hksilverfox

We just came back from 10 days on the Explorer. Our muster station was the Pacific Rim dining room and we were told to carry our life jackets. During the drill we had to put them on however we did not need to go to the lifeboats. When asked we were told that because you step directly from the deck into the lifeboat there was no need. Hope this helps!

A couple of years ago I asked myself the same question of whether or not Regent was worth it so I decided to find out for myself. We had recently done a cruise in the Caribbean (mini suite) and a Regent one came up when we were looking for a vacation in the time frame we wanted. It was the same length and went to similar but different ports as the one we had done so we decided to try it. It was our first trip on Regent and we were excited! I had kept a pretty detailed account of what we spent including air, pre hotel, transfers, tours, drinks etc on the first cruise so I did it again on Regent (much easier this time as it was all included). I checked each time we were in port to get an idea of the tour prices to keep it accurate. By the time we arrived home and tallied up the bill the total cost was very similar. We then discussed what we thought and our opinion was Regent won easily. The Regent experience was so much better in terms of quality and atmosphere. Not having to deal with cards or bands when you wanted a drink, no extras if you wanted to go to a specialty restaurant even if you wanted to go several times, pick several tours if you want, tips etc all added up. I am not saying we did not enjoy the other cruise because we did but the overall experience on Regent was the difference. Now we look where we want to go and when and see what cruise lines go there. If we can take Regent we will if not we will have a good time regardless.

We just returned from 10 days on Explorer as well and we could not have been happier with the overall dining experience. My DW has MAJOR food allergies and they bent over backwards to make sure she had a great dining experience. A couple of points to pass on - not every dish was to our liking but if we wanted it adjusted (ie underdone, hotter, etc) all you had to do was ask. One of the joys of the food on a cruise ship is trying new things and my waistline shows I tried many! Service for us was great but I did make mention each evening to the waiter if we were going to the show and they never missed getting us out on time. We were also sat at large tables each night so getting courses coordinated was a challenge I am sure but we always got to the show if we were going. I did not notice the lights being too bright but found that it was fine for meeting new people. Perhaps if you were going to dinner for a romantic table for two it would be different. The only one we did not try was Pacific Rim because DW could not handle the aroma due to her allergies.

Seven Seas Explorer 10 days Eastern Caribbean

Jan. 30 – Feb. 9 2018

First let me give you my overall opinion on things now that our cruise is complete. In one word it was fabulous! Everything we did, encountered, saw was 5 star. The ship lives up to its name in that it is spectacular. It is meticulously clean and spacious. We had about 675 pax on board so we were about 90% full. We had no problem finding seats for meals even at a busy lunch time. Meals were something to look forward to especially dinners which my waistline can attest to. I did hear a couple complain about the food but not sure how you could. There was plenty to choose from and if it wasn’t on the menu you only had to ask. My DW has major food allergies and they bent over backwards to make sure she was well fed. My special thanks to Ivana and Valentina for making her cruise such a wonderful experience! Which brings up the staff. I would love to meet the person responsible for hiring these people as they have got it right. Having worked in the service industry for 40+ years I know how good they are, from the room stewards to the dining room staff, the bartenders to the maintenance staff they were all superb! The word “No” did not exist. We have been on quite a few cruises and this one was by far the best for many reasons.

Staff on board included:

Captain Rosario Vasta.

Cruise Director Andy Heath with his lovely wife Tammy.

