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@Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin Thank you for your entire post not just for what I clipped above. I took the comparison spreadsheet I did and added a few more brands. I love doing stuff like that. As a matter of fact, it helped me pull the trigger on RSSC. When I add even more brands, I will post it again. As it relates to the NCL Haven, Celebrity Retreat and MSC Yacht Club, the concept of a ship-within-a-ship is near and dear to my heart. It was my way of cruising for so long and it changed the way I looked at cruising. I added some of those to the comparisons with Crystal Cruises. I also added a column for several types of Staterooms/Suites for each cruise. For example, RSSC I have Concierge and Penthouse as separate columns. When people read the comparisons that you saw, I tool lots of heat adding the Haven, Retreat and Yacht Club. I never said it was luxury. I said it was luxury to me because it improved my experience over past cruises. My hope is other will crowd source the document to make it a great tool. On RSSC, I would usually ask lots of questions about a new brand I am cruising. It seems I don't have that many questions for RSSC. Prior to booking, I did something few folks do. I went to the FAQ section on the website and went through each section. Very interesting. Taught me a lot. Thanks again for your thoughts. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@mhdesno2 Wow, thank you for reading the Explora Journeys review. I really had a great time writing it. That was a very special cruise for me because my older sister went with me and she had never been on a cruise before. Watching here enjoy was a big part of my enjoyment. I am doing the same detailed review on my next cruise in October on Oceania to the Med. I will also be doing the same type of review for this, my first RSSC next June. I fully agree that Explora Journeys is a Luxury not a Ultra Luxury brand. It just was not the excursions. It was also the drink program and the quality of the beef. They are working on both but does not reach the level of Ultra Luxury. Now, On RSSC, when I got online today and saw how the "Manage Your Cruise" section looked and worked, the clarity of the difference was pretty clear. Your suggestion to have a strategy on the Excursions makes complete sense to me. Just like on other brand with Specialty Restaurants bookings. Same kind of strategy. For example my Oceania portal for Specialty Restaurants his the end of this month. I am ready to go to get the days and times I would love to have. Funny, you have to have a strategy even for Ultra-Luxury. Glad I have plenty of practice. Thank you so much for posting and giving me hints. It is much appreciated. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@silkismom We had a group of Texas oil millionaires at our table. I can remember like it happened yesterday. One took the top of the pepper shaker off and covered everything he ate with pepper. Some very old and lovely memories of our first cruise ever. It took me a while but as of three hours ago, I am booked on RSSC, Explorer, June 2026, Alaska and after talking to a very good friend, we are in a Penthouse. Over the last 10 years, I have focused on Nicer brands, Nicer accommodations and have been very pointed about where I wanted to travel at this stage of our lives. I learned something in 2021 when I took my first Crystal Cruises voyage. I built up the experience to much. I believed or hoped, it would be the most awesome cruise ever. It was NOT but Crystal at the time did the best they could. The lesson learned was to always have "Realistic Expectations". Going on RSSC has been a bucket list cruise for me. Going to Alaska is yet another bucket list itinerary. What I am looking forward to is finally being on a All-Inclusive cruise so I don't have to do all I have had to do in the past to may the cruise all-inclusive. I am hoping to simply enjoy the process instead of having to create processes to enjoy the cruise. Hope that makes sense. