papaflamingo

We will be on next year's Grand Cruise and need to reserve Shore Excursions next week. Since the Grand Cruise does have an exclusive event, I was wondering if this will be listed in the Shore Excursion selection when I select? I wouldn't want to reserve a long excursion that would cause us to miss the event. Anyone have info on this? Thanks

I suspect you'll be VERY HAPPY with your choice! Do not miss the nightly Light Show!

We just got off Explorer a week ago in Tokyo. We did not go to Kobe, but the ship did offer money exchange for yen if you wanted. So that MIGHT be an option if the shuttle doesn't drop you close enough to where you want to go.

We like Sette Mari once or twice a cruise depending on length. But I have to say, I'd rather it stay the way it is and not be by reservation. That gives everyone an equal opportunity to go any night they want. If you want to get in, go at 6:15 or go late (or simply get a drink and wait). We go up there when we're ready to eat and if we can't get in we go to Compass Rose. If we really want to eat there we go around 6:15 and just hang out with the other few people there. Really it's only been a problem on Navigator which only has Compass Rose, Prime 7, and Sette Mari. So restaurant choices are more limited.

Did you send it back? If so did they refuse to "make it right?" Did they not "apologize" or "show concern?" Just asking because my experience has been the exact opposite. I admit I don't eat lobster on ships, generally, because they are frozen and generally "ok" but not great. I will admit I love the Tempura Lobster in Pacific Rim. But on all my Regent cruises, the steaks have always come out great and any other problems (the very few we've encountered) have always been received with both concern and an apology (even if an apology isn't necessary) and rectified immediately.

I'll just add....we were on Explorer and used the shuttle to town in Ishigaki. Very easy and efficient. Dropped us at the ferry terminal in downtown with easy walkability to shopping, etc. We went in the morning as we had an afternoon tour and it worked out very well. You can get a schedule at Destination Services for the shuttle before you leave the ship.

We were just there for our pre-cruise a few weeks ago (got off Explorer 4 days ago in Tokyo). A BEAUTIFUL hotel in a fantastic area! We arrived a day early and I did NOT book the extra night through Regent as it is MUCH cheaper to book the extra nights on your own. I simply booked the same level room that Regent books and we were able to stay in it and just pay the one night then the cost was shifted to Regent. Couldn't have been easier. We arrived at about 8 am (our flight landed at 6:50). We were in our room by 10 am! Not guaranteed, but they sure were accommodating to us! Be sure to walk out to the waterfront (Avenue of the Stars) right behind the hotel and see the nightly Light Show. It's best viewed down by the Star Ferry Terminal near the Hong Kong Cultural Center. Well worth the 15 min. (or so) walk. There is also lots of stuff to see around the easily walkable area. Unfortunately I have no pics of the room, but here's a shot of the Lobby decorated for Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon, a shot of the waterfront behind the hotel, and a short example of the nightly light show. IMG_8570.mov

Perhaps, but they say no. Regardless, Regent isn't a Travel Agent per se. If they don't have contract rates then they are simply booking a flight for you, as a Travel Agent will. So why would it be surprising to find that they add a surcharge to do your TA's job? Regent is, after all, a "for profit" company. Not trying to be argumentative, so I apologize if my comment comes across as such. Just an honest opinion.

I think that is a bit of an overreaction. All the excursions have a "disclaimer" section on the website and most (apparently not all) show if there's a weight, age, mobility, etc, limitation. But in reality you can probably figure which one's are most likely to have a limitation. Zip lining, snorkeling or diving off a boat, climbing around rocks (like the Baths in Tortola), long hikes, horseback riding, ATV excursions, etc. We have 110 days on Regent and leaving tomorrow for another 14, and have found very few excursions with limitations for age and weight. They are there, but rare. It's not "many excursions," it's a few excursions.

Anything you want, from shining your shoes to delivering dinner course by course. The Butler will deliver room service for you, will bring you canapés any night you want, will make additional dining reservations, cancel shore excursions if you decide you don't want to go, keep your in room bar stocked, and about anything else you might want. When we had 2 excursions in one port, with limited time to change from a water to a land excursion, we had our butler place sandwiches in our cabin so when we came back the the ship to change, lunch was there for us so we could eat while changing. They'll take you laundry and return it. Basically anything you can possible want done, the butler will handle. Remember they love their jobs so use them. Don't feel like you're inconveniencing them. If people don't use the butler, the position could be done away with. Enjoy your cruise. Your butler can certainly add to the experience.

