papaflamingo

Do I think they "imposed a higher standard for those leaving Japan?" Don't know. Canada did last summer. We could fly, drive, or train to Canada with no testing but to leave on a cruise required a negative test. So maybe Japan hasn't caught up to its own regulations. Don't know. But I DO know that Regent, Princess, and Royal Caribbean all require testing and accept self-tests for cruises in Japan. So it might be Japanese policy or simply cruise line policies. But it's someone's policy.

I guess I'm just tired of absurd conspiracy theories for everything that happens in the world. The idea that Regent purposefully ignored NZ laws and acted in total bad faith to what.... grab some money... is ridiculous. I'm not defending Regent, and personally I hope all the conspiracy theorists do leave for another company. That way there'll be more cruises for me to book and likely better deals. I'm not trying to talk anyone into sailing on Regent. And truly couldn't care less who sails them. What I don't want is the constant spreading false conspiracies without any evidence. I tend to believe what I see. Regent DID clean the hulls on the first cruise. That's why it didn't do anything other than wander aimlessly at sea. They had to hire a hull cleaning service that could do the cleaning at sea. There was no dry dock in that part of the world available. The company was advertised as approved by NZ which is why it took so many days until they could even get the hull cleaned. I don't know for sure, but I imagine that they were certified as clean when they docked in Aukland. Likely the NZ govt came out upon docking in Auckland and inspected the hull and found it insufficient, so they couldn't hit the highly sensitive ports. Consistent with that, why would Regent pay what is likely a heavy cleaning fee knowing full well it won't help? Why would Regent lie and risk pissing off nearly 2000 passengers? They fully refunded the first cruise PLUS gave FCC, PLUS kept them on the ship using fuel, food, alcohol, etc. which is the majority of their cost of a cruise. Why would they lose so much money when they simply could have pulled into Australia and disembarked everyone and tied up to a dock? Nope, the conspiracies of purposeful lies doesn't seem to have any purpose or reason, so sorry, I don't buy it. As to a fair refund? Well, we booked a cruise last summer specifically to see Greenland and Iceland. Greenland was a no go for weather. Since that was half the reason we booked it, do I get a 50% refund plus FCC? Nope. I got to see an extra Canadian port and and extra Icelandic port. It was a great cruise even with the disappointment. Anyway, I do hope all the angry customers flee. I would like the opportunity to book future cruises at a reduce rate to fill them up. That actually works for me.

Princess Cruises also have the same requirement and on their website it says this is Japan's "protocol." They made the latest post on this on Feb. 14, so only 3 days ago. I would say it doesn't appear that Regent suddenly placed the requirement on anyone, but Japan did,

Just to be sure I fully understand, they gave a 60% refund of the cruise cost for missing 4 out of 9 ports, PLUS 50% of another cruise on the list and you don't think that's enough? What do you think ANY other cruise line would offer? If missing ports puts you into a position that you demand huge refunds, you should probably not cruise. Ships miss ports all the time for a variety of reasons. Their contract is specific so all offerings are over and above their contractual responsibilities. You used the air fare and travelled round trip, right? You spend the entire scheduled cruise on board using fuel, food, drink, and other luxury amenities, right? You made over 50% of your ports, right? You are aware that contractually they owe you nothing, right? So how much SHOULD you get?

Seems to be a pretty good variety of choices. But what would you rather they do? Offer you cruises that are sold out? How would that work? I can see your post now "this is pitiful, come sail with us on cruises that are fully booked and have no cabins available." 😏

I can't say positively, but the smallest number you can reserve is a table for 2. If you do that, I'm fairly certain that would mean you will dine alone unless you specifically bring someone with you. But when you get on board, go to the restaurant and check and tell them you do not want a tablemate.

I'm not exactly sure what you're saying here. Final Payment, along with Flight Deviation dates are written in stone, no matter when you make your reservation not dependent on "the further out we make reservations." Final payment for less than a 15 night cruise is 120 days out and 15 nights or longer, 150 days out. Flight deviation is available 210 days out. it doesn't matter if you book your cruise 2 years before the cruise, or 2 months before the cruise, these are the hard and fast dates. Regent has always increased prices as the years roll on. There's no secret here, if you book a cruise 2 years out you will probably get it at a better rate than one year out or 1 month out. If your friends decide "gee sounds fun let's go" 2 months prior to a cruise that you booked 2 years ago, do you really believe they should get the same deal and price you did? As for specials like 25% single supplement, etc., they pop up now and again. If you were lucky enough to get a special 2 years early then great. But if a special pops up prior to final payment you are generally able to reprice your cruise under the new rate guidelines. You seem to be an experienced cruiser, but you don't seem to have much grasp on how the industry prices their products. These are standard industry wide and have been so since we first cruised 25 years ago.

Actually, in my experience in find dining restaurant, I believe they DO pull out the chair for the woman, open and hand you the menu, and place your napkin. But in reality, if you were shown to the table, and the waiter simply placed the menus on the table and walked away, there would be massive outcry "Regent service is going downhill". I believe you are in the minority, I like the fine dining service they attempt to give.

I do NOT represent Regent in any way. So climb down off your high horse. You claim that you'll 'will deviate as soon as we can," which is now 210 days out. If you deviate 210 days out and final payment is due at 151 days out, you have your flights well before final payment. So yeah, maybe I didn't understand you when you said " We will deviate as soon as we can"? What are you on a forum whining about not paying final payment until you secure your flights when you admitted you secure your flights " as soon as we can," WELL before final payment. But I agree with one thing you said.... "there are other cruise lines to check out in the future." Maybe you should go with your instinct and book one. Regent isn't going to change their final payment date for you.

