Mahogany

7 hours ago, creativegenius said:

 

On our last Celebrity Cruise, we checked in via the app before we boarded. At the port they just had to scan the barcode on our phone to let us on board, then our key cards were waiting for us at the cabin. Took 5 minutes to board and get our keys. I know other lines are experimenting with this same type of boarding. This is where I think Virgin could go with these bracelets. Check In via app, board the ship and get your bracelet at your cabin. 

One of the tasks at Check-in is registering a Credit Card. Under your system on Celebrity, did you register a CC online or see Reception  once on board?

On 2/1/2020 at 7:10 PM, orvil said:

I liked the dragon in front of Pacific Rim.

 

I predict that will be the place where everyone will have to have their picture taken.

I'm going to miss the prayer wheel!

Pretentious is all in the eye of the beholder/diner. I look forward to my evenings in TK, dining solo, usually, people-watching of course.

On 1/25/2020 at 7:12 AM, dalliowner said:

The good thing is the vaccine is for life now , not time limited. we had no side effects.

I thought it was for life too, but mine was in 1996, and the CDC talks about a booster if it's been more than 10 years. BTW, my doctor, with whom I discussed this yesterday, said the CDC precaution for anyone over 60 applies to ALL vaccinations, not just yellow fever. After talking to Passport Health here in Florida  today, I discovered the booster is the same as the original, and since I am over 65, would need a doctor's certification that I was in good health. Price is about $300. Does that sound about right? See you all on Quest soon!

On 1/29/2020 at 1:48 PM, hotsauce126 said:

 

The cruise hasn't happened yet, but I'm saying the total for the drink package on royal caribbean for a 7 day cruise for two people is more than $1000, so $1000 bar tab would still be better 

My apologies: I was on a Royal Carib about 8 years ago and no way paid that much for the drink package which I just looked up. Wow, what a money maker. But I admit, paying as much as I did, I had no reservations about trying something new and discarding it without finishing to try something else!

On 1/29/2020 at 12:22 PM, sierrafloridacruiser said:

This is wonderful!  I have never followed a maiden/inaugural voyage and I’m sure this one will be full of detail. We are on our first Regent cruise on the Explorer TA in April and then spending five nights in Barcelona, which is a first visit there for us. Have not planned a lot of that part of our trip yet, except the hotel, so I will appreciate all the Barcelona related content you want to include!  

Make sure to book Sagrada Familia tickets on line to avoid the long line.

2 hours ago, hotsauce126 said:

 

$1000 would still be cheaper than the drink package on my RC cruise later this year

Were you on a World Cruise - or do you have a, ahem, problem?🙄

1 hour ago, chelseabelsea said:

Hello, all,

Contemplating a Regent  Cruise out of LA...does anyone know which hotel is used for the 1 night hotel stay for Concierge class or higher?

Also curious...I assume the OBC crédit can be applied to spa treatments, as on other lines?

Many thanks in advance for your kind responses.

This past fall, they used the Beverly Wilshire, very nice, but if you stay extra nights, beware of the pricey breakfast. The breakfast included with the Concierge level room was a buffet in a conference room - disappointing.

I just returned from a Viking TA, followed by a Western Caribbean on Regent. 

I agree, the décor of Viking is lovely, lots of welcoming public spaces to lounge, but I had to upgrade to a Penthouse Junior Suite to have the space I'm used to on Regent.

The Viking Restaurant has lots of window tables since the galley is between the dining tables, rather than at the end which is more common. Though light and airy, I felt tables were too close together. But it encouraged chatting.

The reason I will never sail again on Viking, but continue to recommend it to couples, is the 200% charge for Solo travelers.

I did one Seabourn this past year, two Regent,  (also Crystal , Silversea and Viking) and am on 5-week Seabourn (South America) in March. I like both  almost equally, though I wish Regent would reduce the cruise fare and not include shore excursions. I like the Seabourn Ventures outings (last year Sydney-Singapore) and this year in South America which include hiking and kayaking for the fit, and zodiac cruising for me (not too fit). This will be my first on the smaller Seabourns; I very much like Ovation and Encore. Can't go wrong with any of the luxury lines: they all have pluses and minuses. Itinerary is usually the deciding factor. I realize I'm not telling you anything other frequent cruisers and CC contributors offer .

