jklc123

It only took about 2 hours on the Voyager, before we even sailed, for DH and me to decide it would be hard to go back to “main stream” cruise lines.

We loved the spaciousness of our aft suite (878). The vibration was negligible and we loved the view. The Regent agent I spoke to, before turning our reservation over to our TA, recommended 878 because the balcony wraps around to the port side, as it does with more expensive Seven Seas suites on other decks, so we had a great view to the side.

Heeding the advice of Cruise Critic posters, we used little battery powered tea lights as night lights, which worked well on the ship as well as in pre- and post-cruise hotel rooms, and I used magnets to attach a map of the area we were sailing and our excursion schedule to the walls.

The food was excellent, except for the one breakfast we had in Compass Rose, and the service was friendly and efficient in every restaurant. We used room service for most breakfasts, which worked out well.

We missed one port (Zakynthos) due to a thunderstorm and very high seas. I was seasick for about 24 hours and had to cancel our reservation in Signatures and a galley tour. Our butler kept me supplied with ginger ale, crackers and green apples because the Bonine and ginger tablets I had been taking didn’t quite do the trick! Our steward came and checked our balcony furniture because he said in the storm a lounge chair flew off the ship from someone else’s balcony!

We took included excursions and had excellent guides, with only one exception. We never had to wait long in the theater for our bus tickets. There were usually about 20 people on our bus. We appreciated the free time to explore after the excursions.

I did use the laundry room, although I had not planned to do so. It was located close enough to our suite for us to usually find machines open without waiting too long. We ended up using our OBC, intended to pay for laundry and internet, toward paying the ship’s doctor as DH came down with a respiratory infection and needed inhalation therapy sessions. He wasn’t alone – something must have been going around.

Regarding the evening entertainment in the theater (which was very cold, by the way), I most enjoyed the folklore group of singers that came on board in Dubrovnik. The new show, “Come Sail Away,” was OK but not special in our opinion. But we spent pleasant evenings in the theater enjoying a Bailey’s and the music.

If we are fortunate enough to again sail on the Voyager, we would want the same suite. Having a butler was a nice touch but not necessary, and we would probably arrange our own airfare to have more flexibility, but the overall Regent SS experience was wonderful.

Thanks for the response. Yes -- I think the Lufthansa seats are the worst! I read on their website that they are being replaced with the lie flat seats. Really hoping they aren't hard:)

Yes, on the flight we had, they did fully recline. I've been on flights where they weren't fully flat and I kept fighting slowly sliding down. But they still are hard. They may not have switched all their fleet to the newer seats yet.

Weren't you lucky with the business class seats! They must have changed them out since 11/3! Last Sunday they did not fully recline. Glad you enjoyed your Voyager cruise as much as we did. Simply put, a lovely vacation!

We flew to Venice Oct. 29. Leaving Istanbul Nov. 12 via Air France. They advertise fully flat seats, which I hope is true.

Sadly, just off the Voyager today. Fantastic trip Venice to Istanbul. Lufthansa business class seats now do fully recline, and we did have to go through passport control/security check in Frankfurt but all went smoothly, except at first we didn't notice a gate change. Writing this while listening to the call to prayer near our Istanbul hotel near the Aya Sofia.

So glad to hear about faster table service. We love cruising but sometimes find long dinner times tedious, (in spite of interesting conversation with table mates).

Well, we certainly will be able to find it in port.

I am SO enjoying this! We had a wonderful time on the same cruise in 2010 and I'm reliving it with you. We did book a junior suite; the bathroom seemed a bit larger than shown in your photos. The Uniworld cruise in Russia is definitely more relaxing as there is a long distance to travel from Moscow to St.Pete and there is a lot of beautiful day time cruising, which we liked. We hope to travel again with Uniworld.

We recently used Frommers St Petersburg Day by Day. Wealth of info, maps of city and Metro in a compact form easy to carry and consult without looking too much like a tourist! A very walkable city with so much to see and enjoy.

"Child 44" by Tom Rob Smith. Chilling murder mystery set during Stalin's era of terror and paranoia. Fiction but based on a true story.

We will have limited time in St. Pete in May, apart from our river cruise tours. My question is: is it possible to walk to Peter & Paul Fortress from Hermitage? A long walk?

Thanks to those of you who have explored the city on your own.

Thanks for the list. I highly recommend "Echoes of a Native Land: Two Centuries of a Russian Village," written by Pulitzer prize winner & NY Times foreign correspondent Serge Schmemann. It traces the lives of his Russian forebears in a small village outside Moscow. I'm now enjoying "Russka" as a way to get an overview of Russian history in a fictional setting. Also enjoyed the author's "Sarum" years ago; same format about Salisbury, England.