Assist CD David Nevin

Day 1 – Miami ETD 1700

We boarded about 1330 with very little delay, perhaps 15 minutes total from arrival to boarding. Pass through security, fill out the health questionnaire, proceed to the check in desk with your credit card and proceed on board. We headed to La Veranda for lunch with our welcome aboard champagne and about 1420 the announcement came that our cabins were ready. We are in 667, a level E category and it is lovely. With a rain shower a separate bath and dual sinks. A large walk in closet with plenty of room for clothes for the 3 of us. Enough drawer space for all and the suitcases stuffed under the bed. Plenty of plugs for electronics but we did have a multi plug for phones etc (highly recommend taking one!). We had a king bed configuration and DD on a large hide a bed. We had asked for the eggshell mattress covers on both beds and non- feather pillows which were waiting for us. Lifeboat drill did not take long and was well organized. Sail-away was under partly cloudy skies, 72F and a pretty good breeze. Dolphins and a couple of jumping sting rays to say farewell. Once clear of the harbor the wind was doing a good job whipping up the sea and I think a few people will be feeling under the weather tomorrow. Dramamine already taken as prevention is so much better than trying to cure the ills! Off to explore the Explorer and it really is a beautiful ship. First dinner in the Compass Rose and exceptional service particularly for the family who have major allergies. The show that evening was “Broadway in Concert” performed by the 6 onboard singers and they were excellent. Very well balanced vocally with a great blend between them and an enjoyable show.

Day 2 at sea - our first sea day began with a yoga class in the gym. Although 7 signed up it was just me who showed so a good private class (beginner level but you could make it more advanced if that was your need) made all the more challenging as we had a good rolling sea with 25 knot winds stirring up the ocean. The gym is divided into three areas, two with equipment and one open room. Classes are in the open room with sign up sheets usually out by lunch time the day before. Plenty of machines and it never seemed to be too busy. Quite a few greenish people around this morning. Ordered breakfast in the room and had a lazy coffee morning from the café. The Café became a daily stop as the coffees were excellent. We were too late to get in on an organized meet and greet so I organized lunch in La Veranda where our little group of CCers hooked up. It was really good to put faces to names and we ended up spending quite a bit of time with several of the couples. Afternoon Mensa trivia and regular trivia over tea in the observation lounge, a cocktail before dinner at the Captain’s reception, including Regent CEO Jason Montague who is on board. Another excellent dinner with one of my favorite value wines showing up (Arboleda) and great conversation with some new table mates. Temp today at 74F and 25 knots across the bow. Evening show was “My Revolution” introducing the dancers to the mix. Another high energy and enjoyable show. As noted on CC get seats downstairs for better sightlines. Off to bed with the clocks going ahead 1 hour.

Day 3 at sea - spin class started the day with 5 people so a bit better showing and a very good workout with Bobby. He runs all the classes and is very adept at picking the level for the class. Still blowing about 20kts but temp a very pleasant 76F. Future cruise presentation to see where things are going and a little chat on the new ship. Itineraries are still being decided on that one. Greek buffet on deck for lunch and some rays out of the wind on the balcony. Plenty of activities to choose from including the movie Dunkirk for DD and I. DW soaking up some sunshine! Shorts, a plus temperature, nice breeze, plenty of sun and no snow, perfect! Tea and trivia has now become a staple in the afternoon and was followed by a superb dinner in Prime 7 then off to see Jeri Sager with her wonderful voice as she redid many of her Broadway appearance songs. Some good Karaoke singers to round off the evening.

Day 4 St Kitts – ETA 1000 Dep 2000

Nice sunny day with temps in the 80F range

Leisurely morning breakfast before heading out for the scenic train tour of the island. Had to register in the theatre then wait until they called the tour number. Just enough time to enjoy a coffee. About 20 minutes on the tender then a 30 minute drive across the island to the train with an informative driver. Enjoyable way to see the island with complimentary drinks and a group of young ladies singing local songs. About a 10 minute drive back to the ship (some tours go the other way around). A quick local bite to eat as not enough time to go back to the ship (tender port) before DD and I headed out for some quad bike fun in the afternoon. A few minutes of demos then we began. Not very difficult and a very easy pace to climb up to a good vantage point. Just about anyone could do this so give it a try if you’re thinking maybe. Lasted about an hour on the trails and back to the pick up point where we had a complimentary punch and back to the ship. Made it in time for tea then some sunshine sitting on the balcony which has plenty of room for 3 with two chairs and one lounger. Explored a few more of the CC recommended cocktails in the Observation lounge and off for another lovely meal. Enjoy sitting at the larger tables and meeting new dinner partners. Many staff already greeting you by name even if you have only seen them once, impressive. After dinner off to see the show by David Nevin the assistant CD. In my opinion one of the best shows of the cruise and definitely not to be missed! A nightcap listening to one of the singers, Don Middleditch playing an Irish pub night.

