It’s Cruise Documents Day!

Earlier this week I heard from a couple set to embark on the September 13 Regent Seven Seas Mariner voyage. They had received their cruise documents so I knew to expect ours for the September 20 cast-off any day. The bulging package arrived this afternoon via DHL courier. We eagerly ripped into it to discover two silver-toned velvet satchels. A large leatherette pouch—with the new Regent logo embossed on the front—slipped out of each bag.


The documents within included:

Letter from Regent detailing embarkation information
Cruise passage tickets and contract
Airplane ticketing information
Visa alert
Shore excursion request form
Silver leatherette luggage tag embossed with the Regent logo
Four cardboard luggage tags with our stateroom location printed on them
Brochure regarding mobile phone service onboard
50% discount offer for Park ‘N Fly Network off-airport parking
36-page Seven Seas Mariner ship information guide
Evening attire suggestions
Brochure for Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society
Brochure for bon voyage pre-cruise gift order form
244-page Regent Seven Seas Cruises Grand Asia Pacific 2006 guidebook

It was great fun reading through the entire itinerary for the three-month, 97-day Grand Asia Pacific voyage that wends its way through Alaska, Russia, Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Tuamotu Archipelago, Marquesas Islands, and then back across the Pacific Ocean to Los Angeles.

We’re booked to sail the Northwest Passage segment of this grand tour with the following itinerary:

Whittier (Anchorage), Alaska
Kodiak, Alaska
Cruise the Shelikof Strait
Dutch Harbor, Aleutian Islands, Alaska (Unalaska)
Cruise the Aleutian Islands
Cross the International Dateline
Petropavlovsk / Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
Cruise the Kuril Islands
Cruise the Sea of Okhotsk
Otaru (Sapporo), Japan
Hakodate, Japan
Sendai, Japan
Tokyo, Japan

I called Regent after reviewing our documents to confirm our participation in Le Cordon Bleu cooking workshop. My husband and I had talked about doing this but hadn’t officially signed up. A very helpful Regent representative named Chelsea took care of our request in no time. The cost is $395 per person but we feel it will be a wise investment. We’re sure to meet other couples with similar interests and Leonard (a gourmet cook in his own right) will pick up a few new recipes. Besides, we have several “at sea” days that we’ll need to fill up with various activities. Le Cordon Bleu classes sound fun!

Note to anyone logging in to their “My Cruises” page at Regent’s website (www.rssc.com): Regent can’t access your account while you’re logged in. If you need to call their (800) number to ask any questions or make additional reservations, make sure to sign out of your “My Cruises” page before making the call!

Over the weekend we'll select our shore excursions and reserve them on line. I’ll cover the process using Regent’s new online reservation system in a future blog entry. Check back soon to read more about our Northwest Passage!

30-Day Regent Mariner Countdown!

The countdown begins! In just 30 days my husband and I will embark on the Regent Seven Seas Mariner. We’ll fly into Anchorage and stay the night before taking a scenic train ride to Whittier. We’ll meet the ship there and start our 13-night voyage that calls on the following ports:


Whittier, Alaska
Kodiak, Alaska
Dutch Harbor (Aleutian Islands), Alaska (also known as “Unalaska”)
Petropavlovsk / Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
Otaru, Japan
Hakodate, Japan
Sendai, Japan
Tokyo, Japan

Why did we select this particular itinerary? For starters, my husband is a photographer who’s especially interested in flora and fauna. Alaska promises many opportunities for breathtaking photos at land and at sea. We’re looking forward to visiting Kodiak Island—maybe we’ll see some whales or brown bears!—and the Aleutian Islands. Considered “bush country,” Dutch Harbor—part of the Pacific Ring of Fire—is home to a thriving community of bald eagles. We’re also nearly guaranteed to see puffins, peregrine falcons, and other rare birds. Over 100 species of birds nest there. In fact, we may even see a whiskered auklet. This tiny grey bird can only be found in the Aleutian Islands.

In Russia, we’re torn between a fishing excursion on Avachinskaya Bay or a nature hike that culminates with magnificent views of Koryakskiy and Avacha volcanoes. Of course, I wasn’t thrilled to read this from Novosti, Russia’s News and Information Agency: “According to research conducted by the International Institute of Earthquake Prediction Theory and Mathematical Geophysics, there is at least a 30% probability of an earthquake with a 7.2-magnitude or higher in the area of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands before mid-December.” This is after the August 18th 6.5 quake on nearby Sakhalin island. Let's just hope for the best!

Japan has intrigued me for years and I’ve never been to Asia so our visits to Otaru, Hakodate, Sendai, and Tokyo are sure to be fascinating. Right now, we’re booked at the Four Seasons Chinzan-so after disembarkation from the Mariner. However, we’re waffling on the location and may end up switching to the Four Seasons at Marunouchi.

