).

We love to do the November 2007 crossing - Funchal to Ft Lauderdale.

Wow, looks like we are last in the planning department!

Is anyone interested in going to Churchill, Manitoba to spend time with the Polar Bears?





We are looking at going first week in November, 2007. As for cruises, maybe Baltics, English Isles, or Norway if around July 1st or Labour Day. After PoP, we probably won't have vacation time to do the transatlantic again. We haven't thought about 2007 cruises much but it will have been 24 months since we would have been on a Radisson ship.

Just received SS newest brochure (really a glossy magazine) it has all the 2007 itineraries..if you are interested I will key them in later this week...r/wes

AHH the polar bears of Churchill - DARN I forgot about that I keep putting that off year after year because of cruises. That is REALLY high on my list of priorities. I am hesitant to do a group there (shades of ROAR) without going first and checking it all out. I dont like "surprises" when people are with me. Great minds think alike Marc. Tundra motel or in town - that is question. I am a princess you know.

Right now if the British Isles are in September to October that is probably a GO from what I am reading and emails I am getting.

Maybe I can squeeze in Churchill Marc early November, I have researched this many times it is critical to go at the peak season here. I need to go back and look at all of that.

Perhaps Galapagos/Machu Picchu in November. We went over Thanksgiving it was a perfect trip.

Polar bears? Okay, that has to go on my list and Jerel would definitely want to go too! Marc, you might need to fill us in during ROAR.

Andrea, we have been looking at doing this for years. Nov 2007 will be my 50th birthday. Seems like a good time to go.

Ngaire, we probably have 100 pounds of brochures at home. We have looked at International Wildlife Tours, Natural Habitat, and a few others. I can't tell who is best. I would like to do the mothers and dens extension and dog sledding tour in addition to a helo tour. Maybe we can get the "princesses" to do more research. ;)

One other thing. Ngaire, while you are "trying" to "fit in" all those trips, we poor souls will be trying to fit in the necessary hours slaving away so that we can join you for a trip or two each year. Do you need someone to carry your luggage? :D

Love planning for 2007. Wonder if there is any chance Radisson would have some 10+ days for Greece??
Just hate to go that far for 7 days so it may have to be on Oceania. Have a group forming that hasn't done Greece. Would rather be on Radisson--- Jan

British Isles, Tokyo-HK, and HK-Singapore are on my short list. Norway was super, one of my best cruises ever, perhaps because of the company! I'm open to most anything, even repeats.

Oh woe is me...I want to go on everything. Since I can't swing the British Isles in '06 w/ Pam, maybe '07 after the WC segment in March. Aug. or Sept. would work.

We would love a British Isles cruise at that time Ngaire.

Of course, duration is a big factor given that when I shut down, there is no one left to work!! :(

Anthony