papaflamingo

We were just there for our pre-cruise a few weeks ago (got off Explorer 4 days ago in Tokyo). A BEAUTIFUL hotel in a fantastic area! We arrived a day early and I did NOT book the extra night through Regent as it is MUCH cheaper to book the extra nights on your own. I simply booked the same level room that Regent books and we were able to stay in it and just pay the one night then the cost was shifted to Regent. Couldn't have been easier. We arrived at about 8 am (our flight landed at 6:50). We were in our room by 10 am! Not guaranteed, but they sure were accommodating to us! Be sure to walk out to the waterfront (Avenue of the Stars) right behind the hotel and see the nightly Light Show. It's best viewed down by the Star Ferry Terminal near the Hong Kong Cultural Center. Well worth the 15 min. (or so) walk. There is also lots of stuff to see around the easily walkable area. Unfortunately I have no pics of the room, but here's a shot of the Lobby decorated for Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon, a shot of the waterfront behind the hotel, and a short example of the nightly light show. IMG_8570.mov

Perhaps, but they say no. Regardless, Regent isn't a Travel Agent per se. If they don't have contract rates then they are simply booking a flight for you, as a Travel Agent will. So why would it be surprising to find that they add a surcharge to do your TA's job? Regent is, after all, a "for profit" company. Not trying to be argumentative, so I apologize if my comment comes across as such. Just an honest opinion.

I think that is a bit of an overreaction. All the excursions have a "disclaimer" section on the website and most (apparently not all) show if there's a weight, age, mobility, etc, limitation. But in reality you can probably figure which one's are most likely to have a limitation. Zip lining, snorkeling or diving off a boat, climbing around rocks (like the Baths in Tortola), long hikes, horseback riding, ATV excursions, etc. We have 110 days on Regent and leaving tomorrow for another 14, and have found very few excursions with limitations for age and weight. They are there, but rare. It's not "many excursions," it's a few excursions.

Anything you want, from shining your shoes to delivering dinner course by course. The Butler will deliver room service for you, will bring you canapés any night you want, will make additional dining reservations, cancel shore excursions if you decide you don't want to go, keep your in room bar stocked, and about anything else you might want. When we had 2 excursions in one port, with limited time to change from a water to a land excursion, we had our butler place sandwiches in our cabin so when we came back the the ship to change, lunch was there for us so we could eat while changing. They'll take you laundry and return it. Basically anything you can possible want done, the butler will handle. Remember they love their jobs so use them. Don't feel like you're inconveniencing them. If people don't use the butler, the position could be done away with. Enjoy your cruise. Your butler can certainly add to the experience.

I've only done this for 2 couples, but I assume it'll work the same (likely someone else who's sailed solo with a friend will have better info). But when she logs on to reserve dining, there will be a "add another guest" prompt (it's small and sits right above "share a table") . Select that and fill in the info, she'll need your sister's booking number, and then when she selects a time it will also select for your sister. Make sure that she confirms by selecting "add guest" after filling in the info. She'll have to do this for all the restaurants. Also don't select "share a table" unless they want to sit at a table for 4. Again, I assume this is how it will work for 2 solo reservations.

So true!!!! 🤣

Thanks. We leave for Hong Kong tomorrow to join Explorer on Feb. 21. If they also have the new preparation I'll have to give it a try. So many great choices... maybe 2 appetizers this time? After all, there are no calories west of the International Dateline, right? 😎

Yes, they did ask a "responsible question" (or were simply told by announcement of some sort), and were given an answer, that, "there was a big festival or holiday." They stated that "seemed pretty weak." If that isn't a statement that they don't believe the stated reason, in other words they think Regent is lying, then how would YOU interpret it? 😏

Why do you think Regent, or any other cruise line for that matter, would lie about why they are missing a port?

Wil do.

Well... there is that. Since I survived 38 years and nearly 20,000 flight hours with no accident, incident, mishap, or FAA violations, and the fact that my landings equaled may takeoffs, I guess I was "pretty good." But then again, luck is better than skill any day. 😜

My wife liked the Chinese Barbecue Pork Ribs, and our friend loved the Lamb. Also, as you'll see, there are other options from vegetarian to beef. As for your wife, make sure your tries the Tempura Lobster!!!! I believe she can get it in an appetizer size if she doesn't want it for a main. And the Miso Black Cod is also excellent. If you like Foie Gras, the Chicken & Foie Gras Gyoza appetizer is outstanding!!! Have a great cruise, 😎

We had a cruise booked on Navigator in March of last year. Four days before the cruise Regent gave us the opportunity to switch to Mariner one of 2 or so cruises in Nov. or Dec. with an upgrade to a Penthouse and a significant refund (yes, we took the deal). So that may be one of the reasons your cruise filled up. It's like so many other things. You don't really know (without asking) how much someone really pays to be on the same cruise, hotel room, airline flight, car rental, etc. It's just a factor of marketing and maximizing profits. About all you can do is find a cruise you want at a price that you consider "worth it" and book the cruise and never look back.