In the coming days, I’ll outline some of the other reasons we selected Regent for this voyage: onboard Le Cordon Bleu cooking workshop and restaurant, spacious staterooms with balconies, Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society seminars, Spotlight on Classical Music, and much more.

And, if you’ve got any tips for us in regards to the Mariner or our ports of call, please let us know!

LuxuryCruiseTalk.com Message Board

You probably rely on your financial advisor when it comes to decisions that affect your bottom line, but who do you call upon when you wish to book your dream cruise? Unlike some land-based vacations, selecting the right cruise ship and cabin location takes the assistance of someone who truly specializes in the line. It’s not enough to seek out a travel agent. When you want to set sail, you’re better off finding an agent specializing in the cruise line(s) you’re interested in. He or she has sailed on the ships you’re interested in, has visited the ports of call, and—even more importantly—has collected feedback from hundreds of clients. That base of knowledge is powerful and it should work to your advantage when you book your next vacation.

I've always been a proponent of researching and booking vacations on my own, but that method is not very sound when it comes to cruising. There are too many variables involved. Researching a ship can be a daunting task and deciding on a cabin location, especially on a larger ship, can be an exercise in frustration. Instead, find an expert to rely on.

Recently, I was on assignment for a magazine and met Ngaire Keene of Brown & Keene Travel in Dallas. (Her first name is pronounced Ny-Ree.) Her company specializes in high-end cruise vacations with special emphasis on Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, and Oceania. She’s also a great resource for African safaris (she’s inspected 48 different camps herself), trips to India, and excursions to her homeland of New Zealand. (Photo of Ngaire Keene courtesy of Brown & Keene Travel.)

Ngaire is a top cruise planner and she goes on about 10 escorted trips per year during which she plans cocktail parties and other special events for her clients. They’re especially enthusiastic about these get-togethers because most have already “met” each other on line at Ngaire’s LuxuryCruiseTalk.com message board. This is the place to go to discuss these cruise lines, ask questions, and offer advice. You’ll get the real story on itineraries, stateroom categories, pre- and post-hotel options, shore excursions and private guides, and more. The information you glean from the forum is especially useful since it comes from unbiased sources. “You hear from real people,” says Ngaire, “not a travel agent looking in a book or an article where the author was paid to write the story, but from real people who have just physically been there.”

The board is addictive and people get to know each other quickly. In fact, many longtime members have met and cruised together on several occasions. The board is moderated by Karen S. and she and other active members are very welcoming and answer as many questions as they can. It’s a great way to learn more about Regent, Silversea, and Oceania.

And, if you’re looking for a professional, ultra-knowledgeable travel agent, consider Brown and Keene Travel. Contact Ngaire for Regent Seven Seas information. For details about Silversea and Oceania, contact Linda Litteken, Susan Walsh, or Julie Harris at (800) 856-1155 or visit their website at http://www.brownandkeenetravel.com.

Luxury Cruise Bible Sets Sail

Greetings and thanks for visiting the new Luxury Cruise Bible! As a veteran writer specializing in luxury and romance travel, I’ve visited many parts of the world. I’ve happily spent time crisscrossing the United States and Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, and Europe. Lately however, I’ve become increasingly interested in seeing some of these destinations from the deck of a ship. Specifically, I’m intrigued by the top-tier cruise lines including Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, and Windstar. (Photo of the Symphony is courtesy of Crystal Cruises)

Something about setting sail appeals to me: maybe it’s the serenity I feel whenever I’m near the ocean or perhaps it’s the knowledge that once onboard, I’ll have no choice but to disconnect from the usual workaholic stress of daily living and just relax. Yes, relax …remember how to do that? These days, I think it’s nearly impossible for some of us to unplug, but a cruise offers the perfect solution.

Luxury cruise lines offer a dizzying array of stateroom options, are (nearly) all-inclusive, serve up sumptuous gourmet meals, and provide an easy way to discover new ports of call in a limited amount of time. Cruising is certainly nirvana for many discerning travelers.

Over the past few months, my mind has continually wandered back to the idea of setting sail. This prompted me to thoroughly research the industry and I’ve made it a point to seek out experts in the field who continually add to my education. After all, if I’m going to write about cruises, I need to be an expert!

This website will be my “home base” when it comes to sharing information about luxury cruises. Join me as I hit the open waters and discover the true allure of cruising. I’ll post news about luxury lines, new ships and itineraries, interesting port-of-call shore excursions, and reviews of my own experiences at seas. I hope you’ll join me on this voyage!