GeorgiaPeach Sails the Atlantic on Navigator

[cAPS lOCK oN]

4 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

 

We decided to go for it.  I’d rather try it and reflect afterwards that it was either pure magic or pure torture than to be much older and wish I had….we will be 75 and 73 then and possibly starting to push the envelope with health…who knows?  So we will be on the January 10, 2026 Explorer cruise that starts in Auckland and ends in Tokyo.  Waaaahhhhhooo!

We're on the fence for that very cruise. We're looking for one last splash to finishe off our cruising "career" and that may be the one. Coincedentally, we'd also be 73 and 75 at time of sailing!

[ON cruiser]

Wednesday afternoon (May 10) on Navigator…saw GP and Rolf at the casino last night, it is hard to believe that they are 75/73! Deduct 10 years! They are either aging very well, or I am aging badly! 😆

 

After dinner and casino last night, my wife and I eventually went to Navigator’s lounge to enjoy the personable pianist Nico, who kept on playing until midnight for the enthusiasts. Darn that time change-we lost an hour!

 

This Wednesday AM, too late for Compass Rose, I made it at 9:45 for Veranda. Lovely breakfast, my special requests easily met, at that hour not crowded. Puttered about, DW surfaced for lite bite at Coffee Connection. This was after the wine tasting (at 11AM??) so space abounds. I needed help reconnecting to ‘net; done. Late afternoon yesterday IT manager Luanne helped me with a work-related matter (my secretary found me; rats! 😀). Thanks to Luanne, it’s resolved. Back in vacation mode.

 

This AM while awaiting my wife, I lounged on the sofa at deck 11, outside the top-deck bar. I watched all the power-walkers go by without even a twinge of guilt. Very comfortable outside. Went to library for a time, chairs comfy, got Canadian paper.

 

After lunch in CR (delicious!), I’m now back out on deck 11, rear, before going to the lecture on Bermuda. It’s a “tough life”, lounging at sea and floating from meal to meal. So goes it, my on board perspective.

[liptastic]

Georgia Peach , loving your latest blog from also our favourite ship. Your posts are great .  Jean.

[GeorgiaPeach51]

@ON cruiser  Thanks so much for adding your experiences.  Please keep doing so!  BTW, we are currently 70 and 72, but will be 73 and 75 when we take the big cruise.

 

I like seeing what other people think of the same experience…and I think it really helps those who are struggling with decisions or questioning their decisions.  I appreciate everyone who took the time to give their perspective on long cruises…it helped me not feel quite so anxious, once we had decided to go for it.  Now I’m excited about it, but my feelings will probably change as time gets closer and payments come due!  Regardless, we both want to go and do while we can and not have regrets.

 

@NCCruzQueen  Thanks for posting the wine list!  Helpful for everyone.  I meant to go but forgot it….and when I sip more than two wines they start to all taste the same to me so my wine discernment skills are pretty much nada.

 

if you have not figured it out we highly prize and treasure sea days.  As @forgap said sometimes you just really, really need to have a lay around day,  in our early cruising days we opted for Med cruises that had us blasting off the ship for all day tours and falling back on board half dead from the summer heat and exhaustion.  That was back in my teaching days so it was summer or never.  Now, forget that!  
 

Today they had a slot tournament, a blackjack tournament and Bingo.  I have tried all day to answer a palindrome question on the Mensa sheet for today and I am feeling positively hostile as that question remains blank and I have almost erased holes in the paper.  Aaaauuuugh.

 

a few words about our suite.  It’s in good repair except for the outside table, which is definitely not luxury cruise certified.  For us, there is plenty of storage space.  We generally like two sinks but we are doing fine with one.  The vanity area is pretty much unusable as a vanity because the drawer is small to start with, and opens only halfway.  Guarantees that you will be fishing around in a jumbled mess to find your makeup items so I didn’t attempt it and moved over to the area under the tv.  It could be improved by having a light switch accessible from where you sit rather than having to get up to switch it on.  But it’s ok.  More to come.  

[forgap]

Our longest voyage was on Navigator in 2017 - San Diego to Aukland.  We had plenty of sea days and the crew did a very nice job of mixing things up so we were never bored with the food.  In fact, the chef sourced fresh seafood and a specimen often greeted us at the entrance to Compas Rose.  We also requested in advance an Indian meal which was fabulous.
 

In general, I am not too impressed with the daily activities but I realize I am not as gregarious as other cruisers and I don’t really need to be entertained.  I like lectures, interesting music, and events.  On one cruise, I requested star gazing.   The captain dimmed the lights, an officer who was an amateur astronomer helped, and 100 passengers showed up at 10 pm to gaze at the southern constellations.  Fantastic. 
 

On our last cruise that included Antarctica, the Antarctic team added so much to the cruise.  We had a National Geographic photographer, an ornithologist, an expert in icebergs, and the head of the team who had spent years on scientific missions in the region.  I wish that Regent would have comparable experts on all cruises!  
 

