Things have been changing on the Navigator during the Discovery Cruise, some good and some not so good.

Good: :cool:
The pool deck lounges had been changed to steel frames with plastic mesh seats, much like quality patio furniture. It looks good and will be more sturdy. Today they tossed out all of the plastic verandah chairs and tables and put in the same style as on the pool deck, except the chairs don't recline.

The musicians and singers on board now are excellent and they have been putting on several dance sessions at night that are very popular. Cody, who was on last year's Asia Pac is the lead singer and heads up many of these sessions. LCT will keep them all hopping from Cape Town.

Not so good: :mad:
The complimentary wine selection is following the stock market. No more Copolla Claret. Instead there is Yellowtail shiraz, Caliterra merlot and several other wines that sell for $6.00 to $8.00 at the local grocery store. The wines are good, but not the standard they were just a few months ago. You'll find that many of your favorite selections from the past are no longer offered. Hard loquor selection at the bar hasn't changed (yet.) Maybe comment cards will help.
Jim

That's a shame about the wines. I'll have to manage my friend Jim's expectations for our PG cruise in December, since I have certainly mentioned Coppola wines that we had in the past. I'm assuming this change is fleet-wide. I don't mine Yellowtail, I drink it frequently, but...

Not good to hear that, this really irks me: Premium wines with dinner? does not sound like it to me. IF they are going to do things like this then there fares should reflect it..

FV

Tom isn't going to be happy about this at all.....he always ordered the Copolla Claret. His 2nd choice was Avalon Cabernet. Do they still have that Jim ?

This information about the downgrade of the wines in very very disturbing. I hope someone from Regent reads this and realizes they are making a big time mistake. If the wines at dinner are of the $5.00 retail range they will lose this cruiser fast. Saving a few dollars on the cost of dinner wine could cost Regent thousands in lost revenue from cruisers leaving Regent.


Hopefully someone will get so of the So. Africa wines on board when they are in So Africa ports. Some are quite good and are not that expensive expecially with the new exchange rate.

I think we better wait and see if Jim can tell us if this is permanent or just a temporary thing. Maybe they couldn't get the Coppola during the last provision stop?

We can ask Crystal and Beth to check it out on their cruise, too.

Copolla wines are very reasonably priced in the liquor stores and when you are ordering them on the menu when you are out to dinner they are usually reasonably priced also, I have found myself ordering them when we are out to dinner with friends and do not want to spend a lot of money on wine, if they are cutting these wines out and you know they get them at a deep discount its just a nickel and dime thing...

You dont even give $5 bottles of wines away when you go to a dinner party or something.. you at least try and buy something decent...

Sorry; but just have little patients for things like this.

FV

Yellowtail? I think I have bought that for $4.99 when we were having a large group and wanted some variety, or maybe for a Tuesday night!! I'm with Frank, I have little patience for this sort of nickle and diming. It is a luxury line, and their fares reflect that (of course we still line up to pay it!). I'm hoping Karen is correct and this is just a provision problem.

When we were on the Mariner this past Feb. I wasn't able to get Conundrum from California...was even willing to pay for it.

Have to remember this was the cruise where I had my FIRST "NO",when I requested a Flaming Zambuco up in the Observation Lounge...was told it was a maritme law...no open flames allowed, even though there was a burning candle on the table in front of me. The tall lankey Chinese waiter(who first boarded in Buenos Aires) then delivered my drink (Minus the beans) and slapped a box of matches in front of me and told me if I wanted it flamed...light it myself.

You want to bet I wrote that guy up,wonder if he's still around? That's one of the reasons Ray doesn't care to cruise on Mariner again.

This can be a very troubling sign. Not very smart when it comes to marketing. Do they think their most loyal customers won't notice things like cutting corners on wine. I know everyone is trying to figure out how to tighten their belts but do it where the passengers won't notice. Home office,maybe? Every one of their mailings cost a fortune. I know smart people try to maintain marketing during hard times but you also can't fool loyal customers with pretty pictures and no substance.

I have to agree that it is not a good sign.
We love our wine at both lunch and dinner and for us this would be deal breaker.

It will be interesting to hear what is being served on the Voyager and the Mariner.

Maybe we should hold off on the lynching until we find out if it's a temporary provision problem that will be fixed SOON ! Hopefully Jim, Beth, Crystal or some on board will find out the scoop from the F & B Manager.

I really think (hope!) they will get some great South African wines onboard!

Oh, this is not good. I'm also hoping this is just a temporary provision snafu. Yellow Tail??? That's on sale for $5.29 at our local wine store. I know this is not a usual schedule for Regent, but you'd think they'd be able to get their usual wine provisions in Dubai.

This is "another" bad sign if true. Truthfully, I always select Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet blen which is pretty cheap; hopefully it will survive. I wonder, though, about the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio or New Zealand Sauvignon Blan that Arlene usually orders.

If this is true, we need to get some of the World Cruisers to front for the rest of us in communications with Regent. If enough WCers complained, maybe there would be action. I don't think they will respond from complaints of those of us that sail once or twice a year.

Maybe someone on SAMBA can hang Frank Del Rio in effigy to make our point. :D

I am awaiting more reports on this subject from those onboard the Navigator, Mariner, and Voyager.