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Progress: My "LIVE and POST" review template is finished. I have added all the question those that posted here on the last page to be included in the actual review. When possible, I will put in the requesters screen name so they can be notified. My first section is Pre-Preparation and my second section is Pre-Cruise Activities and Communications. Just an FYI, I did this two years ago before my first Oceania Cruise. It helped me a lot to understand the difference between Oceania Cruises and other lines I have cruised prior. It also allowed me to establish Realistic Expectations. When I found something out that was less than favorable, I did my best to avoid it or manage it. When I found out things that most say are excellent, I would do it. I have been told so many times I put to much effort into my planning. This is usually from those that are not the true planners in their families. I have not always been this way. It has been an evolution over time. The more you cruise, the more you evolve. Ultimately my goal is to do two things. 1) Improve the cruising experiences for those that read my words; 1) Improve the cruising experience for my friends and family joining the journey. Once I step on the ship, I do little to no planning. I don't have too. I also do not have an agenda that is to detailed. I don't want to give away flexibility in my vacation experience. Thanks for reading. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@mcmarya It was our first cruise, our Honeymoon, and our first vacation. It was a GRAND memory 45 years ago. You are right, RSSC could not be more different. Thank you for your post. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Hello back to you Karla. My wife, best friends and me are on a 10-day Mediterranean Cruise starting October 13, 2025. So we are not on the cruise you are on. Sorry about that. I did bid on the Oceania and Owners Suites. If you are ok with your furniture being locked down while cruising at night, the Vista Suite is AWESOME. No worries there. Let the best team win. I just enjoy watching the games. Thanks for the post. I appreciated the thoughts. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

My upgrade offer was 110 days out. There was lots of availability on my ship for suites Penthouse and down. If this works like NCL, which used the same company, the suites will be awarded 30 days to day of embarkation. Always an exception to the rules but this is kind of standard. The way the system works is complicated. They use the price your paid, the amount you bid and when you bid. So if someone who paid what you did, bid exactly what you bid, but did it the day after you did; you would win. Like most things in this world, it is an algorithm. The real down side to the bid process is expectation. When we first bought the cruise we were happy with the fare and accommodations. Some of us would have loved a nicer larger suite but the budget and other factors kept us at the suite we choose. Now we see the availability of the higher level accommodations and the minimum bid. We know it is a bargain at that amount and say, "What the heck, would be nice". This turns into studying all the differences and amenities of the nicer suite. We watch YouTube Videos on the nicer suite and visualize the nicer suite. We know logically, we won't win the bid but we "REALLY" want to win it, "Just This Time". When we don't which happens more times than winning, it becomes a bit of a disappointment on a cruise we were quite happy with prior to the bid process. This is the power of telling folks you can Bid on an upgrade. The cruise brands know exactly what they are doing. So PLEASE have realistic expectation and make believe you did not bid. Focus on the vacation if you focus on something not the possibility of the nicer suite. "Learn from my MISTAKES in the past." Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@oceanbill457 Bill, Roll Tide ROLL!!!! Small world. I work really hard at doing those detailed reviews. I just did one for Explora Journeys, I am doing a new one for Oceania Cruises in October for my Vista Cruise for 10 days in the Mediterranean. Funny story. My travel agent monthly asks me to become a travel agent in her agency. I tell her no all the time. She gets frustrated and says WHY? I say, "With all the work I do before, during and after the cruise; I can only have one client a year!" That is a true story. Enjoy San Diego. I think I am cruising there in 2027 from LA to Canada on Explora Journeys. Any, great to hear from you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@PaulMCO Thank you as always for your support and assistance. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@labonnevie Thank you for your comments. I also very much enjoyed my Oceania Cruise to the Mediterranean on November 2023. We liked it so much, we book another one for October of this year. I think the reason why we enjoyed it so much might also be why you did not like it. Allow me to explain. Prior to Oceania Cruises, I was a very big fan of the NCL Haven. So much so that My OP-ED on it went viral here on CruiseCritic.com with close to 1 million views. The Haven was a marked improvement over other cruise experiences at the time which met my goal of improving my past experiences. When my friends and I wanted to go to the Mediterranean for 10 days in 2023, I wanted to go on RSSC. Not the Haven, Not the Celebrity Retreat or any other line. I wanted Ultra Luxury combined with as close to All inclusive as possible. When our friends saw the fare they had a bad case of sticker shock. There budget would not allow it. So I had to put RSSC on the back burner for a while. Now, if what you were used to was the "Ship-Within-A-Ship" concept on a mainstream cruise line and you went on Oceania Cruises. Your evaluations would mostly be very positive as it was for all of us. Especially for our friends that never went on any cruise before. The key is, where we came from to Oceania was an great improvement. Now you did RSSC first then Oceania Cruises. So a Ultra-Luxury Brand followed by a Premium Plus brand. Once you have done Ultra Luxury, it is hard to go backwards. You were used to and happy with the significate differences which of course comes with a price. You get what you pay for, especially in cruising. It is totally understandable the Oceania did not suite you and your reasons seem very fair. Now my wife and I choose to now go on RSSC, just she and I. So now I get to go on the brand I wanted to originally go on. So this October Oceania Cruises in the Mediterranean for 10 days, next June 2026 Alaska on RSSC. It is VERY clear which one we will like better and we are more than willing to pay the higher premium to get a better cruising experience. Just a comparison of evolution in improving experiences from one cruise to the next. Hope that makes sense. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

June 24,2026

Sorry to hear the Residences suite did not do well. On RSSC I am in Penthouse. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Nachosdelux I don't blame you, I am an acquired taste like scotch. I do appreciate your transparency. Again, I take no offence. My wife feels the same way about my writings. So you are in very good company. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I fully understand. The boards that I’m on most of the time for the NCL Haven, explorer journeys, and Oceana. Many times new posters come on, and they have ulterior motives. I think you’re right, they drop a few bombs and you never see him again. In my case, I’ve been waiting a really long time to book a RSSC. I finally did and I’m excited about it. My post will be questions, so I can set a realistic expectation for the cruise, I know how to strategically go on the cruise to get the most benefit and value. Thank you again for your comment and realizing my intent is very sincere. Cruise well and enjoy every moment

You might’ve misunderstood some of my postings. With 38+ cruises there is occasionally an issue with a cruise brand. Instead of coming on cruise critic and complaining about it, I send a very professional very positive letter explaining the situation. Why it affected me, and a mutually acceptable resolution. Each time I approach it that way I send those letters to the executives of the cruise brands signature requested and my issues are usually resolved in two weeks. I think that when a Brand does something, deal with the Brand. Hope that clarifies the my approach. Cruise well and enjoy every moment

@Tsunami74 My experiences is on Premium-Plus, Luxury and Ultra-Luxury Cruise brands; children have been well mannered and mindful. Mainly because their parents are attentive to their children's needs. On a trip like Alaska, it is also very educational. Nothing is quite like seeing the lightbulb go off in a child mind. Kind of makes a trip for me. Now on many posts about children and cruises; their is a mixed attitude. I understand that as well. I had a not so great experience on the NCL Getaway in 2019 in the Haven that was more a cause of the parents then the children. To your point which I appreciate. Not going to be an issue. Thank you for being thoughtful. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@GeorgiaPeach51 Thank you so much Joanie. It was a big commitment for me but life is to short. Might as well do your bucket list items prior to not being able to do so. Cruise well and enjoy every moment. PS: Every board and brand has a completely different feel. I do understand your reference to "Kinder Nature". CruiseCritic.com is my only social media now. Folks that do cruises are for me and my wife, so much kinder then the other social media brands.

