Kiwifromkiev

On 1/26/2024 at 12:08 AM, flossie009 said:

The problem of whistling balcony doors has been an issue on this new class of ship since Explorer was brought into service.

When we were on Splendor it appeared they had tried to alleviate the problem by fitting tighter door seals, but that just meant that the door was very difficult to open 🤨

 

 

Could the reported problem with lack of sound insulation between suites be in any way related to the difficulties the shipyard had in 2023 with sourcing properly certificated insulation panels? (FT report)

Has anyone checked the suite walls with a magnet to see if an insulated liner has been applied to the steel wall prior to decoration?

 

How would a magnet assist with knowing it? I have tried magnets and found the ordinary ones would not stay well, only super strong hook my DH had, I was not checking though, just tried some of magnets we bought and realised they would not stay, especially heavier ones 

On 1/26/2024 at 3:27 AM, Snh lname said:

@papaflamingo My comments agree with yours 100%. 
 

Our cruise had substandard Panama Canal enrichment. That seems to have been corrected by your cruise. My major criticism. 
 

Glad you enjoyed the cruise. 

Perhaps a number of complaints on our cruise made them focus PC enrichment for the return trip

On 1/25/2024 at 6:33 AM, Jlhalldc said:

Actually, we did have an extended lecture on “The Incredible Story of the Panama Canal” by Jeana Rogers on 1/18 at 2pm. Also, the former canal worker who was narrating our crossing had a presentation with Q&A while we crossed Lake Gatun. Sorry you missed it. But I agree we could easily have had several lectures on many aspects of the history and engineering and environment of the canal. 

There was no lecture on the earlier crossing Miami to LA. Perhaps a number of complaints fit them to bring a lecturer for the return trip.

On 1/23/2024 at 8:01 AM, Snh lname said:

Our major criticism of the cruise was the Panama Canal crossing. This was not our first crossing. On Holland America we had previews, lectures and in room videos about the Canal, the building of the Canal, etc. We also had an “expert” to ask questions about the Canal. 
 

On this cruise nothing. Then we had a heavily accented “guide” narrating from the bridge. After the crossing there was a session with the “guide” in a lounge with minimal room. 
 

This was totally unacceptable. When I spoke with the CD about all my concerns, he said it was too late when they tried to get someone. When I asked about YouTube videos, I got some ***** and bull about licensing and “corporate.”

 

Unacceptable. 

We felt the same. Spoke to David and included in the survey.

On 1/23/2024 at 5:51 AM, GMIAC said:

 

I sailed in an F1, and didn't hear a thing from either side. Mid-ship, deck 9.

Ditto. We were in F1 on deck 8. I did not hear a thing. 

On 2/8/2023 at 5:27 AM, flossie009 said:

Sorry if my description confused.

Where we docked (industrial port) was not of interest, but the town of Cartagena was very attractive with an interesting history.

The tour that we did was CTG-001 CARTAGENA SHOPPING AND HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS. The shopping was touristy 'knick-knacks' so if we visited again we would probably choose one of the other excursions; maybe 002 or 006.

Thank you for explaining!

On 1/2/2023 at 5:22 AM, flossie009 said:

After the 10pm show in the theatre it was up to the deck for dancing in the warm night air

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The band played, the singers sang, guests danced and the wait staff kept everyone well supplied with drink and canapés

 

 

I've read before about more relaxed dress code on Regent (this will be our first cruise with them), however these guests are all looked very "dressy" 🙂 was this the case?

On 1/7/2023 at 6:18 AM, SALAD MUNCHER said:

We are doing this same trip on the Grandeur in Dec 2023 to Jan 2024! Great to read all about it, thank you.

We are booked on "your" cruise too 🙂 (fingers and toes crossed!)

On 1/2/2023 at 10:59 AM, briar14 said:

The New Years’ celebrations on Splendor look really splendiforous. How we wish we would have had similar celebrations on Mariner’s Panama Canal cruise last year.

Why, was it not as good? due to covid restrictions or another reason?

On 12/29/2022 at 8:15 AM, rcandkc said:

That’s what happens with free wifi.  If we FaceTime on ship…we find an area where we are alone. 

Not if you want everyone to know you are FaceTiming 🙂

On 12/25/2022 at 10:59 AM, flossie009 said:

Cartagena, Colombia is not the most attractive of ports

 

but we saw some attractive sights around the town

 

 

Flossie009, would you recommend an excursion in this port? We have never been there before, so I am hoping to book (in a couple of weeks as general booking opens up) a "fortress city" or a similar one. TIA 🙂

6 minutes ago, 1985rz1 said:

Page down on this list to the drinks menus and you'll be able to fine tune the cost of whatever drink you are interested in:

 

https://www.thepreismans.com/riviera_21_menus.htm

 

Remember to add the 20% autogratuity.

This is very helpful, thank you!!! do you happen to know - the OLife Choice "drink package' - presumably this is the House Select option?

can anybody share (as a ball park figure) what a cocktail and a glass of wine would cost on O, please?

5 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

you can pick more up along  the way 

 

According to some they bring cases of wine on embarkation day

 

oh, this sounds like fun (NOT!) - skip the excursions, drink BYO wine 🙂

30 minutes ago, 1985rz1 said:

Yes. Both within reason, but only to be drunk in your stateroom.  Wine can be consumed in any restaurant at a $25 per bottle corkage fee.  Neither can be consumed in any other public areas.  It's a generous policy, which O can revoke if it's abused.

thank you, understand about public areas 🙂 the reason I was asking is that the T&C only referred to wine. Presumably, you can only bring it on the embarkation day?

