LIve - Bali - Hong Kong (3/24 - 4/8/2018)

[Travelcat2]

Not necessarily newsworthy as this does not surprise me but ........ we stopped by the "Meet and Mingle" which was another failure. Four very nice passengers showed up and that is it (until we arrived 20 minutes into the event). As usual, more would have attended if they have more notice (note: they boarded last night and the M&M conflicted with a lecture about Indonesia this morning). Had this been the old "Meet and Greet" arranged by passengers on Roll Call, it would have been made at a convenient time and more people would have attended.

 

It still is amazing to me that Regent went with the "Meet and Mingles" when the Meet and Greets were so successful. The best one that we attended was planned by zqueeze (horribly misspelled) and it was attended by around 50 people plus ship officers. Regent, hope that we can go back to the way it was as I was so much easier for the passengers.

[Zqueeze1]

It still is amazing to me that Regent went with the "Meet and Mingles" when the Meet and Greets were so successful. The best one that we attended was planned by zqueeze (horribly misspelled) and it was attended by around 50 people plus ship officers. Regent, hope that we can go back to the way it was as I was so much easier for the passengers.

 

 

 

Thanks for the props. But, you did spell my call sign/nickname just as it was given to me as an eighteen year old scared kid my freshman year (knob or plebe) at The Citadel. One of the few people that do not call me that is The Boss who also has a unique name for me not suitable for printing.

 

Keep writing and posting pics since this is an awesome thread and give our love to Risky and her husband.

Z and TB

 

 

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[Travelcat2]

Thanks for the props. But, you did spell my call sign/nickname just as it was given to me as an eighteen year old scared kid my freshman year (knob or plebe) at The Citadel. One of the few people that do not call me that is The Boss who also has a unique name for me not suitable for printing.

 

Keep writing and posting pics since this is an awesome thread and give our love to Risky and her husband.

Z and TB

 

 

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Once we travel with people as lovely as you and TB, we tend to think of their real names. So, whatever I call you, it is done with respect and kindness.

 

Will give Risky your love (and her DH). We didn't sit in her section yet but have given her hugs whenever we can. Had dinner with the Captain tonight - he is delightful!

 

Tomorrow is a long excursion IF (big IF) it doesn't downpour. They had 4 inches of rain standing in this port recently and had to use wooden planks to get people to their buses. This would not work well for an excursion where we walk to a Buddhist temple. I'm wondering if I should be focusing on excursions........??

 

Dinner was delicious - I had steamed Maine lobster that was cooked to perfection.

 

Nothing else to report. The ship and crew are wonderful and we are happy as we always are when on a Regent ship!

[poss]

Just to say: I completely agree with Tc on the M&M's. (I suspect we're in the minority.) We've been to two and I thought they were much inferior to all the other greetings over the years that were arranged by passengers. Unlike Tc, we're not interested in mingling with the ship's officers, but the whole tone and success of the greetings were so much better when they were passenger arranged. The new way of going seems so "commercialized" to me: somehow mainly for show rather than a genuine desire to meet fellow passengers.

[mrlevin]

Just to say: I completely agree with Tc on the M&M's. (I suspect we're in the minority.) We've been to two and I thought they were much inferior to all the other greetings over the years that were arranged by passengers. Unlike Tc, we're not interested in mingling with the ship's officers, but the whole tone and success of the greetings were so much better when they were passenger arranged. The new way of going seems so "commercialized" to me: somehow mainly for show rather than a genuine desire to meet fellow passengers.

 

+1

 

I really prefer informal gatherings without staff and officers whether at pool bar or one of the lounges. We had an informal cruise critic get together on Mariner in 2002 and we still see some of the folks from that gathering.

 

Marc

[Silver Sweethearts]

Will give Risky your love (and her DH). We didn't sit in her section yet but have given her hugs whenever we can.

 

Just curious. Literal hugs?? If so, so much for not spreading any possible germs that people have been worried about.

[Travelcat2]

Just curious. Literal hugs?? If so, so much for not spreading any possible germs that people have been worried about.

 

According to Captain Serena, germs are passed by shaking hands - not hugging or bumping fists. Rachel on the Regent board has confirmed this. Captain Serena was very strict on the Mariner and I believe she that the passengers remained healthy on that cruise due to not shaking hands. Not long after the Captain went on vacation, the Mariner went Code Red yet again.

 

In any case, everyone is shaking hands on this cruise.

[MalbecWine]

Hug’s are much safer than shaking hands. We had a cold on a few sailing and I just tell the people we know and send air kisses. We certainly don’t want others catching our crud. We are very cautious when traveling anywhere. Just common sense.

