Mudhen

Had to look it up.... Fairmont Monte Carlo....amazing hotel with cliental to match!

While we're at it, Mandarin Oriental in Miami...OMG! The bathrobes....you could've just left me in one of those and I'd be happy for the rest of my life...(giggle!) Monte Carlo Intercontiental (?) not sure of name....famous hotel on the hairpin turn of grand prix fame. Truely the haunt of the rich and famous.....died and gone to heaven! Next up, Coral Gables/Miami Biltmore....will report back!

Maybe we've just been lucky, but we've almost never had a bad hotel. Only one, in Stockholm, years ago would we have considered less than great. Two of the most recent were the Epic in Miami and the Mandarin Oriental, also in Miami. Breakfast has always been more than I could possible eat, fresh and tasty. I'd really like to know what hotel(s) weelee was so unhappy with.

And all that the Bacon duo said, over the past two weeks, goes double for us! Although I'm REALLY late to the party, I just wanted to say that we had a fabulous time on the Splendor these past two weeks. It might've been one of our best cruises! There are really few things that I could mention as less than perfect.... I am, however, concerned about Regent's demographics....We're older, card carrying members of the "Green Bananas Group", but I do think Regent could punch up their appeal to some younger folks... Start with music....not necessarily hard or acid rock, but maybe something a little more upbeat and contemporary. Some venues (bars, maybe just one?) could be more pub-like or less formal and more fun? I realize that Regent's bread and butter is an older crowd, but that "older crowd" (of which we're a part of") isn't going to last forever. We adore Regent but don't want it to go the way of the dinosaur.....

We've only had a butler on a few occasions, but one mistake we did make was to tell our butler that we were "low maintenance". We are, however we rarely saw or had communication with him after that comment. You may very well be low maintenance, but you don't need to mention that at the beginning of your cruise.

Enjoying these posts, as we had a document snafu just recently. We booked a Regent cruise, late for Feb. 8th. However, I was keeping an eye out for delivery from a service (UPS or FedEX). I would so have preferred to have them come to our PO box, but I guess Regent doesn't do that. When I asked our TA about the missing docs, she contacted Regent and they told her they had been sent and delivered. Ah...no. Apparently they were thrown on our porch several days previous, but we live in an old house and use our back door exclusively. Our regular FedEx guy knows this. Long story short.....opened the package to find docs for our late March Amazon cruise. Apparently nothing for Feb. Back to TA....porch pirates for missing docs? Nope. After much head scratching, I went back to the Amazon packet. Lo and behold, stuffed into the Amazon folder were the doc for Feb....not even in a seperate folder. So the moral of this story is, if you have two cruises booked close together and are missing docs, look in the one folder. They may be in there. I told our TA that this is a stupid procedure from Regent....We're now asking for a signature delivery. We had no notice that docs for anything was coming, much less an end of March cruise.

In another NY snafu, it now seems that the powers that be will be using the "Brooklyn Cruise Terminal" to accomodate the latest bus loads of migrants that are being sent to us in NY. I'm not sure how this impacts the Cunard section of that complex, if it does at all. I know at this time of year, it's used minimally , if at all, but what happens when the cruise season is "on"? Does anyone know anything about this?

There is an online cruise agency that lists all available cabins. Unfortunately as per CC rules, I cannot post the web site. If you do a dummy booking with Regent, if there's anything available, they may (or may not) show cabins. Even when cabins are available, they'll only list about 6 cabins per cabin grade. Sorry I can't give you more info.

We've had some good luck with waitlists. Waitlisted the Navigator at the end of March (Amazon) and got a bottom bottom cabin. I watched almost daily for anything to loosen up. Lo and behold a C penthouse in a nice location (NOT stern) turned up and jumped on it before our TA was even aware of it. Also did a very late waitlist for the Splendor's 2 weeker (Feb. 8). Our TA told us that it had been waitlisted for LONG time and was somewhat doubtful. Again, we got lucky and although we're in the lowest of the low (a closet with a porch...giggle) we were thrilled to be able to go. So long story short, if you can, throw some money on a deposit and then hope for the best. I think more times than not, you'll get something! Good Luck!!

Sounds good! Thank you!

The side eye on the Regent fluffer is a little foreboding , but then again, I think we've got too much time on our hands! I need to be packing! (giggle!)

Thank you all for the good suggestions. We’re going to try the above Hampton Inn/Brickell. Will report back how it is.

Forgive me if this has been covered somewhere else, but I can't seem to find anything. Looking for a Miami hotel that's near the port. Does not need to be ultra deluxe, just clean with reliable taxi service. It's only for one night, pre cruise. Thanks all....

Giggling at the name....but hey, it could be a nice change from the PA. Hopefully we'll get to try that one. I couldn't find a thing online about Noventina or the Ciaosecco. Something in cans shows up that is sort of close. Sure hope that's not it, but hope springs eternal!!!!

Sigh.....I'd really be happy with just a respectable sparking whatever. It most certainly doesn't need to be champagne....a nice prosecco, maybe? Anyway, none of this really matters...we'll be happy to be just going!!!!!

Oh no! Be careful what you wish for!!!

Thank you all for your responses....Guess we'll deal with whatever comes our way. Maybe all the PA will be gone by December!!! haha! Almost ANYTHING is better than that one!

Thank you so much for all of your reports! We've enjoyed them all. We sail on the Navigator at the end of March so it was nice to have a little preview! Safe travels home!

So sorry to hear about the quarantine. Been there, done that! Not fun! The Laurent Perrier would be lovely, but we're in a Princess Grill cabin. Not sure we get such luxury! You're not missing much with the PA, but when I was in quarantine, I would happily accept ANY alcohol! I ordered A LOT!

I can see the cringes before I've even sent this....(haha!) Is Cunard still supplying this "bon voyage treat" (?) in the grill cabins? It's been awhile since we've cruised Cunard. Need to know if we should tote our own bubbles....or, by some miracle, maybe something actually drinkable is being offered now.

Most definately a first world problem, but while they're at it, how about redoing the Queen's Grill lounge! Dated, boring and the most unappealing of all bars on the ship.

One and done ! When we were younger (and much poorer...haha!) we enjoyed planning our own adventures...picking a destination, hotels, tours, flights, etc. As we got older it was really nice to have excellent "everything" all done for us. It's also nice to basically know how much cash, credit credit cards, etc. that will be needed for a trip. Not much!!! There are other lines that are inclusive and do a nice job, but as mentioned above, the Regent staff seems to us to be a cut above.

For my two cents, LOVED the Mandarin Oriental. Would go again in a heartbeat!

Sorry..fat fingers on teeny keyboard

Another quickie question for the Navigator folks…. Will we find He sticks I. the bars?