Live from voyager-July 29 to August 8-Copenhagen to Stockholm

[RachelG]

Just an amazing day. Did I mention how happy I am to be back on my favorite ship?

It was forecast rain today, but we awoke to a bright sunny sky. A bit windy but not terrible. In the am, we did our own thing. This had been listed as a tender port, but we were docked. We walked off the ship and took a good hike along a seashore trail right there. Then we. Visited the defense museum, which was mostly about Bornholm in WWII. Small but well done, though in Danish.. They also had an exhibit about Danish soldiers in Afghanistan which my son loved.

 

Then we walked downtown and all around there. A good walk. They did have a shuttle from the ship to downtown for those not able to walk that far, but it was a nice walk for us.

 

In the afternoon, we had a bike tour which was very good. We biked up the coast about 10 miles and back. Really enjoyed this as I have every bike tour we have done with regent. I wish they would add more of these and the hiking tours. The demand is definitely there. There was a wait list for this tour.

 

Tonight was the captain's reception and dinner. Dinner was very nice with a huge caviar appetizer, steak, lobster. I had the lobster which was 2 good sized tails which were very flavorful. Again, wine filled and refilled promptly and no problems with service. In fact, our waiter told us to let him know if he was serving too fast or too slow.

 

Entertainer tonight was Paul Roberts, a Brit who does a rat pack show. He was ok. Better at the dean Martin stuff than the frank Sinatra stuff, but I am a huge Sinatra fan.

[RachelG]

Another bright sunny day. We are especially blessed as 2 weeks ago it was raining every days in all ports.

 

Visby is wonderful. I have been previously, and high expectations. It did not disappoint,

 

We had singed up for the bike tour. Lots of people on this tour--3 groups of 20 each. A sign that Regent should put on more physically challenging tours as this was it for any kind of exercise.

 

The tour was ok. There was a lot of stopping and starting at the beginning. But overall fine. We saw a lot of beautiful countryside. I would do it again.

 

Afterward, we went to the botanic garden again as it is really special.

 

Tendered back to the ship. One lady was really sick-- tender was a bit rough.

 

Trivia- we did not win but were respectable. My son and I have a problem with trick questions. They do not test true knowledge. Without the trick questions, we would have won or tied.

 

The block party was tonight and a huge success. We met a lot of really nice people.

 

Dinner in CR--again very good. I have absolutely no complaints.

 

Tonight The swing show. I will not go as it is not that good as there is very little true swing. If there were, western swing would be a big part as it is historically very I portant, but there is none.

[forevertravel]

Have a wonderful cruise and keep us posted. We did that cruise two years ago and loved it. It was wonderful having three days in St. Petersburg and being able to see all the sights. Having to go through customs every time we left the ship to go on tour was not fun but, it was required by Russian authorities. Enjoy!

[whatnot]

Visby is such a neat port and the Botanic Garden is wonderful. When we were there we just walked and walked all over the town, the gardens, and the church ruins. Have enjoyed your reports!

[catenai]

R,

Enjoying your cruise news, but actually being on the cruise would be nicer.

 

I have heard that Regent will no longer have dance hosts on any of their cruises. If you remember our PC cruise, I danced at every opportunity. When you have a chance, would you check with Elda or others for information on this subject. Thanks.

 

Continue to enjoy, as I know you will.

Carol

[English Tim]

Thanks ever so much for your reports Rachel. I lick my lips with anticipation at anything Voyager, as we await our debut.

[Travelcat2]

R,

Enjoying your cruise news, but actually being on the cruise would be nicer.

 

I have heard that Regent will no longer have dance hosts on any of their cruises. If you remember our PC cruise, I danced at every opportunity. When you have a chance, would you check with Elda or others for information on this subject. Thanks.

 

Continue to enjoy, as I know you will.

Carol

 

I'm curious where you heard about the dance hosts. Regent stopped them a year or so ago and reinstated them fairly quickly. It sounds strange that they would do this again. I think they add a lot of value to the cruise for women (married or not) who enjoy dancing.

[RachelG]

Hi, carol, I will check with elda, but I don't think we have gentlemen hosts onthis voyage. My understanding is that they are only on selected voyages, like the longer circle south America one. But I could be wrong. So I will ask her. I do remember your wonderful dancing (very jealous since my hubby is a horrible stick in the mud).

 

Today was another wonderful bright sunny day with temps about 80. We went to sigulda and turiuga. This is a beautiful national park outside Riga. Wonderful old ruins. Really a great excursion.

 

Then afternoon back on board and the gold, plat, etc event was sail away from Riga on the deck at la veranda. Pretty good, but only about 12 people there. I don't think there are many of us on this cruise.

 

We did just ok at trivia, came in 2nd. Ok questions.

 

Dinner in CR was really good with crab cakes (thinking of you Gerry), and the scallop dish with bacon.

 

The cirque voyager show was tonight, and it was really good. Way better than the previous that tried to have a superimposed story line. This had an African theme ( which could have been better done in my opinioñ) but was very well done with focusing on the talents of the performers.

