Cruising Librarian

Those preference notices have legs!
 

In 2011 I sailed on the Navigator  and requested ginger beer in my suite (I was in a Dark and Stormy phase).  This spring, I sailed on the Voyager, made no special requests, but found 2 cans of ginger beer waiting  in my suite.   I was impressed by the gesture.  

I requested a wedge pillow upon boarding the Voyager this spring, and one was in my cabin within 24 hours.   

Thanks for posting DeepFreeze63!  I love live reports.

We played trivia with Andy on the Voyager this spring, agree he does a great job.   I think only twice did a team get 15 during a 14 day transatlantic.  

17 hours ago, Mudhen said:

And speaking of GTYs, has anyone actually gotten a better cabin, up from the guarantee?

We're in a bottom bottom of a seriously waitlisted cruise. Any hope for something a little better?

Certainly not expecting a suite, but maybe a little something?

We got an upgrade recently on the April Voyager transatlantic cruise.  Booked the lowest cat, received a concierge cabin mid ship, 8th floor.  Obviously didn't receive the many pre-cruise benefits of the concierge class.  Our friends who booked the same class, same situation,  also ended up on 8 but in the stern.  

Reportedly the ship had 50 unsold cabins.   Our Seven Seas society status changed from silver to gold early in the cruise, so that might have had something to do with it.  As you likely know, the concierge cabins are the same size as the GTY class, so it was a nice surprise but not a wow! 

23 hours ago, annapolitan369 said:

They will usually have a wine tasting of all the no-charge wines early in the cruise.  Worth attending so you can know what to ask for.

I second this. They will give you a list of the wines that are being served/featured that cruise.    I like dry European white wines and they had several to try.    During the cruise, if the evening's selection was not to my taste, I requested one of the ones from the list that I did enjoy.  Well worth the time.  

Jeb_bud, 

internet on Voyager was abysmal.     Never could connect in our room, I would go to other places on the ship (pool deck, coffee connection, Horizon lounge) to check email, etc.    At one point during the Transatlantic, no connectivity for at least 2 days.

I was annoyed at first, but after a couple of days, it didn’t bother me.   I found checking in once or twice a day was plenty (retired) and taking the iPad to a pleasant location on the ship was not a problem for me.  

Also have sailed on both Azamara and Regent. We did 2 Transatlantics and enjoyed them very much.  Other passengers are very friendly, the port excursions  were nice and food and service was good.  We had a cruise to Iceland and Ireland booked for August 2020 that we were very disappointed to miss. 

That said, we just got off our 7th Regent cruise, another transatlantic on the Voyager, and the experience was superior in just about every way.  The Voyager is more luxurious, the suites larger and food and a wider variety of drinks are excellent.  Crew is very friendly and can't do enough for you.

I'll sail Azamara again with an interesting itinerary but I do really dislike the small bathrooms in the nonsuite rooms.

Many thanks to all who posted about the availability of Paxlovid before a positive diagnosis (US).

I would not have known otherwise and am relieved to have a Rx before we embark on our transatlantic next month.  

There's no set answer, as cabins sell the raise the price and when cabins don't sell they lower it. If there's plenty of inventory and you're a gambler, keep watching... but there's always the chance that a bunch sell and the price starts going back up. At the end of the day, pay the price you are comfortable paying and then stop watching [emoji6].

Thanks for your response. I am actually risk averse but willing to wait a bit longer:) I'm glad I noted the price last year, I'm using that as a benchmark and will definitely book when it gets there. It may have gone lower after 58 days but we decided on a different cruise so I stopped watching. Plenty of inventory in verandah categories as well as Aqua so I should be able to get a good price.

Thanks, FlorenceItaly, very helpful! Still 30+ cabins in Aqua, where I'd like to end up.

General question about price drops:

I'm watching the price on a Solstice cruise. It has dropped considerably after final payment (last week) but is still 68 days out. I know last year's price was $200 lower 58 days before sailing. My question to those who watch these......is the drop after 75 days the best or do they drop again after 60? TIA!

When the CEO makes more than 2,000 times what the lowest paid worker does (and I'm giving NCHL a generous low salary of 15,000 US) then it is not surprising there is a "Crew Welfare Fund" to provide entertainment and extras to a crew that their salary doesn't cover. I sure hope Mr. Del Rio contributes!!

