gnld

We've had noise problems through connecting doors in hotels and on cruise ships. The most interesting was in a hotel in Europe years ago: in the afternoon the couple next door was having a very loud fight in a foreign language. But they apparently made up, and that evening they were VERY amorous, if you know what I mean - bouncing bed and all!

 

We don't always have a problem, but bottom line: we NEVER book or accept a connecting room.

Yes, we were on the Paul Gauguin back in 1998 and got credit.

I can see only a small gap of a few days between Dec. 13th and Dec. 20th, 2016 between two cruises. Is this sufficient for a renovation? In that case our cruise would be the first after that (starting Dec. 20th Panama Canal).

 

Yes, a week sounds short. They're allowing nearly 3 weeks for the Silver Wind (10/20 - 11/8), which seems long. Probably a charter in there.

My rule of thumb is to never begin a Western Med cruise after my birthday (Oct. 6), due to weather. Gets cooler and more rain as October wears on. Eastern Med will be a bit warmer and less rain in mid to late October.

We were on the Journey late 2013 to Myanmar. We just let the cruise line do it. No muss, no fuss!

We were on Star Legend's July 8th circumnavigation of Iceland cruise (our 3rd with Windstar). At the Yacht Club party, Capt. Richard Reville announced that Windstar is looking to DOUBLE the size of their fleet from 6 to 12 ships!!

 

It is know that Windstar has been trying to buy the Club Med 2 sailing ship from Club Med (twin of the Wind Surf). But Club Med would not sell her to Windstar, he said. However, Chinese investors have bought Club Med. Windstar approached them, and they were willing to sell the ship to Windstar, but the terms were not acceptable to Windstar. However, they continue to work the issue.

 

Capt. Reville said there were no other existing tonnage available that would be appropriate for Windstar. Thus they are looking at new builds. No time frames or specifics were given, so we'll just have to "stay tuned". Regardless, very interesting (and positive) news!!

 

Gary

I've posted before that I am in the insurance business and believe Steve at the tripinsurancestore is the most knowledgeable person I've ever talked to about trip insurance. Cancellation by a common carrier is very policy specific. As for trepidation about WS because of ship size I think you're worrying unnecessarily. And we also have Chase which is a pretty good plan. Friends just collected a cancellation because of illness and they made it very simple.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

I fully agree with sb44. Just got off the Star Legend in Reykjavik (our 3rd Windstar cruise). We only sail on the small ships (usually 700 and under). We just buy regular trip insurance that covers pre-existing even if you wait until final payment to buy it - e.g. CSA Freestyle. And we have used Steve and his company (above) before.

We just disembarked the Star Legend in Reykjavik 7/15. We had relatively calm waters during our circumnavigation. Some felt part of one day was a bit rough, but I didn't think so. My wife has a bit of "motion of the ocean" problem, and she was just fine - no medications ever needed on the cruise. Remember, you never are too far off the coast!

You have stated my position and feelings exactly. I could not agree more.

 

I echo this 100%. Will have to wait to see how well this works (or not!) before I book a cruise on the Muse.

We're on the Explorer Dec. 4th out of Miami. The ship arrives Miami two days prior. I queried Jennifer Davila what was planned for those 2 days. She replied it was activities for Regent employees and travel professionals. I then asked if any of that would be available to people on the 12/4 cruise; she did not reply. So I assume in this case, "no news is not good news". Could you clarify what will be going on for those 2 days and if anything would be open to guests on the Dec. 4th sailing? This will be our 4th Regent cruise - greatly looking forward to it (a "milestone" birthday cruise for my wife). :)
Thank you,
Gary

First Azamara cruise next month and we will be traveling in Europe beforehand.

 

Is the laundry-by-the-bag service offered throughout the cruise or is it a sporadic special on a couple of days only? Don't really want to pay by the piece for undergarments and prefer not to spend time in the laundromat.

 

However, be aware the self-service laundromat is FREE.

We've been on Azamara 5 times - one of our favorite cruise lines. Very sorry to hear they're pulling the plug on any expansion for the foreseeable future. They've been talking about it for years. A new ship would have been very nice, similar in size to what they have now. "You snooze, you lose" as they say! And Azamara snoozed while everyone else in the luxury and luxury lite segments has added or will add tonnage, including new players. Opportunity lost.

Windstar's website shows first Star Pride sailing is June 9th, week-long r/t Athens. All June/July/August sailings on sale starting at $1399 pp. Obviously trying to get people to book the Pride this summer with sales under $200/day.

Good questions from Rosepark and Observer. We'll just have to wait and see. Muse doesn't sail for almost a year. We'll be seeing a lot more details as things get closer, esp. into 2017, I'm sure. Stay tuned!

I talked with my Silversea rep this afternoon. He confirmed there will be no MDR on the Silver Muse. But many of the specialty restaurants will be relatively large. Atlantide will be anytime dining (no reservations) as will the casual Regina Margherita. All others will be "by reservation", but he felt one could probably book them just a day or two in advance.

