Random Notes, Explorer Maiden Voyage, LIVE

[WesW]

Hooah or should we say (like Flamenco audiences and dancers say, "Jale."...similar to "Ole," which I know you have heard in the Land of Enchantment.

 

Continued wonderful posting Rich--thanks so much for sharing with us in well written words and expressive pictures--Ginny and your ED (Explorer Delight).

[mrlevin]

Deck bbq on Regent are always fantastic!!!! Hopefully you have a wonderful evening of food, drink, entertainment, and company.

 

Marc

[Mr Rumor]

Hi and thanks, Linda, Wes, Rick and Marq. Marq, the evening was fantastic on every score. Regent did a terrific job, and this was a night Ginny and I will long remember. Being able to share it with our good friends Karen and Jim, and our new (trivia team) friends Alan and Colleen made it all the more special. Nature's Rhythm Trio was the cherry on top. They stopped by our table and serenaded us with a gorgeous "Sherry" by the Four Seasons. Love those guys!

 

Did you notice there are no serving tables in sight along either side of the pool? Because of the expanded Pool Deck serving area, all of the salads, appetizers, meats, seafood, etc. could be served there, freeing up the precious real estate around the pool for another two dozen or so tables.

 

Rich

 

P.S. Rachel, I will be reporting on our second Pacific Rim dining adventure, so stay tuned!

Edited July 23, 2016 by Mr Rumor

[eliana]

We have been on many Regent cruises and there has always been a deck barbeque. The night varies and it is generally when they stay overnight or leave very late. We have always found them very enjoyable with great food and great entertainment.

[ronrick1943]

Sounds wonderful, after looking at our two cruise we have 2 nights when the ship doesn't leave until 11:59PM. So we're hoping that works for the BBQ night.

Rick

[Mr Rumor]

Time for more "Loves," as well as a couple of "Likes," and one "Don't Like":

 

Love the separate shower and bath.

 

Love the marble shelf that spans the length of our two-sink bathroom counter. Plenty of room, and then some, for all toiletries.

 

Love all the drawer space! First time on a Regent cruise that a drawer (actually drawers) sit empty.

 

Like the fact that 26 of the drawers (seven in bathroom, five in walk-in closet, ten at the desk, four at the hutch where the TV/fridge are) finish closing by themselves.

 

Like how easy it is to get to TV channel you want to watch (or listen to, in the case of the numerous music channels). Click "Channel Guide" and view the 40 displayed channels at one time. Click the channel you want to watch. You're there.

 

Love the faster internet. Nenad, our computer consultant, told me the Explorer's internet is four to six times faster than what we experienced on the Mariner in March/April (he was our computer guy on that cruise also).

 

Love the simpler (and long-overdue) new internet sign-on. Click "Log In." Type in your e-mail address and password. Click "Log In." Click "Go Online." Savor the message "Success, you are online" (and view your usage meter).

 

And, finally, a Don't Like: DON'T LIKE the fact that we received the Disembarkation Questionnaire for Venice last night on only the fourth night of the cruise! Party poopers! (OK, tongue is in cheek on this one. . . .)

 

We are scheduled to dock at Ibiza at 8 a.m. I'm thinking better of having reserved four all-day excursions on this port-intensive itinerary and am going to try to switch out our eight-hour Island Discovery tour today for something shorter when Destination Services opens at 7:15. Would love a little more time to just relax about the Explorer, plus have another go at trivia!

 

Rich

Edited July 24, 2016 by Mr Rumor

[Mudhen]

Hi Everyone,

Sounds like the good times continue to roll! How was the flamenco show? Also is the traditional "block party" still happening? or has that gone the way of the dinosaur? It was one of the things that I loved about Regent!

[Anchorbuoy]

Also is the traditional "block party" still happening? or has that gone the way of the dinosaur? It was one of the things that I loved about Regent!

