DeepFreeze63

Have done several "back-to-back" cruises with Regent. They always had nice excursion options for those who stayed on board. Never got notice of availability until 2nd or 3rd day of first leg. Destinations Desk on Board always told me they didn't know in advance and had to wait to hear from Headquarters. You can a hint by looking at what Regent has offered for "Rome" in the past for non-changeover days (Regent doesn't necessarily offer all of these excursions on BTB days).

Sarah: As usual, TC2 gave very good advice. I'll add some insights from a 77 year-old male. Regent caters to an older crowd so they're well aware of the need for potty breaks and they plan accordingly. In the very rare occasions where this may be a problem it is well called out in the on-board excursion flyer.

Regent always supplies water bottles and I often take one or two energy bars from the morning's breakfast bar at the pool grill - just in case I need energy during the excursion.

PS: Regent pays your TA a handsome fee so don't hesitate to ask advice. I've found Regent headquarters and especially their web site to be very uninformed so use your TA and this CC site - I and many others love to help.

Hi:

There was a whole range of no-charge exercise classes on the Voyager in February/March. I loved the spinner class. They generally were in the mornings or 3-4 in the afternoon (my favorite time). You must sign up; they are usually very well attended. Signup list and schedule were on the Spa desk several days ahead of the class. Steam room and sauna nearby were terrific!

Hi: Wife and I are on the Voyager this October, from Istanbul to Dubai. Making excursion plans and would love to know the probable Voyager docking location in: Istanbul (we're staying in Old Town prior to cruise), Abu Dhabi (we'll do on our own)' and Dubai (we're staying at the Hilton on Dubai Creek after the cruise.). Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi: I wasn’t going to write this post but after reading the “Does Regent Care” thread, I believe that maybe I can contribute to some information valuable to Regent’s consideration of their off-ship operations. Please read through to the end.

DW and I just returned from a terrific 33 day cruise on the Voyager from Sydney to Hong Kong (our 6th Regent Cruise). Regent handled all the arrangements. The on-board experience was wonderful. We especially loved: our fellow passengers, Ray Solaire (the CD), the dancers and their shows, the restaurant managers in Verandah and Setti Mare, the renovations done at the last “dry dock”, the medical staff, the special lunches on the pool deck, and as usual the smiling crew. We had Regent-sponsored stays in Sydney (3 nights) and in Hong Kong (1 night); they were perfectly enjoyable.

All our excursions (all were “included”) at ports in AUS went well and were enjoyable. Later, Komodo Dragons was a very pleasant surprise – great fun (we had a cool temperature) On many of these we had an Regent crew member with us as well as the local guide.

When our excursion to the temple at Borobudur was cancelled because of the nearby volcanic eruption, we requested Regent to get us aboard the scheduled side trip to Angkor Wat – they obliged. We had a terrific, fun –packed 3 day/2 night experience in a wonderful venue. Regent provided a crew member (Ass’t. F&B Manager) as our chaperone. Any little issues were solved before they could detract from our enjoyment. Way to go Regent!

BUT (yes there is a But). We had a horrific experience on an excursion in Da Nang – our well being was put in danger. The excursion took us to the cable car ride and then to Bana Hill. As advertized the cable car ride was fun. When we got off the cable car, we were ushered into a 10 passenger van that drove a short distance down an unpaved, one lane mountain road that was missing several guard rails. We were let off in an active construction site (they are busy building a “Disney World” type venue). We were the only ones without hard hats and had to walk among both workers carrying 10 foot sections of rebar and others welding. Our guide got lost and took us walking along a dirt, construction road (we were within 3 feet of moving dump trucks and concrete trucks). We walked ¼ mile the wrong way before the guide discovered (told by a truck driver) the error; we turned and walked about a half mile (though active construction) to the base of the cable car tower where there was no regular entrance (we climbed a 35 step fire escape for entry). Pictures were provided by some of the participants to Destination Services plus complaints about putting us in harm’s way. I’ll bet that Regent doesn’t show them to their insurance company.

