In 2008, we had booked the 2009 Regent Seven Seas Navigator cruise from Istanbul to Fort Lauderdale. In August of 2009, we received notification that the Navigator was going in to early drydock and would not be sailing with passengers after Rome.  One of the compensation packages that Regent Seven Seas Cruises very generously offered was to transfer our booking to the Seven Seas Voyager cruise from Mumbai to Fort Lauderdale.  Once we made sure our work schedules could be rearranged, we quickly accepted the offer.  We made the right choice!

In Mumbai, we booked a room at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel.  We arranged transfers from the airport through the hotel and our car was there to pick us upon arrival.  Due to the bombings last year, when we arrived at the hotel, we had to clear security much like the security at an airport before we could enter the hotel.  We were taken to our room for check-in.  All the paperwork, etc. was prepared before we arrived.  Lovely!  We had a perfect location on the 15^th floor and overlooked the Gateway to India.  The Palace section was still not fully open as repairs from the bombing had not been completed, but the areas we did see were magnificent.  The pool area was spectacular but I’m not sure it would be large enough to accommodate all guests when the whole hotel is open.  The restaurants were excellent.  This would definitely be our first choice of accommodations if we were to return to Mumbai.

Our room in the Taj Mahal hotel.

View of the Gateway to India from our room.

The swimming pool at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai.

As we had arrived in Mumbai ahead of time, we did not book our transfers to the ship through Regent Seven Seas Cruises.  We arranged a transfer to the port through the hotel.  On arrival at the port we, along with all of the other non-Regent transfers, were held at the gate as no “private cars” were being allowed to the ship.  After some discussion between the group of drivers and the police, we were eventually allowed through.  Upon arrival at the ship, our bags were quickly taken by the ship’s crew.  The Voyager was to be our home for the next forty-six days and it felt good to be home.