briar14

Received email from our TA this morning that our final payment due 2/28 is now due 5/28. Navigator, 7/28, Copenhagen to Amsterdam.

9 hours ago, ArtsyCraftsy said:

Will do -- So far, we've had to skip American Samoa and Samoa, but picked up Suva, Fiji as an addition to the itinerary -- we left there yesterday evening.  I'm having a ball -- I really love everything about the Mariner.

My favorite part of the Sydney-Sydney cruise on Mariner last year was the southern and west coasts of Australia. Esperance, perfect white beaches. Fremantle (Perth), wish the ship had overnighted there. Wishing you a continuing good and safe world cruise!

1 hour ago, Pcardad said:

It's a charter flight and there is no First Class available.

I was not expecting a First Class seat; simply an aisle seat in any row so I could stretch my leg.

2 hours ago, Hambagahle said:

A bus transfer ??   that is 39 hours and sounds frightful.  Or do you mean economy class seats on a flight?  Would certainly be faster but also uncomfortable.

Sorry, should have been clearer. It was a 3 1/2 hour charter flight.

Just returned from Silversea expedition cruise to South Georgia Island and Antarctica. All expedition activities were excellent. In our personal opinion, Silversea did not rate an excellent in several areas that can be directly compared to Regent. Service was about equal. Food was not—missed the variety and flexibility of the Compass Rose menu. A fee was charged for the Cloud’s specialty restaurant, which we ate in once. Quality of food and service in La Dame was not as good as most of our experiences in Regent’s specialty restaurants. By far the worst area was the roundtrip coach transfer process from Santiago to Ushuaia and back to Santiago. New knee replacement; assigned seats in last row, window & middle; assured by Silversea, in writing, seats would be changed for return due to knee issue; did not happen. Result is a very swollen knee and 2 people who will not use Silversea again even for the expedition experience. So looking forward to our next Regent cruise this summer!

Correction to my post, #212. We sat in window and middle seats in the last row, not aisle and window. 

Wonderful trip, exceptional expedition staff. Arrived home on time with no delays, thank you United! Absolutely miserable charter flights arranged by Silversea. We were in last row, window and aisle. For return, requested seat change due to a new knee replacement. Assigned same seats. Very swollen knee both ways. Still icing. Not happy.

We have been at the hotel since Jan. 1 on 16th floor, same view as others. Two full day tours with Esteban Ramos, think this is a different Esteban. They were excellent. One was to Casablanca Valley for two winery tours. Today’s tour included Vina del Mar and Valparaíso. Lunch choices both days were very good—tasting menu at winery, Casas del Bosque and a restaurant on Concepcion Hill in Valparaíso, Restaurant La Concepcion. Our experience at hotel restaurants has been fine, efficient breakfast with plenty of yogurt and fruit, perfectly cooked salmon at dinner. We are on the 7:15 bus tomorrow. 🐧

Looking forward to meeting you, Stumble! Jan

45 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

Packed and ready to go!

 

We went with extra luggage this trip. Two rollaboard suitcases with nicer evening clothes, and a duffel full of cold weather stuff and boots, plus our carry-on backpacks with clothes for Santiago. 

 

 

Chris's vintage SS expedition backpack is on the left. Didn't think we'd use the safari duffel bag again, but this was a good opportunity. The parkas should fit in there on the way back.

 

Now, to make it through work tomorrow... Happy New Year's Eve (almost) to all, and see you soon!

Feeling better about my packing! We have tried various options and settled on 2 rather large cases, but all fits! We are so excited about this trip and leave tomorrow from Charlotte. Looking forward to meeting everyone! 

We arrive on the 1st in Santiago at the MO and have planned 2 days of private tours. I may be in the gym on occasion exercising a new knee. So excited, I now have 2 good knees! We look forward to meeting everyone and having this wonderful adventure—a first for us. 

Thank you to everyone for your advice.I am so looking forward to meeting all the Antarctic travelers onboard Silver Cloud. I am a new recipient of a knee so am concerned about not slowing anyone down. 

11 hours ago, daetchief said:

Prakash is the Real Deal!

Just returned from Explorer, Lisbon-Miami. Prakash was our Butler. Real Deal, indeed! Best butler we have had.

Explorer 929, Penthouse C, I think. Good location, quiet. Great bathroom and super shower. Small closet, but fine for 14 days. Balcony not as large as the other Penthouse we have been in. Table, 2 chairs and a lounge chair. Would definitely recommend. Internet was not bad, considering all the complaints on this cruise.

Mary, thank you for the wonderful review and great pictures. We are on Explorer now and have booked 2 segments of the Mariner 2021 World Cruise, Dubai-Barcelona. I look forward to reading your blog for your experiences at some of the same ports we will be going to.

1 hour ago, bebop bonnie said:

We have always had wonderful butlers.  On our last two cruises on Explorer we were beyond fortunate to have Prakash.  He arranged a cocktail party for 8.  He rearranged the living room, had flowers, served cocktails  and created a magnificent display of spectacular canapés.  I felt like the only thing missing from this party was the bride!  On a Voyager cruise, I tripped on the curb in Rome.  Don't ask.  The ship's doctor said it was just a bad sprain.  Our butler saw me limping back to our suite and without me asking, brought  ice for my ankle practically every hour!  And the next morning, he served breakfast with a side of more ice bags.  Just two of the many experiences I'll always remember!

