Anna B.

I'm sorry to find this poll has closed. I like your idea, Marq, and find the results very interesting.

Hambagahle: I agree. The canal and it's history are wonderful. I enjoyed the commentary on our last transit so much.

Marc: We did our 1st transit on New Years Day as well, but a few years later. What a coincidence! A fascinating day followed by a formal black and white dinner. I guess those days are long gone.

Marcie: You must know how excited I will be to do this cruise again with you and Tom. This time you should take a taxi with us in Cartagena ;)

Poss: I really, really hope you'll join us and this time I will get you to tell me what POSS means- haha!

I'm going to look for that roll call now......

I agree, Jackie, it's going to be a great one. So many friends on board and I do love the Panama Canal transits - close to home and easy to get to as well as relaxing and low key!

Hi Poss, We're also booked on the Splendor, March 2020 Panama Canal transit. This will be our third transit and we find it fascinating. As for the ports.....Grand Cayman has lots to offer, but, because we've been there so much, and it's a tender port, I probably would stay on the ship. Cartagena is a great port. We hired a taxi with our TA and did a quick highlight tour including a trip to an ultra modern shopping mall because Al needed to go to an Apple store. After the canal the first ports are interesting with lots of local color. I don't care for Mexico. We went to see the cliff divers, but then had to spend the next 2 hours touring the city and coastline and hearing about all the celebrities who have had homes there. In Cabo we took an excursion to a resort and had a wonderful day which included a delicious lunch. I have never been to Catalina and that should be fun. Needless to add, we would love to see you onboard! Editing to add we have never seen mosquitos which is very surprising to me.)

Guess I'm a little late, but want to wish you and Dennis Bon Voyage! I look forward to following your travels through this wonderful area! Relax and Enjoy!

I really should have added that after many cruises and many cabins this is the first one I feel I cannot recommend. Thank you so much, Bill, for doing this!

Explorer - Suite 1009 - Explorer Suite. Directly below Culinary Arts Kitchen. Noise was much worse than when we have been directly below the pool deck. Loud stomping noises and lots of commotion well into the night and again in the morning. Suite didn't seem as large as it should have due to excessive amount of furniture. Very small table for four people only. Poor traffic pattern. Large jacuzzi tub had mold in the jets. Bathroom counter extremely low to accommodate large vessel sinks. Would not recommend.

That's pretty funny, Jackie. I might have to be taken by helicopter to the nearest hospital if I tried to play paddle! My daughter plays all the time. We are going to be in Alaska twice....July 19th with our daughter, son-in-law and 2 kids (your favorite!) We have a real fishing enthusiast and Clay has set up a couple of great fishing excursions. We'll be back on in August for a quick trip to see some friends - wish you could be there! There's a 4 day lapse between when we disembark and you board. Maybe a charter?

Thanks Poss....I really wish we could see you! Think about August! - Vancouver - Vancouver!

Yes, Rachel, a family cruise and a dream come true for us!

Thank you both so much for your replies! My daughter and family will be thrilled!

We will be boarding mid-July. All the information on the Mariner says there is a paddle court, but I don't see it on the ship's diagram. Could you please tell me if it's still there and if it's in good condition. Thanks so much.

Sounds like you're off to a great start! How could you possibly miss? Love the hot dog story, JoAnn! They try so hard to make sure everything is perfect!

Glad to hear your suite is working out Marc. Considering the amount of time we spend in there, it doesn't really matter, does it? I'd cruise in a closet if they'd let me!

Imagine the cards will start soon if they haven't already! Watch out for Marcie......sweet as sugar and smart as a whip!

Fishing is the best idea yet!

Kathy and Rachel - Dennis could join Al and George in the kayaks:D

 

On the balcony in Bermuda and don't really want to get off the ship but we will at least take a walk after lunch (our plans to take a water taxi to Hamilton have been scratched) . The view from here is great. Wish that you were all here to join us on this way too big balcony.

 

Time for lunch!

Maybe we could start a new trend for all those restless husbands who haven't learned how to relax ;)

That new dessert sounds delish. They did not have that on voyager last month.

 

George would love that lecturer, but he does not like crossings.

Rachel, Al doesn't like crossings either. Maybe we could get them a couple of kayaks and they could travel alongside the ship, or if they really get bored we could give them lifejackets and they could swim. I love crossings, especially the way they do them with a few stops along the way.