On 11/13/2022 at 4:32 AM, LHT28 said:

DH  has taken a bottle of cognac or Scotch for  a night cap in the cabin

 

 

 

We are new to Oceania. I've read that you can bring 6 bottles of wine on a cruise. Are you saying you can bring spirits too (or instead of)?

Thank you 🙂

On 3/4/2021 at 11:43 AM, Bellaggio Cruisers said:

Time for the CDC to re-evaluate cruising. Biden says there will be enough vaccine for all Americans by May. 

The issue is that unless the cruise line makes vaccinations a compulsory prerequisite to board - there might be non-US travelers who have not been vaccinated yet. The other question - what about those who for health reasons can't be vaccinated - will cruise companies discriminate against them? Tough call all around. 

9 minutes ago, mrlevin said:

 

Definitely.  We (almost) always book Cat H cabins; we are definitely not high flyers with Regent.  I think Regent tries to keep all their customers happy so that they become repeat customers.  Of course, there seem to be those one or two that berate the staff; that definitely won't get you anywhere with Regent.

This makes me want (even more so) for our first planned but postponed RSS cruise to happen. It is not just the cruise line - airlines, NZ border rules (currently going away and returning one must spend 2 weeks in a hotel in isolation at $3k + time off work - not a go for most not-high-fliers I am afraid 🙂 )

11 hours ago, mrlevin said:

Nothing is (was) too outlandish to request.  On our 25th anniversary we got Prime 7 to make us carrot cake; our favorite.  Then, we were serenaded by Ray and Nature's Rhythm.  For my wife's 50th birthday, we had a special dinner in Compass Rose (there were actually two birthdays in our group).  They came up with special menu, set up a table for 12, and we invited the Captain who accepted (Captain Knute).

 

You really want to talk to Dining Room Manager as soon as you board if you want the celebration in the restaurant.

 

Marc

Marc, do you think that the same treatment (generosity) would be extended to a new RSSC cruiser? It is a common knowledge in the industry that "high flyers" (or rather high floaters 🙂 ) can expect more "looking after"? Disclaimer - I am not planning any special occasions, just being genuinely curious?

Very interesting! thank you 🙂

On 6/23/2020 at 4:51 AM, Travelcat2 said:

Now can we get back to the topic of the value of FCC's.  Another good thing about FCC's is that there is no limit as to how many times they can be transferred.  We already booked one cruise that was canceled - transferred the FCC's to another cruise that may be canceled.  If it is, we'll transfer the FCC's again.  IMO, this is a good thing.

TC2, how does this work - when we received FCC, it had to be used for travel within 2 years and booked within 1 (as I recall). Back in early March, it seemed that by October 2021everything would be back to normal (ha, what a joke!). So I am just trying to understand - are you saying that it can be re-booked, but only if the cruise is cancelled?

6 hours ago, napoxoguk said:

I'm sorry, but this take doesn't align with my experience, except to the extent that gone-by days and nowadays are indeed very different.

looking at your handle, you might have some experience with Russian language or heritage ties... I think that, by default, SP is a friendlier place than Moscow or many other cities. Nevertheless, things have changed a lot. I am not talking about tour guides - hence recommendation of a private tour in the Hermitage. However wondering the streets is a different story altogether - and I am sure you understand that in 9/10 times a foreigner can be easily picked up in Russia (and discriminated or prayed upon). It is better be safe than sorry.

1 hour ago, phillipahain said:

was incredulous at the Malachite columns etc in Church if Spilled Blood or was it Cathedral ?  

It is in the St Isaac's Cathedral (note - the photo is not mine, mighty Google)

23 hours ago, mrlevin said:

Thanks for all the reports.  We were in St Petersburg for three days on Voyager in 2009; the first year of included excursions; we did six excursions in the three days including Hermitage with Gold Room. So, this time we want to be more focused.  Sounds like two to four hours is norm for Hermitage so we need to decide whether to take Regent tour or private guide for the day.  We also want to see Faberge Museum as we didn't go there last time.

 

Go Army, I know your concerns about traveling in certain countries.  When I worked in Brussels we would take four day weekends to various cities in Europe.  We took a four day trip to Moscow where we had private driver and guide but there were times where we rode Metro or train (to airport) by ourselves.  We have also travelled extensively in China on our own.  None of those trips seemed to raise any issues when updating my SF86.

 

Pappy, did you use Red October?

 

Again, thanks for all the input!

 

Marc

Marc, trust me - Russia today is very different to what it was in 2009. It is very different to what it was even 5 years ago. In the gone by days of the USSR people in general were in awe of foreigners and although shadowed by KGB - foreigners were reasonably safe. Nowadays, many people hate Americans, Police and special forces are corrupt and have no regard to foreigners. People are easily caught on a wrong side of the street. The bottom line - do not do it on your own. The Hermitage - a private guide is the best option. Everywhere else - stay close with your RSSC group. IMHO (and experience)

On 8/12/2020 at 3:55 AM, mrlevin said:

 

 

PS If they close self service laundries, what about people that like to self wash more delicate items?  What about people that like to iron?  What about singles (and others) that use self service laundries as a way to meet fellow guests?  Will they totally get rid of the laundries and turn them into additional crew quarters?

I think during these times you (and everybody else - regardless of their SSS or the equivalent on another line) should be happy with any measures put in place to minimize places of potential transmission, not to bicker about your "lost entitlements". As to washing more delicate stuff -     if need be, you can always do some special items in your cabin. It's a minor inconvenience after all.