April 2007 Far East Cruise

[RevNeal]

It looks like Christopher and I are going to book the Statendam's late April 2007 cruise from Hong Kong to Osaka ... 14 days. It's EXPENSIVE, but it is truly a "dream cruise." Anyone want to join us???

 

April 19, 2007. -- China, Japan, and Korea Cruise.

[FlorenceItaly]

It sounds fabulous, but I am preparing for my dream cruise to Hawaii/South Pacific, 30 days on the Ryndam in Jan 2007. That will probably be it for me for the year, especially since it is a solo trip.

 

Marie

[RevNeal]

It sounds fabulous, but I am preparing for my dream cruise to Hawaii/South Pacific, 30 days on the Ryndam in Jan 2007. That will probably be it for me for the year, especially since it is a solo trip.

 

I would LOVE to do that ... but ... I can't afford the time. I'm due a Sabbatical Leave and am trying to project it for 2008 so that I can take a long cruise during it, but right now 30 days in 2007 is out.

 

:)

 

Would LOVE to, though.

I even looked at the possibility of doing, b2b with the 14 day Hong Kong-Osaka Cruise, the cruise from Osaka to Vancouver. That's more than 30 days, and I could put it in as the first of my Sabbatical and then take it in 2007 rather than wait to 2008. But I can't afford tacking that on ... not unless I were to swing it as Protestant Chaplain.

[RuthC]

May-be. I have no plans for '07 (other that stayin' alive). Course, it's kinda short for all that flying, but I could do a b-2-b. And then it is east-bound.

But, may-be.

After next October, you could be sorry you asked!

[RevNeal]

hahaha!

I doubt it.

But we'll see ... won't we?

 

14 days IS two weeks ... and it's two week cruising China, Korea, and Japan. The only real problem is it is VERY expensive. :( But, as they say, you can't take it with you! :D

 

We've pretty much made our decision to do this cruise ... we're just going to wait for me to get back from the Noordam before we book. Primarily, the real problem is liquidity of funds. My money will be a bit more "liquid" once I get home. Of course, I'll then be paying for the Hawaii cruise ... but, that's already budgeted, and I'll have 4-5 months after paying for Hawaii to pay for this one. :) So ... it's do-able. Painful, but do-able. If only I could figure out a way to pay for the leg from Osaka - Vancouver! I would LOVE to stay onboard for the trans-pacific crossing!

[Bramcruiser]

Hey do it! Sometimes its worth spending the money you barely have to do that one thing you always wanted to do. Just as long as it doesn't become a habit and you aren't left homeless I say enjoy it while you can and the memories you'll have years later. Everyone should do that once-in-a-lifetime event.

 

2007 is likely out for me. I just moved my 2007 dream cruise (well partial dream satisfied anyway - the ship I wanted anyway; who cares where it really goes) to 2006 and I know I have a land-based convention to attend to in 2008 so I figure the year in between will be the year of Kraft Macoroni and cheese! Only Kidding!

[CateW]

Would love to but we are doing our dream cruise this summer 2 weeks Rome and the Greek Islands. When I retire early in 4 years, we are doing the 30 day Hawaii cruise! Maybe Mexico in 2007.

[Druke I]

I love that part of the world, but that cruise does conflict with a Princess cruise we have booked, 23 nights, Valparaiso Chile to San Francisco CA.

[jig]

I will be doing the Statendam starting ao Mar 4 from Sydney to Osaka. It is 30 days long as two back to back cruises. It is pretty much the same as next years excrpt the part from Sydney this year goes to Indonesia, Paupa New Guinea and the Philippines before going to HK. I believe next years goes to Singapore and Viet Nam. From HK to Osaka I think it's pretty much the same except I thing you will have a stop in Taiwan.

Enjoy what ever you do. We love cruising. 4years ago I hated it. I took my first cruise, hated it and now 4 years later we thats all I pretty well do. Last year we spent 70 days on ships. This year I think it will be 84.

[FlorenceItaly]

We love cruising. 4years ago I hated it. I took my first cruise, hated it and now 4 years later we thats all I pretty well do. Last year we spent 70 days on ships. This year I think it will be 84.

 

I am just curious, why did you hate it at first, and what changed that? Please excuse me, if I am being too curious. As a cruise addict, I am just wondering :).

 

Marie

[jig]

It is very simple. My first cruise was on 18 day round the bottom of S America on HALs Ryndam. I went into it with a bad attitude. I have traveled the world going all over on land and have seen a lot. As you know on a cruise ship you are limited in what to do on land by time. I thought that I was spending a lot of money for little to see. Then the highlight, The Falklands was cancelled. Bad weather. I didn't think the the food was good at all. Tastless. Had a English chef. Also I was 42 at the time and I think the average age was 69. I vowed that it was my last. That was Feb 2001.

In the summer I was on a yangtse river cruise but that doesn't count. On rivercruises you see a lot. In Nov of 2001 I recieved the Mariniers booklet and because os Sept 11 HAL's Princendam was to go from Europe to Asia via the Suez Canal now was going to Singapore via South Africa. I called my friend and asked him if her would like to go down the coast of West Africa. Hesaid yes. The rest is history. 22 days from Lisbon to Cape Town with stops in Cadiz, Casablanca, Agidir, Dakar, Banjul, Abidjan, Accra, Cotonue, Walvis Bay, Ludiritz and 2 nights in Cape Town. What a difference. While on board I booked the Princendam the next year from Auckland to Singapore. 36 days. On that cruise which I liked very much I met my girlfriend. She was a long time cruiser. Since we met in Mar 2003 we have taken 7day Pacific Princess in Tahiti, 30 Star Princess, Bangkok to Venice. 20day Tahitian Princess in tahiti, and 58 day Pacific Princess from Bangkok to Sydney via Cape Town.

