Pamela1

I am a gynecologic surgeon. While bacteria can certainly be spread by multiple different people using tongs, it is just as likely to be spread by touching doorknobs, stair railings, a dollar bill, etc, etc, basically anything that can be touched with human hands. No way to prevent that 100%. If disease caused by touching utensils at a buffet were a huge health issue, the health departments in the US would have disallowed it long ago.

 

As Travelcat mentioned, one option would be to use a napkin to pick up the utensils.

 

 

I have never gotten sick from eating food from a self serve buffet. I have gotten horribly sick from undercooked chicken in a restaurant a couple of times as once from eating soup that was probably held at too low of a temperature for several hours. And that was at a very nice restaurant. Most food borne illness is from contaminated food or food which is not kept at the proper temperature or in the case of chicken, is inadequately cooked.

Thank you for the reply, i suppose it"s just about being hygienically aware and that others are also. :)

Pam.

To UKCruise jeff.

After looking at your pics and food posts we decided to try out your curry sauce suggestions and got the 6 pack.

Not sure if we are allowed to say names and places but you were spot on with that and thank you for that.

I think i am the curry queen but that surpassed what i imagined what you can get online and it really tasted like the real deal.

So cheers.

Pam.

Thanks for the great pics Flossie, wish we were with you.

Looking forward to our Mariner PH next year.

Pam.

Not Travelcat but here is my take on the buffets. I will admit a bias, as I don’t like the buffet on Oceania at all as I like to serve myself.

 

The buffet on all of the Regent ships is about the same size as on the smaller Oceania ships. marina and Riviera buffets are larger than those on Regent. But that said, with the exception of grilled lobster, the food at the buffet on Regent has more diversity. Many more options on the salad bar. They have a pizza window with pretty good pizza. There is always a big cheese board.

Hi Rachel, this is not a narky question in any way but want to ask a question.

You are a GP i think?

I have (i think) maybe had some gastro issues with the use of multiple people using the same tongs that everyone is using and lets be honest, not everyone has the best hygiene.

Do you have a fail safe way to counteract this issue? I do now try to use wipes when using multiple utensils but is there a better way of avoiding germs on this issue?

Thanks.

Pam.

Just curious - how many of you have rebated your product? If you were a doctor, did you reduce your fee to your patients? If you were an engineer, did you reduce your price to your clients? Just wondering why you think it’s okay to demand that their travel agents rebate some of their earnings to you.

Little bit harsh not?

Do we all not want the best value we can get?

We all work hard....or have worked hard in the past to afford these wonderful adventures we are getting.

It seems like some people have maybe had "friends" in the industry and have gone along with their recommendations however they have had better offers that suits them more.

If the agents are getting a rebate of some sort then surely (to keep the clients sweet) they should pass on some of the royalties?

So....yes, in my opinion if you want to keep good clients then you should offer a % of the deal you have and make your paying customers feel like like they are getting a good deal....simple!

Pam.

I think the photo situation is more about some people saying they are going to take one on their next cruise and then when the tide turns it starts to be a blame game of who did what in the past.

We should all be respectful of others personal space and that is it.

Pam.

You know what, we all spend large amounts of money on these cruises and if the dining arrangements change that suits some passengers and frees up dining space in the main dining rooms then surely everyone is in a win win situation.

I do still think it would be beneficial to have a separate lounge area for guests that wish to take their drinks inside without upsetting the fashion police.

Keep it real and accept that some folks want to keep it casual without having to be contained in their rooms.

Pam.

This is hilarious! Where do the people who have not been on late tours or doing any thing specific other than lazing around the pool and hot tubs and enjoying the extended hours fit in? For anyone that is that crazed about this very nice addition to the many Regent dining options....they should probably avoid the whole pool deck area. It sounds like a really good place to have fun. It isn't as though the more dressier attired people are going to be turned away.

I would imagine that if the powers that be at Regent are reading this thread they are feeling that "no good deed goes unpunished". What a wonderful thing that they are doing keeping the pool grill open at night for people looking for a more casual alternative. We saw people eating there on our July Explorer cruise and they looked relaxed and happy. I have no memory of what they were wearing, nor was it a concern of mine. I truly do not understand this obsession with the dress code, or even yet making sure passengers returning from excursions shower before dinner. I don't think I'm alone in saying it is a horrible invasion of privacy to be photographed in secret while eating dinner, and to have those photographs posted online. Just beyond words.....

Love both thinkings. :D

Pam.

