On Voyager now!

[shua22]

On Board the Voyager and all is awesome!! Currently in port in Tallinn, getting ready to head to St. Pete for the next two days. Had a beautiful start in Stockholm with nice weather during the day and lovely weather in Tallinn today. The ship is amazing.

 

Ray Solaire is still directing and put on a puppet show and variety show that was certainly interesting last night...

 

I will check back if anyone has any questions!

[Caroldoll]

the ship--ease of embarkation--quality of the food, all the little nitty gritty things. I am sorry, it is presumptuous of me to say all--I would like to know and I imagine a lot of the CC's would as well.

 

Your impressions will help us.

[Observer]

I envy you having Ray Solaire as CD. I remember him well from Silversea. He is a class act (including his puppets). RSSC is lucky to have him.

 

A question: In the regular Voyager suites (assuming you are in one), where is the TV? I like to watch TV in bed and really regret ships (like the new Seabourn ship, I gather) where the TV is not conveniently watched from bed.

[Travelcat2]

So happy you have time to post since you are on such a port intensive itinerary. Since this is your first Voyager cruise, your input will be particularly interesting. I'll also be posting next week from the Voyager -- my third cruise on my favorite ship.

 

I heard Ray Solaire is really good. How do you feel about him.

 

Looking forward to future posts.

[RachelG]

Observer, you definitely can watch tv while in bed in the regular suites. I liked to turn on the tv in the am to get current weather and temp before getting up.

Ray Solaire's puppet show is very unique. He told me it takes several hours pre-performance to set up. And he is full of energy. When does that man ever sleep?

[shua22]

It's late and I should go to sleep! But I recall my own thurst for information so the least I can do is answer a few questions.... Will post more when I can find the time..

 

Embarkation was super easy in Stockholm... no lines, no hokey photos like we had on the mariner... grabbed a bite at the pool bar (it was a lovely afternoon) and by the time the burger was off the grill, the suites were ready! We got a great suite and are very very happy to have it. 1105. The tub area just off the bedroom is a bit odd (we call it the solarium), but with all this space, who can complain. Butler Ved is superb.

 

After touring Tallinn, I snuck off to the spa for a massage which was just what the doctor ordered, fantastic.... then Prime 7. My first time. The food was good (not on par with the kinds of steak houses we frequent in NYC but few are so can complain). The service was superb!

 

Ray is beyond enthusiastic, and it rubs off... he clearly loves his job.

 

Love regent, and love the voyager!

[Cruisewoman79]

It's late and I should go to sleep! But I recall my own thurst for information so the least I can do is answer a few questions.... Will post more when I can find the time..

 

Embarkation was super easy in Stockholm... no lines, no hokey photos like we had on the mariner... grabbed a bite at the pool bar (it was a lovely afternoon) and by the time the burger was off the grill, the suites were ready! We got a great suite and are very very happy to have it. 1105. The tub area just off the bedroom is a bit odd (we call it the solarium), but with all this space, who can complain. Butler Ved is superb.

 

After touring Tallinn, I snuck off to the spa for a massage which was just what the doctor ordered, fantastic.... then Prime 7. My first time. The food was good (not on par with the kinds of steak houses we frequent in NYC but few are so can complain). The service was superb!

 

Ray is beyond enthusiastic, and it rubs off... he clearly loves his job.

 

Love regent, and love the voyager!

So glad to hear it and appreciate you taking the time to post while onboard! We will be sailing the Voyager for the first time NEXT week! We fly to London in less than 7 hours.

[jhp]

Thank you shua22, your posts sound just like the impressions from many of my friends who were aboard on the cruise just previous to yours! Hope you continue to have a great time, and keep all of us posted!

[Travelcat2]

So glad to hear it and appreciate you taking the time to post while onboard! We will be sailing the Voyager for the first time NEXT week! We fly to London in less than 7 hours.

 

I didn't realize you were leaving so soon. Caroldoll is leaving on Thursday. Have a safe flight -- see you on the 7th:)

[Cruisewoman79]

So glad to hear it and appreciate you taking the time to post while onboard! We will be sailing the Voyager for the first time NEXT week! We fly to London in less than 7 hours.

DAYS not hours!!!

Maybe a Freudian slip! :o

NOW now it's than 7 days! I still have to work and drive my son up to college! But I'm about 90% packed and ready.

[Caroldoll]

the information. I think if you have any more there are three of us with big ears! Cruisewoman, TRavelcat and me! We are all anxious for reports.

[Caroldoll]

I am curious...where are you staying in London? We are going Thursday and it is a boutique hotel. I am wondering if you grabbed the Signatures special and would be there too.

[Barrister42]

I am curious...where are you staying in London? We are going Thursday and it is a boutique hotel. I am wondering if you grabbed the Signatures special and would be there too.

 

What is "Signatures" special???

[Travelcat2]

What is "Signatures" special???

 

Caroldoll and Cruisewoman79 are talking about something related to hotels -- not the Voyager. I can just imagine what this cruise is going to be like with the three of us on it:eek:

 

Shua22, hoping you are back from today's adventure and can give us an update.

[shua22]

So sorry to have been unable to get back but this is such a port intensive itinerary that there’s not much time for surfing the web. Tallinn was my last report and since then we have been in and out of St. Pete and Helsinki and as I type we are pulling out of beautiful Visby. The weather was poor in St Pete on Day one but fortunately it was mostly an indoor day at Catherine’s palace – and an amber room workshop and then at the Hermitage in the afternoon. We did it all privately with Exeter and it was well worth it. The guide, Luda, was great. That night we ate at La Veranda…. Future cruiser take note that the menu is changing in La Veranda tonight – apparently going to a more Italian menu as the ship heads to southern Europe. While the menu seemed mostly Italian now, there was some Baltic staples (Herring Cake??) at the salad bar and some fishy chowders on the menu. I like La Veranda on the Voyager as much as I liked it on the Mariner – it’s casual and relaxed.

