Saildude16

We'll be there in Jan/Feb with USD in hand, The Dollar should be king. Some might wish to exchange on the black market, but be careful for a number of reasons. Hotels, airport private transfers, well known tango dinner shows and other businesses price in $ today. From experience I'd guess shop keepers would love to get $ vs. pesos.

S & R - It appears as if you're looking for reasons to be unhappy.

We're on the 2/1/2019 sailing of the wait listed Explorer. As a SSS silver level, shore excursions could be booked 240 days out. We were online within a few minutes of midnight Eastern and booked every excursion desired.

I think we get to book the dining venues a few days early too. Be flexible with days and times, and all will work out.

Advice - Spend more time with RSSC to become a Silver, Gold, etc., and enjoy the benefits.

Don't forget that OBC/SBC can be used for laundry too.

The seating area around the infinity pool was well utilized on our voyage from LAX to MIA. Seating capacity may be ~20; and during peak times 15-18 folks were accommodated. The couple's lounges with a movable cover/sunscreen were particularly sought after. The water level itself was mostly at the brim as we had mostly minimal seas. Pool occupancy was generally 1-3 bathers.

IMO the venue is quite relaxing.

On LAX to MIA in Jan. 2017 the infinity pool area was very often full. The Panama Canal passage was quite interesting from this vantage point. It's a nice haven from the main pool. The proximity to the spa allows one to enjoy the sauna or steam room or aroma therapy shower or cold room before plunging in the pool.

There are plenty of places to get a drink on board. IMO this is an amenity worth more than yet another lounge.

We'll be using business class on either Delta via ATL(most convenient) or AA out of MIA.

Within the next couple of weeks we'll be 270 days out from embarkation on our next cruise. For the first time we plan to "deviate" and pay the $175 pp fee to arrive a couple of days prior to boarding. Preferred flights and seat assignments have been researched. Now a couple of questions:

1. Once the deviation is cleared with RSSC are we then charged for the airfare, or is it due at time of Final Payment(150 days before departure)?

2. Are seats assigned 270 days out or is there simply a reservation, and specific seats are doled out closer to sailing?

Thanks for your input.

I thought one could deviate as early as 270 days prior to sailing, not 240 days.

We are not interested in a theatrical production show and would prefer a more authentic/less touristy venue. Many years ago I was taken to a somewhat seedy and smokey bar with a single couple as the entertainers. It was great.

Also looking for an earlier show time than 10 pm.

Any recommendations?

Really would like a tip on an appropriate milonga.

Thanks for the feedback so far. I'm leaning towards the Puerto Madero hotel/San Telmo option. This puts us closer to the sights we wish to see. The hotel location just across the canal from San Telmo and a short walk to Plaza Dorrego appears advantageous.

We're planning on spending 2 nights in BA prior to our Feb. 1, 2019 cruise and would appreciate comments from experienced travelers. Our interests are ~50% for a good hotel(4 star) and ~50% for an interesting, safe and walkable neighborhood with character/history, tango/milongas, restaurants, etc.

Two candidates gleaned from CC and other research are:

1. Fierro Hotel in Palermo Hollywood

2. Hotel Madero in Puerto Madero adjacent to San Telmo

Our target is $200+/- per night.

We'd like to "experience" authentic BA.

Thanks for your inputs.

Sources I looked at must have been dated as no evac cover was noted. Thanks.

Agree Preferred does cover Interruption. So stated in my old fashioned 2014 paper booklet entitled "Guide to Benefits".

Just did a quick comparison of Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve benefits. Neither one had emergency evac/transport cover.

If I've missed something please advise.

We're booked on the Feb. 1, 2019 BA to Santiago cruise. After attending and enjoying 2 classes on a previous cruise, I searched the website for a clue as to when I might book classes on the future voyage. Didn't find anything, so called Regent. The rep said the culinary bookings would open on the same date as shore excursions. In our case this would be 240 days prior to sailing.

Suites 616 & 618 do not have verandas and are on the port side of the ship. Our cruise was in late October from NYC to Montreal. Thus, the port side faced the USA and allowed land views vs. open ocean. As expected the temps were often nippy, so the balcony would not have been very balmy. Friends on the starboard side virtually across the hall paid ~$300/night more than us and only used their balcony a few times. Part of the cost differential was due to our upgrade from an H GTY.