 

We are a little confused on the Block Party. On embarkation day, the Passages had a section on page 6 "Dates for your Diary". The first item was "Shipwide Block Party, Thursday, July 21, 6pm". However, the Passages on Thursday did not have it, and no party happened.

 

We are hoping this was a misprint as to the date, and we will get a party later in the cruise. July 21 would have been a bad choice anyhow, since we were in port until 8pm.

[Anchorbuoy]

On another thread, Jim B asked Randall Soy "Will there be night lights in the bathrooms so you do not need to turn the lights on during the night?". His question was not answered.

 

Here is my observation: no. Our bathroom (penthouse A), as deluxe as it is, does not have night lights, nor a dimmer. We brought a light from home, and I am glad we did. The configuration of our bathroom is that you have 8 feet from the bathroom door to a second door to the toilet alcove. It is pitch black with the lights off. And, if the door to the toilet is closed, you could have a problem if you walk into it. The door swings outward, and it might be closed, might be open, or somewhere in between.

 

The good news is that the shaver plug is powered at all times. On some ships this plug is not powered if the lights are off. So, we plugged in a LED nightlight and it works well.

 

You will not need any night lights in the bedroom area. There are so many electronic gadgets in the suite that have power indicators, that the suite is crisscrossed with sufficient illumination. These include the TV, dimmer switches, and cordless telephone. Plus a fair amount of light seeps under the door to the corridor.

 

If you are sensitive to sleeping with light, you might find yourself covering some of these items.

[petlover]

All is looking great! Thank you all for the info on the casino. Probably won't use it at all, but it's nice to know it's there, if for some reason I feel like squandering the family fortune...haha! Can someone check out the champagne that served in the lounges? That would be great....and lastly, was there a block party? Love those.....! thank you all...!

 

I too am on this Maiden Voyage. The casino has been VERY busy, I was in 2 nights ago and I don't think there was an empty seat at the tables. It's nice having it directly across from Explorer Lounge as that was very active as well. Thus far, there has been a lot more night life than some other cruises we've been on...it seems more lively like the World Cruises were.

 

The "Dinner under the Stars" last night was fantastic. Great entertainment and SO MUCH, SO GOOD

food ! Lots of guest dancing before and after the local Flamenco dancers. This Maiden Voyage has certainly NOT disappointed !

 

Side note for the ladies: don't bother packing a hair dryer. The ones on the Explorer are very powerful, nothing wimpy like they were in the past. Also, ALL the toilets on board have the "soft close" lids which is so nice. :)

Edited July 24, 2016 by petlover

[Pepc]

I wonder if someone on this maiden voyage would be kind enough to go to suite 1409 and tell me if there is a doorway blocking the entrance to that particular cabin?

I just noticed on the floor plan on the Regent website that there is a straight line in the center corridor after the elevators and behind penthouse suites 1407and 1408.

We booked 1409 and now I am curious / concerned that it may not have been a good choice!

I am appreciative of any assistance!

Patti

[Randall Soy]

Block party is very much still happening. It is a Regent staple. It will be occurring tomorrow night in Barcelona. Lots of late programming in the early part of the voyage but will be on for tomorrow.

[Travelcat2]

I wonder if someone on this maiden voyage would be kind enough to go to suite 1409 and tell me if there is a doorway blocking the entrance to that particular cabin?

I just noticed on the floor plan on the Regent website that there is a straight line in the center corridor after the elevators and behind penthouse suites 1407and 1408.

We booked 1409 and now I am curious / concerned that it may not have been a good choice!

I am appreciative of any assistance!

Patti

 

We were on deck 14 a few times and did not see any doors blocking anything. You may be looking at the back of the elevator on the deck plan. Hopefully someone on board will double check.

[Pepc]

I do not believe I am looking at the back of the elevators on the deck plan.

Cabins 1409 and 1410 are the last two cabins on that deck.

I'm not sure what else is on deck 14 beyond the Regent Suite and 10 other cabins.

