Dolebludger

We have been Regent cruisers historically. But in 2018 we were on a music cruise on X in a CS, and felt that it was the same experience for less cost. So our next cruise was booked on X in a RS. After the pandemic when we felt comfortable in cruising again, we checked out the X Retreat and were shocked at the increase in prices. They were higher than Regent for even a SS. So we booked Regent, and discovered no decrease in quality and service compared to our pre-pandemic experiences. So, as a better alternative to the Retreat, we returned to Regent. I think the original marketing concept for the Retreat (and Haven and Yacht Club) was to provide a lux experience on a large ship, at prices less than the lux lines. That is not the case now with the Retreat.

Apparently, and few changes appear acceptable to us.

When did you cruise? SS no longer have butlers, as I understand it. The SS have overworked “Retreat hosts” that work in rotation among the suites.

They are, if you want to walk to the Retreat Lounge, get the soft drinks, and carry them back to your suite. Kind of a cheesy situation at lux cruise prices.

Well, this is a real mystery as to what CS does and doesn’t get regarding in suite drinks. All I know is what was furnished to us back in 2018. I think the problem is that we don’t really know what will be the rule for any X suite now and in the future.

I I read that right here. If I is not true (I hope it is not) it would be great if guests in CS could get cokes and beer from their suite fridge without having to pay “bar prices” for it.

Thanks, but in 2019 in a RS we got laundry daily. Apparently that benefit is not quite up to what we got then, but it is still a good benefit, if only a RS cruise were priced similar to 2019!

Well, as there have been changes — not always “official” — but changes in what guests actually receive, I have a question. When we were in a RS in 2019, we received included valet laundry. Don’t know if this was an “official” perk of the RS, but I know we go it. Is valet laundry still actually included in the RS fare?

Well, whatever happened in 2018 in a CS (which it did), it reportedly isn’t happening now. Some don’t care about the convenience of being able to drink cokes and beer while relaxing in the suite without being charged “bar prices” for this, after paying “lux price+” for the cruise. Fine, but we do. Sometimes, there is a difference between “official policy” and what really happens — which is the only thing guests care about.

All I know is that we cruised in a CS on the Eclipse in 2018 and on a RS on the Equinox in 2019, and we consumed the mini fridge contents without additional charge. And the fridge was replenished upon request. Whether this was OFFICIALLY supposed to be the case, I don’t know. I only say what happened.

Glad to hear that. Can CS guests still use mini fridge contents without additional charge?

The only problem we have even been close to with Regent-booked hotels and transfers for embarkation was second hand info on our Explorer Alaska cruise last June. We booked our own, so this is second hand information from fellow guests. Regent used the Anchorage Hilton, and reportedly it is not a lux hotel. I believe that, as it wasn’t a lux hotel when we stayed there 21 years ago. Breakfast was included for these guests, but this hotel lacked space and servers, so many guests ate standing up. The busses to take the guests to the port in Seward were late, and very crowded. The distance is rather long from Anchorage to Seward. For us it was two to three hours on a vista dome train, so I suspect the bus ride was longer. And while the train ride was fun, no doubt the crowded bus ride was not. The entire process in Anchorage was understaffed and mismanaged, and I have seen pictures on the lines and crowds that resulted. So while a five mile ride on a crowded bus may be tolerable, it seems that the long ride here was not.

If I understand correctly, RS and above still have butlers, and still can use the mini fridge in the suite with out charge. As I understand, these things are no longer true for suites below RS. So those already booked in RS should have a great cruise. There have been comments about Luminae changes, but comments about food are subjective and may not apply to you. We have cruised X in a RS, and the only reason we don’t do it again is the greatly inflated price now. If we could book a RS for the price per day you stated, we would.

Yes, I have thought the same about Barbados departures. In fact, I wondered if Regent cannot book hotels and transfers there, how could I book them?

