DogLover

Just an FYI, my husband and I visited the Boeing Factory in Everett last month and saw the 747-800 assembly line - super cool! Boeing is indeed building a passenger version of the 747-800 ... Luftansa received one in 2012 and Air China took a delivery of one last year. The primary focus of the 747-800 is cargo, but orders are not limited to such.

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747/#/feature-stories

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747/#/videos/air-china-747-8-intercontinental-put-together-quickly-video

I know we saw the passenger version being built because I remember the tour guide saying "so who knows how the tell the difference between a cargo plane and a passenger plane?" Of course, everyone in our group answered "windows!" Watching the aircraft being assembled was incredible - definitely worth a visit if in the Seattle area.

"If it's not a Boeing, I'm not going" ;) Safe travels to all!

I certainly sympathize with the OP. I had a similar experience back in 2008 on the Celebrity Xpedition in the Galapagos. I am highly allergic to shellfish and although my reaction is not anaphylaxis (not yet, anyway) it does mimic severe food poisoning. Within 3 to 6 hours of ingestion, I get EXTREMELY sick and once everything is out of my system, I still dry heave until I am given medication. Needless to say, I am very careful regarding shellfish exposure, even to the extent of cross contamination.

On the day I got sick, there had been a lunch buffet of Ecuadorian dishes, including several seafood entrees. Apparently serving spoons had been either switched or cross used for entree items because I had selected a vegetarian entree to be extra safe. A few hours later - bam! I required the services of the ship doctor who came to the cabin to give me an injection and other medication. Even though it was a classic allergic reaction, the doctor informed me I would be stuck in my cabin for 48 hours. All meals were served via room service and I missed two full days of the Galapagos. Major bummer!

Anyway, I completely understand the frustration of the OP, but I also empathize with the cruise lines erring on the side of caution. I generally don't eat at buffets on ships (or anywhere else for that matter) and always notify servers and staff of my allergy. Did I mention two days of the Galapagos missed that I will never get back? ;)

DJinLA,

Thanks for checking in - great to see you are not a post and run type ;)

We sail Regent (Voyager) for the first time in September, so we are interested in all feedback, both positive and negative.

Look forward to hearing specifics about your experience.

Sharon

I read with caution any review or post that is either a glowing depiction of perfection or a complete slam without any detail, especially if it's a first time poster.

Yes, DJinLA is likely a "one hit wonder," but it's only fair to be given the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise ;)

DJinLA,

Would you please share a bit more information regarding your unpleasant cruise on Regent - which ship, when did you sail, what itinerary? How was your stateroom? How were the port excursions? Were your poor dining experiences limited to the main dining room, or all dining venues? What were the specific issues not addressed or followed up on by Regent?

As a first timer to the Regent line, I am interested in your assessment, however, your first post is vague and offers no insight with respect to your negative experience.

Many thanks.

Last fall, the cruise my daughter & I took had an itinerary change due to weather and we ended up with a port stop in Belfast. All of the shore excursions sold out almost instantly once they were posted onboard.

With no other option, we took the ship provided shuttle into town and bought a Hop on Hop off bus ticket. There was a stop at the Titanic Quarter so we got off and spent several hours at the museum and wandering around. Then we got back on the HoHo and had an overview of the city before taking a ship shuttle back to port.

It is likely the Hop on Hop off bus will even stop at the port on the day your ship is in - it didn't for us since we were not a scheduled port call.

Although it looks to be close, it is not walking distance and is through a very industrial, area.

Hope this helps!

There is an entire thread by member Danish viking called "Wonderful Copenhagen 2015 edition" which will answer all of your questions, and more:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2135935

There are also other posts with answers to various Copenhagen questions. Hotels are in various price ranges and one persons expensive is another persons outrageous. If you are not a member, check out Tripadvisor which gives reviews and information on hotels, sights, etc.

Another post on Cruise Critic from a few years ago outlines "Do-it-yourself" Baltic touring and includes wonderful information on Copenhagen:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1897763

Good luck with your planning!

Federal documentation trumps State ... in other words, you don't even need to worry about the Driver License if your Passport is current. Passports are issued by the U.S. State Department, a government agency.

No need to panic ... just use your passport for every ID requirement - it is valid for air travel and any cruise travel as long as you have at least 6 months prior to the expiration.

Have fun & enjoy!

Thank you for the reply.

We were able to secure the shore excursion through Regent to the Vasa Museum and a city highlights tour ... this eliminates the need for planning on our own.

Safe travels,

Sharon

We will be on Regent Seven Seas Voyager which stops in Stockholm on Friday, Sept. 25th. The original itinerary had us there from 8 am to 5 pm ... however, it has been changed and we are only there from 9:50 am to 3:15 pm - yuck! The scheduled pier is Frimhamnen but I suppose that could change, too!

