Pies4u

Edit: duplicate post.

I celebrated my divorce by travelling alone on 2 separate RCI cruises. I had no idea about seating arrangements and table sizes. On the first I was at a table for 6 with 5 ladies - 2 youngish widows, a mother & daughter and a stunning solo traveller. I enjoyed that! Unfortunately, the solo traveller announced her engagement to the Maître D on the second evening - so that put the lid on my prospects. :p

However, the 2nd one was a bit weird, a table for 8 but only 7 turned up and one couple decided they didn't like one if the other couples after the 1st night, which left 5 of us. I got on really well with Chris & Andrea from New Jersey and we had a great time, not just at dinner but on trips and attending shows etc. it was sort of forced upon us but it worked ok - although dinner was often a tad strained with the other remaining couple being a bit caustic and irritating.

It all led me to conclude that if I ever travel alone again I would prefer a table for 1 tbh. I am used to staying in hotels on business on my own and like others have said, I prefer not to socialise with strangers. We don't primarily go on holiday/cruises to meet people, it is the itinerary and ship that determines where we go and the people are a just a bonus to us.

Just in the interests of clarity - it isn't a mandatory choice! :)

Equally, it depends if you prefer seeing sunrise or sunset from your own suite/balcony.

On that trip, it is "six of one & half a dozen of the other". You'll get a fairly even distribution of morning & evening sun on either side.

We are doing Barcelona to Venice in April 2015 and opted for a port suite (aft) because the final 3 days are sailing north, so we'll get the evening sun. In the early part of the trip, Barca to Rome, it won't make too much difference but we just hope for a favourable berth in Monte Carlo, so we can see the coast. We just get 3 days cruising in a southerly direction, incl a day at sea, which will be ok for daytime sun, if there is any!

Obviously, like many things in life, people have differing opinions.

 

I found the miles and miles of jungle fascinating. The villages we visited were interesting to see the settings in which people live in remote areas whether or not some elements were staged. I found the vastness of the river, its color, the sunsets, and the whole setting to be intriguing, especially in imagining how people lived in the area and how it was explored in years past.

 

If someone wants to see the smaller rivers and lots of jungle and wildlife up close, then the Regent cruise is not the one for that. For a more hands on (or feet on the ground?) jungle trip a cruise beginning in Manaus and moving further up the Amazon may be a better choice.

As I said before, effectively, "each to his/her own". It, clearly, suits some. Good luck to those who fancy it.

Personally, I'd rather stick red hot needles in my eyeballs than endure a cruise on the Amazon. Just not my idea of fun, enjoyment or a productive use of my leisure/holiday time.

Interesting topic.

My contribution is that I have never had any desire to cruise down, or up, the Amazon & nothing posted so far has persuaded me otherwise.

It is, surely, a matter of personal choice & preference? It might be other people's "must do" list, but it certainly isn't on mine & I do dislike other folks telling me that I must/ should do it or that it will, somehow, improve my life if I do. Isn't that a tad presumptuous, not to mention, patronising? Quite frankly, I've survived for 58 years without seeing the Amazon "in the flesh" and I hope to continue my life, fairly easily & comfortably, without bothering to do so.

In the same way, I wouldn't want to go to China either, even if someone else paid the fare! I don't try bungee jumping or downhill skiing for the same reason - just don't fancy it for all sorts of personal reasons.

Is this a policy decision? Not seen or heard anything to that effect.

Perhaps some clarity in respect if your source of information might assist?

Hope not!

Just booked for April 15, restaurant booking from Jan. I was assured that you could book tables for 2 - we would happily share a bigger table on a second visit, particularly if we get to know other folks, but I expect to be able to select a more intimate arrangement for the 1st time in each restaurant.

That just sounds very odd to me, I'm not into being forced it sit with people I've never met before. I thought it was a cruise ship, not a prison.

Terrific, that's interesting & helpful. Many thanks.

While there is a manager in La Veranda, you seat yourself. If it is crowded, they will try to assist you. On the Voyager, there are two separate sections of La Veranda. When one fills up, the other opens to accommodate most, if not all, guests.

Thanks, that is helpful. Can you clarify about the outside seating - do the outside seats generally get taken first (I realise the weather might well dictate that, to an extent).

Oh, just thought of a supplementary question! :)

Is there a Maître D on duty at b'fast & lunch for La Verandah or is it just a "free for all/ first come first served" job re: tables?

RachelG - that is very helpful, thanks.

As I booked our first Regent cruise this week, I have a couple of general questions that don't seem to get raised - or I've missed them.

As the CR & Sette Mari restaurants are open seating, what are the chances if a table for 2 at around 8.00 pm (+ or - 15 mins). Plus, do the outside tables at SM get taken by all the smokers, or do people avoid outside seating in the evening?

What, precisely, does the spa consist of? There appears to be no hydro therapy pool, steam rooms or spa terrace etc - it looks like just a sauna and massage treatments. I believe there are gender specific saunas, like Cunard, which is fine but are there any other facilities?

Finally, are there 2 production shows to suit early & late diners or is there just one performance each evening?

Sorry, if these are duplicate questions but trawling through searching for specific answers is not my thing. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Edit: wrong thread, sorry.

On re-reading the previous post, more carefully, (from Hambaghle), I guess that the "locked in" claim was perplexing.

Crikey! :confused: He was locked "out" of the suite, presumably, as opposed to "in" then. Sorry for the pedantry.

Thanks for all the responses - it does seem a very unusual, not to mention, questionable arrangement for a premier suite on a luxury ship. I guess we'll live with it.

