pingpong1

"Island Venturer" - I was very disappointed to hear about your experience on Navigator. As Regent customers, we all have the right to expect the "top advertised Regent experience", regardless of which ship we're cruising on. Regent is charging "top fares" for all of their ships and itineraries, and we all have the same right to expect and receive that same level of service and quality for our money. A common "excuse" offered by some (after these types of reviews have recently and frequently appeared) has been along the lines that, "They're still getting back to normal after Covid". So just "how long" should we be expected to give Regent "a pass" for these huge lapses? Is Regent just trying to "mitigate" these lapses (and refill their ships) with recent offers of 2-level suite upgrades, large OBC's, or first-class flights on U.S./Canadian itineraries? Our own "next cruise" will also be on Navigator in May '23 (from NYC to Montreal). We will be bringing along friends, who have never been on Regent before, and we've been telling them "How great" Regent is. It will be extremely embarrassing and disappointing to us if our collective experience turns out to be the same as yours - 8 months from now! If it is...I promise that it will be our very last Regent cruise, and we will never recommend the company to anyone else again! And at that same time, we will also immediately cancel our future-booked TA cruise on Splendor (in Nov '23). We've worked and saved our money for too many years to waste it on a Regent cruise like you have just reported on (and which I have no reason to doubt). Yours has not been the only recent negative experience described on CC. Best Regards.

Hello Jess and Arnie - If you go into it with a positive/upbeat attitude (as I know most "Aussie" do), you should have a great time! Different folks look upon events and circumstances in different ways. If your expectations are reasonable, you should/will have a great time! Enjoying Alaska is very "weather-dependent to" too, as you know. You could have "glorious weather" for the entire cruise (to quote one of our favorite CD's - Ray S.), or it could be just absolutely blustery/cold/wet (a hint - "it never rains inside a pub or a lounge"). You should find the meals to be generally fantastic, the service wonderful, your fellow cruisers fun and interesting to talk to, and you'll generally find the whole ambience onboard Regent to be the luxury experience you've been hoping for. Please post some of your experiences online, so we can all enjoy them. Safe travels across the Pacific! ((I'm "half-Aussie", myself. My Mom was a "war-bride" from Albany)). Best Regards.

Hi Linda....I'm a "Casino Rat", too!

Actually, I find myself feeling very sorry for the donkeys! It's certainly not much of a life for them! 😟

Hi Papa - If they happen to be staying in a Concierge Suite (or above) they will also be entitled to "early booking" of excursions. Regards.

Joanie and RJ2002 - I agree with you both. For our own '23 TA from BCN to MIA, we're using the same approach. We happen to have "oodles" of American FF miles to get ourselves from Phoenix to BCN in First Class (across the U.S) and in BC from the east coast directly to BCN (you'll be able to use the airline's first class lounge while awaiting the flight change in the U.S.) Even though Regent will put you on Business Class from Atlanta to Frankfurt, and then (so-called) "Business Class" from Frankfurt to BCN....Europe's version of "Business Class" within the European continent is "laughable" compared to that of Business/FC in the U.S. and across the ocean. It's a "cattle car" in my judgement/experience. Do whatever is necessary to put yourself in the completely American version of "Business Class" on one uninterrupted flight (with no intermediate flight changes inside Europe) from the final U.S. departure point... non-stop all the way to Barcelona. There are several U.S. departure points with direct non-stop service to Barcelona. Either pay the "deviation fee" as RJ suggests, or take Regent's air credit and get yourselves (one-way) to Barcelona in Business Class. Regards

Yes, all three! TBD by the context 😉

Hi Bill - Heartily agree! I look forward to enjoying a good cigar and a fine Single Malt with you someday on a Regent cruise! 😜

Papa - I'm, beginning to wonder if your wife and mine might be sisters!!

