Gcto

3 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

Very few.  As long as there's not a special such as "kids sail free" (which has happened in the past), and perhaps avoid holidays like Easter and Christmas, you will likely never encounter a child, and if you do, it will be a well-behaved, bored one.

:-)...we've encountered a few children on board. Two years ago, we had a family with a toddler, parents, grand parents etc... loved seeing them, usually at lunch... a joy to see. 

Then we had times when the children were 24 and older...and while not too noisy, hogged the hot tub all day 🙂 ...  but if you worry about kids running across the pool deck screaming...nope...never happened  

On 2/4/2022 at 5:45 PM, WesW said:

Thanks Bob and Aloha 1; we had a terrific 2021 Antarctica holiday voyage on Silversea.  If Regent offered Expedition voyages we would book, alas according to the CEO of NCLH, Frank Del Rio in a phone call to me a few years ago, Regent will absolutely not enter the expedition market.

 

Bob, took me a few years to get Ida to agree to go to Antarctica.  She not only was thrilled with the wildlife and scenery, she also  did a Polar Plunge (pix below)  with me.  Antarctica is a Home Run for scenery and wildlife, but South Georgia Islands is the Grand Slam for  wildlife (imagine being in the middle of hundreds of thousands of Penguins).   We will do Ushuaia to Capetown on Silversea in March 2023.

 

 

wow... glad you are still the same since we've met last. All the best... 

5 hours ago, macbest said:

This will remove our biggest fear we had prior to our current Splendor cruise. To end up positive and have to quarantine elsewhere or on the ship had me in knots. Glad to see it is opening up. We are still masked throughout the ship currently. 

yes, on paper that is correct, but I still don't see this as the solution for many, especially when flying to Europe or FE to catch a ship. Depending on what test you take and where you take it you will not have the results immediately. So you will fly and leave home before you have the results. Then you wait..and hope all is well... but...how will you get the results ? Ah, phone...yet you are in Greece and your phone doesn't work, connect, etc, or you don't have the right data plan ...or...heck you don't have a smart phone 🙂  So you still will have to use the test at the pier.   Yes, there are some fast result test sites mentioned in the Regent mail, but not everyone has access to those depending on location and...(sorry to say) mobility.   So I don't think any of that will really prevent us from leaving home, testing positive when at a foreign port and then having to quarantine. It's a risk we'll either have to take or not cruise at the moment. 

5 hours ago, forgap said:

Cocktail Porn!  
 

I’ve been systematically going through the cocktail menu in the Meridian lounge - for research purposes only, but I hate to waste so I’m not a sip and spit kind of girl.  Sonia, Bogdan, and Thomas are consummate professionals.  We always sit at the bar so we can see their artistry as they build the cocktails.   FYI, I inquired about some newer non alcoholic drink bases, such as Seedlip.  They are planning to include an Australian brand in the near future.  My objection to many mocktails is that they tend to be sweet and fruity and don’t have the balance of a well made cocktail.   
 

Here we go:  Pepper Jack - Jack Daniels, passion fruit. Fresh lemon juice, jalapeño.  One version is on the rocks, and the other is straight up.  I don’t really like icy drinks so I preferred the one that was straight up.

 

 

 

I think  this is Gin Made Me Do It.  I didn’t order this but since I was sitting there, I photographed it.  Tanqueray, lime juice, orange bitters Indian tonic.

 

Mojito

Star martini - stay tuned, I forgot to take a pic of this part of the menu.  Too sweet for me.

 

Margarita

 

Finally, it’s  sangria Friday at La Veranda.  Drinking first thing in the morning is not my favorite thing to do but I’m in research mode!  Here’s one for the team!

Try the Virgo...my fav

23 hours ago, labonnevie said:

ON BOARD!

so are we...but we missed the meeting...somebody fell asleep on the balcony 🙂

5 hours ago, forgap said:

 

Delta is serving cute little boxed breakfasts. Choices are listed on the flight attendants iphone (very 21st Century!).   This is my first installment of food porn since this group seems to love it so much.  If you haven’t seen Anthony Bourdain’s Food Porn 2 on the No Reservations series, it’s an amusing watch.  Note the bamboo utensils.  All packaging is recyclable.   Good on Delta!   

wow...you are starting off nicely. Flew Delta a few times last year cross country and to LA and never ever had sushi type. Nice...

24 minutes ago, Gpilon said:

There are dedicated quarantine suites on Deck 6. If on our Splendor cruise mid March, should one of us test positive, we would be shifted to one from our Grand Suite. Would not be too happy about that. 

I would argue that you need to do social distancing and what better way to do this than in the GS. 