Interesting - other posters take many photos of people without their permission and post it on CC and no one has has said a word. This has happened for years and I have commented on it in the past. I do not believe in doing that but see nothing wrong with taking photos of clothing without faces.:rolleyes:

Do you not think it would be difficult to take a photo of diners in a large area without showing their faces?

Maybe if you have such concerns then you shouldn't be asking for photos in the first place....just saying!

Pam.

That would be highly inappropriate taking a photograph of guests enjoying an outside dinner, and then posting on a public forum without their consent surely? I somehow don’t think you would wish your photograph taken and posted here while you were eating ? Jean.

+1

Pam.

I think this is a fabulous idea! I can completely understand that sometimes, especially on a long cruise with lots of excursions that you just want to eat in a casual setting without all the fru fru . In fact i think they should also make an indoor bar venue for inclement weather too, that way all will be happy and wheat can be separated from the chaff. :D

Pam.

Thank you all for the responses, it's very interesting to hear all your differing opinions and great stories.

Pam.

I am asking this as i see some folks really enjoy dining with and spending time with staff on board.

Just wondered if it was a feeling of importance or just a general liking of the staff that you have got to know throughout many cruises. ?

Pam.

For our last comment on this thread, please see RSSC Fall 2018 Seven Seas Society newsletter story (out yesterday or today) on our Lima to BA voyage at the attachment. Kudos to the editor of the Seven Seas Society newsletter for making our story readable.

Like most of us on here we thoroughly enjoyed your enthusiastic reports, you are both quite the inspiration to us all.

Keep living that dream.

Pam.

I'm back home after an amazing holiday in Alaska, including a cruise with the Regent Mariner. This was my first cruise and I cannot find the words to describe how much I enjoyed it. The staff, the food (absolutely wonderful for vegetarians and vegans), the restaurants, the fellow passengers, the entertainment, the excursions... I felt like royalty! I was slightly dissapointed with the way people complied with the dress code. It was more casual than elegant casual and even after 6 pm there were (dark) jeans, slippers and shirts all over the place. I dressed up anyway and I loved it. There is no such thing as being overdressed, right? I loved everything about the cruise, so our next cruise will be with Regent again! Hope to meet you someday!

So pleased you enjoyed your first Regent cruise and you will be cruising with them again. :D

Can i ask you what vegetarian and vegan meals you enjoyed the most and did you find a good variety?

Thanks. Pam.

Hi Dave-- thanks for ringing in. I spoke with an agent I like at Regent (haven't contacted TA), and she felt sure that excursions would be listed for that port by time of selection possibility. Said that Greenock is fairly new port for Regent.

 

cAPS: But Glasgow is a bit away from Greenock (an hour?) Thus one spends quite a bit of time getting to excursions from this port, at least that's the way it seems to me. I'm not real interested in Glasgow, having been there before, but there are sights out in the country, castles, etc. that I think we'd enjoy. Presumably they will be offered — though, again, this definitely seems like a port where one will need to do some bussing to see the sights.

Hi poss,

It seems strange that there are no excursions listed for Greenock, i haven't looked recently but they usually have quite a few for there.

The ports are usually Leith (Edinburgh ) and Greenock (Glasgow).......A very short distance between the 2 geographicaly.

I have heard of some people getting off in Edinburgh and spending a few days in the north to explore and then rejoining the ship again in Greenock. I think a lot of people may want to discover the Highlands which can't really be done in the short time the ship docks in any of these ports.

Anyway, hope you find something that suits you and your adventure.

Pam.

Thanks again for all the wonderful photos....just fascinating.

Pam.

We are about to sail on Explorer.

 

Does anyone know who the senior officers are at present?

 

Thanks.:cool:

Hi, this is not a trick question but is there a reason for asking why/who/what senior officers will be on board?

Just interested as to see if there is a difference in the onboard experience or if you know them personally or if it is just a question in general.

Just being nosey. Thanks.

Pam.

Hi Marc,

 

You have had really good advice on here and Gilly seems to have great information about the south of England and i might follow it myself some day! :D.

My advice would be about Islay. There are lots of distilleries on Islay but its quite a job to work out how you are getting there and your travel plans. If you are driving then its quite a journey to Kennacraig from (Glasgow for instance) maybe 3 hours and you will have to book in advance. If you fly, there is a twice daily (weather dependant) crossing but you will need to hire a car at Port Ellen as the public transport is limited and doesn't cover most of the distilleries.

You would also need to stay at least 1 night as with all the travelling it wouldn't be possible to do in a day.

The Machrie hotel is very nice but remote as are most places on the island but there is Bowmore which is busier.