 

And there will be a casino onboard - just not shown yet on the deck plans (which are still a bit of "work in progress").

 

Hope this clarifies things a bit.

We've cruised Oceania and Azamara quite a number of times - prefer Azamara over Oceania for the R class ships, tho my wife prefers the O class over the R class. Regardless, I've occasionally been looking at Viking Ocean as an alternate. But we've cruised Europe quite a number of times and most ports they go to we've been to - and definitely not interested in cruising the Med during the winter!

 

So I'll look for alternates they offer - transatlantics, maybe segments of their advertised world cruise. We've cruised the Caribbean a lot too, so their West Indies itinerary is not of interest (been to all those islands). OK, we've been on 45 cruises!

A minor negative is no casino. My wife likes to play the slots a bit, so she'd miss that. Anyone know why they opted to NOT put in a casino?

Noted that Explorer's TA Rome-Miami docks in Miami Dec. 2, 2016. The next cruise, r/t Miami, departs Dec. 4th. Does anyone know what Regent has planned for those 2 days in the middle? Short acquaintance cruise for travel agents, travel writers, industry execs??

I think Carnival would rather scrap it than help out RCI/Azamara. I'd be highly surprised if they made that sale.

 

Well, Carnival sold the R4 to NCL/Oceania. Why not the R3 to Azamara (if Azamara is even interested)?

Deck 5 has a large area midships, labeled Main Bar. But It's much too large to just be a bar - probably the Main Dining Room. And a big empty space on deck 4 aft - should be the galley serving the specialty dining rooms on deck 4 and the MDR on deck 5 (has to be close).

 

And what is the unmarked space portside forward of La Terrazza on deck 7? And a smaller space with tables directly across on the starboard side? And only 1 boutique (deck 8)? There are a lot of unmarked spaces near the aft elevators on decks 6 - 9. Deck plan definitely looks like a "work in progress". But given the maiden voyage is April of next year, and the ship is well under construction, you'd think they'd have the design figured out by now!

We've been on Wait Lists 4 times. Were successful 3 of them. And you're correct, Oceania essentially has 2 Wait Lists, one for those who have money down (1st priority), and one for those who don't (2nd priority). Glad you have money down. And I'd agree that nearing final payment date is a good time to ascend up the wait list, as people decide "am I going to pony up the balance and go on the cruise or not!" You're pretty close on the lists; I think you'll be successful. Good luck!

I agree with most posters that I'd like to see a new build. A few years ago on the Journey, at dinner the Capt. said Azamara had looked at an acquisition (probably one of Princess' R ships) and he said "it didn't pencil out". He also said Azamara would not remain a 2-ship line. So, reading between the lines, that spells a new build. (Tho for Oceania, it obviously did "pencil out" as they bought one from Princess and its now the Sirena - and we're booked on it next June).

 

So, if it IS a new build, the question is when?? As pointed out, all other luxury and near-luxury lines are coming out with new builds or refurbs, plus a few new start-ups (Viking Ocean, Virgin, Scenic Ocean).

 

We've been on Azamara 5 times and I'd love to go on a new build from them, assuming it's not too much larger than the ~700 for the R ships. 1250 for the O class is somewhat large for me (tho my wife likes them).

 

We'll just have to wait and see. But hopefully not too long before some announcement!

Rather begs the question, why publish the brochure now if there are still issues yet to be decided on.

 

To pump up interest, to get the cruise itineraries out there, to book cruises early. Silver Muse sets sail in just under a year!

most ships do two shows a night so people can relax at dinner and then go to the second show. i rarely go as i eat dinner around 8-830 and the first show on some ships is at 8.. celebrity smart as it has a show at 7 and again at 10

 

On the megaships, yes. Early & late fixed dining, early & late shows. But this is a MUCH smaller ship with anytime dining, so only one show somewhat later in the evening (so you can catch it after dinner).

Gotta keep up with the Jones'.

Seabourn building 2

Silversea building 3

Crystal building 4

Viking 6 (!)

Oceania 1 refurb

 

We'll be on the Explorer in December - can't wait to check her out!

Another company specilialized with 264 passenger Iceclass ships in Compagnie du Ponant. They have several specialized trips around Iceland, even Artica, Groenland etc.

They are since last year an all inclusive formula.

I put herunder the Iceland destination in the english version.

 

http://en.ponant.com/Cruises/All-Cruises?order=&type=&destination[]=27275&lang=eng-GB

 

Ponant is a French company but everything is bilingual French / English on board. Depending the destination of course there are not only French passengers, but several European nationalities and even in the American market they start to be known.

 

Heard of them, but never tried them. Supposed to be very upscale. Saw one of their ships in Antarctica in January - we were on the Silver Explorer.