Any one booking Europe on Friday?

[Cruise Junky]

I'm soooo tempted by the Med. Collection on Royal Princess, lots of interesting ports that we want to go to. But not sure how to tell hubby who thinks we're going to Normandy and Provence by land :) The timing is perfect as it leaves on July 7 and we wanted to vacation the last week of June first two weeks of July anyway.

 

Anyone else have any plans when they open Europe up?

[Toto2Kansas]

Just tell hubby of how many different ports he will get to visit on the cruise, and really play up the fact you will be so much happier only having to unpack once. It's what I do and so far, it's worked every time. ;)

 

Best of luck, I hope you get it booked.

[Cruise Junky]

Won`t work with him unfortunately. His favourite vacation EVER was our land trip to France and Italy. He`d rather do a land trip anyday rather than cruise. I`m going to have to present it to him as a combination. Spend the first week in Provence and then drive ourselves to Venice to catch the ship. Best of both worlds :)

[Trevoli]

Would taking into account the poor performance of US$ against the Euro help at all?

 

T

[Trevoli]

I won't be booking on Friday, but I am lusting after a Sept or October Med/Greece cruise.

 

I'd like to use FF miles, and you can't book those until approximately 11 months in advance, so if I can score FF seats in business class, then I'll book the cruise.

 

Of course, then I have to find somebody to go with me, too. That little detail...

 

 

T

[can786]

With the dollar so low against the Euro you could also point out that it is more economical to cruise than do a land vacation where you have to pay the high European prices for food and lodging and compound it with the poor exchange rate.

[Cruise Junky]

With the dollar so low against the Euro you could also point out that it is more economical to cruise than do a land vacation where you have to pay the high European prices for food and lodging and compound it with the poor exchange rate.

 

Not even close on cost. I`ve got both budgeted out (see I have been planning this ;) )

 

Cruise:

 

I`m thinking it`s going to be around $2,800 pp for a balcony, fuel surcharge, tips, onboard spending, shore excursions and daily spending. I have it totaling $9480 for 12 days..not counting flights as they`d be the same. Looking at $1,000 in shore excursions and an onboard bill of $600.

 

Land Trip: our rental for two weeks in Provence is $3,800, the B & B we`re looking at in Honfleur is 130 Euro a night or 160 for their self contained apartment. Car will be 1,000, gas etc. I think we spent just over 200 last year. Food,$1,000, spending, $1,000 Land cost for 21 days $8510.

 

Plus, we`re Canadian, the exchange rate when we went in 05 was 1.65 it`s only 1.55 now so we`re ahead of the game.

 

I`ll have to sit him down and make him watch James Bond Casino Royale again and really build up how beautiful Montenegro is :)

[Pam in CA]

I'm definitely booking on Friday (see below). :) Already have my quote request in with my TA.

[BJS]

First thing Friday morning b2b for 49 days!!!!! Itinerary all printed out now just waiting for the "sticker" shock.

 

.

[Coral]

I wish!!

 

There are some great itineraries out for next summer.

[KLLund]

Ok .. I gotta ask .. why friday ??

[Poulsbo Cruisers]

Ok .. I gotta ask .. why friday ??

 

Friday is supposed to be the first day to book Europe for 2009 with Princess. We will probably be booking on that day and using one our FCC's.

[KLLund]

Thank you very much .. I had not seen this and will be looking carefully since the Med is our plan for next year too ..

 

gosh this board is a wealth of information isn't it ???????

[Mysticks1]

I am hoping to get my cabin on hold Friday and book on Saturday. We will be looking for late September for our 20th wedding anniversary and I want aft corner "BB". I got the call from the vacation planner yesterday saying we could book on Friday - I have it narrowed down to either the Greek Isles or the Greek Isles and Mediterranean. We just have to decide beween Dubrovnik and Monte Carlo as that seems to be the only big difference.

Has anyone been to those ports that can give me any insight into which one is best?

[LoraJ]

I think I'll be booking. :) Not sure if we can swing it, but I'd like to at least put a deposit down on the cabin I'd like.

[virgenia]

Depends on your preference. Dubrovnik is an old walled city with spectuacular views across the city and sea from the top of the walls. You can walk around the old city. Old monastery, oldest continuously working pharmacy in the world, charming city shops, etc.

