lwajsman

On 10/27/2019 at 2:12 PM, DougK said:

 

This has been recently discussed on the Scenic roll call, and I think this is the consensus:

 

1) If you arrange your travel and any pre- or post-cruise hotels through Scenic, then transfers are included.

2) If you arrange your travel on your own, but arrive/leave the day of the cruise, then transfers are included.

3) If you arrange your travel on your own, and arrive one or more days early, or leave one or more days late, then transfers are not included.

 

As an example, last year we went on a Scenic cruise, and arranged our own travel. We flew into Amsterdam a couple of days early, and did our own transfer to the hotel we stayed. (On embarkation day, the "transfer" from the hotel to the ship only involved walking around the corner. 😊). In Budapest, we flew out on disembarkation day, and Scenic provided the transfer to the airport.

 

Although we don't have that status yet, my understanding is that when you become a Platinum repeat passenger, Scenic also starts including transfers between your home and airport on both ends of your travel.

We arranged our own air, and booked our own pre cruise one day early,  but we did book the hotel (Schweizerof Zurich) that Scenic uses for their pre cruise.  We provided Scenic with our confirmation number and they WILL have transfers included from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the ship.  To get transfers included when you you book your own air and/or hotel, you must stay at the Scenic hotel they are using.  And you can extend as long as you like. 

We just returned from a 7 night Alaska trip on Navigator.

We loved the cabin, especially the walk in closet. Bathroom was decent. Bed and pillows were comfortable.

Enjoyed the open dining options. One negative, there didn't seem to be any snack/sandwich options after the pool buffet closed. I didn't really want to order room service, and the only available late afternoon option was the tea. It was delicious, but wasn't always what we wanted.

Food was very good. Desserts were very good. Ice cream was very good.

Alcohol options were very good. Anything I was interested in drinking was always available. Of course, being from the USA, I am not a Hendricks guy, so I didn't miss not having that on board. LOL.

Shows were as expected. Decent quality and entertaining.

For me, the Alaskan excursions were very good. We ended up with Allen Marine on three different excursions. Allen Marine is very professional and consistent. Plus we saw whales on all three excursions. Our other excursions were also entertaining. None appeared weak or cheap. I can't comment about excursions in other countries or itineraries.

All our excursions were easily accessible and the small Navigator crowds made it that much better.

Smaller can be better. No lines anywhere: Embarkation and debarkation. and locating our bags, excursions, restaurants, bars etc.

If you want crowds and glitz and loud music, then another lines may be a better fit. Having said that, I don't mean that as a negative. We also enjoy the busy ships, glitz and people watching. But I also recognize and enjoy better food, better service, all inclusive pricing, and an upscale experience, in a casually elegant manner.

We really enjoyed our experience on Regent.

The binoculars are very easy to spot. If you are trying to list only the included excursions, or all of the fee excursions, unchecking the radio button does the trick.

Just under the port/city name, on the excursions page, are two blacked in items. Free Excursions, and Regent Choice Excursions.

When you first get to this page, both items are "checked". Uncheck either one to see the free excursions or the ones requiring payment.

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

I did find one seller in Jersey that will ship to GA.

I was hoping to buy some 17 year Macallan. I actually like it better than the 18 yr. Retail is about 180-200. i was hoping to save $40-50. Not a game changer, but it would be a nice conversation piece. Plus, it would just sit in my closet once on board until the end of the cruise.

Since we are flying from the US to Canada (Vancouver), and then to Alaska on the cruise, I was trying to figure out a way to buy duty free.

On a typical trip, you may fly to another country, and have an opportunity to shop for all sorts of stuff like perfume, purses, chocolate, alcohol, even cigars before boarding the flight home.

I just thought if I was in Vancouver, I would have the ability to do some duty free shopping before "returning" to the United States (cruise to Alaska).

So far, it doesn't seem to to fit.

If anyone has any ideas, toss them out.

Thanks TC. I don't think I'll be able to do it. The airport duty free is in the departures terminal only. Unless there is a duty free shop at the cruise terminal, I'm out of luck.

Does anyone have any experience buying duty free liquor on a trip that starts in Vancouver? In other words, is there duty free purchases available on board the first day/night? I'm not expecting duty free availability the rest of the cruise since we will be in Alaska.

Also, does it make sense to buy alcohol in Vancouver and take it on the ship (to be used when I return home)? I seem to recall buying alcohol in the Caribbean, and the liquor stores would send them to the cruise ship for me.

..and a postscript about Internet onboard.

 

We never had a problem using the Internet for communication or posting pictures. In fact, I repaired a client's mail server while sitting by the pool one day. :cool:

 

WiFi coverage was prolific and lacked any dead zones that I could find

 

 

Speed is always a function of location... and I experienced as much a variance as a factor of 8 based upon where we were. You just need a bit of patience in the low bandwidth zones.

 

I really like your WIFE meter, until I put on my glasses and saw it pertained to your internet signal (WIFI).

Thanks again for sharing your trip with us. We are sailing July 1st on Navigator.

The articles I have read suggest that cause and time of death have not yet been determined. Just google dead fin whale.

Looking forward to your thoughts comparing Regent with Oceania and others. Your blog has been a magnet for so many readers. It's great that you've attracted previous Regent cruisers, Navigator cruisers, previous Alaska cruisers, future Alaska cruisers, future Regent cruisers.....

We have all enjoyed your posts and feel like we were there with you.

Really enjoying your pictures and commentary.

The one-man piano show

 

 

Turndown

 

Clocks back an hour tonite...

 

Tomorrow, Sitka at Noon for our Otter adventure. ;)

 

11 a.m. - be topside for a narrated approach by Terry Breen

 

... be on the lookout for whale tails,

Looking forward to hearing about your otter adventure. We will be on that excursion in July.

Go to Antarctica BEFORE going to Alaska otherwise Alaska will be underwhelming but still beautiful.

It sounds like you are saying that Alaska is underwhelming. unfortunately, my cruise insurance does not allow me to cancel for that reason. LOL. So off to Alaska we shall go on the RSSC Navigator Vancouver-Seward itinerary.

I have been to the fjords of Norway and had an amazing time there. Also had an amazing experience visiting the Canadian Rockies in the Banff/Lake Louise area.

I'm sure Alaska will be wonderful, and hope to be even more impressed on a future trip to the South Pole and Antartica.

We have been able to do both the Tracy Arm excursion and the Mendenhall and whale watching on the same day the last three years so unsure why it is now one or the other. Both are great although Mendenhall portion is a bit boring

The Tracy Arm Fjord excursion leaves at 7:45 AM and arrives at 1:45 in Juneau. The Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Quest departs at 1:45. Regent requires 90 minutes between excursions.

There is an Evening Mendenhall and Whale trip that is an hour shorter in duration than the daytime trip and isn't included in the all inclusive fare.

I'm guessing that the whale watching portion is shorter. And that is the part of the excursion that i'm most interested in.

The Tracy Arm Fjord excursion is by far one of the best excursions ever. Way better than mendenhall. They get you right up close to the glacier which is constantly calving. It is fabulous. Don't skip it!

Thanks, RachelG. I'm fine skipping Mendenhall. Is the Fjord excursion THAT much better than the Navigator cruising the Tracy Arm on is way to Juneau?

Will be on Navigator this summer. I am trying to figure out the merits of taking the 6 hour Tracy Fjord and Glacier Explorer excursion or just staying on the ship.

If we decide to stay on the Navigator into Juneau, we will take the Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Quest. This will be unavailable if we go on the Tracy Fjord excursion.