debijaynes

We love the brochures--we get the occasional large one thru the mail and emails as well. We still like to have printed copy in our hand. We've researched cabins, routes and used it as an easy reference guide. Sometimes it's just nice to sit on the sofa and look at a catalog as opposed to sitting at my desk and having to print things out. We tne dto book and rebook and then book again so works for us to receive them in the mail.

If you think Regent sends a lot--don't ever get on the Vantage mail list! But then again--we see something there and keep looking til we find what we want--on another line!

Gerry, I LOVE your explanation and have copied it for future reference. Until reading some of your previous posts, I had no clue was "Schengen" or "extra Schengen" was Even with your explanation, it is fuzzy in my mind. Am I simplifying it too much when I post that you will go through immigration on flights from the U.S. to most places overseas (through Frankfurt) but will not when you fly to the U.S. through Frankfurt? This has been our experience. We do try to avoid Frankfurt but would like to try Lufthansa's new seats and planes at some point.

Flying TO the US from Venice we had to go thru the "border"" and show passports.

Nasty airport! Wanted to click my heels together and march in double time to the gates!

On our last HAL cruise (Holiday last Christmas) we ate every night in the Pinnacle. Same table and wait-staff. It was simply the best. Lovely atmosphere, no screaming children (or adults!) relaxing and great service!

We will do Norway in June and that will be the plan for that cruise as well. The MDR leaves MUCH to be desired and we find this plan to suit us best. As it is just the two of us we are happy to know we will have a nice expereince every night.

We seem to in the 911-913-915 range and love them. Having said that booked 601 for a 2015 trip! Best thing about a balcony is sitting with coffee in your jammies in the morning!

well frankly anytime--I'm a very much outdoors person!

We love the Navigator! Balconies are covered and of course the amount of shade is based on the side of the ship and the hour of the day. We do that same cruise (E Caribbean) in January and really don't care which side we are on. After all you go south and then back north! We would never do any cruise without a balcony!

Debi

It's 12 nights and port intensive. Butler is not worth $100 a day to us. Although we've never sailed on Regent before, we have sailed Azamara and there was enough "junk" all over the ship to satisfy any cravings we had after a day in port.

It was worth every thin dime for us when the butler served dinner in the cabin after a long day ashore. Took the order, brought a drink, brought appetizer and salads and then came back with our entree. Port intensive made it much more valuable. Dinner at the dining table in the room--jammies and bedroom slippers--PRICELESS!

Debi

Yes of course we can do Miami, Ft Lauderdale or Tampa (actually the cheapest of the lot for our Norway trip) or Orlando as we did the last time....but..... you have to get there, park etc. Miami is low on my list for the airport but we may be forced to do that. I actually hate flying so much that after next year if it doesn't leave out of a Florida port --it just may not happen. My husband is working on something to knock me out :):):)

Debi

Business class for our Viking River cruise next year is just shy of $10K. Admittedly we are in the worst area for pricing. Hate to even attempt to fly out of Ft Myers--ANYWHERE! Domestic as well.

5:15 Muster--all gather in the theater! Penthouse suites seem to have better shipboard locations and of course you have the butler. You either use him--or not. We find that for little extras and hints that he gives it's worth it.

We had free internet after the first 10 day cruise. Don't know why and certainly haven't questioned it!

The last two trips we have boarded the ship after their drydock hiatus. Boarded a little later--certainly not an inconvenience.

Even with raising the cost of business flights Regent still seems to be a deal. I looked at Crystal and Silverseas yesterday to try to compare and realized that it's just easier to stick with Regent. We are looking for a British Isles cruise in 2015 so will probably just get a future cruise credit when we sail in January.

Which airline are you referring to?

Lufthansa seats recline, but do not lie flat. On the night flight everyone was trying to get comfy whilst still at an angle. They are very hard--for those of us with sleep number beds, the seats are agony.

Seat do recline but you are at an angle so you are not fully flat. Great if you have sinus issues--hard to sleep!

Cruise consultant on Voyager told us that it would be February.

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.

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!

QUOTE__Editing to say that this is also off season in the Med. which makes more buses available. In all ports, Regent has to compete with mega ships to get buses, tour guides and drivers. So, when they have the option for more buses, it seems like they add more with fewer guests on each one.

If our past cruise was the off season--wow. You couldn't even see the cobblestones in Rome , Florence and Venice--so crowded. Once in Italy was enough for us. The buses were not crowded, but every venue was mobbed. Remember, Tour groups include land tours as well--they were the majority of crowd issue.

It was so crowded that you couldn't see what you were there for. We picked this time as it was supposed to be off season. Travel has appeared to ramp up exponentially everywhere. Here in SW Florida it is already getting crowded. I shudder to think what season will be like this year.(Sorry, I digress). A friend wanted to do a Viking River cuise with us next October--No cabins available!