[WesW]

yet another wonderful on board Mariner report, thanks Rachel.

[harrodsfan]

This is one of my favorites. I am soo jealous. The Voyager is so fun!

Thanks for your posts.

[OrpingtonT]

Belated good wishes to you and the Georges, Rachel. Belated because I have been off line for 8 days. Thieves ripped up the telephone cabling, which runs underground here and it has been a massive job for the utility company to replace and reconnect. Finally it was all completed an hour or so age and I can now settle down and enjoy your cruise with you.

 

Loved your reports so far. I remember Elda from a couple of cruises, especially our Celtic Charms not long ago.

[RachelG]

Tom, I am really glad you checked in because I was getting worried and about to email you myself. So sorry to hear about your telephone problems.

 

Anyway, another perfect bright sunny day with temps in the high 70s. We had booked a biking tour of Rocco de mare with a walking tour of the old town afterward.

 

Road a bus to Rocco de mare which is a open air museum/ park. It is huge. We picked up our bikes and were pretty much on our own to do and go wherever we wanted in the park. We only had 1 1/2 hr which was way to little. I would have been thrilled if they had dropped me off at 10 am and given me a bike and said we will pick you up at 4. It really was that good, and we just barely scratched the surface.

 

The walking tour of the old town was a good orientation. I had been there before, so I had a good idea of what I wanted to see. So we broke off from the group and walked all over. My son did an archery course with good instructors who were surprised at his stance and ability to pick up the technique. When he let them know he was a Marine expert marksman, they understood.

 

Then we walked back to the ship. There was also a shuttle bus provided. The walk was about 15 min for us.

 

We won at trivia. A lot of retread questions though.

 

Dinner at CR was outstanding. I am stuffed as a pig. All sorts of tre ts. Escargot, asparagus soup, prime rib, chicken Kiev then chocolate souffle.

 

Tallinn really is special and I loved it.

 

Didn't see elda today, but I will find out the answer to your question, Carole.

[OrpingtonT]

Tom, I am really glad you checked in because I was getting worried and about to email you myself. So sorry to hear about your telephone problems.

 

Dinner at CR was outstanding. I am stuffed as a pig. All sorts of tre ts. Escargot, asparagus soup, prime rib, chicken Kiev then chocolate souffle.

 

 

I was actually in the middle of typing an email to you wishing you well when the broadband went down.

 

Barbara and I just finished our evening meal of pasta when I read your description of that dinner in CR. Sounded superb and decent wine to wash it all down. Heaven.

[catenai]

Travelcat,

The info about Regent no longer using dance hosts on their ships was given to me by a dance host. He heard this from the agency that books dance hosts for Regent. I believe he received this news about two or so months ago.

 

Rachel--don't stress about this. If you can get a definitive answer, though, that would be nice.

Still enjoying your reports.

 

Carol

[mythologist]

I'm late to the party, but have been catching up. It sounds as though you are having a trip beyond great. In fact, it sounds so interesting that it is going on my short list. Thanks for posting as I am really enjoying the report! :)

[RachelG]

Today we had reserved a private van with our friends, Ron, Sue, and Nancy. It was up to me to figure out an 8 hr itinerary for us, so I had put together my list of must dos, plus a couple of extras if we could find the time.

 

First off was Catherine's Palace. We made our way past the immigration officials, who were still pretty grim, but not as bad as my previous visit 5 yrs ago. We are docked at the new cruise terminal which is very modern and not far from downtown.

 

We met Alex, our guide, and found our van and driver. Weather called for the possibility of rain, but we were fine on the trip to Catherine's palace. On the way, Alex told us a lot about the history and buildings we were seeing.

 

Catherine's was as I remembered--totally crowded but magnificent. Above and beyond imagination, but the really amazing thing is thata lot was destroyed in WWII but has been restored. It really is beautiful. We took a walk throught the gardens afterward, and reached the van just as the heavens opened with a deluge of rain.

 

Rain continued, but the next thing on my itinerary was really special, and I did not want to skip it. It is the memorial to those who died during the siege of St. Petersburg during WWII. Not many people go here, but it is not to be missed. A tribute to those who fought and died during the siege. And remember, they were helping us too. Had they not fought, hitler would have been able to move his troops to fight on the western front. It really is a beautiful and poignant place.

 

Then we had an authentic Russian lunch at a restaurant where I had been previously. Very good! Blinis, borscht, caviar. Yum.

 

After lunch, we went to my two favorite churches. Church on the spilled blood and St. Isaacs. Butch are beautiful, but different. Church on the spilled blood has the most amazing mosaics I have ever seen. St isaacs is just immense, and with beautiful art.

 

Then we went on a nice subway ride and to a shop where I had bought a enamal box. I mainly wanted to check prices as I am pretty sure you do better on the ship, which I confirmed.

 

Ala in all a great day. And our guide was very good, with nice English without any Russian accent.

 

Very tired. We thought be might go to Sette Mare for dinner, but went up and found it is a russian buffet (for those going to the ballet tonight). So on to CR, to have prime rib and Dover sole. And the most amazing mushroom risotto ever--soooo creamy--yum. Also a really good sugar free lime and vodka sorbet. You could probably remove paint with it too, but very good at palate cleansing.

