LewiLewi

We were disappointed with the shade issue on MSC Seascape as well. It seemed that except for a few pergola’s, 90% of the Yacht Club’s sun deck was also unshaded. This needs to be addressed on both of these lines.

Hi Bill, I will be boarding on Dec. 16 as a solo. I have a few questions: Is there a solo get together on the first evening of embarkation? Are the solo cabins on deck 7 quiet? My cabin is toward the end/closer to the elevator rather than front of the ship. Are there loungers available in the shade, or are they taken quickly? Any special recommendations for dining/special dishes? Thank you.

My husband and I enjoyed cruising on Windstar Legend. I now travel as a solo passenger. Does Windstar have any program for singles on board; get togethers, shared tables, etc. ?

We cruised on MSC Seascape in the Yacht Club; large cabin, lots of storage and very quiet. We will give EJ a try. Thank you all for your responses.

How are the entry level cabins on Explora? Are they generally comfortable, roomy with enough drawer and closet space? Are the showers large enough? I have heard complaints about “creaky/noisy” cabins. Is this an issue?

We were on the Explorer from Sept. 20 till Oct. 9, Vancouver to Tokyo, and had the same problem with Japanese tour guides. We could not understand them, the tours were not good; one guide actually read from a script the entire time. She did not understand English at all, and could not answer any questions.

On my last cruise on the Explorer, 19 days, duplicate bridge was played in the Compass Rose dining room and ended at 4PM. Enough time to have tea and cake in the lounge and make it to trivia at 4:30.

Is there also the possibility of showing up at a restaurant and asking to be seated with others; ie a shared table?

I read on this board that there is a table set aside for solo travelers in each of the dining rooms on board. Should I make a reservation at each of the specialty dining rooms before I board, or wait and join other solo travelers after I am on board? Also, is there a “shared table” option as well in all of the dining rooms?

Are shore excursions included in Serenity’s Caribbean cruises?

Thank you for your review. I will also be traveling solo in Dec. Are there solo traveler’s get togethers in the evening prior to dinner?

Thank you.

Crystal Serenity.

I was given a choice of two solo cabins on Promenade deck 7, 7024 or 7034. Which would be the best choice, ie. quietest?

We also just came home from the Sept. 20 Regent cruise to Tokyo. Although we enjoyed our cruise, coming home was a nightmare. We had booked American Airlines from Haneda to Los Angeles, and then would take domestic flights home from there. However, we were told at midnight, via an email, that our flight the following day was cancelled. We frantically called AA and after over an hour’s wait on the phone, were able to book flights on Japan Air Lines, which partnered with AA. We had to rearrange connecting flights, airport pick ups, etc. As far as time to get to Haneda, I would leave at least an hour, there will be some traffic. Also, you are expected to arrive at the airport at least three hours before an international flight. You will be able to get taxi’s easily from the port to Haneda, but that would mean you would have to leave the ship at 5:50 AM to meet the three hour window. I am not sure that taxi’s would be available at that early hour.

Thank you all for your advice.

Does Regent recommend a luggage service pre boarding? If so, have you been satisfied with it?

Try Regent Seven Seas; pricier, but in over 175 cruises, I like them the best.

I just returned last night from my first cruise on Viking Ocean voyages (not counting the Viking Sun over 30 years ago). The ship is beautiful, very clean and modern. The staff and crew are amazing; they could not do enough for you. The cabin was small, but certainly more than enough for one person. The bathroom was excellent, I loved the glass stall shower, excellent space and great water pressure. I found that the insulation between the cabins was too thin, I could hear my neighbors talking, sneezing and watching TV. The food was hit or miss; lunches in the World Cafe (the buffet) were generally OK. The salad bar selections were limited and tended to be the same on most days; one day, cold shrimp was offered. The grill at the pool had excellent hamburgers. Mamsen’s offered the same fare every day, the open faced shrimp sandwich was very good. Dinners were also just so so. The menu was diverse, but the food was sometimes disappointing. Tough short ribs, tough osso bucco, strange moussaka, yet the bread and desserts were very good and the gelato, the best ever. The service in the dining room was generally excellent. I was disappointed in the fare at the Chef’s Table; possibly, I chose a bad night to dine there. Manfredi’s was just OK, but I heard this from many other passenger’s who had dined there as well. The entertainer’s were fine and the Asst. CD was always around and always helpful. I met many passenger’s who love Viking and will cruise only with them. I feel that my experience with Viking was good, but compared to other cruise lines, not great as far as food was concerned. Also, I don’t think there is anything that can be done about cabin insulation at this point, perhaps future ships might be better insulated for noise between cabins. Kudos to all crew members, they are all great.

Are magnifying mirrors available in DV cabins, or should I bring my own?

Thank you. I hope you are enjoying your cruise.

We will be on Neptune in two weeks. Is Norovirus still prevalent, or are things back to normal?

We cancelled our Crystal Cruise over two weeks ago. How long should we expect to wait until our deposit is credited back to our credit card account? Our cruise was cancelled over four months before it is scheduled to leave.

I am appreciative of the fact that the volume can be controlled, especially at night when I am trying to sleep. Thank you Viking, keep up the good work.

If we changed our minds about a cruise after deposit was made, but before final payment was due, would Crystal refund the deposit?