Pod Issues Stymie Second Seven Seas Voyager Cruise; Intriguing Trades Offered

[LauraS]

Cruise Critic has just posted the following news:

Pod Issues Stymie Second Seven Seas Voyager Cruise; Intriguing Trades Offered

Read the entire news article...

[ridolphi]

Well since we were on that Oct 3 cruise, and were cruising with a large group of cruise friends, and have just late last night arrived home I don't know if we would choose one of these. We have not had any official communication from Regent regarding this information, other than being told we would receive a full refund and they would fly us home, which they did yesterday.

Need some time to re group if the truth be known.

[Dan Askin]

Originally Posted by ridolphi

Well since we were on that Oct 3 cruise, and were cruising with a large group of cruise friends, and have just late last night arrived home I don't know if we would choose one of these. We have not had any official communication from Regent regarding this information, other than being told we would receive a full refund and they would fly us home, which they did yesterday.

Need some time to re group if the truth be known.

Thanks for commenting, and very sorry about your canceled cruise. We're trying to get some more info on the extent of the damage, but no luck so far. The line told us on Monday that it was finalizing compensation/trade options, and so the news reached us yesterday evening.

[CtheW0rld]

Yes, I would be happy to trade a 10-night cruise for a 25-night. I never get a sweet deal like this.

[dicamus]

Anything would be better than nothing, however a 'trade' surely must be up to the individual concerned. Not being tied to time I would accept any 'trade' that gave me better value for money already spent.

[marylandcrab]

The same thing happened to us on the Celebrity Millie about 6 days before we were to fly to Auckland to board the ship. We were refunded the total amount that we paid with an online TA as well as air which we had booked through Celebrity. In addition we were ALSO given a FREE cruise anywhere with the same 15 day duration and cabin level as the cancelled cruise, to be used with a 2 year period. That seemed fair to us as we had our money back and the right to take another cruise free at a time of our choosing.

[Colonel(Ret.)Wes]

Dan, thanks again for another timely report on the Voyager status. If my DW was retired we would select SF to Auckland in a heartbeat. FYI, another option provided by Regent to onboard pax was to sail on Oceania's Nautica (was berthed next to the Voyager in Athens). We know one couple who selected this option.

[Jim B]

If I was retired I would jump at one of the replacement cruises but
since I am not I would probably take the credit and see about using
it on a November 28th 2011 cruise I already have booked.

[luvcruisn']

I'm not retired, but I have a lot of vacation time I can use. I would definitely take one of the longer cruises in trade. Unfortunately, as a single who pays the single supplement, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to afford a Regent cruise.

[Anna B.]

Originally Posted by Colonel(Ret.)Wes

Dan, thanks again for another timely report on the Voyager status. If my DW was retired we would select SF to Auckland in a heartbeat. FYI, another option provided by Regent to onboard pax was to sail on Oceania's Nautica (was berthed next to the Voyager in Athens). We know one couple who selected this option.

Colonel Wes, We were not given the cruise on Oceania as an option. Apparently they had a couple of openings, and took on a couple of our pax, but sailed full. Our TA checked into this possibility immediately upon learning of our cancellation. I think it was an option many people would have jumped on if it had been offered. I'm not trying to be argumentative - that's just the story as I know it.

Kathy

[Colonel(Ret.)Wes]

Thanks Kathy, this couple was booked on the Voyager from 3 Oct -20 Nov..maybe that is why they were offered the Nautica early.

ps..just rcvd this news from Terry Breen (guest lecturer for 9 yrs on Regent)



Just a follow-up on the Voyager; just heard back from the ship and the repair will not be in Genova and is NOT extensive. They will be back on schedule for the next cruise. So good news! Just wanted to quell any concerns. You know how rumors fly. All will be well. Cheers!


Terry Breen
Cruiser Friendly Publications

email: newsletter@cruiserfriendly.com
web: http://www.cruiserfriendly.com

[Anna B.]

Thanks for this good news, Colonel Wes. We heard rumors last night that the Voyager would be heading to Marseille this morning, but by then I was reluctant to believe everything I heard. The shorter this repair is the better it will be for everybody involved. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

To address the original question of this thread....it's really hard to think when you are still stunned from what has happened, tired and not even home yet. What I don't like is that we are supposed to decide by the 15th. My daughter said, Wow, Mom, some of those cruises are amazing....could be the cruise of a lifetime. My response was that THIS was supposed to be the cruise of a lifetime We shall see.....

Kathy

[larry1365]

I understand from one couple who did switch from the Voyager to Nautica in Athens that there was only space for about 20 people to be accomodated...don't know if that's people or staterooms.

[mrlevin]

I asked about transferring to Mariner; no availability. Only room available on Nautica was one obstructed view and the rest inside. They filled them up; I don't know why anyone took that versus waiting for a 25 night Regent cruise.

Marc

[carolbookaholic]

Just returned and we were lucky to get aboard the Nautica after our Voyager cruise was cancelled. As to Marc's query why anyone would do this-the options for other cruises were not being offered on 4th Oct. the day cruise was cancelled -only "offer" we heard about was arranging flights home.

Sooo, when I overheard someone asking about the Nautica, I went to the Gen
Mgr. immediately to ask about it. Our name was put at the bottom of a long list.
Many decided not to book apparently, because I kept checking and finally we were able to book an inside cabin. We considered ourselves very fortunate to be cruising when almost everyone else was headed home!

When we learned of the Regent offer of other cruises in an email from our TA on or about Wed. 13th Oct. We opted for Dubai -Capetown cruise rather than the refund. As previous poster said a 25 day for price of a 14 day is a "no-brainer".

We are retired so being home for not quite 3 weeks and going on another cruise is no problem! Lucky us, again...

As to our Nautica cruise-everyone on board was great- service, food and some "extra perks" such as ability to book specialty restaurants 4 times, made up for the inside cabin which normally I wouldn't have chosen, but I found it was very quiet and it didn't bother me not having a window or balcony!
We got to Israel and Egypt the most important ports on the Voyager itinerary for us so I think we are lucky, indeed.

Also number of passengers that transferred from Voyager to Nautica was either 21 or 23 not positive which # is correct, but the ones with whom I spoke were pleased to have the opportunity to be cruising and content aboard the Nautica even if the cabins were not what they would normally have chosen.!

[Colonel(Ret.)Wes]

pls see this thread for latest Voyager update (official) word:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1295062