GrJ Berkshire

On 3/10/2021 at 8:10 PM, annapolitan369 said:

I would like to second the comment by Lonedaddy to avoid Heathrow if at all possible.  In the past few years we have twice missed connecting flights there even when we had almost 3 hours scheduled between flights.  This is in addition to very long walks, very long lines and long waits for buses etc.

Not at present, the LHR airport is working at only 20% of 2019 levels. You should be more concerned that the airlines survive and post covid many routes and options will disappear

On 9/4/2020 at 7:41 AM, Ashland said:

We'll hopefully be in Amsterdam pre cruise in July 2021 and after much research and recommendations have opted for the Banks Mansion.

NO CHANCE , HOLLAND IS CLOSED TO TOURISTS

Still my concern re not booking Regent is it's survival in a format we will recognise !!

In Uk today talk is of all summer 2021 overseas travel as a tourist is maybe going to be cancelled and entry into UK and Europe requiring compulsary quarantine as your own expense so killing the  tourist industry. We are next due on in SF on 04/01/22, think that is a possible?

5 hours ago, Jimmcdaniel said:

I think it kind of depends on how you see this vaccine thing shaking out. If we are looking at a cruise open only to vaccinated passengers it could be sooner. If you are looking for Covid eradication via vaccine before cruising resumes, we have a long wait. I don’t think the cruise lines can wait for the latter. 

But will ports or airlines accept non vaccinated passengers, I cannot see this happening.

Was not when on 2 years ago

my only fear for booking Regent now is it goes bust; as in UK we can't go anywhere and cruising is very unlikely for at least 6 months ; can any company survive 15 m0nths with no core activity- cruising and overheads and maintenance to pay. the restart costs to get the ships up to the standard we all knew will be enormous.

In view of the UK imminent lockdown. Cruising looks sadly even further away

Lets hope Regent will survive !!!

Ports are important, but so is the convenience of not driving and packing up in several hotels every few days. Like others we prefer the small ship experience, why we sail Regent, with all inclusive experiences and no water slides, climbing walls etc

Problem is the Geo-politics of this area which excludes Yalta, Sevastopol, Odessa from most itineraries. We were due to visit in 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimea, its status is still not recognised by most Western countries. Equally Sochi , was on our itinerary, now not visited by Western Cruise lines. If you go to Ukraine and have a Russian Crimea stamp in your passport you will be refused entry.

On our trip they substituted Sinop ,Trabazon in Northern Turkey and Batumi in Georgia, where I think we were the first cruise ship in, they laid on a band on the quayside and some guests were heard to complain it woke them up! The town is a weird mix of old and new, with a lot of Western investment and many casinos, the Russians seem to go there as their Las Vegas, but it was not geared to tourism from the west, none of us had Georgian currency and the only other thing they would take was the Euro, as a Brit I had some, but they would not touch US $ much to the Americans disgust and there were few ATM's as we asked the guide to take us to one, but to no avail. 

We did also go to Constanta, not the most inspiring port, and had an excursion to the Danube delta wetlands, again this area of Rumania is port not geared to tourism and as a Regent all inclusive meant drinks etc were in, otherwise again no local currency.

North Turkey was again off the Tourist trail Sinop was a small anchivovy fishing port, but there was little to see. Trabazon we went up in the mountains to a monestry with Christian Frescoes , it was Ok but poorly maintained and was similar to location featuring this Christmas to the site in Black Narcissus on British tv.

The bit we missed most was Balaclava as I had found in family research that a distant relative had fought in the Crimean war and lived, was hoping to trace his footsteps,

7 hours ago, charltonkerry said:

Think I might have a slightly worse problem I’m on a London to Barcelona cruise (hopefully) in September, I was informed on the 23rd that our take off time for the return to London is 10:05 am. Going to fun, but hopefully we won’t be the only only ones catching this early flight. The good thing is we are overnighting in Barcelona so in my mind these should make it easier, but still a very early start.

And post Brexit you will not be fast tracked at Barcelona airport........... You could be leaving the ship 6-15/6-30am.

10 hours ago, cruiseluv said:

 

I don't have a crystal ball but, who knows, in the end you may find yourself very fortunate not to have your cash tied up with Regent. 

Agree the longer this goes on the more likely the companies including Regent will not survive.....I have £40k tied up in FCC, but from the UK the situation is getting worse , there is little light at the end of the tunnel and most 2021 cruises may not sail. Then after so long out of operation crewing the ships plus ongoing maintenance may be the final straw especially for the 3 older ships Navigator, Voyager and Mariner, a year plus out of action is a long while on a ship, think about all the ongoing maintenance when you have sailed they are always painting, repairing , cleaning etc etc.......

Be aware that the number of flights and airlines post covid-19 will be very limited. Many airlines will not survive and lots of routes will be scrapped from schedules. This will limit your options and increase your stress and financial loss. In these circumstances looking beyond Regent air might be fall hardy , it may save you $300 but think how much you lose if you don't make embarkation?