Watching those BIG ships come in from our hotel (Westin Europa) was terrifying. The thought of something happening defies comprehension. NO ships should be allowed to pass by ST Marks, including Regent ships. Venice is much more valuable then that. Take a tour boat if you want to see it from the water.

Referencing Setti Marie--what is all the fuss about for that venue? We went for the first and last time. I don't mind buffet service for lunch, but for dinner? The night we were there it was packed.The food was so-so but the service when needed was very good.

At one tour in Corfu there were six buses and a group of 4-wheeler(subaru type cars) in the parking lot. We were at a SMALL restaurant to see a folk loric presentation and have a small snack. If you have seen the ad on TV for the chidren's play where the parents are knocking each other down and coming to blows-- well that was it. The man in fron of me hit several people and told them to move and people were on chairs. And that's just what I saw! Priceless!!!!

Going to Rome we had a 4 hour layover. Coming back we had 50 minutes. I asked for a golf car to take us to the gate. A rep (very pleasant) showed up with a wheel chair and (didn't use it) and we went from A 21 to an elevator to Z. Went thru the border, had passports stamped and she then call for a cart. One showed up, we fastened our seatbelts and off we went. A street worthy cart it was--we almost took out a child, a stroller and several old people. We went to Z58, plane was boarding, elbowed our way to the front(business class) and settled in. The plane took off 15 minutes early. Without that cart we would never have made it. Walking fast --way too far to make it.

I have instructed our TA to NEVER EVER connect thru there again. For anyone.

And I'm still whupped!

Lovely review and we agree with all points.

We seem to have had TWO great meals in Prime 7 with no complaints at all--the minority I believe.Signatures was also VERY good for us as well.

I will disagree with the Coffee Connection kudos that most people seem to have. Compared to the Navigator the coffee area on the Voyager is a very cold and unwelcoming place, somewhat to be likened to a school cafeteria. AND-- the coffee was better in the cabin with our breakfast! Go figure!

Please don't tell me that civility is out the window on Navigator due to the itineraries!!!!! Everyone I spoke with on this past trip had been on the Navigator in the past and loved the ship--including the captain! Maybe everyone is in a bit better mood than they were this past March due to the improved economy and just set out to spend and enjoy!. At this point I'll just guess that and see how the Navigator is in January. The Voyager trip we did was lovely-- just a bit too port intensive for us. And of course we prefer the Navigator as we can be in Miami in two hours and don't have to fight airports and transfers--although our agent sure did make it all easy!!

All in all though travel is not the grand venture that it used to be. Our plane ride home was a long ten hours and connecting thru the Frankfurt airport is disastrous! Had we not had the wonderful woman in the souped up golf car we would never have made the flight!

And I agree with PingPong! What a great cruise! Everything was just perfect--a few complaints with the excursion desk--but hey--nothing is perfect! we also booked for another cruise while on board. And after the March Navigator-- what a nice group of passengers!

Our Grande Suite was quite lovely--may have spoiled us!

We are in a Grande Suite and all is new and fresh--walls, carpet, curtains etc.

Stripe looks great-- fresh and modern. Remember fellow posters why the dinosaurs are no longer with us----they refused to change.

I will say again--what a friendly and pleasant group of people are on this ship!

Food has been terrific and the service--beyond compare.

And everyone seems to be dressed appropriately--dress jeans and all! ( I just couldn't resist!)

Just docked in Corfu--ONWARD!

Debi

For our Oct 23rd Voyager sailing our TA was contacted the first week of September. We were in a Cat C Penthouse and moved up to the Grand Suite--hey--why not, will never have the opportunity for that again and certainly not on the Caribbean cruises that we take every year. Was it pricey? Yes! And after the cruise I'll let you know if we would do it again. We are only going to do Italy once and we may as well do it right. And it's my husband's 65th birthday while on the cruise--the party for eight should be interesting! AND the suite has a bath and a half!!

Debi

Sorry forgot I was on Hal board and not Regent. My apologies!

I think it would be easier to buy it than drag cases on board. But then, I love having the waiters know what wine I drink by the second day and bring it to me with a smile! Feels as though you are at home at the club!

Debi

Well I got in on the tail end. A friend and I were looking at doing the Pacific Coast cruise in September 2014 and were trying to decide between NCL and HAL. I have been sailing on NCL the last year and been very happy. She has done HAL. I was going to ask for advice on which is better but I think I will lean toward NCL with this. Last cruise with NCL DH and I took on 4 bottles of very nice wine and just paid the corkage. A glass apiece each evening while sitting on our balcony was so nice.

For one glass of wine a day, I should think it much easier to buy on board. I do not understand why anyone would drag a case of ANYTHING on board ship--water, soft drinks, wine or spirits.