ChatKat in Ca.

20 hours ago, Joanzzzz said:

That's a shame, but I see you go to Greenock, so if you can't do the highlands from Oban, and have more time in Greenock, I'd take a tour out of Greenock, to either Loch Lomond, or Inveraray Castle, or a Loch Lomond+ Stirling Castle+Trossachs tour which is a good circle route.  

This!

I was a Regent loyalist for many years.  I think the Crystal Product is definitely a step above.  No, the ships are not as sparkly but the service, food, entertainment and activities and a huge step above.

28 minutes ago, naplessailor said:

I don’t want to pack incorrectly but in a quandary as to what is the correct dress code.  Anyone have any insight?

I always bring a black dress or pantsuit and bling. You can't miss that way

We used Barcelona Day tours for airport transfer to ship or hotel. Excellent service and tours. 

6 hours ago, doowopbob said:

We are flying Vancouver to Dallas next month after our cruise and they have a flight that leaves at 11:40 am. Plenty of time to get from the port to the airport.

Depends on how many ships are in Canada Place.  We just made our flight after disembarking and there were 8 ships in port.

13 hours ago, GOARMY said:

While the following experience is somewhat dated by time--and of course not dispositive--it certainly remains in my memory.  

 

Voyager.  circa 2013-2014.  Extended cruise beginning at Sydney.  Booked this, as did my brother and his wife, and our mutual friends.  So, six of us.  

 

Beginning about 30 days prior to flying out of SEATAC and heading for Sydney, began getting notices from Regent as to spouse and self's willingness to forego our Suite; get full-refund; and receive an additional $5,000.00.   

 

Did not respond.  

 

Every three or four days thereafter, received up-offers.  Of course, we consulted with our TA.  The final one arrived about three days before we would be heading to the airport. The final cash incentive was $23,500.  

 

We were "bumped" from a Sydney to Auckland cruise as described in the quote.  We got all our money back and a cruise credit of $10,000.  We figured we'd book the same cruise the next year but the fare more than doubled. Our original cruise was on the Navigator and the next year it was offered on the Voyager.  We took a nice "free" cruise in the Med and booked a Tauck Tour of Australia. 

usually the day prior

I recall vibration in the aft suites...

I don't agree.  Our cabin was well worn and the sofa stained in October.  The common areas are nice, but out room needed a refresh.

Holiday Inn vs Ritz Carlton?

Yes - my Covid cancellations were credited with no fuss but I will miss my on board credit.

Was I missing out that there is no more AMEX Rewards for NC?

I thought I saw it was restarted via A&K but my TA said otherwise,

13 hours ago, Roland4 said:

 

 

There is not a lot to see in Warnemunde, but the trip to Berlin is the attraction here. It is, as I understand it, about 40 minutes to Rostock city centre.

We stayed in Warnemunde and walked the whole town.  It was a hidden gem

On 2/17/2024 at 12:38 PM, Leejnd4 said:

Anyone remember those midnight chocolate buffets? I don’t even remember what cruise line it was on, this was so long ago. 
 

 

I’m fine with the end of the Grand Buffets. 

One a cruise that had a grand chocolate buffet, the chef spent days making something special.  It had a sign on it to please not touch it.  Well, of course someone broke off a piece and the chef was in tears.

Ill have to find the photos.  I think they're on my ipad

For us, it was a beautiful display but overkill to eat.  We saw pax over indulging and felt it was  wasteful

The Crystal Experience is superior to the Regent Experience. The crew is welcoming but will take cues from the passengers. The excursions are not bus loads full. We cruised Regent for years and tried a Regent Cruise last year and were sorely disappointed .  We cannot wait to be back on board later this year. 

We too have enjoyed Jay's lectures and hope to see him onboard again.

On 12/7/2023 at 4:02 PM, Bruce61 said:

I am curious - how does a change in a California Regulation affecting the Los Angeles port stop relate in any way to the loss of three Mexican port stops?  That makes no sense to me.  There is something else going on.

I read through most of the thread.  A category 5 hurricane decimated Acapulco.  I think PV and Cabo were also affected but Acapulco is totally wiped out..

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/26/weather/hurricane-otis-acapulco-mexico-impact-thursday

4 minutes ago, bradpole said:

I’ve often told people, “you do not book Oceania for the entertainment.”  I have no idea when you were looking for music but there is live music before and after dinner each night. Generally piano music in Martini’s, the strings in the upper hall (R class ships) or the promenade between the dining room and Martini’s (O class ships), and often the show band in Horizons during happy hour, and also sometimes after the main show as well.  
 

You also mentioned giving your cabin number to dine, in the Grand Dining Room they ask simply to ensure you don’t have allergies noted, or even a special request on file.  

4 minutes ago, Stickman1990 said:

I’m really struggling to understand how our Regent experience could be so different than yours? 

New Ship for you on a high end itinerary would make a difference in the experience.

We were on the SS Mariner in Mexico with a new crew and post covid,

Some of us have cruised Oceania and most recently Regent. 

On Oceania, you need to show you card constantly even to dine.

On Regent, they had many substandard interactions with crew. We even had to report our cabin number to be seating in Compass Rose.

One both lines above, there was either nothing to do (literally).  No music, enrichment - NOTHING.

Crystal always had multiple choices of music, dance, lectures, art....at any time.

I just read a tip to use pool noodles cut to size in shoes/boots. I bought some special boot things to keep them from wrinkling and pool noodles are even better and inexpensive.  Would travel well too.

On 11/13/2023 at 4:48 PM, CardowMD said:

Look at Hotel la Perouise Nice. At the east end of Old Town, walking distance to most locations and dining. . Very charming, quiet, built into the mountain and had a pool. I loved the location and it is considered a luxury hotel 

We stayed there and it was lovely and convenient.  I do believe though that our room required stairs so that is something to consider.

On 11/2/2023 at 8:41 AM, AtA said:

I hope they NEVER include shore excursions. Regent used to have great shore excursions with busses only half full. The minute they went to all included the busses filled up and the shore excursions were more basic unless you paid the upcharge for the better ones. And the upcharges were sometimes the same as it cost to do similar shore excursions on Crystal!

And the fares increased to include those basic (unacceptable) tours.  My last R cruise during the "Crystal Pause", the tours were worthless with busses broken, shopping to nowhere interesting and a waste of time. It reminded me of why I stopped booking Regent in the first place.