Roccaforte

We sail Saturday on Splendor. The Philadelphia Eagles play the Giants at 8:15PM. Will the game be televised?

We’re on your first segment - sailing from Miami on 1/21. We were originally booked on Oceania Riviera in January 2022 but cancelled because of Omicron. Our TA recommended Splendor so thought we’d give it a try. We have a concierge cabin which entitled us to a one night stay in Miami but since we’re in Naples for the season we decided to take the credit and drive over to Miami in the morning. It’s not a bad drive across Alligator Alley. We lived in the Boston area (Newburyport) so we’re very familiar with Logan Airport and the nasty weather you might run into. Smart move to give yourselves a few days extra. We’ve been on lots of cruises and have missed being able to travel for the last few years so we’re looking forward to this trip. Nice ports - some of them new for us. Maybe we’ll run into you onboard😁

We have iPhones 13 with Xfinity service. How do we communicate with each other without charges? I usually put my phone in airplane mode and lock it in the safe but being in touch would be so much more convenient. I think this topic has been covered but I’m not the most computer savvy person. Any ideas? Thanks!

We take the smallest carry-on wheelie we can, with prescriptions, electronic devices , jewelry - things we cannot be without. We keep it with us while we have a light lunch and relax by the pool. You can’t access your cabin until the announcement is make for you deck. It’s not a problem. Everyone else is doing the same. Once you are on a lounge chair with a tropical drink you shouldn’t mind at all.

I think your suite category matters. When entering the MDR the hostess requests your suite number and keys it in on whatever her device is. When traveling in a PH we’ve never had to wait for a two top. In specialty venues we’ve shared (our choice) and they’ve always been good experiences. I agree with previous poster that I’m not ready to socialize at breakfast. I need my caffeine.

It looks like the sign in time is later - changed from midnight to 8:00pm. I looked on my account - “manage this account” and it has the new sign in time. Check on your accounts for your time.

I just got an email from Regent. “From 10/21/22 specialty restaurants may be reserved from 8:00PM EDT when your cruise enters the timeframe for concierge suites - 90 days ahead”. Is this new? I thought 12:01AM was the first available time to make reservations. So does this mean no longer waiting up til midnight? I can just sign on at 8:00PM. I’m not too worried about getting the times we want except that we like to dine fairly early. If all else fails there’s always Compass Rose.

What night is Krew Kapers and what time do they usually do it? I don’t want to make specialty restaurant reservations that would interfere. I think it’s toward the end of the cruise but is it announced ahead of time? Also, are they doing the block party again? Too many covid changes for me to keep up.

For embarkation I just dress casually. When sailing from Miami I wear white capris a colorful top and comfy shoes. A lightweight sweater is always good to have with you for air conditioned spaces. I find jeans too warm for tropical cruises so I don’t bring any. I think the Chico’s or Talbots look is the way to go. No need for sequins and gowns. Have a great trip! You’re going to love it.

A set of Apple Air Tags cost 4 for $99. During Amazon Prime day they were on sale for $85. There may be another Prime day in the fall. I missed my chance to get them last time but we travel enough that I’ll probably get them next time. Air travel today is so crazy it’s good to be able to track your bags. I’ve had friends who were able to tracks down their expensive golf clubs at Heathrow using the tags.

On Splendor there are stools at each station.

Good question. We’ll be driving to POM and parking there. Don’t want to be in long lines. Regent has not yet announced the name of the hotel in Miami. Final payment is due soon. Has me wondering. Should we take the credit and book on our own or should we stick to the original plan with Regent. In any case we will not use the Regent bus.

We are also on this cruise and waiting to hear. Passengers on later cruises have their hotel assignments - surprised we haven’t heard yet.

Thanks for this great information! Hope you’re feeling good soon.

Was there a significant charge for the insurance you bought over and above what was covered by the Amex Platinum card.

Has anyone relied on the Amex Platinum card for trip insurance? Our cruise is in January and our final payment date is looming. When I check regular insurance companies the prices are shocking. They tell me because one of us is 80. With the price of the cruise and the possibility of being denied boarding because of a positive covid test this worries me. Also, can coverage be customized? I don’t care as much about luggage problems as I care about actually being unable to sail for some reason. Amex Platinum advertises trip cancellation insurance as one of their benefits but it doesn’t look too comprehensive. So, am I brave enough to simply stay uninsured???

I may be a bit of a control freak but on the date my restaurant reservations become available I sign on to the site at 12:01AM. I’m a night owl anyway so this is no problem for me. The other advice given here is good. Check your excursions for timing. I print out the port calendar to make it easier. If you get early reservations at the specialties you may want to skip the evening canapés in your PH. Afternoon tea can also be an appetite killer so make later reservations on days you plan to do that. Have fun planning! Isn’t it great to have this to look forward to. We’re sailing in January - can’t wait.

We’ll be driving to Miami the day before boarding. Our concierge suite includes a one night pre-cruise hotel package. Haven’t been assigned our hotel yet but wondering about parking. Has anyone done this? Do any of the Regent hotel choices offer parking for the duration of the cruise? I wouldn’t expect this to be free but it would be convenient. If nothing is available I guess we’ll be parking at the port. We also have the option to decline the hotel package and take a $150 credit. I’m thinking the one-night hotel plus breakfast and transfers is worth more than that.

We’re booked on 1/21. Hope you get the cabin you want and we see you on board!

We’re sailing on Splendor in January to ABC islands. According to our TA we got one of only two remaining Concierge cabins. I don’t think they’ll cancel a fully booked cruise. On the roll call for this cruise people are wait listed and hoping for a cancellation. Since flying to Europe to meet a cruise ship is not very appealing these days, the Caribbean is a good alternative for people who just want to get back to cruising. We’re driving distance to Port of Miami so a nice luxury vacation works for us.

When I manage my cruise there is no mention of classes. Are they not available yet or are they discontinued because of covid? Cruise is January 2023. Also, is the infinity pool available for all passengers or only those using the spa or in higher category cabins?

Thanks! Great summary. Our first Regent cruise is on Splendor in January. I’m now motivated to start working on excursions. I didn’t realize they were already available.

I just booked a cruise on Splendor. Under guest cancellation schedule the first line item is “121 days or more prior to departure $100.” Does this mean that as soon as I book and make the first deposit the $100 fee kicks in if I cancel , even though the cruise is a year away? I’m told it can be applied to a future cruise but this is a first for me.

I’ve sailed on Insignia and loved it but the choice of only two specialty restaurants is a drawback for me. We like every night on a cruise to be an event and don’t really like the GDR as an option. I’d also prefer a better - larger cabin. Exploring a new ship would also appeal to me. As long as the ports are similar I’d go with Vista.

If you take a home test and it is positive you should contact your doctor or visit an Urgent Care so you can get a prescription for Paxlovid or whatever antiviral is being used to slow the virus. It shortens the duration and helps prevent hospitalization. If you have symptoms and test negative at least you’ll have some peace of mind and you won’t infect others. I sent for the test kits when they became available and intend to use them if needed.