GOARMY

Reference Post #253. Search over. Downtown Hilton booked for the 15th using Hilton Honors. GOARMY!

PacificView (and Pcardad): While the following experience is somewhat dated by time--and of course not dispositive--it certainly remains in my memory. Voyager. circa 2013-2014. Extended cruise beginning at Sydney. Booked this, as did my brother and his wife, and our mutual friends. So, six of us. Beginning about 30 days prior to flying out of SEATAC and heading for Sydney, began getting notices from Regent as to spouse and self's willingness to forego our Suite; get full-refund; and receive an additional $5,000.00. Did not respond. Every three or four days thereafter, received up-offers. Of course, we consulted with our TA. The final one arrived about three days before we would be heading to the airport. The final cash incentive was $23,500. There was NEVER an explicit, or inferred, reference to us being subject to being "bumped-off".[metaphorically] that cruise. Naturally, we were tempted. But, did not take that offer. It was a wonderful, long cruise with the other four in our group. No-doubt, others took the offer. Or, if they did not--how Regent handled it. GOARMY! .

Well, yesterday received via our TA an offer we could not refuse. Guess we could-have; but have not. Already-booked on Splendor's June 21-July 5 segment ending at Reykjavik. Just-extended for the next 10 days. Fortunately--and this was the deciding factor in decision--able to maintain Saga Class on a July 16th N/S evening departure flight back to SEATAC. So, July 15--back at Reykjavik. Will be seeking an overnight hotel. Will get a $400.00 credit for the both of us. Will be seeking guidance from fellow-sojourners who have already jumped through the necessary hoop on finding/booking a downtown-area hotel on their own. Our TA will also assist in this search. GOARMY!

wish------ Mike Moore advised via his Post on another Thread that his time w/Regent ended earlier this year. He did not identify a successor. Reference Post #2: Jennefer Teegen is currently onboard Mariner for a segment (or more) of its World Cruise. GOARMY!

Bruice61 and Dolebludger: A quick addendum to my Post #152, which was reviewed following comments on Posts #176 and 177: As being "astonished" by my referencing 5+star Regent hotel stays in USA and Europe; and "inferring" my expectation was that all Regent clients at Concierge level should expect a similar experience. Again, with respect: those remarks were prefaced by ". . . and as always, one's mileage may vary pertaining to pre and post-pandemic Regent-assigned hotels. Both in USA, and when in Europe." Context is important. Our previous stays at Reykjavik were pre-pandemic, and incident to cruises on other Lines. This next time--which is in early July--we will, thankfully, have remained overnight on Splendor. Then, a tour following next day's disembarkation before Regent provides transportation to the airport. That is--unless volcanic activity causes our particular June-July London-Greenland-Iceland segment to be attenuated. The most-recent update from volcanologists is that Iceland may be at the beginning of another period of sustained seismic activity. Dolebludger: As to the Anchorage Hilton hotel misadventure. Recall speaking with some folks who joined our Explorer segment last September at Seward--then on to Tokyo. Conversations at La Veranda. Happy to be onboard. At that point, little would have been gained by opining that their stay at Anchorage would have been a better experience at Hotel Captain Cook. That particular "ship" had already sailed. GOARMY!

Dolebludger: With respect, and as always, one's mileage may vary pertaining to pre and post-pandemic Regent-assigned hotels. Both in USA, and when in Europe. Recent experiences. Nothing wrong this January when at Ritz Carlton, San Francisco. In-fact, 5+star stay prior to a Mariner segment. No flaws when, on both pre and post-pandemic stays, at Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, CA. Expect same when next in early 2025 prior to a Grandeur segment. Will dig through my archives as to those 2021 and 2022 Barcelona hotels. They were just fine. As of today, Rosewood is the assigned London hotel for our upcoming June Splendor segment. Heart of London; five blocks from British Museum. Just sayin'. And, as to Anchorage--whenever there, we book Hotel Captain Cook. GOARMY!

As regards the 1/2 empty side at Setti Mari: Explanation when on Navigator is that that other side is Prime 7--7 days a week for dinner. That half serves as overflow from La Veranda during breakfast and lunch hours. GOARMY!

mj: Both pre and post-covid: have found a limited number of newspapers, American and British, and when in Canadian waters, Canadian, in the Library. For general use and perusal while in the Library. GOARMY!

