Comments live from the Navigator 3/30

We'll write a full review when we return but want to share a few things that we were concerned about from reading different opinions of this ship. We have been on the Voyager and PG previously.

1. Vibration! What vibration? I completely believe that your experience was just different than ours -- probably due to the time of year you traveled. We intentionally picked mid-ship -- 8th deck as we were on a higher deck on the Voyager and felt the vibration. The Navigator is considerably quieter than the Voyager and the vibration is barely noticeable (definitely less than the Voyager . . . yes, we've tried the showroom -- little to no vibration).

2. Smoking (please don't start a thread on this -- I think Cruise Critic is fed up with smoking comments.) There is NO smoking in the Portofino restaurant, the Navigator Lounge and one other lounge (name escapes me at the moment). The only places we have seen smoking is the casino and Stars Lounge. I know there is smoking somewhere in Compass Rose but can't find it. Our cabin was free from smoke odors and we do not smell anything from neighboring cabins (note: the ship is completely full this week)

3. Condition of the ship -- excellent as it should be after it's recent dry dock.

4. Food -- good to excellent so far.

5. All inclusive alcohol -- no one appears to be drunk. Bars are empty during the day -- we are enjoying it very completely.

6. Staff -- rates higher than any ship we have been on to date. Unfortunately, the Cruise Director, John, is leaving the Navigator this week and will be on the Voyager. We have read many great things about Kenny Smiles (hope that's his name -- just can't keep it all straight) -- he will be performing tonight.

At this point there is truly nothing negative to say. Great cruise -- again -- no vibration -- barely any "squeaks" -- you would hardly know that we are at sea.

Just wanted to give our on-board comments on this lovely Western Carribean cruise. :)

Hey Travelcat2!!

I was just on the Navigator before you!

John, cruise director, was just MARVELOUS!! We all just adored him and

I thought he was going home for a visit, not to the Voyager. He was

a highlight for all of us. Tell him some of the Harris Teeter folks said HI!!

Kenny Smiles is an absolute riot. He did two shows for us and got standing

ovations both nights. He likes to pick on the folks up front. For the second night John reminded everyone to arrive early so you could get a back seat.

Be sure you go to tea-time at 4pm if they have it. The usually have a piano

player and lovely treats. It is such a good pick up in the late afternoon.

Bingo was also fun. One day all of the cards sold and the final, 4th, game

was worth quite a bit.

Did not really have a problem with the smoking. I know there were people

there doing it but it was not a big deal.

Bars were pretty busy with us. I know the bartenders dreaded the "girlie"

drinks, blender ones.

I did notice vibrations when we were going at full speed. Especially in

the showroom and some in the Compass Rose.

Be sure you do the Portofino Rest. It was delicious and the entertainment

was great. Two men walking around playing instruments and singing to

the women could not be any better.

The staff is all great and I wish I was there!! Beautiful ship!!

Did you guys do "pluck the duck"?

OH;)

Your comment about no vibration is interesting to me. Go down to the show lounge when the ship is at full cruising speed and tell me what you feel/hear. If your response is "nothing" it will be great news, as it will mean that Regent has finally fixed something on this otherwise wonderful ship.

Thanks,

Richard

Funny Richard, but I don't think they fixed anything in the recent soft-goods refit (not really a dry dock I don't believe.)

Our cruise in December was right afterwards, and quite rough. The show lounge was definitely noisy and vibrating so badly that one of the presenters could barely stay standing. But that was about it. On rough nights our cabin did squeak and groan, but I'm used to that on Voyager as well.

Anyways, I'm glad that Navigator is humming along in good shape!

Funny Richard, but I don't think they fixed anything in the recent soft-goods refit (not really a dry dock I don't believe.)

 

 

Wendy,

 

What do you mean by soft-goods refit? When we got to the Navigator

on March 23rd the Mariner was docked across from us. Looked like the

beds/mattresses were out on most of the balconies. Then they moved the ship before we left for our cruise. Is it just a really good cleaning of

the ship?

 

The Navigator was beautiful and VERY clean. Saw crews

everyday just wiping down the walls and polishing. I want to say on

the galley tour they said they have 5-6 people that all their job is:

polishing silver they serve food/drink from.

 

OH:)

I know they replaced all of the bedding, carpets and upholstery.

But they did other things too, I know. The painted outside a lot, replaced light fixtures, that kind of thing. And I believe they refinished some of the furniture as well. Don't know what they did of a technical nature. Oh, they did some renovation too--changed the exercise and spa areas.