Day 5 St. Lucia – ETA 1200 DEP 2000

I am enjoying getting into the ports a bit later as it allows time to hit the gym in the morning and get breakfast. Started with a Pilates class with Bobby in the gym and breakfast in the sunshine on La Veranda back deck. The seas have calmed down considerably with about a 15 kt breeze blowing. Just enough to let you know you are at sea! Again we met in the theatre for our tour, The Tree Top Canopy Adventure. Proceeded to our bus when our number called (again very efficient) for a drive through the island lasting about 45 mins. Our tour guide was very informative and had us laughing a lot. The zip lines, about 12 of them of varying lengths and speeds, were great fun. After the safety brief and getting the first one under your belt everyone relaxed with lots of whooping and hollering. Quite a few stairs to climb and a couple of people were feeling it and complaining they were not told about this even if it says fairly strenuous in the write up. We were not in a hurry and most people just took their time. Back to the ship in time for tea and trivia! Dinner tonight in Sette Mari and thoroughly enjoyed it once again. The show, “I love being here with you: the music of Peggy Lee” was well done but my least favorite probably because I am not that familiar with her music. We seem to have a regular group playing trivia now and we got together for a nightcap and to play name that tune. Definitely not my strength but we managed to win. Another enjoyable day with so much to do and so little time.

Day 6 Antigua – ETA 1200 DEP 2300

Super Bowl Sunday and there is a definite sense of excitement around the ship particularly from our friends south of our border.

Leisurely yoga class to stretch a bit before breakfast and a beautiful morning cruising towards Antigua. As usual we grabbed the Mensa quiz from the library, picked up a great coffee at the café and enjoyed relaxing on the balcony. The usual meet up in the theatre for our tour number and off to the pier for the bus as we were heading out to swim with the stingrays. 30 minute drive gave us a chance to see a bit of the island, quick brief and pick up snorkels and mask (life jacket as well if you want) then a 7-8 minute boat ride out to a platform. Unload onto a platform and make your way into the water. We spent about 45 minutes in the water holding, feeding and watching the rays. Water is quite shallow with the only issue for some getting in and out of the water (ladder). It was a fun and informative time followed again by complimentary punch. Headed back to the ship for the Super Bowl! It all started with a tail gate party in the atrium with food available all the way through the game which was televised in the theatre. A super bowl quiz with prizes and then the game. Long evening (a 1 hour game took 4 hours to play!) but the theatre was packed. Did not see too many people elsewhere on the ship. The ship was supposed to depart at 2300 but they could not get the game signal as they thought another ship was blocking us. That ship left and still no signal. Now they figured it was the island blocking us. The Captain then decided as everyone was back on board to leave early (about 1800) so we could get a signal to watch the game. Smart move as he would have had most of his passengers disgruntled! The game lasted forever as usual but lots of food and drink kept pretty well everyone there until the end. There was always plenty of entertainment in the evening with your choice of the Regent Signature Orchestra, pianist Deborah, Boogie and Kassia (a very diverse and talented duo) and of course the casino. All the venues seemed to be well frequented but never packed.

Day 7 St. Barts ETA 0800 DEP 1700

First early arrival day and enjoyed the morning relaxing on the balcony watching the tenders and mega yachts moving about the harbor. Ship pretty empty so we took advantage of lunch in Chartreuse before heading to shore on the tender. Met up there and boarded our catamaran for our sail of the leeward side of the island. 48 foot cat I believe and we had about 10 people on board. Once we got going we sat up on the front and enjoyed the sail to a lovely beach. Had a chance to swim to the beach in beautiful, clear, warm, blue water. Back on board to appies and drinks and about 45 minutes back. It was enjoyable and relaxing and some of those yachts up close are huge! The girls only have one request each day and that is to get back for tea and trivia so that we did. Another superb meal in the CR and off to the show, “Paradis”. A high energy, extravagant display of costumes and dancing. An early night with a sea day ahead.

