DeepFreeze63

Thanks for the photo. Brings back very fond memories of our several visits to Juneau.

10 hours ago, BettyDol said:

I just want to throw a different perspective into this discussion.  If this happened to me, I am sure I would be upset.  However,  a few years back, we were on a Back to back Caribbean cruise on the Voyager.  There were 70 other passengers on this btb cruise.  Unfortunetly for all of us, there were also 2 different corporate charters aboard.  each group had about 300 "guests" each.  One group consisted of about 85% 25 to 30 year olds.  When I tell you that cruise was an absolute nightmare I am understating  the situation by many miles. So, the alternative perspective I mentioned is this:  I think Regent got you out of a nightmare and into an opportunity to find a wonderful cruise!  Hope you can find a fabulous "second Choice"!!!

Amen, Amen. Last November, DW and I were on a BtB. First leg was marvelous; second leg was "partially chartered" - awful.

On 5/10/2023 at 1:17 PM, cAPS lOCK oN said:

We're on the fence for that very cruise. We're looking for one last splash to finishe off our cruising "career" and that may be the one. Coincedentally, we'd also be 73 and 75 at time of sailing!

Well guys, DW and I will, God willing, be on that cruise as perhaps our "last splash". It will be, by far, our longest of what would then be 32 Regent cruises. Great itinerary! 

17 hours ago, kentlady said:

We recently did a cruise on the Navigator which was wonderful and would happily sail on her again. We have just booked another cruise and this time it’s on the Voyager which I assumed would be very similar, however having just looked at some reviews they really aren’t very complimentary and I’m now concerned we have made the wrong choice. Please can any of you who have sailed on her fairly recently give me your thoughts as it would be much appreciated.

 

 

 

This is called "Cruise Critic"! I get some handy info but I take OP opinions with my personal grain of salt.

DW and I spent 3 months on the Voyager in 2022 and had great times on those 4 cruises. I don't especially care what Regent ship I sail on (disclaimer: Splendor is my favorite) or who the Captain is. I believe my enjoyment/satisfaction is much more affected by the itinerary, weather, cabin choice and Staff, especially the GM and the CD.

Have a great cruise and please post.

1 hour ago, Gilly said:

@HongKongAlan my FB popped up with a "five years ago today" image of us leaving Tokyo five years ago for that very same itinerary, which we loved.  I don't have restaurant recommendations for any of those ports, but would say that if you are in Hitachinaka during the festival with the blue flowers  those who did the tour to Seaside Park were delighted to be part of it all and I regretted that we didn't choose that tour. Hitachi Seaside Park (Hitachi Kaihin Koen) - Ibaraki Travel (japan-guide.com)  

Yes, yes! We were on that cruise and did that tour. Amazingly beautiful and we weren't alone a very popular venue, deservedly.

It was disappointing because our expectations were high - we had done the magnificent Regent "Tea at the Lord Nelson" in Cape Town in November. 

We had a very good guide and stopped at 2 nice venues for essentially photo ops before going to Reid's. Very nice, short tour of Reid's gardens BUT the actual tea: was held in attractive room with only half the set tables used for Regent group (the rest of the large room wasn't used by anyone during our time - about 1 hour); finger food was already on the tables; tea pots took about 10 to 15 minutes to be served and the scones/cream didn't arrive until about 10 minutes after the tea arrival then we were herded to the bus about 10 minutes later. It was Good Friday afternoon. Several venues were closed so many were disappointed with their excursions.

5 minutes ago, mrlevin said:

Jim, I need an honest opinion from you - is Jude as good as Margaret as CD?

 

Marc

Doesn't have Margaret's voice BUT who does! Jude ran GREAT Trivia; the OL was packed to overflowing; the passengers were experienced yet I don't think any team got a perfect score (not crazy hard as many wins were 13 or 14 out of 15.) Jude has solid theatrical experience and presence. For our TA, Jude was "blessed" with 2 outstanding co-workers, the ACD and SH - time will tell as she works with weaker personnel.

