JMBobB

SWMbI and I boarded Navigator on her ATW cruise last February at Auckland. The following (1st sea day) the ship/cruise director threw a 'Block Party' in which bubbly, canapes, hats and name tags were provided in order that cruisers meet their fellow corridor mates at a minimum. The ship's officers sidled through and we thoroughly enjoyed the event.

We later this happened numerous times during the voyage.

This was one of the friendliest cruises we've taken - as well as our best ever.

Run! Don't walk to your TA to reserve this cruise - or as much of it as you can afford to be away from home.

JMBobB

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We did our first Regent cruise last February on Navigator Auckland to Perth and loved everything about it. Will be doing a TA on Voyager this November so will have a comparison of Regent ships.

JMBobB

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Hi Jim,

SWMbI and moi are at the Majestic Hotel Nov 10-12. Hope it helps.

JMBobB

Hmmm...

Several thoughts here with few being qualified or negative:

1. Our first Oceania cruise was in the Baltic on Nautica. We were hooked and became confirmed Oceania cruisers.We were in an A2 and the only negatives were a plastic shower curtain/phone booth shower combination (that I hated which caused us to upgrade to PH's in future; and we did note some furniture nicks etc which were rectified soon after with an overall upgrade. We did 12 days on Sirena last summer and loved the ship. It seemed perfectly refurbished, especially the walk in shower (bath still cramped) and hated the combined steak/pasta restaurant with all glass walls that echoed insufferably

2. Our preference is for the O ships (especially bargain fare TA;s). We prefer the 4 specialty restaurant choices (we've made out like bandits despite our PH status - largely thanks to some all-world butlers and our TA). That said about 1500 odd close friends is about as big a hoard as we are comfortable traveling with. But both Riviera (our fave) and Marina are truly works of art at sea. What I see elsewhere appears largely flash, gaudy and frankly tacky from our point of view.

3. We did 19 days last February on RSSC Navigator down under. She is Regent's oldest ship by far, originally built as an ice breaker but converted to a passenger liner after launch. This was our first cruise on Regent and we found absolutely nothing we didn't love. Despite her age, Navigator was lovingly maintained. We found her different layout preferable to Oceania's: We liked the Compass Rose (their GD) on deck 4 center ship) much more stable during heavy seas. We loved our PH2 deck 9 centered, especially how the stateroom was laid out; we felt we had close to the same amount of room as in an 'O' PH and that included a real king bed. We also preferred the 2 deck aft entertainment lounge compared to O's single forward lounges. This has been our absolute best cruise to date.

4. Regents all-inclusive fare was heaven on earth. All excursions and alcohol included. It was nice not to have to sign a chit for a gin & tonic or a glass of wine at dinner.Wish Oceania would adopt the same fare structure. We felt that Regent's all-inclusive fare was either close to or the same as Oceania's O'LIfe fare plus alcohol all things being included.

5. Yes, both are NCL lines, both share a similar 'aulde' style decoration scheme and most importantly a warm, personal attention to service and ambience for their passengers that newer and bigger (read floating cities) will never possess nor provide..

SWMbI and moi will never be comfortable in any environment, especially at sea in something that emulates a European Professional Soccer Riot.

Thanks for bearing with my rambling.

JMBobB

Comments regarding the Mariner:

My wife and I sailed this oldest RSSC ship 19 days AUK-PER as part of a round the world cruise.

It is the smallest ship we've sailed but was our best cruise ever!

The crew were fantastic - cheerful, always dedicated to making your time on Regent the best.

The food was superb start to finish.

Entertainment was always a treat.

We were in a PH2 on deck 9. Despite the ship being old every space was lovingly maintained and spotless to a fault. Our stateroom certainly seemed larger, better arranged with a real king bed compared to our more usual PH1s on Oceania - even Riviera and Marina.

Bottom line I think the fare on Regent worked out even with Oceania considering Regent is all inclusive.

Finally, I've recently read that Regent has put Navigator up for sale. I would have happily sailed on her again.

JMBobB

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Welcome Joe,

Nice to have a website host once more. There will be days when you may need to bring your whip and chair. Overall this is a really classy crowd.

JMBobB

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Have sailed in stateroom 11027 on Marina, which opens directly onto the forward elevator lobby without problem or concern. Will occupy the same cabin this July-August and happy to have it.

JMBobB

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In general I agree with the first sentence of hammy cruiser above. Howsumever

On our second cruise on Oceania SWMbI and moi received and invitation to dine with the Food and Beverage Manager on Riviera. The Cruise Director was also at the 8 person table for our pleasant dinner meal.

Prior to boarding our cruise on Sirena last summer we received an e-mail invitation to join the God-Mother of Sirena, Claudin Pepan for lunch. We RSVPd and we ended up having a wonderful meal with Claudin and her husband Rollie.

We have no idea how we ended up on either invitation list. Incidentally we usually book a penthouse suite. We are not frequent cruisers.

Last month we were on a 19 day cruise on Regent Navigator, one leg of a round the world cruise from Auckland to Perth. We ate most nights in the Compass Rose dining room (their GDR). On most nights we observed most of the ships officers dining at guest tables. We were never so honored.

I haven't a clue as to either lines invitation criteria.