I am starting to organize items to pack as we, too, board the Explorer this Sunday. Am thinking of bringing along my own roll of tape for the whistlers just in case the door handle options doesn't work in our suite.

 

Also for those on board now...who is the musical duo at this time?

 

See y'all on board.

Kwaj girl (and Kwaj boy)

aka Sandy & Dana

The duo on board is called Absolute Duo and they are really great. The lounge was packed every time they played. This is their 1st time on Regent and they'll be on for 4 months. Hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Hi Poss: I always love hearing from you. I think you and I seem a lot alike as far as our desires and expectations from a cruise. Maybe I have become too much of a creature of habit, but I feel so comfortable and at home on Regent's other ships and I just don't get that feeling on the Explorer. We too, are also trying to stay closer to home and looking at itineraries much more closely. Please keep in touch. I would love to know where you are off to next. I don't post very often on here, but our TA would be happy to give you my contact info. Take care!

Jackie: I know you and although you can be critical you will be the first one on a ship to try to take lemons and make them into lemonade. Enjoy your crossing. I wish we could be there with you, but we will be happily playing with our grandchildren.

Jackie, I haven't read anything about the Caribbean cruises on the Explorer this winter. I can only speak to the demographic of our cruise on 2/24. We found there were quite a few long time Regent passengers who were anxious to sail on the Explorer, but not anxious to do yet another Med. cruise. Also there were quite a few elderly passengers for whom this was an easy trip with easy flight. We had a platinum/titanium party in the Regent Suite which was wonderful. They had to omit the Gold pax or there would have been too many people.

The consensus seemed to be that albeit a little gaudy, the ship is beautiful. The main complaints seemed to be concerning the staterooms. Aside from the whistling the cabins, we were in an F1 for one cruise and an F2 for another, and the cabin seemed very cramped. If I were much bigger I would have had trouble getting into my side of the bed at night it is so close to the wall. They don't even have two chairs at the little coffee/breakfast table or it would be impossible to move around. The granite in the bathrooms is already becoming badly stained. The recessed cup holders are empty because they break so many thy don't have any more replacements. Those occupying the PH suites were very happy with the layout in their cabins.

One more comment. We had quite a bit of vibration while on the ship which was not limited to the aft portion. When we asked Michael Coughlin about it he laughed and said, Oh yeah! It vibrates!

Quick update on doors. We recently disembarked the Explorer in Miami.The whistling in our cabin on deck 8 just about drove us crazy. Every night the stewards were going in and out of all the rooms taping the doors. Someone needs to pass the trick with the handle on to the GM so he can spread the word. We're on the Mariner in October and I can't wait to get back to my favorite ship!

Rachel, Wes and Rich, cannot thank you enough for sharing your cruise with all of us. Loved every post!

Hope you all had a great birthday celebration for George! I wish I could have been there so you could have helped me drink some of my ship board credit! I will drink a toast in your honor!

Agreed! A travel blog should be about TRAVEL. <Have you ever seen such a "Debbie Downer"? Sheesh>

Exactly :rolleyes:

Terrific reading and wonderful photos! Thank you so much! I, too, have stopped reading that "other" blog. A political crack pertaining to the Oscars was the last straw. This is not where I come to hear political opinions, whether I agree with them or not. It's where I come to vicariously enjoy visiting exotic and faraway places.

I am having the best time following your blog. Great descriptions and great photos too. Rachel, you are amazing and I think all of you should be commended on your dedication to health and fitness. Very inspiring! One question....I would love to know what the ingredients are in Ida's Mimosa Salad. Thanks to all!

I'm going to stop commenting on this because I feel that I am way outside of the realm of my knowledge, but Cruisermann, I believe you are mistaken about both policies. The best thing to do is talk to your travel agent or the insurance company and read the fine print. This is their job - to take care of people in need of assistance, and from what I have heard they all do it well, albeit differently and at different price points. ( Hi to you, Poss! I agree with your husband - there is something about cruising that makes me feel very safe and very comfortable! Take care!)

Pam, I have looked and looked for the information I had on this and apparently haven't kept any records. We went through the Panama Canal a couple of years ago and I bought the evacuation only insurance from CSA because I knew we wouldn't be canceling. "Our" mutual TA assured me this would avoid a hospital stay and I would be flown home. I don't know how, but it probably depends on where you are. The second time I used it was for my Mom for the Baltic. Not only was MedJet prohibitive, so was CSA due to her age. Again I opted for the evacuation only which was about $140. I think. Sorry I can't offer more help.