Mahogany

I usually agree with your opinions, Markham, but I want to know the identifier of the "60 plus Americans embarking". Was it the red hats? I want to avoid being lumped into the grandma jeans group!

I am arriving on January 1 because of flight schedule. My TA requested extra night with Regent at the Cullinan Southern Sun, and they say Wait List at the hotel hasn't cleared yet. I'm glad my TA booked an extra night independently, but I guess that means I have to pay for the transfer from airport to hotel. I just hope I don't have to change rooms.

My Boarding Pass was emailed yesterday. Ship is scheduled to be at Duncan Dock Berth E. Table Bay Hotel is lovely. Wish I was staying there. Unfortunately, the 3-day land package accommodations are at the Cullinan Southern Sun (ugh!) See you onboard. Fiona

Definitely serious. I had to borrow a stapler for Seabourn tags.

Do these require borrowing stapler or tape from hotel front desk (since you can't attach until right before embark)? 😄

Actually, I'm sailing on Venture this spring - and of course 🤤opting for a ride on the submarine! But I'm passing on the SALT excursions on my Dawn sailing this summer.

WHY are the SALT excursions so unreasonably priced?

My TA's company, independently owned with about 20 agents, does not rebate commissions to the client. I wouldn't think of going to someone new for that reason only. Her expertise and hard work are just too important to me.

I bought a fairly expensive bottle of vodka in Reykjavik airport, and in the US, as my bag was collected for transfer to my connecting flight, realized I still had the vodka. I asked one of the airport employees collecting bags for connecting flights, if he liked vodka, he said yeah, and I said, "here you go". A happy airport employee!

Isn't Explora pretty big? How many passengers?

Is there a guided tour in English?

When I looked at Trip Advisor, there were only 2 in the "luxury" brand, Juma and Amazona. I have attended concerts at the Opera twice on previous visits to Manaus, so it was a sentimental choice to book Juma (I'm not a pool person which seemed Amazona's feature). I will be in Manaus 3 nights and have been guaranteed a balcony room with Opera view, and yes, I have read mixed reviews. I just wanted to be assured of accommodations since the pickings are very slim and there may be 200 Seabourn passengers boarding. There is a photo of a beautiful staircase, but I was unaware there was no elevator. May have to reconsider. Thanks for the info.

You'd be surprised how quickly the second entree comes after they take away the first. Of course, they're not waiting for other entrees for the table. You should try when you're unhappy. Give them a chance to correct their mistakes!

When I mentioned the lack of jokers, I was referring to tiles, not playing cards. Mah jongg is played with tiles and an official card from the National Mah Jongg League, not with a deck of playing cards.

On my April-May Odyssey cruise, there were several sets on board and copies of the 2019 card (I always bring my current and past year's card). When one of us mentioned not getting any jokers, we all chimed in and discovered there were no jokers in the set we were using which had the notation "Set Complete" on the box! The Card Room was used for two weeks by a filming crowd for a brochure - you know, all those young, slim models - and the second half of the cruise, there was bridge instruction most of the day. I suppose some eager players could temporarily "move" the set and play in a passenger's suite, but we did not.

On my April-May Odyssey cruise, there were hosted tables, but the hosts were the guest lecturers and entertainers, not the crew as in the past.

Review in Travel + Leisure of Venture says, "Both ships [Venture and Pursuit] will have eight different onboard dining options..."Maybe the operative word here is "will", as "in the future". Can any of you lucky passengers confirm what's available. I count 5 including room service. I'm hoping to board Venture next spring Manaus-London and anxious to read your reviews.

Also, it doesn't get credited to your credit card immediately. It is credited to your onboard account. Perhaps they think you will spend it at the spa, wine upgrade, the boutique - or more reasonably, on another shorex.

In a prior post you admitted to being wine snobs. I don't think the complimentary wine list was designed for wine snobs. Perhaps what you describe as an upsell is just the sommelier trying to meet a wine snob's needs. I agree the complimentary list on my 33-day Odyssey cruise in April was not great, but we managed, and on a few nights, opted for a purchase. That's a choice you can make.

If you are a couple, you may have good luck getting an upper deck suite. As a Solo, I am always relegated to Deck 5 (not my first choice).

Most of the Regent shore excursions are "included". Is there no cancellation penalty for the Regent Choice ones? If you used OBC, will they refund you the credit, even the day of the excursion, if you don't go?

As I recall, there are 3 sections, the last being dessert (one is always baked camembert), The other two sections are a hot and a cold with 3 selections each; you can select as many courses as you wish from the 8-9 choices, some light like a salad, some heavy like a lamb shank. But, yes, the menu does repeat, not sure if it's exactly weekly. But the menu will be published in the Herald: printed, online, and on TV. One of my favorite venues; only negative, no reservations, so it can be a wait for a table.

Host Dan, do you know why it was available to me?

There was ONE poster who said Cruise Critic was banned! I was on Odyssey for 33 days April/May, and Cruise Critic was alive and well. Sounds like you were searching for that one poster to offer your criticism. We can always find internet substantiation for our views. "THAT says it all". Sorry if that seems harsh, but...