Jan 9 Mariner Ft. Lauderdale / Manaus

[cruisegal919]

Does anyone have information on the itinerary changes for the Jan 9 Mariner Ft. Lauderdale / Manaus cruise? It seems that French Guiana has been dropped. Does anyone know why?

[neviboy]

I know that Santarem has been substututed for one of the two villages. And we are still waiting to know about seat selection on the charter flight back.

[Jim B]

Cruisegal919

Are you on this cruise with Neviboy and us?

I don't remember seeing French Guiana ever listed as a ports of call

on this cruise.

The new updated itinerary shows a change from Alter Do Chao

to Santarem and there will be some excursions availible here.

The big change is the times in ports because of the Mariner's propulsion problems. 2 hours shorter on one port.

 

Neviboy.

Did you ever here which hotel in FLL we will be in on the 8th?

We are wondering about Miami too since we have to spend the night there on the return trip.

[neviboy]

Devil's Island is Fr. Guiana. The charter flight lands in miami. When on board, everyone will get the usual disembark form for choices of transportation to where one wants to go. Either the Regent transfer, or a private car, etc.

I will park my car at my daughter's office which is a short walk to the pier, and then get a taxi from Miami to her office and pick up my car.

I am waiting for a final update on the itinerary and will post it on the CC board.

Neville

[Jim B]

Since we took the Regent air package

we already have our flights to FLL

and return from MIA schedulres in hand.

I was just wondering where Regent would put us

up for the nights of the 8th and 20th.

We are on the charter flight since it is part of the package

but don't know any more than that.

Oh!

So Devils Island is F. G.

I don't believe we can get off and look around there anyway.

[cruisegal919]

I'm new to this so forgive me if I don't answer the right way -

 

Regarding the charter flight from Manaus to Miami - my travel agent has been trying but hasn't gotten any info on times, seats, etc. She'll keep trying and let me know when she get's any info. We're not doing any overnights so I don't have any details on hotels in FLL or MIA.

 

I just checked all the ports and times from my original Itinerary and all the times have changed - almost all the ports have at least 2 hours taken off the time in port. We arrive later and leave earlier. Didn't mean to confuse when I said French Guiana - I meant Devil's Island. They were offering an on your own tour of the island - to see the jail, etc. It was a 6 hour stop. That's gone now so we have two days at sea after Barbados. The next stop is Macapa but we only seem to be there for 2 hours so I doubt we'll be able to do anything there.

 

I'm still really looking forward to the cruise, I'm just concerned that things seem to be changing alot. I'm sure it's going to be great.

[neviboy]

Regent is offering business class for $1,000 per person. There is a waitlist of 75!!

[Jim B]

Just got a note from my ass't TA.

It is still tentative but currently it looks like

our charter flight Manaus to Miami will be

Miami Air

Depart 9:00 am arrive Miami 3:00 pm

[neviboy]

So we have no chance to see Manaus. I would prefer a tour of Manaus , which would be possible if we had a late afternoon flight. rather than a village on the Amazon. This is not turning out to be an interesting cruise, especially since Devil's Island has been eliminated.

[Jim B]

I am now confused a little

Decided to pull up my Delta flight schedule and

the charter flight was on there.

It does not say Miami Air International.

 

It does say Aeronaves Del Peru SA

or in the English version Lloyd Aereo Boliviano.

Does anyone know anything about this airline Company?

 

MAO 9:00 am MIA 3:10 pm Flight number #649

 

Cruisegal919

Please send me an email bastian20@hotmail.com

Write "trip" so I know it is you.

[cruisegal919]

Just got some info back from my travel agent and she has some slightly different info: says the charter flight is arriving in Miami at 9:30 PM and they're putting us up in the Miami airport Hilton for the night as our flight out of Miami is on Sunday. I don't have the departure time from Manaus yet, will keep you updated as I get more info.

[Jim B]

Boy!

Now this is becoming weird huh?

Do you think they will have everyone on the charter flight that

has to stay over at the airport Hilton?

I just rechecked my Delta schedule and it still shows leaving MAO at 9:00 am.

Our TA also sent a note and said this was not really confirmed and could change.

Question seems to be which charter service they will actually get.

Look forward to hearing more news from you.

[dougburns]

Regent uses Embassy Suites in FLL. We're on the first leg of the WC and will arrive FLL on the 8th at @ 1900.

[Jim B]

I thought World Cruisers were in Miami

on the 8th for a special party then were

being limo'ed to FLL to get on the Voyager.

 

So you are saying that both Mariner & Voyager

passengers that have to arrive early on the 8th

will be at Embassey Suites ?

[neviboy]

The new itinerary is on the http://www.rssc.com web site.

Devil's Island is out due to a 5 hr. vaccination exam at the first entry port in Brazil !!! Brazil is being awkward. U.S. immigration are delaying Brazilians when entering the U.S. So it's tit for tat.

Vaccinations are therefore not mandatory when entering Brazil as they were when we entered from Fr.Guiana.

We have longer in San Juan. Hpoefully we can have a half day excursion in Manaus.

[neviboy]

The flight is by Miami Air. TENTATIVE departure is 5.10 p.m. arrival Miami 9.30 p.m.. Brazil authorities have to clear it.

[dougburns]

Jim; Only the full WCers get the special shindig in Miami. Those segment cruisers like us will be at the Embassy Suites when we arrive on the 8th. The hotel is not great, but it's OK for 1 night. After all, we have 25 fabulous days aboard Voyager starting the next day.

[Jim B]

We have always enjoyed Embassy Suites.

Being from Phoenix maybe you can help me.

Years ago we stayed at a place, (in Phoenix), that is now a Embassy Suite.

Can't remember what the name was back then.

Really liked it.

[neviboy]

There is a good restaurant across the road - Bimini Boatyard. The Italian restaurant in the hotel used to be very good.

[neviboy]

I just received a profound apology from Regent's travel director.

VACCINATION CERTIFICATES ARE REQUIRED

Sorry about that.

[Jim B]

Just received an e-mail from Kenneth Watson EX. VP Marketing & Sales

explaining our change in itinerary.

Guess it has to do with Brazil customs. A stop at French Guyana

would require the ship to have a full inspection which could take at least 4 hours. So we are skipping them and going direct from Barbados to Brazil.

And all this time I thought it was because of the pod problems

[neviboy]

There was a typo error for San Juan.

We arrive at 9 A.M. NOT 9 P.M.

With extra days at sea I am looking forward to talks by M. Cousteau, and perhaps a quiet talk with Sen. Graham.

[Jim B]

We had Senator Graham on our last cruise.

"PARTY" Panama Canal. Very interesting person.

[cruisegal919]

Not to add any more to the mix but Senator Graham is no longer listed any where for this cruise and it now says a "naturalist from the Society will come aboard" instead of Jean-Michel Cousteau.

Also re: the vaccinations - they were always required. With the stop at Devil's Island the visa requirement indicated the need for a yellow fever vaccination - I got mine. Although I didn’t use the Visa service that’s on RSSC link, they also clearly stated that the vaccination was required. If they were required, then they would have planned on checking on compliance. The original itinerary had a “technical call” at Macapa – I thought that was where the paper work was being checked. The stop was then gone and now it’s back but it doesn’t mention it as a “technical call”

[Jim B]

Delta keeps changing our flights!

We start out at 7:50 am which has been constant but our arrival

into Fort Lauderdale has changed a lot.

We started out at 5:23 and now had our 4th change to 7:00 pm.

It is our Orlando to FLL connecting flight that is doing it.