I just paid the balance and I'm getting really excited!!! I'll be travelling alone, so I'm checking in to see who else will be there.

I'll be arriving Athens on 9/23. Can't WAIT!!!

Hi Amy,
My name is Jess, I am from Australia & also travelling alone on this cruise, same dates! I ahve elected a quad share room so we may even be sharing!!!!

Hi Jess,
Nice to hear from you. I have selected a single share, but I will definitely be looking to make new friends as soon as we all arrive. (It's pretty cool messaging in advance... gives me someone to look out for!) I'm getting so excited, but still have so much to do before vacation! (like shopping and exercise!)

yeah it's great that we can talk before the cruise.. i was worried abot having other people to hang out with etc but i won't worry now i know i have at least 1 person to make friends with Where are you from? i'm not sure if i already said but i am from australia

oh & i am also trying to exercise b4 i go, ready 4 the bikini!!!

I'm from Detroit, MI US. I've been on a Contiki tour before and trust me... you will have no problem making friends! That's what I love about traveling alone, is that it's so much easier to meet other people. I'm doing 2 tours this time. I'll be on the Turkish Delight the previous week, then hooking up with the Aegean Classic... so for me, today is 1 month from the day! I'm NOT ready for the bikini! Getting nervous about that! Can't wait to meet you in person!

...yes, you did say you were from Australia, but what part of Australia are you from? My experience meeting Australians is that they are very FUN people who know how to party!

Hi again Amy,
Great timing I logged back in today & u have just been on this morning!!!
I am from Port Macquarie, it is on the east coast approx 250 miles north of Sydney. I have never been to Detroit... I have been to Chicago airport & that is as close as I've come!
Can't wait to meet u in person & like most young Asutralians I will be there for sightseeing & a party!!!!!

Ok, I see where Port Macquarie is. Last time I went on Contiki I met some people from Sydney and from Melbourne. I myself, have never been to Australia (yet). You're not missing too much in Detroit, really.

So anyway, what time do you arrive Athens? I will be in Turkey the week before our trip and I fly into Athens arriving at 9:50 AM on Sunday 9/23. Our group doesn't meet until 6PM, so if you are around, maybe we can hook up and find some things to do in the afternoon.

Hi Amy,
I arrive on the 22nd in the afternoon so I can catch up on a good night sleep (aftr a nearly 30 hour journey)!! The 23rd would be great to meet up & see some sights... I was planning on checking out Athens but was sceptic about doing it alone. I will be staying at the hotel contiki uses so we could easily meet up & see what we can find in Athens... which I'm sure is plenty!
Have you given any thought to the optional excursions? I've read quite a few blogs from past Contiki travellers... The meals come recommended so I will definitely be doing the Plaka meal. Ephesus also is a definite for me( u will prob see this on the Turkey tour?) & the ancient ruins of Rhodes & Lindos sounds like good value... I fly out at 1pm the day of tour ending so I can't do the Athens tour, but I have the 23rd to see what I can there ... I will prob make no decisins yet & just wing it when I get there!!!!
Talk soon

Jess,

I will be doing all of the excursions. When I went on Contiki before, I found that the excursions are the best way for me to see the most famous sights without wasting a lot of my time trying to navigate, find good places to eat, etc. (I got a little lost one time going off on my own and was very upset that I missed out on some things that I had wanted to do.) The excursions are definitely worth the price, I think.

It sucks that you will miss the ancient city on the last morning. I'm looking forward to that most. (I'm a huge nerd for history!) However, I do know that tour runs from 10am-12pm at the Syntagma Square on Saturday, so you may want to wake up on 9/23 and head over there and take the tour on your own, so you won't miss it. If you decide to do that, the timing will be perfect... by the time I find my hotel and get settled in, I'm sure it will be after 1pm.

I will be at the Contiki hotel also, so it should be pretty easy to find you (providing the hotel will tell me your room number or how to reach you). I will definitely be making the most of all my time in Athens, so if you're up for it, I would love to have company. I'm going to research for some recommended sites that are not a part of our tour.

I think I'm getting "over" excited now. It's only 3 weeks away!!! Can you believe it?!?!?!?

Hi Amy,
Thanks for that I will wake up for the tour on the 23rd... I wouldn't miss it for the World!! I will check with reception for directions the evening before it & hopefully I don't get lost! I was really looking forward to seeing the Parthenon etc.

I think I am going to do all the excursions except I think the Patmos one because I want one day to browse... but in saying that if the places on the excursion are raved about to me I will end up doing the tour!

I am also 'over' excited!! It is creeping up so quickly but I have a feeling time wil start to seem slow now that it is the final month of waiting..

As far as finding each other we will both be on Contiki bookings so it shouldn't be a problem, I will leave a message at reception to let you know my number when you arrive. I am also doing some research of sites so hopefully we come up with something where we don't get lost!! LOL!

31 days & counting.....

This is great...I'm so glad it worked out this way. I know we'll both meet a lot of friends, but what a great start, to have someone right off the bat! I can't wait to meet you and see Athens! Thanks for staying in touch. I'll be back on the message boards I'm sure (I can't help myself), so feel free to keep in touch until then.

I finally received all of my documents the other day, and this weekend I'm going shopping!

Yes I definitely agree there! I thought I would make friends but to have someone before we leave is great!!
I also got all my documents & can't wait until it's time to use them!!!! I will check in here every couple of days until the trip so we can keep in touch. We may even meet a few more people yet!

I have heard great reports about the partying on the cruise ships!! Unfortunately I get sea sick so I will be straight to the doctor for the anti-seasick injection(Do you know if is available in Europe?) Regardless I will have the best time!!!

Talk soon

Ya, I've heard there is a lot of partying as well. I'll have to try my best to keep up. I'm 30 now and can't exactly party like I used to!

Sorry, I don't know anything about anti-seasick injections. I never heard of it, actually.