Finally repositioning of the Mariner published!

[smoosh21]

Originally Posted by mommabean

There aren't enough port stops for that price. Three stops in 15 days? I wouldn't go to the trouble of flying that far to stay on a ship for so long.

The next 11 night cruise to India and Malaysia is only slightly better with 4 stops but it's too late in the year by the end of May to comfortably spend time in India. And there aren't enough hours in each port. Arriving in Goa at 1pm is too late.

Apparently these cruises aren't for me.

Gina

Thats the best part, the days at sea. You are paying the money to be on the ship, why would you want to be in port?

anyway, I love this itinerary because it stops in Gibraltar and I have been waiting for a good Royal itinerary to stop there. I actually read this and immediately went out and booked it.

[mommabean]

Originally Posted by smoosh21

Thats the best part, the days at sea. You are paying the money to be on the ship, why would you want to be in port?

anyway, I love this itinerary because it stops in Gibraltar and I have been waiting for a good Royal itinerary to stop there. I actually read this and immediately went out and booked it.

If that's the case, why pay that much in air fare and cruise fare to do it on the other side of the world?

Neither of the 2 cruises I mentioned stops in Gibraltar. The transatlantic is the one that stops there and then again, that one only has a one way international fare. It may very well be cheaper than the other 2 re-positioning Mariner cruises - I haven't looked since I'm not interested in transatlantic cruises.

The only one I was interested in was the one that goes to India. And I ruled it out for the stated reasons. I want to go to India and have a real cultural experience in more bearable weather, not go to the Mariner of the Seas at the end of May. I can hang out on the ship in the Caribbean any time fortunately.

Gina

[ssb]

see this thread on this forum

Cruise Critic Message Boards > Cruise Lines "P - Z" > Royal Caribbean International Mediterranean for Caribbean Cruisers

[ssb]

Gilbratar is next to Cadiz Spain

Come join us!

My post with minor changes on that thread mentioned above!

Try a Transatlantic if you have time!
And while you are already there, do a Med!
Like a short intensive Med cruise
and then a laid back Transatlantic. Back to Back

We have done some that way before and have two planned now!
We have same room and don't even to have to get off ship!
Already been to Barcelona alot!
But will to meet friends and eat at a little favorite local Tapas place!
See list below for our next 4 cruises under same concept!

Using Choice Air and or miles makes flying easier and cheaper!!!!!

As example we have plans for these and they meet our criteria
and they happen to be places we want to see
and generally not been!

These are very reasonably priced right now!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

OR JUST DO TRANSATLANTIC by self !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


11/03//13
Navigator RCCL
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Naples (Capri), Italy
Valletta, Malta
Cruising
Cagliari (Sardinia), Italy
Palma De Mallorca, Spain
Valencia, Spain
Barcelona, Spain

11/10/2013
Navigator RCCL
Barcelona, Spain
Cruising
Cadiz, Spain
Cruising
Funchal (Madeira), Portugal
Cruising
Cruising
Cruising
Cruising
Cruising
Cruising
Nassau, Bahamas
Cruising
Cruising
Galveston

Another BTB coming up we are on but prices now are way up
If interest wait and do booking after pay day for RCCL and prices will probably go down
RCL Mariner of the Seas -11/12 - Trans Atlantic
RCL Mariner of the Seas -10/12 - Holy Land

[CAT GIRL]

Originally Posted by mommabean

Which is why I think there will be major price reductions as the time gets closer and people back out because the air fares have gotten no better...or worse.

Gina

Gina- I actually wanted to do this trip this year but couldn't fit it in.
Interestly enough, the prices continued to raise as the months went
on. In Feb the price of a JS went up to over $7000 for two people.
The GS's were just a few hundred more. I couldn't believe how the
prices went up. And then I stopped watching prices so I'm not sure
how it went closer to sailing but I think there were suites available
in May. We will definately book sooner rather than later.

Next year's sailing is a week later than this year's. And last
year's Goa was 10 am to 6pm. Don't know why they changed it.
Thanks for bringing up the weather. I didn't even consider that
although I don't know if it will be a deal breaker for me. I haven't
transferred this cruise yet until I'm sure I am happy with flight times.
I'm been busy checking out all scenerios.

