Onboard Mariner Now

[cruzndiz]

Boarded the Mariner a half hour ago and am sitting on the Pool Deck enjoying my first Mai Tai complemented by a juicy cheeseburger! Actually, truth be told, you would have to say it's my 2nd Mai Tai since I knocked over the first one with this laptop. However, the solicitous employees immediately came over to clean up the spill and bring me a fresh one. And that's what I have to say about everyone I have encountered so far.....over-the-top friendliness and bend-over-backward willingness to be of assistance in any way possible. Believe me, these employees -- every last one -- have made me feel truly welcome aboard this ship. The changes made in dry dock are identical to what DebbieH posted about the voyager and everything is pristine. Embarkation was painless and quick so my worries in that area were unfounded. I'm off to do some exploration but will be back again. Thanks, again, to all of you who have kept my spirits up these past few months.....now I hope I can just find some CCers on my ship

[Travelcat2]

Really thrilled to hear you are finally aboard the Mariner and that, so far, it is meeting your expectations.

 

You should just about be getting the announcement to proceed to your suite (2:50 p.m. your time). We'll all be looking forward to every one of your posts!

[OrpingtonT]

Great start. I am looking forward to your notes from my favourite ship.

[ERParadise]

Just read your report about the ship coming out of dry dock.

 

What are the most significant changes?

[PaulaJK]

Ah, paradise!

What a positive start!

Please keep the reports coming.

[NETSEG]

Just a quick fyi. Later in boarding the computers went down (about 2:45) and everyone was moved to seats in the terminal and then sent in rows to check-in at the pursers office. Took us at least an hour to get checked in but they served champagne.

[wripro]

Maybe Regent should go back to paper and pen since they can't seem to get the computer thing right.

[PaulaJK]

NETSEG....While normally I would comment that things happen and how nice to serve champagne, I agree that Regent's computer problems have now been going on for three months...far too long. Also one wonders where the strong hand of management is with all of the problems.

[Anna B.]

Cruzndiz: Love your positive attitude and upbeat posts! Keep 'em coming and have a wonderful cruise!

[travelerchris]

Hey Cruzndiz,

enjoy your trip and have one of those Blue cheese burgers for me. I love those things. Vincent the bar tender at the pool is great, so is Alvin.

Let us know what you think of Prime 7. I hear on the Voyager it's awesome.

Looking forward to your updates. I guess now it's my turn to live through you vicariously (sp?)

Have lots of fun. You've waited long enough

[canadagal]

Linda, great to hear that everything is going well for you. I won't ask you about the drydock changes as this is your first time onboard the Mariner and you might not notice the difference but for your other CC friends that are past pax please post as to what you've noticed.

Take time to just relax and enjoy the experience and Happy Anniversary to you and hubby.

As much as we love onboard posts I sometimes think it deters people from just mellowing out and enjoying things fully. So remember your first priority is to yourself and your husband......we can always wait for your reports.

Pat

[Jim B]

Sure would like to see some pictures of the Mariner after drydock.

Would someone please take some and send them to us??

[mariners]

Happy 25th Anniversary! Looking forward to reading your updates whenever you have time to make them. After trying to write and post on the last cruise, I have to admit that I found I was too busy enjoying myself to post daily. Hope you are continuing to have a wonderful time.

[Cattravel10]

Yes, salivating for more posts but just enjoy!! And happy 25th!! Love the Mariner and hope your having a great time!:)

[cruzndiz]

Thanks everyone! These past 3 days have been unbelievably wonderful and I haven't even had time to work on my blog so I'll just let you know the highlights here...

 

Netseg: sorry to hear you had a hard time at embarkation. Things could not have gone better for me (especially since I left my beautiful grey travel dox at home:p) and I was having my first bluecheeseburger by 1pm and unpacked in my suite by 2pm!

 

The drydock changes are IDENTICAL to the ones that were done on the Voyager so if you don't want to wait for my pix, just go to DebbieH blog and you will see all you need to know.

