Rare Kinkacruiser Posted March 23, 2014 #1 Share Posted March 23, 2014 (edited) Our first time in Europe is coming up and to justify the airfare, we booked 2 cruises - a Baltic followed by Western Med as a B2B. Well the Baltic roll is really swinging along and all excursions were filled very quickly....plus we chat and share. The W. Med roll is sad - 1 US couple, 2 Australian and the bulk of the roll call are Brits. I feel as though I'm talking to myself when I post :o The only people on the 5 private tours I organised are non-Brits. I worry about filling them, though luckily I only need 1-2 couples more for these. Not sure if it's the cost of the tours (quite average for Europe) or whether the W. Med is a regular holiday venue hence many 'do it themselves'. Has anyone experienced a similar 'sad' roll thread? Edited March 23, 2014 by Kinkacruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted March 23, 2014 #2 Share Posted March 23, 2014 Yes, I've experienced similar "sad" roll calls. From my experience, the British don't use cruise critic like Americans do. In addition, many regularly holiday in Europe, inc Western Med, so would be comfortable touring independently on their own. Sounds like a great B2B. I loved our cruise in the Baltics. However, I wonder if the Baltics will remain the flavour of the month, if Russia escalates its excision of Crimea from Ukraine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted March 23, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted March 23, 2014 (edited) Yes, I've experienced similar "sad" roll calls. From my experience, the British don't use cruise critic like Americans do. In addition, many regularly holiday in Europe, inc Western Med, so would be comfortable touring independently on their own. Sounds like a great B2B. I loved our cruise in the Baltics. However, I wonder if the Baltics will remain the flavour of the month, if Russia escalates its excision of Crimea from Ukraine. Good point re Baltic and the Crimea situation, Marion. We're keeping fingers crossed. Edited March 23, 2014 by Kinkacruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Big_M Posted March 24, 2014 #4 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I've had quiet roll calls, including over here. I think there’s a bit of chance involved, some cruises have more CC participants than others, and some have more active CC participants than others which plays a factor. I’ve seen a lot of volatility between different cruises in the same region and on the same ship. Are the med roll calls before/after yours equally quiet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted March 24, 2014 Author #5 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I've had quiet roll calls, including over here. I think there’s a bit of chance involved, some cruises have more CC participants than others, and some have more active CC participants than others which plays a factor. I’ve seen a lot of volatility between different cruises in the same region and on the same ship. Are the med roll calls before/after yours equally quiet? Yes. The livelier ones have US - Canadian - Aus demographics. Say no more.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
resordanis Posted March 24, 2014 #6 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Yes. The livelier ones have US - Canadian - Aus demographics. Say no more.... Hi Anna, Just completed a Western Med cruise with NCL. Absolutely fantastic destinations. Can't believe your roll call is not popular as ours was very active. Great ports, just very tiring!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted March 24, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Hi Anna,Just completed a Western Med cruise with NCL. Absolutely fantastic destinations. Can't believe your roll call is not popular as ours was very active. Great ports, just very tiring!:D That's nice to hear. Maybe that's the case with different cruiselines or time of the year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katgoesonholiday Posted March 24, 2014 #8 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I'm doing an eastern med in July and have NO ONE on my roll call :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mr walker Posted March 24, 2014 #9 Share Posted March 24, 2014 As others have said, the roll calls vary according to the passenger mix. On our last cruise RCI Voyager, we had a very active roll-call, mainly Aussies and Kiwis and had no problem meeting the M&M numbers. Tours & activities were arranged, and some have kept in touch since. We are currently booked on B2B2B Alaska 7N, Hawaii 11N, repo to Sydney 16N on RCI Rhapsody. The roll call for Alaska is moderate, for Hawaii is very active (mostly Americans) & the M&M numbers were reached very early & the repo cruise (Sept 16 from Honolulu) is almost dead (come join us :)). Not everyone (very few in fact) that cruises is on cc and not all of those that are, participate in roll calls & M&Ms. Happy cruising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bescotti Posted March 24, 2014 #10 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I did a 24 night Med cruise at the beginning of August last year. I started the roll call in January but it really didn't take off until about May. I participated in a number of private tours which were all filled so I wouldn't give up hope yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xcitdcruiser Posted March 24, 2014 #11 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Hi Anna,Just completed a Western Med cruise with NCL. Absolutely fantastic destinations. Can't believe your roll call is not popular as ours was very active. Great ports, just very tiring!:D I've just booked some family on NCL for W Med & the roll call is quiet - hoping it will pick up so I can arrange some pvt excursions. Did you do a review? I'd love to hear how you found NCL, any tips & your port details :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted March 24, 2014 #12 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I'm doing an eastern med in July and have NO ONE on my roll call :( What are your ports of call? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted March 25, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I'm doing an eastern med in July and have NO ONE on my roll call :( Have you checked for a parallel/duplicate roll call? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi_cruiser Posted March 25, 2014 #14 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I've also had quiet and no one in my roll calls before as well. Like my current Pacific Pearl roll call is dead quiet!