Techno123

We were upgraded from a  V1 to a V4 which was 1128 on the Ovation. We loved the location - you are high up but close to the elevators, never heard any noise and it was easy to get to 'the other side' using the outside stairs and crossing either the pool deck or walking track (or using the elevator).

Ours was a Norwegian cruise so a bit rough at times (and I get very seasick) but took my travel sickness pill twice a day and I was fine. Would certainly sail in that suite again.

I think the slanted entrance is where the shower 'sticks out' and so it makes it seem like it's on an angle - I would say more an alcove though.

@RachelG what a waste of your time taking you to Sintra for 30 minutes. We were there for the best part of a day and still didn't see everything!

@tubeamps - be careful though as our Japan/SE Asia cruise for next month was cancelled as no stops allowed  in China. Offered an alternative at 25% off which, when booked onboard (so should be best price) ended up being £2000 more expensive.

On 9/22/2023 at 11:53 PM, Simon-t said:

I think it varies enormously. Tipping in restaurants is common in the UK, but the only people who tip in pubs are US tourists. It’s not insulting at all, and I doubt any bar person will turn the tip down, but it can across as a bit brash.

 

Well we Brits don't tip as such in pubs but many will offer 'one for yourself' if it's a very big round or you have been there all evening or it's your local etc but generally it's a one off, certainly not a tip for every drink! (Or maybe it's just a 'Northern thing 😁).

7 hours ago, RachelG said:

Basque countryside 

Are you sure you're not in Wales 😜😁

1 hour ago, jhenry1 said:

Are you also getting a hotel for this cruise?

The offer I have seen with my TA is flights and a night before and 3 after in Barbados (but not sure what is the TA ans what Regent)

It might be less for the cruise than another business class flight 😂

We did Sintra on our own as suggested by @Sunprince. I highly recommend a full day there.

Cascais was a nice seaside resort which we also accessed by the train but we then took bikes and cycled further along the coast. Have you been to Belem? That is interesting too.

First 4 photos are Sintra, next 2 Belem and last one Cascais 😁

We did the same in Copenhagen - docking at 7:30am and flight at 10:10am

we talked to the staff in Seabourn Square who said to keep our bags and wait by the gangway at about 7:20. We were first off at 7:25 and in the airport by 8:15 BUT we were very lucky they don't guarantee that the ship will be customs cleared even if it docks on time.

A friend has got very into his photography and took these using time lapse in a place called Oswestry on the Wales/England border so we are even seeing the Aurora down here 😁

I agree witH @PaulMCO there are a few reports on these ( there is a search box at the top of the forum which you can customise) which I have had a look at.

@flossie009 chose the Tokyo and Hakone one which is a little more expensive but from her report, sounded far better.

 as @papaflamingo says - if you leave a deposit you get  money off the next cruise you book and OBC 

The onboard cruise consultant will allocate it to your TA and you will get a letter with the details too.

We had a similar issue with the cruise we are about to take. Originally 2 back to backs with 3 days in HK and 3 days in Tokyo post and pre. Then Regent cancelled China stops so our cruises were cancelled/ changed and we were offered a significant discount on the rearranged cruises.

As we were onboard Navigator we tried to do it with the onboard consultant who raved about the amazing discount then quoted £2000 MORE than the original cost 😂. Left a deposit, booked the leg we are about to do with the TA for significantly less than quoted onboard and got the discount and OBC so very happy with the outcome.

I have looked at the Seabourn club benefits and can't see any onboard credit for past customers there. Regent, on the other hand do offer $100 at Gold and above plus more onboard credit if you book onboard (or at least leave a deposit.) I know Seabourn offered a 5% discount for a future cruise deposit but can't remember if any OBC was offered

Having booked both a Seabourn and a Regent cruise just prior to a 'special offer' of onboard credit being put in place (and being a past customer of both), my TA contacted both companies.to ask if they would be willing to credit me with the OBC.

Regent's response - of course

Seabourn's response - not a chance

So I suppose it depends on the circumstances.

Just now, lprp said:

Or even worse……white pudding 🤢

My Nana was born in Dublin and every time she went home she would bring back white pudding and try to make me eat it 🤢

@RachelG there's another difference between UK taste and US taste 😜 I think American bacon is awful - just mainly burnt fat - I end up getting a pile and trying to cut the tiny bits of meat off. British, back bacon on the other hand is delicious if cooked properly, particularly in a bacon butty or bap 😂😂. Did they not have black pudding? Now that I couldn't face.

