Mariner: 5/18-6/1, Vancouver-Vancouver: Poss now

Poss,

While posts to your thread are in the 50s, your view count is in the 3000s.

Please know there are several of us reading with great interest even if we don't post.

I'm posting mainly to add to the encouragement...please do continue and share all your thoughts as they are valued.

ededmd

Thanks for the chime-ins.

I always seem to have more to say about excursions than other aspects of cruising (for reasons mentioned), plus I think I'm losing steam, so there'll probably not be a whole lot more. At the same time, I will be most happy to answer any questions very best I can.

FELLOW PASSENGERS: I agree with other posters that our fellows on this itinerary seemed almost 100% a pleasant group of people. I liked the fact that it appeared to be a pretty heterogeneous collection, I mean in style, degree of "dress up," age, etc. Definitely more "over 60's" than under (yes, I agree that my Jack looks younger than his years, which is especially nice given the fact that there are some not-minor problems). Most everyone appeared happy and relaxed; I heard very few complaints of any sort. The tone of the ship was easy and cordial, and I didn't have the sense of nose-in-the-air types, though I was bothered by an incident the day we boarded:

I think that we were on the ship about 12:30, and as usual we were told to please not go to our suites until the go-ahead was given. As on past cruises, we had some lunch on the pool deck/Veranda, strolled a bit in the "allowed" areas, looked for a cowboy hat so that I could say hello to George and Rachel-- and waited to be told we could go to our rooms. There were periodic notices over the speakers to please honor that request, and that rooms should be ready for occupancy around 2:00. Around that time, we wandered to the middle part of our deck (7: in fact I wanted to check something in the spa), and sat in the casino (in which we have no interest)--but kept away from the hallways. At a certain point, I was surprised to meet someone who was coming out from those halls. She cheerfully announced that she and her husband were already "completely unpacked," and that they "always go to their room early," before the signal. I'm bothered by demonstrations of a showy sense of entitlement, as if rules were made for other people. I actually said (aloud) that if everyone jumped the gun like that, the porters and stewards would no doubt have a difficult time getting luggage into suites and suites ready for occupancy. Afterwards, I wished I hadn't spoken up, because that's no way to begin a journey, but I didn't overly berate myself (something I'm a champ at doing).

On the other hand, I should mention that I virtually never on this trip saw the kind of pushiness about getting on excursions that I've witnessed before. People were well-behaved waiting in the theater and strolling out to the buses (I never found collecting for tours to be a nuisance). Unless I'm forgetting, I don't think that anyone tried to make a charge for the bus in order to get the front seat. Somehow I felt a greater sense of courtesy all-around this time. Nice!

Speaking of people: We had a wonderful steward, probably our favorite yet. Lester was sweet and charming and full of energy and appeared so much to be enjoying his work. He seemed to have an eternal smile, one which looked totally genuine. I associated that perpetual smile with Lester to such a degree that it was amusing (and a little spooky) to see him in one of the Krew Kaper acts. This was something called a "fan dance," and it was explained that part of the tradition of this particular dance was that dancers must not smile. I teased Lester afterwards, and told him he was barely recognizable without his big grin. Nice to have the kind of personality where one has to "act" to keep a grin OFF of one's face rather than act to plaster one on!

A few more remarks to come.

One thing that was a pleasant surprise for us was starting tours on the dock rather than waiting in the Constellation Theatre. It had been three years since we had been on a Regent Cruise and we had never experienced that before. Only one of our five excursions began in the theater and that was in a tender port. For the excursion, Sea Otters and Wildlife Quest, we boarded the boat directly. There were many people on the excursion though the boat itself was not crowded and had quite a few open seats. Nevertheless all passengers were called to board at once and that made quite a backlog on the stairs leading to the check out point and boat. The passengers were courteous, but the wait was unnecessary as people could have been summoned by rows or groups rather than all at once.

I very much like starting the tours on the dock rather than waiting in the theater. The whole process just seems much more efficient. Obviously can't do this everywhere (tender ports), but where they can, I think they should.

I very much like starting the tours on the dock rather than waiting in the theater. The whole process just seems much more efficient. Obviously can't do this everywhere (tender ports), but where they can, I think they should.

With that I could post a million "+1"'s. Our excursions on Silversea began on the dock and it was amazingly efficient. One time we had forgotten our tickets but rather than returning to the ship (which is what Regent does), they were able to take care of immediately - on the spot!

Very much agree with last three posts, including fact that Sea Otter could have been managed more efficiently. But in general things really do seem less hectic than in the past.

I very much like starting the tours on the dock rather than waiting in the theater. The whole process just seems much more efficient. Obviously can't do this everywhere (tender ports), but where they can, I think they should.

Me too, it would be just like the "good old days". Does this mean they are moving more in that direction, or is that just an anomaly of Alaska?

Just a bit more.

