2012_Alaska_bound

5 hours ago, Gray Lady said:

If you have a domestic leg where you are placed in economy, will Regent upgrade that to business for a price?

I have always gotten First Class for domestic if continuing on overseas in BC when Regent books my flights. All of these have been either American or United with partner airlines though. 5 flights so far with 2 more also booked that way.

20 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

I dislike Frankfurt airport. There aren’t enough gates to accommodate flight traffic. You will likely deplane onto the tarmac very far from the terminal, and will be bused over to the terminal. You will need to descend from the plane using narrow stairs while carrying all of your own carryon luggage as you try not to trip and fall down. 
The process is reversed when you board your next flight. IIRC first/business class boards the bus first (very few seats) and then everyone else gets on the bus with you so it’s definitely not a first class experience boarding the plane.

Amen to all of the above! I avoid Frankfurt for all of these reasons! In fact, they didn't even have First class board the bus first. Every person for themselves! Luckily for me a kind young woman carried my carry on up the steps for me. First class was a standard 3 seat row with the middle seat left empty, which I believe is normal in European "domestic" flights.

Regent flew me home from Porto on Iberia and I liked it very much, so if that is a possibility you might consider it.

2 hours ago, Eager2Travel said:

We were more concerned with easy flights.  Vancouver is non stop.  It turns out Juneau is only one change of planes in Seattle.

 

 Sorry to repeat myself, but it is Anchorage you fly in or out of on a 7 day, which is also only a plane change it Seattle but a 6 hour flight from Seattle to Anchorage. I prefer flying to Anchorage and boarding in Seward and ending in Vancouver so that might shorter flight is on the "going home" end of the trip. Also, if you are flying home from Anchorage, soonest flights will be overnight ones.

Also, the flight will be business/first class the whole way if booked through Regent. They started that just pre-pandemic I believe.

11 hours ago, douginct said:

Don't know when you are looking to go - but in 2024, there are a couple of 14 day Vancouver to Vancouver cruises that you can book instead of doing two 7-day cruises.

I was just going to mention this. The 14 days cruises are in May (that's the one I'm going on) and another in August (middle of the month also I think). Advantage is we don't repeat any ports and have 2 days of glacier sailings.  I think maybe they are trying this out to see if it is more attractive than B2B.

Totally agree about 7 days being too short, and long flight to or from Anchorage (not Juneau).

4 hours ago, flossie009 said:

We are due to call in to Stavanger on Navigator in August.

That is when @Gilly and I were there on Navigator last year, so hopeful for you.

Just now, wcsdkqh said:

Alaska Bound-- Are you on the 7 day Athens to Athens, or the 14 day Athens to Rome?  Like you, very excited

We are on for the 14 day! Whoo hoo! Doing both pre and post cruise tours. Only worry is it is so port intensive, but with all those days in Athens, might take a sea day for one of them, maybe "change over" day.

18 hours ago, wcsdkqh said:

My family and I are on a Greek Isles cruise departing Athens on 10/30.

I'm on that cruise! Can hardly wait.

20 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

the coffee bar

Funny, I always think of the Coffee Connection on Navigator as the "other" side that has the espresso machines and barista.

15 hours ago, Jlhalldc said:

Always glad to shut down incorrect info. 

Will you go out on FB and correct the rumor? If not, I will.

20 hours ago, labonnevie said:

21 nights on Navigator this November

Amazon cruise? That was my favorite!

@Mike Moore is a rock star! Always so kindly responsive.

Great review of your cruise. Solidified my desire to do a tulip cruise!

So looking forward to your posts.

Dress during the day is casual. Most people change for dinner into something nicer than shorts and t-shirts.

The food was very good.

Took the cruise last April. Loved it.

What tips are you looking for?

Assume you are already booked, but if not best weather according to our Cruise Director is before mid-May and after mid-October. Otherwise it can be very hot.

There are 155 people on the World Cruise on Mariner right now. They have been onboard since January and have 5 more weeks to go.

Maybe some will comment. @gb58?

Usually when I board, I remove anything I don't want from the refrigerator and write a note about what wine / spirits I want as well as what I would like in the refrigerator. Either hand the note to the steward when they come in or leave it above the refrigerator.

9 minutes ago, Roccaforte said:

How does Pcardad get the booze through TSA?

I envision him sitting outside security finishing it up! 😄

3 hours ago, papaflamingo said:

We are going to Athens in Oct.

@papaflamingo we are on that cruise too. Regent air gave me a non-stop Delta flight for ATL to Athens.

Also, there is a Roll Call for this cruise now. Hope you will join.

Since you are Concierge, they will automatically schedule you to fly the day before and then provide a transfer to the hotel and then the next day to the ship. For flying from Michigan to LAX, even in winter, I would think flying in one day early would be enough.

On 4/7/2023 at 12:30 PM, mrstanley said:

Did you have a direct flight from Lisbon back to USA or a stop in Europe ?

Lisbon to Madrid to LAX to Tucson on Iberia, which was great.

I usually write down what I would like in the fridge and give the note to the steward when I meet him or her. Helps them if you are requesting a specific wine that they might not be familiar with where spelling might be tricky. I also remove everything I don't want and leave on the counter.

Have found that a written note to the steward, even if you speak in person, is very helpful.  Especially if you are asking for a specific wine, liquor or soft drink. Sometimes the steward might not be familiar with that particular item, but if it is written down, they can get help tracking it down.

Mike Owen, owner of Crystal Basin Winery in the Sierra Foothills in California was our wine host on the 7 day Ama cruise. He held two onboard talks and worked with the chef to provide a pairing dinner. We tasted some of the Crystal Basin wines, but as I mentioned in my review, he had prepared and sent wines for a Rhone cruise 3 years ago.

Mike and his wife went on all the excursions, but did not lead them. The guides at the wineries we visited were excellent, and each area had something new to taste and learn about.

Passengers bought wine along the way and would often bring out a bottle to share before dinner.

Each day there was at least one excursion on offer that did not involve wine tasting.

Looking into doing a Rhone wine tasting cruise.

Here is my full review:

6 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

This is a French thing.  Ponant ships are designed like this too.

Just to be clear, this was only at the Pulman Hotel, not on the ship, although our friends had a similar set up in their Chateaux room.