WAGER4me

Good points by Portolan. I agree that Regent should not include excursion tips in the cost of the cruise. I was just pointing out that Tauck does but, in fairness, you really don't have more than 2 options for cruises at each stop. In response to Newlondon we have also tipped extra, especially since the guides are almost uniformly excellent and well-informed about the subject matter of the excursion they are leading.

On Tauck River Cruises all tips are included in the cost of your cruise. They have wonderful excursions and there is no expectation of tipping the tour guides or the bus driver.

I was wondering if anybody who recently just got off solstice could tell me if the World Bar is on Solstice yet? If so, was there a bar tender there named Ivan. He was on the Equinox World Bar and said he wanted to go on Solstice to open it up. He is a great bar tender so go visit him if the world bar has opened up.

we're on the Solstice now and it is still the Molecular Bar. Haven't had a drink there yet so I don't know who the bartender is

Really enjoying your blog. Thanks especially for all the photos and info about Bay of Islands. We'll be on the Solstice April 9 for the long Tahitian Treasures cruise out of Sydney and Bay of Islands is one of the stops. You have really helped us with ideas on what to do and where to go.

does anyone know who the cruise director will be on the Solstice in April?

the episode is also available on YouTube - go to to Mighty Cruise Ships Celebrity Solstice. As Terry says it is a little hyped up but very well done. There are a number of other cruise ship videos - full length - including the Queen Mary 2.

We are on an Eclipse Southern Caribbean cruise in January and are in Aqua class cabins. We will dress formal for the formal nights

as we prefer to do so as we have done on previous cruises.

we're booked in 1140 on the Infinity for our TA cruise May 1, 2013. Everything I have read says that this is the best of the aft A1 cabins. We're really looking forward to it.

yes - fantastic thread. We are booked on the September 29 cruise and your photos and dialogue are just great. Can hardly wait!