Although Regent provides some excursions, we are wanting to do the Rooftop tour. I have contacted the company and they don't offer any groups on that day. However, they are willing to book a private tour for us. Are you familiar with this tour at all?

With such a short time in port, would it be best to take a taxi to and from Gamla Stan (where the tour leaves from?)

My husband really isn't a museum lover and we just did an Ice Bar in Grand Cayman - I doubt there is much difference from Ice Bar to Ice Bar.

Any suggestions or input would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

RachelG:

I appreciate your input. I don't really care about using the Regent's transfer to the ship (even if it's included) ... the Segway tour is our priority. We get in to CPH the afternoon prior, but after a long night/day of travel, I'm not sure we'll be up for much that evening. I have visited CPH several times but DH has never been, so I wanted him to get an overview and a Segway seems like a fun way to do so.

As far as Stockholm, again I'll just book the Rooftop Tour and ensure enough time before and after to taxi or shuttle back & forth from the pier.

UUNetBill:

I'm glad to read you enjoyed the Segway Copenhagen tour. Since this itinerary isn't round trip, we have less than one full day to do anything.

Thank you for chiming in!

Thank you for the reply, gnomie1.

The Voyager yesterday was at Oceankaj, the newest and most removed pier from the city center. My daughter and I boarded the NCL Star last year at Oceankaj and it was indeed remote. Our taxi from the airport Hilton to the pier was quite expensive.

I checked the port of Copenhagen official page, and it lists the Voyager at Langeline Pier for our Sept. 20 departure (the dock near the Little Mermaid statue.) According to the list, the Voyager will dock at Langeline on July 26th, NOT Oceankaj, so that is good news for your debarkation.

Segways are a kick! The tour company I looked at in CPH has a 9 am listed as the earliest option on Sept. 20 ... perhaps so late in the season they don't start until then. I will check to see if there's another provider.

Hope you enjoy your cruise!

Regent "virgins" here ;) ... sailing the Voyager Northern Enchantment Copenhagen to Amsterdam September 20.

For anyone who has departed Copenhagen with the Regent Pre-Cruise stay, what time is the transportation from the hotel to the ship? I am looking to book a Segway Tour first thing on the morning of departure but don't want to interfere with the provided transfer. The tour is 9 am to 11 am and about a 20 minute walk from the hotel. I was in Copenhagen last year but due to time constraints (and due to the schlep from city center to Oceankaj where NCL docked) we had little time prior to embarkation. Thankfully Regent docks closer to the city center.

Also, does Regent provide any type of shuttle service at the ports of call from port to city center? In Stockholm, we are booking our own Rooftop tour ... I'm trying to figure out time and logistics.

Many thanks,

Sharon

We sailed the Indy Western two weeks ago. Even in ports with a time change, they remain on "ship" time. Also note the line for the tender in Cayman gets insanely long. We got in the tender line at 2:20 pm and were back on the ship at 3:30 pm. The tenders back up as everyone has to be scanned onto the ship and go thru security. The line snaked through the entire port area. It was hot and humid - being packed in the port area made it worse.

Just a heads up for planning purposes ... enjoy your cruise!

I attempted to correct a grammatical error in my post, but due to storms in the area, was promptly booted off my internet connection ... grrrr. I do realize my improper use of "it's" instead of its - I'm my own grammar police.

I was also going to add something clever about not wanting to disagree a la "cats and dogs" (TravelCat2 vs DogLover) but alas, my connection did not cooperate. Probably a good thing.

Perhaps we shall look into the cruise you are on next year ... we'd love to connect with fun CC'ers. I'm still hoping for some on our upcoming voyage.

Oh, and no worries about inquiries on "tipping" as I've followed that thread ad nauseum.

As questions arise, I'll be sure to ask away! Thanks for the support.

PS - Apologies if I offended you, luv2C00k ... I meant no ill will. Sometimes the written word does not convey the thought or intent behind it. I was being light-hearted and certainly was not taking a pot shot at you. Btw, where in the DC area are you? I spent most of my life (until 1997) in Bethesda/North Potomac - great place to live but dreadful traffic.

I've been following this thread, along with the reviews, with interest. DH and I will be sailing for the first time on Regent this fall, the Northern Enchantments itinerary from Copenhagen to Amsterdam. We have booked a Concierge stateroom. My cruise experience over the years include large megaships (just sailed Royal Caribbean two weeks ago), a small 12 passenger ship in Alaska (M/V Sikumi), 100 passenger expedition ship (Celebrity Xpedition) to the Galapagos, and everything in between. Anyone remember the Flavia (Costa Cruise Lines)? How about Royal Viking Line?

