rich48100

I was actually trying to log into both Tapatalk and the old cruise critic, and it didn’t recognize my password.  Got on the ships Internet cafe computer, then onto cruise critic from google, then changed my password, then got on the boards forums to finally post.  Hopefully things will work now.

So zqeeze1, are you saying I need to delete the old cruise critic app and then reload the new one to be able to post seemlessy?

Just docked in Puntarenas, so off on our excursion.

Well, this is Rich48100, and finally got into cruise critic to post about our trip up to this date.  Internet has been  slow, so trying to post early in the morning before the rest of the passengers get up at a reasonable hour.

We, fortunately, had no problems getting to Miami from Tulsa, and our bags showed up with us and had a smooth transfer to the Trump Doral for our one night stay and Gala dinner.  The property is beautiful, and we stayed in the Gary Player pavilion.  For this golfer it was a real treat.

The Gala itself went off without a hitch.  about 80 of us are taking the full Grand Voyage and we had a wonderful meal, and were able to meet a number of great people to be lucky enough to cruise with.  Jason Montague and Jason O'Keefe attended the Gala, and it was great to talk with them, and they mingled with the rest of the attendees.

Got on the beautiful Mariner the next day, and settled in to everyday life on the ship. Got into our room about 2:30, and proceeded to have a great meal at the Compass rose.  Next day in Havana, and got to take a tour of the city and saw lots of old cars that were colorfully painted. They really like pink!!!

A few sea days and then off to Cartegena.  I had been before so stayed onboard and wanted to see how it was having the entire ship almost to myself for a few hours.  Great wandering around, talking to staff, lounging around the pool, looking around for all the nooks and crannies I can enjoy later.  DW went on an excursion, and she thoroughly enjoyed the city and got in her retail therapy.  Also got to bargain with the locals, and was satisfied she got a good deal.

Then off to the Panama Canal for a daylight crossing.  Interesting to see the workings of the Canal. Lots of people in the Observation lounge and outside taking all kinds of pictures documenting the transit.  Nice commentary on board about the canal as we went through.

After another sea day, now about to go to Punteranas, Costa Rica for an excursion "Walk in the Clouds".  Little suspension Bridges in the forest to see all kinds of animals and birds, we hope.

Life onboard has been great so far, good meals, good conversation,  and all want to have a good time.  Two wonderful speakers, one dealing with the Space Program, and one dealing with all of our stops and what to expect at each place in the way of sights and wildlife.

This is a quick recap of our journey to date, and from now on I can hopefully post on a more regular basis in real time.

Just wanted to chime in here, and mention that one of the Regent Choice excursions price actually went down from the time I booked it when excursions opened up for my cruise. It was brought to Regents attention, and they promptly refunded the money by crediting my credit card. This is what was expected and glad Regent did this.

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We are on the same cruise as papaflamingo, but start in Miami all the way to Sydney, one of Regents Grand Voyages, 66 days and got a good rate from Berkshire as well.

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My wife did the train trip to Moscow while on an Oceania cruise as well. Thoroughly enjoyed it, even though a long day. The subway system with the murals is an interesting site.

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One other thing is the mail. Post office only holds mail for 30 days. If gone longer have to send the mail elsewhere, relative, friend? Or have someone else pick up the mail once delivered, neighbor, friend , relative? Maybe you have some other solution which is great, just thought I would mention it.

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WesW: we will also be on turnaround day in Honolulu, and if you need more input or additional people for doing that tour we will definitely back you up.

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I like your kind of math. I think it will be a fun cruise, but hope not too many sea days will be added what with Nicaragua turmoil and volcanoes popping off in Guatemala and Hawaii. My TA said that a number of ships have cancelled the island of Hawaii all together even though Hilo is on the other side of the island. We will see what several more months will bring.

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Thanks to Wes for pointing out the need for the OFAC form. My TA actually missed this, not good, so thanks a bunch. Owe you a drink on board our cruise. Looking forward to seeing you.

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Thanks for all of the photos and discussion of your tour in Cabo. We will be doing the same tour when we will be on the Mariner in October. Hope springs eternal that we have the same weather. I made special note of the place with the bestMargaritas in town. Wish I could be there tomorrow.

You are doing a great job reporting from the Mariner, and it sounds like a great cruise and a fun time had by all. You all also have great taste in food, and we are carnivores at heart. The steaks all look yummy.

Rich

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Fletcher: very interesting perspective on the coastal cities that you visited and the ship in general. We are hoping that after the latest refurbishment it is much better than you experienced. We also can’t believe what you experienced with the smokers at the restaurant.