The photo of the Explorer from the outside only shows the smoke stack!

Hopefully, someone onboard will be able to clarify.

Thanks again!

Patti

[WesW]

Thanks Explorer Maiden Voyagers for sharing your informative and enthusiastic posts.

 

Rich (and Ginny); enjoyed your likes/loves and don't like (believe most of us don't like receiving the disembarkation questionnaire too).

Anchorbuoy; appreciate you letting us know about the possibly of needing to bring a nite lite.

Marcie (and Tom); happy to hear Tom and you are having a blast--how is the dancing in other Explorer venues (enough space? music?).

 

FYI--don't recall seeing the Avid Cruiser's nice Explorer article posted here or on the Christening thread. Pls see:

 

http://www.avidcruiser.com/2016/07/20/seven-seas-explorer-photo-gallery/?utm_source=wysija&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7-24-16

[Travelcat2]

I love your "love" list. Forgot about the television and how easy it now is to find things. It appears that they tried to think of every little detail on the ship. It is hard not to be impressed.

 

I didn't realize that your cruise was so port intensive. Hope you find time to just enjoy the ship!

[xrvlcruiser]

Patti,

 

I went to deck 14 and there are doors at the end of the corridors beyond 1408 and 1409. I asked the steward who was there and they are supply closets. They should not obstruct either entrance doors.

 

Peggy

[Pepc]

Peggy -

I really appreciate you going up to Deck 14 to check out the situation.

I suspect the supply closets will be in full use during the morning and evening visits by the room stewards!

Much obliged for your help.

Patti

[Mr Rumor]

Wes and Jackie, glad you enjoyed the loves/likes/don't like. Here's another "Like":

 

I like the new Dining Reservation Desk on Deck 5, across from Reception. Sure beats having to track down a Maitre 'D in Compass Rose or one of the specialty restaurants during the day when you have a reservation to make, or an issue to resolve. For me, it was the latter: My reservation for Pacific Rim the night before last somehow disappeared from the system. The dining staffer informed Prime 7's Stanislav, the Maitre 'D on duty, who wound up coming to the desk to personally restore the reservation.

 

It has been great having EVP Randall Soy's participation in this thread. Randall, who leaves the ship tomorrow, hosted what Passages billed as an Informal Conversation about the Explorer this afternoon in the Explorer Lounge, just before Terry Waite took the stage in the Constellation Theater for his concluding lecture. The 45 minutes flew by as Randall solicited comments, both pro and con. Among the pros: praise for the new Compass Rose menu. Among the cons, complaints ranging from a comment about the inadequate size of the Aerobics Studio in the Fitness Center to the declaration that there are "no good sight lines" from seats in the Constellation Theater's expanded balcony section (I'm planning to write about the theater in a separate post).

 

When asked if the current turmoil in the world was affecting the Regent bottom line, Randall allowed that it had "in some respects. People aren't cancelling but (the events) have stemmed the tide of new booking volume. But we're pushing through." He added that Regent was looking at scheduling more Panama Canal cruises.

 

We were able to exchange our tickets for the eight-hour Ibiza "Island Discovery" excursion for the more manageable morning walking tour of Old Town this morning. Actually we could have had our choice of replacement excursions, as Destination Services received a rash of last-minute cancellations. So, I think it's clear that the port-intensive nature of the MV is wearing own a few cruisers at the moment. But after Barcelona tomorrow we'll finally have a sea day. I've looking forward to my self-styled "excursion" for that occasion: Exploring the Explorer. I still haven't had a chance, for example, to check out the casino!

 

Dinner in Sette Mare tonight with the other Just Guessing trivia team members was relaxed and fun and highlighted by the best beef tenderloin ("Gorgonzola Crusted with Barbaresco Red Wine Sauce") that I've ever had there. There was, however, quite a long lag between the soup and pasta dishes--but not long enough to keep us from grabbing good seats for "The Ray Solaire Show." Ray rouses a Regent audience like no other entertainer I've seen, and he did it again tonight, accompanied by his cast of puppets. He announced he'll be doing two more shows.

