MaxBuck

On 5/2/2022 at 12:09 PM, Reveuse said:

Wow! Scary… testing positive last day of cruising… can you imagine if that happens the last day in Athens! Then what? Does Regents take care of you or tells you bye you are on your own in Athens? Anyone knows the worst case scenario? Any known case of Covid on Regents Europe sailings?

Our cruise (Lisbon to Barcelona via Canary Islands, etc.) had, I believe, 8 cases.  So far as I know, none were serious enough to require hospitalization.

On 4/21/2022 at 5:32 AM, Pcardad said:

The website shows that KN95 masks are required - they are not nearly as effective as N95 masks.

It's not true that KN95 masks are necessarily less effective than N95s.

I personally don't find KN95s to be as comfortable as N95s.  But that's a very individual thing. 

On 4/23/2022 at 7:01 AM, mrlevin said:

Regent finally addresses COVID Recovery Certificate:

 

https://www.rssc.com/voyage-health/SPL220602

 

I know we are not supposed to discuss COVID here, however, I am still at a loss with respect to testing positive long after getting COVID.  Question:  if you EVER test negative AFTER having COVID does that mean you are in the clear or can you still show positive up to 90 days after having COVID?

 

thanks,

 

Marc

If you've recently recovered from COVID, make sure you use an antigen test rather than PCR.  If you're no longer contagious, antigen test will confirm that. PCR may indicate positive for an extended period post-recovery.

Just completed a Regent cruise where masks were required. But none were required while dining or drinking, in outdoor areas, or when working out.  A total of 8 confirmed COVID cases during the cruise, but no serious outcomes. 

I really don't understand the overreaction to mask mandate. I don't like wearing them myself, but in practical terms you really don't need to wear them very often while on the boat.

Has anyone gone to Nice or Monaco independently after the river cruise ended?

We did after finishing the Uniworld cruise in Avignon. Rented a car and drove through Provence for another week, stopping in Manosque and then over to Valbonne. Drove into Cannes, and then over to Monaco. Then back north up to Champagne before returning to CDG for the flight home.

1. I'm glad we went to Provence, but don't need to return. So far my least-favorite part of France (aside from Arles and Avignon, which I love).

2. Valbonne is a lovely town that provides easy access to the coast but a relaxed getaway from its hustle and bustle once the day is over. Plenty of good food available there. The way stop in Manosque was largely to visit l'Occitane, which was a fascinating and enjoyable factory tour (that turned out to be fairly expensive due to the post-tour visit to the company store). :)

3. Monaco is perhaps the most vertical city I've ever been in; very difficult to drive and park there. I'd really find another way to get there - boat would seem ideal.

My review of the two lines revealed that, for most itineraries, Tauck requires pre- and post-cruise stays at locations and lodging of their choosing, along with associated expeditions in the selected locations. Uniworld, by contrast, focuses pretty much entirely on the cruise itself.

Either approach could be best for the individual traveler, of course.

Talked with several Tauck regulars on our last cruise with Uniworld. They all said the overall cruise experience was quite comparable.

We've done two cruises in France (Seine and Rhone) and one on the Danube (Belgrade to Vienna), all of which were on Uniworld. Loved all three, but our favorite was the Danube, largely because it introduced us to central Europe, which we now want to return to. Very surprised that we fell in love with the Balkan area; it's so very different from the US.

xpc, you are broadening my horizons. Had no idea who Justin Hayward was, and still have no idea what a "flowrider" is as you're using the term.

(Full disclosure - I listened to the Moody Blues in the '70s, but only when someone else turned on the music and I couldn't manage to flee the room. Not a fan.)

In Budapest, if a place will accept euros, you will not get a good exchange rate.

I purchased some stuff in Budapest using euros and got a better price than I would have in forints. (I was actually given the choice of paying in euros or forints - I checked the current official exchange rates and paid in the currency more favorable to me.)

The euro is, in fact, the currency used in Slovakia. And most touristy places in Hungary also accept it as payment.

It's not a big deal to get some forints (for Hungarian use) in an ATM.

Interesting re: the inclusions. I stand corrected. :o It does make me wonder why Uniworld has the optional add-ons. If they say they're all inclusive, they should stand by that. (All of that said, having a bill at the end of a cruise in the hundred dollar range for the two of us doesn't give me much heartburn. ;) )

 

ETA: Just curious, do all of the all inclusive cruises include tips?

Every single one of the "all-inclusive" lines has stuff they don't include. On Tauck, it's several meals ... and they force you into pre- and post-cruise itineraries that I would rather do on my own. On Scenic (probably the most inclusive of the lines), it's spa and laundry. (I've since discovered that the "all-inclusive" ocean cruising lines have their own sets of exclusions.)

I don't say this to denigrate or depreciate any of these lines, and I know they all provide an excellent cruising experience. Just advising that, whenever you book a cruise, you ought to make sure that what you think is included actually is.

River cruising is certainly not for everyone. I have to say, though, that we've not experienced delays in dinner service beyond what we'd expect in a fine restaurant - and we've cruised Uniworld three times. It's typically been about a 90-minute experience. Very sorry the OP had a different experience.