I have a question...you say "The dining room layout wasn’t ideal." Seems to me the layout is fine. What was it about the layout you don't like?

I live in Atlanta so we always fly Delta. I always deviate 270 days out (now will be 210 days) and can select seats immediately. We are Delta Frequent Flyers so have a Frequent Flyer account. If you aren't signed up with American, then maybe that's one possibility to select seats early. But likely it's all dependent on the airline rules.

I think it sounds like you'd like Regent. I compare Regent to being in a Suite on Celebrity with access to Luminaire for meals, but better. Just keep in mind that the shows are fine, but not the big production quality you'd find on Royal Caribbean for example. As for a Concierge vs. Deluxe Veranda, the Concierge cabins are generally in a bit more desirable location, they have a one night hotel stay before the cruise, offer early excursion and specialty dining booking, and give you 4 logins per cabin on the ship's wifi. As for deviation, if you're talking about flight deviation, you generally give up your airport to hotel transportation, but if use the included one night stay you'll still get transportation from the hotel to the port. A lot of people still choose to arrange their own transportation to the port so they can arrive at their leisure. The Concierge cabins are exactly like the category below them. On Mariner, Voyager, and Navigator there is no difference between the Verandah cabins and the Concierge Cabin. Only the perks. On the new ships, Explorer and Splendor, the Concierge cabin is exactly like the Superior Suite Cabins which are a bit bigger than the Deluxe Verandahs. I haven't seen the show about Splendor, but from what's been written, it doesn't sound like a great representation of the cruise line. There is zero class consciousness except the Regent Suite that get all sorts of perks. Other than that, seems everyone is treated equally and the vibe is casual and relaxed.

The rules of the cruise line is completely clear, you need to make final payment a certain number of days out depending on length of cruise. If getting exactly what you want on a flight is a deal breaker, then you either going to have to pay the deviation fee and book your flight 210 days out (it's never taken me more than a week to get the answer to my requested flights), or you can simply allow Regent to book your flights 60-70 days out, or you can take the credit and book your own flights. But Regent isn't going to change their final payment date based on passengers wanting to wait to see what flights they're getting.

You have to take reviews with a HUGE grain of salt. An incident of a backed up toilet is not a sign of decline of the entire ship, it's a sign that someone flushed something that caused a back up somewhere. As you can see many, most in my opinion, love Mariner. We do too. Our first Regent cruise was on her and she not only didn't have "the exaggerated movement, the dismal service and food quality, the dreadful wine," but quite the opposite. Handled the very rough Tasman Sea very well. Yes, she moved, she's only 700 feet long or so and will certainly not ride like Oasis of the Seas which is twice her length. But she does quite well. As for food and wine, well, that's personal preference. I have sailed over 35 times on Royal Caribbean, NCL, Carnival, Celebrity, and Holland America. Regent food and wine offerings are heads and tails above any of those cruise lines. If someone thinks the food is "dismal," then they likely are way to picky for a cruise ship.

Why would they change final payment day? If you deviate 210 days out you'll know WELL AHEAD of your final payment date whether or not you have your requested flights.

No smoking on the balcony is pretty much outlawed on most (maybe all) cruise lines now. Princess had a fire years ago from a cigarette that landed on a balcony. Lot's of damage and I think, one death from a heart attack during the fire.

I wish they'd stretch my clothes. That way they'd fit as the cruise goes on. 🤣

Did you book a cabin that includes a one night hotel stay? If so, I'd go there. Also the idea of coming 2 nights before is sound. Especially coming from the UK.

We did our first Regent cruise in 2018 for 44 nights on Mariner. LOVED the ship. I can't speak much to accessibility other than from what I remember there were no areas unavailable by elevator, and, IMHO, since the passenger load is only around 700, the areas were rarely crowed. Two things are imperative for you to know. First, Some of the cabins on Mariner (at least through Penthouse category) are combined tub/shower. they are designated on the deck plans, a star is shower only, no star is a combo bath/Shower. The tub is very high so hard to get in and out of if you have mobility problems. So if you aren't booking an accessible cabin, be sure to pick a cabin that has a star for shower only. Second, be aware that the tender platform floats (it's not integral to the ships structure). So there can be a lot of movement in both the platform and the stairs. We have no mobility issues but there were some days that we even had to be very careful going up or down to the tender platform. The crew, of course, is there to assist so that helps a lot.

Define "high quality." For me, a "high quality" hair dryer is waving a towel over what is left of my hair a couple times and...completely dry.. I'm on of those people who put the singular "hair" in "hair dryer." For anyone else, it should be "hairs dryer,." 😜

To add... it does NOT include dry cleaning.

That is an oft mentioned desire. Problem is, if excursions have a rebate if not used, like flights, then the next is a rebate for non drinkers, a rebate for suites with butlers who don't want the butlers, a rebate for not using Prime 7 or other specialty restaurants. In other words, Regent becomes like all the other cruise lines, NOT "all inclusive." Personally I simply figure that all the inclusions are inclusions and if I choose not to use them, well, my choice. I feel that once everything gets broken down, you will lose the luxury of a cruise line that doesn't spend every day "hawking" uncharge items.

I've got a novel idea....why don't we all simply act like adults and respect the rules, the crew, and fellow passengers?

How long ago did you book? Also it's dependent on the category. The two category upgrade doesn't apply to any upgrade above Penthouse, also it's "new bookings only."

That's definitely the best way to handle it.