I do not want to start any rumours; I am just trying to help out my father who is sailing with some of you on the Mariner in three weeks.

We all know that the Mariner has had some problems with the propulsion sytem that is limiting her maximum speed. The Mariner will make it to LA on 18 December from the Grand Asia Pacific voyage. On 26 December she leaves for Ft Lauderdale and then her annual circumnavigation of South America. In between, is an eight day Christmas cruise to Mexico.

Given that work is still needed on the propulsion system and that no dry dock is showing up on Mariner's 2007 schedule; is it possible (likely) that the Mariner's Christmas cruise will be cancelled? If anyone currently onboard could check I would appreciate it.

Hi Marc.

I think it highly unlikely the cruise will be cancelled. Our Australia/NZ trip had no changes to the schedule. The ship is making about 18 knots not full speed but enough to continue until the scheduled dry dock in March. There were some changes to schedules where large distances had to be covered.

I think they will be just fine.

Ngaire, thanks! By the way, when is the dry dock in March; schedule shows a couple of short charters but no dry dock.

Do not know the exact dates Marc. There are several dates that show chartered on my web for a couple of time periods in March it will be that one of those charters is now the dry dock. Not sure which date.

On board the Mariner crossing the Pacific to Los Angeles. The ship is traveling at a steady 19 to 19.5 knots in seas with a modest swell and white caps. Everything is going well.

I'm also on the Mariner in the South Pacific. The latest word is that drydock after SA will be either in Ft Lauderdale or Bahamas. Crew would prefer FLL because the Bahama facility is far away from anything.
Capt Romeo will stay on until Rio on the SA and Philippe will take over then.

Capt. Romeo told me at a cocktail party this evening that he has no technical concerns about the pod. He indicated that the only problem is that they will not be able to cruise at normal speed (20 to 21 kts) until it is fully repaired during dry dock. It cannot be completely repaired until then because a technician must crawl into the pod which requires it to be out of the water. The Captain said that Regent has adjusted all of the Mariner schedules to reflect the lower cruising speed.

Have they determined the date for the drydock?

With what is going on with the Voyager, we are concerned with our March cruise on the Mariner.

I was expecting more from Regent.

According to the Cruise Consultant aboard the Mariner, the ship will go into drydock on March 23. In addition to repairing the pod and the usual drydock activities (hull painting, machinery overall, etc), all the softgoods (carpets, chairs, drapes, etc) on the ship will be replaced and flat screen televisions will be installed in all staterooms. New beds, linens, towels and robes have already been added. She indicated that something will be done to upgrade the coffee and cookie corner but is not sure whether this will take the form of some type of coffee or sports bar.