Found it. It looks like Corregidor is just a drive by.

JHP, the stop in Manila is long enough for the families to visit and have lunch aboard and for staff to go ashore. Of course, there is never enough time, but this is better then nothing.

McKeever, I hope that the people who want to do a shore excursion in Corregidor will be able to go ashore there and then take the ferry the one way to meet the ship in Manila. If it could be done that way, it would save time.

Alan took the excursion to Corregidor when we were in Manila on Voyager, last year. He thought it was a good tour. Hopefully something will work out for those interested in seeing WWII history.

I stayed in Manila, took the shuttle to a shopping area and returned to watch the family reunions (that was the best part.) I can understand why they have made it a short stay. This is mainly for the crew and their families as tourism has a long way to go in Manila. While I found the time on shore interesting (and took it for what it was...a glimpse at life in Manila), the passengers on our shuttle complained bitterly as they were expecting a higher standard of experience than could be made available (they did not feel it reflected the "Regent" experience).

I am happy that they will be stopping there for the crew. It means so much to them.

I heard from a friend who will be on the Voyager for the WC and got this email from Regent today:

>>Please be advised that we have modified the itinerary for third segment of the 2007 World Cruise.

Due to port restrictions, the Voyager will not be calling in Keelung , Taiwan on March 2, 2007. Instead we will be adding a duel call on March 1, 2007. We will call in Corregidor , Philippines from 8am-11am followed by Manila , Philippines from 1:30pm to 8pm.

Corregidor is also known as "THE ROCK" and is the largest of the five islands that dot the twelve-mile entrance to Manila Bay . Whoever had the control of it had the complete control of the Bay, and it was for this reason that a formidable array of eighteen twelve-inch and ten-inch coastal rifles and twenty-four twelve-inch mortars covered the approaches to Manila Bay. It had a strategic role during World War II.

Additionally, we had originally planned to call in Ishigaki , Japan as a technical call on March 3. Be advised that we will now make this a regular call from 2pm-7pm and shore tours to this Japanese island will be offered.<<

No mention of Corregidor tours but I'm hopeful!

And any stop in Manila is a bonus for the staff and therefore for us.

Peggy

Did anyone out there on the first leg get their Visa back from ZVS yet? We have to go thru San Francisco and haven't gotten them back yet. Joe and Karyn Doucet got theirs back 2 weeks ago, but theirs went thru NY.

I'm so happy about the change to Manila! Doug, we've had our visas back quite a long while too and we sent ours to SF (didn't need the Brazil visa though, only the China one).

No, not yet. But ZVS told us in advance they would send them about Nov. 15th.

Any ideas who the lecturers will be on the WC? Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt were listed originally. Are they still coming?

Bill Miller is due for the final segment but other than that, it's all a blank . . .

Will anyone be on the Voyager before the WC starts and can ask a few questions for us (and post the answers)?

Peggy

Peggy, we will be on December 18th-29th and I will try and get some answers for you :)

Thanks Doris,

I'd really appreciate that!

Peggy :)

Doris has her ways of investigating and getting info, as I remember?

jhp, I am not sure what you mean by that I will just ask Jamie and Dana, they should know.

Oh, Doris, I'm sorry! I thought that when you were on part of the world cruise last year, people were asking you to find out things on the ship!

Just heard from Dieter and Ilse Gerlach, the dance instructors on the Mariner. They will be on the WC. So, any of you who are up for some good dance lessons and a fun hour after lunch on sea days, you're in luck. They really do make dancing fun.

And they are so up beat and always smiling. I love them and I don't even dance!

McKeever; Try it; you'll like it! They really make it simple and fun. Don't be bashful.

Down deep inside, I am shy although I come across as the opposite. It is hard since it makes it hard for me to make friends. Also, my mouth sometimes outruns my brain. Bad news.

By the way, is there any word on who the craft people will be?

Unfortunately from what I've heard it won't be Louise and Florent. :mecry: I'm sad about this because they are absolutely the BEST and I know they really wanted to do the WC!

Boo hoo.

Seven Seas Voyager
Lecturers World Cruise 2007
subject to changes

Segment 1: Fort Lauderdale - Cape Town, Jan 9 - Feb 3, 2007

Niki Sepsas Destination South America
Daniel Silke Globalization/Destination South Africa
Joyce Middlebrook Music
Robert Clark Oceanographer
Richard Wise Gemolog


Segment 2:Cape Town - Singapore, Feb 3 - 24, 2007

Garrick Utley Journalist / Celebrity Speaker
Barbara Udell Health and Wellness
Henry Bradsher World Affairs
Luca Belpietro Maasa People/ S/A Eco Tourism
Jon Lomberg Astronomy


Segment 3 Singapore - Hong Kong, Feb 24 - March 10, 2007

Sandra Bowern Destination
Bill Stubbs Destination
Joost Schokkenbroek maritime history of the region.


Segment 4 : Hong Kong - Muscat, March 10 - 31, 2007

Sandra Bowern Destination
Mark Russell Political Satire
Bill Stubbs Destination
Steve Bauer The White House
Lawrence Rudner Explorers


Segment 5: Muscat - Monte Carlo, March 31 - April 15, 2007

Sandra Bowern Destination
Walter Russel Mead Celebrity Speaker, World's Affair
Jacqueline Hahn Historian
Anthony Coates Geology


Segment 6: Monte Carlo - Fortlauderdale April 15 - 30, 2007

Sandra Bowern Destination
Judy Woodruff Celebrity Speakers, Journalists
Al Hunt Celebrity Speakers, Journalists
William Miller Maritime History
J M Cousteau

Wow, this is powerful. What a treat it is to anticipate Bill Stubbs again!

