Michael@ssrp

I agree with the Cruising Librarian above. Would not cruise again on Navigator...

We have been to Rome before and are time challenged pre-cruise. Flying into FCO, spending the night in Civi/Cruise port day before cruising. Is anyone aware of a good clean hotel in Civi/Cruise port that both picks up at FCO AND delivers you to the ship post stay?? Thank you in advance for any recommendations!!

We just returned from the Regent Capetown to Rio cruise. Outstanding in all ways. Re; travel from the US west coast, it is a LONG way and wiped us out for a while...We did SFO to Dubai in flat bed Businesss class on Emirates, (16 hours), 8 hour layover with hotel provided by Emirates, then another 9 hour slog to Capetown. The game drive the next day in Anguilla while wonderful, is better in the pictures than our memory banks!! Jet lagged zombies!! Sure the critters enjoyed viewing us!!

Just off Mariner 12/23. Yes poss, there still is a cd player as well as an I pod dock/speakers for those of us so inclined!! But please no jazz!!::D

We have avoided the American "red eye" by flying into Fort Lauderdale (FLL), lots of options there. Spend the nite there and shuttle down to MIA port for $20+ a head. Better lodging in FLL, and easy peazy to the MIA port from there.

Visby is quite bikeable...truly a wonderful place. Unless you are feeling the "need" to work off some of your caloric intake, if your time/visit is short this port is in my view a cruise highlight. Lots of quality shopping, activities, and yes food...do both if time allows....

Another vote for the Parco de Principe, a little out of the way in the Embassy District but quiet, elegant and adjacent to Borghese Gardens. Highly recommend.

In Rome, the Gran Hotel Parco de Principe, right next to Villa Borghese. Elegant, in a quiet neighborhood of foreign embassies. Out of the way enough for peace and quiet yet close enough to taxi in the sights.....

Rally Dave has it exactly right. I generally request an extension cord in advance via my TA, or from our steward or Butler on arrival. It has been no problem. Unplug that bad boy in the am and stow the cord in the nightstand!!

Thank you Mr. Dave and pretty speedy too!! Got spoiled on our last cruise on Riviera in a PH, and have upgraded to a PH for our next cruise on Mariner. Although O was GREAT, no complaints, we prefer Regent in general and the stability and feel of Mariner in particular....hard to beat....

Just wondering if anyone knows when/if Mariner is next going into drydock for a "freshening"? Or has it already been done recently? We love Mariner and have always found it in top notch condition and hope that continues!!!

We did this last April, stayed at Embassy Suites on 17th St., great dinner at Carlos and Pepes next door, and SAS shuttle to Port of Mia. the next day. We stressed about it beforehand, but it turned out totally easy. Reserve your shuttle in advance on line...

We are on the following cruise Capetown to Rio, and there is not yet a roll call. I believe this is a new itinerary...

In April did the Miami-Barcelona TA on Riviera. Had a PH to enjoy the 9 Sea Days with stops in Bermuda, Funchal, and Tangier. Very smooth, no rough weather. Probably the most relaxing trip ever...just enjoyed the ship and activities if we chose to. Lots of naps, movies, reading, and varsity level trivia, interspersed with GREAT food,drink, and new friends. Was talked into cooking class and loved it. Your point about time change is well taken, going eastbound, we groaned upon returning to our suite to find a reminder that we were going to lose an hour, seemed like every nite. Of course somehow we toughed it out and adjusted!!....generally by sleeping in another hour in the am. or tacking an hour onto the pm. nap!! Unlike a more port-intensive cruise where you're up at the crack of dawn, rushing through room service, to get to an excursion, you take life as it comes, heaven forbid skipping:eek: breakfast or a more leisurely MDR experience. I thought I was going to be bored to tears, and on the contrary both DW and myself found the experience SO good and relaxing, we have booked another TA, this time from Capetown to Rio. Gaining hours westbound is also appealing!! Although Oceania does the same cruise, we have booked/returned to Regent for this next TA as we preferred the timing, and the all-inclusivity of the Regent experience, for us internet, beverages, and yes even excursions. We are silver and get a lot of other perks in addition which make Regent cost-beneficial, but have absolutely no complaints with our O experience.:D:D:D

Just back from a TA, with LOTS of Sea days. DW insisted we do a cooking class and I reluctantly agreed. We signed up in advance of cruise for Friends for Brunch, and it was a BLAST....Probably two hours or so 4-6pm, we made scones from scratch, fritattas, and homemade cinnamon rolls, sampling the finished product as each was completed. Closed out the session with a champagne/lemoncello mix that was great!! Highly recommend the classes, wish we'd signed up for more....Walked out with a smile on our faces and FULL. Would suggest one not schedule a 6:30 pm seating at Polo following..... we found this one night to be perfect for a later evening selective "grazing" at Terrace.:eek:

Lady Meer you are correct! We are on a TA with lots of sea days and intend to enjoy this relaxing experience very much!! What a great idea to do the in suite dinner on the last nite and choosing from our favorite SR!

Somehow we will have to find a way to endure such hardship!!:D:D

DW and I were discussing perhaps ordering in-suite SR course by course dining during our upcoming Riviera cruise. Is it the butler assigned to our PH that does the serving or a server from the SR? Do they just hang around and monitor your progress, or do you somehow signal you're ready for the next course or other need...? This sounds like a way for a quiet/romantic dinner at "home" after a long grueling day of exotic excursions, food, trivia, and perhaps indulgence of an adult beverage...:eek:

Thank you to all for your input...willidc I think you got it!! Waited on hold w/ Oceania to ask for A WHILE....and then posted the question with confidence that our CC friends would be responsive!! The interchange here was superior to the endless holding wait, and clearly more entertaining!!

We have substantial OBC's. Is it possible to purchase the Your World Collection ON BOARD to take advantage of both our OBC and the 25% YW discount? I know that if we purchase it in advance one must use a CC....and would to prefer to use our OBC there as opposed to some OTHER outrageously overpriced item. Our internet, gratuities, and beverages are already amply covered....;);)

Way worth it to pay the deviation and get your TA and Regent Air to come up with a more civilized routing. Have done this route before on Regent and we did US Air via CLT. Very good service, and non-stop too!!

Sorry to be slightly off topic, but responsive to Jim and Stans last comment. Is Terminal J the designated "Oceana berth"??? We are traveling in via private shuttle service from FLL for our April TA on Riviera, and were wondering as POM seems ginormous! Thanks in advance!

Yes you can. Indeed we have done so out of SFO. We did AA via Dallas to BA and home on US Air out of GIG/Rio via Charlotte. US Air was actually quite nice... we were pleasantly surprised. None of the UA schedules worked for us....

Although we are quite familiar and "at home" with all the Regent ships, Oceania is totally new to us, so we feel like first-timers again, downright exited! Thank you all for being so responsive and welcoming!! We would be more than happy to return the kindness if any of you desire to "stray" from O, and have Regent questions ...:eek:

DW and I are long time Regent regulars who are going to try O for the first time next year on Riviera for a Trans-Atlantic, MIA to BCN. We have tentatively booked a PH2 #10052, (now a PH3). Looks mid-ship and our TA says best available. What do you with O experience think?