I've only done this for 2 couples, but I assume it'll work the same (likely someone else who's sailed solo with a friend will have better info). But when she logs on to reserve dining, there will be a "add another guest" prompt (it's small and sits right above "share a table") . Select that and fill in the info, she'll need your sister's booking number, and then when she selects a time it will also select for your sister. Make sure that she confirms by selecting "add guest" after filling in the info. She'll have to do this for all the restaurants. Also don't select "share a table" unless they want to sit at a table for 4. Again, I assume this is how it will work for 2 solo reservations.

So true!!!! 🤣

Thanks. We leave for Hong Kong tomorrow to join Explorer on Feb. 21. If they also have the new preparation I'll have to give it a try. So many great choices... maybe 2 appetizers this time? After all, there are no calories west of the International Dateline, right? 😎

Yes, they did ask a "responsible question" (or were simply told by announcement of some sort), and were given an answer, that, "there was a big festival or holiday." They stated that "seemed pretty weak." If that isn't a statement that they don't believe the stated reason, in other words they think Regent is lying, then how would YOU interpret it? 😏

Why do you think Regent, or any other cruise line for that matter, would lie about why they are missing a port?

Wil do.

Well... there is that. Since I survived 38 years and nearly 20,000 flight hours with no accident, incident, mishap, or FAA violations, and the fact that my landings equaled may takeoffs, I guess I was "pretty good." But then again, luck is better than skill any day. 😜

My wife liked the Chinese Barbecue Pork Ribs, and our friend loved the Lamb. Also, as you'll see, there are other options from vegetarian to beef. As for your wife, make sure your tries the Tempura Lobster!!!! I believe she can get it in an appetizer size if she doesn't want it for a main. And the Miso Black Cod is also excellent. If you like Foie Gras, the Chicken & Foie Gras Gyoza appetizer is outstanding!!! Have a great cruise, 😎

We had a cruise booked on Navigator in March of last year. Four days before the cruise Regent gave us the opportunity to switch to Mariner one of 2 or so cruises in Nov. or Dec. with an upgrade to a Penthouse and a significant refund (yes, we took the deal). So that may be one of the reasons your cruise filled up. It's like so many other things. You don't really know (without asking) how much someone really pays to be on the same cruise, hotel room, airline flight, car rental, etc. It's just a factor of marketing and maximizing profits. About all you can do is find a cruise you want at a price that you consider "worth it" and book the cruise and never look back.

We're the opposite. I love seafood and my wife is allergic. But we found that Pacific Rim (on Grandeur but the menus are close if not identical) offered many non-seafood choices. She was very happy with the available choices. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, at least she was. But your wife will be very happy... and as we both know... that's what counts. 😜

Thanks. Yes, we are in Business Class. I'm sure I'm just stressing over nothing, but it did put a new wrinkle in our planning. We fly First Class from ATL-SFO with 13 hour layover in SFO then Business Class to HKG, all on United. Our return is HND-ATL. on Delta. My real gut feeling is that since we're only talking about 2-4 inches total they likely won't notice. Oh well... if we have to pay it, we have to pay it. 😎

I'm a retired pilot. Pilot's love telling people "things." It's what we do best. 😜🤣

We did Mariner on Dec. 2 and Grandeur on Jan. 8. We love Mariner (our first cruise on her was 44 nights in 2018) but Grandeur is spectacular!!! I hope you clear the waitlist! You won't be disappointed!!!

United over and Delta back.

Ok... an odd question... we leave on Thurs. for our cruise out of Hong Kong. My wife bought new luggage, and when we measured them it turns out they are 2 inches too big for the airline's checked luggage regulation. Our's measures 32 inches by 20 inches, by 12 inches for a total of 64 inches. The airlines regulation is total of 62 inches or it's "oversized" and incurs an expensive penalty. I'm hoping that it's simply so close they won't notice, but was wondering... anyone has any experience with this?