Pies4u

Cheers - I thought that sounded odd tbh.

When was the infinity pool removed from Splendor?

According to all the Regent info I can see, (brochure, website etc), it is still there. We are due to be on Splendor in March 2025 and I’m fully expecting to see, and use, the infinity pool.

Not sure what’s adversarial about it tbh, I’m just passing on my observations based on recent cruises. It is an interesting debate and opinions will differ. I don’t believe it’s as simple as saying 1 is “better” than the other, there are pro’s & con’s in both cases.
 

Each person’s experiences and views will vary with those of others. I believe that we do have a consensus on that.

I can only base it on 1 cruise but I’d agree that the choices and variety of menu in CR are very good. The daily options and “always available” selections offer a terrific choice.
 

However, the MDR on Marina, which we used 3 or 4 times served food that was every bit as tasty and were better presented than CR on our last Regent cruise tbh. They also serve food hot/warm & not tepid or cold as Regent frequently do. When a MD has to say “…you only have to ask if you want it warmer and we’ll heat up for you…” you do begin wonder if they actually know what they are doing at times. Of course people want to be served food that is at least warm - if it’s supposed to be hot!

I like CR as a restaurant, the layouts and service are generally fine but food quality has varied, greatly, in recent times.

Our experience on 1 Oceania cruise, Marina 2022, was that the variety of restaurants and general food quality was as good as Regent and, frequently, superior. Jacques and the Italian (name escapes me) on Marina provided food of a higher quality than we have ever experienced on almost 100 nights on Regent.

Sette Mari & Chartreuse are not in the same class, by a long distance, in our view.

There are other aspects of Regent that make it better vfm for us, including excursions, size of ship, Prime 7 and overall quality of service levels but there is little between the 2 on that latter point tbh.

I suspect it is governed by the available excursions tbh. On Mariner last time we were in that area, admittedly back in 2019, we tendered to Amalfi but that’s where most excursions were starting. Our particular trip included a water taxi to Positano. 

Not much is going to start in Positano in my view, my guess would be Amalfi will be the tendering port - but Regent will tell you well in advance if you ask directly.

Not entirely sure, but, you do have a “booklet” in your suite describing all the excursions and you can view them on the tv. Plus, the guest/destination services team can provide all the details anyway. Thus, it’s not actually critical to have the information in/on your personal account.

Interesting that we were told the Nov/Dec refit would be “all singing & dancing”, updating both Mariner & Voyager to Explorer/Splendor standards. That was part of trying to entice us to go along with the “…your 38 night cruise is now 20 nights…”, followed a few weeks later by, “…you can still do 38 nights if you get off the ship for 3 days and return, and the ship will have been fully refurbished in 2025……”.
 

Very glad we cancelled tbh! Regent’s lack of transparency and the associated uncertainty & dubiety is very disconcerting. They have handled this episode very poorly. My money is in there being further fundamental (not simple port swaps etc) changes to these itineraries.

Hopefully, our 2025 cruise on Splendor will restore some faith & confidence in the Regent product.

There was no 38 night available when I just looked. That was the cruise we originally booked then cancelled because of the confusion& messing around. We were told we had to leave the ship & spend 3 nights in Dubai before re-joining in the same suite!

If the 3 day loop has gone, together with the previously scheduled re-fit, and the 18 night cruise is waitlisted, that sounds like Regent are still uncertain re: Suez/Middle Eastern situation or something else us going on regarding Voyager!

Well spotted! Thought about ignoring it but, as you say, either word would be pertinent.

The “….concept of…”,rather. Tried to edit, but too late!

TA’s must be very different in the USA then! I’m struggling with the conceit that some random TA can have greater influence, awareness or access to higher levels of management than someone employed by the cruise line. There are a couple of well known ones who tout themselves all over the internet & social media, but are they actually as great as they tell us? A local TA, who books about 30 or 40 folks a year, at most, on a particular line can’t have as much impact as a C C who is dealing with hundreds, even thousands, per week, surely?

My consultant has just implemented a helpful amendment to a future booking which was directed through 2 senior execs in overseas offices. I was copied in on the exchanges. I’m more than happy with that level of assistance and attention tbh.

On 5/13/2024 at 11:17 PM, Texas Tillie said:

When push comes to shove, and you may be lucky and never have any difficulty, but if the worst happens, do you want to be dealing with someone whose loyalty is to you or someone whose loyalty is to their employer?

It makes no difference - a TA still has to deal with SS! I trust myself to resolve an issue more favourably than a 3rd party, any day of the week tbh.

I suspect it might be different here in the UK. I used a TA that was quite useful - but they went bust & ceased trading.

Subsequently, I’ve booked 2 directly with SS (UK) - (also booked 2 Regent cruises directly too) - and found that there was absolutely no benefit to using a TA. I find it easier to desk directly with the UK consultants tbh. In the case of SS they have proved to be excellent, very courteous, helpful and efficient.

I’ve negotiated as good or better deals than the TA ever managed & I’m in control of the booking. I don’t waste time waiting for a 3rd party to sort out any issues. I find I can put my case more strongly and effectively than somebody else whenever it’s proved necessary.

Thus, it’s “horses for courses” in my view - if you have the time & you are happy/able to put your own case forward, I’d do it yourself - certainly in the UK.

In respect of welcomes & send offs in Japan - the Nagasaki Girls High School band and cheerleaders were sensational last Oct. We got a 40 minute sail away send off that was truly spectacular.