That is a lot Wendy!! I am so impressed by how much time they

spend on caring for their ships.

Hey Travelcat2... Llandar was asking about suite 1125. I don't

even remember going through that area on 11. Check it out

and let us know!!:rolleyes:

Are you having fun TC2? I have been waiting to hear more about

your trip!!

Wish I had time to answer all questions -- will do so when we get home. Sutie 1125? Will have to look for it and report back. Due to vibration issues, we chose midship on deck 8.

Okay -- finally felt some vibration but definitely not as strong as Voyager. The vibration was in Portofino -- corner table. Definitely little "vibration" in the showroom. Last night we were in open seas -- really strongest waves of the voyage -- we felt the ship moving on the waves quite a bit during the show. Maybe we are looking for the vibration we felt on the Voyager (shaking and noisy sensation vs. the feeling of the ship moving with the waves).

Do not think Regent can do anything about vibration on this ship or the Voyager. Recent dry/wet docks appear to have been to change dry goods including carpeting, etc. The ship looks great.

The only thing many passengers discuss is the lack of choices in restaurants. Voyager have 4 restaurants plus the pool area -- Navigator has 2 -- my only complaint.

Last but not least (for now) is that I have heard over and over again that 2008 is definitely the last year that Regent will manage PG. At that point, Regent is "thinking" about when it makes sense to build a new ship.

So glad to hear that the voyage the week before ours was so good. Cheers from the non-vibrating Navigator.

Travelcat2-

I was asking for the info on suite 1125. It was just added to the area on deck 11 where the salon moved from, right off the elevator lobby. RSSC has placed it as a "Navigator Suite" like the ones on deck 8. I'm interesed in knowing if it is comparable to, or even possibly better or worse than the other Navagator Suite category. The folks in the RSSC office do not know anything about it.

Anything you can find out about it would be greatly appreciated: size, configuation, separate bedroom?, is the window in the livingroom area floor to ceiling? etc.

I have it booked, but wish I knew the details.

Thanks for the detective work!

I think I should have checked e-mail again as I didn't get the specific questions on Suite 1125 until I returned. I was not able to actually see the inside of the suite but have been told it is a "regular" Navigator Suite. The location on Deck 11 is great. It does have a separate entrance -- when you exit the glass elevators, it's the first it's on the right side -- small entry -- unlike any of the other suites. Sorry Llanda, wish I could have gotten better information. Have you asked your travel agent? When are you going? Regent is really behind in communicating information on 2008 to TA's -- they are introducing the varied itineraries and introducting a few other changes.

Oliverhazard -- what is "Pluck the Duck"? Sounds like fun. You're right -- John is taking a vacation but is not returning to the Navigator. His wife is having a baby in September and I think he said he'll be on the Voyager but am not sure when.

The cruise was great -- the only negative remains the lack of dining options. Also, the chef's father passed away so she had to suddenly leave the ship (not sure exactly when). We took the galley tour and were told by the Assistant Chef that he had a very difficult week -- planning menu's, etc. Although the food was mostly very good, there were a few disasters (grouper that you could not cut -- tough chicken, etc.)

I will do a more detailed review of the ship -- it takes a while for Cruise Critic to post reviews due to the high volume of reviews they receive.

After all of my comments on the vibration on the Voyager, we booked a cruise for next year on the Voyager. The deciding factor was four restaurants vs. two. We were probably just lucky to have the vibration so minimal on the Navigator -- perhaps the same thing will happen on our next Voyager cruise;)

I think I should have checked e-mail again as I didn't get the specific questions on Suite 1125 until I returned. I was not able to actually see the inside of the suite but have been told it is a "regular" Navigator Suite. The location on Deck 11 is great. It does have a separate entrance -- when you exit the glass elevators, it's the first it's on the right side -- small entry -- unlike any of the other suites. Sorry Llanda, wish I could have gotten better information. Have you asked your travel agent? When are you going? Regent is really behind in communicating information on 2008 to TA's -- they are introducing the varied itineraries and introducting a few other changes.

 

Oliverhazard -- what is "Pluck the Duck"? Sounds like fun. You're right -- John is taking a vacation but is not returning to the Navigator. His wife is having a baby in September and I think he said he'll be on the Voyager but am not sure when.

