D&L Thomas

Just off Caribbean 8/30. Crew seemed very short-handed. The ship was full and everyone had to be mostly inside (bad weather), and the wait for a beverage was excruciatingly long. Even in the Elite lounge, we sat at least 20 minutes just to order a drink. Dinner service was very slow too. And our poor room steward was clearly overworked although he tried his best, he was very harried and always rushing. Breakfast room service (usually just coffee) was very prompt, and once I was quarantined with Covid all room service was free including MDR meals. Room service actually called me to take my order and I quickly realized why: Because if I waited until closer to meal time, I'd be on hold for 30 minutes. There was no option to order from the TV. Once it did come the orders were always correct.

I am onboard Caribbean Princess with the Plus plan. Happy to answer any questions. The choices to order from Room Service are either the app or the phone. When you look for it on the TV it says “Call Room Service or use OceanNow in the Princess Medallion Class app.” My limited experience is that the app works just fine and orders arrive pretty quickly. We use the paper door tag for coffee and it has arrived 10-15 minutes before the earliest time selected. I tested positive yesterday morning for Covid - lots of cases onboard - and am self-isolated in our cabin. Had some chicken soup delivered for dinner along with two gin and tonics. I don’t get that kind of service when I am sick at home!

I am currently onboard Caribbean Princess, on the first sailing affected by these new changes to the Plus and Premiere packages. This ship doesn’t have Alfredo’s/Gigi’s. The casual dining choices are Vines, Planks, and Steamers. All are open for dinner only, and Planks/Steamers are open on alternating nights. We have the Plus package, for full disclosure, and can honestly say the changes haven’t affected us at all. We never ate dinner at any of the casual places; the menus didn’t appeal and early reviews weren’t great. What is very noticeable is how few people are using OceanNow. Last year on this same cruise it was borderline ridiculous. Last year I saw people sitting in a hot tub have a plate of potato chips delivered; I saw people sitting in the Piazza have a whole meal delivered; and I listened to someone who said their two teenagers loved to hang out in their cabin and have multiple orders of pizza and cookies delivered all night long. Yes, this is what they marketed: Anything you want, anywhere you are. But the fact is they don’t have nearly enough crew members to make good on that. It’s a course correction. And it puts Princess more in line with charges on other comparable lines.

You will, unless you have the Plus or Premiere bundle package. Be careful where you aim when the stuff hits the fan. Remember it isn't the fault of the ship's crew and please don't take it out on them.

Entry level price point for Regent Seven Seas is right around $1K per day. Which sounds outrageous, but there are good deals available sometimes. We tried Regent this Spring on a TA and it was completely wonderful and just as luxurious as you imagine, and we paid right about the same as in a mini suite on Princess. Considering all that was included and how uncrowded and lovely everything was, it was a great cruise. I wouldn't do it again, for a variety of reasons, but I'm glad to have had the experience. You want sticker shock? Go look at the "Regent Suite" on their ships Grandeur, Explorer, and Splendor. It's 4,000 square feet. It has its own spa with unlimited treatments. In addition to your private butler, you have a private car with driver in every port. A 10-day cruise will set you back about $120K for two.

https://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow_southampton.htm This web page gives all the options. We have used the National Express Bus, it was very pleasant and reasonable costl

Quick update, and apologies for stirring a hornet’s nest of laundry woes. 😉 All is well. Communication is happening. Laundry is sorted. And we’re having a wonderful crossing.

All advice and counsel is much appreciated. We are so pleased with so much onboard, and getting happily surprised daily. It’s jarring when seemingly simple and routine things are not handled well or as promised but most everything is pretty darned fabulous. Things would have to be truly atrocious before I’d go complain to a supervisor or passenger service desk. I would talk to the steward directly but we have yet to meet him. The assistant has been by but she was not aware of any of our requests so maybe there are communication difficulties between the two of them. I will try leaving notes.

And that is perfectly fine. It’s just that we were told, very specifically, that if we turned it in by 9 in the morning it would be back by 6 that same day. There have been quite a few hiccups and I’m doing a check-and-adjust to my expectations.

First day laundry found and returned, on wire hangers tied with a bread twistie …. please don’t think I am complaining. But. Second small bag out by 9 and (again) not returned same day. Again - perhaps I had my sights set too high. The block party last night was fun, and today we are in beautiful Bermuda with perfect weather.

Bit of an update, our laundry is MIA. It’s just what we had the first night, so traveling clothes plus what we wore in the hotel. It was odd. The steward seemed like he didn’t remember picking it up from our room. At 11 he said he’d be right back with it; it’s after 2 now and no sign of him or message from him. I’m trying really hard to not take it all personally. 😬. And in the big picture view it’s all minor stuff but it’s good to hear from others that I’m not expecting too much.

The ship is gorgeous! And all the food we’ve tried has been excellent. Hope the weather holds. ☀️

It’s Day 3 of our first Regent cruise (Voyager). The ship is just beautiful, and we are beyond impressed at so many things - the food, the competence and confidence of the staff, the entertainment are all top notch. The cabin is beautiful! But. We’re seeing several missteps to the point of questioning whether this is normal or if we’re expecting too much perfection. When our stateroom attendant came to introduce himself the first day we were catching a quick nap, and he said he would come back to meet us properly. He has not done so. I gave him a few requests (ice in the bucket, and to swap out beverages, and what kind of liquor we wanted per his request). Went to dinner and upon our return none of the things we asked for were there. Called and the assistant came with ice and one of the two bottles we mentioned, and after I asked again about swapping the cans she left and came back with our club soda. All good, mostly. Second night, we came back after dinner and the show - just the melted ice from the night before and still no second bottle. The toilet had not been cleaned and there was no TP. The laundry we left out in the morning was not returned (as promised). We still haven’t really met the steward. I really do not want to complain and get anyone in trouble. This is a first world problem, 1,000%. And as I said so many things are truly beyond wonderful. But what would you more experienced Regent cruisers do? I’m planning to give it another day or two ……. Another question if I may. On other cruise lines (mostly Princess) we always enjoy sharing a dinner table and meeting people from all over. Sharing doesn’t seem to be a thing on this ship; the dining room hostess looked a little surprised when we asked. 🤷🏻‍♀️ So how do you meet people? Or is there just less casual socializing than I’m used to?

I am in Key West on a land vacation and curious about Constellation’s arrival. It came in much later than ships usually do, and ships are required to leave the island before sunset, so it seems a very short day. Was wondering if the late arrival was planned or if there was an issue?

Sailing to Saint John, or St. John’s? Today? The weather at both places looks dreadful. Hard to imagine they would attempt it.😳😳