Mikey0413

Thanks for the update. I presume the charter going into Athens is to get Voyager in place for the 10 day Athens to Athens itinerary departing 7 October. Per the website Voyager was/is in Split Croatia today.

The Voyager has been scheduled as "out of service" for 5 days from Venice until we board her in Athens. Maybe a charter or a planned visit to an Italian shipyard! Anyone know?

Anything more on this? We’re on Voyager Athens-Rome on October 17. It sound like some itineraries will be impacted in a pretty major way.

We are leaving on our first Regent cruise in a few weeks, Athens to Rome for 12 nights. I can only comment on your question about air and can also direct you to a thread on this BB concerning air deviation. We, too, prefer premium air, first or business, and prefer non stop routings wherever possible. Our home airport is JFK so there’s plenty of options regardless of destination, we opted to book through Regent but select our own routing and pay the $1000 premium. We booked JFK-ATH on Delta with their Delta One business class service. Like many other carriers they don’t offer transatlantic first class. Delta One is reportedly a hybrid First/Business level of service. We are on Alitalia Magnifico class non stop FCO-JFK...again no option for first class. Bottom line this was the best, least expensive way for us to book the air we prefer...far less than taking the credit offered by Regent and booking ourselves given that we don’t have that many FF miles anymore.

We have mail redirected from NY to FL for several months each year. Once a week we get a Priority Mail with all mail including (and mostly) junk. I believe there is a small charge for the service.

Using Regent's air deviation program, we were able to secure our first choice of flights, which is a non-stop, JFK to Venice leaving at 9 tonight.

 

The pre-cruise hotel that Regent uses in Venice is the Hilton Molino Stucky. This is not likely a hotel I would have chosen if I were visiting Venice on my own. While it gets excellent reviews, it does not appear to be very convenient for touring Venice. It is located on the island of Giudecca. From what I can gather, Giudecca is notable for the following:

1) The Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel

2) ......um......there doesn't seem to be a number 2. At least a perusal through Rick Steeves' Guide to Venice for "things to see and do in Giudecca has proven to be a fruitless exercise. From what I understand, there is a shuttle that runs from the hotel to San Marco for a "nominal fee". We'll see how it goes, I'm sure it will be fine.

 

Bob

Giudecca is a short ride on a classic Venetian wooden launch or vaporetto to Piazza San Marco and a very interesting island itself. It is the site of the ancient Jewish Settlement ans cemetary. The Hotel Cipriani is also located there and very much worth a visit.