Pack Leader

For context just watched The Cruise, following Virgin Scarlett Lady, narrated by Sheridan Smith, currently on its second series on UK TV. Oh dear! Makes me think of Benidorm at sea. Completely cringeworthy

I wondered what had happened to the next episode but found I could download it. Really, this should have been the first episode. Much more professional. Behind the scenes with food, entertainment team. No cringing this episode. Recommended

We complained about having no free sunbeds available on Princess as they were all reserved with books and towels and they sent a member of staff who went round clearing all the unoccupied beds of personal belongings. If I encounter this on my upcoming Regent cruise I will ask someone to clear the reserved beds

Well yesterday’s programme was a bit less cringeworthy and actually gave a little bit of insight into Regent as a cruise line. Hopefully the next few shows will gradually improve and help differentiate RSSC from other cruise lines and highlight the ship, dining, shore excursions etc and move away from being a soap opera, like the first episode.

Will watch the next episode from behind a cushion.

No Greece in May. Yes, the previous series, with John was much better insight into Regent. Must be a different producer on this series. Looked like a Ghost ship.

Still looking forward to our first Regent cruise, but will not be doing any crafting.

Ha! Forgot the Origami

Oh dear. Did not portray Regent in a good light. Felt embarrassed that we had told friends to watch it given we are booked. Spent too much time focusing on trainee host and showed guests playing Bingo and Hoopla during an enforced sea day. Failed to show off the restaurant’s and bars, food etc. Friends may wonder why we are paying so much for our cruise when we could enjoy parlour games on P&O. (Have been there, done that). All too happy to join in with quizzes, lectures, cooking demonstrations etc and I am not being a snob but I hope next weeks episode highlights the things that Regent offers, above its completion. Yes I saw the Versace plates and the Oslo trip organised for the suite guests and it was impressive. Preferred the previous cruise series.

Agree with everything said by the others here regarding the cruise and would add some further details - my wife’s main disappointment was that of the plus package Chardonnay wines, three listed, one unavailable - Decoy, said to be due to a promised delivery at Southampton on embarkation not arriving and a replacement Italian Chardonnay being added, which my wife felt was a very poor Chardonnay. We then had to purchase some additional cost glasses of wine that fall within the premier package. I would also concur with embarkation at Southampton being very slick and very quick. I would imagine the reason the cases had to be outside at 8 pm was due to the fact that there were limited numbers of staff and some staff duties were probably doubled up, as described above, certainly our cabin steward said that he would be arranging the luggage delivery on embarkation which is not his usual role. Shop floor staff should be applauded but on ship upper management and head office management need to look at their decisions closely and reflect on what improvements can be made in the future.

Penultimate day queued 20 minutes at 7.45pm for Santorini. This morning queued 15 minutes for final breakfast, in Capri. Service slow but we know they are understaffed

About 8.15pm

Agreed 100% with you on that

Yes Santorini open. Suite and Club right side Dine my way left side entrance. Staff obviously more experienced and v attentive. Queued 30 mins to enter however. Still not included on list on Patter. Friend told this cruise was close to being cancelled due to low staff numbers however cannot believe that - they would have only needed to cancel a few hundred pax to rebalance the numbers. V windy today. Going home to warmer temperatures than our cruise destinations seems weird!

Have watched several YouTube videos on VV. Just not my cup of tea, bit too Ibiza for me. They have their market though and I reckon they will do well if they don't try to have too many ships, as it may be a bit niche.

Additional charges are starting to appear for the wine which is above our Plus package. So today, wandering around the ship we ventured into Santorini MDR and found they are open from 5.30pm and had been from 2 days into the cruise. No announcement has been made and Santorini does not appear on Princess Patter! Talk about poor communication. We think this ship is a reflection of the management on board and will report such when we are home. Will try Santorini tonight. 5 Skies production a technological marvel but overall not the most entertaining show. Rock Opera on last night. Was good last time on Sky. Evening theatre last night was Phil Tufnell. V funny, even though I do not like Cricket. Had the audience in stitches. La Coruna today. Not much to write home about. Back on board afternoon just 2 hours. Have our disembarkation notes today. A bit early! 2 days before

Chased Guest Services for update. They said case was on file but closed because we had been sent a bottle of wine. She reopened the case as we explained we had now docked twice and wanted an update to let us know if any further stocks had been loaded.

Tini Syrah from Sicily from memory

Not heard any gossip on Covid. Staff wearing mask. Odd passenger with a mask. Dinner was booked for 6.40pm. Only time pre cruise I could book. Other night arrived 7.15 ignoring booking, as it made no difference. Yesterday no queue at 7.30 and had fast service Seems hit and miss. Waiter on the night we had fast service offered us doubles on wine! Accepted - Reckon he knew orders for drinks would be delayed.

Specialty Dining was booked up very quickly. Many couldn't book prior to embarkation. My theory is that there are a lot of people who have been given sweeteners after their cruises were cancelled in the Pandemic

Quite impressed with Bilbao. La Coruna tomorrow

Think the Commodore has lost his voice! Leaving Bilbao now.

Have queued 10 minutes to enter MDR but service night 2 was 2 hours. Yesterday it was normal speed with v attentive waiting staff. Only red I am drinking out of choice on plus package is Sicilian Syrah which is quite good. No Malbec on Plus otherwise I would be drinking it. WiFi is slow as it has been previously so as expected on Plus package, so photos slow, videos don't bother but all as expected.

My wife drinks Chardonnay. 3 choices in Plus package. They only have 1 in stock - Adesso an Italian Chardonnay. Its rubbish according to my wife. Online shopping suggests it is very cheap. Put issue to guest services as a "disappointment" not a complaint. 36 hours later had heard nothing. Happened to see F&B manager and had a chat. Turns out this wine is an alternate they purchased when Decoy Chardonnay delivery never arrived. Said she would let us know if they picked up a new delivery of other Chardonnay at next port. Still heard nothing. She did send us a nice Penfolds. No note, so no explanation and no solution going forward. My wife has about 5 drinks a day and to her the wine is important. I think quality of drinks is quite emotive with cruisers. She has now been ordering a wine at $17 a glass and is questioned every time as it is above our package but we will take this matter up with Princess later, if we are charged.