Bruce61

Let me also ask, what/who do people think has the best flight plans to Reykjavk from the West Coast (of US)? It seems like SAS may be the most direct routes, but I was thinking of British Air or American from LAX to LHR and then a separate flight on Icelandair to Iceland. Concerned about connections and bags in London. What are others doing?

I appreciate all of your comments. We have booked an 18 night cruise from Reykjavík to London on Splendor next July. Our second Regent cruise after several Uniworld river crises.

Can you and Cardad explain a bit why you prefer those three ships over the newer Explorer and Spendor? I am not being critical, but am genuinely curious. Thanks.

Assuming the splendor suite is exactly the same as the explorer suite, then, yes, you can watch TV in bed.

Papaflamingo, I was responding to.the combined responses above yours, and I am sorry if you thought I attributed it to you. Here is what it does say on the website: (https://www.rssc.com/experience/suites/distinctive-suites) which I ddi review. It clearly states: "Begin your journey with priority check-in at embarkation before stepping into a truly sumptuous environment that includes all the benefits of our Spacious Suites and more. Tailor your retreat to your taste with choice bath amenities and a personal butler seeking to ensure your every need is taken care of. You may enjoy guaranteed reservations at your favorite specialty restaurants, an intimate in-suite caviar service and a full liquor bar set-up, customized with your preferred beverages. The exclusive amenities and tailored services available at this level are nothing short of the best." And when I contacted them about it initially it was not to complain per se, but to point out that it was somewhat misleading and that they continue that theme in print ads including the big brochures left in the cabins. Considering every suite has three guaranteed restaurant reservations (and Concierge and above can reserve a few days before the others), their advertising promoting the benefits of booking their higher-end suites has to be inferred to mean it gives more than the "lesser suites." The interpretation of the word "may" is entirely misleading if that is how they meant it. The advertisement clearly was intended to suggest these suites get something more than what you get in other suites. If they wanted to be clearer, then when they list each suite, they should say which ones get what. I will be more careful in my criticism around here.

You are missing my point of view and I was agreeing with Clutj that the ambiguous advertising makes shopping harder. There can be no argument that their advertising is not at least inconsistent. It is not up to the consumer to weed through the advertising to know up front there could be something not included - the advertising clearly states the Distinctive Suites get an in-room caviar tasting (which we received), guaranteed restaurant reservations, etc. The broad statements are said to apply to suites above Penthouse. That is all I was saying. And their representative was snarky in his response instead of being apologetic about any confusion. Those were my points. Of course we lived. And we know for the next time. We have booked again so it was not that big a deal.

If you really want to complicate the interpretation of their poor and misleading advertising, in multiple places on their website and in print advertising received just this week, they still say that Distinctive Suites include guaranteed restaurant reservations. When pressed their idiotic representative said it does not say “each night.” Since every suite is guaranteed three specialty restaurant reservations, what else could it be interpreted to mean except something more or different for the expense of upgrading to a distinctive suite? On Explorer last month I upgraded for a fee from Concierge to an Explorer Suite. While the prospect of guaranteed restaurant reservations was not the only perk I was looking forward to (the huge size upgrade and butler were the key selling point), it certainly played a part in my upgrade decision. I now know it only applies to Regent, Master and Grand Suites, there are others who I assume will be misled once again.

Here is a more complex question? We are going on an 18 night cruise on Splendor next year (Reykjavik to London). it is not a multi segment cruise, but one cruise for 18 nights. Is it better to book the three guaranteed reservations early on the cruise and then run and seek more reservations on board for the later dates, or vice versa?

Hello: We are booking our second Regent cruise, July 25 on Splendor, 18 nights from Reykjavik to London. On our last cruise in Alaska heading Southbound on Explorer, it was clearly better to be on the left (Port) side of the ship (and we were on the right (Starboard) side). On this trip, are there recommendations as to which side is better to see sights while sailing from the room? Let me know as I plan to book this tomorrow!

It is interesting that I found this older thread here on CC. The same misleading quote continues to appear in their print advertising and online for the Distinctive Suites. When I send an email asking about this after returning from the Explorer in an Explorer Suite (where I was limited to my three pre-cruise reservations and they were booked solid each additional night), the guest relations administrator responded quite snarky: "Kindly note that the details do not state each evening:" I am sorry but their text (which discusses the "guaranteed reservations at your favorite specialty restaurants, an intimate in-suite caviar service and full liquor bar set-up"), is intended to distinguish (excuse the pun) these suites from the others. The others allow limited reservations (one per restaurant guaranteed), so this should be intended to suggest more than what the other suites offer. This is ambiguous at best, and misleading at worst.

Thanks for the advice. Seems sound.

We are looking at an 18-day cruise on Splendor sailing in July 2024 (Iceland to London). I believe shore excursion bookings have been open for concierge level and up for about three months. If I booked now, will there still be decent choices available? Also. curious of on a longer cruise like this we are entitled to make more than one dinner reservation for each specialty restaurant in advance (obviously when the reservations open up)? Thanks for the information.

On Explorer in September, we were offered to upgrade from Concierge to Explorer suite about five days before we sailed, It was wonderful. Enjoy it! I think the piano is a player piano so try that out too. Curious on the upgrades - did you book direct with Regent or through a travel agency? I am curious if that has anything to do with who is offered upgrades like this.

We sailed on the Explorer from Seward to Vancouver September 13. Received an email from Regent a few days before we left for Alaska offering upgrades, and we upgraded from Concierge to an Explorer Suite (some say former Seven Seas Suite), Suite 1011, for what I viewed as a fair cost. Great Suite. Seems to be below the smoking area on the pool deck. Since it was an Alaska cruise and the weather was cold, no one was using the pool deck but on one or two occasions we did hear furniture being moved in the morning. I would book this suite again, even if not getting a discounted upgrade price. Everything about the suite was great. The actual door between the bedroom and living area allowed my wife to sleep in while I get up a bit early. It has one and one-half baths. She did not even hear the coffee maker which was a bit loud. We would have liked to use the balcony but the weather was not warm enough. On our second to last night they tied down all the furniture as the seas were expected to be rough. There was one night that it was pretty rough all night. The night they tied things down they said it would be rough for a window of time (about three hours) and they were spot on. If money was no object, I would probably book the Grand suite next door or across the ship (1012 or 1015, respectively). Only peeve about the ship, and it is a first world peeve, is the advertising for "distinguished suites" online and also in their printed literature suggest that the Distinctive Suites are entitled to guaranteed specialty restaurant reservations. (https://www.rssc.com/experience/suites/distinctive-suites). That is only true for Regent, Grand and Master suites. My only other peeve is the included lodging in Anchorage was the Hilton, and it was pretty run-down. We are looking at a 19 night mediterranean cruise on Regent for 2025.