Tsunami74

19 minutes ago, Aloha 1 said:

 

At Jacques, The sea bass in pastry is always excellent as is the Dover Sole. I also like the Lobster Thermador. A great throwback dish.

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I heartily agree with this. 

I would add the pea vichyssoise. First taste that I had of it, I thought "?".

By second mouthful, loved it - great depth of flavor. It is a small portion. Almost makes me want to order a double.

52 minutes ago, Camillus112 said:

I was in GIAMC's December cruise in a PH, and I don't remember deck cushions being brought inside at night...and we had almost constant bad weather!  😓

We recently did a trans Atlantic in PH on Grandeur, and the room stewards brought deck cushions in almost every night.

Most days they put back out in the morning. On somedays I had to do it myself  (unless it is freezing, I am out on deck.)

2 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

So accordingly if you ordered beef Wellington and they served you beef bologna , in an filo dough, and you like bologna then that’s OK??? 
 

I bet you’re a fan of the infamous piccata Marsala dish Oceania serves that is neither piccata nor Marsala. What’s in a name anyway? Why should anyone be disappointed if their hamburger is made from chopped liver, what’s in a name?

No, of course not because beef and beef bologna are two different things. 

However, claiming something is not true "French" is claiming that person knows all French cooking - quite a claim.

Never tried piccata Marsala - doesn't sound tempting.

1 hour ago, Vallesan said:

I think that’s the secret …. you…  “quite liked it”. Surely at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter if a dish is ‘authentic’ as long as the ‘consumer’ enjoy it!

I totally agree.

I think I said something like this in answer to "Jaques is not true French"  OK,  maybe not, but we still enjoy it.

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

On 4/5/2024 at 5:07 PM, GMIAC said:

The problem with this is that once one table starts talking loudly, everyone else has to raise their voices to be heard, and the din becomes very unpleasant. This happens all the time in restaurants, unfortunately. If everyone just spoke at normal conversation levels, the noise could be kept down. 

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.

14 hours ago, Avidtravler said:

Would appreciate any and all information on the SG Arrival Card for our upcoming trip to Singapore. Does Regent provide information and help?  Has anyone arrived without its completion and what happened next.

14 hours ago, flossie009 said:

The SGArrival Card is submitted on-line. It can only be applied for within 3 days before arrival in Singapore.

 

And yes, Regent does provide the information.

The attendant in the computer center was helpful for those who needed help to complete it.

13 hours ago, edgee said:

So on a different note, from your point of view, are the walls on Grandeur so "thin" such that you hear conversations and tvs from neighboring cabins?

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  

55 minutes ago, Lady of Leisure said:

When we went to Iceland( not with Regent) we booked shore excursions direct with a family run company. They also provided packages of 2 or 3 tours to match the cruise ships itinerary, which worked out cheaper. The company were very good and the tour was a small group.

I know that doesn't help when you think you are getting free excursions but Iceland was a beautiful country, even in the rain, and it would be a shame not too see more, 

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

1 hour ago, carolina cruisin said:

Returned from an Australia/SE Asia cruise - Jan 13-Feb 21.  Loved the ship.  We actually liked the decor better than the Splendor - "more subdued".  Perhaps the best service we have experienced.  Have another Explorer cruise booked for Sept 2024.  Go for it.

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.

18 hours ago, A Tucson Guy said:

I wonder if you could ask the butler for a lounger or two? Has anybody had experience with this?

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

1 hour ago, A Tucson Guy said:

The balconies are larger on the Penthouse B vs. the Penthouse C in most cases. I think the B cabin may have two lounges on the balcony, I hope. We moved up to the B Penthouse for the larger balcony. Please advise if anybody can confirm. Thx.

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!

1 hour ago, Vineyard View said:

Tsunami, sounds like an amazing trip. Out of curiosity, how much time are you allowing for this adventure?  And how many changes in stay location?  

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)

1 hour ago, Nitrodog said:

9034 should be fine noise wise. Cabins on the deck above and below yours. We were in 9114 a month ago and had no issues at all.

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

2 minutes ago, nancygp said:

Have your ta contact seabourn

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