W

e were on the recent TA on Splendor (on which we had done the inaugural cruise - 3years ago). Had a super time!

8 hours ago, welshfamily said:

Thank you for your review. Very helpful as our hotel is on the same road. We only have one full day and the morning before we board. If pushed could you give us your  recommendation for any “must see” items.

thank you

So personal a decision! We are in our 80s (healthy but Lisbon's hill were a challenge) and have been to Lisbon at least 5 times including a Regent pre-cruise excursion in November of 2022. We still research via TripAdvisor and UTube. For us, the most beautiful church in Lisbon is Sao Roque. Lots of  interesting things to do in Belem area - but go early; check if you need timed tickets in advance; and use a cab - time is precious! Our hotel Concierge was MOST helpful.

Sincere thanks to all posters. Got LOTS of great info and ideas for our 3/24 Explorer TKY to TKY.

Per my commitment in Post # 4 above:

Our 3 day/night stay at Avenida Palace hotel was WONDERFUL!  Because:

• We had a beautiful room on the 5th floor facing Restorantes square - absolutely quiet despite the hotel being next to Rossio train station. Very nice bed and well-lighted bath with tub/showerS. Delicious, extensive breakfast in a lovely room with plenty of attendants.
• We spent Easter Sunday morning/afternoon visiting four nearby, beautiful churches including the Se (all beautiful and crowded with attendees) - all were on the flat section near the hotel or on a slight incline to the east of the hotel. Spent the early evening down near the river (missed the Splendor sailing by) with hordes of tourists. Had a very nice dinner at a seafood restaurant recommended by the hotel's Concierge and drinks at the elegant hotel bar - great (affable and competent) bar staff, very nice light meals and snacks (at a 20% discount because we booked directly with the hotel)
• We used Metro (a stop is just outside the hotel) on Monday when almost all the museums are closed to visit: Gulbenkian Museum (unbelievable what "oil money" can buy); the huge Ingles Cortez department store where we had a delicious lunch on the lovely patio outside the many restaurants on the top floor; shopped the large Zara's across the street from IC; walked downhill to our hotel past the many elegant stores (open on Mondays) on Rua Avenida. Had a light dinner in the hotel bar with a pianist (every night from 7 til 8). Again, visited the nearby shops and the river area - easy walking.
• Tuesday morning we started to Belem on bus - BAD idea - terrible traffic, road repairs on narrow streets. Hopped off bus and hailed a cab - easy; 3.50 euros to enter but cheap thereafter and QUICK.
• Visited Coach museum(a Wow) and the Antiquities museum( the national Portuguese museum; a super Wow) the latter on free tickets provided to guests by the hotel Concierge. Had a late lunch at the Time Out complex (with almost everyone else in the word); had freshly-made pasta (best in our memory) on the outside patio of the East side.  Had a light dinner again in the hotel bar during music time. Walked around the flat tourist area in early evening.
• On last morning, within 30 minutes of call to Concierge, we were checked out; bellhop had baggage, and large cab was waiting for our trip to airport (less than 20 euros for cab ride).
• Other notes - Our room had portable phone for use during stay for use outside of hotel and up to 30 minutes/day of world-wide use. On last night a plate of huge strawberries was delivered to our room.

1 hour ago, flossie009 said:

We did see a small dog on Regent once, but a long time ago, probably 10 years. It was on either Mariner or Voyager.

The owner would carry the dog around in her handbag and was seemingly allowed in all the public areas.

Lots of complaints and have never seen the like again.

 

 

We were also on that cruise (one of our first with Regent). Supposedly the little dog could sense something like a pending seizure and alert the owner. There was a lot of skepticism and animosity from the passengers!

We're doing your Explorer cruise a year from now. I'll follow your postings as best I can - I board the Splendor tomorrow. Leave for Miami in 2 hours.

Best wishes for a great cruise.