Yes, we had a awful, awful local guide but Regent should have had boots on the ground to evaluate such venues and make adjustments. This excursion could have easily led to serious injury to passengers and really bad press for Regent.

Lots of very good photographers will surely be aboard as guests. Lots of terrific venues and opportunities for memorable photos. My wife, a truly great portrait photographer, is always offering help to those fellow passengers who ask. Its me who you don't want!

Thanks TC2. I,(a wine only drinker), now have a list of "I'll try once" cocktails etc. for a 33 days starting 2/1.

Hope we sail together someday.

Jim C

We've done 2 "grand crossings" of our 4 Regent cruises; we loved them. Did a 10 day, port-intensive Med cruise with Regent and found it too tiring! We love the sea day activities and a few ports interspersed every 3 to 4 days. DW likes to dress up so I took my tux previously but on the upcoming cruise (33 nights with 2 "formal") I'll bring a dark suit instead (gives me a chance to show that I finally learned to tie a bow tie!

Thanks TC2! We will board on 2/1 and I just made a note on my planning sheet to enjoy the miso glazed sea bass. Because I have a carnivore for a wife, I try to never have red meat away from home and I usually succeed. Any recommendations on the chicken or the duck?

Jim C

Hi:

We've been on 4 regent cruises (2 more booked) and love the on-board experiences. Realistically, we can sail with whoever we wish but have decided that we will only go with Regent's Mariner or Voyager (probably will make an exception for Explorer if I still up and about). As I leave the ship, I'm already planning the details of the next cruise.

My advice is not to be concerned about CC reviews but to try a cruise and make your own mind up. CC is good for tips make your experience even better. Happy sailing.

Hi! First, I confess that I am a dress code zealot – I’m very comfortable with Regent’s “elegant casual”. I think that I am in the middle of the pack as to men dressing for dinner. I bring: two light weight sports coats (and a blazer for colder or longer cruises), 2 ties to go with colored shirts, and about 10 nice long sleeve shirts. I only wear a tie for the Captain’s dinner and maybe the specialty restaurants. I never wear a coat in Setti Mari but always in the two specialty restaurants. Otherwise, it’s long sleeve shirts for me for dinner.

Oops! No wonder I liked those mid-ship, deck 7 cabins! On our first Mariner cruise three years ago, they were Category H and two years ago they were Category G. After 12/19/2013, they become Category F.

Are you sure that there are F cabins on the Mariner's deck 7? Of our 3 Mariner cruises (2 on Deck 7 and I on Deck 8) we liked the mid-ship G cabin on Deck 7 the best; it was convenient to Gym, Coffee Connection (use the stairs in the Casino), and the boutiques.

We hated the tubs - too high for short people to get in/out easily (safely) and puts a tall person's head near the ceiling. Never had bad weather so I can't comment about stability.

Maybe I'm starting to join the "conspiracy" group on the Regent Board but I also find the lack of prompt responses strange! Especially with all the build up.

Hi:

We always reserve the once/segment advance dining at both Prime 7 and Signatures as soon as the window opens up for us. We always "share" and never have had a problem at 7 pm. On board, we play it by ear and check at about 6 pm when we're interested. However, I will say that 1) we are big fans of both Compass Rose and Setti Mari and 2) on cruise last month (our 4th on Regent), we didn't think these "specialty restaurants were that special - we think they need a "pop"! Hope the new Explorer moves in that direction.

I like Regent's reservation policy and I would feel offended if I had to sign a check (as soon to be required on Crystal).

Wow is right! Thanks FDR. It's appreciated that you read this stuff. As for others' comments, I visit the Regent web site every day that I am home and love browsing the trips; I just don't need nor want the mailings.

Count me in on this complaint! Ive tried via my TA to stop this "snail mail" but it still comes.