It will be a good comparative experience to see some of the ports and cities you visited four years or so later.

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Thanks for showing the videos of your trip and the “Cloud”. We will be on her about this time next year going up the western African coast. Your videos really makes me want the time to fly by. It will be our first cruise with Silversea, so video was great.

Any pointers about the ship, dining venues, or something else that comes to mind.

Thanks

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Hey Wes, interesting to see you writing on the Silversea area. Remember I am on the cruise with you Oct-Nov. my question is in regard to Silversea. I am considering cruises with them from London Tower Bridge to Reykjavik(Silver Wind) July 2019, and then Silver Cloud B2B circumnavigation Of Iceland and then Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland in August of 2019. Have you experience with any of those itineraries or suggestions?

Thanks

Rich

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Rachel: Sounds like you have some special trips coming up. Hope you enjoy Antarctica as much as we did. LLOOOOTTTSSS of penguins and other wildlife and scenery was spectacular. I read a book about Shackleton and his exploits; fascinating. Since we will have been on the Cloud for over a month and getting off on May 1st of 2019 we should be able to give you a heads up about the ship.

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Glad to see you posting again Rachel. We have a B2B booked on the Cloud starting in Capetown in mid March 2019 to Tema, Ghana and then the next cruise from there to Lisbon. Have been to Capetown and Lisbon before, but nothing in between. We haven’t been on the Cloud before either, but after it’s refurbishment I here that it is fantastic.

Which trips do you have booked on the Cloud?

Rich

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Great!!!!! I always did like that CLUE game.

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Just for your info, when we were on the Voyager last year the wife wanted something non-alcoholic so she asked if she could get a virgin strawberry daiquiri. No problem, mixed it up and it tasted fantastic. She also got a virgin pina colada. Those guys can really mix up some great concoctions.

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Wow, great pictures!!!!! My wife Barbara said she talked to you about your Regent cruise the last time she was in to see you and you said Regent was your go to cruise line. To give you a little more info, our last name starts with L, and her two sisters Donna and Belva, both with different last names, also go to you for their gyn exams.

Anyway it sounds like you had quite the adventure on your cruise, and we are really looking forward to our cruise.

Rich

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It is a small world. We don’t get to meet very many Okies when we travel, but there were two couples we met from OKC on our last Regent cruise on the Voyager last year from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi. Great itinerary!!!!

We are retired oil folks, from AMOCO. Actually I just mentioned your name to my wife and she thinks you are her doctor. We also have our primary care physician at the Warren Clinic.

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Rachel

Thanks for all of you insights into the area. We will be going on the Grand Voyage from Miami to Sydney on the Mariner, so this portion was particularly insightful.

I also couldn’t help but see that you are from Tulsa which is also our hometown. Welcome home to Tulsa Town and again being on Tulsa Time.

Rich and Barbara

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WesW, thanks for all the good info you provided. Looking forward to this GV and the extras that come with it. We will be doing the precruise Hotel and dinner at the Trump Doral. The golf course has always looked spectacular, so it will be interesting to see the hotel itself.

So if I understand you correctly, Regent puts a plaque on your door if you ever took a GV cruise with them as well as one for those taking the current GV cruise? Interesting, maybe good advertisement? Also are the ballcaps and jackets ones commemorative gift or are they for sale on the ship?

Funny you should mention Silversea, as we have not travelled with them yet, but we are signed up for a b2b with them on the newly refurbished Silver Cloud next spring. We go from Capetown to Lisbon with many stops along the coast. Will talk to you more about them onboard. We have done Antarctica with another line, but not the Arctic. Don’t know if I could convince the wife about the Arctic these days, but Iceland and Greenland are on our bucket list.

By the way, my sister in Florida has a dog named BELLA.

See you on the ship!!!!

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Really!!!! Who knew? First time I am doing multiple segments with Regent and also the first GV. Sounds like from previous posts you have cruised with them quite a bit. Must think they are relatively good.

We had a wonderful experience on our first cruise with them from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi last year on the Voyager. This trip will make us Gold with them.

Looking forward to meeting you, hopefully at our Meet & Mingle.

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For your info we are going on the Miami to Sydney cruise that you all will be on, and when we were able to book our first segment from Miami to Honolulu we were also able to book excursions on the other segments all the way to Sydney.

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Try the Vesper martini of James Bond fame. Had it on Voyager on our last cruise. GOOD!!

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