Live from Navigator—Montreal to NYC—September 20 to October 1,2022

[rcandkc]

4 minutes ago, RachelG said:

We were finally off at about 5 pm.  Our Uber was at a totally different area but we connected, had dinner in Little Italy and got to our hotel.

What a day!  Hard day for many including Regent employees. 

[xrvlcruiser]

7:30am - on it's way to Boston.

[forgap]

So sorry about the horrible weather you encountered on this trip.  Who could have predicted a once in a lifetime storm hitting Canada and the aftermath dogging you to NYC?  
 

I’ve followed your live threads for years and your MO seems to be to make lemonade out of lemons, but, I bet that was difficult when you missed The Music Man.  At least you are healthy with nothing broken this trip!  

 

Safe travels back home.  Have fun unpacking all the stories from this unique voyage.  

[PhD-iva]

On 9/30/2022 at 8:50 PM, RachelG said:

I had enough points to get 2 nice shirts for George and a purse hook which I will probably never use.

 

Really enjoying your commentary, thank you. What is a purse hook?

[RachelG]

44 minutes ago, PhD-iva said:

Really enjoying your commentary, thank you. What is a purse hook?

A contraption to hang your purse off the table in a restaurant, so you don’t sit it on the floor or the back of your chair.

[RachelG]

October2, 2022–final thoughts

 

We had a good nights sleep at the Hilton Garden InnTimes Square.  Comfortable quiet room, with a view of scaffolding.  We woke up to overcast skies and then more rain, but not to be deterred, we walked around the Times Square area, then had Pizza at John’s Pizza which was great and did not taste at all like cardboard.  Also a great spinach salad which we shared.  We walked over to Rockefeller Center so I could visit the Kate Spade store and plan future purchases.  They thoughtfully have seating for husbands.

 

Back to the hotel, we picked up our luggage and set off for the airport driven by the world’s slowest taxi driver.  I have taken Ubers and taxis all over the world, and this was truly weird.  The guy drove so slow, way under the speed and stopped at every yellow light.  George thinks he must have had a bunch of traffic citations and a license on the verge of suspension, or he was Sick. We were getting worried about time, and I have been to NYC many times, know about the traffic and had taken that into consideration.

 

We finally made it.  George didn’t want to give him a tip, but we were there in plenty of time.  So I insisted.  Super quick check in in the new Delta terminal, super quick through security, and even a little time to spare.  

 

As far as the cruise, we had fun, because I always make us have fun.  George had some grouchy moments, but we were with good friends, and all the port spots that we actually made, and the excursions we actually did, were good to great.  Food and drink were very good, what I expect from Regent.  

 

Ray is a great CD, and had a tough job this time.  The entertainment was good.  The comedian was actually funny..

 

Navigator has probably seen better days.  I like that she is smaller, and I love how things are arranged.  The exercise room is probably the best at sea.  Galileo’s is a great place for pre dinner drinks. And the theater is my favorite of all.  The suites are quite comfortable.  But there is the vibration issue, which is pronounced in the back of the ship.  I would not book a cabin toward the back half of the ship.

 

Would I sail on Navigator again? Definitely yes—in fact, we have one scheduled.  Would I do this itinerary again? Maybe, because it has the potential to be spectacular.  But probably not this early in the season.  We had done it before starting in NYC about September 24, and it was better as far as the leaves turning.  

 

Obviously the weather can’t be predicted months or years ahead.  So no one could have predicted the hurricanes.  And we encountered two.  I think they did the best they could given the circumstances. My only complaint is the last day.  We would have been better off disembarking in Newport and driving to NYC. But I know they did the best they could do…just hoping for either FCC or OBC to cover the cost of my show tickets.

 

[rcandkc]

What time did you finally get off ship?  I wonder when the new passengers got on?  This cruise goes in the record books. 

[Brownie54]

The buses to the Navigator started from the hotel at 7pm. We (a group of 4) decided at 6pm to get an Uber to the ship. Once we arrived at the pier we were through security and check-in pretty quickly.

[jpalbny]

Welcome home! Glad everything went smoothly. Did you fly out of JFK or LGA? We love T4 at JFK but DL is putting lots of effort into making a domestic hub at LGA now.

[RachelG]

19 hours ago, rcandkc said:

What time did you finally get off ship?  I wonder when the new passengers got on?  This cruise goes in the record books. 

We were off at 5 pm.  We were told new passengers would start loading at 7 pm. 

 

12 hours ago, Brownie54 said:

The buses to the Navigator started from the hotel at 7pm. We (a group of 4) decided at 6pm to get an Uber to the ship. Once we arrived at the pier we were through security and check-in pretty quickly.

Smart idea.

 

5 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Welcome home! Glad everything went smoothly. Did you fly out of JFK or LGA? We love T4 at JFK but DL is putting lots of effort into making a domestic hub at LGA now.

LGA.  The new Delta terminal is very impressive.  We were checked in and through security in no time.  Entire terminal is very clean and bright. I used to hate LGA but have now officially changed my mind.

 

A followup regarding Regent's response to the whole delayed disembarkation issue.  I had emailed my TA immediately.  He was on it this am as soon as offices were opened, and I received an email this afternoon with a FCC offer which is very satisfactory.  Won't say more than that, but I am pleased.

[Gpilon]

2 hours ago, RachelG said:

We were off at 5 pm.  We were told new passengers would start loading at 7 pm. 

 

Smart idea.

 

LGA.  The new Delta terminal is very impressive.  We were checked in and through security in no time.  Entire terminal is very clean and bright. I used to hate LGA but have now officially changed my mind.

