I had a visit from a Regent executive yesterday and I asked about this issue of food and wines.

He explainted that Regent is now outsourcing the food and beverage through a different source with the purpose of improving the overall quality and increasing the standards. This is NOT a cost savings move it is a definite increase in the budget. Florian may share some of this with you when you visit with him again, ask him about it.

There may be a few quirks initially as there can be with any new system (like yellowtail) or maybe not having a wine we have come to enjoy in the past but maybe there will be new wines we like even better.

The expectation with this new outsourcing is a far superior product.

The Prime Seven venue I am now very excited about trying. I do think that this is going to be a winner. On the Mariner there is not a full kitchen for Latitudes and they are building a whole new kitchen to service this new restaurant. A big expense and undertaking. There is a lot of thought and energy going into this new concept and if it turns out half as well as they expect it is going to be a very popular addition.

The focus truly is bringing Regent standards UP on the ships in all aspects. With all the refurbishments planned for the ships I do feel we are going to have some wonderful improvements. The Mariner and the Voyager should be completed by the time they start the two world cruises. So looking forward to boarding and seeing the changes on the Mariner in February.

That sounds like some really great News Ngaire!

Glad to hear it:

FV

Crystal, good point about the area. I know there were issues on our Silversea cruise in that region, but it was mainly brief lockdowns, not shortage of supply.

Good to hear about Prime Seven, as I have not been looking forward to it at all for myself but do think others will like it. As I've said, they already had so much meat and such huge portions on Voyager. I can never eat 1/3 of it when I actually do order meat. I imagine they will have seafood, though, and quality and a nice atmosphere at this restaurant are bound to be popular.

Ngaire, will they do more theme rotating with La Verandah?

We are boarding December 18 after the dry dock. I plan to get in everywhere. Hopefully our only complaint will be that everything is so good everywhere that we felt like we were missing something at one restaurant while loving another. That is a great position to be in.

It is great to hear confirmation the whole goal is to bring the standards even higher. I can't imagine spending millions to bring standards down.

Beth, that is very exciting about Portofinos rotating. This makes me think even more that La Verandah will rotate. I hope LV will stay non-reservation.

I am anxious for our 28 days when we can reserve to see what they show re. Prime Seven if they have it up by then.