This is the first time we will be on HAL since we met in 2003. Looking foward as we will have the same Capt and we had dinner with him on the Princendam and looking foward to that posibility again.

Thats the story

[kryos]

It sounds fabulous, but I am preparing for my dream cruise to Hawaii/South Pacific, 30 days on the Ryndam in Jan 2007. That will probably be it for me for the year, especially since it is a solo trip.

Yes, that one will be expensive ... far more expensive than just the cost of the cruise ... but it will be well worth it. The only other cruise I can afford this year is the Westerdam ... and I might even wind up cancelling the second half of the b2b ... as I don't know yet if I'll have enough vacation time to make it a b2b.

 

All these wonderful cruises ... so much to choose from ... so little time and money. A pity, isn't it? :(

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

It looks like Christopher and I are going to book the Statendam's late April 2007 cruise from Hong Kong to Osaka ... 14 days. It's EXPENSIVE, but it is truly a "dream cruise." Anyone want to join us???

I only wish, Rev. Sadly, I could never physically handle a flight that long. The cross-country to and from San Diego almost killed me. :(

 

For the next couple of years, I'm afraid it's gonna be only cruises originating in Florida or other east coast cities for me.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Marbella]

As I've mentioned before we are on this same cruise, leaving this April. Perhaps I will be able to repay you somewhat, for all of the great advice you've given us! :D

 

We decided to take the leap and have booked an escorted tour with all of the excursions included. Usually we're pretty adventurous, but decided if we're going this far, and on our first 2 week cruise, we had better see everything we can!

[RevNeal]

Thank you, Marbella ... I will look forward to whatever information you will have to share!!!!! :)

[SDHALFAN]

Okay Greg,

 

Now it's time for me to say mea culpa and confess that although I had promised to join the Voyage of the Spammed, and I really really did intend to, my weak spirit prevailed (as in the flesh is willing but the spirit is weak - oh right you already know that line).:D

 

Anyway, thinking about how I'm not getting younger and the fact that my family has a tendency to die way before their time and that my husband died waaaay too young, I decided to go for broke and have booked two segments of the Amsterdam's 2007 World Cruise. I'll be leaving Fort Lauderdale on January 15th, 2007 headed for Hong Kong - 49 days!

 

For me this will be the cruise of a lifetime since I will get to visit Easter Island, Java and Bali - all places I have always wanted to visit. Also, I'll get to spend two days with my brother and sister-in-law in Sydney and two days with a friend in Hong Kong. One of the really big selling points for me, besides the above and the fact that I know and love the Amsterdam, is that since I booked before January 31st, HAL will upgrade me on the flight from Hong Kong to Los Angeles to business class. This is a real plus for me since I hate to fly - not that I'm scared to fly but I loathe being jammed in like a sardine in a tin can in coach. The last time we flew to Sydney, because of headwinds, it took 13 hours, and that was from Los Angeles. The flight was a nightmare since I am one of those people who can't sleep on a plane.

 

I'm so glad that you and Chris are going to have such a wonderful cruise and would love to join you on that one also but the savings account will be depleted and I have a feeling that I'll be feeling pretty depleted myself after 49 days of total hedonism.

 

One of these days, God willing, we will actually be on the same cruise - probably in Mexican waters now that I think about it since HAL has so many sailings from San Diego nowadays.

 

Valerie:)

[Guest Celestia]

Hmmmm.....

 

I wonder if we might consider this as a replacement for the Aus/NZ this fall we are currently booked on....there are some issues for us going to Aus and this might be a better option....

 

Still the Statendam which I would prefer to get away from, but a very nice iten. overall.

 

Plus I'd get to meet Rev.Neal in person! Might just have to suggest this...

 

FW&FS,

Celestia

[RevNeal]

Now it's time for me to say mea culpa and confess that although I had promised to join the Voyage of the Spammed, and I really really did intend to, my weak spirit prevailed (as in the flesh is willing but the spirit is weak - oh right you already know that line).

 

Naughty naughty ... say 30,000 Hail HALs. :)

 

However ... I understand PERFECTLY. And, I'm quite jealous of the itinerary you're going to be on. What a WONDERFUL cruise that will be! When I retire I'm planning on doing the world cruise. Of course ... that won't be until sometime after 2037. :)

[RevNeal]

I've not been surprised by the responses thus far. I would not expect to have many from any specific group as small as this express interest in taking such an expensive and far-flung cruise at any given moment. I was just curious as to what people would say.

 

I HAVE been surprised by the results of my research into how much airfare will cost. I had planned on just letting HAL handle the airfare, but they want a whopping $1668 per person for tickets from DFW to Hong Kong and then from Osaka to DFW. After hours of research, and plugging in different routing and carrier permutations into online booking engines, I've discovered ways of getting myself and Christopher to Hong Kong and then back from Osaka for a HECK of a lot cheaper than HAL. On the order of $600 dollars per-person cheaper -- sometimes more. My research is based on the assumption that prices in April and May of 2006 will be roughly equivalent to the prices in April and May of 2007. There is no guarantee of this, but it's a starting point for estimation. My TA tells me I can add HAL air at any point up until the final payment, or, conversely, I can take it off. So, I will be booking WITH HAL air, but planning to remove it if I can book a significantly better deal. Yes, one takes a risk when flying that far away ... but one does all the time anyway. As it is, Christopher and I will probably fly to Hong Kong 2 or 3 days early to do sight-seeing there before taking the cruise. That would seem our safest bet.

 

In case anyone is interested, the very best prices I've been able to find (thus far) have been on JAL from LAX to Hong Kong. A cheap round-trip domestic flight to LAX from DFW is so in-expensive as to be negligible, and we'd do it a day before the flight to Hong Kong and take the opportunity to visit family in LA.