 

To close for tonight, inspiring words from former hostage Terry Waite: "We all will suffer in our lives. But most situations of suffering need not destroy us. My strong experience is that out of suffering, something new and creative will emerge. After my release I gave up my salary job to become a writer and to give my time to working with hostages. I would never have had the courage to do that if I had not been through that experience. So in a way I am grateful for the experience."

 

Rich

[Travelcat2]

Such inspiring words in your closing -- thank you!

 

You have apparently discovered something that we didn't see....... the Dining Reservation Desk. what a great idea.

 

Your sense of direction must be far superior to mine as you haven't mentioned getting turned around on the ship (i.e. not know forward from aft).

 

One question. Are you posting from the Business Center or from your suite? If from the Business Center, has it been crowded? Just curious.

Edited July 25, 2016 by Travelcat2

[debdiva]

Speaking of the menu... Could you possibly scope out the vegetarian options? No one ever posts about them and they can make or break the cruise for a vegetarian.

 

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[ChatKat in Ca.]

I like the new Dining Reservation Desk on Deck 5, across from Reception. Sure beats having to track down a Maitre 'D in Compass Rose or one of the specialty restaurants during the day when you have a reservation to make, or an issue to resolve.

Rich

 

This has been on the Oceania ships since the Marina was introduced. Very nice to stop and see what's available when you prefer a specialty and they can tell you if there are openings.

[Mr Rumor]

Jackie, I was very prepared for the four-computer set-up in the Business Center to be a DON'T LIKE. As I had posted earlier on another thread, I recall all 16 computers being in use on a sea day as recently as on our Mariner spring Caribbean cruise (and five to seven, routinely). So four computers didn't seem like nearly enough.

 

But so far I haven't seen more than two computers in use at once (and several of those times I was one of the two parked in front of them). The real test will be tomorrow, our first sea day. I would expect a number of passengers wanting to get caught on their e-mails, etc. then. I'll be observing. (As for your question, I am enjoying posting from my room--good internet connection--although I have been using a Business Center computer on the average of once a day, mainly to check out the CC message board and I few other go-to sites.)

 

Debdiva, thanks for your question about vegetarian options. My wife has been a devout vegetarian for more than four decades and she loves the dining choices she has with Regent. I will make a note to write more on the vegetarian options, but for now I'll list the two listed on the menu of the new Pacific Rim under Vegetarian:

 

Ramen Noodles (stir fly wheat noodles, assorted vegetables, superior soy)

 

Chiang Mai Red Vegetable Curry (aromatic mild curry with sweet potatoes, tofu, straw mushrooms and eggplant).

 

We're about to dock in Barcelona. We almost never repeat an excursion but today we are making an exception for Gaudi's Barcelona with Colonial Guell, which we did in 2012. Ginny is a Gaudi fan, and she is very happy bordering on excited about this one (and when the DW is happy, I'm happy).

 

Rich

[xrvlcruiser]

Patti,

 

I went to deck 14 just before going down to Randall's "conversation" and one steward was near there. neither door was open but will check later.

 

Update: I went up to deck 14 - it is 9am here - and neither closet door is open and this would be prime cleaning time. One cabin door was open so I assume it was "in the process".

 

As far as doors closing on my deck - 12 - I have not heard anyone's close at all.

 

One more thing - the halls are narrower than on the other ships and the stewards/stewardesses do not use the big carts but what look more like carry-ons. which they pull along the halls.

 

If you look at deck 14 from the pool area - the outside/back of the closet have white sculptures on those walls.

 

Peggy

[Pepc]

Peggy - -

I am much obliged to you for going out of your way (multiple times!) to check on deck 14 for me.

Have a terrific cruise!

Patti