Bruce61: Thanks for the reminder about dinner w/Food & Beverage Manager. Last June aboard Navigator for a B/t/B. F&B Manager Brandon Haylock reached out inviting us to join him at Compass Rose. This was unprompted. We were NOT in a named-higher echelon Suite. Of course, we accepted this invitation due in large measure from previous positive interactions with Staff Officers at dinners--usually shared with at-least one other couple. This history goes back 20 years on various Radisson/Regent ships. And, it includes dinners with Captains. Just self and spouse at that Navigator table. Fortunately, my wife is a gourmet cook. This facilitated ensuing conversations with Brandon over various aspects of preparing French sauces. There was little I could contribute, other than commenting I was the lucky recipient of my spouse's cooking over the past 50+years. Delightful dinner and conversation(s) from the get-go. Brandon selected all the wines. The first--which was at the table when we arrived--was one he had selected before we ordered. Just a nice starter. Very nice. He ordered the remaining wines based on what we had ordered. He tasted each one before it was served. Sent one away as not "quite up to standards". Of course, there was quick action and replacement by Staff. No argument from us; not appropriate to second-guess the F&B Manager's palate. As the meal drew to a close, Brandon asked us to rejoin him later on that segment for a "special dinner" he would oversee. All South African dishes; all pared with appropriate South African wines. Another wonderful Compass Rose meal ensued w/Brandon. Perhaps we have just been lucky. GOARMY!

Reference long line waiting outside Sette Mari: To paraphrase a musical line from Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess"-- It ain't necessarily so. Sette Mari at La Veranda opens (usually, and officially) at 1830H. [See below.] Relatively simple to show up around 1823H--with a cocktail in-hand to observe perhaps a few couples, or a larger group already in the queue. Seating for the first "wave" over in about 5-7 minutes. Another window of opportunity opens up (usually) around 1945H. Some of the early seaters are winding up and wining-down. Tables open up. That has been our experience over many years. Caveat, as always, YMMV. [And, what follows is a closely-guarded secret: Actually, the doors (usually) open a few minutes before 1830H.] GOARMY!

Dolebludger: As to "over-touristed" Ports, or other popular venues-- Recall the great philosopher Yogi Berra's cogent comment about a popular New York restaurant: "It's so crowded nobody goes there anymore." Fortunately, our times (pre-COVID) at Barbados were on brief excursions. No plans for a revisit. GOARMY!

tripperva: Last on Mariner this January-February for a San Francisco-Hawaii-French Polynesia segment of Mariner's current World Cruise. Top service. Standards maintained; and our previous times on Mariner go back to the mid-2000s. Have booked another Mariner segment in 2025. Suggest you access a separate Mariner WORLD CRUISE 2024 thread which provides lots of insights and running commentaries from those currently aboard. GOARMY!

CardowMD: Please provide more context for your question. This will enable CCers to respond with specific information. If I have missed a previous post from you related to this query, please advise. What happens on Sundays in a Port is that folks like us who may have already been to that particular Port and done previous tours enjoy remaining on the ship to enjoy the quiet(er) ambience. If guests are on their own while on an "all-day tour"--they are responsible for getting back to the ship at the appointed time. Which is always posted in "Passages"; and reiterated in signage posted near the ramp leading from ship to shore. On these occasions, Compass Rose opens early for breakfast. Guests on Regent tours can be assured the ship will not leave without them. It has happened to us twice on such tours when that Regent-assigned bus broke down enroute back to ship. Ship waited. Will be glad to provide more details following your providing more context. GOARMY!

Hearthose----and so-on: You are welcome. Suggest you join the Roll Call for this Grandeur segment. See you either at Regent's Beverly Wilshire Hotel on January 7th; or when aboard. GOARMY!

frantic36: Glad to "lend a hand". cwn's narratives in earlier Posts spell it out in more detail. Good advice to CCers as we confront the vagaries and realities of aging. While still able to enjoy the other aspects of a Regent cruise. No more marathons for me. So--back on Splendor this June. And, willing while on a tour to stay on the bus, or get back to it, should geography and my right leg dictate. A brisk daily walk; and a lot of stretching. Ladies pushing a perambulator often pass me by. Ah! Youth is waisted on the Young. GOARMY!