It's not so much the cost or whether they are recommended by an expert so not wine snobbery but actual variety. on the menu @GMIAC posted there are 10 wines by the glass and over 90 'spirits'. There are actually more varieties of vodka than wine !  I know there are more available when onboard but still 😜

@MissPhoeb when you consider the price/quality of some of the included spirits, it makes you feel a bit of a second class citizen as a wine drinker when you compare with some of the included wines 😁

9 hours ago, czardas said:

That’s interesting as we are also sailing on the Mariner in November and Regent have booked us into the Mandarin Oriental in Miami. 

We stayed in the Mandarin Oriental last December prior to our Regent Caribbean cruise. The room was lovely and view was gorgeous, breakfast was a bit disorganised as they changed the original time to a later one - it was held in a large conference type room rather than the dining room. The coaches were pretty well organised as you were given a time for your coach but it did mean that 40 or so people all arrived at once.

@cruiser941 the couple we are cruising with had a similar issue but only for one port. They managed to book the majority of the excursions they wanted but one (Okinawa) opened later. - a mix up with the IT and their booking hadn't gone through. There is absolutely nothing else available on-line at the moment except the shuttle into town. They have waitlisted for the Battle of Okinawa but it is very popular so they may not clear it but if not, the suggestions from those above will be followed.
 

However, your situation sounds much more of a pain. Are you saying there are only two you want to do still available or actually only two excursions in total? It sounds like the latter as you say 'not have any of the free excursions available'.

It would seem rather disingenuous of Regent to be selling cruises 2 to 3 months out which advertise 'our Included & Unlimited Shore Excursions guarantee your voyage will be like no other.' but then make hardly any excursions available to late bookers.

14 hours ago, labonnevie said:

I tip generously at home, but when we travel I try to respect local customs and cultures and not impose American ways on others. 
In Japan, a slight bow and a heartfelt “Arigato” feels appropriate. 

I believe we have gone way overboard with this tipping thing in the US. 
Just MHO. 

I so agree with your comments. We do tip in the UK  (10% in a restaurant, a drink for yourself if buying a big round in the pub, round up the taxi fare etc) but it used to be nothing in comparison to the expectations in the US.

I am sad to say there has been an insidious creep  - if people flash tips around even for poor service, then there is an expectation from the person providing that poor service that they will still receive a tip  (our taxi driver at Heathrow airport had  suggestions of 10, 15 and 20% tip on his card reader he got nothing as we put our own bags in the boot and had to get them out again!) 

And it now appears reading @RetiredandTravel post above, even in Japan where tipping used to be regarded as an insult it is creeping it's way in.

When we sailed on the Navigator before Christmas there were paper lists on the side in the gym where you could sign up for various classes. Sadly there were no indoor cycling sessions but there were some (rather clunky) spin bikes so we used them so glad to hear there are sessions on the Explorer.

Tend to use the gym on sea days and try for as much exercise in port as we can - it means we can drink and eat what we want and clothes still fit when we get home 😂😂😂

2 hours ago, wineoclock said:

Thank you @kjbacon - it’s from when my friends and I used to ask if it was 5o clock (pm) yet as it was wine time:))

Well as we sit down at lunch with our first glass of champagne of the day we quote you 'it's 5 o'clock somewhere so must be time for a glass of wine' 😂😂

2 hours ago, kjbacon said:

You can book your shorex one year in advance. Mark your calendar to book on the day reservations open all you’ll  be all set!

As @papaflamingo says no you cant unless you are silver/concierge and above 😁. And as mentioned, this particular port did not have any availability until well after all the other ports. When I realised their booking hadn't gone through, that tour was waitlisted and none of the others had availability either.

1 hour ago, the_dylaness said:

agree on all points but not sure it is 100% generational… I am not yet 40 and abhor dragging my phone around on a cruise!

You are really quite old in the scheme of things then 😜

I retired from teaching a couple of years ago and trying to prevent our young people from using their phones in lessons was a nightmare. They ended up putting them on my desk, twitching through the lesson then frantically collecting them at the end 😂😂

I really enjoyed our tour of the Royal Yacht too - very nice afternoon tea. Hopefully it's a bit easier to access now as they were upgrading the tram system when we last stayed so it was a bit of a night mare coming back to our motor home site on the bus 😂

Arthur's seat is also a lovely walk with great views over the city.