ClefsDor

We are very much like Belfast Taxman in that we like to do a fair bit of planning and tend to ask a LOT of questions about any new cruise line we are thinking of trying and even more so once we've booked. Partly this is to embark with a reasonable expectation of what to expect and to avoid certain disappointments - e.g. knowing in advance that the MDR will be closed on embarkation day. We are used to Crystal and dining in the MDR when we embark. If the question hadn't been raised we would have been a little surprised and a tad disappointed but knowing ahead of time that it will be closed we will avoid that.

But another reason why I enjoy threads such as this is that it builds my anticipation and gets me even more excited for my upcoming cruise! When we took our first cruise I asked many questions similar to this thread and many others about all sorts of inconsequential "stuff" and my husband had the same impression - that I would leave nothing to surprise us when we finally embarked but in fact it was the opposite. We knew what to do, where to go, which tickets to try and secure first once we boarded and where. It enhanced our cruise experience immeasurably. In fact we spoke to quite a few new cruisers on that same cruise and many of them had missed out on tickets to things like the magicians show because they were unaware about it, or extra specialty restaurant reservations as they didn't know the Maitre'd had a special office set up on embarkation day to deal with new bookings and seat allocations (back in the times of set dining).  So I totally understand Belfast Taxman's various threads on this cruise and hope he keeps them coming.

We did a Crystal cruise earlier this year to St Petersburg and we were at the dockyards. We did a private tour with a guide and driver for just my sister and I for 3 days with TJ Travel - highly recommend them and we covered so much more ground being on our own. We cleared immigration much quicker than I was anticipating, literally took only a few moments each day and whilst we had the visa provided by the cruise company it was never looked at even once so I assume we could have exited and wandered around on our own if we had wanted to. I'm not sure how they would regulate to make sure you were with your guide when the area you are supposed to meet your guide is after you've cleared immigration. We found the drive time from the dockyards to central St Petersburg to take roughly 25 minutes. We met our guide each day at around 8.45am - I would check with your guide about your start time as 10.00am sounds a little late to me?

Just to clarify - I meant the Crystal salon had ghd hair straighteners to use, not to borrow out to customers and I only mentioned that because one poster said that the Canyon Ranch salon didn't have any. Travelcat, that's very strange that you didn't have a Dyson hairdryer in the Crystal Penthouse. We were in a regular PH and had one. Should you ever cruise on Crystal again please ask your butler to replace it. I notice that the $79 charge includes a roller set and blow dry but no prices for just a regular blow dry - I assume it must be less?

$70 for a blowout sounds very pricey! I know on Crystal for a medium length blow out the cost is $49 and I've always been happy with the final result. They also have GHD irons etc if one requires them. Does anyone know what the hairdryers in the staterooms are like? Again on Crystal they have the latest Dyson so hoping Regent will have something similar?

The Australian website includes port fees and taxes in the fare price but the airfare cost has been removed. The US site includes both air and taxes/ports fees but if one wants air removed from the fare then the price can be reduced accordingly.

Thanks very much, Flossie - that's great to know!

I understand that one can reserve a table at each of the specialty restaurants per cruise online prior to the cruise commencing but is that just per 7 days? If we are on a 14 day cruise are we able to book 2 tables at each specialty restaurants online or only if the cruise is in 2 segments?

2 hours ago, mj_holiday said:

Email address is   GuestRelations@rssc.com.  I do call Regents around 3 months before our cruise to request what we would like in our minibar set up.  I had read several times here on cruise critic that if you want something special (like a special type of beer)  to make sure to let Regents know in time for Regents to be able to get it.   The last time I did not call, we met with our cabin attendant and requested what we would like and it was 2 days before we got it. (I know that sounds picky . . . it is just easier for us to request it ahead of time)

Thanks for providing the email address! 

Is there an email address that one can use to contact Regent regarding preferences for bedding etc? This would be handy for those in non butler suites. On Crystal there is an onboard guest services email that one can use to make requests for all suite categories without having to call your TA or Crystal. Does Regent have something similar? We live in Australia and calling Regent head office in the States is not a great option. I know I can go through my TA but these are the sort of small things I prefer to handle myself if possible.

From what I can understand the caveat to all this is what suite category you're booked in. We have just booked our first Regent cruise on Splendor but we're not in a Concierge or above Suite so I'll be interested to see how many excursions are available by the time we're allowed to book. Fortunately it's a Caribbean cruise so the excursions, for us, aren't as important as a cruise to somewhere like the Baltics.

Thank you for posting the list and the link to the thread. I'm impressed at how many inclusive wines are offered!

Thank you, Dave! 

