Jim_Iain

Sounds like a wonderful cruise with the family. After all our Asian cruises this year we are going to take an Asia break. Those long flights are a killer.

Thank you for your wonderful report. We will be taking our first Oceania cruise on Regatta in September. Getting excited by you commentary.

I've taken the bus YEAR's ago and it was very convenient and worked smoothly. For our visit in September we booked Tea at Empress hotel on our own at about 50% of what Oceania was charging and got a time which worked better with our schedule.

Agree that it is important to compare apples and apples. I normally do a mock booking on Cunard site until I am comfortable with type of room - sales prices, what the room comes with and things like Sheltered Balcony, Obstructed or regular veranda. Once I'm comfortable I will either book with Cunard and usually transfer to my agent for additional perks or have my agent booked. Even on Cunard site when you select a Veranda Cabin there are at least 3 different prices. Get comfortable with prices -- Most agents should provide you with at least the same price as Cunard or Lower.

Imagine meeting you here. Hate to say it but I had never heard of Regent Seven Seas before but found a Cruise that really interests me. I've always wanted to see South Africa and take a per-cruise side trip to Victoria Falls and do a Safari. This cruise combined with a TA is just up my alley. Getting close and have Iain 75% on-board. Where are you off to next?

Thanks all. I do have a good travel agent but was just trying to get our head around RSS before we call RSS or our agent to proceed. Every time I look at RSS site I get an email from them. Just trying to be proactive and understand how things work. On Celebrity which we have mostly sailed if you cancel you loose your full deposit but can shift it to another cruise for $100pp. We have never cancelled a cruise in 24 years but next need to figure out if if makes sense to take out the insurance or buy insurance externally.

When I was on Edge and Apex there was a QR link in the daily with selection of Transfers and I believe about early or late departure.

Lot's depend on your Status and answers to the disembarkation questionnaire. Walk off usually begin at 7:00 - 7:15 (you will have luggage with you). Suites can disembark anytime and luggage is available at 7:15. I've never used the loyalty disembarkation but I believe luggage is available about 7:15-7:30 and you meet in a lounge and will be escorted off the ship. After that it depends on the disembarkation number. Luggage is offloaded in the order of tickets.

We are looking at booking our first RSS cruise for 2026. I've been searching and reading but only seem to be getting more confused. The Cruise will be a 35 Day cruise - Cape Town to Miami via Lisbon. May of 2026. When I look at the cancellation fee - First can someone explain what RS and MS-H mean. I can't find any explanation. My main question is. If I booked and pay the Deposit today and need to cancel before Final Payment Date, Will I get my full deposit back less the $100 per person administrative fee. Are there any other gotcha's I need to be aware of?

Thanks for taking the time to post live. Really enjoying all the current live posts and yours will dovetail with the others that will be ending soon.

Many years ago they had a GE line far right and it was written on the wall. The agent just waved us through - I asked if he needed our card and he said no.... we don't have the equipment to read it. hmmm...

Not sure how that Big Box works but I use a Travel agent and would book on-board or buy a certificate. I would transfer the certificate to the Travel Agent and he would stack the Book on Board Discount/OBC and give his Perk as an upfront discount or an OBC. I really don't think it's a scam it's a choice. I like the Big Box store but would never be able to spend the amount at the store.

The main reason is we are no longer sailing Celebrity exclusively and I mostly book 2 to 3 years out. I would often purchase multiple certificates in order to book future cruises that had not yet been released. The last batch I purchased I still have 4 left - luckily I will get a refund.

As a Zenith we get a 25% discount. Unfortunately the only way to get it, is to call in and have them apply it. Normally I just book it online and then once on the ship have them adjust the price. Since we are in Retreat I just ask the concierge to take care of it.

They use to say the same about Olympic on M-Class. It cost a whopping $25 per person and they had a hard time filling it. It was recommended you allocate 2 1/2 - 3 hours for dinner. Portions were huge and service impeccable. Ohhhh... those good old days

Would suggest you go to Cruise Deck Plans and look at full details https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/Celebrity-Edge https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/Celebrity-Silhouette Major differences will be immediately apparent Notably E-Class 2 Bedrooms and S-Class with 1 Bedroom and a huge Living room with Sofa Bed - By your description of your last cruise this could be problematic for your daughter. All of the benefits are the same but E-Class have more Specialty Restaurants for free dining. Also when you look at the link above you will notice the PH on E-Class is about 200 SQ Ft larger (the size of the 2nd bedroom).

I personally believe that Celebrity is again intentionally shooting themselves in the foot. After the change to the policy I will no long be purchasing them. Actually we have pretty much decided to discontinue booking anything with Celebrity after 24 years of exclusively sailing Celebrity.

If you purchased it prior to the change you are grandfathered by the terms in place when you booked it. The one I have says if I don't book by 1 year that it will be refunded in the form of original purchase. If you purchased it after the change then you would loose your deposit.

Have you ever downloaded Netflix content to your Pad, phone or PC. Really easy. Just push the download link and it will be on your device.

The law goes into effect tomorrow - it is not onerous but just requires to show the full cost up front. It was passed into law due to California raising the minimum wage to $16 and many communities like Mountain View raised to $18.75. I'm sure that sound incredible to some, but you have to put into perspective - the median house price in MV is $2.033 Million. Many restaurants started to put on hidden surcharges and mandatory 20% gratuity to cover the increase cost. The law doesn't prohibit surcharges it simply requires it has to be shown upfront so the customer is not shocked when they get their bill. Effective July 1, 2024, California Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) will ban hidden fees charged for goods and services. The law makes it illegal to advertise a low price for a product, only for that product to be subject to additional or mandatory fees later Off on my walk to Mountain View for may daily dose of Starbuck (no surcharge).

Great way to start a cruise -- a Jumbo Wine Flight to start your journey and a nice beer flight to settle in. Followed by a Whiskey tasting.

If not in a Suite and have no Loyalty you pretty much only have one option. Line up for Tender Tickets before they open and get on one of the first Tenders. If you are being accompanied by an Elite you may be able to get the CC host to accommodate you. I was on an E-Class and on a tour with about 20 guests. Most had no status but the Retreat host allowed me to invite them to the retreat and escorted us off as a group. So I don't get flamed... I planned it in advance and the Port Yorky Knob 90% of the ship had booked Ships Tours as there is nothing in the port. When I escorted the guests in we were the only guests in Retreat, which is why they may have permitted it.

At first I thought this was "Mr's" Ice Cream afternoon snack. OR is it Ice Cream????

So happy to hear. Like you on Edge the Ice Cream was just not good at all. Many were saying -- How can they screw up Ice Cream. The Vanilla flavor was just off and it was more like Ice Milk vs Ice Cream and had a ice crystal texture.

Since we do not live in the U.K. Not sure about that. It would be best for you to contact UK Netflix and ask them so you know for sure instead of relying on possibly incorrect information. I know many download Netflix content in advance and watch it without needing a premium account. I use a VPN so even if it were blocked I can still watch.