 

I have met more wonderful people in just these 3 short days than I could have ever thought possible. There aren't enough nights left in the cruise to have dinner with everyone!!!

 

The food in Prime 7 was amazing and we are eating there again later in the cruise because I wasn't able to eat everything I wanted to try in one sitting! LOL

 

Compass Rose and LaVerandah both have been consistent with good food and good presentation although I do feel that service in CR was slower than in other venues.

 

Vincent is now working the Observation Lounge, Chris, and yes he is a sweetie! Alvin lost his name tag but is doing a fine job on the pool deck. My fave bartenders so far are John at the Pool Bar (he has such beautiful eyes!) and Ruel at the Casino Bar but that is probably just because I spend so much time with them.

 

I have had no problems whatsoever getting service on the pool deck and the staff are constantly coming around to serve beverages. The new lounge chairs are to die for and I fell asleep (sound asleep) two days in a row while laying poolside. There are some issues with "chair hogs" and I actually came out of the pool yesterday to find my chair which was right next to my husband's taken. The culprit was nice enough to leave behind the loose pillow and my towel so I did have someplace to sit but though the deck staff tried to locate another lounger to replace it with there were none to be found. I completely blame Regent for this because if the darned loungers weren't so comfy, my hubby wouldn't have fallen asleep and he would have been aware that someone was "stealing" my chair LOL!!:D In any event, be prepared on sea days to have a hard time finding a chair between the hours of 11 and 3 unless you want to go up to Deck 12 where there are plenty of empty chairs.

 

They are playing the same "token" games as in the past -- Baggo, Ring Toss, Shuffleboard, Bocce, etc. and I have joined in the fray with a vengeance!! 5 tokens won so far in 2 days -- today we were in Aruba so missed all of the events.

 

The evening shows have been somewhat anti-climactic compared to the rest of the onboard experience but I wasn't expecting Broadway. The trio who perform on pool deck during lunch are quite good and I'm not sure why everyone doesn't clap but I've made it my personal mission to go around getting the pax to clap for them so I've noticed an improvement since the 1st day.

[cruzndiz]

I sent the previous post so that the same fate would not befall my "too long" post that had happened to other posters. And I continue.....

 

One of the new dry dock enhancements is the addition of some deep seating conversation pits -- two areas, in fact. While one is great (off the back of Horizon Lounge), the other area looks like an afterthought since it is stuck in sort of a hallway starboard, on the way into LaVerandah. I like the "concept" of the (I guess you'd call them) Cabanas -- but the location is strange. So far the only time I've seen one occupied is when two workers were in there painting the railings!:rolleyes:

 

One thing all of you didn't tell me was how "rocky" the boat is!!! I have never been on a ship that rocks so much since I sailed out of New York in the Fall!

 

The casino has been a hotbed of activity every night so whoever thought that the casino didn't get much use is wrong. The tables have all been packed as soon as they open and there are always a bunch of us at the machines and at the bar. More than one of us has won some $$$ in the casino so if you think you can't win there --- think again!

 

Last but not least, I have had the pleasure (excitement) of having two different passengers recognize me from my picture!! Catenai (who I found out is Carol) came up to me and said "cruzndiz?" but I haven't seen her since. And, Ralph who was one of my early roll call posters, but never posted after that, spotted me about a half hour after I was on the ship. Cool!

 

I'll be back with more updates soon :D

 

Thanks, again, everyone for convincing me that this was the right ship for me --- I am LOVING it and Mike & I are already talking about which ship we'll try next year!

[Travelcat2]

I won't say "I told you so" (oops, did I just say that?) You guys have enough cruising experience to really appreciate Regent.

 

Don't worry about your blog -- but, we expect a full, very detailed report on everything when you get back.

 

One question -- you had a photo of a Regent bed on your posts for a while....... is it as comfortable as it looked?

 

Better go -- I'm sounding like a Regent cheerleader again:eek:

[traveller333]

cruzndiz, glad to hear things are going so well on the Mariner. I have also talked with someone currently on the Voyager who says things are going equally well there. (except your casino sounds lively and it sounds like the Voyager is very quiet at night. My friend says there are no Texas Hold'em games or an electronic table in the casino anymore).