Bonnie, I passed on your regards to Prakash, which led to a great conversation about his life plans and that he is getting married in April. Sometimes we have a butler, sometimes not. He is by far our favorite! Jan

We also had dinner in Compass Rose tonight with John as our waiter. We requested his section specifically as we had sailed with him on the Circumnavigation Australia cruise earlier this year. As Jackie said, service was excellent as was the food.

Just now, bebop bonnie said:

I'm so jealous...not only are you enjoying the Explorer....but Prakash also!!!!  He is amazing.  Please tell him Bonnie and Debbie send hugs!!  Thanks, Briar 14!!

Will do so this evening. He is very intuitive and thoughtful. He will be leaving Explorer for Splendor in January, quite an honor. 

1 hour ago, papaflamingo said:

Just a personal thought on much of what's been discussed.  I think this quote by Jackie sums things up pretty well.  Regent isn't just about included shore excursions, or drinks, or specialty dining.  It's about a total experience.  We all have things we like to do or use and things we don't.  We like the specialty dining enough, but don't really need it. So if I don't use P7 or Chartreuse, etc. should I get a discount?  If I don't drink or only drink wine or beer, should I get a discount?  Of course not.  Honestly, and just my humble opinion, Regent for me is simply a wonderful experience.  If all I cared about was shore excursions, I could cruise on a Mainline cruise ship in a top suite for less money and then "pay as I go."   I don't want Regent to start with the "nickel and dime" options.  And that's the "slippery slope" that you'll head down if you start with optional excursions, then optional specialty dining, then optional drink packages, you have just become another cruise line.  Just my opinion.

Thank you, Jackie, for your wonderful review.  I am enjoying, tremendously, "cruising" with you vicariously.  😎

 I agree with you, “Papa”. Regent is about the total experience, and we really like that experience. We are on this cruise also. Our experience has been quite good from efficient boarding to an excellent butler (Prakash) and cabin stewards, to good restaurant service with some familiar faces. I know tours can be hit or miss, but we have had 3 good ones, not crowded and run efficiently. Internet has worked pretty well for our needs, but I agree Regent needs to improve to keep up with the competition. Thank you, Jackie, for all you are posting and for taking the time to download pictures of menus, activities, etc., that takes a lot of patience 😊.

Jackie, Hope we get to meet and wish you a safe trip to Lisbon. We are in Lisbon now enjoying much nicer than anticipated weather, eating delicious food and drinking great wine! Looking forward to boarding the Explorer on Saturday. 

For Tokyo, i would suggest you look at the Hotel Okura. It was torn down several years ago, has been rebuilt, with many areas duplicated from the original—like the beautiful, peaceful lobby. It is next to the US Embassy and easy walking distance to some interesting areas of Tokyo. For Sydney, the Park Hyatt on the Quay. Last year Regent used the Four Seasons in Sydney, and we thought it was fine. Do not know what hotels Regent uses in Tokyo.

Thank you, Stumblefoot! Roll Call for Silver Cloud shows date of January 10, and I couldn’t get the link you posted to work. Have wanted to go to Antarctica for a long time. Everything fell into place this Fall. We look forward to meeting you onboard! In the meantime, we leave for a Regent TA on the 19th.

We are on the January 4 Cloud cruise and have rented boots. However, my husband saw boots at Dick’s Sporting Goods this week for $17 that would work well.

14 hours ago, SWFLAOK said:

Since you're from SW Florida, as I am, I'm wondering which bank you use that has good foreign currency exchange. We had a hard time finding Euros earlier this year in Fort Myers. The exchange rate wasn't good at the only bank near us, and they mostly had large bills, which don't work when you need them to pay for a public toilet in Europe.

We just got Euros in small denominations from our local AAA office. You order what you need and are notified when they arrive at the office. Turnaround this time was about 24 hours. An option if  convenient.

2 hours ago, RachelG said:

We will be onboard with you!  They will give you a 2 piece parka (outer water resistant and inner fleece) which is very nice and warm.  You will need to buy or rent boots.  We are renting as the boots take up so much room in the luggage.  You will need to buy waterproof pants to go over your regular pants.  Lots of layers is key.  I have thermal tights from UniClo that I love as they provide good insulation.  I usually wear those, either jeans or fleece pants then the waterproof pants on bottom.  I wear some good thick socks in the boots as well.  Probably won't need separate hiking shoes--just the boots.

On the top layer, I wear a turtleneck pullover, a sweater over that then the 2 layer parka.  I wear a cap which covers my ears and gloves which have the fold back fingers to that I can take pictures. Don't think hiking poles will be necessary here.

 

Thank you, Rachel, just the information I was looking for. I am looking forward to meeting you as I enjoy your posts on the Regent board. I am very excited, a trip I have wanted to do for a long time!