Hope your drive round the UK is lovely and lucky that you have plenty time to plan your trip....you will be like a kid in a sweet shop with all the choices.

Have fun making your decisions.

 

Pam.

Silly me, i should have said the pre booking would be for the ferry...:D

Pam.

Gilly, the RHS show 5-9 June. We have been to Chelsea before and were going to throw in the RHS shows at Harrow and Hampton Court but my wife has agreed to just Chatsworth (as the house will also be open). Castle of Mey and Balmoral for her means I get to throw in around a dozen new distilleries for me this trip; well worth the compromise. I will look at the other properties you recommended; I think I found a good one on Islay and Ballater but still filling the dance card (can you recommend a hotel in Liverpool and/or Blackpool?).

 

Marc

Hi Marc,

You have had really good advice on here and Gilly seems to have great information about the south of England and i might follow it myself some day! :D.

My advice would be about Islay. There are lots of distilleries on Islay but its quite a job to work out how you are getting there and your travel plans. If you are driving then its quite a journey to Kennacraig from (Glasgow for instance) maybe 3 hours and you will have to book in advance. If you fly, there is a twice daily (weather dependant) crossing but you will need to hire a car at Port Ellen as the public transport is limited and doesn't cover most of the distilleries.

You would also need to stay at least 1 night as with all the travelling it wouldn't be possible to do in a day.

The Machrie hotel is very nice but remote as are most places on the island but there is Bowmore which is busier.

Hope your drive round the UK is lovely and lucky that you have plenty time to plan your trip....you will be like a kid in a sweet shop with all the choices.

Have fun making your decisions.

Pam.

We walk a lot on deck and if i remember there are mostly just steel flooring with a blue paint job on top, some faux wood decking? and some criss-crossed underlay...not sure.

I think if you have proper running shoes it should be fine but in high winds and unstable conditions they will shut off the running deck off anyway.

Pam.

Phew!!!!!......thankfully all straightened out now!

Pam.

I am not an experienced ‘cruiser’ by any means and only have a couple (with another ‘luxury’ company) under my belt .... all my sea time has been at the business end of things.

I am looking for another luxury cruise for 2020 and a couple from Regent feature on my short list because of specific ports of call, but from reading this and other threads it appears to me that if you are in a sub-concierge suite then the chances of getting the included excursion of your choice could be quite limited? Is this correct? If so then to me that is a deal breaker. Yes I agree that something might turn up once on board but ......

 

 

Sent from the magic box!

I'm not sure i agree with the below concierge patrons getting a raw deal, it maybe depends on different factors. i.e. the higher suite passengers choosing an included excursion just because they can and then throwing them away at the last minute just because it doesn't suit them. Also there is the fact that people have different likes and dislikes in what they would want to chose to see at any port of call.

Anyway,we have mostly stayed in a concierge suite (this sounds like i am contradicting myself) but we have every time got the excursions we wanted. I think maybe twice we have gone down the night before to hand in tickets as we realised that we couldn't do the tours so others could benefit from them.It is worthwhile going down to the lounge in the morning of the tour you are looking at as I'm sure there will be availability on the day.

Hope whatever you chose you will have fun.

Pam.

Yup! Got the luggage just in time to fly home on Tuesday morning. This has been some journey for us.

* lost luggage

* expensive clothes shopping in Copenhagen

* lost wallet - Herb - in Russia. found two days later onboard

* credit card fraud for $$$. Chase stopped card immediately

* fell off my scooter today. Badly scraped. No broken bones, I hope.

So many folks on this ship have been just wonderful. The crew helped so much. So many people expressed love and caring.

Some things are fated to happen.

I will never forget this journey. But there are also such fond memories.

Just want to get home safely now and laugh about this next week!

Hugs to everyone

Sheila

My goodness, what a trip and you still have such an upbeat attitude.

You are a remarkable woman and hope the fall has no further consequences.

Hope you can dress to impress for the last few days and have a safe travel home.

Pam.

Hi, i can only comment on the one time we have been on The Explorer and we were in suite 909 (F2)

We did try for the 4 with the bigger balconies but they were sold out a year in advance i guess with it being fairly new they were sold out quickly.

We were delighted with the suite and much bigger than the Concierge on other ships, the bed facing the window is a really nice touch and the room feels very spacious.

We were quite close to the front of the ship and is was really accessible to the laundrette and also the lifts. If i remember correctly, the aft of the ship doesn't have lifts all the way down to Compass Rose but maybe i am remembering that wrong.

Anyway it is a beautiful ship and hope you enjoy whatever you chose.

Pam.