Wonder how the new Seabourn Odyssey stacks up in the eyes of a long time Regent Seven Seas Cruises guest? Read on to learn what Jackie Frame has to say about her recent experience onboard Seabourn’s newest ship.

“The one thing that Seabourn does even better than Regent is issue an invitation every single night to their solo travelers to join a table hosted by an officer, a member of the entertainment staff and so on.  It’s really nice to have a definite commitment each evening and not have to take pot luck (although of course that sometimes leads to a really fun time!)  Also the food is absolutely wonderful. Apparently their budget is way higher than Regent and it shows, especially the lunch buffet in their restaurant called The Colonade.

The Colonade is very similar to La Veranda with outside space at the back.  In the open air and at night on a balmy evening sheltered from the wind, dining there by candlelight is just beautiful.  The Assistant Cruise Director and I had a wonderful dinner the other evening before the weather deteriorated, and I was very impressed with it all.

As I think I mentioned, I was invited to the Captain’s table on the first formal night; Mark Dexter is an Englishman, currently living in New Zealand and was very pleasant with a very good sense of humor.  The other officers are almost all European. I also had dinner with the Staff Captain one night.
Everyone is very helpful and the Maitre D is finding me grilled tomatoes everywhere I go and there seems to be an unlimited amount of blueberries so I have no complaints on that score!!
There are 3 other restaurants apart from The Colonade - the main dining room, a pool grill and a frightfully exclusive one for a 7 course tasting dinner (different every night) a bit like Signatures.  I haven’t had time to try that yet, but it is so small, only room for 35, that passengers are the only ones allowed to dine there, no staff, not even the Captain!

The ship is full with the capacity of 450 and most passengers I have met seem very pleasant and if anything a little on the younger side than Regent.  Maybe that’s because I’m getting older, but at any rate the other really good thing is that there are NO CHILDREN!!!”

The islands of The Philippines have been hit hard by an unusual series of tropical storms. The capital city of Manila was severely damaged by Typhoon Ketsana and Tropical Storm Palma stalled over northern Luzon dumping huge amounts of rain. Now it looks like another storm is looming off the coast threatening this already inundated area.
Regardless of which cruise line you patronize, Filipinos no doubt make up a sizeable portion of the crew. Onboard the Seven Seas Mariner many people you probably know - stewardesses, waiters, bar tenders – have literally lost their homes.  There are many others behind the scenes in the galley, laundry, engine room and bridge who are in similar situations. I know this is true.

Giving to each and every one of them is impossible. However if you would like to do something, I strongly encourage you contact the Red Cross or other relief organizations. Your donation will help many in need, some of which may be directly related to our dear crew members.

We were all very sad to learn that Captain Philippe Fichet-Delavault, aka “Captain Creativity”, will not be returning to Regent Seven Seas Cruises. New adventures are calling him. While on the Mariner, Captain Delavault was known for his penchant for exploring. He pioneered new routes to conventional destinations pirouetting his way through places like the scenic fjords of Alaska and Chile.  We all wish him well and as soon as I know of his future plans I will advise.

Planning a cruise that calls on Japan? Here are a few things that you should know.
-    Internet access is restricted in Japan for cruise ships. You will have to go ashore to pick-up a signal for your internet connection.
-    ATMs that accept foreign credit cards are few and far between. The only place you are guaranteed to find a machine that will accept your card is at the post office.
-    Tipping is not accepted in Japan. That goes for tour guides, taxi drivers, wait staff, anyone!
-    The subway and train station is an easy and economical way to get around – once you master the system.  For convenience buy a day pass and avoid having to figure out the required fare between stations.
-    The Japan Tourist Office offers day passes for many tourist areas like Mt. Fuji, Kamakura, Kyoto and Nara. The passes include train ticket and admission to museums, etc. Tickets can be purchased at major train stations.