Marc, the polar bears of Churchill....you have the best ideas. Has the potential of a fascinating adventure! - Michele

Ah yes, the Churchill Polar Bears - a true wildlife spectacular! Very brief window, but the only opportunity to see them in groups. May see individuals or mother and young in Svalbard, but in Churchill, play fighting, Arctic foxes, Ptarmigan in winter white. But, Singita it is not! If you do Tundra buggies, Churchill lodgings are comfortable but "rustic". If you stay in the "bunkhouse" on the tundra, get ready for a truly "unique" experience - details on request! But, it is spectacular!

Ted, I think you and Marc are two peas in a pod. You have traveled so much more than the rest of us in a well,.....more concentrated itinerary to different places? I don't know the right words, but I think you add so much to this board because of your non-cruise experieces, and some of the cruises I remember you taking that were not RSSC, and because you seem to be itinerary driven.

We would definitely be interested in Galapagos around Thanksgiving. Or British Isles. we are doing SS thru Norway in '06 but narry a plan for 2007!this is such a great board, I never even heard of the Churchill Polar Bears! How fabulous that sounds!We are off tomorrow for NYC to brave the transit strike. Happy Holidays to all.

Ms Understood,

I must confess I had not heard of the Churchill Bears either but now that I have I know I'll have to do it someday....

Good luck in NYC!

For those interested, here are a couple of links for polar bear tours.

International Wildlife

Natural Habitat

Churchill Tours

Ted, what outfit did you use for your trip?

Olivia, I have not traveled that often. A lot when I was much younger; now, just trying to catch up.

https://people.creighton.edu/~shu02225/churchil.html

This web site shows information about Churchill and the bears that is easy to navigate.

Marc I have tons of brochures and web sites too on Churchill. Hrprof, I should had suspected you would have done this. I was into the Tundra Motel until I really started researching and then I started to back off for the more rustic but normal accommodations in town. I dont know who is best either Marc but I do know we need to book that early as the window is short and things do fill. It is kind of like going to Machu Picchu lots of effort to get there. Trains or planes are really the options.

Actually my plan was to do it alone check it all out first, figure out what was best and THEN take a group. If you all understand it is "unknown" territory if we decide on this adventure. No way I can fly up and check it out like I did for ROAR - have to be at the right time of the year to do that.

Mid November is probably peak but anytime in November would probably work.

I know I travel a lot but also remember I work a lot too. Saturday and Sunday all year long, I dont mind at all - I work hard and play hard.

Marc, I think that I was referring to you collectively,
but meant Ted. I remember him from cc with so many adventures that he would tell about. But I also know that in your early life you did a lot of "back pack" travel. I like to hear about all of one's travels.

Marc

We were there in the late 90s with Joe Van OS - an adventure - photography - wildlife tour group located in Washington State. To do Churchill, you have to join a tour - almost all facilities are booked by these groups - there are two tourist seasons in Churchill - the Polar Bears in late October into November and the Beluga Whales some other time (I can't remember when!) given the abbreviated season, lodgings are far from 5 star, but OK. The "bunkhouse" or tundra Motel is something else. Maybe the Tundra lodgings have been upgraded since we were there, if not, they need to be researched to see if they are consistent with LCT expectations. I wish I knew how to put photos on this site - two Polar Bears standing erect, massive claws extended, breathing steam back lit by an arctic sunrise - well, you get the picture.

Ngaire, you make our dreams come true. Tks. :)
- michele

We're definitely interested in Machu Picchu/Galapagos - I've wanted to go there for years. Also the Greek Islands. Our kitchen may also have to wait until 2008 - I have decided to paint, have the wood floor screened and reupholster the chairs in January because I need to do something to touch it up. ROAR and kitchen remodeling are not compatible!

Yes I am a little afraid of the tundra motels. I think town will have to be the way to go.

Marc you check this out if you wish and see what looks best to you, when I get back from the Voyager I have about 10 days before joining Marcie and clan on the Mariner. It is very tight time wise right now for me but I will get on this as soon as I return from those trips.