Thanks Mike!

It's a great list with some returning favorites (Bill Stubbs and Daniel Silke in particular) and a number of new faces as well.

I'm also glad Bill and his wife will be on to help smooth out any possible problems in Manila

Peggy

Because I bitched and moaned about the passports and ZVS, I wanted to say ours arrived yesterday - 2 days BEFORE the requested date.

Peggy

:banana:

Is anyone else taking the Cambodia trip? Angkor Wat and the three other temples are awe inspiring.

The only side trip we've planned is the one we're doing independently of RSSC. We're leaving Shanghai on morning of March 6 (same day the ship leaves) and flying to Xian to see the Terracotta Warriors (have a guide lined up to pick us up at the airport). We will be there that afternoon and then the same evening we're flying from Xian to Beijing for 3 nights (also have a guide lined up and hotel). We will then fly from Beijing to Hong Kong on March 9 to rejoin the Voyager. Our flight arrives in Hong Kong 1/2 hour after the Voyager is scheduled to dock.

Re: Side trips

Marcie -- Aren't you doing a safari side trip?

Karen and I are signed up to take the one-night side trip from Mumbai to Agra to see the Taj; nothing else at this point.

Somewhat disappointed that we won't be on the Voyager while it transits the Suez Canal (I know, just a lot of sand!, but wouldn't want to miss the complimentary overnight in Cario and to show Karen the Pyramids and Sphinix.

Yes Larry....how could I have forgotten that big one!!! I'm so excited about our Safari at Mateya. I think there is still a room or 2 left at Madikwe if anyone wants to join us.

Suez is nothing special at all, certainly not like the Panama Canal. After the first few minutes it turned into a zzzzzzzz.

Now this is weird....I was playing around on the Four Seasons Miami website and put in a reservation request for January 8th. Of course I was expecting it to say that the hotel was sold out but it didn't! It was letting me chose my room etc. all the way to where I would have put in a cc. That's a bit scary if they allow such over booking.

We will be at Madwike. Will the two groups be together for any events?

You will never regret Xian. Maybe you will be lucky enough to have the farmers who discovered the soldiers there. They were signing books for us.

If you can work it into your schedule, in Beijing the Summer Palace is stunning compared to the Forbidden City. Let's hope we don't hit Golden Week this time!

Just an update regarding ZVS. Got an e-mail from Jennifer at B&K saying that ZVS would send our passports and Visas 15 Dec. That's the date that we told ZVS we'd have to have our passports back. Maybe we should just have said ASAP.

Passports and Visas for Brazil arrived today from ZVS. Also purchased Medjetassist coverage for 1 year just in case. Most insurance only gets you to the nearest hospital and we surely wouldn't want to get stuck in Rio or Cape Town. This will supplement our CSA coverage to get us home to AZ. For $325 you can't go wrong, according to me.

Doug: I have also signed up for Medjet when we have been on trips far far away - I really like the peace of mind with their coverage- we have had it for two yrs and time to sign up again in 60 days - but will wait till we get closer to Copenhagen and Istanbul trips to re-up -

This from Bill Miller's news letter this morning.

>>REGENT SEVEN SEAS: Breaking their own record! Regent will sail 45 European cruises in 2007. ... Once fully booked, reports are that there now is space on the Seven Seas Voyager’s 2007 World Cruise.<<

Not a big surprise . . people cancel before the non-refundable $$$ are due and things happen to change plans. Just interesting.

Just had an e-mail from Debbie Tate. Cruise docs are in! YIP YIP YAHOO!!!

Yes Doug, got the same email from Debbie. LOL....our cruise docs must be out in the Atlantic with the SANDees!

Peggy from what Ngaire told me, Segment one is oversold by 5 cabins but there are some segments that still have openings.

Seems like a long time since this was updated...any changes/additions?

Marcie & Tom (petlover) # 645 - Full WC
Betty & Al (Graywolf) # 648 - Full WC
Peggy & Cy (xrvlcruiser) #755 - Full WC
Mary Ellen & Bruce(Mary Ellen) Cabin 820 - Full WC
Ted & Joan(hrprof) Cabin 914 - Full WC
Larry & Karen (larry1365) Cabin 810- Full WC
Mike & June Gittings (MikeG)# 651, Full WC
Elaine(sealover) & Stan -Cabin # 715, Full WC
Ardis (McKeever) & Stan #845, Full WC
Doug & Lynn (dougburns) Cabin 824 - Segment 1
Joe& Karyn Doucet,Segment 1, Cabin 816
Linda & Larry Morris (LRM1294)Seg. 2, Cabin #920
Howard & Derek(Cruise Crazed) Seg.6 Cabin ?

Passports with visas arrived this morning. The price for two multiple entry Chinas and one Brazile was only about $125. I can't understand, Marcie, why the amount on yours was so high. I think you said $531? Either way, it's nice of Regent to take care of it.

T'wasn't me Ardis. I didn't pay a penny nor give them a cc #....I just wrote "paid by Regent" (we didn't need the Brazil visa since we had gotten that last year).

Glad you got your passports and visas back safely.

Marcie, we are still on Segment 2 in suite 920. Can't wait to meet some of you LCT'ers. You seem like a nice AND fun group. Aren't some of you going on a safari from Cape Town? Do you rejoin in Richards Bay? So I guess it will be a few days into the trip that I get to meet some of you. Linda & Larry

I MUST stop eating those funny mushrooms.