Eno-Bob

Just one word of caution on included factory tours. We took an excursion that included a tour of the LLadro Factory in Valencia, Spain last October, and it cost about $2,500 before we left. Don’t think we could afford a Ferrari Factory tour…

A friend recommended a similar service - Global Rescue. Was wondering if anyone has had any experience with that company? TIA

The tax was definitely there in December of last year. We enjoy wines from the connoisseur list most nights and we were fortunate because we boarded Mariner in Buenos Aries and ordered and payed for a number of wines from the Head Somm before we entered Brazilian waters. He kept the wines for us and we just let him know when we wanted one and where we would be. Worked perfectly!

We stayed in 1125 a few years back and had no vibration issues. The story goes that the room was originally used for spa services so you'll find the layout a bit unusual but there is a tremendous amount of storage space including the walk-in closet with the "secret" exit. We certainly enjoyed the cabin and would try and get it again for a Navigator cruise.

I believe that the Reunion Cruise refers to a cruise "hosted" by the Regent CEO.

Just off the Mariner and the syrup dispensers in Compass Rose said "Maple Syrup" on the outside. It didn't say what percentage, but it seemed like pure Maple syrup to us...

On Mariner now and there is a Menorah prominently displayed in the atrium and a daily Hanukkah candle lighting is scheduled in Passages at 6 PM.

Each member of your party will receive an email to watch the video. If you click on one email link and watch it together the second party will not be credited with watching the video. Each party must click the link in their own email and watch the complete video to be credited with watching the video.

Mr & Mrs Fudge – It’s seems a bit incongruent that you’re looking forward to a sharing a dinner with unknown tablemates in Chartreuse but your dreading meeting your neighbors to the extent of locking yourself in your room! We would recommend giving the block party another try – you might meet some more “lovely people” in the process. We weren’t sure about the “Block Party” the first time confronted but we’ve been very lucky to have made some great friends after meeting them at the Block Party – great dinner companions and getting together again on other cruises. Just a suggestion --

I believe the wrist bands and gold stickers are just there to confirm that you have been checked through the various processing stations for those people monitoring boarding further down the line.

Thought we would add another opinion to this thread. We were on the same itinerary as SWFLAOK – two segments Southampton to Barcelona. We had done two earlier cruises on Splendor this year and thought this on was the best one of the three. For us, things seem to have smoothed out and were as close to “normal” as we have seen. Talking to some of the senior staff, there are still staffing issues and a big part of the problem seems to be getting Visas for staff. That problem has led to contract extensions and cases where a staff member was planning to go to one ship being diverted to another ship where they wouldn’t need certain Visas. There are new staff all the time and, although they get training before they start sailing, there is a learning curve once onboard. We thought that the senior food service managers like Jorge and Daniela did an excellent job training new staff and watching over restaurant service. We didn’t have any service issues or food complaints at any of the restaurants. We dined at Prime 7 four times during the two segments and we thought the service and food quality were as good as ever. We dined there the very first night of the first segment and the very last night of the second segment and noticed no difference in service or food quality. Obviously, other’s experience varied. We were approached by Martin the Maitre ‘D or one of the other managers a few times during each meal to ask if everything was alright. We know that serving the larger tables can sometimes through service off, we’ve seen groups turn away their server several times because they weren’t ready to order which can through timing off for later arrivals. Not sure what the “uninspiring entrees” at Prime 7 were – the Prime 7 menu hasn’t had any significant changes since the Explorer was launched in 2016. There were two nights that Sette Mari had “special” buffets that were Country and Port related – the foods of Portugal. They have done that for a long time and don’t think they are related to staffing issues. They are provided to give passengers a “taste” of local foods and some folks look forward to those nights. Obviously, some folks don’t like the big Sunday buffets, but others love them – there was only one Sunday open for buffet during these two segments but the itinerary had to be changed due to a day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth, so we missed that opportunity – for us that was disappointing. It was a great cruise for us, and we would give it 5 Stars!