FYI, Atlanta weather report:  finally warm so putting away my winter clothes!  Some thunderstorms but nothing terrible.  We were in Cashiers, NC, last weekend and the trees are about 6 weeks behind ATL.   Pollen everywhere is still catastrophic. 
 

have fun…enjoying your writing! 

[Gilly]

I find that by the time our cruise is coming to an end, I am ready to "break free" 😉  The strange thing is, that is the same regardless of the number of days I've been on board (we usually sail between 15 and 30 days).  I love to settle into a routine on the ship, I enjoy a good mix of sea days and port days and have never tired of the menus on offer.  Usually when the time comes to pack, however glad I am to be starting the next part of our trip - or heading home - I think that if someone came along and offered me another couple of days, I would probably cope, though!!   Actually, I do recall a couple of occasions when the note has come around offering the possibility to stay on for the next cruise at some very reasonable price - not recently though and we have never been able to take advantage of any such offer, sadly.

 

On one lovely long cruise with quite a few sea days, the social hostess (Adriana...if anyone remembers her) gathered about twenty or so "ladies who lunch" and organised a terrific champagne lunch in CR one day early on in the itinerary.  That meant that quite a few of us got to know one another, resulting in a very sociable atmosphere on board for the remaining days.  (I think that there might have been a "rival" event elsewhere on the ship for the gentlemen who didn't fit the profile too)   Now, I hope to have an occasion to request a star gazing session, @forgap - what a great idea! 

 

Oh, and definitely request a special dinner in CR for a table of friends - those evenings are spectacular!

 

(Whetting my appetite for our next trip in a couple of months time!)

[briar14]

Thanks for the star gazing reminder! We have experienced 2 such events on Regent cruises. One was a Panama Canal cruise, one of the lecturers was an astronomer, and the other a TA from Rio to Barcelona, when one of the officers volunteered his expertise. 

[mj_holiday]

I think star gazing would be a great thing to participate.  How do you get one started, who did you ask?  I have been in the southern hemisphere several times and have yet to see the southern cross, seemed to always be cloudy.

[briar14]

Ask CD, GM, or at Reception. Both of our experiences were scheduled events. We just showed up. GP, I didn’t mean to hijack your wonderful reports. Got a little excited remembering these fun events. 

[forgap]

i asked the CD who managed to schedule it.  I think it depends on the captain’s comfort level as the outside lights are turned off.   I imagine that this requires more surveillance on the bridge as other ships can’t readily see the ship.  

[LewiLewi]

We have sailed on over 175 cruises including Regent. However, our longest cruises were on Holland America and Cunard. We did a 59 day Grand Cruise on HAL’ s Rotterdam in 2016 and enjoyed it so much, that for the next two years we signed up for the over 100 days Cunard World Cruise in 2017 and 2018. We just loved it and did not want to get off the ship at the end of the voyages. There was so much to do on board, enough port time, and lovely lazy sea days to just relax and look at the ocean.

Give the long cruise a try, you will become addicted.

[GeorgiaPeach51]

7 hours ago, briar14 said:

Ask CD, GM, or at Reception. Both of our experiences were scheduled events. We just showed up. GP, I didn’t mean to hijack your wonderful reports. Got a little excited remembering these fun events. 

@briar14  You will not find a soul LESS concerned with anyone who wants to post on this report than me!  Truly.  I welcome any and all posters since it helps us all.  So many of you have hundred and hundreds more day on R than I do.  I think star gazing while on a ship is just inspired and love that you and others shared the suggestion.  🥰

[GeorgiaPeach51]

We went to see the comedian last night, whose name escapes me but I will try to post later.  He was a hoot.  Truly funny and so clever!  We missed him the first time, which we regret.  
 

Last night we donated to the casino but had fun doing it, and saw one big winner, so cruise ship casino wins are not a figment of our collective imaginations.  Boy, she was rocking and rolling last night.  We waged a losing war with the bathroom door, trying to stuff towels underneath to keep it from squeaking because when it’s rough, it makes a noise that wakes us when we close it and have to open it during the night if either of us gets up.  And today has been a repeat as we sashayed our way into Hamilton.  I warned my other half to keep hold of me no matter what, lest I disappear suddenly down a staircase, and he has done so successfully, to the point that one arm of my sweater now reaches my knees.

 

The Captain warned that we might not make it into the narrow channel due to winds, and might have to skip the stop, but we are here in Hamilton and docking under sunny skies.  It’s a little nippy outside, about 67 but the wind has raised its’ hand wanting to be noticed.  I would think it will be fairly chilly tonight on the deck where we are supposed to be entertained by an outside International buffet and dancing to Abba music….but I think we will attempt it.  I’ll let you know.  In general, since I’m cold even in summer, I tend to avoid eating outside in cool weather unless it involves a fire and s’mores.

 

We went to a tea for the first time today, choosing wisely, since this was the BROWNIE tea.  Below you will find some photos to torture yourself.  Let me note that my plate held one brownie, not three.  Just saying’.

