Just Back From Alaska on Regent Mariner

[jhenry1]

This was our first time on the Mariner and also Regent. First of all there were some positive and negative points regarding the smaller ships vs. the larger ships. I joined cruise critic prior to this cruise and really researched the boards. There were positive remarks and negative remarks regarding Regent. I am going to give you my take on our cruise.

It was great to have everything included in the price but according to someone on the boards the prices had greatly increased from this time last year . We received free air, free hotel for 1 night in Anchorage, wine(some),liquor(some),no tipping,speciality coffee, some free excursions and according to others greatly reduced prices on the ones that were not free, and no upcharge for the speciality restuarants. This was nice but I think my expectations were set way too high.

The majority of the excursions we booked were not the free ones and the two we really wanted to do the helicopter to the glaciers and the floatplane were cancelled due to the weather. Let me say that the weather was not co-operative. Rained almost everyday although not hard just drizzle and very cloudy.

We booked a Horizon Suite and the room was lovely and had a great deck but really unable to enjoy due to the weather. Great walk in closet. This room also came with a butler although I am not sure what a butler does all day. He did help with some unpacking and brought cheese and wine every afternoon.

The coffee connection was great the the coffee Nelson and the Lattes were nice to get.

We were disappointed in the food. Our expectations were that the food would be soo much better than the larger ships which in our opinion it was not. Many times the service in the restuarants was not great. Prime 7 was much better than Signatures. Compass Rose and La Veranda in our opinion had average food but not 5 star dining like we had expected from the reviews we had read.

There has been soo much talk regarding the dress onboard and I want to inform everyone that we saw people in all the venues in jeans(nice ones) and shirts with no collars. The dress code is not an issue. I am not quite sure why this was such a big concern for many.

We did meet some wonderful people on board which is much more difficult on larger ships. All of the transfers from the airport to the hotel, hotel to the Grandview train, and from the ship back to the airport went very smoothly.

The ship was in some very rough water and many people got sick and on larger ships this movement is not that bad.

Everyone we encountered was very polite and helpful.

The casino was very small and very little action at night. The shows on larger ships are much better. It is very quite on board so if you are looking for nightlife and action this is not for you. After 10p.m. very quite.

Getting on and off in the ports was a breeze. No lines on or off. Many people must stay on board and never leave the ship.

The massages in the spa were the best I have had onboard a ship.

Finally I want to end with the fact that we enjoyed our cruise but I am not sure the price even with everything included is worthy of such great reviews, but I realize that everyone has their opinions. I am glad that we cruised with Regent but not sure we would again, but who knows we could change our minds.

Please for those of you who like Regent there were things I liked but also things I did not and everyone is free to voice their opinions and I am trying to do just that.

Happy cruising. Think about the things I mentioned small ship vs larger and make your on decision as to what is important to you.

[Host Dan]

Thank you for your insightful and balanced review. I feel badly that the weather was not cooperative on your cruise. Nice weather would have really enhanced your experience I bet!

Host Dan

[RachelG]

I have to agree with you about the butler. What do they do all day? We have never booked one of the suites with a butler because I couldn't see the needed.

[wripro]

Sunshine always makes everything look better, doesn't it?

[Travelcat2]

I also appreciate you taking the time to post your review. The weather certainly put a damper on a cruise (no pun intended).

The inconsistency in adherence to the dress code is puzzling. When we were on the Mariner in Alaska last year, we saw people being asked to leave the Observation Lounge at 6:00 p.m. because the dress code was in effect and their were not properly attired. We did not see any jeans at night -- anywhere. Now, with probably a different crew, there was no problem wearing jeans, etc. While I personally feel that the dress code for Alaska itineraries should always be casual, it seems that no one can make a recommendation because things are not consistent

Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Travelworldowner]

We leave next week for the Mariner. I certainly hope the weather is better and the seas are calmer. I'm taking a patch just in case. Thanks for the input.

[poss]

Thanks for your review. It's a bummer that your excursions were cancelled. We were on the Aug. 5 sailing and had not-good weather as well (extremely fog-clouded). We were fortunate enough not to miss our copter and float plane excursions, but many folks did. I remember that there were a lot of dandy-sounding land or sea excursions in the various ports; I like to think that you enjoyed some of those. And I know what you mean about the cost-- all the "free" this and "free" that nonetheless add up to a mighty expensive vacation.
Btw, we never saw jeans in the restaurants at night except the one time we had dinner in La Veranda. And we're among those people who turn in early-- don't think we've ever been out and about past 9:30-10:00. I was wondering if the youngsters on board were hipping and hopping into the wee hours. (In fact, there weren't many teens on our sailing: lots of kiddies and pre-teens though.)

[Ebonybombshell]

I am on my first Regent trip right now in Ketchikan. Right now I am having a ball and fully intend on posting a review. I really have nothing to complain about at all at this time, save for my room service sandwich.....

I did the Misty Fjord floatplane and then they cancelled the one right after because of the fog coming in during ours....but it was absolutly beautiful. Now I'm going on the George Inlet Crab feast. I will try to check back in later. It has not seem crowded to me in any capcity yet....I have yet to meet any fellow CC'rs

Prime 7 was amazing...my only very very very slight issue was my filet was med well instead of med

[ededmd]

Originally Posted by jhenry1

I am going to give you my take on our cruise.

Originally Posted by Ebonybombshell

I am on my first Regent trip right now in Ketchikan. Right now I am having a ball and fully intend on posting a review.

jhenry1 - thanks so much for taking time to post your thoughts.

Ebonybombshell - Totally looking forward to your review!

[AnglerGirl]

Alaska, although beautiful, isn't pretty at all if the weather doesn't cooperate. Lack of sunshine can indeed bum you out! I loved this review. Thank you so much for sharing it.