Day 8 At Sea

Good workout at the spin class. This is definitely the hardest of all the programs that I have done on the ship and will definitely burn off one or two desserts. Harry Chittick has been giving lectures all week on different topics and I decided to go and hear “The search for Emelia Earhart”. I wish I had gone to the earlier ones as this one was entertaining and educational. I won’t miss the next one! Sea days are for relaxing but I often find there is so much to do that I forget that so today was a relax day. Really enjoy just putting my feet up on the balcony. Wi Fi on board has been OK with some areas getting much better reception than others. The cabin is about a 5 out of 10 for this but I wasn’t really worried as I was on holiday. DD had a pretty good idea where the best spots were! Tea and quiz time seems to end each day and showers and cocktails start the evening. Evening dress has been at least smart casual with some gents in jackets and no ties others with ties. The ladies always seemed to look good, usually not in evening gowns but very nicely dressed. Smart casual definitely the call. I did not see one tuxedo on the whole trip but I did see one gent turned away entering dinner with jeans on. Jeri Sager was back with her second show and again entertained with her strong vocals. Nightcaps while we listened to some very good karaoke singers in the Explorer Lounge.

Day 9 At Sea

Mornings now seem to follow a routine with exercise (Pilates) today followed by breakfast and a mid morning coffee on the balcony. Went to hear Harry Chittick’s talk “Space” and it was just as interesting as the previous one. Afternoons are spent being lazy or relaxing however you want to call it after a lovely lunch where one eats way too much. Tea time rolls around again with more food then it is off to shower and get ready for more food, Oh yes, don’t forget drinking usually accompanies all the meals as well. Moderation has to be learned early!

Another high energy visual spectacle called “World Beat” was our show for the evening. This cast of singers and dancers has to be the best we have ever seen. Their energy, choreography and vocal balance is excellent. In all the shows on this trip we have not seen one hiccup anywhere. Superb entertainment!

A final name that tune nightcap and off to bed where we get our hour back!

Day 10 Nassau ETA 0800 DEP 1700

We were docked beside 3 other Carnival ships and calculated there were 8500 passengers being deposited on the dock. The theatre routine to get our tour tickets once again was quick and efficient except for people who showed up late and delayed departures. Not sure why people can’t read the departure time and be on time. A minute or two is acceptable but having to wait 15-20 minutes is unreasonable. Just my little gripe.

We were given a number and headed off to find that group on the pier and escorted to the boat. Many tours leave from the same place so keep an ear open for which boat is yours. We boarded a large catamaran headed for the Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Encounter. There were many different tours on the same boat doing different things but the boat had plenty of room. Sit upstairs on the left side to see the magnificent homes!

We were escorted to the encounter area and equipped with life jackets and made our way to the encounter platform. There are 2 sets of about 4 stair ladders to climb down so be aware if you have issues. About 45 minutes is spent with the dolphins and then you are headed back to the boat for the trip back into town. We went back to the ship to get a head start on cramming all our stuff into our suitcases then the final tea and quiz with our little trivia gang and then down to “spend” all out Regent reward points. An invite to a farewell party with some new friends allowed us a peek at a Grand Suite. Beautiful! Last dinner in CR then off to the Beatles dance party in the atrium. Andy, Tammy and David did a great job and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves which was contagious. Back to the cabin to get the bags out by 2300 double checking we had not packed what we needed for the morning!

Day 11 Miami ETA 0700

As you will have seen I have said ETA on every port. This gives you an idea but I would say we were early arriving every time. Not by a lot but we certainly were never late. The same with our arrival back to Miami. We were tied up by 0700. We had asked for the earliest time to get off which was 0830 and were told that they expected to have us cleared by then.

