MalbecWine

Dined with the ships doctor on another cruise and he told me those scales are worthless but you can get some idea what you are gaining or losing.  His statement was the ship is never completely balanced even while in port which will have an effect on a scale reading.

Just adding information to the ship scale subject and not off topic.

I think it is called reciprocity and this is done in many countries especially in some parts of S. America.  France at one time required a Visa.  Most of this can be a acquired online today including New Zealand and Australia.  It’s tit for tat.

Your weight will never be accurate on any ship at sea certainly and not even in port.  The ship moves and you will not get a steady weight like in your doctors office or at home where nothing is moving.  You wil get a lot of variations.  On one cruise the scale said I gained 5lbs when in fact I lost three when I got home and went to the doctors office.

Eating healthy and moving are the key to not gaining too much weight.  We have seen people at buffets piling their plates like it’s their last meal.  Nobody will starve.

The key to it is move and take the stairs if you are able to and cut back on fatty entree’s and of course alcohol is just adding empty calories.  Moderation is the key.  When we cruise our diet is the same as at home.  Many healthy items to eat and not deprive yourself.

I am familiar with Regent and have two bookings and have had six sailing with them between Radisson and Regent.  The Explorer and Splendor are the only ships we are interested in.  Yes, we book the upper suites for space but also will enjoy the amenities like you do.  We also have two other cruises booked on another luxury line and nobody needs to know our accommodations as we are all equal when we step out.  We just simply love our space including at our home.  Two bathrooms works for us.

All luxury lines have a VIP status on the high end suites and certainly the Regent Suite regardless of how many cruises one may have as they are paying the big $$$$.  Nobody cares and nobody needs to know unless a guest invites people or is poorly braggadocios.  I say, they are entitled for what they are paying to have the extra benefits.  It’s personal and nobody needs to know about it unless you tell them.  Nobody but our friends and crew know where we are on the ship.  Everybody is equal to us as far as we are concerned when we are out and about the ship and treated equally.  We dine with new people and drink with them and have never been asked about our status or stateroom.  We are far from snobs.  We have met many great people from all over the world in our many years of cruising and traveling land side.

Singapore is perfectly fine dining anywhere as they are very strict about sanitation and are inspected often.  The street food is perfectly safe and they have good hygiene.  Singapore is the most clean city we have ever visited.  If they find a violation they will shut the venue down.  

We have been going there there for years as we have friends that are ex-pats and love Singapore except for the heat and humidity.  Otherwise always worth the visit.

Turkish Airlines is very good.  Go to YouTube and google Turkish Airlines busines Class for videos.

20 minutes ago, Ragnar Danneskjold said:

Also avoid uncooked food (salads, etc.) on most airlines.  Especially ones that pick up their on-board meals from areas mentioned above.  I have some sad, sad stories from before that lesson finally sank in...

 

PS - Foreign carriers that take off from US airports may have meals aboard from the non-US cities they came from.  Got bit by that once  😞  Not sure if domestic carriers pick up chow before return flights...

20 minutes ago, Ragnar Danneskjold said:

Also avoid uncooked food (salads, etc.) on most airlines.  Especially ones that pick up their on-board meals from areas mentioned above.  I have some sad, sad stories from before that lesson finally sank in...

 

PS - Foreign carriers that take off from US airports may have meals aboard from the non-US cities they came from.  Got bit by that once  😞  Not sure if domestic carriers pick up chow before return flights...

No, Airlines cannot deadhead meals on international for return flights or continuations.  They must be recatered fresh.  The best inflight meals we have had were on Singapore, Emirates, Cathay Pacific but we were either in First or Business.  Fine dining at its best in the Sky and top quality.

Domestic Airlines can cater for short hauls RT.

Working is actually working.  So does paying for the Regent suite or MS, GS should not have the free laundry and other benefits?  I totally disagree.

People who pay a premium for top suites should be afforded those extra amenities regardless of the number of times they have sailed.

Same goes for Luxury Hotels with club floors you pay for that level of luxury.  Geez. Boarding priorities would not effect many people at all.

Too add, in the Regent Suite at 10K per day they should not have special treatment in their suite and amenities?

Of course they should. And why begrudge them?

1 hour ago, wcsdkqh said:

Speaking of semantics, I don’t believe Regent is giving away anything. Anyone paying for these suites has more than paid for these “perks”

Absolutely, and they deserve it but not worked for them.  You pay for a higher level they should receive it.  This is the same for any luxury or premium line.  You get what you pay for and certainly do not object to it.  If you book a high end suite of course you will have these amenities.

I would use the word earned these benefits not worked for them.  I worked for my retirement benefits..  A matter of semantics I guess.  

3 hours ago, RachelG said:

Hope Dennis gets well soon.  The Pacific Rim soup should be just the ticket.