Lonedaddy - That is correct. Navigator is the only Regent ship that no longer has a Connoisseur Club. And I (along with a few others) certainly miss it.😢 The square footage was taken away during a remodeling project and used to expand the computer room or the Coffee Connection. I forget which, but others will know the precise details. As you said, there are two outside locations (on Navigator) for smoking but only the pool deck location is "approved" for us "Cigar Afficionados". So... we sit in that one little corner of the pool deck (with mother nature providing plenty of air circulation), with a fine cigar, a good drink in hand, good conversation with fellow "connoisseurs", and observe/enjoy the random scowls and disapproving glares from a few passers-by, who want to not-so-subtly impart to us their "displeasure" of our presence/existence there (and on "their ship"). If Regent had asked for my "vote", I would have recommended that they not get rid of the CC in the first place...of course even that private, closed, and well-ventilated location also rankled some of "the flock", as well. Regards

Is it possible that Navigator just might "not be around" anymore by the fall of '24?? 😢

And as a result...you will be one of the happiest cruisers on the ship!! 😁

And like I always tell my friends..."If you set the bar low enough, you're never disappointed" 🤪

Hi Borna - Oftentimes, on "cruise day" the passenger luggage is set outside your hotel room door and collected by porters/bell hops. Then those large bags are all loaded on a box truck and taken separately/directly to the port/ship and loaded onboard the ship. Sometimes before the passengers arrive and sometimes afterwards. As a passenger, you would only hold onto/personally carry small bags with you over to the ship on a passenger bus. Your small carry-on bags might contain valuables, money, medicines, camera/phone/laptop, documentation/passports, etc. that you would want/need to keep with you.

Okay - That prompts a question... I think what you're suggesting that the OP actually pursue (a Credit Card "charge back"), is impossible to accomplish with any mathematical accuracy or verifiable and reimbursable expense. We (the Regent customer) doesn't really "know" what the "actual air cost" is/was (to us or Regent) for separate air legs of any one particular business/economy air ticket/reservation that might be "purchased or booked" on behalf of each individual customer, as part of Regent's "all-inclusive" cruise fare feature. But we do know with certainty that it wouldn't be the same exact price, or have any relationship to the "air credit discount" offered by Regent to anyone who wants to make/buy their own flight arrangements, vice what Regent's "actual ticket cost" is in any particular circumstance. Example: Me flying from Phoenix to Barcelona (at my own expense), would be a different actual cost than another passenger, who might be flying from Dulles to Barcelona, instead. But...Regent would offer us both the same exact "air credit" amount (in advance of the cruise) if we both were arranging/paying for our own air transportation from those two completely different departure airports (rather than using Regent's air). And those same "air credits" given to both of us would NOT be close to the same "price" that Regent would actually be paying the airline/s for our respective flight tickets, if we were using Regent's "included" air transportation. So how would anyone actually "know" with any accuracy at all, what the specific "price difference" would be, when requesting a "price difference charge back" for having been put in an "economy seat" (at the last minute) from Europe back to the U.S., vice having been assigned a "business class seat", instead? In their fare structures, Regent (purposely) does NOT break out the individual prices/costs for "included air fares" in the total cruise fares they charge every passenger on all itineraries. And I think the T&C's well-insulate Regent from giving individual refunds back for circumstances such as what occurred here. That actual air cost information is really "unknowable" to the public and would be proprietary. But I'm also not suggesting, that this should prevent Regent from at least voluntarily and pro-actively (for the purpose of promoting good customer relations) offering FCC's to the OP as compensation for the unfortunate circumstances that occurred to them. Regards.

Actually, I was talking about "checking in on line, 24-hours in advance. NOT checking in at the ticket counter and giving them your suitcases. Yes, I obviously know you have to do that (the latter). But if you have guaranteed reservations and a seat assigned with any airline...there is actually no technical reason or even a requirement for you to "check-in online" and get a digital/paper boarding pass in advance, before you actually arrive at the airport! And THAT was what my comment/question specifically related to. If you are flying on Regent's provided air transportation, and If you have a reservation number/confirmation and a seat assignment that Regent provided you....I don't see why there is any "rush" or need to use your own computer/laptop/cellphone, etc. while still onboard the ship and nearing the time you are taken to the airport (by Regent), to "make sure" the flight has not been cancelled. I think that would be "Regent's job" to let their customer know if "Regent's Booked Flight" (which they arranged for on behalf of their customer and collected extra funds for that service) had been changed or cancelled. Isn't that why we're paying them/Regent for that service...."to take all the worry out your/our travel experience"?? Yes, I know in this "OCD world" that we live in today....that a lot of people do that (obsessively check their electronic devices for virtually everything)....but technically, there is no reason that someone should have to do that, and particularly in the case where "Regent" was "taking care of the flight arrangements" for the customer. This "checking in early thing" has only really come into vogue in the past 10-15 years among the majority of the population, and it was the airlines themselves who actually initiated/developed it... in hopes of cutting down on the employee/customer interface that was needed at the airport. It was mainly developed for the convenience of the airlines...not the passengers. And a "digital check-in from home" before arriving at the airport is NOT a requirement. There is nothing that "requires" me to "check in early" for a flight (using on line devices before I get to the airport), i.e., "early", as long as I have a confirmation number and a specific seat assignment (as long as I'm not flying Southwest). And I believe that this was the principle that the OP was assuming and operating under, after having booked a cruise and having paid for Regent to book flights for them. Regent had made those flight arrangements (and collected the money for the tickets) for them and the OP was operating on the fair assumption that Regent would let them know immediately if something had "changed" for any of those those flights. That was not/is not an unreasonable assumption.