I would love to see a list of the inclusive wines on Explorer if anyone has it? I presume that in Compass Rose they suggest a red and a white on each evenings menu but is there anywhere where one can get a full list of inclusive wines to know what others are available? 

What restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day on Explorer?

I'm surprised that Regent would only offer an OBC as compensation - especially as being the "most inclusive cruise line" there really isn't that much one could spend their money on other than the spa and shopping? I would definitely be asking my TA to push back on this. Regent's offer reflects poorly on them which is a shame. If they had just done the right thing from the get go there would be people talking about how fair and proactive they are in keeping their customers happy instead of people now talking about them negatively.

We're considering a Caribbean cruise on Splendor over the holiday period in 2021 and I notice that on both Christmas Day and NYE that the ship is in port. I've only done a holiday cruise once on Crystal and Christmas Day was a  sea day and NYE we were only in port until 6.00pm. Having everyone on board for both these special days added to the ambience on the ship. I'm wondering how this affects things on Regent when people can be off the ship and on NYE as late as 11.00pm? Also given that Christmas Day is in port does that mean no special lunch?

Thanks, that explains why I couldn't see it. Glad to know it's such a nice gym!

We're thinking of booking our first Regent cruise on Splendor and was just looking at the deck plans on the website. Maybe I missed it but there doesn't appear to be a gym? Could this be right? I find the only way I can eat all the wonderful food on cruises, somewhat guilt free, is by going to the gym everyday. Wish I had the constitution where I didn't need to but alas that's not the case so in order to eat what I fancy I need to offset it with a visit to the gym 😅. I'm pretty sure I've seen videos of the Explorer and there is a gym so assuming there'll be one on Splendor too but just couldn't see it on the deck plan.

Just wanted to add something to the discussion regarding size of staterooms. We have only sailed on Crystal but are considering a Caribbean cruise on Splendor. On Crystal we have sailed in both PH staterooms and the entry level cabins with verandah. We are chronic over packers and travel with at least 3 large suitcase and a carry on each. The verandah cabins on Crystal are so well thought out and have so much storage space that we are able to completely unpack and still have a couple of empty drawers. Do I prefer the PH"s?  Sure, but sometimes the price differential is so much that we can't justify the cost. We do enjoy spending some time in our stateroom but most of the time we are out and about or on the verandah, weather permitting. You'll be surprised at how comfortable the smaller rooms are. I was a little nervous when we saw the size of our first non PH cabin but once we were fully unpacked it was incredibly comfortable.

26 minutes ago, xrvlcruiser said:

I think the 214sq ft cabins on the Serenity are mostly mostly used for staff and entertainers. That includes the Dance Hosts, Religious people and the like as well as performers and lecturers. I don't think in general, they are used by passengers

Actually all the entry level staterooms, and that equates on Crystal to all cabins below a penthouse, are the same size. The only thing that varies is that some only have a window and these are called Ocean View Rooms and the others have verandahs. The interior size and layout are identical with or without a verandah,  although Serenity has slightly larger rooms than Symphony as it's a slightly bigger ship. The other thing that differs of course is the level they are on and the position i.e. aft, forward or midship. So whilst, guest speakers and entertainers may well be in the these cabins so are passengers as they are the only cabins available before PH category.

The chandelier is indeed lovely but gosh the room is SO bright!! 

40 minutes ago, English Voyager said:

On the Europa 2, in all the dining venues, the wine steward will sniff the cork, and taste the wine, and if it is ok he/she will then pour a little for the diner to sample.

I had assumed that on the Explorer the wine stewards followed the same practice.

Europa 2 is not inclusive so all the wines that are served at dinner are wines that are purchased, hence the fact that each on is tested prior to serving.

I must say after watching episode 2 that I came away with the impression that the sommeliers on board are a little on the under experienced side. Now this may have come across like that due to creative editing by the directors but if that is indeed the case then I'm a little surprised. Our experience has only been with Crystal and all the sommeliers on board are extremely knowledgeable and experienced and equal to any sommelier we have had in very good restaurants on land. I'm enjoying watching the shows but do wish they would stop with all the price tag information. 

Thanks Travelcat2 and Bob for your comments on the lighting. Personally, I really like the look of the blue light fixture and it's good to know that it's not harsh lighting and that you found it pleasant to dine in, Bob. Whilst the main dining room on both Crystal ships have been refurbished since you were on they still have the same ambient lighting in the evenings and it sounds like CR is no more bright than on Crystal.

Just wondering about the lighting in Compass Rose on the Explorer. All the videos/pictures I've seen make it appear as though the lighting at night is very very bright. I personally prefer softer and dimmer lighting in restaurants in the evening - could be that the lighting was adjusted to allow for pictures/videos and it's not actually like that?