Can I buy a bottle of liqour on board with my OBC?

 

We think the included liquor will suit us for the most part, but DH and I like a drink while getting dressed for dinner and would rather mix our own than have a couple delivered every night.

 

Thanks!

Back from my cruise and thought i would answer the question I posed precruise in case anyone else is interested:

There are liters of liquor available through room service for $50.00 and premium brands for $75.

I asked the same question as you when I was planning my Navigator cruise. I got a more mixed response than you, but decided to go ahead and book. As I have cruised many times, I thought those who complained about the Navigator were newer cruisers or oversensitive. After 17 days on the Navigator I could not wait to get off. We had several days of rough seas on the trip. Although the vibration was not especially horrible in our midship cabin (632, I think) when the stabilizers were on, there was a grinding noise that pervaded through ear plugs and I found most unpleasant.

Vibration is exceptionally bad at the front and the rear of the ship, which includes the theater and the lounges and Prime 7, so pretty much all public places.

I was very disappointed, as I like smaller ships and I really wanted to like the Navigator. I wouldn't sail her again.

Can I buy a bottle of liqour on board with my OBC?

We think the included liquor will suit us for the most part, but DH and I like a drink while getting dressed for dinner and would rather mix our own than have a couple delivered every night.

Thanks!

Very tempting, Miriam. I would like to visit the Marquesas but Rich is pushing to go back to the Cooks, so plus one for the reunion cruise.

We will be following discussions closely ;) Therese

Six Regent cruises under our belt and our next one is on Azamara Journey. We got a chance to visit the Quest when it was docked in San Francisco and thought it would be a good fit for us. We like smaller ships and all-inclusive atmosphere.

Although I can't compare the on board experience yet, two things about the pre cruise experience that I find I like better than Regent: First, a reliable spokesperson (Bonnie, of course) fielding and answering questions that arise on the cruise critic boards about the product. Second, I am about to book our air for our cruise and was pleased to learn about the options available through Choice Air-one way flights much more reasonably priced than I found on the open market. Regent charges $175 per person each way for deviating from their "all-inclusive" air and we usually end up incurring these extra fees.

 

As I stated...I struggled with the "star" rating. Couldn't decide between a two or three, but went down due to OUR perceived value. If anyone read my post yesterday, I said it's all relative.

 

Don't beat me up. I was trying to be objective.

 

If I can't be honest with my opinions, I'm probably not welcome here anymore.:confused:

I also enjoyed your blog and now appreciate your review. Thanks for taking the time to do so, it is refreshing to read live reports from different posters. Sorry that the cheerleaders couldn't handle it, but be assured there are lots of lurkers like me who are looking for honest reviews.

RCCL asks for your keycard not just for wine, but for every little thing you can think of.

.[/i]

Yes, that is exactly my point. I was surprised that RCCL charged no corkage fee and Azamara, the more inclusive one does.

I agree that $10 is inexpensive. And I get your point about unlimited bottles, but I'm with the OP - the policy doesn't make sense to me.

Just off a wedding cruise on the Liberty of the Seas and many in our party of 55 brought the allowed 2 bottles of wine onboard. We shared bottles at dinner several evenings and no corkage was charged.

Doesn't make sense to me that the mass market parent would not charge for the privilege, while the smaller "boutique" ship does.

I'll be following along as well and paying special attention to your shore excursion details.

We have booked the same itinerary next May on the Mariner. We live right across the SF Bay and are looking forward to our cab ride to the Pier and sailing away under the Golden Gate Bridge!

Have a great cruise!

Thanks again, Ridolphi! We are really looking forward to our Azamara cruise.

We have met several cruisers who are big fans of the "R" ships on both Oceania and Azamara.

Thanks so much for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise and Azamara. I do have a couple of questions.....

How did you find the coffee?

Did you have any enrichment lectures? We are also on a TA and hope to have some speakers as well as entertainers

I noted your Internet and hot water comments, thanks for covering that. We took a transatlantic on the Mariner and seldom had a hot shower. OTOH, we have had complementary Internet on Regent for our last 4 cruises so will miss that a bit.

Oops, forgot the US in front of $$:o

Good for you, Wendy! Is that the Dec. 3rd sailing? That one is nicely priced in $$ as well:)