Still waiting to hear from Cuddles examples of sloppiness.

2 minutes ago, GW248 said:

This would be great if true as my best flight options are into FLL.

 

Thanks to all for the responses!

Enjoy your Rock Star Suite!! Afraid I couldn't quite splurge on it, even with included hair and makeup 😄.

My TA told me the free transfer was with a 50 mile radius, so the airports and perhaps your home if it's close. I live 250 miles away and for a moment, was really excited!😀

On 1/24/2020 at 8:10 AM, JamieLogical said:

 

I probably would have taken my first cruise, because that was one my SO booked before we even started dating. It was a year out when I met him and he had booked it to join a good friend who would be celebrating a birthday. I really had no idea what to expect from a cruise at that point. But there is zero doubt in my mind that I wouldn't have become obsessed with cruising the way I have (will be going on my 8th & 9th cruises barely over two years later) were it not for the drink package, because what made me fall in love with cruising was the "all inclusive" nature of it. The idea of paying for the whole vacation up front and truly just being able to relax and not stress about anything ON the actual trip. I had never experienced that before my first cruise and I have come to love it passionately.

If "included" (never free) alcohol is so important to you, why aren't you considering the cruise lines, like Regent, Silversea, Crystal, Seabourn that offer it?

Forgot Viking, with "no Kids" policy.

Attended a Virgin presentation this week. Most of the cruises I sail on include all drinks. I am trying a Virgin Voyage just for the experience and recognize that I will be charged for alcoholic drinks.  The presenter said there are no drink packages because packages require all members in a stateroom to participate. I have found that many couples resent paying for 2  packages when only 1 drinks alcohol.

On another note, there will be no single-use plastic bottles. Does Virgin provide a reusable container for refilling , or must "sailors" bring their own?

Really, SWFLAOK, you would forego another Regent cruise because you don't like waiting in the Constellation Theatre? A bit harsh, dontyathink?

I was on the cruise/disembark with Westmount having breakfast in Compass Rose at 8:15 when CD Lorraine came on the PA system to announce the luggage union delay because of offloading luggage, so there was notification. And the two (only) immigration agents could have been because of other ships disembarking. I was held up in October in Miami because of a big Norwegian ship disembarking the same time as my Regent Mariner. Soo, when you're in Miami's huge cruise port, delays are inevitable and expected, though not desirable.

As for Regent excursions, I AGAIN expressed on the survey my dissatisfaction with "Included" tours. Reduce my cruise fare and let me choose and pay for the ones  I want!

On 1/9/2020 at 7:45 PM, Daveywavey70 said:

Yes you can charge them to your ships account. They just advance you the dollars in the casino which you then exchange for chips.  When you cash out they don’t credit it to the account though they just give you dollars back. 

Isn't there a service charge for this?

18 hours ago, Gnoelj said:

 

We were considering Silversea because of the attractive special fare offered,.....BUT....after reading/learning that they send their butler to service ALL their suites, and they do not give customers a choice not to have them, that was a big turn off for us.

 

Yes, we still think "Butlers" on cruise ships are pretentious and waste of resources and money (are they actually trained and certified by the British Butler Institute, or similar, or are they just ex cabin stewards given a Butler costume and put up the pecking order?). However, if you like and appreciate them, that's your prerogative, it's just not everyone's cup of tea.

 

 

Butler school is in India.

2 hours ago, Randyk47 said:

Absolutely needed?  Probably no.  Recommended?  Absolutely yes.  Availability does differ from ship to ship, itinerary to itinerary.  For instance on the Wind with its fewer dining venues and a warm weather itinerary the Grill can be booked pretty solid.   On the other hand our last cruise on the Spirit started in November in Italy and it was cold and rainy for the first few days. No problem getting a table.  By the time we got to the Suez Canal the Grill was pretty well booked up but with the more numerous dining venues on the Spirit you could probably have gotten a table. 

