irishwitchy

I have a cruise booked in August 2024 from Istanbul to Israel, which was booked using credits from the infamous New Zealand hull issues earlier this year. My thought was to find a short cruise between two places I wanted to go to with stops in the middle that I didn’t really care about. Sounded like a good plan. Between the conflicts in Israel, the Voyager needing a refresh and StarLink. I’m going to have to find a different cruise. 😞

It is required for everybody these days!

We did one and as much as it was enjoyable, I didn’t really learn much. However, the instructor was very good, it was that nothing all that complicated is taught. I was fine with standing, but my husband who normally is also, felt queasy between the ship rocking and standing. We did lose a few folks almost immediately because of the motion. I don’t think we will do another one unless, they label it advanced or something very special is being cooked!

If you are a trivia player, show up on the first day and join others! This will gave you another way to meet a group of folks.

We have never had the forced table sharing change. I will usually only share a table, when we have met the folks already at the bar, pool, tour, trivia, etc. The last time, we had a weak moment and agreed to share with three couples. The one couple was very nice, but the good doctor was full of himself, so it was long dinner.

No charge for any of the restaurants. From their site: Dining reservations may be reserved online beginning 75 days before your cruise sails, or 90 days for guests eligible for our Concierge Amenities, at 8pm Eastern US Time. To do so, please create an account via the My Account section of our website and access the Dining Reservations link for your cruise via your Booked Cruises. Guests may pre-book one dinner reservation in each specialty restaurant prior to sailing, then subsequent reservations may be made on board, space dependent. Multiple pre-booked reservations in each restaurant are permitted only on Grand Voyages, with one reservation allotted per voyage segment. Guests may contact the Maître D' once onboard to request additional reservations, if available. Compass Rose and Sette Mari At La Veranda do not require reservations. I believe room service is from Compass Rose only, unless you are in the Regent suite? As for room service, I only do it for breakfast when we have a early tour. I just want them to drop it off and leave. Not looking for a complete set up. Normally, hot.

This topic has been covered for years on this site, just search it. The Regent website also covers it. For the most part, no jeans in any color, no matter what they may cost. Most people won’t be sizing you up either, except for a few select fashion police!

Yup, Short Hills Mall in my stomping ground, also. So I’m weigh in on the topic of Regent and what happens when the itinerary you paid goes sideways. Years ago, we had picked out a cruise that had Turkey, Israel and Egypt. Well, Turkey had issues and it was looking like Egypt was next, but Regent wasn’t committing to canceling the Egypt ports or not. We dropped the cruise, we had plenty of time and didn’t lose any money. Glad we did this, the cruise turned into a cruise of the Greek islands, which we had no interest in. Sounds like the current issue. History does repeat itself. This past year we got on the Explorer in New Zealand after being promised the ships hull was just fine. It wasn’t, we both really feel that Regent didn't care and lied to everyone. We missed a bunch of stuff I wanted to do. We did get money back and very nice credit. However, we will never cruise anywhere again that I really want to see the stuff in the middle of the cruise. So we took the credit and we are booked a nine day cruise August 2024 between Turkey and Israel, that way I could do a land trips before and after and I really didn’t care about the ports in the middle. Will that happen, who knows. I may just have to change this to a quick local cruise to use the credit. I would have been very upset, if I needed to go on this current cruise, which has turned into a Greek island cruise. I’m only 64, but I think I will be sticking to land trips, that I can control instead of being at the mercy of paying for one thing and getting something very different.

Whatever cruise line you pick next, please ask a bunch of questions on cruise critic prior to booking the cruise. I’m not a Regent cheerleader, but all of the lines will have something that you won’t like. I also book my own flights.

Thank you, it was a joy to read and follow along. May the weather gods bless your next cruise!

Yes, a big thank you to both couples. Loved reading this one! Honest and fair. EWR also has the facial recognition for global access. Very quick! No paper, either. Love it.

I always do my own air, I rather be my own pilot when stuff goes wrong! I’m the one that cares the most about I want in a flight, stops and how much us it!

I’m loving the difference between excursions choices! Oh, George, needs to order what you are having - his selections seem to be off!

I’m confused which ship did you review?

Sets the mood - I have no idea what this means. Boring versus fun? Sophisticated and stuffy? Not sure how one person is going to effect the mood of my cruise. Would love an example.

Second Georgianna, hoping to be on a cruise with her in charge of her wine again! We swear she was following us around to ship to help with wine selection every night! Very pleasant person, as well as understanding food and wine!

My husband and I also lost it with your popcorn bomb description. The nice young man part was even funnier! Did anyone take a pic?

Haha, I live in NJ and this Jersey Girl does not pump gas! Hopefully that doesn’t change until I die!

Some reading on the bead work. Highly recommend a trip to their store. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiFxvnzvPaAAxXkLkQIHQxBD-0QFnoECB0QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmonkey-biz.co.za%2F&usg=AOvVaw2wTAxQsL1vz0unpcrUqFGz&opi=89978449

I agree with you! However, if everyone actually did read the fine print, they won’t have anything to complain about on Social Media!

Love that town, I got a great pair of rain boots and we stayed over night and had dinner in town. Keep enjoying.

This year in Auckland, we went down for a ticket at whatever time they told us to. We had a later bus number and the lobby was a zoo. We didn’t care about breakfast. It appeared that lots of people were going downstairs and so after 30 minutes we did also, because they were resetting up the tables we sat at and wanted to get out of the staffs way. Down the stairs we go and that area was small, hot and very crowded. We head outside, where it was more comfortable. Low and behold, we get talking to a young lady who is involved with the buses, which are running very late. Bus 1 shows up and she tells us go ahead get on the bus, since they don’t really care about the numbers - they just need to make sure everyone gets to the ship.

Well, I have something to reserve on Aug 23 coming up. I will not be in NJ where the old time or new time is fine with me. I will be Hawaii, so now I have no idea if I need to be free at 2:00pm in the afternoon or 1:00am! I’m hoping the change goes in after Aug 23! Thanks for the heads up!

Curious minds want to know - what was it?

Lol, love your pics, but lucky for me I don’t really like most of the desserts on the ship except the soufflé and some of the cookies. Enjoy!