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Hey Crazies, Anyone out there going on this trip? We'll be traveling with a group of 7 total. Let's hear from you!!

Hello, I'm a diehard Millennium class gal, and I'm contemplating booking my first Solstice class ship, Silhouette, for 2011. I would like to know any opinions on balcony cabins back of ship versus side of ship. I know the big secret for Millennium class is that the back of ship balconies are much larger. Thanks! Cheryl

Holy iceberg! Never expected that it would be THAT cold. Night or day?

So how cold was it? I'm hearing 60's, which isn't THAT bad coming from the Bay Area. But, I know how you Angelinos are, I used to be one myself. Any excursions you would highly recommend?

Hey Joey, good to hear from you. That Carib cruise you all are going on sounds awesome! We'd love to go, but have too many other vacations plotted that will interfere. Hi to David!

I think I first posted this on the wrong board, so here I go again. Any other crazies going?? Wondering about any excursion tips. Anyone been on Harv & Marv whale watching? (Private, not official cruise ship excursion). Thanks!

Thanks, Joey! I see you are off to Alaska this year. You'll have to tell all about it. Hope you are doing well. Hi to David!!

Just booked! I know it's a bit premature, but gotta get it out there. This purpose is to celebrate the attainment (to be) of my masters degree next year. Wooo hooo! It's Vancouver to Seward, 7 days. Come along everyone! Love Millennium. Sailed it in 2005.

Avie, Well, if you want to spend a Wad of dough, try this restaurant, Kommandanten. Here is a Frommers link to give you some info. We ate there in 2003, and at the time, it was the most $$ we had ever spent on a meal. (And with todays exchange rates, yikes). BUT, the service was fantastic, ambience cozy, the food was very good and we drank some expensive wine and Dom Perignon, etc. I think that is why it was so expensive, half the cost was alchol. http://www.frommers.com/destinations/copenhagen/D31632.html Other than that, the meals we had were not that memorable, except eating the Danish pastries. -Cheryl

okey doke, NO crazies goin' with us on this one. BUT, I got my docs yesterday!! It's lonely out here

Congrats, Avie! Those ships sound lovely. Someday. I assume you'll be stopping by Tallinn, Estonia, land of my husbands Ole's ancestry. We've been there a few times. It's come along quite nicely since the 90's and you'll probably love it if you haven't been there already. Also, I LOVE Copenhagen. I did a land trip there. Eat Danish is my motto. Their pastries are so yummy, flakey, buttery layers, not just blobs of bread like what we can Danish here.

NO ONE??? I'm feelin' lonely out here.

OK, so I'm finally putting it on here that I'm on this trip! Reluctant as I was to go on Carnival (I'm a Celebrity fan), it's a group trip for a friend's birthday. So, we'll be setting sail with our friends and their friends and some moms will be along also. Anyone else?? Let's get the party started!

Joey - so nice of you guys to escort the Century to and from Europe in 2008! I vote for Celebrity, but it's the only one I have been on (twice). I don't have a huge interest in branching out as I have been quite satisifed. I'm being forced onto Carnival for a friend's birthday in January, but some folks on this board have assured me that I'll survive and might even like it. My DIE HARD Princess friends have decided that they love Celebrity's service the best, but some of Princess's food better.

I was able to put a bottle of champagne I bought in Villefranche Sur Mer through security and no one said a peep. That was Celebrity Mille in 2005. On my last cruise, 2007 Celebrity Summit, I saw people in security getting their liquor taken. Who knows, they might have been silly enough to say something so the crew felt obligated. I do recall that for Celebrity you are now allowed to bring 2 bottles of wine on board at embarkation, but not hard liquor. Something to that effect. I think Joey found the policy link before.

I never do it because my husband is a chicken and because I really just don't have space with clothes and shoes. Plus the bags are too heavy. But, my close friend who cruises a lot and I've cruised with twice is the MASTER of this. On our last trip. she brought on full containers of vodka, bourbon and at least 8 bottles of champagne! Her cabin looked like a bar after she set it all up. She does it all the time, never been caught or confiscated. The ships seem to have the policy and the right to confiscate, so I guess for you, it's a personal choice of deciding your potential losses vs. gains. At least you won't get into trouble and thrown into cruisehip jail or anything.

That sounds like an amazing and eclectic trip to go on. How indulgent! I'd love to sign up for the full tour. You'll have an unforgetable time. It'll be especially relaxing to hit the cruise ship post-schlepping through Europe. I love it, it's fun & rewarding. But, it's tiring - so the cruise will be perfect!

Well, tell me more! Where, where, where are you goig Pre & Post??

Everyone has a great variety of advice, here, and it's true to figure out what your interests are. As for me, the one tip in Europe is that I wouldn't necessarily feel like I had to use the cruise offered excursions in every port. I had been to Europe many times, so I wasn't afraid to figure things out on my own. But, if you haven't been, that may not be your comfort zone. One thing I do recall from our Med Cruise was that it was easy to catch a train at Villefranche Sur Mer to get you to Nice or Canne or wherever. On that particular trip, we took the train to Nice. We walked down to the water (beach) area through the streets of Nice and stopped at some fabulous little shops along the way. Of particular note was a bakery with the yummiest treats! (I know what you are thinking - just what a cruise pax needs)!! But, French bakeries are the best on the planet. Anyway, I also got some fabulous earrings at a cute little boutique. Once at waters edge, we had cocktails at a beachside spot. We then took a cab back to the train station, as it was uphill to get back. Getting a cab back was tricky though. We cued up at a hotel. We got a little pissy attitude from the hotel employee who knew we were not guests. Leave yourself plenty of time for cabbing back - as that is the hardest part. In order to get to Rome, we also took the train from the Civitavecchia port. Once in Rome, we taxied to a hotel where some friends happened to be staying at Piazza Navona. There's a lot to see in Roma, probably can't do it all in the measly timeframe you get on a cruise ship. Pick what is most important to you and use a cruise package if you feel more comfortable with that. We padded in a lot of extra time for our train ride back to the ship.

Hey Joey, I'm surprised. How did you decide on this transatl cruise? I think I got the impression from our PC cruise that you didn't enjoy so many sea days. I thought you were going to do something involving Amsterdam. Anyway, it sounds nice. I doubt that we will be able to join. Although, I'd love to come up against you guys again in trivia competitions!! If we do another cruise in '08, it'll likely be Alaska. Congrats!!!

My observation of nationalities on my Med cruise in Sept. was strong American, British & Canadian followed by a smattering of Europeans. Good age mix, very few families (i.e. kids).

I did not hear that people were stuck. I thought everyone got out. Tragic. Sad. Unbelievable.

I did this cruise in late Sept. 2005. I know that's a whole month earlier, but the weather was FAB-U-LOUS every single day! We were shocked at our good fortune, mid-upper 70's. On our 2nd day in Venice after disembarkation, we had some rain. I was pleased ONLY because it was the only time I had to whip out my jacket and was glad I didn't pack it for nothing.

I concur with the group. My only experience is with Celebrity which was very organized, I thought. They supposedly have you disembark based on things such as flight times with priority going to those with the earliest time reequirements. Since I've never been in a crunch, I don't know how well it all works because I wasn't in a hurry so didn't care. I'd say it's a wing and a prayer for you, though. One fowl up, and you might miss your flight. As for the 2nd part of your question, once you get off the ship, you are free to do whatever you need (cab or prearranged other transpo).

Fascinating to hear so many relevant stories!