Concerns about changes to upcoming Grandeur ports

[mrstanley]

I’ve always found the officers to be very unfriendly. No interaction with passengers.

[bitob]

3 minutes ago, mrstanley said:

I’ve always found the officers to be very unfriendly. No interaction with passengers.

Shocked. By the time I disembarked we were ready to exchange emails. Lol

 

maybe it’s my charm 😂

[GMIAC]

3 minutes ago, bitob said:

Shocked. By the time I disembarked we were ready to exchange emails. Lol

 

maybe it’s my charm 😂

 

Guilty! 🥰

 

I didn't interact with many officers, but there was one, who'd been introduced as being Sicilian. I'm half-Sicilian (the wrong half, as I regularly teased my dad about), and he was very friendly to us when we chatted with him. I also observed another escorting a very elderly woman in the elevator, making sure she was safe. I didn't get to meet many others, but I did find the CD quite aloof to those (like us) who weren't Regent Regulars. That was a bit disconcerting, but I chalked that up to his shortcoming, not ours. 

[UUNetBill]

Damn.  I just read through 180 posts full of gripes, complaints, excuses, suppositions, accusations, deflections, whining, finger-pointing, threats, and other assorted drivel and all I came away with was a hankering for two hot dogs and a glass of house wine...

[Pcardad]

12 minutes ago, UUNetBill said:

Damn.  I just read through 180 posts full of gripes, complaints, excuses, suppositions, accusations, deflections, whining, finger-pointing, threats, and other assorted drivel and all I came away with was a hankering for two hot dogs and a glass of house wine...

Enough drivel to warrant two glasses, I'd wager...

[pappy1022]

It’s hard for some folks to accept any criticism of Regent. 

[pingpong1]

47 minutes ago, pappy1022 said:

It’s hard for some folks to accept any criticism of Regent. 

Pappy, perhaps the viewpoint might change just a little bit...if they experience it themselves.  Just wondering?  🤔

[jeb_bud]

On 1/8/2024 at 1:18 PM, UUNetBill said:

Damn.  I just read through 180 posts full of gripes, complaints, excuses, suppositions, accusations, deflections, whining, finger-pointing, threats, and other assorted drivel and all I came away with was a hankering for two hot dogs and a glass of house wine...

They had some very nice looking hot dogs at the pool grill today, although I went with the chicken cordon blue(sp). After last night’s overindulgence I drank water but the wine choices looked good too. Aside from the unseasonably cold weather, which I blame on Corporate, the experience so far has been excellent. 

[Whinenowine]

On 1/10/2024 at 3:19 AM, jeb_bud said:

Aside from the unseasonably cold weather, which I blame on Corporate, the experience so far has been excellent. 

🤣

[Pcardad]

4 hours ago, Whinenowine said:

🤣

Regent should have cruised in warmer climates...what were they thinking?

[Whinenowine]

6 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

Regent should have cruised in warmer climates...what were they thinking?

True!  @jeb_bud maybe you can ask head office for some OBC as compensation....

[GMIAC]

7 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

Regent should have cruised in warmer climates...what were they thinking?

 

They don't care! They just want to make money! This never would've happened five years ago! I'm moving over to Silversea and Seabourn! 

[Roxydog15]

oooh.  OBC for bad weather (which is defined by me of course) is an excellent idea.  🙂 

[Whinenowine]

Hahaha...thanks, all...I needed a good laugh today.  And if you can't laugh at yourself then you don't deserve to laugh at others.   🥂

[GOARMY]

Referencing among the plethora of comments/gripes/praises and self-reflections on this Thread:

 

Lack of expert commentary during the Canal transit.  

 

Following is based on about four (or maybe it was five) previous crossings, all but one of which have been on Regent segments over the past 20 years.  Two others canceled due to COVID; next eagerly anticipated one will be in almost-exactly one year when on Grandeur--L.A. via Canal to Miami, and beyond.   

 

Expert commentary on every one.  Pre-transit Theater presentations two or three days before beginning that day-log segment given by Subject Matter Experts who had been there before, and done that. 

 

Each and every one utilized the seminal source providing historical accuracy and context:  David McCullough's book, "The Path between the Seas: the Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914".  That heavy volume remains front-and-center on my bookshelf.  Presenters gave full attribution to McCullough when utilizing photographs (and paragraphs) "lifted" from his book.  Then, during transit, on the Bridge, together with another local "Expert" particularly versed on the mechanics of each Lock. 

 

Modest Proposal to those planning upcoming segments involving the Canal:  Do some homework and READ THE BOOK!  Take some notes to bring along with you.  It is a heavy volume to pack in one's luggage; but in this modern age, can probably download (not pirate) the text on whatever device. 

 

And, a big nod of appreciation should be given to The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The Corps was tasked by Teddy Roosevelt to pick up the remnants of the failed French effort; solve the horrible mosquito problem which, as much as the terrain, brought the French to ruin; and construct the mighty Lock system which has continued to function for over 100 years. 

 

Ah yes, Teddy.  As he famously (or infamously, depending on one's perspective) opined: 

 

"I stole Panama.  Fair and Square." 

 

Just a thought. 

 

GOARMY!