Parents just back from Navigator Monaco 9/4-Athens 9/11

[kat228]

Hi! Thought I'd give a quick second-hand account of a cruise. My parents just returned yesterday from a week long cruise aboard the Navigator of the Seas. The trip was to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary. They're both in their 50's (though I didn't tell you that )

The following was their itinerary:

Depart Monaco on the 4th at 5PM
Sept 5th at Civitavecchia (for Rome) Italy, 7AM to 7PM
Sept 6th, Sorrento/Capri Italy, 8 AM to 6PM
Sept 7th, Taormina (Naxos) Italy, 8AM to 6PM...my Dad was stationed here during Vietnam with the Navy and hasn't been back since
Sept 8th at Sea (the Ionian Sea) Dinner reservation in their Portofino Rest that night to celebrate their 25th
Sept 9th, Kusadasi Turkey 8AM till 11PM
]Sept 10th, Santorini, Greece 8AM till 6PM
Friday, Sept 11th in Athens at 8AM and depart ship

I know I had read prior to them leaving some negative comments about the Navigator and how it was in desperate need of it's upcoming Dry-dock. I purposefully didn't tell them about this because they were really looking forward to the cruise and I didn't want them anticipating anything negative. That being said, when I was talking to my Mom this morning, she mentioned that she thought the ship was just lovely and anything that they'll do in Dry-dock will only improve the ship. She had nothing bad to say about the room...this coming from a woman who travels quite frequently and has stayed in very highly rated hotels around the world. (In other words she has high standards, which is why I didn't mention it to her originally, I didn't want her looking for anything wrong, because I know my mother, she would.)

Another criticism I've read about Regent is their service. My parents had nothing but high praise. My Mom was saying how their glasses were never empty. And on the morning they were at sea that was their anniversary, she decided that she wanted a mimosa. She asked the waiter for one and apparently he had a distraught look on his face and let her know that the bar wasn't open yet. Of course my Mom didn't make a big deal out of it and said, "oh that's okay, I'll just have coffee then." But the waiter said to her, "let me see what I can do." A few minutes later the maitre 'd was coming out with a mimosa for her. They obviously didn't have to do that, but they definitely went over and above, something that always pleases my parents to no end.

Apparently the seas were very rough, which is unusual for that area. The captain kept coming on and apologizing for it...my Dad found it funny. As he put it, "what are you going to do about it?" Although there was an unfortunate incident as a couple on the 5th deck had a wave break the window in their room!! The husband had just left the room and the wife was still inside. She had cuts on her wrists from the broken glass and obviously there was quite a lot of water damage, but thank goodness no one was seriously injured! But that just shows you how rough the seas were!

As for the excursions, my parents really enjoyed themselves. They have already been to Rome, so on the first day they took the shorter tour, which happened to be the Handicap tour (they didn't realize this until after they booked it.) And were really glad they did. It helped them recover from traveling. The only port they really weren't fond of was Capri. They said it was very touristy, hot, and while it was pretty, it just wasn't as nice as the other ports. While in Taormina my Dad really enjoyed himself and they apparently took 90 pictures! (They barely know how to work the camera...) They bought a vase here. And in Turkey they bought a Turkish rug, which they told me all about, I think it was one of the highlights of their trips. They also went to Ephesia (sorry if I spelled that incorrectly.) It's where St John spoke to the Ephesians. They loved the town and were fascinated by it. I can see them taking a trip back and just doing Turkey. One thing my Mom said about the excursions is that she was glad they're "still in good health" (I swear she likes to think she's older than she is!) Even the "Handicap" Tour wouldn't have been all that great for someone in a wheelchair because of the amount of cobblestone streets, it would have been difficult to navigate. Although there was definitely less walking with the Handicap Tour, it's something to keep in mind. But for some of the others, she said that they definitely required a lot of walking and if you weren't in good physical condition, they would be tough.

My Mom and I are both in the food service business and as a rule we dislike buffets. And when I say we dislike, I mean we hate them with a firey passion that burns deep within us! That being said, my Mom said she was really really impressed with the buffet and that she actually enjoyed it. I was shocked. She also mentioned that their first evening she wasn't feeling great just because of all the traveling that they did. On the menu there was just a plain 'ol grilled chicken breast. She was pleased to see that they had things on the menu that were plain as well as things that were much fancier. Even the things that were plain were tasty and well cooked, she was very pleased. My Dad said he now has to go on a diet! He ate dessert every night as well as had peanut butter cookies every day at lunch...apparently these peanut butter cookies are the cat's meow. He went on about them for a good 5 minutes (and they're sugar free!)

