Lonedaddy

If you like to purchase any land package or regent choice excursions concierge also gets: 10% Discount on Premium Wine and Liquor 5% savings on Pre- or Post-Cruise Hotel or Land Programs 5% savings on Regent Choice Shore Excursions

Agree - I always stay a couple of nights just for the peace of mind as well as coming in a day to three early. Usually most of the embarkation/debarkation ports have very interesting things to do and I don't feel the travel lag as much.

We were on Voyager in a PHA the shower was tiny and poorly laid out ( soap dish small and shower hose would knock things like the shampoo bottles off.) I think a shower stool might fit but it will make it very tight in there. I personally wouldn't book a PH on voyager vs explorer class which has huge car wash showers. The PH C located at the rear are the same layout as concierge suites but have larger balconies.

If you are using a TA they should be aware of this if not you should get a better TA. Are you booking for dec '24 or dec '25 out of CPT?

YMMV I was not happy with the last regent air. You can select the regent air as a backup and if you can find better before you have to deviate - you can cancel. if the allowance is 6700 add 175 to your cost if you want to deviate. Thus if you want to book your own you are saving 6875. I was able to find air using awards to SA but I also found many fare at or better than the $6675 I would have paid on RA. for example I found united fares JNB-EWR-DFW for 2700 One way. TK was always less and QR was near the price. You also have more flexibility if you want to do a Stopover to break up the trip. You will also get domestic 1st if you book your own. Use Kayak or Google flights to track prices. some airlines you can book 360 out vs US carriers 330, I start looking at 360 and they seem to vary quite a bit from 360 to 270 days out so you can find a deal if you diligently look or have your TA watch for good fares. You can always fall back on the regent air if you can't find something.

and you expect COST CUTTING: "Notably, he was chief operating officer for the Group's former luxury cruise line, Azamara, delivering the line's most profitable year while it was part of the Royal Caribbean family of brands."

Can anyone comment about the sea conditions encountered on past SA cruises... waves winds.

I got the amex and the OBC at the same time on multiple cruises.

I wonder if they will go with an asymmetrical design like the Silver nova/ray?

switchover makes it a little harder since the stewards/butlers will be busy - but they have decorated our room before and they will make a nice cake and sing if you want at the restaurants especially the specialty dining.

Was just trying to figure out which tours is best for seeing stuff without going over the top $$$. Sounds like you saw alot and we have a tour going to the cape and seals and penguins with the ship. Thanks good insight.

I like the amex complimentary bottle of Dom on SS

If she had business class or PE her air could be a big portion.

Maybe some of this board should look at RSSC we are doing 15N plus included 3 night Cape town pre cruise for just over 26K in a PHB on the splendor. (Just not the Campbells) includes shore-ex laundry drinks...

We did NCL RCCL a few times in the past with Kids it was enjoyable but as we became empty nesters just preferred smaller cruises and limited kids. If I get motivated my take the grandkids on NCL one of these days. I'll be the guy with grandma sitting by the pool watching the grandkids while the kids go on shore excursions. The Haven looks pretty nice to try.

Just completed an emailed survey on a couple of SS credit cards. Basically they were testing a no annual fee card or a 95 fee card that gave 3% credit on SS spend and both had a one time 250 or 400 off offer. Not sure if I would use that very much other than one time. Amex give 2x member rewards and nice OBC. Would be nice if they offered one that based on spend you get perks similar to venetian society perks. Just a thought anyone else have opionions ?

Papa you over on this board reading this too! Our regent board a little boring compared to this.

Yes most here realize the err wasn't on NCL but if you read some of the media comments (e.g. fox NBC....) people are making ridiculous comments showing they either have never been on a cruise or have any knowledge of (well anything)

Spain and europe aren't usually and issue as it normally isn't that far or hard to get to the next port plane train automobile. But africa and new guinea and other more remote places I would definitely opt for the ship excursion (consider the cost difference insurance)

and what was the tour that they missed the boat that late it's not that big a place.

Can also pre request it by emailing regent as some provisioning ports may not have it readily available.

and it sounds like the all abord was at 530 PM so the schedule most likely was to leave at 6:30 pm and the late pax arrived around 6:10 PM. so ship didn't wait

highly recommend the private tour we did one that was great - went to the wildlife conservation center up the gondola to aleyska ( could have a nice meal up there as well) plus other sites like glaciers and salmon runs. It would be at your pace and much more comfortable.

Do you have any AA status? If so you could use one of the lounges in DOH just not the QR lounges. And again regent misrepresenting business class air, I’m glad I used miles in our upcoming trip to South Africa or probably would have been given the same crap by regent air. That said there were alternatives priced less than the 6500 pp Rt air credit. I learned my lesson with regent air before. Hope the return flight works out better for you.

which helicopter flight did you do a short one or down to the cape