Lets narrow it down to two or three providers and then I will see what I can do for a group for a discount. Disclaimer here - I am a beginner at this trip so I am certainly no expert on which operator or hotel etc is the best. If only you and I want to go Marc no problem I will be there with bells on!! Group or no group. This is something I really want to do. I think this is high on Ralphs list too so I am sure he would come along. He has told me for years "put it together and I will come". I think Linda and Ron will be up for this also. This is not for everyone though. Must be a person who loves to see animals in the wild to really enjoy this trip. Do not expect luxury that is for sure.

I mapped out a "guess" of the schedule based on posts here and emails that I got where the primary interest seems to lie.

January – Hanseatic

April – Crossing to Funchal or Funchal to Monte Carlo (normal route) RSSC - cant fit in a fall crossing.

July/August – Africa
Winter, cheaper rates, no mosquitoes for sure - cold in the morning but warm in the afternoon -dry season. I want to try this time of year anyway.

Early Sept – British Isles - RSSC
(same time frame as this year 8/26/05)

Early October - Tokyo to Hong Kong - RSSC
(same time frame as this year 10/04/06)

Nov first week – Churchill

Late Nov - perhaps over Thanksgiving – Peru/Galapagos

Other interests are Egypt which would be done in Feb or March if there is enough interest. It will be cold in the morning but warm up to a nice temperature in the afternoon.

There is a little space in there for some last minute Silversea offering or something that comes up where a bunch of you want to go - super value cruise or something of that nature.

Preliminary list all HIGHLY subject to change of course.

Baltics and Norway. I have done repeatedly in the last two years need a break from that. Hope they offer Norway though this year - you never know.

Thanks for the information on Churchill. I definitely will be adding this to my list! Ted, your photo sounds amazing - if you sent it to Karen I'm sure she could put it on here for us all to see.

A question for you, Ngaire. Upon looking at the 2006 RSSC itineraries, it appears that there is only one sailing to the British Isles through RSSC. Do you think the same will hold true for 2007?

I am pretty sure there will just be one but I do not know for sure. I cannot remember a season when there were two, perhaps when they had the Song of Flower. That is the ship I did the British Isles on before. It is always popular I wish they would do more than one but my best guess is just one trip - late August to early September 2007.

Thanks, Ngaire.

Any plans for a Med cruise for you, besides the crossing? You have a pretty full schedule. When we sailed with you to the Baltics, we had talked about doing a cruise that included the wine region, Bordeaux, in it's itinerary. I think we have our choices narrowed down to either British Isles or Med. It will need to come down to good fares, possible free air or 2-for-1 for us. If there's only one British Isles sailing, the likelihood of greater discounting would be pretty slim, I would imagine.

If the cruises have the same format as last year, free air or $1000 the British Isles would most likely be included. It is LONGER though hence more expensive.

There is time in there for a Med or Greek Isles trip. That and the Caribbean trip we have to wait for the schedules to come out and see if any sailings offer extra society discount or some kind of special that is better than the other trips.

Who knew that June 19th Voyager would be such a great value. I jumped on that one right away.

You cant forecast that really. Except they will be early or late in the season which I really prefer in the Med anyway. There is nothing between April and July/August and that is when the value priced Med trips are likely to be offered.

Same with the Caribbean, Feb, March there could be a good Caribbean. March 23 is great this year with 20% society savings.

We can map out a "preliminary" plan to get ideas focused but until the actual itinerary and pricing comes out we cannot finalize.

I may be able to ask them if the British Isles is planned to be on the schedule, and if they would confirm that for me in advance we can be ready to book when it hits the system, like we did with MUSH. It is bound to be the Voyager and it would be great to all get category G deck 6 cabins. It will be like our private area that way. That is coming out the clear winner in the "I wish list".

Thanks, again. We really like the British Isles itinerary and would prefer a longer cruise. Seven days is too brief.

