briar14

ronrick1943, would this be the same Spring Deer we ate in about 30 years ago? If so, I still remember how good it was, the atmosphere, etc. Enjoying your posts! We are taking similar cruise on Explorer in 2021, will be following along avidly. Thank you.

31 minutes ago, Gilly said:

Hakone looked pretty - I've added it to our list of possibilities 🌸)

 

The Hakone Open-Air Museum is very interesting. Views of Fujiyama from Hakone and Lake Ashi are beautiful. Hakone, an easy trip from Tokyo, was one of a “go to” places for our visitors when we lived there. Have a wonderful trip!

sctraveler04, we live in Greenville, usually travel from CLT for long trips, such as cruises. We often lease a car at GSP the day before leaving, drop it in CLT and do the same in reverse when returning. Costs vary by season and demand but have done this for as little as $30 each way. We prefer this to leaving a car at CLT for long periods of time.

More of your pictures bringing back wonderful memories! I look forward to sitting at the table with you wherever you travel next! Wishing you a safe trip home.

Husband, Dave, climbed, actually walked, up Fujiyama in 1987 with about 3,000 of his closest friends in 1987. We are in the midst of moving across the street this weekend. Today I carried his walking stick, branded with the symbols of the stations as he climbed, to our new house. So, Fujiyama, was on our minds and seeing its picture is a perfect ending to our day. Thank you.

Domo arigato gozaimasu, Rich! A formal Japanese thank you for your wonderful reports and pictures! They brought back memories of favorite trips we took when we lived in Tokyo. Looking forward to following in your footsteps in 2021.

In December/January, Mariner was docked at Circular Quay in Sydney and at the terminal in Benoa. In Sydney we walked from the hotel to board the ship, convenient and fun.

16 hours ago, WesW said:

Wishing Ginny and you Fair Winds and Following Seas on your Asian adventure from Myanmar now onboard the Silver Shadow




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I know that look. Same one in Bali at New Years on Mariner cruise!

In 2014 we did Rio to  Barcelona on Mariner. We made our own arrangements and stayed at the JW Marriott at Copacabana Beach. On the one day we had there, we arranged a tour through the hotel. All went well, and we boarded the ship with no difficulty.  

Will enjoy reading your posts; especially as we lived in Tokyo and Seoul and will be in many of the same ports on Explorer in 2021. We experienced a womderful cruise on Mariner around Australia; felt it was our best Regent cruise so far but then we have never had a bad one! Safe traveling and Happy Birthday to both of you! I am at the table and can’t wait for the next course to be served. 

1 hour ago, forgap said:

Ha!   Europe in June to see family and two cruises booked with Regent:  2020 is Norway and the Arctic on Navigator and 2021 is Tokyo to Vancouver on Explorer after a land trip in Japan.   I’m currently too jet lagged to be excited!  

 

We have both these cruises booked also. I have so enjoyed your trip reports and wonderful pictures and look forward to meeting the author and photographer! We also will add time in Tokyo, as we lived there for 4 years and want to visit friends and rekindle memories. Glad you had a good trip and are home safely.

6 minutes ago, Travelcat2 said:

 

That is good to know - I'll be able to make use of it when we disembark in Miami in November.  The problem though is getting off of the ship.  

We will be getting off also. Hope it goes as smoothly as it did last April. However, we have heeded everyone’s advice and will take a flight that leaves MIA @ 3:30.

1 hour ago, mj_holiday said:

Another question. Is Global Entry available?

In April 2018, Global Entry was available in Miami after a Mariner, Barcelona to Miami trip.

11 hours ago, SWFLAOK said:

Oh no...this is my worst nightmare. We're booked on the 2019-2020 32 night Singapore to Sydney "back to back" cruise on Voyager. We've already seen one of these mini gangs on our first Regent cruise lastt summer. It was made up of the kids from a large family group, and any other teens on board that would join them. Alcohol was involved, as was lewd behavior in the pool. If this happens again on the most expensive cruise we'll probably ever go on, I will not like it at all.

On the Mariner, Circle Australia Dec. 15-Jan. 20, I met one little boy. I believe he was the son of a crew member. We saw no other children. 

Grew up on Lake Erie, so your picture is a familiar, chilly site. Delta digs look better than our United 787 Houston to Sydney RT seats. Lie flat but not changed to newer ones. Safe traveling.

19 hours ago, jeb_bud said:

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I’m leaning toward the self-guided approach for the flexibility. 

 

For those of you who have flown into BCN, what has been your experience getting through customs/immigration and collecting your bags?  Should it take less than an hour, or am I being too optimistic?

 

How long might we wait for the Regent transfer to the hotel to leave the airport?  Our flight from EWR is scheduled to arrive at 0900.  If there’s not a bus full of us will they wait a long time for a full load?

 

I’m trying to get an inkling of when I might reasonably expect to arrive at the hotel.  Then I can add a cushion and schedule my arrival time at La Sagrada Familia and whatever other sights we decide to visit.

Took the same flight in April 2018 for a Mariner cruise. Checked luggage came out promptly. Immigration was quick and for Customs we were waved through. I think we arrived 2 days early. Regent had a van meet us and another couple. No waiting around. At hotel within an hour. Enjoy Barcelona and your cruise!

Wishing you safe traveling and a wonderful cruise! Of the Regent ships we have spent the most time on Mariner, most recently 36 days around Australia. We like the size of the public spaces, never feels crowded. Hope you enjoy Mariner as much as we do. Looking forward to your reports!

1 hour ago, Carol From California said:

Does anyone know what the minimum number of shares are in order to receive the OBC?

100 shares

1 hour ago, Travelcat2 said:

Got out of the house to go to the bank, get my nails done, etc.  Leaving in about 45 minutes to the airport hotel.  Flight 6:00 a.m. tomorrow!

 

Just a bit stressed - nothing that a glass or two or three of champagne won't cure.

Sending good wishes for a safe trip all the way to Explorer and a wonderful trip once onboard. This thread has provided really good information on so many different air travel issues.

🤞🤞🤞wishing you the very best from the flying and weather gods. Looking forward to your reports. Safe travels.

5 minutes ago, RachelG said:

Reading glasses.  A couple of cruises ago, I broke my reading glasses the first day.  They had none.  I had to wait for two ports before I could find some, and that was with difficulty.  Now I travel with two pair.

On Mariner last month one of the waiters (John) in Compass Rose heard me asking my husband if I could borrow his glasses. Well, in less than a minute he appeared with a selection of “readers” arranged by magnification in a very nice wooden box. It would be nice if the boutiques stocked some, but in a pinch the ship might have a pair to borrow. Love that intuitive Regent service!

Rachel, so happy for you that Explorer made it to the Falklands! Thank you for your account and patience uploading pictures. Continuing to enjoy your posts.

Rachel, thank you for your posts and pictures. I am really enjoying them! I am keeping my fingers crossed for a successful Falklands visit for you and George.

32 minutes ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

 

Thanks!  We're booked in this cabin for the 2021 WC, so nice ti know.  What do you mean by "terminal roofs"?

By being on a lower deck we often looked into the port buildings or at their roofs. Another comment I would add is about storage space. This was a 36-day cruise. We are “middle of the road” packers and found space for everything. Really utilized the hanging space in the closet and had drawer space left over. 

Mariner 746; G; briar14; 12/15/18; port; mid; walk-in shower; definitely recommend—quiet, cental location, decent internet. One caution—Because this cabin is on a lower deck, we saw a lot of terminal roofs.