We were essentially very pleased with dining. As I mentioned already, there were disappointments in CR-- including, on our last evening, the worst Pad Thai I've ever seen or tasted anywhere in my life. I like the dish a lot, have had it in numerous restaurants, both hole-in-the wall kinds of Thai restaurants and "gourmet" Thai restaurants. The dish scarcely resembled Pad Thai-- noodles were sitting in an awful-looking dark brown sauce, with no sign whatsoever of any crushed peanuts, egg, scallion. It was a turn-off to look at, but I tasted it anyway: just terrible. As with the lobster disappointment on an earlier evening, this was not a big deal because there were plenty of other yummies, including (once again!) the guilt-inducing foie gras.

A thing I like a lot about dining in CR is that one can order (24 hrs in advance) items from the other restaurants, and of course one can order entire special dinner, as some people do. I'd love to have that experience sometime, but it works best if one is dining with other people, and we pretty much always dine alone. One thing that we don't like about CR (actually I think it's the case in all the venues?) is that the window tables (which we would enjoy) have seating so far across from each other that we don't exactly feel as if we're each sitting on another planet, but we find the distance not pleasing at all (in fact, that kind of space seems silly to us, though I'm sure not to all); plus it's difficult to hear one's partner (which of course makes everyone have to speak louder and thus ups the noise volume in the room). Other than these things, and the ones I mentioned in an earlier post, we certainly enjoy dining in CR, especially since there are areas where we can sit side-by-side and where there are no drafts.

I'll be back shortly.

Me too, it would be just like the "good old days". Does this mean they are moving more in that direction, or is that just an anomaly of Alaska?

Good question. Hoping they are moving more in that direction!

Fares were significantly lowered yesterday for a number of sailings including the Med, Baltics and the remainder of the Alaska season

How does one hear about fare reductions? An email from Regents or a special travel agent? Thanks!

How does one hear about fare reductions? An email from Regents or a special travel agent? Thanks!

If your TA is good, they will be on top of reductions as they come. But it always pays to be vigilant. I happened to check the website for my booked cruise, because of something that Poss said about the air offerings. I noticed that the fare listed was quite substantially lower than what my invoice said, and that it looked like Business air was now included. So I emailed my TA immediately and asked about that. As usual, my agency was already working with Regent to process the discounts for those who qualified.

That being said, I have yet to receive my new invoice. I think it affected lots of bookings and it's taking Regent time. My TA has been apologetic about the delay. But my cruise isn't until January so I'm not impatient.

Poss, after years of reading your posts and comments on this board I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to meet you in person. The funny thing is you had already met Al and knew about my wrist problem. You were so kind and caring every time I saw you and then I found out who you were. I loved meeting you and hope we'll be on many more cruises together!

...

That being said, I have yet to receive my new invoice. I think it affected lots of bookings and it's taking Regent time. My TA has been apologetic about the delay. But my cruise isn't until January so I'm not impatient.

BTW, got my new invoice yesterday (yes, my TA works on weekends!) Won't bore you with the details, but what with "free" one-way Business air (instead of a $499 promo), and the base fare reductions, we're saving about $5K. Nice father's day present for David!

Glad to hear that everything worked out, Wendy. Your itinerary sounds great, and of course made more special by meeting your friends.

Kathy-- thanks so very much for ringing in and for your kind words. It was a real pleasure to meet you as well, as I've been aware of "Anna B" for a long while. Your posts are always so positive and warm, so I was not surprised at all to meet in the flesh the person that you are: such ready smiles and openness and friendliness. I'd love to be on a cruise with you and Al sometime again-- and maybe we'll find a way to get around our tendency not to engage much. I'd like that!

Thanks so much for your kind words, Poss. We would love to cruise with you again too. Contrary to what you say, I found you to be very engaging. Next time we'll have dinner and I'll find out what "Poss" means :)

Thanks so much for your kind words, Poss. We would love to cruise with you again too. Contrary to what you say, I found you to be very engaging. Next time we'll have dinner and I'll find out what "Poss" means :)

Inquiring minds want to know! Can I come too?

ABSOLUTELY you can come, Rachel! Can't wait to see you and George in September! Save a night for us!

Okay you guys, I am now officially jealous. Would love to cruise with Kathy, Al, Rachel and George again and would also love to meet poss. Guess we are choosing the wrong itineraries:o

Yes you are, Jackie! Although, as you well know, I change my mind every five minutes!

Whereas the explanation for "Anna B" is innocent and endearing, "poss," otoh, is somewhat, um, shall we say x-rated? Well, let's say PG-- that spells fit for consumption a la table.

Whereas the explanation for "Anna B" is innocent and endearing, "poss," otoh, is somewhat, um, shall we say x-rated? Well, let's say PG-- that spells fit for consumption a la table.

You are too cute! We'll get it out of you sooner or later ;)

ABSOLUTELY you can come, Rachel! Can't wait to see you and George in September! Save a night for us!

We will for sure!

Whereas the explanation for "Anna B" is innocent and endearing, "poss," otoh, is somewhat, um, shall we say x-rated? Well, let's say PG-- that spells fit for consumption a la table.

Poss, x-rated!?! Really, now I must know.