So that's just about everything that I can remember. I'll have pictures soon (I'm putting together a picture book for them for an anniversary present) and I'll post a few. If anyone has any questions that weren't answered here, please feel free to ask and if I don't know I'll ask them!

[Rally]

Originally Posted by kat228

Hi! Thought I'd give a quick second-hand account of a cruise. My parents just returned yesterday from a week long cruise aboard the Navigator of the Seas. The trip was to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary. They're both in their 50's (though I didn't tell you that )

What a wonderful review. Thank you so much!

[poss]

It's lovely of you to post about your parents' pleasure in their cruise. Good for you-- and them!
Question though: Is Regent's Navigator called Navigator of the Seas? I.e. was this happy trip on a Regent ship?
Many great future sails to Kat and her parents.

[kat228]

Originally Posted by Rally

What a wonderful review. Thank you so much!

Glad you liked it

Originally Posted by poss

It's lovely of you to post about your parents' pleasure in their cruise. Good for you-- and them!
Question though: Is Regent's Navigator called Navigator of the Seas? I.e. was this happy trip on a Regent ship?
Many great future sails to Kat and her parents.

Oops! I have the name a little wrong, sorry... It's the Regent Seven Seas Navigator. I think there's another cruise ship called Navigator of the Seas and when I first started looking for reviews I pulled that one up and it stuck in my head. But yes, thanks for correcting me, it is in fact the Regent Seven Seas Navigator. So all the above information is correct except for the name, I'm slightly off.

[wripro]

Navigator of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean ship. the Navigator is a Regent ship....two completely different animals.

[kat228]

Originally Posted by wripro

Navigator of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean ship. the Navigator is a Regent ship....two completely different animals.

Yes, I realize that. It's already been addressed that I mixed up the names and that they did in fact go on the Regent cruise.

[Host Dan]

Great review! Thanks for posting your parents experience!!

Host Dan

PS Wripro's comment was posted at the same time as yours...

[kat228]

Thanks for pointing that out Host Dan. I didn't notice it.

Uploading pictures. Will post in a few minutes. (Sorry it took longer to get these than I thought!)

[kat228]

Their first view of the ship:



Stateroom:




Onboard:




Theater:

[kat228]

Stairwell:


Not of the ship, but I love this picture and was rather impressed by my parents, so I want to share it! From the dock in Turkey:






End of the trip:

[azgkrudi]

What a great review and beautiful pictures. Brings back wonderful memories, as we did this same itinerary (but in reverse) on Navigator 2 years ago. My husband and I feel the same way about buffets as you and your mother - we usually avoid them like the plague - but on our last Navigator cruise, there we were on the pool deck at lunch time, filling up our plates!

Thanks so much for sharing your parents' experience!

[mariners]

You've provided visual answers to some of the questions people have asked. Great review and absolutely stunning photographs.

[kat228]

They did take some other photos of the cabin if anyone wants to see them. I think they had the camera on the wrong setting (not unlike them!) for inside photos, so they're all a bit blurry, but if there's a question about the cabins that would be answered with a photo, please someone let me know and I'll be happy to post it!

[cands]

Thanks for the great review and wonderful photos.
Taormina and Kusadasi(Ephesus) were two of our favourite ports.

Steve

[AnglerGirl]

Kat, thank you for a great review and sharing the pics. You done good!

[kat228]

Originally Posted by cands

Thanks for the great review and wonderful photos.
Taormina and Kusadasi(Ephesus) were two of our favourite ports.

Steve

I think my Mom would move to Sicily in a heartbeat, they loved it. I don't think I mentioned it, but my Dad was stationed in Taormina, so he was able to tell her what it was like 30 years ago!

Originally Posted by AnglerGirl

Kat, thank you for a great review and sharing the pics. You done good!

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed

[wandererof the world]

Nice review!
My husband and I, as well as my parents, his mom and another couple were on the same trip--
Beautiful weather despite the rough seas two nights, between Monte Carlo and the port for Rome, and upon leaving Taormina; we were dining in Portofino and were nearly tossed from our chairs!
Had sailed with Regent (Radisson) only once previously on the PG (magical!); not the same sort of trip as this was VERY port intensive-- and I agree with your assesment of needing to be in shape for the tours! I was very proud of our octogenarians!!-- but it was a lovely trip none the less (altho I'm not sure we really needed the balcony as we only used it twice unlike our daily breakfast and cocktails aboard the PG!)
Thanks for sharing the great pictures as well!