Jim & Kat on Navigator: our 1st cruise --commentary & thoughts

[Travelcat2]

Just a comment on "heavy" chairs. I was told, on one of the cruises, that they're heavy so they wouldn't move in turbulent seas.

 

Agree!

[IndiTravler]

The Ethos of Cruising -- seems about socializing for many. But we don't do that much as we'd like, or very well, truth to tell. I mention this because it seems the camaraderie of cruising is a significant measure of the experience and we don't do that very well. Born awkward, sorry.

 

OMG -- I thought we were the only ones!!!!! I do like to have dinner with others because I'm less of an introvert than that other 1/2. But would rather be at a table for 4 than for 6. It's even hard for me to interact on the boards here. :o

[Travelcat2]

portofinoitaly and IndiTravler: Actually, we may not be the minority -- many of us feel the same way. Tables for 2 work perfectly for us (with occasional sharing with people we know). I would say that we are 95% anti-social on a cruise. We have met some lovely people at Trivia (which we no longer attend), wine tastings, etc. but, for the most part, stay to ourselves. I've set up Roll Calls, have printed nametags and even had my DH hand out refrigerator magnets to other CC'ers with a calendar and picture of the ship on it...... however, I rarely attend myself. I'm happy to just plan the event and make it as pleasant as possible.

 

People should be able to do what they enjoy doing on a cruise without being judged. And, you can not tell as much as you may think about a person based on what they post on Cruise Critic . A very quiet, polite poster that does not post much on CC is one of the funniest, outgoing people we know. We enjoy her company a lot (and her DH as well).

 

Don't know how this got off topic but, IMO, it is interesting how many of us do not do a lot of socializing on a ship. IndiTravler, you deserve credit for sharing tables with people you don't know.

[OctoberKat]

OctoberKat, Lucky you to be doing Silver Whisper next. Our favorite ship.

 

We're excited about this next cruise, newlondon. It will be an adventure.

 

Yes, Linda VH, bingo on the chair issue. Still think better design could produce a happier compromise that would afford comfort and ease in addition to the very real heavy-seas issue.

 

I look forward to pursuing my chair studies during future cruises!

[Pam]

I would be another one winking and raising the flute; that is the biggest reason I haven't managed to convince myself to travel since Mark's death. He could meet anybody, although we usually stayed to ourselves unless we were with people we knew, and he would bodily shove me into a group so I couldn't hide in the corner. As of right now, I have a cruise booked on Azamara (two after yours, Kat) with the double upgrade thing. I am still having panic attacks over it, even though a friend also has it booked. I have a while to decide.

 

Oh, and please don't get rid of the casino; I like to spend a little time there.

[TrulyBlonde]

A Wink ;-) and Cheers to all of us and our similarities.

[OctoberKat]

Pam, I hope you do take that Azamara cruise. Having a good friend along will make a big difference. I am so sorry Mark is no longer with you although, when you speak of him, he seems present. Also, I understand about panic attacks.

[OctoberKat]

Further observations from Navigator:

 

-- Loved afternoon tea in Galileo's. Scrumptious scones. The whipped cream was a different touch, usually it's clotted or Devonshire cream. Yummy strawberry jam. Rather than the twangy electric guitar, however, may I suggest some Faure, Satie or Chopin on the piano? It's a good idea to show up early as seats fill quickly. I wish trivia didn't start at 4:30 so we could linger longer over our tea. Why not start trivia at 4:45? It gets loud and a bit rowdy, not the ideal tea time pastime.

 

-- Next time I will cancel the 5pm canapés; not needed after tea and scones.

 

-- Demographics: entirely anecdotal and unscientific. Significant numbers of Australians and I thought I heard a New Zealand accent. Many Mid-Westerners, New Yorkers and Floridians. Some Spaniards and at least one French couple. These Europeans were much younger than the norm. Staff from all over: Brazil, India, Italy, U.K., Thailand, etc.