We're the opposite. I love seafood and my wife is allergic. But we found that Pacific Rim (on Grandeur but the menus are close if not identical) offered many non-seafood choices. She was very happy with the available choices. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, at least she was. But your wife will be very happy... and as we both know... that's what counts. 😜

Thanks. Yes, we are in Business Class. I'm sure I'm just stressing over nothing, but it did put a new wrinkle in our planning. We fly First Class from ATL-SFO with 13 hour layover in SFO then Business Class to HKG, all on United. Our return is HND-ATL. on Delta. My real gut feeling is that since we're only talking about 2-4 inches total they likely won't notice. Oh well... if we have to pay it, we have to pay it. 😎

I'm a retired pilot. Pilot's love telling people "things." It's what we do best. 😜🤣

We did Mariner on Dec. 2 and Grandeur on Jan. 8. We love Mariner (our first cruise on her was 44 nights in 2018) but Grandeur is spectacular!!! I hope you clear the waitlist! You won't be disappointed!!!

United over and Delta back.

Ok... an odd question... we leave on Thurs. for our cruise out of Hong Kong. My wife bought new luggage, and when we measured them it turns out they are 2 inches too big for the airline's checked luggage regulation. Our's measures 32 inches by 20 inches, by 12 inches for a total of 64 inches. The airlines regulation is total of 62 inches or it's "oversized" and incurs an expensive penalty. I'm hoping that it's simply so close they won't notice, but was wondering... anyone has any experience with this?

When we were on Grandeur in Jan. our friend had the escargot. It was "weird." He didn't like it all, but he broke the "shell" open and just ate the snail. I was thinking it might be better if you also ate the "shell" with it. What was your impression? Was it worth ordering or not?

We were on Grandeur in Jan. If you get to the theater by 9:15 you won't have any problem (believe the doors open at 9:00 or 30 min. before showtime). We were a group of 4 also and with the exception of Krew Kapers and maybe one other show, 9:15 is fine. Krew Kapers, like every other ship, will fill the theater so get there early (it was as 6:00) so we got there at 5:30 when they opened up the doors. We even walked in at 9:29 one night and got seats (had to hunt more for those). As to where to sit, that's up to you. The balcony, if you're back a couple of rows to see over the rail, has nice seats but no tables for drinks. We tended to sit more in the back on the lower level in case we wanted to leave early, but you do lose sight above. Not a big deal, but during the Pirate show they did come down some stairs on the set and we couldn't see them, but again, that was the only time. Other than that, the sound, view, etc. was great from about any seats.

I believe the hotel credit is $150 per person, so $300 per night. Pretty much will offset the cost for your room. All you'll lose is a free breakfast and transport to the ship. So since you are already settled, taking your hotel credit might definitely be advantageous to you. We do that all the time The included hotel night can be cancelled up to 60 days before the cruise. If you look on your Booking Statement, it shows the cancellation schedule.

I believe the only way you can check your luggage all the way through is if the flight is sold as a published connecting flight. Example, we are going Atlanta-Hong Kong as a single ticket so even though we have a 13 hour layover in SFO, I believe (haven't done it yet) that the luggage will be check all the way to Hong Kong. If you are on 2 separate bookings (not sold as a single connecting flight), one to Miami, another the next day to Barbados, then likely your luggage will have to be claimed and checked the next day. Also on the return leg, you will have to claim luggage to clear customs and recheck either way (unless you clear customs in Barbados). BUT, make absolutely sure you know when you check in for your flights and double check your luggage tags to verify the destination printed. It would not be good to assume your luggage is checked all the way through only to have it sitting in Miami.

We were on Grandeur last month. Dianara was not only in the Coffee Connection, but also Compass Rose serving wine and the theater serving drinks. By FAR one of our FAVORITE crew members (in a huge bunch of favorite crew members).

If you look at a map, Abu Dhabi is nowhere near the Red Sea where the Houthis are attacking shipping. There is currently no greater threat in Abu Dhabi than there was in the past.