 

Monte Carlo is a beautiful town (quite small) overlooking the sea with the biggest attraction being the casino. You have to pay to go into the main casino. Lots of big hotels and fancy restaurants.Close by is Monaco with the palace, church where Grace Kelly is buried, etc.

 

Both places beautiful--depends on your tastes.

[Mysticks1]

Depends on your preference. Dubrovnik is an old walled city with spectuacular views across the city and sea from the top of the walls. You can walk around the old city. Old monastery, oldest continuously working pharmacy in the world, charming city shops, etc.

 

Monte Carlo is a beautiful town (quite small) overlooking the sea with the biggest attraction being the casino. You have to pay to go into the main casino. Lots of big hotels and fancy restaurants.Close by is Monaco with the palace, church where Grace Kelly is buried, etc.

 

Both places beautiful--depends on your tastes.

 

Thank you for your reply. I haven't been able to tell much about Dubrovnik from the Princess website. I was afraid there wasn't much to see there. Casinos don't really appeal to us, especially not if you have to pay to go in them.:eek: We have casinos 45 min from our home. My DH is a history buff and really wants to see Ephesus so Dubrovnik might be a good choice for him.

[Princess Chatterer]

My T.A., who can't be named because of CC rules, is booking Princess Europe 2009 for customers starting tomorrow, Thursday, at noon Eastern, 9 am Princess time as I understand it. The T.A. says T.A.s can book a day early.

[Princess Chatterer]

I haven't been able to tell much about Dubrovnik from the Princess website. I was afraid there wasn't much to see there.

 

We had a great time in Dubrovnik. We avoided the ticket taker bandit at the wall near the entrance, ate some great gelato and talked to some local Elementary school kids who were wearing various American sports apparel and spoke pretty good English. Dubrovnik was featured on The Amazing Race on CBS recently. You can spend an easy half day there just walking inside the fortress city.

[Coral]

My T.A., who can't be named because of CC rules, is booking Princess Europe 2009 for customers starting tomorrow, Thursday, at noon Eastern, 9 am Princess time as I understand it. The T.A. says T.A.s can book a day early.

 

In the past, Princess times for opening bookings have been strange. Sometimes they open a few hours earlier than they say and other times it is a few hours later... They never seem to open when they say they will.

[chasinraynbowz]

I'm soooo tempted by the Med. Collection on Royal Princess, lots of interesting ports that we want to go to. But not sure how to tell hubby who thinks we're going to Normandy and Provence by land :) The timing is perfect as it leaves on July 7 and we wanted to vacation the last week of June first two weeks of July anyway.

 

Anyone else have any plans when they open Europe up?

 

Well DH informed me today that a European cruise is OUT of the question next year. His SIL will be home from the war and stationed in Germany with his DD. I was "TOLD" that we would be going to Germany.

 

Hmmmm... wondering if he would agree to take separate vacations??? :rolleyes:

[Pam in CA]

My T.A., who can't be named because of CC rules, is booking Princess Europe 2009 for customers starting tomorrow, Thursday, at noon Eastern, 9 am Princess time as I understand it. The T.A. says T.A.s can book a day early.

Interesting. I think we use the same TA. I'll have to give her a call tomorrow. :)

[Mysticks1]

We had a great time in Dubrovnik. We avoided the ticket taker bandit at the wall near the entrance, ate some great gelato and talked to some local Elementary school kids who were wearing various American sports apparel and spoke pretty good English. Dubrovnik was featured on The Amazing Race on CBS recently. You can spend an easy half day there just walking inside the fortress city.

 

Thanks for the information. :) That actually sounds good to me. This cruise will be so port intensive it might be good just to see what we can on foot and spend a 1/2 day on the ship relaxing. I might just choose this cruise by whichever itinerary actually sails on our anniversary since the ship alternates these.

[Mysticks1]

My T.A., who can't be named because of CC rules, is booking Princess Europe 2009 for customers starting tomorrow, Thursday, at noon Eastern, 9 am Princess time as I understand it. The T.A. says T.A.s can book a day early.

 

It seems strange that TA's can book before the Princess Vacation Planners.

[Hoyaheel]

We'll be booking using a FCC--we want to do northern europe on the Tahitian. Haven't been able to find exact itineraries or dates yet but I'm not worried--I'm actually worried we'll find too many that we want:rolleyes: But yes, eagerly awaiting tomorrow to book!