Can you pre-book for the Grill, or only once onboard? I'll be on Spirit in July. As for La Dame, I enjoyed it and recommend pre-booking. If you see the menu once onboard and don't like it,  you can cancel with, I believe, a day's notice, with no penalty.

9 hours ago, westmount said:

Without trying to sound old fashion, the tipping policy allows everyone to leave the ship without feeling guilty that they did not tip any of the staff. Regent is certainly charging enough to cover what other ships charge $18 per day per person etc, which can be very annoying. That said, I just came off the Explorer last week, and not once did any employee refuse my thank you and tips during the trip. 

We were a large family group and the crew did its best to allow us to eat and play together. I'm also a believer that are members don't really make a lot of money, so if they are willing and able to make us cruisers happy throughout a trip, giving them a few bucks can never be a bad thing. 

 Next trip is Seabourn from Capetown, and  will advise if anyone there refuses a tip, but I would be insulted if they did. 

  No tipping policy allows a passenger to leave without guilt, but if you like the service you received, or the people you are dealing with, go for it, it won't really hurt. 

  Did i mention we had a couple of the loud kids as part of our group ( other thread) i feel for those who don't want kids on the ship, but then we passed a viking cruise who don't allow kids under 18, so my suggestion is avoid christmas cruises, flights, or hotels during the holidays, i know i would if not doing a family trip. 

Oh, so those were your kids? I was on that cruise on Explorer, and I expected children onboard during the holidays. Now, I don't know how much the fare was for the children. If they paid, then a portion of their fare was gratuities (I guess). However, I saw children in high chairs, and I don't see anything wrong with leaving some extra for the restaurant staff or suite attendants. Hope they all enjoyed their time.

I just disembarked Explorer this week and can confirm that there's no improvement. But there weren't DAYS without service, so it was manageable. The most annoying aspect was having to log in each time to use. And of course, the usual busy times when everyone seems to want to access at the same time. All in all, no better or worse than before. I had been on Viking Ocean right before Regent, and their service was better.

Just now, Mahogany said:

 

Wow, 100 nights, huh? Some people on cruises  look like they don't have anything but wrinkled clothes, but I guess you use the laundry a lot.

On 11/8/2019 at 11:59 AM, twinklles said:

We never do formal night.  You can go to any Michelin 3* without a tie (and most without even a jacket).  Why do I want to put on a costume that is uncomfortable.  I do bring a jacket and wear it most nights.

 

This picture of our entire luggage for an 11 night cruise and 5 day post cruise might help to clarify why we don't like formal night.  (Would be the same amount of luggage if it was a 100 night cruise.)

On 10/30/2019 at 7:33 PM, SWFLAOK said:

Thanks for that info. We have a 36 night cruise the next time we're on the Whisper, so we may want to try the Pool Grill for dinner again to have more variety. We'll definitely ask to have them cook the steak before bringing it to the table, and we'll try to get a table as far upwind as possible.

On our last Silversea cruise in November of last year,  I ordered something that I didn't need to cook. I guess it was pretty forgettable since I can't remember what it was, but my goal was to not cook it myself.  My husband and brother both chose to cook, and it was not a pleasant experience for any of us. We had already made another reservation for the Pool Grill, and cancelled it the next morning.

Are reservations for the Grill now necessary?

On 1/9/2020 at 1:58 PM, Gnoelj said:

 

I am afraid the Butler is also one of the things that puts us off. We would rather pay NOT to have a butler than have one.

 

On one cruise in the past, we had a butler , we did not appreciate that at all. It felt a bit too pretentious.

I believe Silversea is the only luxury cruise line offering butler service in all suites, not just the largest.

If you think a butler is pretentious, why are you even considering Silversea?There are other lines where it is not available. I am booked on Spirit this summer and eagerly awaiting my return to one of my favorite cruise lines.

On 1/9/2020 at 4:26 PM, Gourmet Gal said:

Just wondering, do they all have afternoon tea, still?

I was on Muse this summer, and afternoon tea was not on the schedule. However, the Arts Café changes their food offerings four times a day (so I was told) and in the afternoon offered scones and other tea accompaniments.