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted March 25, 2014 #15 Share Posted March 25, 2014 What are your ports of call? Fabulous Itinerary... You get the lot all rolled into one. With a B2B , you sure get a bang for your buck..:D We did a similar cruise , but round the other way and we changed ships. We have many friends who have done similar cruises and they all say its the way to go.. Cruise Itinerary 1Southampton, England4.00pm 2Zeebrugge, Belgium8.00am6.00pm 3At Sea 4Copenhagen, Denmark8.00am5.00pm 5At Sea 6Stockholm Sweden9.00am5.00pm 7Helsinki, Finland10.00am6.00pm 8St Petersburg, Russia6.30am overnight 9St Petersburg, Russia 6.00pm 10Tallinn, Estonia7.00am2.00pm 11Gdansk, Poland10.00am6.00pm 12At Sea 13Oslo, Norway7.00am4.00pm 14At Sea 15Southampton, England7.00am Cruise Itinerary 1Southampton, England4.00pm 2At Sea 3At Sea 4At Sea 5Barcelona, Spain8.00am5.00pm 6Ajaccio, Corsica. FR10.00am6.00pm 7Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy7.00am7.00pm 8.Livorno, (Florence, Pisa) Italy7.00am7.00pm 9Genoa, Italy7.00am7.00pm 10Provence, France8.00am6.00pm 11At Sea 12Gibraltar, United Kingdom9.00am4.00pm 13At Sea 14At Sea 15Southampton, England7.00am You will get a day to enjoy Southampton as well. Are you doing a private tour in St Petersburg? Its the way to go...definetly a highlight. The Med is port intensive and can be tiring , but you have a great selection of calls and some sea days to relax. Nice balance and it will get you ready for the long haul home.:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted March 25, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Definitely lots of bang for our bucks, David. We have chosen a XXX tours package - Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn, Helsinki and St Petersburg (2 days). They certainly know how their market and are easy to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted March 25, 2014 #17 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Definitely lots of bang for our bucks, David. We have chosen a XXX tours package - Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn, Helsinki and St Petersburg (2 days). They certainly know how their market and are easy to deal with. If you haven't got anything planned for Southhampton, I spent a delightful day in the New Forest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted March 25, 2014 #18 Share Posted March 25, 2014 If you haven't got anything planned for Southhampton, I spent a delightful day in the New Forest. ....or take the ferry to the Isle of Wight. We did that , and visited Osbourne House and saw the actual bed that Queen Victoria died in.:eek: Winchester is also nearby . Lots of history You can visit Winchester Cathedral and listen to it ringing its bell:) and the Round Table is hanging on a wall just up the road.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest012 Posted March 25, 2014 #19 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Has anyone experienced a similar 'sad' roll thread? Have found the local rollcalls are now very very sad indeed compared with a few years back:(:( I look but don't really bother anymore..... guess its a sign of the times that there are now other places to go for rollcalls. We have just booked the Caribbean Princess London to N.Y via Norway, Shetlands, 3 Iceland ports, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia for September next year and the rollcall is growing daily:D which is fantastic... haven't had a decent rollcall since our Diamond Princess cruise back in 2009 Bangkok to Sydney;):D what a rollcall that was..... cheers Shiona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted March 25, 2014 Author #20 Share Posted March 25, 2014 (edited) Couldn't agree more Shiona. You wonder why some people even bother "coming on board" when there's no involvement (or maybe some just lurk about). The Dawn and Diamond Princess roll calls were my favorites. The 2105 TA sounds great. There should be lots of interest there. New Forest look magical Marion, but I doubt we'll have time on the turnaround day. David - Ferry to Isle of Wight could be worth looking at if the ferry leaves form Southampton. Thanks for your ideas. We have 3 full days in London pre-cruise :D Edited March 25, 2014 by Kinkacruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy and Charlie's Mum Posted March 25, 2014 #21 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I have organised a private tour on our turnaround day in Southampton in September. We are going to visit Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) and Winchester. An easy drive and it should be very interesting. I can't wait as Downton Abbey is my favourite TV show. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted March 25, 2014 Author #22 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I have organised a private tour on our turnaround day in Southampton in September. We are going to visit Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) and Winchester. An easy drive and it should be very interesting. I can't wait as Downton Abbey is my favourite TV show. :) It's my favorite too. Can I email you for details Eileen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy and Charlie's Mum Posted March 25, 2014 #23 Share Posted March 25, 2014 It's my favorite too. Can I email you for details Eileen? Of course Anna. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy and Charlie's Mum Posted March 25, 2014 #24 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Oh I just had a look and Highclere castle is not open to the public in June. What a shame. You could still go to Winchester though and have a look around there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted March 25, 2014 #25 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Couldn't agree more Shiona. You wonder why some people even bother "coming on board" when there's no involvement (or maybe some just lurk about). The Dawn and Diamond Princess roll calls were my favorites. The 2105 TA sounds great. There should be lots of interest there. New Forest look magical Marion, but I doubt we'll have time on the turnaround day. David - Ferry to Isle of Wight could be worth looking at if the ferry leaves form Southampton. Thanks for your ideas. We have 3 full days in London pre-cruise :D I did it on my own on a day port visit to Southampton, whilst my daughter made a quick visit to London. I caught the train, then a small double decker bus, which you could get on and off around the New Forest - magical day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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