[Hambagahle]

Further observations from Navigator:

 

-- Loved afternoon tea in Galileo's. Scrumptious scones. The whipped cream was a different touch, usually it's clotted or Devonshire cream. Yummy strawberry jam. Rather than the twangy electric guitar, however, may I suggest some Faure, Satie or Chopin on the piano? It's a good idea to show up early as seats fill quickly. I wish trivia didn't start at 4:30 so we could linger longer over our tea. Why not start trivia at 4:45? It gets loud and a bit rowdy, not the ideal tea time pastime.

 

.

 

I agree. Classical music at tea time is perfect. That's what Oceania offers in the Horizon Lounge at tea and I love it... so relaxing. On Oceania it is a string quartet!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I would be another one winking and raising the flute; that is the biggest reason I haven't managed to convince myself to travel since Mark's death. He could meet anybody, although we usually stayed to ourselves unless we were with people we knew, and he would bodily shove me into a group so I couldn't hide in the corner. As of right now, I have a cruise booked on Azamara (two after yours, Kat) with the double upgrade thing. I am still having panic attacks over it, even though a friend also has it booked. I have a while to decide.

 

Oh, and please don't get rid of the casino; I like to spend a little time there.

 

Pam, good for you for putting yourself out there. I'm the same as you; although I'm friendly and outgoing with people I know, I don't put myself forward with strangers the way my husband does. I'm basically shy I guess, so don't know what I'd do in your situation. I remember a couple of years ago when he was up in Toronto in the winter while I was here in Florida--I forced myself to go to "game night" at our condo of all things, and finally to go into our favorite pub *by myself*, and ended up chatting with a very nice man (but one we'd met before.)

 

Do try to dine with others--I find a table for 5 or 6 is best. Once you get the hang of it, I'm thinking you'll thrive. Sorry for your loss.

[RachelG]

I am a basically shy person too, but my husband never met a stranger. So I know where you are coming from, Pam. But I find it easier to make acquaintances on a cruise ship, probably because the other people on board and I have a common interest-travel.

[OctoberKat]

I hope I am fortunate to sail with the self-identified introverts who have posted here. Looking forward to quaffing champers with you, perhaps over a quiet game of Scrabble!

[Travelcat2]

I am a basically shy person too, but my husband never met a stranger. So I know where you are coming from, Pam. But I find it easier to make acquaintances on a cruise ship, probably because the other people on board and I have a common interest-travel.

 

Your husband is definitely someone I would enjoy meeting (you too -- especially after "knowing" you on the Regent boards for so long).

 

Really happy to hear that Pam will be cruising again. Agree that it is easier to make acquaintances on a cruise ship. When we do socialize, the conversation is almost 100% about travel -- mostly cruising. On a couple of cruises, there were a group of CC'ers that met for drinks before dinner to discuss the activities of the day. Obviously everyone was interested in the conversation.

[OctoberKat]

I note actual costs are cited rarely on CC, if ever -- I've yet to see such figures here. There may be a ban on same. Let's see if this post cuts the regulatory mustard.

 

In addition to the cost of the ten-day cruise for two of us in a master suite in the neighborhood of mid$20K, there were round-trip first-class airfare SFO/MIA and three nights at the Four Seasons in Miami, plus transfers, tips, meals, etc.

 

Of course this is how we choose to travel and we received concomitant value with our flights and hotel. But not so on the cruise itself, or maybe we did. Read on.

 

For context, understand we are not shy about forking over hefty bucks for accommodations and travel; we routinely seek respite in luxury hotels and resorts (e.g., Twin Farms, Four Seasons Hualalai, Le Bristol in Paris, Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Savoy in London, La Casa Que Canta in Zihua, Esperanza in Cabo, Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur). One example, and a meal inclusive one such which is salient so apples are apples, is Twin Farms where our per diem ran less than the cost of our master suite on Regent. Of course a resort on land is not the same as an ocean-going vessel and the staffing of the latter differs hugely and delivers an entirely different experience.

 

Keep in mind, however, this is the market in which Regent chooses to compete: the luxury market. (That luxury market encompasses jewelry, watches, hotels, cars, resorts ... and cruises, plus more, and often targets similar prospective customers). Consider: I was a first-time cruiser on Navigator and I have a good understanding and experience of luxury. What I encountered aboard was not the equivalent of luxury in a land setting. I'm guessing that level of luxe simply may be unattainable at sea. Please read on, this may not be the ding you think it is.

