MalbecWine

Miami airport can be a nightmare especially during the holidays.  Ft. Lauderdale is cleaner as well as West Palm Beach.  As Z mentioned Las Olas is fun and safe to walk around.  Many dining venues and shops and close to the port.  You also have a store called Publix for any last minute items and a Crown Liquor store.  The crews love FLL for shopping and restocking their stuff.  Port of Miami has nothing really for shopping to stock up on for them or anyone for that matter.

The thing is, when you get older your immune system does change.  When I was younger  of course we drank out of water hoses and swimming in public pools or hotel pools.  Yes and we fell and scraped ourselves but now healing takes much longer for most of us and infection is more likely and can spread to others who may have an open wound.

Having a pool and jacuzzi at home my spouse and myself are super clean maybe a bit OCD about it but we check the water before we go in and balance it when needed.  We will not go into a people’s soup on any cruise line. Chlorine does not kill all bacteria. Swimmers beware and jacuzzi people.

The only pool or jacuzzi we go into is our own.  We know our own hygiene and don’t want to venture into something with other people.

I enjoyed the Cordon Bleu class on the Voyager many years ago and we did pay for it but it was so much fun.  It was held where Lattiudes was.  I thought I knew what I was doing BUT making a soufflé was not my forte and had flour all over myself.  We were all laughing and we  just wanted some wine to get through it.  You were able to invite your guests to taste your creations.  I felt like I was on the Food Network.  We had a graduation party after completing the course and I was voted the best dishwasher.

Wes, the menu is to our liking and thank you for posting it.  We are not heavy meat eaters but saw so many healthy options.  Plenty of choices for sure and the casual atmosphere and casual dress.

On 11/18/2018 at 12:04 PM, MaggyCan1 said:

Hello Raphael,

What a good and decent person you are to help this lady onto the elevator!   And what a bunch of rude, obnoxious boors those idiots were who did not want to let her on!    One can only hope that one day karma will get them, and they will find themselves boorishly treated by others.  

Yes, Karma is a b***h.  It will always come back to haunt you.  Kudos to Raphel.

They are not fridges on any line we have cruised on they are chillers.  Bacteria forms quickly when not at the proper temperature and bacteria starts forming.  I don’t think one wants to risk getting sick.  That would be fine if the temperature was close to 35 degrees in the fridge but that is not the case with these small fridges.  Why chance it?

I remember when caviar was reasonable such as Beluga, Sevruga, and Osetrea.  Now it is mostly farm raised but you can still get good quality.  In Russia we had the top quality Beluga and we shhh smuggled a few tins back home in dry ice packs and did not get caught in customs.  If caught they would just confiscate it and destroy it.  Trust me it did not last long gulp.

We have a few Australian friends and what a fun group of people to be around drinking and eating.  We had the best time on Crystal during Australia Day.

Ausssie and New Zelanders know how to have a good time for sure!

That’s great news nobody was onboard the life boat.  Cruise lines often rescue people and Regent did their due diligence.

Praying for a rescue.

Hiccups happen on all luxury lines but rarely does it interfere with the total cruise experience.

Bob I certainly enjoyed your recent blog.  I don’t think Silversea offers babysitters as Crystal does but not sure so I would check.  Not all two year olds are the terrible two’s.

I can relate to what some people have said here but I have seen the worst of it and also the best toddlers at that age.  If you can get a sitter for a few hours that would be great freeing the adults for awhile would be super and all can have a quiet dinner.  

On Crystal some crew would love to do this as they miss their own children but you do pay a babysitters fee and nominal at that.

I hope you get some official answers from Silversea not from posters.  I’m sure you will be just fine.

Using a Travel Agent might have sorted this all out

You can not compare airlines and hotels, for instance if you have a Centurion card or the Platinum and fly business class or first whether it is your first flight or your 100th flight you still have free access to lounges on international and getting guaranteed upgrades in hotels and resorts regardless if your are a member of a loyalty program or how many times you have stayed.  We did not earn the Centurion Card we were invited to join but one pays for platinum and Centurion but the benefits out way the cost.

