Voyager from Rome to Trieste, 1st to 11th October.

[Gilly]

We're just getting our act together and will leave later for LHR for our 7am (gulp) flight to Rome tomorrow morning.  We'll go for our CV test in an hour or so and were anticipating a more relaxed approach to CV precautions from that which we experienced on board Navigator in August.  Having just read Rachel's report from Navigator, I'm now wondering if we will encounter a similar situation.  I'll let you know 😉

 

I'll drop in here now and again, but will mainly post to my personal blog at elegantsufficiency as usual.  If there's anyone else here sailing with us, do please chip in here with your 2p as well - the more the merrier!

 

Incidentally, this time, we received a set of sticky luggage labels in an envelope about two weeks ago, so we don't have the anxiety we had last time about identifying our bags.  All the other documentation is online - that's fine.

[liptastic]

Gilly have a wonderful cruise and eagerly await your blog. Safe travels. Glad to hear the luggage labels have made a return. Best wishes Jean and Bill 

[lincslady]

You probably already do this, but I suggest not putting the labels on the cases until they arrive at Rome  airport - they can get damaged en route.

[Gilly]

Excellent advice @lincslady - whilst our bags are in our company or in the care of British Airways, they are already well identified.  The previous panic set in when we were to leave them outside our room without any Regent id (or worse, the Silverseas label offered by the hotel!)  We'll attach the Regent labels before we leave them ready for collection.

[RachelG]

8 hours ago, lincslady said:

You probably already do this, but I suggest not putting the labels on the cases until they arrive at Rome  airport - they can get damaged en route.

Agree completely.  Gilly, looking forward to your reports.  Just the perfect post cruise tonic.

[Gilly]

22 minutes ago, RachelG said:

Just the perfect post cruise tonic.

We have very much enjoyed being with you in the last few days, especially since we didn't have to listen to the foghorn from our side of the screen 😀.   I really enjoy your positive approach, @RachelG - your cruise really didn't go according to plan, did it?

Edited September 30, 2022 by Gilly
Clarity

[RachelG]

1 hour ago, Gilly said:

We have very much enjoyed being with you in the last few days, especially since we didn't have to listen to the foghorn from our side of the screen 😀.   I really enjoy your positive approach, @RachelG - your cruise really didn't go according to plan, did it?

Definitely not, but we still had a good time.  Weather just was not ideal.

[forgap]

Looking forward to being on your cruise, virtually, both here and on your blog.  Bon Voyage!

 

[Gilly]

Hello from Rome, where we and our luggage arrived safely together with what seemed like thousands of other people boarding cruises.  So many different signs being held up at the exit: Carnival, Celebrity, Princess, Viking, ...and Regent, of course.  As always, that bit between disembarking, collecting luggage and getting on our way to the hotel is the worst part.  We none of us like being herded like sheep through a crowded airport and this was one of the most crowded we'd ever seen (even worse than Athens!)  But once on board a small bus - about a dozen of us - all set for three different hotels in the same neighbourhood, it was just fine.

Our room wasn't ready so we had a drink and a bite to eat before heading out for a bit of fun.  I'll post some photos and so on on my blog, but for now, can happily say, we are on our way!!

[ssawjo]

Gilly, if you could, please post the daily menus for Compass Rose and the specialties.  We will be boarding on Nov. 12 and just want an idea of what they are serving.  This will be our first Regent cruise. 

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Bill and Kathi

[RetiredandTravel]

This is an extensive review of a recent Explorer Mediterranean voyage.  It includes many menus which should be similar to the Voyager except for Pacific Rim.  Someone to peak your interest while you wait for newer menus.  enjoy

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2878101-regent-seven-seas-explorer-athens-to-istanbul-full-travelogue/page/6/#comment-64054727

 

[Gilly]

15 hours ago, ssawjo said:

please post the daily menus for Compass Rose and the specialties.

Well, I'll do my best, but I don't normally focus on recording daily menus, I'll admit - far too busy enjoying the results 😄    As @RetiredandTravel posted above, there have been recent posts with typical menus - I'll see if I can post something along those lines.