🙂

43 minutes ago, labonnevie said:

Bingo! That is the most important question for us (leaving 1/19 on Explorer). 
Not worried about getting really sick (triple vaxed ) but anxious beyond words about being quarantined for 10 days. 

and even that would be ok, considering nice cabin, decent room service, bar stocked and nice scenery outside the balcony. What I fret would be the quarantining at the end of the cruise in Miami or Timbuktu or wherever it ends. 

44 minutes ago, gcorgain said:

I am just guessing, but the hotel in Florida did not require masking and so a lot of people didn’t. We were told it takes three days to show up in a test, so the timing is about right. 
 

it is a bummer. We especially wanted to see the Panama Canal tomorrow. We will see some from our balcony — no one said anything about not using it, but it won’t be the same as being able to see it from multiple angles. 
 

On a completely different note, there has been absolutely no Panama Canal programming, and that has been disappointing. No lectures, and not even anything on the TV. I read the David McCullough book and was hoping to discuss the history with fellow passengers. All that is moot now anyway. 
 

Greg

Sorry to hear about this misfortunate diagnosis. And I hope you can stay in your cabin rather than being moved to the dungeon. If you don't mind, pls keep us posted on process and procedure. You are quarantining... who is Regent providing you with service, food, supplies (I assume no course by course dining in your suite, but what are they doing ?),how's the communication etc. Hope you are continue feeling no or few symptoms and getting back to normal soon. 

32 minutes ago, XtaSea said:

Really happy to see your postings, Greg. We, too, are longtime committed Celebrity suite cruisers soon to embark on our first Regent cruise (Explorer on 2/14). I was a bit concerned about the entertainment but your reports have alleviated that. In fact, with the exception of the medical issue (and maybe the vodka), you've got me looking even more forward to our journey. We once tried Silver Sea but found it expensively disappointing (food was very good, but not exceptional; entertainment was both limited and boring) and quickly returned to Celebrity. But Regent has some interesting Med itineraries so thought we'd give them a try in the Caribbean before committing to Europe.

 

I have a couple of minor questions if you have time:

1. Was your pre-cruise hotel in Miami the Mandarin Oriental? If so, how was it?

2. Kind of like your vodka situation, I asked if ouzo was available and was told "probably not", so we'll stock our bar with Irish whisky and bourbon. I know it's not a beverage the masses look for, but have you seen any ouzo in a shipboard bar?

 

Your postings have given us some great first-timer information. Thanks and please keep it up.

we've seen Ouzo (and had it) a few times in the past, but usually on the mediterranean itineraries. Never seen it in the Carribean or Americas. Substituted with Pernod 🙂

2 hours ago, BBWC said:

Sorry, I didn’t mean to start a controversy with Captain Jablin. I am not at all concerned as he keeps to himself. 
Wes, it would be great if you could join us. Things are really great on board, and we are just trying to contribute a little bit to ensure that the crew keep their jobs. They are doing their best.

I know it is early but so far this has been the best group of passengers we have had on Regent. Maybe the complainers all left in a huff. Everyone is complying with protocols and seems genuinely trying to make the most of it.

sorry, don't see a controversy her re Cap Jablin. Hope he is doing well. My wife and I met him a few times and had some great conversations (long story, but navy town history). 

Greg, thanks for the post and hopefully more updates from your trip. Sorry to hear about your travel companions accident and all the issues around it. Usually Regent would handle this just fine, but something is not right here (new staff ? ), Still, you are correct, this should have done diff. 

Hope things will be ok and hope he/she will recover quickly. 

Glad to hear that people are compliant with the masks and other covid measures. There was another post where it was mentioned that during shows...the lights go down, the masks come off (could be a new song 🙂 ) and he wasn't happy about it. 

If you don't mind, pls keep us posted throughout the trip...if there are covid numbers you find out, pls let us know as well. I hope there are none...but there were a few last trip. 

All the best and have fun. 

2 hours ago, forgap said:

Thank you for your replies.  Since we will be traveling up the coast to see family, I made an appt. at CVS for the Sunday prior to our Wednesday cruise.  According to what we have received so far, this test is just recommended not required.  But, better safe than sorry. 

yep, that's all we can do at this point.  

thanks for all the replies. Uber Lyft was an option, but recalling our wait 2 years back for an Uber made me a little bit reluctant. Taxi was fine, but I thought having a dedicated car and driver waiting for you, not having to worry about getting to the airport in time etc was worth some extra money. Looked at Suntransfer, Black Limo and Blacklane. latter was the easiest to book. So we are set. 

2 hours ago, GOARMY said:

Based on several usages at Miami--either coming or going from either Miami or Ft. Lauderdale Airports:  

 

Blacklane Chauffeur Services.  These have normally been handled through our Travel Agent.  However, just-go online if you want to do it yourself.  

