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We’re looking at Panama Canal. Grandeur. Jan 2025 is waitlisted so we’re considering 01/2026. Concierge Cabin. 2 people. How far should we book? I was surprised that the ship is waitlisted a year away. 2 years seems like a very long time,we generally don’t book more than about 15/18 months out. I realise everyone’s comfort level is subjective, but is it normal that ships get waitlisted a year out. Thank you.

It seems like not everyone is getting an email so assuming the affected cabins and those in the vicinity are being notified. Our pre cruise hotel hasn’t sent a memo so whoever it was, we don’t have a hotel in common.

@Altamar, thanks. I feel a bit relieved if it’s just a generic memo to all. Plan on getting tested tomorrow anyway. Just to make sure.

Oops forgot to add that .Ascent. Am a bit frazzled as picked up a cold post cruise.

We received an email this morning re two people on a January sailing testing positive for Legionella. Did anyone else receive this memo? We were on the Feb 11th- 18th sailing. 10118. Im curious if others on that or other sailings received the email and if it’s a generic email or specific to certain cabins or decks. Thanks.

@Jim_Iain, we’re excited to try O as well, however a recent reviewer indicated that if we like X ( which we do, price is the problem), then we’d “ be bored out of our minds on O”.I’m a bit anxious, but we’re keeping our options open. Who knows we may be back on X in the future, but for the next couple of years all our cruises are not on X. We’re still doing family cruises on Royal though. Perfect for young adults.

Looking at Panama Canal.Both have similar ports. Full Transit Jan 2026 Regent : 12 day Concierge Cabin: C$23 098 ( pre TA / R OBC) 308 sq ft Granted no Butler in this category, I’ll just have to make do lol! X Ascent Dec 2025 Partial Transit 11 days Retreat Sky Suite: C$22 993 ( pre TA OBC , no OBC from X) 319 sq ft Ascent is a holiday sailing , but irrespective, for a luxury cruise line, Regent is well within our price point. Food in Luminae on our recent cruise was really uninspiring. Specialities were great.

Thank you @taxman1. Appreciate the detail and photos that you included in your review. We’re looking at Grandeur , Panama Canal. We were on the Ascent in a balcony cabin facing the Grandeur. As you sailed by we wondered if we would find it too small and sedate a ship. Our pool deck was hopping and Grandeur’s was soo quiet. We enjoyed Retreat and the ability to still enjoy the vibe of the big ship if we so chose but having read through a few reviews now, the food on Regent ,really seems a good few steps above X and the decor is stunning. Looking forward to trying something new. Thanks.

@Tr1v1alCru1ser, I’d also like to know why you wouldn’t go back to the older ships. We have our first O cruise on Vista coming up this summer and we’re considering an Asia cruise on Riviera( will book only after our Vista cruise). Both PH cabins. Thanks.

If I have a lot of OBC, then only would I use the spa on board. Be prepared for a hard sell afterwards of products used. I found even after a massage the therapist tried to sell me the massage oil lol. I said I’d first have to see if I didn’t react to the product so would decide during the week. Needless to say, I didn’t buy it. Hair products , shampoos etc, my standard answer is, I don’t wash my own hair at home as I have a standing appointment twice a week at the hair salon! After facials,again I’d say , well I’d rather wait and ensure I don’t react before I purchase anything. On Ascent, the hair stylist tried to convince me to see the Dr for a Liquid Face Lift ? I’m assuming they get paid a huge commission to sell products( or he thought I needed it!). Told him my son’s a Derm. so I don’t need to see anyone else. Be prepared and firm with your response as there definitely will be a push to get you to purchase product.

Loved the firm mattress, but yes did find it firmer than older ships( maybe those have been broken in). Pillows were soft, we each needed 3.

Thanks @Tranquility Base, we’re staying at the JW post cruise so will have some time to check a few out. Also watching a vlogger and he has featured a few place.

@clo, would you pls share some Food stops in Istanbul, if that’s allowed. TY

We’re on Turkish Ovation as well and with soo many ports in Turkey, one would assume any changes would’ve occurred by now. I am a bit concerned they’ll wait for after Final Payment before announcing any changes or worse still only after embarkation. Following closely as well.

Did any of you complain to GS or was it not problematic enough to do so? Just off Ascent( X) and couldn’t hear our neighbours at all. I’ve never had to use earplugs on a cruise so this would be a first for me lol!

@Galaxy2004, Retreat was a wonderful experience and if the price worked for us, I’d book it. At this point when it’s costing the same as Oceania then it gives me pause so we’re considering the smaller, more luxurious brands. We may miss X, but until we’ve done our Vista cruise, we won’t book Retreat. We are looking at Asia and it will be X or O as both have itineraries we like but will only decide after this summer.