[Travelcat2]

Originally Posted by Ebonybombshell

I am on my first Regent trip right now in Ketchikan. Right now I am having a ball and fully intend on posting a review. I really have nothing to complain about at all at this time, save for my room service sandwich.....

I did the Misty Fjord floatplane and then they cancelled the one right after because of the fog coming in during ours....but it was absolutly beautiful. Now I'm going on the George Inlet Crab feast. I will try to check back in later. It has not seem crowded to me in any capcity yet....I have yet to meet any fellow CC'rs

Prime 7 was amazing...my only very very very slight issue was my filet was med well instead of med

You're FINALLY on board. We are really enjoying the Alaska cruise reports lately (as opposed to the first half of the summer). We can't book our excursions until February, 2010, but intend to book the George Inlet Crab fest. Looking forward to your thoughts on this excursion --hope you come back crabby (I'm not good with jokes).

Continue to enjoy your cruise!

[Border Rat]

Originally Posted by Travelcat2

...intend to book the George Inlet Crab fest. Looking forward to your thoughts on this excursion --hope you come back crabby (I'm not good with jokes)

If you like good crab even a little bit, by all means consider the George Inlet Crab Feast in its several manifestations. I expected this to be a semi-cheesy, touristy deal (only went because I really wanted a floatplane experience) but we, and everybody we talked to, thought it was terrific. The crab is bountiful, incredibly fresh and delicious. I grew up catching and eating Texas Gulf Coast blue crab and really fresh Dungeness crab is on a different plane entirely.

[poss]

I'm kicking myself. I wanted (well a part of me wanted) the float plane experience also. And I kept reading about Misty Fjords-- how spectacular it was (and it was). So I decided to forego the George Inlet Crab Feast (which I really really wanted to do) because that excursion, while done in one direction by plane (one can do both ways by boat if I'm remembering correctly), doesn't go to Misty Fjords. Now I'm reminded by Ebony that one can in fact do BOTH Misty Fjords AND Crab Feast. Aaargh: a bombshell for sure.
(And I thought I'd planned so carefully!)

P.S. Border Rat: Gulf Coast blue crabs are a different beastie from Maryland blue crabs. I swear-- it's true. :-)

[Border Rat]

Originally Posted by poss

I'm kicking myself.

P.S. Border Rat: Gulf Coast blue crabs are a different beastie from Maryland blue crabs. I swear-- it's true. :-)

Sometimes hindsight isn't perfect, just painful. It won't make you feel any better but I chose the crab feast over Misty Fjords and now have basically the opposite remorse. However, I did get to eat the crab.

I won't quibble one bit about the relative merits of Texas vs. Maryland blue crab. Having spent a blissful afternoon on a pier in Maryland decimating the crab population I'm prepared to call it a tie on taste with the edge going to Maryland for scenery and ambiance. However, a lobster right out of the cold Maine water and into the pot is truly a different beastie.

[breezepark]

can't I have wonderful crab on the ship instead of using excursion time to eat? what am I missing here?

and has anyone who stayed on the ship touring tracy arm vs doing the tracy arm excursion have any comments about the views?

[RachelG]

You will be able to get much closer to the glacier (and the calving, which is really the not-to-be-missed part) on the Tracy Arm excursion rather than staying on ship. I have said MANY times and will say again, the Tracy Arm excursion is without a doubt the absolute best excursion we have gone on anywhere. And we travel A LOT.

Agree--I would not go on a crab eating excursion over Misty Fjords, but that's just me. The crab on board was quite satisfactory for my palate.

[breezepark]

thanks for the reply. suspected as much about the tracy arm excursion after all the glowing posts - poss's was extrordinary. now I just have manage to book it when our reservations link opens!

[poss]

Reminder: For those who might want to do the crab feast (which many people seem to greatly enjoy), it seems that you can do BOTH-- Misty and Crabs. Remember, too, that the crab served on board is Alaska King Crab legs. If I'm not mistaken, the crab at the George Inlet feast is Dungeness, which I don't think is served on board at all. In short, sounds like it could be a win-win situation.

[Border Rat]

Originally Posted by poss

Reminder: For those who might want to do the crab feast (which many people seem to greatly enjoy), it seems that you can do BOTH-- Misty and Crabs. Remember, too, that the crab served on board is Alaska King Crab legs. If I'm not mistaken, the crab at the George Inlet feast is Dungeness, which I don't think is served on board at all. In short, sounds like it could be a win-win situation.

Absolutely correct, Poss. In fact, the Dungeness crab at George Inlet is caught by them the same day it is served to you. It had that perfect smell of salt water and nothing else. Since it is so readily available I can't imagine why they don't serve it on board, at least occasionally. Those of us who have lived where truly fresh crab is available know how wonderful it is. (That's you and me Poss) Trivial fact: since the season is so short, all King Crab is frozen immediately after it is unloaded so there's really no such thing as fresh King Crab.

[Travelcat2]

Originally Posted by Border Rat

Absolutely correct, Poss. In fact, the Dungeness crab at George Inlet is caught by them the same day it is served to you. It had that perfect smell of salt water and nothing else. Since it is so readily available I can't imagine why they don't serve it on board, at least occasionally. Those of us who have lived where truly fresh crab is available know how wonderful it is. (That's you and me Poss) Trivial fact: since the season is so short, all King Crab is frozen immediately after it is unloaded so there's really no such thing as fresh King Crab.

That was a really interesting fact! Our Alaska trip last year (and next year) started in San Francisco. The fish on board was "okay" until we reached Ketchikan -- then it became great. They apparently load fresh fish in Ketchikan and Seward.

With all of this crab talk, I'm craving crab. We have lots of Dungeness crab in WA -- I prefer King (dungeness is too furry)