Anita

[Topo Gigio]

Just booked the 2nd leg from Dubai to Singapore. Got a balcony on deck 7 midship.

[mommabean]

Originally Posted by CAT GIRL

Gina- I actually wanted to do this trip this year but couldn't fit it in.
Interestly enough, the prices continued to raise as the months went
on. In Feb the price of a JS went up to over $7000 for two people.
The GS's were just a few hundred more. I couldn't believe how the
prices went up. And then I stopped watching prices so I'm not sure
how it went closer to sailing but I think there were suites available
in May. We will definately book sooner rather than later.

Next year's sailing is a week later than this year's. And last
year's Goa was 10 am to 6pm. Don't know why they changed it.
Thanks for bringing up the weather. I didn't even consider that
although I don't know if it will be a deal breaker for me. I haven't
transferred this cruise yet until I'm sure I am happy with flight times.
I'm been busy checking out all scenerios.

Anita

Just this week I was checking out bicycle tours in Mumbai. They start around 6:15 in the morning and are done before 9am. And in the summer often there are no tours. It's definitely weather. We've been told by Indians on ships, more than once, to go to India between mid October and March. Otherwise it's the heat or Monsoons that are uncomfortable to those who are unaccustomed to those things.

I had really admired that cruise this year, too. This one just seems a step back from it to me. We've pretty much made up our minds to just go by land sometime and the cruise we will do will be a backwater houseboat trip in Kerala.



Gina

[CAT GIRL]

Gina- good intel here. Heat I can handle. A monsoon would not be
fun. I had to bargain with Moe to agree to change our trip to this
one. I don't dare flip flop at this point. lol

[mommabean]

Originally Posted by CAT GIRL

Gina- good intel here. Heat I can handle. A monsoon would not be
fun. I had to bargain with Moe to agree to change our trip to this
one. I don't dare flip flop at this point. lol

And I just got to the part of my Indian culture book about arrival at the airport. I just scared my husband out of the trip. Maybe a brief visit by ship is the way to check it out first. You can go and tell us if it's worth the fright we are sure to have at the airport should we go. They say at the airport you will wonder what you have done. The sensory overload will be so severe it may be difficult to think clearly. Have a plan in place to get out of the complete chaos. I'm already wondering what I'm thinking.

I'd actually prefer the monsoon to the heat.

[springaussie]

I was on the Voyager from Barcelona - Singapore in May and had a good time.
If you are planning on booking here is some things that may interest you.

16 sea days out of 26 days.
It was cold from Barcelona - Alexandria. Then the heat was unbearable to Singapore.
I felt more time could have been spent at the Ports.
The Mariner is the same ports with similar times. (Jordan and Goa in 2013 longer)
Visa was needed for India at approx $100 charge but cruise company got a group visa at no charge for passengers who did not obtain Indian Visa.
The Entertainment was poor with heaps of repeats.
No 80's or 90's nights.
Most were in bed by 2300 most nights.
Marines fired warning shots at Pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
The Suez Canal is a must see.
Do a private tour to Pyramids stay overnight for the same price as cruise day tour.
Petra is a must see place in Jordan.
Have a swim at the beach in Goa!
Visit the Backwaters from Cochin.

If you have not been to this part of the world well worth a visit but be prepared!
Glen

[springaussie]

A few more things.
Heaps of work happened getting the Voyager Asia ready.
Televisions and carpets were replaced.
Casino was closed for approx 10 days on Trans Atlantic with $100 OBC per cabin. High Roller Section was added.
Sauna was closed for 5 days.
Shops were modified to Asian standards.
I was not aware of any toilets being made squat style.
The price for a visa for Canadians to visit Dubai very expensive.
On the Dubai - Singapore sections over 60% of the ship was sold to travel wholesalers in Australia and the UK with 90% being between 60 - 75.
Australians were told they could not pick up the satellite to watch State of Origin football. The truth was Carnival had exclusive rights.

If you decide to book have a great time like I did.
Glen