Specialty Dining: We tried Raw on 5, Eden, Fine Cut and Le Voyage . All were really good. I would probably do Raw on 5 for lunch rather than dinner. We also tried Cyprus one night. Food and service were great . Mezze, Grilled Octopus , Short Ribs and Lamb Shank. Service was not as polished as Luminae, but food imo was tastier and with options from 3 other restaurants and Classic menu , I think it would be quite fine if we weren’t in a suite. We did have lunch in OVC on our final sea day. The cold seafood buffet was okay. Lovely to look at. The hot seafood buffet was delicious. Mussels , Octopus Pasta , Sauté Prawns, Grilled Snapper. Really a good selection. Entertainment was fantastic. Great shows, musical acts, bands , singers etc were really good and there was always a performance somewhere on the ship. The Club was a “happening spot” , many evenings. Luigi, the CD is phenomenal , his energy and enthusiasm was infectious. While this cruise had a more mature demographic and I saw only 4 strollers and a few multi generational families, the cruise was soo fun. The main pool had a great vibe. Great bands , fun dance classes and just a lovely, chill atmosphere. We rented a Cabana on the San Juan day as we only docked at 330pm and from experience it’s not easy getting loungers around the main pool. Of note : the end , half cabanas can be very windy. The middle ones are great. Even we’re only 2 people I would still splurge for the whole Cabana . Well worth it on the SJ day as it costs less on a Port Day. Disembarkation: quick and easy. Breakfast at 645. Bags would be available to Retreat guests from 715 am so we walked off around 8 am. Overall a great cruise. Butler service is back, food in OCV looked good, many options and the day we ate there was tasty. The one MDR we tried was much better than MDR on Equinox. Retreat was amazing. Ultimately we did get exactly what we paid for and more. We would book Retreat again if the price were right. As I’ve mentioned our Vista , 10 day Med Cruise in the summer in a PH ( with butler) is costing less than what we paid for on Ascent. We’re not sure if we will miss the big ship vibe, lively casino, many dining options, shows and multiple musical options. We do know we liked having access to it , but enjoyed the quiet resort like feel of Retreat. I would also consider Aqua Class to have access to Blu. I prefer sit down breakfasts , so this would be the prime reason and I’d book Specialty Dining and try two MDR next time. The thermal suite for us was not a huge advantage. Used it 3x only. No hydrotherapy pool, but the cost savings compared to Retreat would make it a good alternative if you can do without a Butler and your own pool deck. Thank you to all the regulars who post on CC. The info we gleaned from this board made a huge difference to our experience. Happy cruising to all.

Stateroom 10118: Gorgeous. Bed faces the sliders. Wonderful ocean views. Large Balcony. Huge Bathroom. Ample storage space. We asked for extra hangars and pillows precruise and it was in the room. Our Cabin Steward Ritesh was phenomenal. Introduced himself within a few minutes of our arrival. I asked about daily morning Cappucinos ( asked as I was curious if Butlers were back for SS), he indicated that the Butler would be responsible for that. Yay good news! Within half hour our Butler Putu arrived. He confirmed he would deliver early morning Capps and a fruit plate. Asked if we wanted the fridge emptied and filled with our preferences to let him know. He also advised us that he would be bringing us water everyday. We didn’t see him everyday, but he did pop in from time to time to ask what he could do for us. We’re low maintenance so didn’t need anything else as all reservations were done precruise and except for morning Capps we really didn’t need anything else. Any questions we had were answered in detailed. Both Ritesh and Putu were personable, proffessional and efficient. Retreat: Lounge all staff were wonderful. They do need a couple more servers as during busy times it took awhile to get served. Morning Bites, Afternoon Tea and Evening Canapes were good. Of Note: OVC had the same mini scones and a larger selection of sandwiches etc for daily Afternoon Tea,so if not in Retreat you’re not missing out. Pool Deck: very pretty, ample seating. I didn’t notice any chair hogs personally. Good service. No live music either in the lounge or at the pool. Luminae : service awesome. Literally staff were great. Food imo was rather bland, nothing really inspiring for us. We had all Breakfasts in Luminae. 9am closure is a bit too early imo. Had Embarkation and one other lunch and first and last night dinners here. The menus were not enticing and food was rather corporate in taste and presentation. Desserts were okay. Breads were divine, although I do wish they served the 3 dips with the bread as they do in MDR. Off course food is subjective so others may have a different opinion.

We booked an AqSS almost a year ago and even with all the inclusions, it was our most expensive cruise to date. We last cruised on Equinox in July ‘23 with our kids and grandkids. All 3 CC cabins. I will do separate posts in between catching up with laundry. During the year, the poor reviews started to come in, changes were fast and furious so we were quite anxious about the cruise we potentially were going to get. I did email celebrity with my concerns about a watered down and rather expensive producy( gave details of price we paid and what our upcoming O, Vista PH in July will cost us ) about 3 weeks before departure and received a call from an assistant to the CEO, reassuring me we would have an amazing time. Flights booked on our own , using AC miles. YYZ- FLL. Stayed at the Conrad. Fabulous hotel. 2 nights in FLL was enough for us as we need a day for Sawgrass this time. Embarkation: could only get 11.30 by the time I checked in but thanks to the info on CC we went to PE by 1030am. We could have boarded immediately but I wanted to experience the lounge as wasn’t sure if we’d ever do Retreat again so I wanted the full experience lol. Process was quick and flawless and within 6 mins we were sitting enjoying a cuppa. Boarded a few mins later and went straight to muster at The Club - 4 mins later we’re on our way to our cabin.

@mac_tlc, looking forward to following along as we get off Ascent. Luminae - service great , food ok. Have been for breakfast everyday , 1 lunch and two dinners. Food rather bland and uninspiring but it’s such a subjective thing so others may find it works for them . Overall Retreat has been great.

Thanks for the review. Love reading your posts. Currently enjoying Ascent, but I don’t have your skill or stamina to do a live. Will post a review when back home.

2 Hot Capps and fruit plate delivered on time this am. Trolley had a few carafes and other plates as well. I quite like not having to get up change and stand in line at Al Bacio for early morning Capps so works great for me.

In SS on Ascent. Just met our Room Steward and when I asked about Cappucinos every morning he said the Butler would take care of it. Half an hour later Butler showed up and introduced himself and said it was no problem. His first day on Ascent , but was on Beyond pre vacation. Things may be turning around. Ship is gorgeous.

Thank you. Enjoyed your review.

@zitsky, Apex, Prime Aqua Class cabins on Deck 9 and 10 seem to be a good location to me. Cabins above and below ,next to and in some cases even across from other cabins. Am I missing something about them? Looking at booking Apex to Norway potentially( have booked Prima but reviews are so extreme that we’re now ambivalent about NCL). Thanks.