 

GOARMY!

 

 

Thanks Jim, looked them up and booked. 

what would you recommend for an airport transfer from Cruise Terminal to MIA. Are there companies you can recommend ? Just use a taxi (but then I read stories which make me wonder). 

Thanks for your help

20 minutes ago, ysolde said:

Sadly, it does sound like we are going to be spending a lot of our time in our suite, if fellow passengers are being casual about mask use and not vigilant about social distancing.  Oh, well . . . 

Covid Tip: If you keep a drink in both hands, you can't touch your face (Fauci approved this message 🙂 )

Now that the mandatory mask wearing is back, does Regent supply enough masks or is it up to the passengers to bring their own ? We are going in a few weeks and I'm wondering what to bring and if so, how many. 

27 minutes ago, ysolde said:

I have watched the program on Explorer and have mixed feelings about it.  On one hand, I think it showcases the ship itself and the hardworking staff beautifully.  On the other hand, one gets the sense that the "average" Regent passenger is rather self-involved and unpleasant.  Not at all the kind of person I want to be or be around.  And certainly not the kind of people I have gotten to know around these parts.

agree...watched it on ytube and love to see the ship and the people we know/met. As it was a TV show...much was staged and over the top (so was John...sorry John...). But this was not something for a US passenger....almost had a feeling it was done by an anti-cruise producer showing off....   Love the ship, love the crew and yes, John is a great cruise director, doing what he's supposed to do. Don't book or cancel a booking because of this show. 🙂   

4 hours ago, dvalentine823 said:

Sorry, we did not meet anyone from the board on this cruise. We really wanted to social distance as much as possible.

 

Cruise was great! And I only put on 4 pounds.

 

Some of you may have notice a short black guy with a camera of one type or another, permanently attached to his hand. Well that was me!

 

The first video from the cruise has been posted to our channel. Search YouTube for:

 

Travels with Daren and Johnetta; or

Regent Splendor

 

and you should be able to find the video. They take awhile to put together, so I will post each Saturday until I get through the 9 days of footage. So subscribe ad hit the notification bell.  I would post the actual link, but for some reason when I do, my posts never see the light of day.

 

 

Daren, enjoying your video as we speak... just walking around with you is so much fun. Thanks for posting it. Haven't been on the Splendor yet, many times on Explorer... and will again soon. Thanks again. 

as tripperva already mentioned, Regent is all inclusive, excursions etc, specialty dining, drinks etc all included. Plus their normal fare includes Biz class flights to and from international destinations. They will deduct 3700 if you get your own (hence the 15599), but if you price it out you might be surprised on what a biz class trip can cost. 

You can price it out and add the price for excursions and outings to the O price, add the biz class flight and then a drink package per person, plus incidentals (tips etc) which as already included.  You might find that a) the price is not that different or b) you might save a little bit. But... I find the piece of mind, not to worry about this or that worth something as well. It's like Ron Popeil...you set it (book it) and forget it 🙂

7 hours ago, fyree39 said:

We cruise everything from Carnival to Crystal. I was on a Carnival cruise last August with the required pre-cruise Covid testing that's being discussed here. As I didn't have to travel far for the cruise, this was somewhat simple to accomplish. For our cruise next week, we'll be using a home test from Abbott Labs called BinaxNow. The test is done through an accompanying app and video chat with a medical professional. I'm wondering if something like this would be acceptable for most other lines soon. 

 

Best of luck.

While the test could be a good indication of your Covid status for your own sanity, I don't think it would be sufficient for Regent to "accept" (see Pcardad post). The BinaxNow test leaves too many holes open.  We are a bit surprised about Regents switch and are now trying to figure out how to get this done considering early travel to the port/hotel/etc. Depending on where you live, travel can take a day or more, then trying to find a local test provider at the port of embarkation (as you left your house before the 48 hours). 

21 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

The health clearance was simply a review of your proof of vax at the port.  Same occurred in several restaurants and stores we entered.  One had to wear a mask and sometimes show your vax record. Pretty easy to follow. 
Z and TB

so taking your original vax cards with you all the time ? Or are QR codes or photos sufficient ? 

2 minutes ago, boblerm said:

I believe that DaisyUK was responding to my question in regard to the electronic snooping devices. 

Ah, I see...yes, those would be fairly obvious...   sorry. Hope we'll never need this on the upcoming trips. 

On 10/1/2021 at 11:38 AM, DaisyUK said:

No contact tracing on our recent 11-22 cruise.

how would you know ? I mean...contact tracing only comes to "play" when there are active cases and they want to find out who was in contact. If all was dandy and nobody was sick/infected/symptomatic/tested positive.... why do contact tracing in the open ? 

Just wondering.