Final bills had been sent to the room the night before and if you had left a credit card you did not need to do anything. We had to be out of our cabin by 0800 so we were up for breakfast about 0700 and sitting in the Explorer lounge by 0800. At 0810 our number was called and we were off the ship. As we got off there was a long line waiting for the elevator. I asked and was told if I went the other way I could walk down the stairs which we did. It is about 2 flights if you are OK carrying your bags. We grabbed our suitcases, cleared customs and immigration and were in a taxi headed for the airport before 0830! It could not have gone any smoother!

I hope this has given you a bit of an insight into out wonderful vacation on Seven Seas Explorer. If you have any questions please send them along and I will endeavor to answer them.

A wonderful holiday and we can’t wait for our next trip in 2019!

We are on the Explorer at the end of the month and I have made a list of all the drinks! Looking forward to trying them all but preferably over the 10 days! Some interesting looking concoctions!

Thanks Erica - much appreciated! :)

Thanks for the info! I will post after the trip on what was included or if you have to pay for anything.

We are on Explorer on Jan 30th and with all the wonderful food can someone give us an idea on what exercise classes are offered on board? Previous experience has shown that adding a pound a day is easy to do! The gym will be used but some variety would be nice!

Thanks for the heads up on the tendering Snore42. Had not seen that! We are with you on that cruise so drop over to the roll call and sign up!

June 25 - July 7 2016

The following are my opinions only and hopefully will give you a few alternative ideas on what to do in some of the ports other than the cruise line tours.

We arrived in London a few days early and on embarkation day used Smiths for airports to take us to Southampton via Stonehenge. I would highly recommend both Smiths and the Stonehenge side trip. It is a couple of hours from downtown London and you need about 1.5 - 2 hours at Stonehenge. We had an embarkation time of 1345 and arrived at the dock about 1315. The process was one of the smoothest we have done and even though we were a bit early it was not an issue and we were on the ship before 1400 and our bags arrived by the time we had finished lunch! Our cabin, E728, was a mini suite which was spacious and had plenty of storage space for three adults. The pull out couch was a little short for a six foot adult but she still managed to get plenty of sleep!

Alerts - book Smiths well ahead, purchase Stonehenge tickets before you go, download the audio walking tour for free on your phone, ask for a foamy to put on the pull out bed.

GUERNSEY - this was the first day of the Greg tours as we call them, in other words tours I plan rather than organized ones. This was a tender port and we went to the lounge for tickets about 0900 and boarded about 0915. On arrival at the dock proceed straight ahead, cross the road at the stop light (where you will find bathrooms) and veer a little right and you will find the bus stop for the 91 and 92 which take you around the island. I recommend you go online and check the departure times before you arrive. I chose the #91 as it goes clockwise around the island. Sit on the left hand side of the bus facing forward as this will give you the best views as you follow the coastal road. The trip around the island took about 1 hour and 45 minutes and was the best value at just 1 pound each! We arrived back where we started and wandered along the front street which was closed off for a market as it was Sunday. We then wandered back to see Victor Hugo's house and we're back at the tender about 1220. Beware, we stood in line for an hour to get back to the ship and by 1230, when all the tours returned the line up for the tender was twice as long. We were lucky that the weather was lovely but the trip before was torrential rain and people were soaked and cold. There are bathrooms there but no place to sit or hide from the weather.

Alerts - check bus times (recommend #91) and get in bus line about 15mins early to get good seats (left side near the back as they sit higher up but seats are a bit small), be prepared to stand in line for the tender back to the ship for an hour and be prepared for the weather!

COBH - Today was Titanic day as DD has a huge interest. We took our time and departed the ship about 0915 and a 5 minute walk had us in town. We then proceeded out to see the Titanic memorial garden (about a 15 - 20min walk each way) and back to take the walking tour with Michael Martin (9.50Euros each) which was very informative and enjoyable and lasted about 75 minutes. We wandered back to the ship for lunch then went to the Titanic Experience (9.50 Euros each) lasting about 75 minutes. It was a good embellishment of the facts we heard earlier in the day and a good compliment to the morning tour. A wander up to the Cathedral took about 15 minutes then back to the ship for a very enjoyable day out. We booked both the tours ahead of time but think you could show up on the day and get in.

