wishIweretravelling

For those who have had a third person in a penthouse on Splendor or Explorer, and had a rollaway bed rather than a fold-out couch, where was the bed stowed during the day?

I don't know if this was a quirk of the individual who was the internet manager when I was on Splendor in autumn 2022, but she kept the computer logged in with her own login so that people didn't have to use their own logins.

Glad the rssc agent could help. Re your agent, I see you live in Canada. Just fyi, if your agent is in the U.S., today was a holiday here and they may well have been closed.

I was on a cruise last year that stopped in Gibraltar, and it turned out to be one of my all-time favorite excursions. Went to the top of the rock at sunrise, enjoyed the views and learned about the history and life in Gibraltar, walked down through where the Barbary monkeys live (which was both entertaining and interesting), and explored some tunnels and learned the history there. However, if you will have to do this on your own, rather than have a guide to show you where to go and explain things, you're probably better off going to Seville. Which also is worthwhile.

On Splendor just recently, they had what they termed "a limited supply" for those who asked at reception. I never heard of them running out.

I always fly through a non-gateway airport (RDU), and have never been required to fly through a gateway. There is an upcharge for using a non-gateway: currently it's $124.50 each way. Note that THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE DEVIATION FEE, which is charged for flying in or out a different day, picking your own flights, changing from the flights that are assigned, etc. I think it's $175 per person, round trip. So you could wind up paying an extra $424 per person if you deviate and fly from a non-gateway airport. FWIW, the deviation fee is waived (one time only) for those whose Seven Seas Society status is platinum or above.

It can't work on wifi when you're on an excursion because there is no wifi to connect to. It operates on bluetooth when away from wifi.

I had a different brand serum that had a trace amount, and it caused no problem on either end.

I think what they were trying to say there was that the app will work even if you are in airplane mode, since it operates via blue tooth rather than cellular or wifi. I’ve never had a problem with receiving texts or calls while using Bluetooth for other applications, so I wouldn’t think it would be a problem with the app. That being said, Splendor rarely used the app on the cruise I just disembarked.

On the poll, I marked “other problems” on #2 because there wasn’t a way to mark “no problems.”

FWIW, I just returned from a 3-month cruise in which I used Luggage Forward both ways. I had toiletries in the bags I shipped from the U.S. to Stockholm, including shampoo, lotions, moisturizer, and makeup. No hairspray or other aerosols, and no alcohol-based products, though some products (ie, Kiehl’s moisturizer) apparently have trace amounts. It all got through without problem, and my bags were awaiting me when I boarded. There was a tag indicating that one of my bags had been opened and inspected. NOT the one with the toiletries. I’m pretty sure the item of interest was my portable water flosser, which is batter operated. However, I’d removed the batteries, and brought them with me in my carry-on, as the LF rep had warned me against anything with any kind of battery. On return, we disembarked on Dec 3 in Miami, so it was a domestic shipment. I packed pretty much the same way coming home as I did when going to the ship. LF said to expect them on the 13th. I received them on Dec 6th, 3 days after disembarking. They used DHL to ship to Stockholm, and UPS to ship them within the US.

Yes, they start out with rehearsals in Florida. Partly because of what they do, and partly because their actual employer may not be Regent/NCL but instead an entertainment contractor, they may have something other than the crew visa that others who work on the ship have. It would still be a “nonimmigrant” visa of some sort, which would limit their allowed activities to the terms under which the visa was issued. If they help with check-in on shore in the U.S., it may be that they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. If it’s in a country other than the U.S. the rules of that country apply and they may not be as restricted. During the recent cruise, I saw the entertainment staff helping check-in on shore only in one port (I’m thinking it was Barcelona, but am not sure).

I mostly agree, but have to say the only Regent tours on which I’ve seen 50 people are where they quickly get us to a start point then break into smaller groups. 30-35 is the max (on buses that can hold 50+), and many have had fewer than that. In the end, how enjoyable and interesting the tour is comes down to the guide and how crowded is the site. I’ve seen tours where friends are taking the same excursion but wound up in different groups with different guides. People in one group had a great tour, people in the other had a super-dull tour.

I am currently on Splendor. As noted above, on this ship the detergent is dispensed from a wall unit (and overfills the cup provided). I am sensitive to scents and dyes and have not had an issue with it. I have not detected a scent from the clothes sent to the valet laundry service either.

I just got a first-hand answer to a question I’d always vaguely wondered about. When I pre-booked my excursions—which included some that required extra payment—and my cooking class, I exceeded my available OBCs by $10. I subsequently received more OBCs, plus had a paid excursion canceled by the operator. Not only did the credits appear on my account (as the non refundable OBCs that they’d been to start with), but the $10 has been credited as a refundable OBC. So, yes, you get that money back if you later have credits that cover the amount. For anyone else who wondered.

It is (or at least was, pre-covid) pretty much a given on Explorer and Splendor. It was less consistent on the other ships.

There is one today on Splendor.

I was mistaken. The paragraph is there.

I got the email for a March cruise and, oddly, it did not include the paragraph about the $500 charge.

There is a massive space between making some accommodations and “looking like a nursing home.” Comfortable furniture can be attractive, and handrails placed so that they can actually be used do not detract from aesthetics. As for music, it likely will always be behind the times. I remember when everything was big band, and no rock. Now it’s mostly rock (and show tunes), and no Beyoncé et al. They are playing to audience taste. And, royalty fees to play older music are lower than fees for current hits.

I am currently on Splendor, on a grand voyage. It is a lovely ship, and is great for a lengthy cruise. But one thing I keep hearing (and saying, or at least thinking, myself): “don’t they know their demographic?” Fact is, a lot of Regent’s clientele are in the 60+ age group, particularly on a longer voyage. Yet a good bit of the design ignores the needs of an age group more likely to have joint issues or growing physical limitations. The suggestion is to involve an occupational therapy expert with knowledge of older people’s needs in the design details process. They can help address, for instance, how to structure hand rails for the pools and hot tubs so that they actually serve the people who need them. Or make sure that seats are not too low (a widespread problem on Splendor).

Paperwork re covid depends on itinerary—specifically, what the countries/cities you are visiting require. Been on Splendor since 9/5. No block parties yet. We keep hearing “maybe next cruise,” but hasn’t happened yet. Still a bit too much covid on the ship for them to be comfortable doing it.

It just started turning up on the television here on Splendor. I also hope that, when the inevitable day comes that it can be found on a digital device that we at least have the option to get it on paper.

And the last two pages…

More