jjs217

22 hours ago, Lonedaddy said:

Looks like cruise ended in Athens, April 26th, unless OP is doing a B2B should be home soon.  Will we get a follow up?

I would be surprised - pleasantly surprised, but surprised none the less.

11 hours ago, Gcto said:

but....we all are...aren't we 🙂

Of course!  I was talking about other people.

23 hours ago, Sketty1616 said:

So we are going on our very first cruise on 5/16, Seward to Vancouver. Not just our first SS cruise, but our first cruise period.

Since we are first-timers, what is one thing we need to try, experience, do, ask for, that a first-timer might not otherwise know they need to do? Thanks!

On our last SS cruise (which was Sep 23), my husband and I had to have an early room service lunch a couple of times because of tour times.  We found the room service pizza to be excellent. I'm sure some may disagree, but we really enjoyed it.  If you find yourself in a similar situation, I would suggest giving it a try.

9 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Johnny Cash had a song about it  

It took me a couple of minutes - but I eventually got there.

I wonder why the OP hasn't responded.

21 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

This may be a bit off topic, but it is funny. A friend was asking me about cruises, and said he was tired of lines and crowds everywhere and extra cost for many things.  Told him to check out Regent, which almost  never has such things. He said he wouldn’t like it because their ads showed all dressed up people (coats, ties and evening dresses). I said “don’t believe all the pictures you see in ads — it’s not that way onboard” I had to show him some pictures of guests I took on the Splendor a couple of weeks ago to convince him. Makes me wonder how many people avoid Regent because they think it is too dressy. 

Nor do you have to be as good looking, slender, beautiful or stylish as those in the pictures.

My husband and I are fanatics about using the hand sanitizer - what we didn't know until reading this thread (and further research) that it doesn't work on the Noro Virus.  Very interesting.  I can remember when all the hand sanitizer machines made an appearance (well before Covid) in response to ships having large outbreaks of Noro.  Was it just for show?  Or, did "they" not know it wasn't a deterrent.  Hmmm?

On 4/16/2024 at 8:15 AM, Texas Tillie said:

 

Diversity and range with inferior food, service, enrichment, etc. Whatever floats your boat!

The itinerary floats my boat - thank you very much.  If you like going to the same old places over and over again I guess your boat gets floated too.  Bon voyage.

15 minutes ago, NYC-London said:

Are you volunteering extra room in your suitcase? 

Sorry - no extra room.  I usually bring about 8 pairs of shoes for a two week cruise.  My husband has stopped trying to understand.

The biggest difference is diversity of itineraries.  With only two ships, Crystal's itineraries are worn out and boring.  At least with SS you can get diversity and range.

25 minutes ago, NYC-London said:

Guilty as charged with regard to wearing sneakers into Compass Rose, sometimes while also wearing a dress. On more than one occasion, after spending the day walking and exploring a city (one day I exceeded 40,000 steps!), my feet were just too swollen to fit into either my shoes or sandels so it was one of three choices:  1) sneakers, 2) slippers, 3) barefoot.

 

It is on nights like these that I would have preferred a more casual dining option - I know that room service is available which I have utilized on many occasions, but there are some nights where we were scheduled to dine with friends and I would never cancel because my shoes don't fit.

Bring a pair of bigger shoes.

I was just looking at a Voyager Feb 2026 cruise.  Perhaps I should wait?  I don't want to book a cruise only to have the ship pulled out from under me.

9 hours ago, 2SailingNomads said:

Too crowded already, also requires getting an experienced expedition team, right ship design (most are PC6 so all can go exactly the same places) to be able to offer something novel (See Ponant Charcot a truly advanced PC2 ship that offers unique itineraries and I've been on it, but has it's issues). I think Regent is wise to avoid that market so many ships going to Antarctica and once people have been there once how many want to spent $2000 or more per diem to return.  

Also, you can do expedition cruising anywhere in the world - not just Antarctica.  I would do an expedition in the Med and instead of trudging around a city I have been to several times, they could offer something a little more wild and wooly - from snorkeling, to scuba to kayaking, etc.  This is all moot of course as Regent does not have an expedition ship on order.

