Tsunami74

We have been on both Oceania (Riviera) and Regent (Explorer and Grandeur) recently, and I have to agree with all the comments so far - very good info. Only one comment I do not understand is the complaint about breakfast offerings at Regent buffet. Seems like more than enough choices for me! Both have very good food and you should be pleased on either foodwise. I must say that some of the choices in Oceania's Jacques and Red Ginger are truly memorable dishes. Now for the food or life snobs out there. I do not care whether the pea vichyssoise or the sea bass in puff pastry is authentic French. I simply do not care if you lived in France and never saw such a dish. We enjoyed them, and that's what is important. Also, my husband really feels that the duck watermellon salad on Oceania is far superior. He could give you many reasons. 😋

It may depend where you live. We do not live in a hub city anymore, and to book business flights would 1/2 to 2/3 of the whole cruise cost! It is always way better for us to have them book, and one time the flight was cancelled at the last minute by weather in a connecting stop. Regent promptly rebooked about as good as could be at that point and rearranged transport pick up from airport. We have never asked for deviation ahead of time and have always been pleased with flight scheduling - now airports that's another matter but out of Regent's hands

So agree that this is annoying and can ruin others dining experience. But what I find even more irritating is the person (usually female) who has to laugh/hoot loudly/hysterically over and over. Nothing can be that funny all the time. The screeching can really upset your dinner. We have found this in all kinds of venues, too.

And yes, Regent does provide the information. The attendant in the computer center was helpful for those who needed help to complete it.

Has anyone been in a penthouse cabin on Grandeur and can comment on noise (or lack of)?

Thanks Georgia Peach, We had just cancelled a 2025 Vista cruise because we just couldn't risk being in a cabin and having it be too noisy to sleep! Good to have you confirm that we made the right decision.

Thank you, Lady of Leisure, for your Iceland recommendations

Can you give us the name of this family run company for tours?

We were also on this cruise and agree 100%. Splendor was nice, but Explorer just seemed more attractive for us. Checking out Grandeur next month.

I wonder if other people requested loungers, and that's why our neighbor had none.

We were next to a penthouse B on the Explorer recently, and they asked us in. Their balcony had no lounger, only a couch, while ours in a concierge had one (which I used a lot!!) So apparently not all B penthouses have loungers.

On the Explorer, the penthouse did not have a lounger on balcony! Just 2 chairs, table and an "L" shaped couch. Does anyone know if the Grandeur penthouses have loungers? I really hope so!

Oh my! We are just in the process of assembling "must see" places. When we complete this, we will determine how many days we need in London, then in Edinburgh. We hope to stay in one central location in each, but that may have to change. Next decision would be whether to take the train back to London, from where we can get a direct flight home or to fly out of Edinburgh with a connection. Decisions .....

Thank you to all who have given feedback on this topic. It is very much appreciated! I think we have decided to do a do-it-yourself land tour with London base, and then take train to Edinburgh to use as a Scotland base. (If anyone has thoughts on the train from London to Edinburgh would appreciate those also!) Will save Ireland and Wales for another visit. We eventually would like a circumnavigation cruise around Great Britain to see less known areas, but not start out with it.

Thank you to all who have given feedback on this topic. It is very much appreciated! I think we have decided to do a do-it-yourself land tour with London base, and then take train to Edinburgh to use as a Scotland base. (If anyone has thoughts on the train from London to Edinburgh would appreciate those also!) Will save Ireland and Wales for another visit. We eventually would like a circumnavigation cruise around Great Britain to see less known areas, but not start out with it.

Perhaps asking on a cruise site may be a biased place for opinion, but not sure where else to ask. We are ready to see Great Britain. The circumnavigate cruise around Great Britain goes to several ports/places we have never heard of or know next to nothing about (Portland, Cork, Fishguard, Isle of Man, Isle of Bute, Oban Ullapool, New Castle, Great Yarmouth) Are these ports something wonderful to see, or just a fill in place as you sail around the island? The question is - for a first (although at our age, perhaps only) visit to Great Britain, would it be better to just go to the major cities by plane or train - London, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh - and take tours of the cities and surrounding countryside instead of visiting a different small port each day. (Full disclosure, I am also asking on another cruise site that has different ports offered)

Perhaps asking on a cruise site may be a biased place for opinion, but not sure where else to ask. We are ready to see Great Britain. The circumnavigate cruise around Great Britain goes to several ports/places we have never heard of or know next to nothing about. (Kirkwell, Hebrides, Killybegs, Hollyhead, Cork, Guernsey) Are these ports something wonderful to see, or just a fill in the place as you sail around the island. The question is: for a first (although at our age, perhaps only) visit to Great Britain, would it be better to just go to the major cities either by plane or train - London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin - and take tours of city and surrounding countryside instead of visiting a different small port everyday. (Full disclosure, I will be asking on another cruise site that we are also considering that has different unknown to us ports included)

We always are careful to book a cabin with only cabins above and below. It seems as if the noise problem is mostly coming from next door or even the hall. We have been blessed to be on many cruises and stays at resorts, but have never had any noise problems. (Of course, did in cheaper hotels) I cannot believe that we have always been lucky to have quiet people around us, so it must have been the sound proofing. This is apparently lacking in at least some of the cabins on Vista.

We are booked on an up coming Vista cruise, but are concerned about complaints of noise and lack of sound proofing in cabins. Being in such a cabin would ruin the cruise for us. Considering cancelling. The problem seems to be different in different areas. Has anyone been in or near cabin # 9034 on the Vista and can comment on noise level?

Thank you all. Good to see there are choices

Is there a name for this ? (like Regent has a pre-cruise package)

How does one find about this?

Is this an add on?

We are considering a London to London cruise on the Sojourn. The port is actually Dover. For those who have been on this type of cruise, is it difficult to go from London to Dover (with luggage at hand) ? How did you do it?

Do you know it you can use on board credit for this?