 

Thus, when cruises are advertised as "luxury," it is incumbent upon the prospective customer to understand that term is not being used in the normative land sense. Instead, there are unique attributes of cruising that don't apply to land: moving hotel visiting many ports, experiencing the sea -- motion, air, olfactory goodness, chance of seeing sea life, the moving horizon, a certain camaraderie which may or may not appeal, environment friendly for older and disabled passengers, and more.

 

I suggest the notion of luxury is a different kettle of, er, fish than the usual understanding of the term. There are limitations not experienced on land. And, there are incomparable attributes never afforded ashore.

 

When you cruise, your world is contained in the main. Sure, one may go ashore for a time in port but it's always back to the ship. Therefore it matters just how luxe is your experience aboard. That's the crux of the luxury cruising issue. The ship itself, the accommodations, the food, the decor, the comfort, the "entertainment," the service, the ambiance, the ethos -- all of that.

 

Jim and I loved our voyage on Navigator ... yet it was not luxurious; it was, rather, very pleasant. We'll be cruising Silversea and Seabourn to further explore "luxury" cruising.

[OctoberKat]

Some may think "she's a newbie, what does she know" and "has she ever been on one of those mass-market lines? Yes, I've taken this into account. The fact that mass-market lines are mediocre at best doesn't validate the luxe claims of other lines. Would I rather sail on Regent than Carnival? Hell yes but that doesn't make Regent luxe.

Edited February 10, 2015 by OctoberKat

[Travelcat2]

OctoberKat: Everyone has a different opinion of "luxury". Some people sail on mainstream cruise lines and do not care for what luxury cruise lines have to offer. If you look at the NCL board (our newest sister cruise line), their interest is in Oceania - not Regent. HAL, Princess and some Celebrity passengers seem to love Oceania (which, IMO, has no real competition). Some of these passenger like Regent - others do not. I assume that you are reading the Seabourn and Silversea boards. If you bring up Regent on their boards you will receive some very interesting responses. Obviously, these observations are generalities. One can not really predict what another person will like or dislike.

 

It isn't about what you don't know....... it will simply be interesting to learn what you think of other luxury lines once you have sailed on them.

[fizzy]

I enjoyed your cruise comments very much and look forward to seeing what you have to say on your upcoming cruises. Your closing observations seemed quite astute and reasonable and certainly a different way of looking at things from a different perspective that shouldn't need to be argued.

[TrulyBlonde]

OctoberKat....I tend to agree with you, having sailed on a variety of lines. They are all different, but many similarities depending on how you choose to travel on each one. For us, it is a floating hotel that gets us to our destination and service varies on each. We are not needy and do not want to be waited on hand and foot besides the fact that a waiter(s) hovering over us at dinner ruins our privacy and conversation.

Having said that, yesterday I was speaking with my TA and she really thinks we should try Crystal, because in her opinion, that is where the real luxury difference is defined. We just may do it.

Also, speaking of $$, you mentioned Esperanza Cabo. My daughter chose to have her wedding there, the loveliest wedding I have been to and paid for. She blew my budget LOL!

[fizzy]

When all was said and done...... do you feel, in your opinion, that you received value for dollars paid on your cruise portion of the trip? thanks

[lincslady]

Kat - I agree with you and others that no cruise line is going to have quite the same level of luxury, particularly regarding food, as a really luxurious land based hotel. It stands to reason, as they do not usually have day to day supplies of fresh things available. However, if we compare a really good hotel in the UK, pricewise, including all meals and drinks, we definitely would pay more than the per diem cost of a 'luxury' all inclusive cruise. And that is forgetting about being transported around the world! So we feel that cruising is a comparative bargain. Anyway, we just love being at sea!

[fairbourne]

Lincslady - I agree with what you said when you work out the per diem cost and the travel cost!

 

We've booked our first Regent cruise for later this year and we were only hesitant about the all-inclusive excursions. But I have to say for the first time in years, I am going on holiday without having to undertake hours of research on tours, and I loved just choosing from someone else's hard work! We simply chose the ones we wanted to do but we will see how much we like this option when the time comes as neither of us like big group tours, but forewarned is forearmed, so we can't really complain as we did have the choice, of course, of the very expensive private options!

