I have actually witnessed this before. When it is not busy I think they relax too much. When it is busy they are really focused on getting everyone served.

Agree Jackie with other posters - your opinion is important to us and Regent no matter where you post - "laid back" just meant more fun - we all want the unbiased details!!!!!

Lee, If it is possible please say hello to Michael Couhlin and give him our regards.
Jan and Stu

I've experienced this before, too - "down times" for the staff - I can't recall if it was Silversea or Regent where it happened, but I always chalked it up to the staff knowing it's going to get busy soon so now is our time to "slough off". That doesn't mean that I have ever been pleased with it. I have had to beckon them before (which is rare, I hate doing it) but I try to be as polite as possible.

Sometimes I have gotten the feeling that our nature of smiling and being friendly with them at the start of a meal makes them think "Oh, I don't have to worry about that table as much" which kind of stinks. But it's just not in our nature to be sour to them.

Hi Guys: Sorry to spoil the party - but I'm having a great time - who looks after me as well when I'm at home? Lee

I think Ngaire has a very valid point about when not busy, they are not focused. Someone should point out to them that that is when people are really noticing, "Hey, I picked a great time to dine, I ought to get great service".

I also agree to post whatever you want wherever, as long as you are in that board's guidelines. Jackie, I saw your similar post there and responded, as usual. I am glad you posted it there. I think people on most boards are fair if details are given instead of just a blanket statement like some do. We all know there are some out there just to promote their favorite line or bash another and just say something was awful and give no useful info on which someone else can base an opinion. You never do that, and I think people love the information you share.

Lee, I continue to love your style and came over just to find you and catch up. We're still having A LOT of internet problems with Comcast out here in the Houston 'burbs, and I have not been able to read as often as I would like. I am so happy you continue to have a good time. You seem like a delight.

Kristin, if I don't catch you in some other thread, have a wonderful cruise. I am anxious to hear about that one, too.

Amen to that, Lee! So glad you are enjoying the cruise, and we love hearing from you!!

Thanks, Debbie! :)

LEE - CHECK YOUR EMAIL PLEASE.

Lee and I dined together at Compass Rose this evening -- another night of perfect service and food. Two of the dancers were at our table -- lovely young people with great stories to share.

We learned that Lee was instrumental in adding a member to the LCT family. A lovely couple that will be on our February, 2009 Caribbean cruise!

Thank you all for giving me the courage to post a few negative comments on Cruise Critic. I admit to being a bit intimidated by some of the members there.

I think I could live on this ship. . . . .just a thought.

Always good to hear from Jackie and Lee - keep having fun - I love the Voyager - Joanna

NGAIRE: Have been trying to email you all afternoon without luck. Will try again now but YES PLEASE to Category F. Lee

Yes, Lee I got your email and replied all is set.

Lee and I are sitting across from each other -- both posting. We are really enjoying our time with Lee and Michael (although we ate at different restaurants this evening).

Santorini -- Ngaire, I now understand why Santorini is your favorite Greek island. What a lovely place. We were somehow able to get the first tender to Santorini (with no passengers and only one crew member on board). We were on the donkeys by 8:45 a.m. Most of the donkeys were on their way down to take passengers up. We easily found the bus terminal where a bus was leaving for Oia in two minutes. This was truly a lovely place -- so happy that we were able to experience it (particularly before most of the tourist arrived).

Captain Dag did a great service to Regent customers by changing our itinerary in order to avoid having 20,000 tourists in port in Santorini at the same time.

This remains a truly memorable cruise:-)

Ngaire: So glad you finally got my email. You can thank the little guy in the computer room who came to my aid when I started kicking and screaming (not really) because it would just not go. I just tried it again, but still no luck. Maybe I forgot to pay my phone bill. Thanks once again for everything. Nearly forgot - guess who had rack of lamb tonight?

Well I was ready to say Santorini was a completely different place today without the thousands of people who were there last week but the cable car queue was just as bad. MSC Musica was in and they were all in a hurry to get back to the ship, pushing and shoving. I must admit I would do the same to get back on Voyager! I did wonder how they get on when tendering though.

We went to Oia today - just magic! The buildings are just gorgeous - just like the postcards. Of course the weather has been excellent (one red nose available). When we tendered over to where the coach was to pick us up, we noticed where the Greek Cruise Ship sank last year. Thank goodness for Captain Dag! I had a friend who was due to join it the next morning - how's that for timing? They charted a Russian ship for them - don't think I could have joined it!

I have a feeling I have missed reporting on a port or two but I'm sure Jackie will fill you in.

Lee

Ahh, Santorini! Great to hear from you two, Jackie and Lee. I agree, Oia IS like a postcard. Greg keeps a laptop in view while we're relaxing each night, and he has it set up so that its screensaver flips through our recent cruise vacation pictures. Every time I see Santorini, I get this feeling of calmness. Even though it was cloudy and rainy when we were there, its beauty still shows through. HOPEFULLY we will have blue skies this time around. I cannot wait.