[lincslady]

Gilly - just looked at your personal blog  (see post 1), and if you are going to do that every day certainly no need to come back on here if you don't have time ; we can easily follow it there.

 

Looking forward to reading it.

[Gilly]

@lincslady you'll see that I have been blogging for a few years (!) and having "invested" so many memories online, prefer to have them somewhere that I can control (no ads, no chance of it all disappearing suddenly and so on...)  I really write it for my friends and family but of course, it's there if anyone is interested in my ramblings too 😉

 

We are finally on board!  It seems like it's been quite a journey though.  I can't say the W hotel in Rome was quite up to managing groups such as ours - breakfast service was not up to scratch (staffing I guess) and the buffet badly organised.  We gathered for our transfer at 11.30 and reached the ship sometime after 1 - but long queues for check in and patchy management of the admin process (CV checks as well as ship check in) meant it was after 2 by the time we were on board the ship.  However, as soon as we stepped over the threshold we were HOME!  Seldom have we felt so happy to be on board and amongst friends.  The Regent magic, administered by "The A Team" - Davor, Vladimir, Sylvester, Alin, Emiliano and Francisco - kicked in and I don't think we have stopped smiling since.

 

We are feeling incredibly lucky right now.  Life is good.  Very good, in fact.

[forgap]

Love the “A” team.  We embark on Explorer in a week and a half week.  I selfishly hoped at least one of those you mentioned would be on board.  Drats!  
 

[briar14]

Good to be “home” isn’t it? Will the “A Team” still be on for the November 12, Lisbon-Cape Town trip? I hope so!

[Gilly]

1 hour ago, briar14 said:

Good to be “home” isn’t it? Will the “A Team” still be on for the November 12, Lisbon-Cape Town trip? I hope so!

Jan, I'll find out.    I believe they all started in March, so it might be around changeover time?

[liptastic]

Gill what a great team onboard and lovely to be welcomed after a long boarding process. Have a wonderful cruise. Jean, 

[RJ2002]

What a great Adriatic itinerary.  Enjoy your cruise and thanks for your reports from Voyager.

[ronrick1943]

Have a great trip, look forward to read what you think of your cruise and the things we’ll be doing.  Have fun and enjoy…………

[Gilly]

Well, a first for me. In however many years of cruising with Regent, I didn't manage to get my blog posted yesterday due to glacial slow Internet speed.  Wherever we have been, however slow or intermittent service there, I have found a way. But, this one will have to wait.  We had a great day in Ravello, went to a family winery for a simple lunch and tastings. Highly recommend the Ravello and Apicello Wine tour.

An interesting show last night unlike anything we have seen on Regent previously.  I shall hope to be able to share more in the coming days but for now, bucketloads of patience are needed here!

[Boatmans Lady]

On 9/30/2022 at 9:09 AM, Gilly said:

 😉

 

Incidentally, this time, we received a set of sticky luggage labels in an envelope about two weeks ago, so we don't have the anxiety we had last time about identifying our bags.  All the other documentation is online - that's fine.

So glad they have sorted ship luggage labels out it removes lots of stress. 

 

Have a good cruise and hope the weather stays good for you and you have calm seas. 

[Gilly]

Success with the internet as I have found "my secret spot" where the connection was more stable and didn't keep falling over.  Today, we don't arrive in Corfu until lunchtime, so morning Trivia and a different routine.  The fun doesn't stop!!

 

Gx

[lincslady]

Loving your blog - great photos.  Seeing the dolphins reminded me so much of seeing them when we went on one of the short pre-inaugural trips on Voyager, from Naples.  We knew Captain Dag pretty well, and he told us he had had the choosing of them.  I wonder if anyone on this board remembers him; the last time we met him was on a Seabourn cruise, where he did not stay  very long before going to Europa.  We had first met him on the late lamented Song of Flower - such a funny little ship, but we all had really  good times on board.

[Gilly]

@lincslady he was Captain of the first cruise we sailed!  Happy Memories, eh?  I'm glad you are enjoying sailing along with us.  It's a nice itinerary though like many short cruises, it's a bit full on!  We are just getting ourselves together for dinner in Chartreuse tonight and I'm trying to put together the bare bones of my blog before going for a drink.   A bientot!