Favorite Regent Cruise Stories

forgap · May 3, 2020

Since most of us are hunkered down, mourning cruises lost, left only with memories of cruises past, I thought it might be fun to go through your blogs and memory banks to share your memorable cruise experiences. Perhaps you might want to share those funny/embarrassing/horrifying/outrageous/surprising vignettes that populate our cruise memories. What are the shipboard or excursion experiences that stand out for you? Who were the shipboard characters that leave you shaking your head?

I’m missing our “live from...” threads. We were scheduled to fly to Venice on Wednesday for our May 11th cruise so I am in serious withdrawal!

forgap · May 3, 2020

My memory of one of our excursions in Mumbai, India:

Our next stop was at ISKCON, the temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The god Krishna, often blue and playing a flute, has a mischievous nature and his peasant background and legendary exploits with the milkmaids have made him one of the most popular gods.

I have a pet peeve about photography in houses of worship. If photography is allowed, snap away - but don't take mug shots of your traveling companions posing in front of a deity. At ISKCON, the main sanctuary was a contemplative place with many people praying and meditating. Of course, one of our more annoying travelers kept snapping pictures of his wife in front of Krishna. But, remember, Krishna has a mischievous nature! On the way back to the bus, the man came running to the guide "My wife needs a bathroom, quick!" Yes, she had a little accident....15 minutes later she was back on the bus in her damp dress. Oh, Krishna, you are a rascal!

pappy1022 · May 3, 2020

20 years ago my wife and I and our 2 college sons took our first cruise in our lives and it was with Regent to Alaska, round trip from Vancouver. My wife and I flew from Dallas and the boys flew from Austin. On arrival, my wife and I went through immigration and they asked us questions about what ship we were on and what hotel we were staying at. We both looked at each other and said "oh my the boys don't know those details", they probably won't make it through immigration. We got down to the luggage claim area and there they were. When asked if they were asked those same questions, they said yes they were. When asked what their answers were, they said "we don't know". Honesty is the best policy. The boys were in a separate cabin on the same deck but on the opposite side of the ship. They had a basic cabin and it was right next to a large suite. Their neighbor was Patrick Swayze, yes THE one from Dirty Dancing. We took in all of Alaska and loved every minute and every adventure. Dinner was our favorite time on the ship. We took our time and drank our share of wine and just enjoyed each others company. Several people told us that they had to smile when they saw a family enjoying each other so much and laughing so much together and that made us proud. One lady came up to us in the hallway and said that she had seen us in different venues and couldn't figure out who I was in the family. She thought that my wife was the wife of my oldest son and I was too young to be her father so where was I in the family tree. I guess that was a compliment to how good my wife looked or a slap in the face for how old I looked. 😉 Anyway, we made great memories and it is still is our most enjoyable cruise because we were with our boys (men). We were spoiled by choosing Regent as our first cruise.

Wendy The Wanderer · May 3, 2020

2 minutes ago, pappy1022 said:

One lady came up to us in the hallway and said that she had seen us in different venues and couldn't figure out who I was in the family.

Funny, at least retrospectively. It's strange how rude people can be, without even knowing.

pappy1022 · May 3, 2020

We didn't take it as an insult. We got a good laugh about it. You needed to be there to appreciate the context of the comment.

Bellaggio Cruisers · May 3, 2020

I forgot how much I miss the blogs from cruises. Some were funny, some written as good as any guide book, some filled with great experiences etc.

I never started one, but contributed many times.
I cant wait for cruising on Regent to start again, and take me back to so many far away places.
sheila

mj_holiday · May 3, 2020

We have had many great experiences. Our first cruise on Regents was Seward to Vancouver. One morning sailing into Ketchikan I looked out our balcony and there is a seaplane was flying right along with us. He was low enough for us to see the pilot. We were sailing right along side of a sea plane port.

TWG_ag · May 3, 2020

December 2006 we took our first Regent cruise on Navigator for New Years. We had our 19 year old daughter with us. In Dec 2007 we repeated the New Years Navigator again with our now 20 year old daughter. In 2008 we were on Mariner and in 2009 we did two Celebrity cruises with extended family. April 2010 the two of us get on Navigator in Florida for a Bermuda cruise. We got through check in, proceeded to the pool deck for a bit of lunch and as soon as we sat down, a pool waiter walked up and said, "Where is your daughter?" We were always big fans, but we were blown away. I have never been on a Regent cruise where we were not recognized by and reunited with their warm and caring staff. So my best Regent memory always starts with Regent staff.