 

Happy to hear that things are going so well on the ships after recently reading of disastisfaction. Is there a link for your blog?

[Travelcat2]

The link to her blog is on her posts (in a brownish orange color). She hasn't posted on the blog since boarding the ship.

[doc47]

Sounds like your experience is on par with mine from the Mariner's last trip brfore drydock. (For those interested, read "Musings from the Mariner" down the threadlist.)

 

I'm curious, is there photography? Who is the CD and Captain?

[cruzndiz]

I haven't been able to work on my blog because to be honest, internet service is sloooooooooow and I feel like I'm working on a computer in the early 1980s here LOL! You can be sure that it will be complete by next Tuesday :D

 

The CD is John Barron and the Captain is Philippe Delavault. We have had the same entertainer pretty much every night -- Ken Bloch who is OKAY (not great but not the worst I've had to sit through either) :p I think he is getting off tomorrow so who knows who they will bring on.

 

There is a much higher level of energy on this ship than I expected (or maybe I just brought it on with me!) and many, many, many of us are staying up waaaaaaaaay past our bedtimes every night!

 

Everything is still perfect (and Jackie, I won't hold it against you since you deserve to be able to say told ya so!);)

[travelerchris]

Hi Linda,

The internet access was slow for us too. Why do you think I emailed you directly. But overall, that's a small price to pay to stay in touch. Especially when it's free. :) You should relax though. We can wait. I have a feeling most of us have no life right now and we're living through you.

I'm so happy you're having a good time. We had a problem with people saving chairs too. One man would put out his book, I remember the title, and then go on with his day. One time he never showed! In the meantime Dick and I are looking for 2 chairs together. Finally I lost it and moved his damn book. To me that's rude. Another problem is, people leave, but leave their towels. I always tossed ours into the bin, even though Dick said "they'll take care of it". Half the time we probably could have had chairs, if people had taken their towels.

Enjoy the rest of your trip. Have a Martini for us in the Mariner's Lounge, and another one with Vincent. We enjoyed him so much. Tell him we said "hi" and I'm the blonde that downed the Chopin on New Years Eve in the afternoon so I could take a nap. Otherwise I would have never made it to midnight. Normally I drank ice tea during the day. Come 5 o'clock, watch out.

[Travelcat2]

You have been gone a LONG time -- can't wait to hear details next week.

 

This past week I've read many posts and realize how wonderful it is that you are appreciating your time on Regent and that you are planning a cruise next year.

 

Having said that. . . after your next cruise, you may find yourself nitpicking every single thing that is slightly different from what you experienced on the Mariner on your first Regent cruise. It seems that people find it difficult to accept "differences". Differences in the ships, the ports, the passengers, etc. And, if you were to enjoy your next cruise, you would be accused of being a "Regent Cheerleader".

 

Just letting out some frustration while I await your review. Somehow I just know that it will be very detailed and interesting:D

[cruzndiz]

OMG Jackie.... I totally hear what you are saying! In fact, one elderly woman with whom I have become friendly asked me just this morning if I had received my comment cards. When I replied that I had, and I couldn't wait to start filling them out, she said "Me too. I have so many complaints I don't know where to begin!":eek: This surprised me because I only have one area that I think is substandard so I asked her to give me a "for instance" and she replied: "Well they need to replace the caulk around the swimming pool!!"

 

I'm sure I will be called a Regent Cheerleader (or worse) but I can't possibly see how cracking caulk is going to impinge upon your ability to have a wonderful cruise! I guess that's just me ;)

 

In the meantime, I am getting to be known around the ship as the "life of the party" and I can honestly say that separating from the new friends I have made tomorrow will be very hard indeed.

 

Can't wait to get working on my blog since I have so many wonderful experiences to share! In fact, even thought the internet is slow I might actually start working on it today because we inadvertently bought two "sets" of minutes and I still have over 200 left!

[Jim B]

So gald to hear you are having a wonderful time.

Look forward to your blog.