Got a flier from Vantage yesterday. It is offering QE2 crossing NYC to London (6 days), then 7 nights at SAS Raddison hotel with breakfast each day, one lunch, one dinner, some tours thrown in, and then return air London to NYC. The prices seem reasonable, the cheapest outside cabin is like around 1400 person. Heck, the hotel would probably cost that much alone.<BR><BR>Tempting eh?

Tempting? Not to me. They'd have to drag me screaming to be cooped up on that cattle barge for 6 days. Just let me fly over and back. Good price, but I probably wouldn't jump at a chance to stay in a prison for cheap either.

I never ceased to be amazed at the stupid messages posted on this forum. I've never been on the QE2 and it's not my style of travelling, but it is not a &quot;cattle barge&quot;. Six days crossing the Atlantic would give enough time to read some books about England, so that you will be much more knowledgeable when you arrive, and you will arrive in style rather than jet-lagged. I live in London and if I ever went to New York, I'd rather go by sea. If the price seems OK, then go for it.

Cattle barge? Most cruise ships are quite spacious and luxurious these days. There are many nooks and crannies where one can curl up with a good book, take some sun, have a few cool ones and relax. A great way to cross the ocean I think.

Yea, just what I want to do -- give up 6 of my valuable vacation days to sit on a boat and read about a destination. I can do that at home! When I travel I want to be there, not on a ship taking 6 days to get where I want to go. If I had 13 days total, I'd much rather spend it all at a destination, not giving up half of it just to get there!

Thanks tempted...that is a great offer and I will pass it onto my parents who might well be interested. They are in great shape but my mom had hip surgery and flying is a drag for her. I would love to do this trip myself if time permitted.

The great deal may be because they just failed a federal health inspection (on Tuesday of this week). Read this on CNN site (under travel). They are allowed to continue sailing, of course, but roaches were found in the kitchen, mold on the icemakers, etc. Not the first time the QE2 has failed, either.

As I said before, &quot;that cattle barge.&quot;