briar14

I so agree with GO ARMY and RachelG. We are often among a few passengers tipping the tour guide and driver. For good, safe service it is the right thing to do.

We have decided to book this cruise, a little late, I know. I assume we will be wait listed for many excursions but would welcome suggestions of favorite ones to consider or those to avoid. Our Australia experience is limited to Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Thanks!

Something to consider including in your tour of Kyoto is a visit to Saiho-ji, or as it is more commonly known, Koke-dera, the Moss Temple. Special permission is required, but it is not difficult to do. Instructions are online. We lived in Japan for several years, and visiting Koke-dera was one of my most memorable experiences. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your trip! It is a really interesting itinerary.

Was told August by Cruise Consultant and TA.

Thank you all for the additional comments and ideas!

And I forgot to mention -- there is a whole section of the boards devoted to ports. You'll find lots of good info there too.

Thank you, IndiTraveler, for your report. We leave next July from Southampton on Navigator and are trying to decide what is reasonable for us to do if we go 3-5 days early. I will add the Historic Portsmouth Naval Yard to my evergrowing list. And, thank you for the car service name and the ports CC board tip. CC is so useful!

We don't have the experience of many of you but in our dozen or so cruises we have had the great pleasure of having Tammy and Andy Heath as our CD(s) twice and they are, for us, by far the most personable, friendly, and all around best. It seems the CD is important to many of you, and you need not worry if you encounter the Heaths.

+1, one of our best cruises was with the Heaths.

A safe trip home to both of you. This thread has been a wonderful respite from a warm southern summer. Really enjoyed it, can’t wait for the next one. Thank you.

Thanks for the reminder about the Flam Railway! We missed this a few years ago, and we won’t make the same mistake again when we are there next summer on Navigator. Have an alert on my calendar for 12:01 am on excursion sign-up day!

Question—are Andy and Tammy on Explorer in July? We have friends on one of the July trips. Thank you.

The dilemma is that the Hanoi Trip seems more frenetic. We leave the ship after lunch and don’t arrive in Hanoi until 6 or so. There is some time allowed for check in and visiting the old quarter. The hotel is the Daewoo. Then dinner and a puppet show. The next day we tour Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the stilt house and the one pillar pagoda, temple of literature, Tran Quoc pagoda, museum of ethnic minorities, then a drive by of Ha Long Bay en route to the ship.

 

The Ha Long Bay overnight includes a day trip to Hanoi where we see all of the above except Tran Quoc ant the museum of ethnic minorities.

 

Thoughts?

We overnighted in Ha Long Bay in 2017 on Voyager. We arrived early in the morning. We took the day trip to Hanoi on the first day, seeing all that you mention plus the Hanoi Hilton and the old quarter. I was reluctant to do this because I don’t like long bus trips, but it was excellent. All the stars aligned—wonderful guide, lots of room on the bus, good itinerary. The second day we cruised the monoliths on a junk. I think the ship departed mid-afternoon. My thoughts—if you can duplicate something like this, you would be able to have both experiences. I would be glad to answer any questions. Jan

Your pictures bring back memories of our very favorite Regent cruise Voyager, Reykjavik to Copenhagen. Not sure where everybody went, but we were the only two people sitting on the wooden bench on deck 12 as we sailed out of Geirangerfjord (advantages of a forward outside viewing area :)). It was quiet, peaceful, and beautiful. I am right back there looking at your pictures! Thank you. Jan

Thanks also from us! An enlightening Sunday morning; was not aware of any of the information you wrote about Greenland. Enjoying your blog and pictures.

Congratulations! On our Beijing to Bangkok cruise in 2017 we, along with Paula & John Third, and an everchanging duo from Texas won the 1 mil twice. We still have them, still keep trying to use them. Maybe they will be redeemable the next time we sail with Andy & Tammy? Please say hello from us. It was a pleasure to get to know them. We love reading about your adventures! Jan & Dave Johnson

Thank you for this wonderful thread! Safe traveling home.

Looking forward to more of your wonderful reports. We did a similar trip on Voyager a few years ago, and it was spectacular. Next year we will get to the North Cape on Navigator. Have an excellent and safe trip!

Just bookmarked your blog. We are taking a portion of your cruise (20 days) next summer so looking forward to your port information. So smart to get away from the hot, humid South in the summer! Have a wonderful trip!

We had to leave a performance of “Love Never Dies” last night after 30 minutes. I had a severe allergic reaction to the perfume on several women seated around us. Never happened before. Not sure why it has to be applied so liberally. We have not noticed this problem on our Regent cruises; guess we will now.

Brings back really good memories! I still remember the sail out—rainy, cool Saturday night, sitting in Mariner’s observation lounge with a Limoncello. The Captain sailed a 360 around the small island, one last look at that beautiful place, quiet and peaceful. Keep your great reports and pictures coming!

Just checked with my husband about “long time, first time”, Connecticut native that he is, who immediately said, “Mike and the Mad Dog”, a very favorite sports station, which I have known about for many years. Good to know that Regent fans appreciate NE sports radio !

So happy for you that you are able to appreciate and enjoy life! Have a wonderful, wonderful trip. Your sentiments are not mushy at all. We totally agree about grabbing life’s experiences when you can. Your posts are really making me smile. Keep them coming!

Have a wonderful trip! We had our ninth Regent cruise in April and, like the eight before, it was excellent. The sail in to Kotor is beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to post. Really look forward to reading them.

I should read for auto correct before posting. It should say we are looking forward to the cruise and we lived in Tokyo. Sorry for the mistakes

Wondered when I saw your screen name if you had lived in Tokyo. We did too, for 4 years, in Roppongi. Loved our experience. I wear dressy Chico’s ankle length pants for evening on Regent with pretty tops and have always felt appropriately dressed. Enjoy your cruise!

Carolyn, I have read every one of your blog posts and really enjoyed them. I hope you and your husband enjoy your last few days on Navigator, have a safe trip home, and a not too difficult “reentry” to life at home :).

We were on Voyager in Summer 2003 and excursions were included. Trip was Copenhagen to Stockholm. Guide in St. Petersburg was superb. First Regent cruise, totally sucked in to the Regent Experience!

Lorraine was the CD on our TA, April 4-18. We really enjoyed meeting her and getting to know her. Professional, competent, available to passengers. And, she is a fellow South Carolinian!