cruisingxpert

If they are going to have a Bubbly Bar, does that mean they will ditch the crappy Germain Champagne? There was a thread on Regent back in 2018 where so many complained about the Germain Champagne that Jason O'Keefe posted on their site and said Jason OKeefe 90 February 9, 2017 Member Title: Regent Seven Seas Cruises ~Verified Account #100 Posted December 17, 2018 We've been reading the online discussion about the champagne served on our ships. To ensure a consistent guest experience across our fleet of ships, we will now serve Heidsieck champagne on board all ships by March 2019. We thank you all for your passion for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and appreciate your continued support. I think they sent all they had to Oceania. I love Champagne but I won't drink that stuff.

Interesting because Celebrity, as far as I know, still uses the same seasoning mix. Dimitri's Bloody Mary Seasoning Mix. It is wonderful and you can order it on Amazon. However, here in Canada they sock it to us with delivery charges. I had one every day on Nieuw Amsterdam last week. Just don't let them add Tabasco and kill the flavour- they did that one day because I said the word spicy- which Dimitri is Forget the tomato juice and add clamato- which contrary to what some people fear, clamato is not a fishy flavour😃

I got the same thing on Thursday for a cruise on Tuesday. I sent a message through the contact site and heard nothing but late Thursday night it worked. No idea if my message had anything to do with it.

Here's a pic of Sirena cabin looking from the bed.

Has anyone used their services? We are staying at a hotel on the Canal in Venice next May but our ship will leave from Trieste. I was quoted 370 Euro for 3 people. Price includes pick up by water taxi from our hotel to Piazzale Rome where we will transfer to a Mercedes minivan and be driven to the cruise terminal in Trieste. Seems like a good price and tripadvisor reviews are good. I was looking at Blacklane but read some awful reviews of last minute cancellations.

On a Riviera cruise, I asked Dominique Nicolle, the General Manager, for permission to have the partition opened and the answer was NO

They often have inspections on the first cruise after being out of country for months. I was on an Oceania cruise that had just arrived from overseas and they asked that we didn't show up before 3pm. I know people who did say they got on around 1pm.

Hope they do it on all the ships. Celebrity has that plan so you have a chance to try an expensive glass of wine that you probably wouldn't otherwise try.

Cruise Critic Chris who is on Marina right now said Franck Garanger has left O and is now head of Cuisine for Explora Journeys.

I noticed something in the article "And for lovers of the grape, Oancea is adding 75 new wines to Oceania's already extensive wine list." What about wine by the glass? I'm a wine drinker and the choices of wine by the glass are not plentiful or very good. I would buy a drink package if they offered something like Celebrity that has far more choices of wine by the glass and an option to have a glass of more expensive wines for a small additional cost.

Trying to decide which hotel to choose. Both are similarly priced and both are on the Grand Canal and we can get a water taxi from airport to hotel door. Has anybody been to either of these hotels and if both, which one did they prefer?

Thank you for doing the review. We are big fans of the Terrace on the O ships and hardly ever go to the GDR. We just came off the Insignia and we were disappointed with the Terrace- everything you said we agree with. One thing I do enjoy there is the pasta station.. We dined in the GDR on Insignia on 2 nights- had really good meals and wished we had gone there more often. The redo on the rooms is lovely. Other than smaller bathroom and closet space, I think the layout in the PH cabins is nicer than the O ship PH layout.

Thank you. That's great information. Really looking forward to coming back to Bermuda

You are so very helpful, Charles. Appreciate that you take the time to respond. You mentioned a gypsy driver which someone on the Insignia right now talked about. She said she had found a regular taxi and asked to go to Clearwater Beach and would the driver agree to meet and bring them back. He said no and that they should go to Tobacco Bay because they could get a cab back. They went, thought it was awful and jumped into a cab that was just dropping people off at Tobacco Bay. She found out that he was a "gypsy" driver. He took them to Clearwater Beach and agreed to a time to pick them up. They mentioned the bar and the food truck, had a great time and the driver picked them up right on time. My question- we are docking in St George next week on Insignia and I wonder how we find a "gypsy" driver to take us to Clearwater and agree to bring us back at a designated time.

@WKUTopperFan I did a tour several years ago with Ralph Richardson of Winsome Tours, He was very friendly and knowledgeable. There were 8 of and he even took us to his house and down to the dock to see the water. I have no hesitation in recommending him. I believe Winsome Tours handles the Famous Homes and Hideaway cruise tour. I loved it and have done it 3 times. Wonderful way to see Bermuda from the water.

Google updates on mask wearing. Several countries including Italy and Spain have said they are not going to drop mask wearing in several areas even though EU guidelines say differently. That's probably why Ortega is hedging his bets about mask wearing and testing. I like Celebrity but I don't think they were enforcing rules as much as O was. I was on Riviera in May and if you forgot to put your mask on in the Terrace, especially, you were reminded to do so.

Italy has extended mask wearing on public transport until September and I believe Spain is also doing something similar. Cruise ships are considered public transport. https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/covid-italy-extends-mask-mandate-for-public-transport.html

We did try it based on your comments. I couldn't cut it- I have no idea what they did to it or whether they had a bad supplier but it was inedible. The calamari was tough as shoe leather and the batter was was thicker than what you might get on fried chicken. Mentioned the calamari to Heiko Baller and he said they hadn't got good quality calamari on this cruise. I don't think that was the reason. Ordered calamari app in Toscana and the batter was a light tempura batter and the calamari tasted much better. Tempura vegetables dripped oil. Pad Thai was sweet tasting which is not how I like it. We went to Red Ginger twice on our cruise that just ended and only the Miso Sea Bass was as good as usual. Red Ginger is one of favorite restaurants but I think they must have a different cooking team in there right now

If you want an even better Caesar, use this seasoning mixwith your Clamato juice. I know it says it's a Bloody Mary seasoning but it makes a great Caesar. I like to add horseradish.

Not KJ but the cheese is Tete does Moines from Switzerland

I don't know. I think the person who started this said they got notice quite close to departure

By traveling I think she is referring to what port you are embarking. O still says 48 hrs from US ports and 72 hrs from ports outside USA. We are on O out of Italy in a few weeks and haven't had any update.

Check out Carrieres des Lumieres in Les Baux region. https://www.carrieres-lumieres.com/en