I've never used "Regent Air". Have always arranged/paid for my own flights. So... Do you actually have to "check in" for those Regen-arranged flights 24 hours beforehand? Particularly for the "return home" flights (like what the OP's was) when you might still be at sea the day/night before disembarking (and during the 24-hour-before-the-flight-window), and just a few hours before actually boarding the flight to head home?

Mdunne48 - Thanks very much for the update! Regards.

I'm a curious about all the questioning that is being directed at the OP. i.e., "Did they have a flight APP loaded on their phone". "Did they call their TA". "Did they double-check their return flight reservations online before the flight", etc., etc. Why isn't/wasn't this all Regent's responsibility....since they were using "Regent Air"? Why is the OP seemingly getting the "Third Degree"? If I was using Regent Air, and I was approaching the last day of the cruise, and I didn't "hear anything" from Regent to the contrary....I would also assume that everything was "Okay". Wouldn't the rest of us also reasonably assume that too, under the same circumstances? Although perhaps "prudence" might have called for these additional measures on the part of the individual passenger, I think the bottom line (and the point that the OP is valiantly trying to make, throughout all the questioning ) is that "they - as Regent customers and using "Regent Air", really shouldn't have to be doing "any of that stuff", at all! Right? This is supposed to be a "luxury experience" from start to finish. And when you're paying for "Regent Air", that should also include the flight home...no matter what the T&C's say. That's what we're all paying for. And although we all know that "mistakes happen", I don't understand why Regent has not reached out to them, after all the intervening time and emails that the OP has submitted. Why can't Regent simply get back to them, admit the mistake (not for the flight cancellations itself, but for the lack of communications and on-the-spot re-booking support in Business Class on an alternative flight) and make things "Right"? And yes, I'm aware of all the "fine print T&C's" about "outside vendors". But presumably, Regent also is striving for "return business" and "happy customers", as one of their operating principles. I wouldn't necessarily blame the OP if they never booked another Regent Cruise, based upon the way they feel they have been treated/ignored after the fact. And I'm sure Regent would prefer there not to be a post like this on CC. We know they read it! And now, the OP is left with the additional chore and inconvenience of applying on their own for a "charge back" on their card, for some completely undetermined amount of compensation/refund, which Regent (so far) hasn't even "owned up to", or admitted that they might "owe" the customer...if not legally, than certainly ethically? More wasted time, and more bad feelings. Why are we seemingly shifting all the "blame" onto the OP (for them "failing" to take their own preventative actions in advance)? If I understand the OP's situation...the flight was not cancelled at the last minute or on the day of departure. The flight was cancelled before the departure day and Regent took no action to advise their customers, book them on alternative (Business Class) flights, or put their minds at ease. Again, "a luxury experience"? Not. May the "salvos" begin. 😉

Thanks very much (in advance) for forwarding along any news/revelations/thoughts Jason might be willing to share regarding the future...(such as "plans" for Navigator's replacement/retention, etc.). Best regards and thanks for "bringing us along" on your cruise.

Hoping that we're going to see lots of posts and pics from this "Navigator" cruise. Hope you all have a good time!

First time I've heard La Veranda referred to as a "Cafeteria"??

Jean - It's been a long time since we've heard from you! 😀 Nice see you back on the forum. Regards.

Yup - I think you've got the logical order of priorities sorted out just about right! Lots of Grappa for "Hubby", first....then, off he goes to the jewelry boutique to find presents for you! 😉

Mike - Thanks so much for stepping in and clarifying. That now makes a lot of sense and should put many questions to rest (but probably not all questions). For myself, I really appreciate Regent staff, such as yourself, "monitoring" these pages and offering their insight and relevant information, when they feel it's appropriate. I appreciate you doing that. Best Regards.