Alerts - Michael Martins tour runs at 1100. We booked it ahead of time but you can probably just show up. Titanic experience needs a specific booking time but you can go in anytime on that day. You can walk in off the street and if you did the walking tour will get a small discount.

DUBLIN - Cool (16C) with rain showers was the order of the day but as they say in Ireland there are good days and normal days! We left the ship about 0915 and waited about 30 minutes for a taxi into town. We were dropped off near the Dublin castle about 1010 (cost 17 Euro for 3 people) wandered around for a little while and found the meeting point for a free (by donation at the end) walking tour by Sandemans. It lasted about three hours and was excellent! Our guide Eoin, was superb. You can take a chance and show up on the day but just as easy to book a space ahead of time on line. It lasted about three hours with a break in the middle for about 20 minutes for coffee/Guiness/bathroom. We saw a good number of the main sights in town and headed back to the ship shortly after by cab (13 Euro). Was a lot better than $8 each on the shuttle bus each way!

Alerts - consider a taxi for 2 or more and you know where you need to go to. Booked the Sandemans tour online (check start times) but could walk up if you wanted. Thought they had a maximum number for each guide. Guide will make a small speech that this is his job but no hard push and worth the tip.

LIVERPOOL - when you come to Liverpool and are one of the 60's generation the first thing that comes to mind is The Beatles. One of our Cruise Critic members had arranged a private tour with Jackie Spencer (google her plus Beatles) and 15 of us jumped at the chance! We met at 0900 just off the ship in pouring rain and headed off for our 3 hour tour. It was worth every penny of the 20 pounds we each paid! Jackie knows her stuff and her tour really joined the Beatles history together culminating with a visit to the Cavern Club and a walk back to the ship on a cool, cloudy afternoon with no rain. Must have been all the Beatle sun songs we sang in the bus!

Alerts - if you want to use Jackie book her up very early! You should have no trouble selling out her tour. Max of about 15 people. Can arrange to go to the museum after, walk back from the Cavern or both.

BELFAST - after a lot of waffling I decided to do an organized tour with Odyssey Coach Tours, rated very highly on Trip Advisor and offering small coaches. I had booked it online ahead of time and found it to be cheaper than many of their competitors. We had been asked to be off the ship as soon as it docked and we were on the dock by about 0810. However, we had a few issues. We did not have a small bus but it was not full so we had lots of space, it was comfortable and did not stop us going anywhere. We did however end up waiting until 0850 for latecomers which meant we had to cut short our final tour of the city but it worked out better as we saw the Titanic docks and some Game of Thrones filming locations. The day out was excellent with us having photo/comfort stops in Bushmills, Dunluce Castle, Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge and a great trip back along the water. I did like the fact that we did the "normal" route backwards so the crowds seemed to be less. It was an enjoyable day out with a knowledgeable guide and one I would recommend.

Alerts - Bushmills was only for a bathroom break, no whiskey and Dunluce for a photo. The bus will drop you off just before the entrance to the Causeway and it is about 15-20 minutes walk downhill to the Causeway. There is a shuttle bus that will take you down and back (for a small fee) if you need it but it was a nice walk. Doing it this way there is no charge. It is also a G of T filming location as is the rope bridge area.

You can hike down to the rope bridge and unless you really want to their is not a lot of draw to cross and there is a charge to cross. Beware, you can easily line up 20-30 minutes to come back across! It is about 15-20 minutes to walk each way to the bridge. The GofT film site is about 5 minutes in the opposite direction.

GLASGOW - It was about a 20 minute walk through town and the shopping mall to the train station where we caught a train into Glasgow central. They run about every 15 minutes and we bought a return ticket at the station, about 7 pounds each. Once there we walked about 10 minutes to George square (head toward Queen St station) and caught the HOHO bus. Round trip lasted just under 2 hours (1 day ticket about 14 pounds) and gave a good view of the city. For the first time visitor it was worth it! Back to the station and retraced our steps to the ship.