Do not take 1001, or 1002 as these are under the connoisseur club which sees heavy chesterfield chairs being moved and noise and then the staff replace at midnight !! on Explorer or Splendour.

Catergory D  is a good choice just not these 2 suites.

No Letdown from Regent.

Our NEW YEAR wish has got to be that it survives the pandemic, and that the ships will sail again? not go to the breakers yard. The way things are going now re covid-19, much of 2021 could well be a write off. The relaunch costs after 18 months no sail will be enormous.

I hope that this is too pessimistic having around £40k tied up in FCC for 3 more bookings, but it's hard to see travel positives for 2021, we in UK are now barred from 40+ Countries. Hopefully the vaccine will come in time to save the Cruise industry and Regent ?

Is this new or a repeat. Sunday Times TV listings has a (R) repeat symbol, whilst others do not?

7 hours ago, Geobugs said:

Future Cruise Credit.  "Your next cruise departs in 112 days!"

To quote a Pantomine-

"Oh No it doesn't"

Think this is a question of which lines and ships survive the covid-19 pandemic.

For us simply going to the coast 45 miles away at present is impossible !!!!

Many of the pre -covid cruises will not get through this IMHO

13 hours ago, Geobugs said:

I am not saying that Cruise lines can't enforce a vaccination requirement.  I am suggesting that I think that they should not enforce a vaccination requirement.  I take an advocacy stance. 

RUBBISH!!

They already deny boarding to certain health conditions, it will be commercial suicide not to exclude the anti-vaxx mob. Nobody will sail with these "21st Century Lepers". Get vaccinated or become a hermit, to rejoin society you will have to have it. otherwise no flights, hotels, cruises , restaurants, cinema, theatre, in the future SIMPLE choice................................................................

3 hours ago, Wilkesy93 said:

I can’t really see cruise companies or any tourism/hospitality company making the vaccine mandatory. They’ve had the worst year in their history in regards to revenue, there’s very little economic sense in them turning away passengers. As for those who can’t have the vaccine, the people who said they wouldn’t be allowed to cruise are incorrect, the cruise lines wouldn’t be able to discriminate against those people. Finally, all those saying they wouldn’t cruise unless vaccination was mandatory, I bet you would and secondly why do you care? If you’ve had your vaccine then what have you got to worry about? I say this as someone who will be taking the vaccine when it gets to my turn 

Why not ? anything apart from mandatory vaccines is commercial suicide. Most people will not sail with the non-vaccinated and few ports or Countries will let the ship dock. Its not discrimination to refuse boarding ,the cruise companies have had this right if you show up, are unwell, then boarding is denied, equally no passport no flights or cruise, unless you are the Queen!. Just become the "new normal". Otherwise you can live as a "21st Century leper " or hermit, or rejoin society.

Commercially turning away a few for the many is the only way forward, although the mega ships may not survive this, that's why Regent is in a much better position than many as it does not pack the passengers in, and most are discerning enough to realise the only way to return to the Regent experience is mandatory vaccines for passengers and crew ( do you want to be served by a potential covid-19 spreader? )

1 hour ago, SarahCruise965 said:

Personally, i do not support mandatory vaccination. 

You may not support it, but no vaccine= no cruise. Others will not sail with non vaccinated. So your choice is simple live like a hermit or to rejoin society get vaccinated. SIMPLE..............

With no cruises now till after 31/03/21, the main question will be how much of the Cruise industry can and will survive more than a year without any sailings.

We like many people have a lot of money tied up with Regent around £40K, so have some concerns as to how they will keep going especially as our next likely cruise to sail is 04/01/ 22 which is a long way off. Ongoing costs, maintenance, will not stop but income has, nearly all future cruises must be FCC so little new money in.

I know vaccines are arriving but mass vaccination is at least 6/9 months away.

Will we get back to the Regent cruises we knew and loved in the past ? Or will the "new normal" mean a very different future ? What do people think?

Indeed its off, cancelled by Regent last week

Sad but inevitable

Hoping to sail in May (Europe ) but think this is now unlikely

Best bet is Jan2022 SF to Auckland, if they are not sailing by then the cruise industry will be finished. 

no vaccine= no cruising

Either live like a hermit or to rejoin society take it.

Those  who refuse will become "21 century lepers" this will be the new normal

Agree fully Guerncruising

7 hours ago, Guerncruising said:

I am surprised too. I didn’t se anything either. Maybe they weren’t informed about the scheduling. 

Travel documentaries are not high priority now: seen as a bit toxic, as people cannot travel

Like travel magazines in UK ' Sunday Times travel' which have gone to the wall !!

So they will not be sailing- pretty obvious!!

Where we are on covid-19 means no cruises for months yet.