Got2Cruise · May 3, 2020

Love this thread and I too miss reading everyone’s blogs. Here’s my story:

In July 2018 we sailed Voyager Monte Carlo to Barcelona. We chose the land extension which brought us to Madrid.

The day of disembarkation we found our group for the extension. It seems that there were only six pax total who signed up for this extension. Fortunately for my husband and me, two of the pax were long time loyal Regent cruisers. So instead of canceling the tour, or having us travel in a mini bus, the six of us had the pleasure of traveling on a full size tour bus from Barcelona to Madrid, with stops in between.

The long time cruisers were Judith and Bob. The other couple were from Australia.

RachelG · May 3, 2020

There are so many! But one of my favorites is actually from a post on this board. I was writing my blog daily as I usually do. We were going from Miami to Lima on Mariner. George and I went up to the top deck for the sailaway, and it was beautiful, except I was wearing a dress with a really flowing wide skirt. The wind came along, and suddenly the entire skirt of my dress was above my head. We beat a hasty retreat down to the pool deck.

Well, I wrote about it in the blog and said next time I will have to remember to wear pants (meaning slacks). Tom Noon (Orpington) RIP replied that he would have really like to have been there for the show thinking I meant I was not wearing underwear. It was so funny.

sanne · May 4, 2020

Wonderful stories , thank you. Made my day.

Bellaggio Cruisers · May 4, 2020

Of course, one of our most memorable cruises was on Navigator in August 2018. We arrived in Copenhagen but our luggage decided not to join us.
We shopped for replacements the whole day, instead of revisiting places we enjoyed.
No luggage yet... we boarded ship three days later. On our second day, Herb’s luggage was delivered. No sign of mine.
For the next twenty days, my evening outfits varied from Herb’s blue shirt to his pink shirt. It’s a good thing I wore slacks and black sneakers on the plane. I was set.
when we were in the North Cape of Norway, it was cold. But to the rescue came Franck Galaksi, the hotel manager, with a Regent winter coat.
Our butler was superb. He picked up my clothes every three days. At least I had clean underwear. I wore Herb’s sweat suit, when mine was being laundered.
The entire staff was great.... everyone hunting down my luggage.
Dining, shows, service was excellent. . That’s why we love Regent.

sheila and Herb

Travelcat2 · May 4, 2020

Love all of the photos and stories. There are too many for me to think of just one. Sheila reminded me of the time when we did not get our luggage for 10 days - had a good attitude about it - and the officers and crew understood why I was wearing flip-flops to dinner every night. I got some bobby pins from the spa and put my hair in pin curls. When in Helsinki, I saw a beauty shop with rollers in a basket outside. You would have thought that I found gold - I was so excited.

Mudhen · May 4, 2020

55 minutes ago, Travelcat2 said:

Love all of the photos and stories. There are too many for me to think of just one. Sheila reminded me of the time when we did not get our luggage for 10 days - had a good attitude about it - and the officers and crew understood why I was wearing flip-flops to dinner every night. I got some bobby pins from the spa and put my hair in pin curls. When in Helsinki, I saw a beauty shop with rollers in a basket outside. You would have thought that I found gold - I was so excited.

I remember it well ! It was the cruise where we met you and Dennis.....and the rest is history! (giggle!)

Travelcat2 · May 5, 2020

29 minutes ago, Mudhen said:

I remember it well ! It was the cruise where we met you and Dennis.....and the rest is history! (giggle!)

So that is when we met! Your memory is better than mine. That cruise was one of our all time favorites!

forgap · May 5, 2020

Alaska, 2013 - RSSC Navigator

It was a perfectly clear day with very calm water as we approached Hubbard Glacier. The decks were crowded with passengers as we approached. What sounded like gunshots echoed in the cold air as the glacier moved towards the sea. Terry Breen was narrating our approach. We were all eager to see a calving of one of the ice cliffs. There were minor splashes with the majority of us missing the event with a blink of the eye. Then, our Captain, offered tobacco to the spirits who inhabited the ice.

Still nothing to note. You could hear the disappointment in Terry's voice as we traversed the width of the bay preparing for our turn towards the ocean. Suddenly Terry spotted a cliff that looked precarious. Her voice got louder with excitement and she and all of us gasped.

When it was over, Terry shouted over the loud speaker "This was the best cruise EVER!" I agree.

Edited May 5, 2020 by forgap

boblerm · May 5, 2020

So so many memories, one of my favorites was visiting Kotor, Voyager June 2018.

Sailing into Kotor

Our excursion was "Highlights of Montenegro". It started with a drive up a long winding road up a mountain with hairpin turns, 25 to be exact.😧 with beautiful vistas along the way, to a lookout point with great views of the bay.