 

But what they don't tell you is that some of the more interesting excursions have a supplement. I suppose that will keep the numbers down!

 

The other thing that I really liked was the ease with which you can do this on their website and arrange special requests etc. - very user friendly!

 

Thank you OctoberKat for your honest and interesting review - I've enjoyed reading along.

Edited February 10, 2015 by fairbourne

[OctoberKat]

When all was said and done...... do you feel, in your opinion, that you received value for dollars paid on your cruise portion of the trip? thanks

 

Hiya fizzy, I can't answer this fairly until I've cruised at least one other line, next up is Silversea. My first impression is no, not really, but I lack base for comparison. We had a great time; Jim loved it and he can be picky.

 

I see posts here saying Regent is most expensive but I don't know if that is true. Then, too, there is length of voyage and itinerary to consider so per diem seems the most equitable comparison point. We will always choose larger suites no matter the line so that factor should cancel out.

 

The one aspect I can't get out of my head is the execrable live music. Not a deal breaker but profoundly unfortunate.

Edited February 10, 2015 by OctoberKat

[Travelcat2]

Passengers in upper suites usually pay a minimum of $2,000/day/couple (sometimes less on the Navigator). IMO, it is difficult to look at what you are paying ($166.66/hour - even for hours when you are asleep) and think that the value is worth it. For that reason, we look at what we want to spend on a vacation and, at the end, did we enjoy it and would we do it again?

[OctoberKat]

Passengers in upper suites usually pay a minimum of $2,000/day/couple (sometimes less on the Navigator). IMO, it is difficult to look at what you are paying ($166.66/hour - even for hours when you are asleep) and think that the value is worth it. For that reason, we look at what we want to spend on a vacation and, at the end, did we enjoy it and would we do it again?

 

See, it does not work that way for me. I'm perfectly happy to pay $200/hr including sleep time and have done so and received good value in a variety of venues. In addition to those listed above, you can add Gravetye Manor in Sussex, The Beverly Hills Hotel, the Pierre in NYC, etc. it depends on what matters to oneself; large digs are critical to my pleasure.

 

I've also slept in tents and B&Bs and had a great time. It's not always about the money but when I do expend big bucks, I prefer to receive concomitant value. I'll be better able to assess this first Regent cruise after voyaging with Silversea and Seabourn.

 

Crystal is recommended by my TA as well. I don't know why I don't cotton to the idea. I should do some research on that line to be better informed.

Edited February 10, 2015 by OctoberKat

[Travelcat2]

Crystal is recommended by my TA as well. I don't know why I don't cotton to the idea. I should do some research on that line to be better informed.

 

Crystal is consistently rated number one by Condé Nast Traveler. One of my closest friends used to sail with them all the time. Her biggest complaint is the size of the suites (she stays in top suites as well and finds suites on Crystal too small). My reason for not sailing on Crystal is set seating in the dining room. While you can certainly get a table for two, you would need to make a reservation to do so. From what I understand, passengers in the top suites have no difficulty in obtaining a table for two. Also, if you want to dine in a specialty restaurant more than once, you pay $30/person. Lastly, we prefer smaller ships (which is one reason we find Silversea's Whisper perfect).

 

Note: We have not sailed on Crystal. My comments are based on their stated policies, suite size and comments from their passengers.

 

P.S. Since you are interested in large suites, you may want to look at Oceania's top suites. Although only "luxury lite", the food in the specialty restaurants is amazing (reportedly the best food at sea). Take a look at the Riviera's 2,000 sq. ft. Owner's Suite http://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/riviera/staterooms/default.aspx . The photos do not do it justice but the 3D view gives you an idea of the layout. The cost for this suite for a 10 day itinerary (almost identical to the one you did on the Navigator) is only $25,398 for two. If you prefer a suite closer in size to the Navigator's Master Suite, you can stay in the Oceania suite http://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/riviera/staterooms/default.aspx - same itinerary for $16,398 for two. (Alcohol package $120/day/person extra).

Edited February 10, 2015 by Travelcat2