 

The cruise was great -- the only negative remains the lack of dining options. Also, the chef's father passed away so she had to suddenly leave the ship (not sure exactly when). We took the galley tour and were told by the Assistant Chef that he had a very difficult week -- planning menu's, etc. Although the food was mostly very good, there were a few disasters (grouper that you could not cut -- tough chicken, etc.)

 

I will do a more detailed review of the ship -- it takes a while for Cruise Critic to post reviews due to the high volume of reviews they receive.

 

After all of my comments on the vibration on the Voyager, we booked a cruise for next year on the Voyager. The deciding factor was four restaurants vs. two. We were probably just lucky to have the vibration so minimal on the Navigator -- perhaps the same thing will happen on our next Voyager cruise;)

Hey Travelcat2!!

Is it hard being off the ship?? I miss it terribly, the making of the beds,

being fed great food and not having to pick up the dirty dishes off the

table!!

I knew about John and his wife but did not know if it was common

knowledge about her. I am sure he needs a vacation, just watching

him entertain everyone wore me out!! Does his wife sail? Is she on

the Voyager or at home in the UK. Don't know if you know?!

Pluck the Duck was one of the funnest things I have seen in a long

time. Harris Teeter did a WONDERFUL job of spoiling the winners of

their individual stores. When we returned to our rooms one morning

after breakfast we had a beach bag on our beds. Inside were two

beach towels with our voyage name embroidered "The Great VIC

VOYAGE II" and two rubber duckies, 2 cute designs of a pirate

and one with bath supplies, and a marker. We were instructed to

put our names and suite numbers on the ducks and have them

thrown in the pool by 10am. At 10am, 12noon and 2pm, 10 ducks

were plucked out of the pool for a prize. It was such fun John was

on the camera in his little show "calling" Regent telling them about

this GREAT idea that HE THOUGHT UP, hehehe, and giving prizes

out. That day we threw our duckies back in, some from the upper

deck like ours, for another plucking. It was so rough on this sea

day the waves in the pool were flying up in the air, some hitting

John on the pool deck. PLUCK THE DUCK was a giant success!!

I did email the ship to see if I could get Llanda any info on Suite 1125

but don't know if I will hear back from them.

We also took a tour of the galley and the head chef was out during

our week. I did not have anything that was not less than excellent

on the ship. The dining options are not a big on the Navigator, I agree.

Our cruise was only a 6 day, 5 night, was not a big deal to us. But

others on longer trips, I could see it might be wearing.

The vibration on the Navigator for us was mostly in the Aft. The Seven

Seas Lounge where the shows are could get bouncy along with

Galelios and Portofinos. We were towards the front on deck 7 and

only noticed the waves rocking us to sleep.

Let me know when your review is posted, I would love to read it!!

OH:D:D

Hi OH,

Think that Pluck the Duck was something that was only done on your "special" cruise. Sounds like fun! Yes - I do miss being treated royally -- having towels replaced, the fluffy bathrobes, etc. For all of these reasons, we have become a bit hooked on Regent and look forward to our fourth cruise next year.

The "vibration" issue has been discussed constantly on these boards. I believe it has to do with the speed of the ship and how rough the seas are. Most people say that the vibration is stronger on the Navigator than on the Voyager but this was not our experience (we had extremely calm seas).

I am going to start working on a draft of the review tonight and hope to post it tomorrow (however, it needs Cruise Critic review and may not be posted for some time). Not sure how much you read about the Navigator prior to your cruise. . . we heard extremely negative reports on the ship and found it to be much better than expected. I do have quite a bit to say on the food, dining choices and excursions. In terms of the ship itself, I would rate it a "5" out of "5".

Did you post a review yet? (if not -- what are you waiting for;) ).

TC2

Hey TC2

I did not do a review because I am not very eloquent!! I did not

expect anything before the cruise so I was very pleasantly

surprised. It was GREAT!! I remember getting on the ship and

going up the elevator and thinking, am I ever going to be able

to find my way around? Such a nice ship!!

OH:cool:

Hello...happy to hear about your recent Navigator cruise.

I see from the other thread that you were able to send Llanda some pics of suite 1125? If it were possible could you send these to me as well?

My wife and myself are booked in that suite for the 6/23 sailing and I am a bit concerned about the fact that it is 100 sq ft smaller but the price is the same as the other NS. Regent indicated to my TA that there was no difference.

Thanks

Oooops, sorry.

if you do have these pics.. my private email is

chefpa@msn.com

thanks much