Spoiler Alert:  I just learned that our stop in Togo has been canceled (Due to a late notice change in local Visa requirements we were told), so I will only get credit for 7 new countries on this cruise rather than the original planned 8. Still waiting to hear what Regent might due in lieu of that stop. There is not much else in the area so my guess we might end up spending another day or sea or hopefully maybe spend a 2nd day in Namibia. Time will tell.

Spoiler Alert Update:  Togo changed its mind and we will be allowed to land as the officials decided to grant the passengers on the Regent ship a special visa “exception”.  Could it be   they really would like our tourist dollars? Either way I am happy we will be able to visit the country as originally planned.

Our flights were flawless and the service and food on the Lufthansa flight from Seattle to Frankfurt was way above average! I wish US based airlines were as staff friendly and helpful! We had about  a 4 hour layover in Frankfurt but it took awhile to change terminals  (one bus ride involved) plus a 20 minute delay getting through passport control ate up part of the time. We also had access to the business lounge so it is an easy wait. The Lufthansa lounge in the A terminal was very unique. Instead of the usual one big room this lounge is broken up into many smaller rooms that had couches and comfortable chairs. It resulted in a quieter space with more comfortable seating. I liked the concept!

A funny thing happened on the flight to Lisbon. We were bussed to the plane which I swear took 10-15 minutes. Once on board there was a slight delay to finish loading food. However, once that happened and we were ready to leave the captain announced we had missed our departure window and would now have to wait, which he said was scheduled for one hour from now!  Luckily it turned out to be only 30 minutes and we made up most of the time once in the air, arriving in Lisbon only about 10 minutes late.

I had to laugh as the conversation in the “business class” section (3 seats in a row but middle seat left empty) of the plane seem to imply that many, if not most, of the people on board were headed to the Regent cruise. The “meet & greet” at the Lisbon airport went smoothly. There were Regent representatives with signs who helped us with luggage and took us to the waiting bus for transport to the hotel. I counted about 30 people on the bus who obviously were on the same plane as us.

As I mentioned before when you pick a concierge level room on the ship as an added perk you get a hotel room stay prior to boarding the ship, and transportation to the hotel, then to the ship. More often than not the hotel is a higher class hotel, in our case we would be staying at the Four Seasons Ritz in downtown Lisbon. It is elegant but I was not impressed with their check-in process. We started to queue up at the front desk where there was only one person.  Then another person showed up to say they had arranged for us to check in in a special room which a few of us were led to. Once there we again found only one person handling the process until finally two others showed up to help. Not my idea of how a hotel that charges $800/night should be run! Luckily I was early in the line and got our room key quickly. I must say the rooms are top cabin, with real orchids, high end toiletries and more electronic light switches to control everything in the room than I have ever seen. Yes, there are robes and slippers but the latter are cheaper versions, unlike ones I have received in the past when I had the opportunity to stay at a Four Seasons hotel.

 

We were not terribly hungry so simply went to the bar area for a quick salad and sandwich before calling it a day. Drinks were surprisingly priced similar to Seattle, however, meal dishes were typically higher than you would expect in an equivalent Seattle restaurant.

We board our ship tomorrow!