@Nachosdelux I think you have the wrong person. My reviews are fair, accurate, balanced and professional. I have never done a grievances post. My approach is kind of simple. "If you like something tell the world. If you don't like something, tell the brand. Only the brand can fix their issues." I relax by doing study, due diligence, and research. It is my hobby and I so enjoy it. The fact is, when I do my approach which I enjoy, it makes my cruise so much better. To each his own. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Hello All: Cruising is an evolution to me. Started 45 years ago for my Honeymoon with my bride Tami. We were poor, had to save for over a year. That cruise was the SS Norway, Owned by Norwegian (Now know as NCL) which was the largest cruise ship in the world at the time. We stayed in an "Inside Cabin with Bunkbeds". Yes you read that right, Bunkbeds for our honeymoon. We thought it was the most luxurious vacation of our lives. The truth is, it was the ONLY vacation of our lives at the time. Fast forward 45 years and 38+ cruises. Now in my upper 60's, we are gravitating to Premium-Plus, Luxury and Ultra Luxury Cruise Brands. Quite the Journey. Yesterday I good what would best be called a think book of all the upcoming cruises with Regents (RSSC). I told my lively bride, "Tami, look at this huge catalog. How much do you thing that cost them? I would NEVER go on RSSC." Three hours later, I am talking to a RSSC agent asking my customary questions when I try a new brand to me. RSSC has been a goal, dream and bucket list brand. Going to Alaska was our bucket list destination. For years I justified why it was a BAD IDEA cruise RSSC. After the agent called me, I test my wife out on the idea. She does not like cruising as much as I do. When I said June of 2026, over our 46 wedding anniversary, Alaska; my wife said "YES" immediately. You don't have to say yes twice to me, the flood gates were now open. I want to thank @FetaCheese who has been a kind online friend on another brand for steering me to a lovely LIVE review on Regent here on CruiseCritic.com. Feta just came back from their first cruise on RSSC and was very happy. Time to take the plunge. Just my story, kind of excited about it. Took a while to get here so seems like the right thing to do. Hope to ask everyone some questions in the future. Thanks for reading. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@FetaCheese I figure since this is my posting I could hijack if for a moment. I am about to book my cruise for next year and want to go to Alaska. I have an opportunity to go on RSSC Explorer. Love your feedback. If you prefer to send my an email, my email address is below. Any guidance would be appreciated. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@FetaCheese With Oceania Cruises, you are sent a upgrade bid email 110 days prior to embarkment. You will get it either 110 days or 109 days before. Glad you like RSSC. They are the most All Inclusive of most Ultra-Luxury Ships. I will be on the vista in October and do a LIVE and POST review. Maybe one day we will be on the same cruise. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@bEwAbG I am the OP. The Celebrity Representative that called me who name was, Ms. Alex Brown gave me her email address. We agreed, if I got another email like the one I did I should send it direct to her. My pleasure to do so. You brought up scammers. I can't tell you how many text, emails and telephone calls I get in a week that are scammers or folks looking to get personal information. I hope I get another email and when I do, I will come back to this stream and report back to those that were so kind to comments. I will also send it to Celebrity. I feel like I have taken enough of everyone time and appreciate the concern. You have all been great. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I could not agree more. If you win, I will help you with the cost if you make me the third in the suite. LOL. Seriously, that would be pretty cool. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@SATaxman I will share my strategy but I am sure it won't surprise you that my response will be a bit long. Look at what your cabin would runs now, and what the cabin you want is running now. Make a note of that difference. The only thing above an Oceania Suite is a Vista and Owners Suite. The Vista suite is a hard pass for me because they make the outside deck which is 1/2 the size of the front of the ship worthless at night. They come in and lock the furniture down every night the ship is moving. The suite itself is huge but the deck is the money shot. Not to have it is kind of a miss. Now the owners suite it even bigger and the deck is two sided. It is in the back of the ship and does not have the same restrictions. That gives you some perspective. Look to see if the suites you are looking for even have availability. If yes, you bid lower, if not you bid higher. The amount of the bid is based on your budget of course. Minimum bids on this higher end suites rarely get the successful upgrade. Make a deal with yourself before you bid. Remind yourself if you bit comes in, you will feel like you won the lottery. But if it does not happen, you figured that would be the case. A Oceania Suite is my preference over the Vista. On my cruise I have bid from a Penthouse to an Oceania Suite and Owners Suite. Both show sold out so the only way I can get the upgrade is for someone to cancel in the last minute. With Cruise Travel Insurance, this could happen but I consider my chances slim and none. If you are bidding for a Owners Suite, your bid is low in my opinion. Do the above steps, if nothing is available, your chances like mine are low at any amount. Side note, always have realistic expectations. Bids are rarely given. But worth a shot. Hope that helps. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Whoops, my bad. I didn’t know that she left. Sorry. Cruise well and enjoy every moment