I was on recently on the Voyager. When I requested a cab for the suite I was given Yellowtail Shiraz. However, in the dining room I could still get Avalon Cab. (white label) and Cline Cashmere which is also very good. Hopefully this may be the case on the Navigator.

Hi All,

Yes, Jim was correct on the Yellowtail. Just to reassure you all, the Navigator does have Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet. Crystal and I are actually finishing up a bottle as we type. We will do our best to report other wines served.

I confess to being a car, shoe and purse snob but couldn't taste the difference between a Yellowtail or 1787 Chateau Lafite....(much to the dismay of my wine loving friends ;) )
If Regent skimps on their quality of wines it won't bother "Martini , please" me.

I really like Penfolds Koonunga Hills Shiraz Cabernet, that is what I usually order. I like Copalla too but have had some sailings where they did not have it on board.

My understanding is that they increased the food budget on the ships, and the reports from passengers confirm that fact. So I cannot understand why they would do that and then lower the wine budget?

Lets hope it is a supply situation. Or if they intend to have yellowtail that is okay as long as those of us who like other wines can order those instead.

The Caliterra (Chile) reds are good and they have a new Spanish red which is good but not as heave. We'll keep snooping around and see if it's cost cutting or supply situation. We've always likes the Chilean chardonnay and they have those as well. Pouilly Fusee (or however it's spelled) is gone too.

Capt McNeil is currently sceduled to be replaced in Cape Town by unknown. He has been one of the best ever, is around constantly, talks with everyone (not just long time cruisers like some others)and we all wish he could stay to FLL. He wants to stay on. Many of us are emailing Mark Conroy asking for Mcneil to stay on. Any of you joining the DC who agree should email Mark as well.
Jim

I heard today that Jarle may not be able to walk again until January. I guess he had a pretty bad accident. Ken saw so many terrible injuries from bikes when he was a paramedic. He had one when he went into paramedic training and sold it promptly after he finished the course. The first Captain assigned to the Mariner was also killed on a bike.

Ngaire, are you talking about a bicycle or a motor cycle??

Hopefully this is just a supply thing and worries will be diminished:

Figures Pouilly Fouisse is one of our favorites and we always order it without fail.

FV

Motor cycle, Hondas, Harleys etc.

Whew, I am glad you weren't talking about bicycles or I would of parked it for good!

Jim,

We were looking forward to sailing with Capt NcNeil again when we board in Rio as we truly enjoyed him during our Christmas cruise last year (kilt and all!). Very warm and personable. If you provide us with Mark Conroys email we will be happy to put in our 2 cents in trying to keep him onboard to FLL.

Jarle bought two BMW motor cycles last year in the USA. Transported them to Europe and he and ( 1st officer) Daniel drove them home to Norway. Christine hates them but "boys will be boys with their toys".

I haven't gotten to the F&B manager yet but have found out that,under Apollo, wine purchasing for the 3 cruies lines is outsourced. I don't know if they still have the option of purchasing wine locally (such as in South Africa) and I'll keep trying to find out.
Jim

Wine Update:

A Montes Merlot was served at dinner on Sunday and the Pouilly-Fuisse last night.

Not good news. I know Len and I are in the minority here, but we thought the wine on the Mariner the last time we sailed with Regent was pretty poor quality to begin with. It's insulting to guests (for the cruise fare we all pay) if the selections have been further downgraded.

Andrea

Beth, I was just about to ask about Pouilly-Fuisse. I'm in business!

AS I said before Pouilly -Fouisse is one of our favorites,we usually order it because its one of the lower cost options when out to dinner with friends, and if I do not see it on Samba will inquire on what its comparable replacement will be: Hopefully that will not be necessary.

FV

There have been some oddball provisioning problems in this part of the world, and anything alcohol related is bound to be an issue. Though I have to say the Navigator Lounge has had a lovely Macallans oak cask scotch the past few nights, so it can't be all that bad! Now that we're leaving the Arabian peninsula, I hope we'll find things evening out. The pouring wines the past three nights have been very nice (even if Yellow Tail put in another appearance--it was offset by a wonderful Montes Merlot.

We had a chat with Florian, the F & B Manager, this morning. He told us that the South African wines have already been ordered. So good news for the CT-Rio segmenters.

Thank you Beth, I hope we are not keeping you too busy as our answer person!

Cindy, Today is a sea day... we had loads of time on our hands. Plus we bumped into Florian and he always has a lovely smile on his face. He is quite approachable and asked us to come to him with more questions.

Tonight Portofino's switches to an Indian menu for a few nights, then back to Italian. We have reservations tomorrow. We hear it will serve African food while we circle the continent. I can only assume Brazilian food will show up on SAMBA.

good to hear Beth.
At 11:1 they should be ordering everything in South Africa.

Good to hear Beth:

They better order extra, I plan on getting my moneys worth on South African wine this trip!!!

FV

Good news again - Capt Mc Neill was told last night that he will stay with us until Ft Lauderdale. Fabrizio's mother is ill or something like that. Maybe emails to Mark had something to do with it. Anyway, we hope this latest decision sticks because McNeill has been a wonderful captain.
Jim