Alerts - you can purchase tickets on the train or at the station and there is WiFi on the train. Some of the return trains make 4 stops and some 10 but the time difference is only about 10 minutes.

INVERGORDON - The second port where we joined an "organized" tour, this one with WOW Scotland. Pick up at the dock shortly after 0800 in a large coach and into Inverness for a short walking tour of the town. Back on the bus and off to Brodie Castle where we were given a tour. Great to see inside this castle that had been lived in for over 800 years until the late 1990s. Back on the bus and off to Culloden battlefield, the Clava Cairns and then via Loch Ness to the city. A well run, enjoyable day out and a nice perk for Outlander fans! Make sure you book this well ahead on line as it filled up very quickly.

Alerts - pick up WOW outside the gates as that are not allowed in the coach parking lot. They fill up quickly and I believe if there is enough demand will try to put on a second bus - best to book early online!

EDINBURGH - Of all the places we visited this is the one place that Princess really dropped the ball. We had a free walking tour (Sandemans) booked in town for 1000 and decided that we would give ourselves lots of time to get there and picked up our tender tickets at 0845 in the dining room where you are required to wait until your number is called. They ask you not to pick up your tickets until your whole group is ready to go which is fair. We then waited 50 minutes to be called! It took a few minutes to load and about a 10 minute ride. We had been told that a shuttle service was being operated from the pier into town. We had to wait again about 20 minutes for the shuttle (cost was 10 pounds each return) and then it was a 20 minute trip into town. We arrived in town at 1040 missing our tour. We then went up to the castle and wandered around there for about 4 hours. I had pre bought tickets and glad I did as there was a long line up to buy them at the ticket office. We purchased the audio guide which was well worth the money (about 3 pounds if I remember). We could easily have spent longer there but had been told the last shuttle back to the ship was at 1600. We wandered back About 1530 and waited again about 30 minutes for a shuttle to show up, another 20 minutes in the rain for the tender and back to the ship.

Alerts - no mention from Princess that tender lineups would be long so be prepared. Coming back you are standing outside with very little cover and no seats, some waited nearly an hour! Ladies washroom across the street and men's on the left by the road. The shuttle bus company will have no idea of how many people to expect and you can easily wait quite a while again, coming and going. Once again no shelter or seats. Take a taxi if you are in a rush!

Buy castle tickets online ahead of time and print them at home. Food in the castle is very expensive.

NORMANDY - the last organized tour which I arranged through Overlord Tours. I had searched a lot of places to find a tour that included the U.S. And Canadian sites but had no luck. I eventually contacted Overlord with my request and was fortunate enough to get the last guide available for that day. Two other couples joined us from Cruise Critic and we met at 0750 on the ship to start the adventure. It was a very full day as we did not get back to the ship until 1830! Our guide Jonathan was fantastic. We started at Pointe du Hoc and worked our way down Omaha Beach, the U.S. Cemetery, Juno Centre, Canada house and Juno beach, Canadian cemetery with a quick lunch in Courseules and a fascinating return to the ship. It is about 2 hours to Normandy from the ship but our guide managed to squeeze so much into the day. It was obvious on chatting with people later that we had seen so much more than they had.

Alerts - a very moving day and I had no idea of the scale of the operation. The distances between can be quite long. If you want to see more book a private tour but do it early. Overlord Tours were very cooperative in making an itinerary that I wanted, the van has WiFi and the cost was 980Euros for up to 8 people. Everyone agreed it was worth every penny! Canadian cemetery was a hidden gem.

SOUTHAMPTON - disembarkation went just as smoothly as the start did. We were in the appropriate lounge 5min early and went straight through to get our bags. We were on the coach within 10 minutes of leaving the lounge and the trip to LHR took about 90mins with steady traffic.

Alerts - bags requested to be out by 2000 or 2200 at the latest.

A thoroughly enjoyable itinerary! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Thanks everyone! Fabio has indeed retired. We have managed to find him living in Calgary and appreciate the help!

Wonder if anyone can help me find Captain Amitrano or know which ship he is on? I am trying to re-establish lost communications! Thanks for your help!