frantic36: Your Post #11--Tours in Japan. Following relates to our recent Explorer segment. That was September-October 2023 Vancouver, B.C. via Alaska to Japan. Each, and every tour whether included, or at an additional cost, taken at several Japanese Ports contained specific details as to length, difficulty, and cautionary advisement as to whether recommended--or not--for those utilizing a wheelchair or walker. Spouse and self booked, or did-not book, with Eyes Wide Open given my current limitations as to extended unaided walking or dealing with steep steps. No surprises. Participated in several tours preceding arrival at Tokyo. The written descriptions furnished both BEFORE boarding; and FOLLOWING boarding at Vancouver turned out to be accurate as to degree of difficulty, if any. And cautionary information as to those with mobility issues. Moving on to Tokyo. We did the "included" 3-day add-on in early October following debarkation at Yokohama--then transport to Regent's Tokyo hotel. Itinerary provided in our packet for those tours detailed specific information for each stop. The common thread was: Bus would park on street-level. It would be a steep, multi-step walk up to the Temple site. (Most of the tours were to commemorative Temples.) No access to Temple level via a moving walkway, elevator, tram, or whatever. Full disclosure. Our Tour Guides were very tuned-in to passengers. Particularly those who decided to remain on the bus--after viewing the many steps involved in climbing from street to Temple. This should NOT have come as a surprise assuming they had read the tour's description. Apparently, it did come as a surprise to some. So--the Guide advised those not wanting to climb the steps: remain on the bus. Although, that bus would be relocated to a different site in the interim to conform to Japanese protocols. Japanese protocols as to remaining on a bus--for any reason--for an extended period of time relate to concerns regarding earthquakes. Again, should not be a revelation, given recent history as to earthquakes in Japan. Bottom Line based on 20+years on Radisson/Regent ships: Have never been surprised as to reality of a particular tour as to difficulty, length, or physical limitations while on that tour. And, we have been on a bunch. Of course, YMMV. GOARMY!

crusin7: Your Post #366 with Francisco. A favor. Send Francisco our best. We were on the San Francisco-Hawaii-Polynesia WC segment. Time with Francisco goes back more than a few years. Just mention Jim and Sue, Table 14, Compass Rose. Always there at 6:25pm. (Unless he arranged an extra night at Prime 7.) Absolutely the best representative for the Regent brand. GOARMY! Redmond, WA

TS and Gilly: Submitted for your consideration. The City of Winchester and Cathedral tour taken on an Explorer b/t/b was, indeed memorable. Information supplied for those staying-on for the next leg around The British Isles was provided a few days before Southampton. Timed to get the 16-or-so of us signees back in plenty of time for a casual unhurried lunch and people-watching as the new group arrived for the second leg. That was the plan. Sooos. Wonderful tour with a great Guide in good weather to City, Cathedral, and sites. Back to, and on bus at the appointed time and place--the predesignated street corner. Guide calls out couples' names. Hands go up. Advises all are accounted for. Bus starts back to Southampton--on schedule, even a few minutes ahead of schedule, advises Guide who complements us on being punctual. Starts another commentary. This guy was no spring chicken. Obviously, he had done this itinerary before. About a third of the way back, comes three words one does not want to hear from a fellow passenger--on a bus, train, or airplane: "Where's my wife?" [Or, flip-side, where's my husband] But, back to the story. Conversation with Guide. Husband heard to tell Guide he "thought" his wife had boarded, and was in the 'loo. Knocks on door do not prompt a response. More knocks on the door; maybe she fainted. Bus stops. Door opened. Empty. Reverse direction. Very-agitated husband. Back to city-center. Looking for wife begins near the appointed place. And--there she was--about a half-block away. Back on bus, now late, way-late. Silence on the way back to Port. Silence getting off the bus. Anyways---it was a memorable tour. Lesson for Guide: Do the head-count, head-by-head. Then, do it again. Happy trails to all--until we meet again. GOARMY!

taxman: Have been following your commentary, as we will board Grandeur for the first time in early January '25 at Los Angeles for yet-another Panama Canal crossing. Thus, will have completed at-lest one cruise segment on all Radisson/Regent ships over the past 20+years. Given your "handle"--an aside. Will complete our Tax Return this PM, and turn it in. ------ dock: See you aboard should you sign-up for that Grandeur January segment. GOARMY!

RetiredandTravel: POC would be, initially the Compass Rose Dining Room Manager and/or Food and Beverage Manager. GOARMY!

jabbawocky: As always, and based on 20+years on Radisson/Regent ships-- You want a special meal to commemorate/recognize/honor a religious observance? Let-alone dietary, cultural, health, or whatever: Simply ask Compass Rose Management. Provide at-least 24 hours notice. Better-yet, 48 hours. Assuming your request is within the bounds of common sense--and the Kitchen's ability to put together ingredients without need to call-in a helicopter dispatched from the closest Port for a drop-- You will receive a positive response in the form of "Of course". Then, follow-through by showing up to enjoy results. We have done so when ordering something as simple as a "special" pasta dinner. Have noted others have given appropriate notice as to, for example, an Indian dinner. Others on this site will probably cite similar experiences. Personal example: When last-year on Navigator, had dinner at Compass Rose with the Food and Beverage Manager--at his invitation. A guy with roots in South Africa. Soos, during that repast, he asked if we would join him about a week later for another Rose dinner during which all courses would be centered around traditional South African dishes--with paired South African wines. Of course. A notable experience it was. Just "Food" for Thought. GOARMY!