 

A followup regarding Regent's response to the whole delayed disembarkation issue.  I had emailed my TA immediately.  He was on it this am as soon as offices were opened, and I received an email this afternoon with a FCC offer which is very satisfactory.  Won't say more than that, but I am pleased.

Pays to complain! Just being a smarta#@. Good for you to do that….Regent cruises are expensive enough and one should expect a seamless vacation. Beginning to end. 

[Fairfield Nana]

On 9/28/2022 at 7:36 PM, RachelG said:

September 28, 2022–Bar Harbor Maine

 

We gained our lost hour back last night. Very smooth sailing, but the foghorn continued through the night.  And when we awoke, there was still a blanket of white outside, though at least I could actually see the water of the ocean again.

 

We were to be ready to present ourselves to US immigration officials at 8 am.  Ray started calling the groups to present themselves, and we were quickly through.  The captain came on overhead and said the fog had to clear some before the tenders would be allowed to run, so we went to La Veranda for a quick bite of breakfast.

 

The fog was burning off fast, but there were still 10 people who hadn’t gone through immigration.  Ray came on overhead, so politely, to ask them to present themselves.  He had to make 3 announcements to lure the stragglers in.  Finally, he had to call out the individual suite numbers.  Then the captain came on and asked those suite numbers to present themselves immediately. What’s the deal?  It was clearly announced multiple times.  The ship has to be cleared before they can let anyone off.  I just don’t understand.

 

Finally, we were cleared and able to board the tenders, as Bar Harbor is always a tender port.  Our morning excursion took us by bus up to the top of Cadillac Mountain then to Jordan Pond.  The sun had come out, and the views were spectacular from the top of the mountain.  We only had 20 minutes at the top due to the delays—I could easily have spent 2 hours there.  We then drove through the forest to Jordan Pond where we were served iced tea and popovers.  The popovers were very good (and I have baked a few of these over the years).  We had an hour here, so George and I ate quickly, then hiked along the pond.  There is a new boardwalk, which made it very easy.

 

Back to the dock, our original plan had been to have lunch in town then do our afternoon hiking tour.  But we were late for the hike.  Fortunately, they had taken this into account, so we just went directly on the hike.  There was only another couple and us plus the guide.  I had met the lady on my walks on the top deck so knew she was fit. We told the guide we were fast hikers, and she was all in for that.  So we had a great afternoon hiking the ocean view trail.  We even saw a wedding on the rocks.

 

Back to Bar Harbor, George was still wanting his lobster, so we went to Galyn’s, a place we have eaten at previously.  It did not disappoint.  He had a huge lobster with all the trimmings for $31 while I had crab cakes and salad for $18.  It was very delicious and a bargain to boot.

 

We went back to the ship just in time for Cruise Capers, the crew show.  They did a great job.  We were too full for dinner, so George went to lose some money in the casino. I went to the show, The Great American Song Factory, which was basically 50s and 60s pop music. It was pretty well done, but not my favorite.

 

[WNcruiser]

On 10/2/2022 at 6:59 PM, RachelG said:

October2, 2022–final thoughts

 

We had a good nights sleep at the Hilton Garden InnTimes Square.  Comfortable quiet room, with a view of scaffolding.  We woke up to overcast skies and then more rain, but not to be deterred, we walked around the Times Square area, then had Pizza at John’s Pizza which was great and did not taste at all like cardboard.  Also a great spinach salad which we shared.  We walked over to Rockefeller Center so I could visit the Kate Spade store and plan future purchases.  They thoughtfully have seating for husbands.

 

Back to the hotel, we picked up our luggage and set off for the airport driven by the world’s slowest taxi driver.  I have taken Ubers and taxis all over the world, and this was truly weird.  The guy drove so slow, way under the speed and stopped at every yellow light.  George thinks he must have had a bunch of traffic citations and a license on the verge of suspension, or he was Sick. We were getting worried about time, and I have been to NYC many times, know about the traffic and had taken that into consideration.

 

We finally made it.  George didn’t want to give him a tip, but we were there in plenty of time.  So I insisted.  Super quick check in in the new Delta terminal, super quick through security, and even a little time to spare.  

 

As far as the cruise, we had fun, because I always make us have fun.  George had some grouchy moments, but we were with good friends, and all the port spots that we actually made, and the excursions we actually did, were good to great.  Food and drink were very good, what I expect from Regent.  

 

Ray is a great CD, and had a tough job this time.  The entertainment was good.  The comedian was actually funny..

 

Navigator has probably seen better days.  I like that she is smaller, and I love how things are arranged.  The exercise room is probably the best at sea.  Galileo’s is a great place for pre dinner drinks. And the theater is my favorite of all.  The suites are quite comfortable.  But there is the vibration issue, which is pronounced in the back of the ship.  I would not book a cabin toward the back half of the ship.

 

Would I sail on Navigator again? Definitely yes—in fact, we have one scheduled.  Would I do this itinerary again? Maybe, because it has the potential to be spectacular.  But probably not this early in the season.  We had done it before starting in NYC about September 24, and it was better as far as the leaves turning.  

 

Obviously the weather can’t be predicted months or years ahead.  So no one could have predicted the hurricanes.  And we encountered two.  I think they did the best they could given the circumstances. My only complaint is the last day.  We would have been better off disembarking in Newport and driving to NYC. But I know they did the best they could do…just hoping for either FCC or OBC to cover the cost of my show tickets.

 

Thank you for all of the information regarding Navigator. We have only sailed on Explorer and we’re considering an itinerary next year on Navigator so your honest feedback is appreciated. 
 

I am not sure it would be a good fit for us.