Correction: 2022 cruise

3 hours ago, cAPS lOCK oN said:

The first two Explorer class ships have an infinity pool on deck 5 aft. The pool itself was rarely used on the cruises we have been on, and I know that Grandeur replaces the pool with a hot tub or tubs. 

 

But it also appears that the main pool has been changed in some way/ The website describes it thusly:

 

Go for a swim, stay for the views. Wherever you are in our Infinity-Edge Plunge Pool the views are dramatic, as the pool contours to the stern of the ship.

 

I can't find any pictures so far. Anyone know what we should expect in the pool areas?

On an early 2023 Explorer cruise, I complained about the many missing tiles at the infinity pool. GM told me that due to a "design flaw"  the infinity-pool was a maintenance headache and would NOT be included in the Grandeur.

boblerm posted: " As for the other ports, for me, they ranged from, “pretty, but not especially inspiring” to “why is it that I am here, exactly???”

Years ago, on a Regent cruise, we stopped at Rio Grande. After our excursion, I asked the Mariner's CD why we stopped there. He responded: "Jim, if I only had one day to live, I'd want it to be in Rio Grande - it would seem like forever!"

Thanks for the great photos

3 hours ago, flossie009 said:

Dinner in P7 tonight on Explorer ..,..,.,,,,,,,, delicious 😋

 

Crab cake was on the menu 🙂

 

Best bonus was at the end of the meal ..,,,,,,,,,,,, fudge rather than those bizarre brownies topped with jelly 😀

 

 

DW says "thanks goodness, nobody eats them".

After our 3/28 TA on Splendor, we are staying for 3 days at Hotel Avenida Palace on Avenue Liberdade. It is upscale, central, and on a flat areas with Metro just outside. When we get back on 4/13, I'' write up the cruise and the post-cruise stay.

2 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

You do realize that this is what would happen in a real emergency?  The muster, whether a drill or an actual emergency, is not about getting to the lifeboats, it is about passenger accountability.  The muster should be signaled long before any thought is given to actually evacuating the ship, and is to remove the passengers from the area of the emergency, put them in known, controlled locations, and provide accountability (knowing that everyone is accounted for).  That frees up the emergency response teams to deal with the emergency without having to look for stray passengers who may or may not be casualties.  Just read about the Star Princess fire, where the passengers were mustered for several hours, yet the Captain had no inclination to evacuate the ship at any time.  The muster drill is to get the passengers and crew used to working as a team, with the passengers following instructions from the crew.  It provides as realistic a training scenario as possible, for both passengers and crew.

Thanks! Hope you will post whenever you see us "amateurs'" not fully grasping something nautical.

We don't usually take a suite with a butler but the 3 times we had a butler we enjoyed his services.

Yes, they deliver late afternoon canapes to the cabin; we'd much rather have canapes and drinks later in the Observation Lounge with friends and the pianist. BUT our butlers:

• tracked down our dressy attire at the laundry and expedited it for a big event.
• prepared a cocktail party for us (when we had an "Explorer" cabin) and 6 new friends. We had a great time; left with the guests; and, returned to a pristine cabin.
• delivered a special late-night dessert to our grandson throughout a 15-day cruise.
• had the ship's carpentry shop cut a board to specification for me.
• routinely checked on availability of reservations for Prime7 restaurant.

Pretty anything you want them to do.

We've had terrific regular Regent excursions in Kirkwall and Belfast. Kirkwall archeology tour is NOT to be missed (but very cold and windy) and the Titanic Museum in Belfast is wonderful (but crowded). Regent's contractor did a great job; I don't think a private guide would have added much for DW and I.

12 hours ago, flossie009 said:

CC has a ‘test forum’ which is useful for trying out posting techniques , uploading photos etc

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/860-test-forum/

 

 

Thanks Flossie

We're on the Grandeur "inaugural(s); DW is an expert photographer so I'm determined to have that capability during those cruises.

Above is me "learning how to add photos to my posts!

1 minute ago, Gpilon said:

Will look for you. Louise & Glen

Jim & Mary