[Travelcat2]

I was a bit under the weather today and did not join Dennis on an excursion that he said was "marvelous". They went up to temples that are 4,000 feet above sea level.. There we 18 passengers that started the journey in a bus with freezing air conditioning (a good thing) ad a police escort. They eventually. got to the mountain where the bus stopped and passengers transferred into small vans that took them up to beautiful - well-groomed horses to ride for 3 kilometers. For anyone that didn't want to ride a horse, they could walk the there kilometers. Of course, Dennis rode a horse (photos tomorrow phone is charging tonight.

 

They stopped at a place where they lychee nuts, boiled pea nut and some unusual fruit. Lunch was in a beautful wedding hall where they were and served a seafood lunch, On the way back to the bus, it started on horseback and then went to the van ad f

[Hambagahle]

I haven't experienced one of these "Meet and Mingle" things - but have of course been to a lot of Meet & Greets, many of which were hugely successful with well over 70 people. So - a question! Why doesn't Regent let CCers organise the name lists etc and send out the information and then Regent simply set up a bar and have some officers attend? We did this on a Latin American cruise in 2008 and it worked like a charm.

 

Jackie - I totally agree that the balinese people are the nicest on the planet. And since there are usually so many of them working onboard has Regent done anything to make sure that those who come from bali get a chance to have their families come and see where they work and what they do??

[Travelcat2]

Gerry, I believe that Cruise Critic requires signing up online with them - CC contacts Regent Headquarters and Regent Headquarters contacts the ship who sends out invitations and selects the day and time for the event.

 

On this cruise “they” decided that 10:00 a.m. on day two was the right time (no one checks with passengers — likely too much work). Since there was a lecture in going on, we only had 4 participants.

 

It all seemed much easier when we did it ourselves.

 

Having difficulty getting online to photos — will do so a bit later.

[Travelcat2]

 

On the way to temples.

 

 

 

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[Travelcat2]

One temple (quite small)

 

 

Wedding chapel

 

 

 

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[Travelcat2]

 

Snacks (lychee nuts)

 

 

Snake skin fruit

 

 

Boiled peanuts and banana

 

 

 

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[Mudhen]

All photos were wonderful but the one of Dennis leading the cavalry charge was the best! I do, however, wonder if anyone has considered feeding that little horse....omg! Poor, skinny baby!

[RachelG]

All photos were wonderful but the one of Dennis leading the cavalry charge was the best! I do, however, wonder if anyone has considered feeding that little horse....omg! Poor, skinny baby!

I was just thinking the same two things. Thank goodness, Dennis is thin, otherwise that poor horse would have collapsed. George would not be able to ride these horses.

[Travelcat2]

Dennis said that all of the horses were small and very well groomed. That is the one part of the excursion that I'm sorry that I missed.

 

One more thing about the "snake fruit" and this sounds like an old wife's tale....... do not eat the seeds because if you do, it will start growing in your stomach in two years!

 

Today and tomorrow are sea days so there isn't much going on. Must say that I love the new CR on Voyager but am not fond of the carpeting in the hallways and some other areas. Since we do not sail on ships for the decor, it really doesn't matter - just an observation.

 

I am amazed at how many people from our November/December Mariner cruise are now on Voyager. A lot of new faces as well and we are getting to know them. Daniella (F&B Director),Massimo (G.M.) Captain Felice and Ray Solare are going their thing - making the cruise even more special than it normally would be. Have to give a shout out the Risky - server extraordinare and our butler, Ryan. We have requested him in the past and were fortunate to have him.

 

Maybe more tomorrow - maybe not!

[Hambagahle]

If the Meet and Mingles are not working is there anything to stop people on CC from having. "Parallel" event? Seems like a non brainer to me...

 

 

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[bebop bonnie]

+1

 

I really prefer informal gatherings without staff and officers whether at pool bar or one of the lounges. We had an informal cruise critic get together on Mariner in 2002 and we still see some of the folks from that gathering.

 

Marc

 

I remember it well, Marc! Especially you and Arlene:*

[bebop bonnie]

Just found this thread (duhhh) with your Voyager posts. Thanks, Jackie!

[boblerm]

Hope you are feeling better today!

[Travelcat2]

Hope you are feeling better today!

 

Thanks - I’m much better. It was a weird illness - I don’t have a cold or sore throat but had a massive headache and upset stomach. The crew has been great. Daniella had our butler make iced peppermint tea which she said would help. An hour earlier, Risky had them make mint tea with real mint leaves. Both “cures” helped dramatically and I’m back to normal but am drinking my morning peppermint tea as I write this.

 

 

Today I may take some photos of the ship - particularly CR which looks so beautiful - the lighting is great and the space is very comfortable. The new door attachments (for lack of a better word) is strange - will take a photo of that as well as some carpeting. Would love to get some reaction from those of you that haven’t seen it yet.

 

bebop bonnie - glad that you found us!

[Travelcat2]

 

New on the doors. Attractive but it doesn’t work well when they want to put an envelope on the door.

 

 

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[Travelcat2]

What do you think of the carpeting?

 

 

 

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[Travelcat2]

One more of the carpeting and hallway

 

 

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