If one is in a upper suite and paying tons of money a simple thing like laundry and VC champagne should be a perk for booking a high end suite as those guests are paying a premium.  I agree that those who have so many nights and not staying in the upper suites should be entitled but when you lay out close to a 100K combined in a MS it is a no brainer to offer quality champagne and laundry. Just my opinion and I agree with Pingpong.

Maybe I was looking at the Regent Suite on the Explorer at those prices laundry should be free in that suite.

Laundry and VC is offered in the Master Suites on Regent and of course the Regent Suite on Explorer.  Maybe not earned but you are paying for that privilege.

3 hours ago, boblerm said:

MalbecWine, while I in no way shape or form wish to disparage the remarks of the TS, everyones perceptions are no more less valid than anyone else's, all I can say is that my experience on 9 Regent cruises have been drastically different. Moreover, I often ask my fellow passengers how they are enjoying their cruise, and the number of responses that have been less than enthusiastically positive, I can probably count on one hand. 

I am only chiming in here because I really do not want you to be anything other than super excited about your upcoming cruise on the Explorer. 

Bob

No worries Bob, we have heard great things about the Explorer and that Regent has upped its game in the luxury market.  We are looking forward to this cruise.  We said we would never return to Regent eight years ago..but never say never.  The itinerary is perfect for us and the ship pictures and reviews have been awesome.

I have been following Wes on his cruise and have been impressed what he and Ida have shared with us albeit not on the Explorer.

Wes, it’s always a pleasure to see your posts and pictures and I am sure many think the same way.  

Thanks for taking us land based until our next cruise along with you.

The Miami port can be so chaotic depending on how many ships are in port and the time of day your flight departs.  Ft. Lauderdale is a piece of cake to the airport and the port is easy to get through.

As TravelCat mentioned you cannot disembark the ship until it is cleared and all luggage taken off from the hold.

Oh Lord, now I’m getting nervous after that review and have a 24 day cruise next year booked on the Explorer from Barcelona to Miami.  I hope they are close to our favorite cruise lines and they have been all luxury lines. I would like to hear more about that cruise.

I agree, but you always have some people that complain about anything.  Let him enjoy NCL with thousands of people.

1 hour ago, WesW said:

Thanks very much Sheltieluv and ronrick1943–rich, jim and i enjoy sharing our voyages with you

  

ronrick1943; y’all will love the papeete to LA itinerary 

 

we’ve anchored in Bora Bora (first photo below)

 

This morning we relished the Order of Service Remembrance Day on Regent Seven Seas Mariner

 

We solemnly honored and remembered:  Veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Veterans who have served, Veterans who are serving now and Veterans serving now who are in harms way.

 

The Mariner entertainment team passionately led by Cruise Director John Barron, with moving assists by Social Hostess Marla and Assistant Cruise Director Elda presented a exceptionally poignant Veteran’s Remembrance Day.

 

Our program included John narrating; The Service Gathering—reading “In Flanders Fields,” the very special WWI poem by Dr. John McCrea...words still echoing...”We are the dead. Short days ago We Lived, felt dawn, saw sunset

Glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders fields.

 

Marla, then movingly read, “Remembering the Fallen.”  John then introduced, “Ever Living God prayer,” followed by a extraordinarily sung version of this prayer by the Mormon Tabernacle Chrior.

 

Elda, then poignantly read, “Listening For the Word From God.

 

Dinos, the Mariner music director beautifully accompanied John, Marla, and Elda.

 

The Mariner guests in the Constellation Theater led by Cruise Director John joined together to recite the Lord’s Prayer.  Our closing hymn we sang was Amazing Grace. 

 

We ended this memorable Veterans Rembrance ceremony like we began with Taps—music echos reminding us that Veterans sometime make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

 

after this tear filled Veterans Remembrance, we joined Rich48100/rich and Barbara for another outstanding lunch in Compass Rose

Wes, and most of all, thank you for your service.

Royal Caribbean never ever I would rather do a land trip.  The complainer is not being reasonable IMHO.

Most cruise lines if not all dispose of open bottles in the staterooms none of it is returned to the bars for safety reasons.