SWFLAOK: While anecdotal, hope helpful. Of course, what follows for your consideration is worth what you are paying for it. River Cruises. Consider Uniworld. Did two of these, pre-COVID, in France. Top Class, to include pre or post-stays at Paris in wonderful hotels. Traversed the major rivers throughout France; back-and-forth on trains to and from Paris to link-up with segments; and opportunities to visit the American Army's "D-Day" Utah and Omaha landing beaches; city of Caen; town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, DZ (Drop Zone) for the 82nd Airborne Division; Military Museums; and, most-important--the Military Museum and Cemetery above Omaha Beach. Rows, and rows, of Crosses and Stars of David. In late 2019, booked a third Uniworld series to incorporate Normandy, Fall, 2020. This would have included a day-long tour to the British and Canadian (and Polish) "D-Day" landing Beaches at Gold, Juno, and Sword. But, course, canceled due to Covid. No issues in retrieving funds from that booking. Based on the above, recommend checking-out Uniworld. No doubt, CCers with more recent experiences will chime in. As to Ritz Carlton (RC): This "brand" is long, long-established. Have had the good fortune to experience past bookings at RC's associated Hotels, to include the one at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Again, in conjunction with a Regent cruise. Our most-recent RC stay was last month. Arranged by Regent. We were at RC's San Francisco Hotel for (unfortunately) only one night. This was prior to our joining Mariner on January 24th for an interesting World Cruise segment--San Francisco-via Hawaii, to French Polynesia. Absolutely great service at RC. Very-caring Staff, from check-in; to restaurants; to check-out and getting on that bus for transit to the Pier. BTW: This 'Frisco RC site was utilized for several segments within, and without. That was when filming "Pal Joey". That's Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth. Do a Google. There I go, again, in nostalgic musings. Anyways-- Safe Travels. Hope to see some of you at London in June prior to Regent's transport to Southampton. Then: Splendor. GOARMY!

All: As I am want to do, and bear with me as I wander again off the path of a Thread to offer an analogy from myth, literature, and film with some application to our present situation. Bearing in mind, as Saint Thomas Aquinas opined--All Analogies Limp: Anyone else from my (our Baby Boomer generation) recall Stanley Kramer's 1965 movie--"Ship of Fools"? Do a Google. Sort-of a cult film based on an earlier best-selling novel. So-many Stars both well-set in the Hollywood and European firmament; and the up-and-comers. My favorites: Lee Marvin and Jose Ferrer. And, of course, Elizabeth Ashley. Why did those people get on a passenger ship in the late 1930s from a South American Port with one-way tickets to Hitler's Germany? Because they felt they needed to; had the means; and were searching for something--or someone to make sense of a World already spinning out of control. Well, enough heavy lifting and musing. We are not fools; we have made "rational" prior economic and life decisions--more or less--putting us in a place allowing participating in high-end cruise experience(s). And as to my Post #16 as to vagaries affecting itinerary changes: continue to track recent volcanic activity on Iceland which may, or may not, "impact" our upcoming Splendor cruise. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming. Stay safe. GOARMY!

As usual, Pcardad's Post #13 cuts to the chase as to why Demand continues to chase Supply. Post-WWII economic theory presupposes actors--us customers/consumers--make rational decisions as to allocation of a "scarce" resource (US or Canadian dollars, Pounds, Yen, Deutsch Marks, whatever) to chase, and secure a tangible product or service. But, of course, that is where advertising comes in. Convince a consumer he/she really, really wants and NEEDS a good or service that they really, really DO NOT NEED to survive. Hence, deluge of cruise lines brochures, emails, and "limited time" promotions. Guilty as I charge myself by paying for two additional 2024 and 2025 Regent cruises. Trying to be rational. Realize my cruising days are more in the past than future. So, while continuing to SKI (Spend the Kids Inheritance), accept this inevitable reality. Time, health issues, political turmoil, wars, let-alone volcano eruptions and hurricanes/cyclones will probably change many itineraries from what was advertised, and paid-for by many of our fellow CCers. The future cruise segments we picked have itineraries which, hopefully, will limit exposure to these vagaries. But, one never knows. In the meantime: Await Splendor at London (Southampton) this June. GOARMY!

Whinenowine: My head is spinning. Economics 101 (Paul Samuelson, circa 1950); OR is it Adam Smith, circa 1776? SUPPLY and DEMAND turned on its head. Trying to reconcile why it is that consumer demand--us guests--for high-end cruising, which should DECREASE as the price of cruising increases, seems not to. Quite the contrary. And, as prices rise, producers, in this scenario cruise companies, build MORE ships to gain more profits. Now, that reality (or conundrum) is more Samuelson than Smith. Eh ghads. In the meantime, just-gave Regent more of my scarce money for two MORE cruises! Guess I am part of the drama. GOARMY!