Keep the seamail coming, ladies, please! :)

I am bummed that I missed the ship in Santorini, that's always an easy stalk! I miss that website that told you what ships are in port and with whom, it made stalking so easy!

Lee or Jackie, where to next, are you back on schedule yet?

Hi Karen: We are in Mykonos today and tomorrow the place that seems to change spelling every time I look at it - Navplion??? Unfortunately, the next day is 'boo hoo' day, we arrive in Athens. Lee

I'm not certain if we are back on schedule yet. We definitely will be tomorrow. One advantage to touring on your own is that changes such as what we have experienced the past week is really no big deal. Captain Dag made the best decision for the passengers (and most were able to switch their tours for different days).

We saw Lee and Michael boarding the tender to go to Mykonos this afternoon (we were just returning). Another unique yet lovely island. We climbed to the top of the hill -- very picturesque!

There is something about this cruise that is enchanting -- the people are as beautiful, warm and kind as the scenery (not sure if that even made sense). We have only taken five Regent cruises -- this may well be our favorite!

Just returned from Mykonos - ditto to what Jackie said. It's a bit windy though and our tender had three attempts to get us on board - needed a strawberry ice cream to recover!!!

Found a pelican on shore - think it's tame - but it didn't like Michael one bit and we missed out on the photo shoot!

I think I may need to take another cruise to recover from this one. I definitely feel you (meaning me) need one sea day a week. Getting up in the dark doesn't do much for me!

We had a major disaster this morning - Michael somehow managed to delete all his Oia photos. Hopefully he will be able to buy the software needed to retrieve them when he gets back to the US. Because he is so much better at taking photos, I just take the odd one. Well, there's only one solution to this problem - we'll just have to return.

I can't be sure if this is the Voyager as I don't know who else is in port..

Doesn't look like the Voyager to me.

Karen: Where was this taken? I doubt it was Voyager as we've been tendering most places. Lee

Lee, that was Mykonos. Like Larry said, I don't think it was the Voyager!

Jan and Stu: Never managed to find Michael Coghlan so went to reception and left a note - the girl promised it would get to him. Hope that's OK.

Well it's almost over - every Greek Island has its own character, today was no exception. Small but very nice little town - not at all touristy - except for the tourists! Decided just to wander around by ourselves - it's really awful when you finally decide one castle is like another!

I've had a wonderful time and have no regrets or complaints.

Lee

I really don't want to get off the ship, but that's the way most of us feel I'm sure.

We are having three nights in Athens before heading back to the US and then after five days, I have that delightful flight to Sydney. In case I haven't mentioned it before, my dear son spent all his points and put me in first class for both to and from the States. I certainly coped on the way over and presume I'll do the same on the way home.

Back to reality!!

Lee, it's been a delight following along with you in your travels. Enjoy Athens (impossible not to do!) and your time in the States! Safe travels.

Lee, Have a wonderful time in Athens! I must warn you there are jewelry and shoe stores around every corner ;) If you're staying at the Grand Bretagne and don't want to pay $90 US for a 10 in. pizza and coke on the rooftop restaurant there's a McDonalds right across the street. The Acropolis at night is a magical sight. Time does fly when we're having fun it's true. Safe journey home.

Sorry you are all disembarking, have enjoyed your reports so much. Wish you could stay on for another week!

Lee and Jackie--thanks for the great sea mail--I looked forward to reading it every day :) Sorry your cruise is at an end--I hate that part :(

Lee, we're planning several days in Sydney next fall (November)--hopefully you'll be there and we can plan to meet somewhere!

We lost Lee and Michael in Athens. Regent did a great job with the many passengers that could not get home until the day after the end of the cruise. Most of us were staying at the Intercontinental in Athens (a lovely hotel). We all did a city tour before going to the hotel. . . that is when I forgot that Lee and Michael were staying at another hotel. . . . by the time I remembered, they disappeared. I'm sure they are having a wonderful time in Athens.

As you can tell, we all had a wonderful time on the cruise. There is nothing that I would have changed (Capt. Dag did the changes for us:-) Actually, had we gone to Santorini on schedule, it would have been overcrowded. The Captain explained that new and larger ships are being built every year. . . but, the ports stay the same size.

We flew home on Lufthansa Business Class(Athens/Frankfurt/Portland/Seattle. The flight from Frankfurt to Portland was one of the best flights we have ever had in terms of service. They even surpassed some of our Asian flights. This was particularly surprising as their reviews have been mediocre.

Time to rest and look forward to our next cruise (4 months 9 days away -- but, whose counting). That will be a paritcularly special cruise for us -- I'll be looking for private (or small)excursions in the Eastern Caribbean (to surprise my DH for his birthday).

Jackie