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Hambagahle

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  • Posts

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About Me

  • Location
    Switzerland
  • Interests
    Golf, travel, art and classical music
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    Oceania and Regent
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    Europe

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Hambagahle's Achievements

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  1. We will be on a Splendor cruise which leaves from Athens next April. A night in an Athens hotel is included...if possible I would love to know which hotels Regent has used in the past ? And also roughly how far in advance of the cruise do they tell you where you will be staying? (They aren't doing our air). I know Athens quite well and know more or less where I would like to stay. So might set something up on my own if I don't like their choice (!).
  2. Of course ! Or if with the GM ... Makes me chuckle because the first time I met Franck Galzy he was F&B Manager on the Voyager. We were on a TA crossing and had dinner with Louise Ross, Social Hostess -- and Franck! What a pleasure. And the meal was very good.
  3. We have a very successful Roll Call going right now for a cruise starting in April on Vista. Looking at the nationalities I would say that maybe 75% or more are from the USA. Of the rest, mostly Canadian with several Australians and one Kiwi. Only two from the UK I think. and then there is my husband and I - Swiss.
  4. The we will be the ideal neighbours because we don't watch the TV !
  5. Not really. The cruise had been booked, deposit paid, last May. I was getting ready to make the final payment (which I have done). My TA is someone I have dealt with for cruises for well over 10 yaers now. And she is great! She and the company she works for are among the biggest "clients" of both Oceania and Regent. (Almost all their staff were invited to the christening of the Vista last May and in December to the christening of the Grandeur). It was I who wanted to add the SM because I (and my husband) hate being "nickled and dimed" if you know what that means? We have a Vista suite. We have 6 bottles of complimentary wine/spirits of our choice in that suite but we don't like thinking, when we are in a bar "well this drink will cost another $35 or so...) I am not fussed about the amount I spend per day because we don't go on cruises often and this may be our last anyway. So I am a happy camper with the SM package.
  6. Before SimplyMore we had planned to take the full beverage package which would have cost us $69 per person per day - so $690 pp for the cruise. Plus we were planning to take a few excursions. With SimplyMore the upgrade is only $30 pp/day - so a total of $600 for the cruise AND all the excursions dropped by 25%. Both my TA and I think in our case this is worthwhile.
  7. On the contrary - we did the maths (with our TA's help) and initially came out about $66 better off with Simply More, mostly because of the drinks at meals and therefore reduced price of the full beverage package. But then I read the "fine print" and saw that if we booked one more excursion we would get 25% off ALL the excursions. And since there was one we wanted to take - we did that. With the money we saved as a result we then booked yet another one - all at 75% of cost. For us it makes sense. I think if you don't drink alcohol or wine it probably doesn't.
  8. Thank you so much. I am used to Swiss prices so find all this reasonable even with the 50% increase for same day service...
  9. Sorry! But really all the Americans I know - in total 2 ! (my brother in law and his wife) - love a "buzz". Husband used to be an American but now is Swiss. Can't think of any other Americans that I know. So while I agree it sounded like generalizing. It wasn't. I should have said "both the Americans I know". Mes excuses.
  10. What does that mean ? I have heard of "amen" ... but don't know "ahem" ?
  11. I don't like generalising either. But all the Americans I know like a "buzz". And think that noise in a restaurant is great. I don't. Not a problem. I don't have to eat in those if I don't want to!
  12. Seems that Americans like noisy restaurants. Like you - we don't. I don't use hearing aids but if there is a lot of background noise it is hard for me to hear. And where is the pleasure of a nice dinner if you cannot talk with the people you are dining with?
  13. Looking at the Ember menu (sample menu anyway) I see some things that we might eat - Lobster Roll, Crabcakes - but not much more. Plus I hate noise. Everyone says Ember is very noisy. I am thinking that we will eat there, starters only, and then go to the Terrace Café. IF the noise isn't too bad I suppose we can order a second round of starters ? We loved Jacques. Which is not "Haute Cuisine" but far more "bistro" food. It is wonderful. Very sorry to see it go.
  14. Would anyone have a somewhat recent laundry list for Oceania with the prices on it please? I am trying to pack lightly and if prices are not completely stratospheric I am thinking of getting things that need ironing done on a 24hr or even same day basis. Many thanks!!
  15. Apparently Regent has gone back to the pre-Covid policy of putting a notice on the "hogged" chair and confiscating the belongings. Hopefully Oceania will too. If I were on a cruise where this happened I would speak with the GM. iI is really not fair.
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