 

One note, there is a sewage smell in our suite tonight, but it is coming from outside the ship.

[WesW]

Another wonderfully detailed Mariner report, thanks for sharing.

[WesW]

Oops, mean thanks for the Voyager reports (thanks NCcruzqueen/Beth)

[RachelG]

Awoke to a warm but windy day with sun. This am was our hermitage with the gold room tour. There is a regular hermitage tour which does not include the gold room. This can be done with no surcharge. The tour which includes the gold room is 30 min longer (the time in the gold room) but more importantly has 1/2 the numbers of persons per guide. So for me, it was worth the up charge.

 

There were 15 persons per guide on our tour plus we had the audio vox system ear phones to hear the guide. Unfortunately we also had a borderline incompetent guide. She had a most irritating voice and spent most of her time saying "ladies and gentlemen, can you hear me, move closer. Is everyone here?"

 

The stuff in the hermitage is really impressive, and fortunately we were able to enter a full 1 1/2 hr prior to the regular opening time, which allowed us to see a lot of stuff without anyone else being there ( in contrast to my devious visit, when I could hardly see anything due to the crowds). Unfortunately, our guide did not understand that we really wanted to see the ART (the French impressionists for example) and kept showing us what I consider trivial stuff. I think most everyone on the tour agreed. So we had 10 minutes at the end for 8 rooms of French impressionists which is what most people were really interested in.

 

Anyway, the gold rooms are impressive, but I wished we could have just explored on our own. I actually considered getting accidentally on purpose lost at one point.

 

Ran back from the bus as we had 45 min for lunch, then off to the tour of revolutionary at Petersburg. Our guide was much better and very entertaining. He was older and clearly remembered but did not like the communist regime. He had lots of jokes which he said would have gotten him a one way ticket to Siberia in the past. We went to lenin's apartments and the apartments of the guy who was stalin's buddy who got assassinated. Lots of really interesting history. Not for everyone, but my son loved it.

 

Dinner in Sette mare. Ok, it is NOT la veranda of the past. It really is great and different and special. New dinner ware which is quite elegant. I do not feel it is more casual than the other dining venues at all.

 

After being seated, you are served prosecco and appetizers at the table. You are invited to partake of a selection of additional appetizers, both hot and cold, from the buffet. These are not the old la veranda appetizers. They are really creative and very tasty.

 

Then you have a pasta course which is ordered from a large list. I had risotto. And my son had handmade gnocchi. Both were great.

 

There is a basket of very good and unique breads also.

 

You order your main course which is from a list of about 8 different things which all sound great. I had veal scallopinine which was as good as any I have had in Italy.

 

Dessert is from the buffet, but lots of amazing choices, plus they have a grappa bar. yum.

 

Definitely will return to Sette mare and can understand its popularity on. Navigator.

 

Tonight was the Beatles show, but we are tired so watching the Olympics.

[RachelG]

Oh, meant to add that the swer odor has dissipated, apparently with the wind. It is definitely from outside the ship as is stronger on the balcony.

 

Also have meant to add, smoke odors are noticeable outside the smoking lounge and between the voyager lounge and casino, pretty strong at times. Have 't noticed them anywhere else. There are some dedicated smokers on this cruise. My son sings "smoke, smoke that cigarette" every time we walk by the smoking area on the pool deck.

[WesW]

Thanks for the detailed Sette Mare report Rachel; sounds like a gustatory delight (both the meal and adult beverages).

[OrpingtonT]

Sounds great. Like Wes, I appreciated your views on Sette Mari and it sounds an improvement on La Veranda. We look forward to trying it.

[journeyfan]

Nothing much seems to have changed, Rachel, with regard to tours of the Hermitage. I visited the museum in 1974 and our group was only given about 10 minutes to view the French impressionists and only because we insisted on seeing the works. Not sure if the reluctance is because so much of the art was stolen or because the Russians dislike modern art.

[RachelG]

Journeyman, you are probably right a out the paintings, as when we were here before, we practically had to drag our private guide to see them (and we were the only ones in the group and paying her directly).

 

Carol, I found out the scoop on the gentleman dance hosts from Elda. It seems that the company through which they are contracted only requires them to work when the ship is not in port, sort of like the casino. Therefore, regent has discontinued them on most voyages. The only ones they would be found on are voyages with a lot of sea days. Thus you will not be having them on the Baltic, Alaska, Caribbean, or Mediterranean cruises. But they might still beon the circle south America and trans atlantic or trans pacific trips.

 

Too bad, as I remember them from my very first regent cruise which was Istanbul to Athens with no se days. They thought my friend and I were single since our husbands never came to dance with us.

[PaulaJK]

Rachel,

 

I am not certain that Regent's reply makes a lot of sense as another line that we sail has gentlemen hosts who work daily...from dance class to

dancing....and also can be found accompanying tours. Perhaps Regent should explore changing companies! Paula