9 hours ago, 2SailingNomads said:

Too crowded already, also requires getting an experienced expedition team, right ship design (most are PC6 so all can go exactly the same places) to be able to offer something novel (See Ponant Charcot a truly advanced PC2 ship that offers unique itineraries and I've been on it, but has it's issues). I think Regent is wise to avoid that market so many ships going to Antarctica and once people have been there once how many want to spent $2000 or more per diem to return.  

My husband and I have been to Antarctica twice and would definitely consider going again.  We love it.  Both times we have been on a Seabourn Expedition cruise and would like to try another line. Since we also really like Regent we thought it would be a nice way to go again - something different.  I know we can try Silversea, and no, we don't want to do a drive-by.

Just now, margbem said:

We are way over the 140 if you include onboard spending but I am nearly sure it's days sailed only that count for the free cruise.

Good to know.  Thank you.

I'm very surprised Regent isn't entering the luxury expedition market.  It seems like that is what a slightly younger, wealthy demographic wants.

1 hour ago, margbem said:

Next year, after our September 20 night cruise we will have amassed 139 days sailed (I know...... just one day short!!)

 

Does anyone know if we booked back to back cruises after then, could we have the second week as our free cruise?

I'm curious about this too.  Also, you may go over the 139 if you have booked shore excursions.  I think it is one day for every thousand spent - not sure about the amount.

When I see others coming to the dining room dressed like a slob, I always get disappointed with myself for not taking the initiative to dress like a slob too.  😈

1 hour ago, Fletcher said:

I heartily approve of the relaxations in the dress code.  But what about the butlers?  Won't they look even more ridiculous in their tail coats when passengers are in flip-flops?  

There was a short period of time Seabourn Room Stewards were wearing these awful green scrubs while cleaning the rooms.  It kind of makes sense, but they looked underdressed.

I believe, and I may be wrong, some of this increase is due to people wanting/demanding the old, real luxury level of service to return.  If those kinds of price increases will do so, I'm pretty sure there are people on this board who are willing to pay that amount.  We will have to see if that is the case. Exclusivity has a cost.  

1 hour ago, ak1004 said:

 

True.

 

My issue is not with a pair of trousers and collared shirt for dinner. I think it is very reasonable. What is not reasonable is to ask men to put a jacket most of the nights. This has been removed, and it's a positive development. Too bad that at the same time they priced themselves out of the market.

It is too early to determine if SS had priced themselves out of the market.  I plan on cruising with SS with the understanding that with inflation, the price of goods of services are increasing.  It is necessary to raise the price of a cruise.  I assume there are cheaper lines one can take, where the dress code never includes a jacket.

I found the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo absolutely fascinating.  It is a little creepy, very sad, but very unique.  I'm glad I went.  However, the young crew member who went along as our minder, broke down in tears.  I had to comfort her for a little bit, and then she was fine.

14 hours ago, gflo said:

I heartily recommend expedition cruises.  Seabourn is our favorite.   Your children won't be bored & I know they will get a warm welcome!

My husband and I were on the Venture for a holiday expedition in Antarctica in 2022.  There were only 5 kids on board (all very well behaved) ranging in age from 9 to 16.  I specifically asked each what they thought of the cruise as I was interested on behalf of my niece and her son.  All of them said they loved going ashore and the zodiac rides, and kayaking (for those who could) and the submarine.  However, all of them also said, when they were not actually doing those things they were bored to tears.  There just isn't anything for them to do.  They weren't old enough or interested enough to enjoy the talks.  Just something to consider.

48 minutes ago, FizookKaka said:

RE: but they still don't allow shorts or ripped jeans in the MDR or even Colonnade at dinner.

 

We were on Sojourn recently and saw many instances of people having dinner in Colonnade wearing shorts.

That's because the Maitre d' wasn't enforcing the dress code.  Some others do.

Trekking poles - we have our own and brought them (they collapse) both times.  We used them on just about every landing the first time (lots of snow), but only used them once the second time.  So, that is a judgement call.  Boots - they were included (no rental fees) on the Venture in Dec 2023.  This year on the Quest (Jan 2024), they had to be rented.  I don't know what the current policy on the Venture/Pursuit is and the Quest is no longer going to Antarctica.