I'm starting to plan our 2017 Uniworld cruise as well. Did Rhine last year on Antoinette, doing Danube Christmas Market cruise on Maria Theresa in December and doing the Venice cruise Sept 2016. I'm currently looking at India, Egypt, China, or possibly an expanded Danube cruise in warm climate for 2017. France hasn't been too far up my list because my perception is that this itinerary is heavily focused on wine tastings, winery tours, etc... My wife and I don't really drink wine(will particpate in the tastings but only if we want to experience the location of the tasting) and not overly excited about French cuisine. For those that have sailed with Uniworld would you say apart from wine/food that the excursions provide or offered are as interesting and varied as say the Rhine or the Danube? We really do like Uniworld's newer ships with their upscale suites so the Catherine does have my attention. Thanks for your thoughts.

We did the Catherine in July and I would never go to Europe again in the summer. That was our 2nd trip in July and it was miserably hot (north of 100) and terribly crowded.

Whereas we did the Catherine also in July and had a terrific time (I think we were either earlier or later than you, caviargal, by a week).

Was it hot? Yes, unseasonably so this year, but the ship's A/C was flawless, as was the A/C in the hotels in which we stayed and the car we rented (after the cruise ended). And I didn't find the crowds to be problematic.

Bottom line: each to his own. We're kind of limited to summer travel by my DW's teaching schedule, but we've found France and Europe generally in June-August to be very enjoyable.

Can't wait to read your detailed trip report. Doing this itinerary in 2016. For everyone else

many of the reviewers have mention an excursion to winery of M.Chapoutier. My local (well known-google Zachy's Scarsdale NY) wine shop has several of their wines. These are wines of distinction. Just from what I have read AMA is not ignoring the wine part of this wine cruise.

 

I am soooo ready for this trip

Carole

Chapoutier and Jaboulet own much of the vineyard acreage in and around Tain L'Hermitage, but also watch for some of the excellent product from smaller producers in the area. Bottom line: if it's labeled "Hermitage," it's going to be outstanding wine.

Interesting comment about the southern French being "more accommodating" than those in the north. We've had very positive experiences with the friendly French in Normandy, Champagne and in Paris; found the Provencals to be, if anything, a bit more standoffish (but all-in-all a lot more helpful to us English-speakers than most Americans would be to French-speaking visitors!). I have to admit to being a Francophile.

I absolutely loved the cooking school in Avignon. A bit pricey, but worth every euro IMO. Completely participatory, and if you love cooking, you ought to consider it.

Also loved the "Go Active" options, though didn't take the kayaking trip. (There are plenty of places to go kayaking at home.) The walk into the vineyards at Tain L'Hermitage, though, was incredible, and I loved bicycling through Lyon.

Missing Tarascon is not something to mourn very deeply. Not much goes on there, nor in its sister city across the Rhone (Beaucaire).

JazzBeau, my wife and I planned a day in Aix during our recent trip. Once we arrived, we drove around a bit and decided to do something else. Confusing, noisy city. So maybe your "missing" Aix was not such a terrible thing.

Just not a place we need to go back to. YMMV.

I haven't been on the Danube above Vienna, but I have to say that I wouldn't have missed our time in Serbia and Croatia for anything. The recent history there is very sobering, and makes one realize the horror of war.

Belgrade is one of my favorite places, and my wife was surprised to find out she loves it also. If we had a teenaged son, I'd especially want him to go there to see the ... ahem ... female sights. ;)

yoshi, you still have plenty of time to open an account at Schwab Bank or a credit union that offers fee-free ATM access overseas. Schwab will refund all ATM-related fees (including those at domestic banks), and have no monthly service charges. We maintain a Schwab bank account specifically for travel purposes.

Having no ATM fees makes it easy to make small withdrawals in places where we're not sure how much cash we'll need. Also helps us avoid carrying around lots of cash.

And to run into lots of gas stations in France that are unmanned and do not take American mag stripe cards nor cash. I don't think there are any toll booths between Avignon and Les Baux, but if there are, make sure you have euros, as American mag stripe cards don't work there either.

Your experience is interesting. We did not find a single unmanned gas station last month, and we traveled plenty of roads that were not autoroute. We also had no problem paying using our chip-and-sign cards. I'd take two such cards, at least; when we tried to pay our autoroute toll using one card, it was rejected. Had to use AmEx and swallow the exorbitant FTF. However, the autoroute tolls can be paid using credit cards so long as they are equipped with chip - no signature is required.

How is the car rental process in Europe? We are going to travel to Les Baux on our own at the end of our Rhone cruise and I was thinking of renting a car at the Avignon train station. My travel agent said it can be hard to get a car with automatic transmission, and alas we do not know how to drive standard. Also, my husband is 6'5 and I worry about the small European cars.

 

Should I still look into car rental? There isn't an easy way to get to Les Baux using public transport. Thanks!

When I did a quick search in Avignon I found a weekly rate of about $230 for a Peugeot 2008 with auto. We had this same car with a manual last month, and found it to be a good blend of small exterior size plus plenty of cargo space and good leg room (I have long legs).

BTW, when renting in France be prepared to drive a diesel - and most importantly, to fill the tank with diesel!

... When Uniworld went all inclusive, ... the portions are smaller.

Actually, I can speak from personal experience that portion sizes were no different from those on two previous Uniworld cruises. And as caviargal points out above, Grey Goose vodka, Oban, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich scotches, and other premium spirits were poured freely upon request. Finally, we had wines that one would expect to pay upwards of $50/bottle poured freely at lunch and dinner.

Our AMA Rhone cruise will have mostly daytime cruising ...

Sometimes day, sometimes night. Depends on when the ship must be in the next port of call, and to some extent what scenery is available to view during the cruise.

Really no simple answer to this one.