[Kwaj girl]

Oh, my!  Brownies!  But I may as well just apply it directly to my hips, so we skipped it.

 

John Joseph was the comedian - and yes, her WAS funny!

[welshfamily]

Thanks for your report we are really enjoying it. We loved Hamilton when we went and to us in the Uk particularly Wales 67 is almost summer😁

Re your brownie high tea. Looks wonderful. Hope you enjoyed them.

Note to self ……must lose more weight before cruise!! 

[Gray Lady]

I love all the pictures of the food! It gets me excited for our cruise next year. I have two schools of thought about all of the calories and food choices. First, I could go on a strict diet for about 6 months before the cruise and deny myself most everything. The second is to go into training a few months before the cruise by eating everything I want. My stomach would then be in shape for 3 to 5 meals a day. I would just have to buy a line of muumuus to wear on the cruise. Lol! Oh, to be young and skinny again where I could eat a lot of anything and never gain an ounce. Sigh…..

[labonnevie]

On our many Regent cruises, I don’t recall ever hearing ABBA played anywhere. 
I, for one, would love it! The more the better.
IMHO the only thing better would be wall to wall Eagles!

But we can certainly agree on the brownies!!

[Steve Q]

Georgia Peach, so wonderful to meet you!  This is Denise, traveling with Steve Q.  
We agree with many of your impressions  and observations.  For us, still a wonderful cruise with some hiccups, 

 

Navigator is definitely a different ship than Explorer, but has its charms.  For example, the theatre is the best—intimate and no poles!  We have had  some wonderful service, from particular waiters, sommeliers, etc.,  still something is a little lacking.  We can’t quite place our finger on it.

 

Still 9 days to go, so more impressions to come!  

[GeorgiaPeach51]

We had such a great night that I am writing to you while it is fresh on my mind.  First, the ship stopped wobbling around and we all did, too.  Yay!  That was super nice.  Things instantly got easier.  We sat and talked with new friends, had some time to work on and puzzle over the Mensa quiz for tomorrow, and went about 6:45 to the International Buffet and it was just wonderful.  They have it on the pool deck and in The Veranda so you can choose according to weather and if you want the outside music.  We opted for inside, but the food served in both locations is the same.

 

let’s see…..the usual big yummy shrimp.  scallops.  Lobster tails.  Nicely grilled and as many as you want.  My husband was in heaven, and I don’t mean maybe.  Roast suckling pig, excuse the editorial comment, but poor little thing!  Some sort of steak.  Sushi.  Salads galore.  Tortilla chips and salsa and guacamole. Grilled vegetables.  I saw a soup but can’t remember what it was.  And the usual suspects for desserts….all that I tasted looked great and tasted the same.  It was just wonderful.  Don’t miss it.  I will post photos below but they fall far short of the real thing.

 

After eating we had after dinner drinks with friends then went to the Abba dance party, which thrilled our souls.  Once upon a time 46 years ago he was a young USAF officer and I was a DOD teacher and we met in Germany.  The dance in clubs at that time was a German three step.  He taught that dance to me and we fell in love dancing to Abba, so tonight my head was full of sweet memories of that young couple as we danced the same dance to the same music.  Sometimes in life you get little bits of perfection, and they are so rare that we instantly recognize them for what they are and treasure them. This was one of those nights for us.  Thank you, Regent.  ❤️

[GeorgiaPeach51]

[GeorgiaPeach51]

[cwn]

Loved your love story and the food pictures bought back many happy memories of the 137 days we were in the Navigator in 2028. They had a poolside buffet about every two weeks or so. The food always looked so good. And the staff work really hard setting it all up!

Thanks for you reports!

[lprp]

6 hours ago, labonnevie said:

On our many Regent cruises, I don’t recall ever hearing ABBA played anywhere. 
I, for one, would love it! The more the better.
IMHO the only thing better would be wall to wall Eagles!

But we can certainly agree on the brownies!!

In the UK at the moment we are (eagerly or not depending on your perspective 🤔) awaiting the Eurovision Song Contest final this weekend.

TV and radio stations are almost full with B2B ABBA and other Eurovision artists.🙉

I’d happily take B2B Eagles or The Boss any day……..

[DeepFreeze63]

On 5/10/2023 at 1:17 PM, cAPS lOCK oN said:

We're on the fence for that very cruise. We're looking for one last splash to finishe off our cruising "career" and that may be the one. Coincedentally, we'd also be 73 and 75 at time of sailing!

Well guys, DW and I will, God willing, be on that cruise as perhaps our "last splash". It will be, by far, our longest of what would then be 32 Regent cruises. Great itinerary! 

[GeorgiaPeach51]

10 minutes ago, DeepFreeze63 said:

Well guys, DW and I will, God willing, be on that cruise as perhaps our "last splash". It will be, by far, our longest of what would then be 32 Regent cruises. Great itinerary! 

@cAPS lOCK oN and @DeepFreeze63 Well, hurray!  Looking forward to meeting you!  We can all look forward to it together!

 

Joanie