JMBobB

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+1 Lunesta

JMBobB

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We just completed our 9th cruise with Oceania without problem. Recommend you go on Jo's website and fill out a customer service request to advise your ship's food service dept. that you are gluten & dairy intolerant. You should begin receiving a dinner menu depending on whether you have a specialty dinner reservation (otherwise they will assume you will dine in the Grand Dining Room) menu. Be sure to request a confirmation e-mail that your request has been transmitted to your ship.

Breakfast and lunch tell your waiter you are gluten/dairy intolerant and they will happily check with the kitchen for you.

Most important, go and enjoy!

JMBobB

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My wife (SWMbI) is gluten-intolerant

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Hi Gerry,

Please remind me which ship/cruise you and Ken are on. Misty and I so wish you were on the TA with us. At least our favorite artist, Graham Dennison and his wife Shuna will stay on from Rome to Malaga for company. Hope you are both well. We are depending on your Swiss military to defend Europe since America has decided to stay home and play mumbly-peg in Ft. Knox.

Bob

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Well, after 7 voyages on Oceania (4 'O') & (3 'R') cruises and with a TA on Riviera this November, I believe I can say with confidence that the O-Line will do just fine... :rolleyes:

JMBobB

PEE-pul, PEE-pul, PEE-pul!

Let's all be calm out there. As numerous reports and articles are making clear, just about the entire cruise ship industry is in some stage of upheaval over re-planning their Caribbean itineraries.

I'd like to know as much as anyone how the November TA on Riviera will proceed. But I am also confident that Oceania will let us know as soon as they can confirm ports and/or docking spaces. The lines fully understand the pressure to redo tour packages and plans. And much as I hate to contemplate the economic fallout on all sides, I suspect many will just cancel their near-on plans and wait a year for their sun'n'sand in the Mid-American 'bath-tub.'

JMBobB

Here's a new build from Cunard with all the latest bells and whistles (and 3,000 "guests"). Any takers?

Amen Paul,

1200 'close friends' is about the limit of my crowd tolerance. Especially debarking at Port of Miami...:(

JMBobB

Gerry,

Last November we sailed on Riviera from Venice with the same next day departure. I believe we held the drill the afternoon of departure requiring passengers to return earlier than some would have liked to attend 'life boat drill.'

Incidentally, is just my failing memory or do more passengers seem to be missing the scheduled drill in recent years?

JMBobB

On our most recent trip, Lisbon to Bilbao, aboard Sirena a number of passengers purchased the wristband thingy in the boutique that is supposed to alleviate motion sickness. I never heard any complaints with this but I also never thought the seas were anything truly serious to worry about either.

Of course, at my age I just naturally tend to bounce from wall-to-wall as I proceed down the ships' corridors and open spaces... :o

JMBobB

My wife and I are confirmed O Ship fans. That being said, we just got off Sirena (R Ship) in August and loved the ship. We generally sail in PH class and the one thing I'd hated about the R Ships was the detestably cramped showers with dreadful plastic shower curtains. Sirena has be lovingly up-graded and now has a roomy walk-in shower (with hand-holds folks) albeit at the expense of room in the rest of the bath.

I agree about the better itineraries on the R Ships which are smaller thus allowing a greater choice of ports.

And personally, I prefer the Polo Restaurant as it was originally intended to be. The hybrid Tuscan Steak abridged menu (where's my Navy Bean Soup?) and all mirrors all the time drives me nuts with the glare and noise reverberation.

JMO

JMBobB

Yup, you sure can. After boarding Sirena last July in Lisbon I remembered I'd left some things at the Intercontinental Hotel. Grabbed ships ID and wallet and raced off the ship to recover them. Hotel staff were great! Forty minutes after racing down the gangway I was wheezing back up it belongings in hand.

Lots o'luck on the inflight nap thingy.

JMBobB

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Thanks for that JMBobB !

Now add Tanqueray 10 or Hendricks.... nirvana 😀

B

Your lucky day B. Tanq, my normal choice is one of the well gins on O. I do enjoy Henricks as an occasional change for an extra couple of greenbacks on board. It's one of the times that I appreciate going 'limey.

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During the last four years on Riviera and Marina we've always been served Fever Tree in our G&Ts. Good stuff!

JMBobB

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This thread has me worried. We just booked and the Oceania rep. recommended we take a room on Deck 11, even though the Veranda Concierge lounge is 3 decks below. She did not say anything about issues with the overhang, or noise. We will be in 11042, which is mid-ship. Is the noise and overhang in this area annoying enough to move down a deck or two?

We've been in cabins 11046 & 11048 and with the possible exception of hearing the automatic door opening in the morning when deck crew move furniture (door opening & closing) noise has not been an issue. The overhang issue isn't one with us. We prefer shade to bright sun coming into the stateroom during the day. If the sun is not positioned for sunbathing on your veranda there is always the pool deck and lounge chairs positioned on the deck above.

JMBobB

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Two November TAs on Riviera and they carved turkey on Thanksgiving (US) both times. Expect the same this November.

JMBobB

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Not True! Not True!

My price has never gone up. :cool:

I've always been a cheep date! ;p

JMBobB

In almost all cases passengers are served/provided Coke Products. The Crew gets Pepsi Products (which I prefer). As stated above, ask your TA to request anything rare or unusual well before boarding. In my case, I can ask my butler to "steal" some Diet Pepsi from the crew dining facility and it will appear in my cabin fridge in short order. ;)

JMBobB