I was attracted to Regent due to it's inclusive nature. In September, I took my daughter on a 2 week cruise to Europe for her college graduation, round trip CPH and did Norway, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland on an NCL ship. Booking a suite, paying for excursions (which I booked independently), paying for two nights hotel on each end and travelling business class was expensive. That doesn't include drinks or onboard/onshore expenses. Regent seems to offer a decent value as a comparison.

Just curious TC2, will I enjoy my Regent cruise? I'm kidding ... of course we will. I have reasonable expectations and know there is no way a ship can provide a 5 star experience comparable to a land vacation. Everyone has at least one cfh experience, and I've already had two. Therefore, I am fairly confident our Regent experience won't be number three ;)

Any words of wisdom for a Regent noobie?

Thanks for reading ... safe travels to all.

DH and just experienced the Chops California Vineyard dinner on the Indy and were very pleased. The wines highlighted were from the Wagner family of wines, and ones we were already familiar with. The Belle Glos Pinot Noir is one of our favorites, our number choice is Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon ... both were served at the dinner (with multiple pours if requested.) There were four wines in all but I don't recall the names of the other two (I think the Chardonnay may have been Mer Soleil Select.) The food was excellent, as was the service. It was a highlight of the cruise.

I have a shellfish allergy and the chef was most accommodating, serving an alternate selection which paired equally with the wine.

We also ate in Chops on a "regular" night and although it was good, it wasn't great.

If you like wine, and enjoy an upscale dining experience, $75 for the Vineyard dinner is certainly worth every penny (much more so than the $95 Chef's table, which was cancelled on our sailing due to lack of interest.) The wines were not bottom of the barrel, but good solid choices from Wagner. I only wish they would have served Conundrum, my favorite white blend from them.

Hope this helps ...

Sharon

Just off the Indy ... I have short hair and thought the blow dryer provided was inadequate. I also found it difficult to dry/style my hair with a round brush while holding down the power button. I usually can make due with hotel or cruise hair dryers, but this time it was a challenge.

From now on, I shall schlep my own.

Absolutely true! We just sailed on 6/14 out of Ft. Lauderdale. My son lives in the area and joined us on the sailing. He took an Uber to the Port ... the only reason they allowed the driver in was because my son showed his Law Enforcement ID and the Deputy gave the ok. However after the cruise, he couldn't get an Uber and ended up taking a taxi - ugh!

According to the BSO deputies we spoke with at the port, restricting Uber is due to security concerns.

Happy sailings...

Just returned from the 6/14 - 6/21 Western Caribbean sailing on the Indy. There was no Mystery Theatre (lunch or dinner) on our cruise.

Offerings included the Wine Dinner ($75 pp which was in Chops and absolutely excellent), a Carte du Jour lunch experience with wine on the last sea day ($45 pp in Giovanni's - again an incredible bargain with yummy food) and Chef's Table dinner which was cancelled due to lack of participation.

Have a great trip!

Yes, the RCL website states that Rita's is still a Mexican Cantina, but I believe that is incorrect. The website stated such last year when we sailed on the Radiance. From what I have read (Google Radiance of the Seas Rita's Crab shack) the change from Mexican to Crab Shack still exists.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2140901

Unfortunately, RCL isn't great when it comes to updating website information, or any information for that matter.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news ...

On our Radiance cruise last year (one year ago exactly this week), we really enjoyed Rita's Crabshack. Although I am allergic to shellfish, I was very interested in the Halibut Fish & Chips. The chef was able to accommodate my allergy by using a different fryer, and those were some of the best Fish & Chips I've ever had! I ate them several times during the trip. Worth every penny.

My adult son enjoyed some of the other seafood at Rita's, too. It was rarely busy and the staff was as pleasant as can be. It was one of the highlights of our Alaska cruise.

I'm bummed there isn't anything like it on the Independence - we'll be sailing her next week to the Western Caribbean. Oh well.

Enjoy the Radiance, we loved the ship.

Sharon

Last year on the Radiance in Alaska, Rita's changed from a mexican restaurant to a crab house. We has some of the best fish and chips ever with fresh halibut! So good! It was open for lunch on sea days as well.

Enjoy your cruise.

Omar was our concierge when we sailed a 10 day Caribbean out of Miami on the Sun back in Novermber 2012. Personally, we found him to be very attentive and helpful ... he checked in with us each day to see if we needed anything. Our experience with him exceeded that of Monica (on the Pearl in November 2013) - we were unimpressed with her.

My daughter (23) and I are sailing the Star on September 22nd for the 14 day Norway, Faroe, Iceland cruise (also in a suite) and are really looking forward to Omar as our concierge.

YMMV :)

Sharon

The Moderno buffet is a small selection of salads (pasta, tuna type), meats and cheeses with some breads, soup, sometimes pizza and a selection of desserts. As mentioned by TrumpNOR, although the selection is limited, the atmosphere is much calmer than the large buffet. I would recommend checking it out.

Safe travels!