Rachel, don’t you think travelers should carry Lomitil or Diaphen (sp?).  We always go to our doctor before traveling out of the country and she prescribes what we may need. and hopefully not.

I became sick with an intestinal virus years ago and the OTC medication did not work so we just tell her what countries we are visiting and the medications are covered by our insurance.

 Nothing worse being ill on vacation.  Sorry about Dennis and keep him hydrated.

It most certainly is not representative of most luxury cruisers on any luxury line.

9 hours ago, RachelG said:

Mine do too as they all go to the cloud.  But that only happens once a day, during the night, so if you want them to go over sooner, you have to use airdrop.

What is also unique is that ithe cloud knows where you are.  The photos will help remind you of where you were.as your location is known.

Heavy seas and storms can be found on NOAA and radar but that does not guarantee they will remain that way especially doing passeges including Africa the South Cape as well.  Having a six pack license not my body LOL I know the variables that can happen at sea as we have sailed around the world.  You can have the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake no one can predict that or typhoons that may converge in the South Pacific.  The Captains do their best to avoid them as much as possible.

Obviously many of you have not traversed the the Drake Paasge or the Tasman Sea where weather changes on a dime and winds can kick up to over 100K MPH.  Been there done that and we had one elderly man fall off the steps and was evacuated to Ushuaia and this was on  Crystal.  Lots of glasses and bottles were broken and a few windows blew out but we were never in jeopardy.

Bob, you are correct on both counts.

The butler can always  take a photo of you two.

6 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:

 

Thanks so much for the birthday wishes for Dennis.  He truly had a once in a lifetime celebration!

 

I do not mind answering the same questions repeatedly but do get annoyed when attacks begin.  For instance, when I post that Explorer is our favorite ship, rather than putting me down for my opinion, why not just post why a different ship is your favorite?  

 

Hopefully when you return from your first Regent cruise you will be able to post information from your perspective.

 

Bill, so happy that you are posting more - I depend on you to make me laugh🤣

I have heard nothing bad at all about the Explorer.  Looking forward to sailing her and had our deposit put on hold for a year to choose the itinerary.  

We received the big brochure and now inundated with smaller ones each week.  Such a waste of money and trees.

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Will never again board or cage our dog again.  Our vet has cameras and TV for the dogs but our two house keepers take turns and one stays overnight and sleeps with her.  Very easy and the dog is in her own environment and of course is familiar with her.  Yes, we pay daily extra for dog sitting but it’s peace of mind and also the medications she needs as a senior dog.  To each their own.

19 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

SLSD, did I just read this correctly? You leave your dog home alone, without someone living in the house full time? Please get a live in house/pet sitter next time you cruise. I worried enough about our dog when we travelled and we paid for 24 hour in house care. I would not enjoy a moment of my vacation if there was not someone living in my home caring for my dog. But that is just me. 

19 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

SLSD, did I just read this correctly? You leave your dog home alone, without someone living in the house full time? Please get a live in house/pet sitter next time you cruise. I worried enough about our dog when we travelled and we paid for 24 hour in house care. I would not enjoy a moment of my vacation if there was not someone living in my home caring for my dog. But that is just me. 

We have a housekeeper for twenty years and she is our dog sitter as well and stays overnight when we travel anywhere.  I cannot imagine the separation anxiety she would have.   This will probably be our last puppy out of three we have had.  

We love our remaing dog like family and she is.  No boarding our dog for us. 

Enjoy, your cruise!!  I’m sure you will have a great time.

Seabourn and Crystal are excellent lines and we have been sailing for over twenty five years and we would do at least two sailings a year.  I was in the travel business for many years and ticked off almost our bucket list.

Our new passion for the last few years has been Africa and we love it not just for Safari’s but the community’s we visit in South Africa and Botswana.  They have beautiful lodges and you certainly are not roughing it and they are all inclusive.  We no longer do daily game drives , instead we visit remote villages and are hands on and we love it.  The people are wonderful and so kind and grateful for anything we can do to help.  We will spend time at an orphanage and I will assist with medical.  I have EMT training so when at a lodge I will ask what I can do to help in a village..draw blood assist a doctor whatever they want.  It’s such a pleasure to give back but we feel guilty that we are returning to a luxury lodge.

Enjoy all your travels.  We are only here for a short time.

On 11/2/2018 at 1:15 PM, Paul Bradley said:

Well, I'm doing my best...!   

It’s not only the new site changes but other forums like FB..Instagram and private forums.  I have noticed a decrease in participation on all the luxury boards as it is always just a few regulars that post and very few new people.

Tapirs are very endangered species as they are hunted by villagers.  If not protected they  would become extinct.  We must protect all animals.