I am keen to sample the Regent service, cuisine and overall experience after Royal Caribbean x 2, P & O (once) and Cunard x 3. It is a long way off but I am genuinely excited by the prospect.

Cheers. Sadly, the link doesn't work for me - you need some Regent log in.

Have to say, it seems a pretty weird arrangement. Why would they leave a gap between balconies? It's bizarre. I'd have probably booked the same suite even I knew about that before but I'm amazed it has never been mentioned on any thread I've seen in the last 3 years.

Thanks again. It does look and sound a wonderful ship.

Can't wait - and it wil be an interesting contrast with Cunard.

I'll probably have a few more q's over the next few weeks/months.

Yes, thanks - I did see that. I just wondered if there was any more clarity on the matter.

Could you possibly also advise re: the balcony please - I have heard that the Horizon View balcony dividers do not extend as far as the rails, which seems odd. Do you know if there is a gap between the SS Aft suite and the adjacent HV suite?

Got to say, the suite itself looks as good, if not better than the Q5 we go for on Cunard. I can't tell you how excited I am about this trip, even tho' it is over a year away and I have just paid the deposit this am! :)

Well, does anyone know what the refit will entail?

It's a lot of "ifs, buts and maybe's" so far. Regent'swebsute tells you nothing, nor does any of the "trade" media.

I am particularly interested to know because we have just booked a 10 night Barcelona - Venice cruise for April 2015. I know that us a long way ahead but I'd still like to know what might happen to the SS Aft suites, as we will be in one of those!

After years of listening, watching & waiting this will be our first Regent cruise - we are devotees of Cunard, partic Queens Grill. The Regent option looks a attractive because of the inclusive pricing, smaller ship & the more informal dress code. I'd still like to know what will be happening with this refit tho'.

I have a few other questions, which might warrant a new thread, so I'll leave at at that for now.

My wife and I are considering booking on the QV to the black sea in sept 14. An early saver fare does not now include port shuttle buses. Does anyone know if any of these ports require shuttle buses, and if so what is the charge.

Ephesus, Istanbul, Yalta, Odessa, Piraeus, Vigo. Many thanks.

Great voyage did it in 2010.

Ephesus is from Kusadasi, that is bus trip. The ship can dock but sometimes it is a tender job. Kusadasi is a complete & utter dump IMO and not worth venturing off the ship unless you are on a trip.

At Odessa you dock at the foot of the Potemkin Staircase Steps, fantastic, straight up in to the heart of the City. Yalta is the same but there is little to see in the City itself, all the good stuff is out and about. Istanbul, it is usually possible to walk or get at a shuttle, the ship berths in the port which is, again, smack in the main part of the City. Piraeus is a few miles from Athens, nothing to see there, definite shuttle or taxi ride to Athens.

Vigo, we berthed there on QM2, bang in the City again but, rather like Odessa, it is huge and sprawling so you need a bus or taxi to get out and see it all.

Odessa is one of the most incredible places have ever seen. It is staggeringly wonderful and beautiful. Istanbul is, unequivocally, the most amazing City I have ever set foot in - love it, fantastic place.

It's always too windy to use deck 13

And during transatlantic crossing the bar is never open

I still don't understand that wading pool.

Indeed! Thought it was the daftest thing I've ever seen tbh, complete & utter waste of space.

Fewer people seem to use the lower, aft pool - which on our trip in April had no children around it. That was ok for a quick swim.

ausethanol - (mentioned earlier) embarkation in Cape Town in 2013 took place at the Good Hope Convention Centre. Check your final paperwork/tickets.

 

The main delay was at the Convention Centre. As an earlier poster advised, it might be better if you arrive later. At least there are seats and refreshments.

 

For those who wonder why Cunard and other cruiselines use ports without proper cruise passenger facilities my answer, in the case of Cape Town, is that it is a great place to visit (not just pass through) and it was part of the attraction in booking the sector. Smaller ships are able to dock at the V&A port area which I am sure would have decent facilities.

........ Is the right answer.

To complete the response to the original question: There were the best part of 1500 people in the Convention Centre, it was manic and not particularly well organised by the port authority. Cunard staff were pretty good but there was inadequate communication all round.

Pies4u - Thank you for the warning - I guess I was starting to fear that it was something like that when I saw that there were only 2 cruise ships going into Cape Town between late November and the end of January - the second being QM2 - and that the only cruise ships operating out of South Africa were based from Durban. You would think that Cunard could insist on or organise something better on the basis that "you don't get a second chance to make a first impression". Did you feel that they "Washed their hands" of the process before people boarded the ship ? Anyway I really appreciate you taking the time to provide the alert.

It is just a bit busy & frenetic. Cunard staff seemed to be mixed with port staff, they all tried but there was a lack of communication and coordination. It requires the passengers to be alert and continually asking what's hoping on. It was also very packed, a constant stream of folks arriving and we'd been hanging around for hours after arriving early am from a 12 hour London flight.

Fortunately, Cunard handled the am arrival superbly and we got a breakfast at a good hotel on the Waterfront and a guided bus tour of the City.

Have to say, the QM2 is a spectacular ship. It was our first time on board and the scale and size of the ship are magnificent - and as Cape Town is incredible, it was al worthwhile.

We boarded in Cape Town for the last leg of the World cruise this year. It was hopeless. We were stuck in that weird centre, a bus ride away from the port. It was pure chaos. Very cumbersome embarkation process.

It was ok getting on board once we left the coach - which probably lost it's suspension on that awful unmade access area.