The Navigator handled rough(~15' to ~18') seas well in the Bay of St. Lawrence on our cruise 3 years ago. The apparent wind speed over the deck was ~75 knots(60 knot winds directly on the bow + 15 knots of forward boat speed). An important factor is the direction of the seas relative to the heading of the ship. In our case we were heading directly into the weather. Our cabin was 616. We just took a nap during the worst of it. Any ship will roll if the seas are on the beam.

Just wanted to clarify things as some give the Navigator a bad rap. A big the ship is not always the answer. Design stability and center of gravity are also key.

The Mariner seems to be cursed. It was code red in Jan. when the Explorer docked next to it at Cartagena. That is what we were told when we asked to go aboard to look it over. It appears to have been code red on voyages since then too.

Our experience in 809 on the recent LA/MIA cruise was the whistling occurred only when a strong wind was on our/starboard side. This happened 3 times on a 15 day cruise.

The vibration noted while docking/undocking is most likely the bow and/or stern thrusters. Their use allows the ship to move sideways or even pivot about a point when conditions of wind and current are ideal. The thrusters obviate the need for tugs in many ports.

On the Explorer LA/MIA voyage there was a carry on luggage storage location in the lounge on the deck that we boarded. The attendant gave a claim check for your stuff. That made having lunch aboard while waiting for the cabin to be OK'd quite civilized.

In my post on this matter the last sentence was: " Ignorance is no excuse". To that I had meant to add "...especially since dress after 6 p.m. is covered daily on the ship's TV broadcast and in Passages".

Yes, unfortunately some people are either clueless, dopes, are seeking attention or are trying to see what they can get away with.

At the Captain's farewell party, which also happened to be an optional formal night, on the recent Explorer LA/MIA voyage a man in gym shorts, a tee shirt and tennis shoes entered the Constellation Theater. His wife was in a tee shirt and washing-the-car level jeans. I said something to the attendant at the door(likely a member of the entertainment troupe)about the way the couple was dressed and got a nervous chuckle as an answer. As the program was about to begin we took our seats rather than look for a staff member in charge to report the situation.

I look at things this way. By signing on to a cruise you're making a ''social compact" to act in good faith as to the published/accepted/stated norms on board. If one does not like the "rules, guidelines, etc., then go elsewhere, stay home or work to change the part of the "system" you disagree with. Ignorance is not an excuse.

As noted by me earlier on a separate thread, Mariner and Explorer were docked at Cartagena in late Jan. At that time we asked to tour the Mariner. We were denied. Reason - Code Red. Indicates there was some level of problem almost a month ago.

Did not stay in an aft G2 cabin, but spent several days at the infinity pool on 5 Deck at the stern. The deck 6 - 8 G's were above and slightly forward of the infinity pool. There was no apparent vibration, and in fact it was amazing how little wake there was at 20 knots. Any significant vibration should have caused some surface disturbance of the water in the pool or in my drink, but there was none. Of course at times there was some sloshing as the ship rolled. Most of the time the seas were 3' - 6' or less, so there was little motion.

When the ship berths/unberths one can hear/feel the thrusters, but that's normal.

Never saw any soot either. However, at some points of sail/apparent wind speeds it would seem possible for the engine exhaust gases to sully some portions of the ship.

According to Michael, GM, the sliding balcony door gaskets of some cabins are defective and repairs were to be made by a shipyard technician in MIA. We heard a loud whistling in 30 knot winds on the starboard side. A temporary fix was to tape the door. This happened on 3 of the 15 nights we were aboard on the recent LA/MIA voyage. We met some folks that complained about this problem to us, but never reported it. Can't feel too sorry for someone that doesn't seek a solution to a problem and complains to others about it later.

Much has been said about the Double Tree vs. the Crown Plaza. Following are observations based upon our Jan. 14 stay prior to boarding the Regent Explorer:1. DT in in a serene, quiet location next to a marina. CP is in a downtown setting.

2. DT room and public areas were fine. Yes, the DT costs more. However, once you've decided on a cruise do you really want to cut corners on the precruise room?

3. Breakfast was fine and the cost was higher than at a fast food joint, as one would expect.

4. Free shuttle service to a nice restaurant was prompt

on drop off and pickup.

5. Shuttle to the ship was on schedule.

All in all it was a nice, well run "ship" in a pleasant location. The extra $30 - $50 was worth it.