Day 2 in St P was dramatically better – warmer and sunny blue skies! Took a nice ride to Peterhof in the morning and had a great tour including the grottos and fountains, and momplaiser. It was very special. We later enjoyed the highlights of the town with our great guide Luda. Back on Board we had a very nice meal at Compass Rose. Although the ship is full to capacity, it never feels crowded. Getting to port in the morning has been a breeze and getting back on was no problem either. Today was our only day with the tenders and that was no problem either.

 

Helsinki was very interesting… but the tour they gave us wasn’t. Some endless ride in circles around the harbor and a short walk on the fortress island. We had a much better time roaming the city ourselves after the tour.

 

Woke up today on the approach to Visby and visibility was next to nil. Thunder showers! But the forecast was for clearing weather so we decided to cancel our tour which turned out to be a great idea. We ended up waiting out the weather in the comforts of the suite and tendering to the port around 10:30 as it was clearing. It left us with more than enough time to walk the charming town and enjoy the beautiful sights… by the time we got to the main square the skies were blue and the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day and I fell in love with Visby. We had a great lunch at the Rose Garden restaurant. Some nice local flavors and then headed back to tender.

 

We’ve been to the shows every night that they have had them and they have been a little disappointing. I applaud the energy of the performers but there’s a reason they are on a cruise ship. Also, the material is very reminiscent of last summer on the Mariner. (The dancers are actually pretty good).

 

Things have been going well at bingo! And in the Casino too!

 

Tonight is Signatures… Not being a lover of French food, I am hoping for the best. We skipped it altogether on the Mariner last year but Our Butler has been so good with the reservations that I figure we may as well try it.

 

The service on board has been impeccable – several familiar faces from the Mariner and many very nice new ones. Of course butler Ved has been amazing but also Lynette at La Veranda and Ley and Blessie and everyone in that restaurant.

 

The spa appointments were tough to get at the beginning but I am told that there have been lots of cancellations every day so if you don’t mind last minute appointments, you shouldn’t have a problem. I have had luck booking an hour or two before I want the treatment which is better than planning way in advance only to realize you are not in the mood by the time the appointment comes around.

 

Ray Solaire is quite an interesting guy… he’s everywhere on this ship – does he sleep? He gives a wake up show on the TV, summarizing the day, he’s there when you head off to port, he runs trivia in the horizon lounge in the afternoon, he’s at all the shows, he’s just everywhere – the man clearly loves what he does and he’s good at it.

 

What else? Tomorrow is Copenhagen, then Amsterdam then day at sea, then London… As happy as I will be for you all to start your trip, I am not looking forward to ending mine… but still plenty of time. Until then….

 

Sorry so long… feel free to ask questions. I am sure I will be online at some point during the day at sea!

[shua22]

Signatures was delicious, by the way. I loved it!

 

Copenhagen was great -- totally rainy in the morning but it cleared up later. A very cosmopolitan city.

 

Today is the day at sea and it is unbelievably rough out there -- 100km/hour winds and huge waves here in the North Sea. Lots of sick passengers. (but I'm feeling good and relaxed). We will be at least 3 hours late for port in Amsterdam tomorrow.... Wish me luck.

[OrpingtonT]

That area can be rough, but you seem to be coping well. Your posts are interesting and it is good that you enjoyed Signatures. Good luck and keep posting.

[shua22]

They made up some time and we ended up in port about 2 hours behind schedule. Had a full day in Amsterdam and heading to La Veranda for a late dinner and to the Beatles show -- they are doing it at the Horizon Lounge. I need to start a new post to tell you all about Ray Solaire and how amazing he is! Chow for now!

[Travelcat2]

Looking forward to hearing about Ray Solaire! We leave tomorrow for Heathrow. . . . you will disembark on Monday and we will begin the next leg of the journey.

[OrpingtonT]

They made up some time and we ended up in port about 2 hours behind schedule. Had a full day in Amsterdam and heading to La Veranda for a late dinner and to the Beatles show -- they are doing it at the Horizon Lounge. I need to start a new post to tell you all about Ray Solaire and how amazing he is! Chow for now!

 

Interesting place, Amsterdam. Very walkable, good (?) cafe culture and absorbing red-light district.

 

Safe trip, Travelcat and enjoy your cruise.

[shua22]

Yes OrpingtonT, Amsterdam is fascinating -- the architecture and canals are stunning. The red light disctict is worth seeing but I am uneasy there --high crime areas tend to make me that way. And I also find it depressing -- I start imagining the back stories and that each one of those poor sad girls has something they are running from and it is all very unfortunate.

 

TravelCat, et al... I hope you all enjoy your cruise as much as I enjoyed this one. I know that the crew is looking forward to moving away from the baltic. The entertainers boarded in Southhampton and havent been back since May. They are itching for a change. And they are itching for some warmer weather. The beatles show was pretty good!!

 

Ray will be the subject of his own little topic as soon as I can

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Looking forward to hearing about Ray Solaire! We leave tomorrow for Heathrow. . . . you will disembark on Monday and we will begin the next leg of the journey.

 

Bon voyage Travelcat, I really hope you have a wonderful time.