We’d have paid good money to see a show of that calibre, terrific brass band and a really lively, entertaining programme. Pity you had to be port side to see it as, as frequently happens, it was c 6.15 - 7.00 pm when most people are preparing for dinner. I delayed my shower because I couldn’t tear myself away. 
 

Plenty of crew & passengers gathered on open decks as word seemed to get around that this was something spectacular and worth watching.

Similarly, in a couple of other ports there was something worth seeing but nothing compared to Nagasaki.

Only have 1 experience of SS, compared to nearly 100 nights on 3 different ships with Regent. 
 

However, whilst I much prefer Regent’s breakfast & lunch buffet - range/quality and layout etc - SS do offer a far wider choice of evening options. On Dawn (March 2023) La T & SALT were both superb options (with just 1 poor Lasagne) and the variety of other restaurants is better than Regent in my view.

We love P7 & P Rim, but it was almost impossible to get a 2nd booking on an 11 night cruise last Oct. They’ve reduced the covers and, basically, don’t take any booking after about 8.15 pm despite the restaurants stating you can dine up to 9.30.

SS have better al fresco options - the Grill & Pizza places were fine and you can walk in any time, no problem. They also have S Note, which is an interesting and pleasant change.  C Rose is far better than Atlantide in our experience but we did have 1 decent meal in there - we only ate in Atlantide 3 times in a 22 night cruise. I wouldn’t bother with Sette Marie, it is usually crowded and you are kept waiting if you want to dine after 7.30, the antipasti section is about half the size it used to be and I’ve never had a meal in there that made me think, ‘wow”, that was special. La T, La Dame and SALT on SS Dawn made me think,”wow, every time we dined in each location.

So, overall, it depends which types of restaurants you prefer - whether choice and range is important - and whether you get a “good” night or an indifferent one.

We are happy to have the opportunity to eat on either line but the recent cutbacks on both have, seriously, damaged reputations with the sounds of things.

For clarity & completeness: The former quote - “…you are disgustingly drunk…….you will still be disgustingly ugly..” was Churchill to another MP, a famous Labour MP from Liverpool, Bessie Braddock. He was paraphrasing WC Fields from some film, I can’t recall the title.
 

The latter, “…….I’d drink it..” was a reply to Lady Astor but there has been some dispute whether it was actually Lord Birkenhead, who was present at the time, who gave the riposte, not Churchill. 
 

Sorry, that was “…..speculation…” - auto text randomly amended it!

As I indicated previously, this sod ulstion isn’t helpful!

It strikes me that Regent are not going to completely refit a ship - then sell it! That is just a waste of time & effort and not very shrewd business sense unless the new owner is paying for it (On that basis, the published cruises should be honoured in my view.

Open decks forward of the pool and an aft facing lounge, with outside seating, would be a major bonus in my view! The older ships offer these facilities and they are much missed by many, from what I can gather, on the more recent offerings.

Interesting development, given that a few weeks ago they announced major refits for Mariner & Voyager in late 2025. Several Voyager cruises were then waitlisted but they’ve now re-appeared on the website.

There seems to be a slight lack of clarity and some uncertainty about what is actually happening with existing ships, never mind new ones! We’ve cancelled a cruise on Voyager scheduled for 2026, because of the changes made  since we originally booked. It would surely help prospective sales, and customer relations, if there could be some confirmation that if you book a cruise on .voyager, it will go ahead. 
 

The posts regarding which ships might be sold exacerbate the uncertainty. I appreciate that they are not “official” but if people imply that they are “in the know” it may make some - me included - slightly nervous.

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Crikey! That is outrageous - sorry to hear your news. Hope you can get sorted and adequately compensated, not that ‘compensation” is any substitute for the loss of a cruise or the anxiety involved.

Really worried about using Blacklane myself - their reliability seems questionable and the “additional luggage” charges sound somewhat dubious too. Nit much if a service if customers have to pay extra for a few miles plus actually taking luggage with them. SS need to get on top of these issues pdq.

All the best with your claim(s).

No, you don’t owe anyone anything - but thanks for providing a feasible response. Used courteously, I’d guess you are unlikely to disturb neighbours. 

In respect of your question, I can’t recall either - it may depend on ship and/or suite tbh. We were in a PH on Explorer last Oct and didn’t use/need Bluetooth speakers but genuinely don’t recall if they were there.

(We had them on SS Dawn last year for certain).

Really? Headphones or ear pods would, surely, be a safer and more sociable proposition in order not to disturb others? Just a thought.

I certainly wouldn’t want to be next to anyone who played music in their balcony - on the basis that sound travels and you can hear most conversations, even if somewhat muffled occasionally, when neighbours are on their balcony. That is unavoidable but music that is loud enough for you to hear it would carry well beyond the confines of a balcony on a ship.

Just a word for Tenerife - it is a spectacular island, with the highest peak in Spain, Mount Teide. The national park is amazing, the entire north coast offers plenty of interesting and inspiring experiences and Santa Cruz is more than just a commercial cruise port and industrial capital city. There are dozens of quaint villages and fascinating places to see on Tenerife, it isn’t just “sun & sangria” in Playa de las Americas.

Whilst Madeira is certainly a great place to visit, and Funchal is easy to get around, I would rather spend a month on Tenerife tbh. There is plenty to see and do there too.