Hopefully, we, as a group, can get a jump on that one. Please keep us advised.

That sounds good to us too - Denise you mean we might get to cruise together??? Joanna :ch: :ch: :woh: :woh:

My first choice would be the British Isles.
Would love to do the Peru also, but when I go to a higher altitude I tend to sleep for the 1st couple of days until I get used to it. So probably should rethink that.
I am not familiar with the Churchill bears at all so need to look at these web sites.
And I agree about the longer than 7 days is better.

Oh I hope this works out Betty - I agree longer than 7 days would be soooo much nicer -

Ah, Churchill. If you're talking about Churchill Manitoba, yes, that's one thing I have always wanted to do. It's one of those second-tier Canadian must-dos, after you've taken the train across the country (which I have not done either), including: Churchill to see the polar bears, the Agawa Canyon train trip in fall, the Rocky Mountaineer train, the road trip around the coast of Cape Breton, Peggy's Cove, Pacific Rim National Park,...

For us this could be a quick getaway, so it might be doable in November, depending on the timing. It's something that can easily be arranged here of course, independently.

Boy did Alan's eyes light up at the mention of Churchill. Definitely count us in. Now, if he gets to decide about Churchill, it makes perfect sense that I should get to add the British Isles cruise to our 2007 plans! Denise, Betty, Joanna...ooooh that sounds like a fun group. Marcie, you too?

All of these sound great! Once we get back from the PG in Jan, we will be staying the continental US for 2006, so this thread is prefect!

We (I) have been talking about a Med cruise for 2007 - Venice to Athens or Instanbul (RSSC or SS). We had our eye on the old Diamond Panama Canal itinerary which went from Costa Rica to San Juan - wish they would bring that back. Machu Picchu is also on the short list..........

Thats on our list as well. Maybe Diana and I will join you and Frank!!!

Oh, but I also like the British Isles cruise, the Venice to Athens cruise, and still have to do a Baltic cruise.

Guess I better sell a couple more houses to people that are putting off remodeling their kitchens!!! :D

Don I'm with you - Baltics or a Crossing or diving Down Under at the Great Barrier Reef for 2007

Oooh yeah, diving the Great Barrier Reef. Add that to the list also!!!

Too many cruises, so little time!!! LOL

I posted one of Ted's Churchill photos earlier, on his message in page one of this thread but Ngaire, Andrea and I loved the pictures so much, here are a few more!

And not enough money!!! It's why we work so HARD!

Thanks Karen!

Oh Karen, you sure know how to get to ME!! Those photos are priceless!

Thank you Karen, and thank you Ted. What wonderful pictures!

LOL Ngaire that is too funny ( and i was thinking the same thing)..
I love the pictures of the bears Karen and Marc. That is awesome..

Since we're making comments of interest. We'd be interested in British Isles, South America, and perhaps Norway.

We're not remodelling our kitchen :)

Funny Peter - ours needs work but since it is the room I enjoy spending the LEAST amount of time in - I'll cruise - Joanna

OH MY! :woh:
They all look so good.
Jan B and I would probably be interested in
British Isles, South America

And not enough money!!! It's why we work so HARD!
----------------------------------------------
That's exactly what I'm doing at work right now! Can't you tell? LOL

Indications of interest:

Hanseatic, Patagonia, Mariner to Lima & post-cruise to Cuzco/Machu Picchu/Colca Canyon

Tokyo to Hong Kong for birthday season

Cheers, Anne & Gary

Wow, the Churchill trip looks amazing. I can't believe I've never seen anything on that before. We're huge animal lovers.

Our 25th Wedding Anniversary is Dec 2007 and I think we're going to do a combined 'big' trip in Feb of 2008 (Todd's 50th). I love the idea of Machu Pichu / Galapagos but I think Nov of 2007 will be too close to our Anniversary trip. (Unless we made that the Anniversary/Birthday trip? Guess we'll have to think about that option, too.) :)

Kathy