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PhD-iva

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Everything posted by PhD-iva

  1. All set? I look forward to hearing from you.
  2. My latest application was processed the same day, IIRC it was approved less than an hour after submission. In the past when there was a delay to receive my shareholder benefit, I resubmitted the application and I got a response that I was submitting it too early. Now I wait until after final payment date and then I submit the request. When is your final payment date?
  3. I don’t think it’s “reduced services,” instead Regent (generally, IMO) provides a better experience than Oceania. However, you pay for that. I’ve sailed on Regent twice and Oceania thrice IIRC. I used to like that O provided an unbundled experience and cruisers could select which amenities had value to them, and only “pay for what you need”. No longer. Anyway, Regent is positioned as a luxury line, although if you spend time on the R forum, you’ll find some will disagree. Oceania is positioned as a premium line. I’m not super happy with either cruiseline and am thinking about other options starting in a few years……
  4. Not sire, but I think a good TA would have more “pull” than you, on your own….. Good luck!
  5. There is a sticky thread at the top of the Regent forum with a review of Voyager suites. Take a look, And enjoy your cruise!
  6. You are allowed to share your own email address (see mine in my signature). This is a nice way to solicit some private / additional information off-line….
  7. Please share (if allowed) sufficient details so I and others could evaluate this luxury train option. Thx!
  8. When I had a serious issue with my previous travel agent, I tried calling the travel agency that she worked for. They explained that they are a franchise, and they have no leverage over their agents. Perhaps that was bad information, but it was the information I was given. For me it all worked out in the end after many headaches and a lot of stress. I got rid of her fast.
  9. Try disputing the charge on your credit card since the travel agent did not process payment on the correct cruise that you told her or him to do. Good luck!
  10. I think that valet laundry service is no longer returned same day. Not sure what the turn around time is these days….. Also, I’m not impressed with the Regent aluminum water bottles; they are not insulated and sweat if you put cold drinks in it. Loses its chill quickly. I love Regent!
  11. My experience in Miami was also awful (after a TA on Oceania). The only thing in my favor was my scheduled flight was later in the afternoon. Allow time!
  12. I agree that boarding time is often ignored. I’m told that in some ports, you must show your boarding pass and can’t enter the port early. Not sure where this might be…. Many/most passengers are using the included transfers from airport or hotel to the ship. This could be a large coach bus, perhaps with many passengers traveling together to the ship. They board when Regent’s transfer gets them to the ship - no matter what their boarding time is. I’m trying to remember when my check in started. My calendar has an alert set for 8am, but check in might have been available earlier than that……
  13. Don’t forget that laundry is included on Regent (dry cleaning is not included). Last month I gave my steward 17 wrinkled items out of the suitcase to have pressed. I LOVE the huge walk in closet in my lowest level suite. Onboard guest lecturers are excellent in their field. Our South American cruise had a team of Antartica experts. Multiple lectures on most days. My previous Regent cruise on Mariner out of Los Angeles had multiple producers/movie types associated with PBS and Secrets of the Dead (IIRC, memory is not what it used to be). Also professor emeritus from Cal State to lecture on culture/history relevant to our itinerary. No port shopping talks…… Specialty restaurants are included, easier to get extra ressy on longer cruises. Main dining room is so good, you might forget to ask for those extra visits to the specialties (although service in the main dining room can be quite slow). Food is much better on R than X. You already know that alcohol is included on Regent. We tired of not getting served at the bars on Reflection. This was in 2013, and there weren’t enough bartenders. Upgrading to the drinks package is a waste of money if you can’t get served. Specialty coffee drinks (cappuccino, expresso, more) all included. Tips, room service also. No class system on R. For the most part, all passengers are treated the same. Any special benefits to booking the top suites is not noticeable in the common/public areas - no front row seats reserved for the royalty….Others will chime in if I’m mistaken….. Number 1 BEST thing on Regent are the pax. Well-traveled, thoughtful and successful professionals for the most part. Is R perfect? No. But it is much better than X.
  14. I think the room stewards pull out suitcases that are stowed under the bed to facilitate guests’ packing. Many guests are older/elderly and this is helpful to them. I didn’t want you to think there was anything untoward about the room steward moving your suitcase. Best wishes!
  15. I believe it is past FP date, so I don’t think this is possible….?
  16. I did not include in my description any insurance coverage if the passenger would like to cancel. However, not being an expert on this topic, I will rely on our UK posters to educate us all.
  17. Sorry, if I quote or reference the wrong person in my previous post. I’m starting to get lost in this thread. But very interesting information.
  18. I hope that we will hear back from the stevesol6718 to respond to your post. When I read that post, I did not get the impression that the OP assumed there was a cabin available, and Oceania refused to give it to them. My reading of that post is that they paid for a quality Stateroom in good repair and fully functional, which was not what they experienced. Given these circumstances, it is incumbent upon Oceania to make good.
  19. Everything I’ve read here tells me that UK residents have a legal right to a cash refund if and when an itinerary is changed significantly. So, it operates as a travel insurance policy for cancellations made by the cruise line.
  20. I was surprised to see the itinerary still goes through the Suez Canal. Isn’t that a risky strategy?
  21. I am thinking that a large part of the cost of going on this six month cruise would be for all the excursions that are not covered by the SM benefits.
  22. I would say this is due to the bundled pricing that includes an insurance policy along with the cruise. The cruise still cost the same, but the passenger is required to also purchase a travel insurance policy to cover cancellations. I do see your point that it costs more to go on the cruise (UK residents), but I just think it is important for people to understand that nothing is free.
  23. Thx for this. I’ve read enough posts about thin walls and noise bleeding through into the state room that I will not be booking any cruises on Vista (unless a very low fire sale price).
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