I can only answer that the Caribe Hilton has several recent negative reviews in “Trip Advisor.com”. As I have never stayed there, I can’t speak from personal experience. And I don’t know if Trip Advisor reaches Australia or not.

tubeamps, when you are packing for a Regent cruise, remember that included valet laundry service is provided onboard now for all guests, which probably wasn't the case in 2019. This inclusion is one of the reasons we like to cruise Regent. It enables us to pack much lighter than would be necessary for a cruise with per piece pricing for laundry — which always seems WAY too high. But on Regent, you have already paid for it, so pack light and enjoy.

I think the problem is, in some embarkation locations, really good hotels that can block off enough rooms for embarking Regent guests just don’t exist. So unless Regent wants to build hotels and go into that business (I’d advise against that), Regent has to settle for what is there. When we opted out of the Anchorage Hilton (which Regent uses) this last summer due to poor reviews, we booked a small boutique hotel in Anchorage that could not have accommodated all the Regent guests. I suspect that this may be the reason that some guests find Regent’s choice for them to be sub-standard in other locations as well. Regent has to book in hotels with the capacity to take all the embarking guests — and those may not always be the best — but are in many cases.

For Anchorage to Seward, there is also a scenic train. We took that last June, and recommend it highly.

Of course, some Regent supplied hotels are quite nice. The problem seems to be that some hotels (but not all) seem to have problems of inadequate staffing, neglected maintenance, and such. I hate to name names, but many of the Hilton properties seem to have these problems. And there seems to be a shortage of hotel accommodations in some locations. Reportedly, Regent is unable to provide hotel accommodations in Barbados, for example, due to shortage. And then, unreliable airline service has undoubtedly increased demand for pre-cruise hotel rooms in embarkation locations. If in any doubt about hotel accommodations, check Trip Advisor. If you find repeated complaints about the same things, look elsewhere.

Well,you are paying for it indirectly as Regent is paying for the hotel from money you pad Regent, the thing is, Regent doesn’t seem to always do a good job in selection. Perhaps it used to be a good hotel, but due to delayed maintenance and understaffing, it isn’t anymore. Lots of hotels like that now. If Regent wants to offer real luxury hotels it needs to conduct periodic checks, to ensure things haven’t gone downhill..The same with the included transfers. They used to be pleasant.Now too many have all,the luxury of a military induction. No doubt, for what we pay, we deserve better land accommodations and transportation than we often get.

I suggest that Regent should know that airlines have become very unreliable, and flying to a cruise on embarkation day is far too risky. The only exception might be where direct (no connection) flights are available. But that’s still risky. If one books Regent in lower suite categories (not concierge and above) Regent doesn’t provide the needed hotel accommodations, but the cost of one night hotel is cheap insurance. All independent travel advisors strongly advise against day-of-embarkation flights, and I’m sure Regent know why. Along these same lines, Regent’s provided ground transfers and hotel accommodations (when provided) aren’t what they used to be. Our last Regent cruise was last June in Alaska on the Explorer. We booked our own air, hotel, and ground transfers (thankfully). When we got onboard, we learned from fellow guests that the Regent provided hotel in Anchorage was far from luxury, and the ground transfer was a disorganized cattle call.

I am glad you enjoyed your stay at the Caribe Hilton. When did you stay there? I have never been there, but the recent reports on Trip Advisor are not favorable, to say the least. Not what I’d book if I had a choice, and I do. FWIW, Hilton seems to be buying up historic hotels, and letting them go to pot. Hilton bought the Del Coronado hotel in Coronado, CA. I stayed there back in the late 1970’s and it was the greatest! Now, customer reports are negative, since Hilton took it over.

Yes, we experienced no problem with the dress on X a few years ago. Long pants of some kind for men in evenings and a shirt with a collar. No shoe rule, except I think men were expected to wear some kind of shoe. Chicnnight was voluntary. I guess this boils down to no shorts and no t shirts..shouldn’t be a problem for anybody,

Well, I think dress codes should be abolished — pretty much, but I would still hesitate to book Silversea without taking a tux or dark suit and tie. It’s called peer pressure. So most questions about dress codes are really about what is customary rather than what is mandated. And along those lines, I would like to inform the OP that brown leather shoes should not be combined with black socks. But in the evening on a cruise, nobody will notice.

As mentioned in several posts, there are now shoes that an are a combination of low-top sneakers and smart casual shoes. They have leather uppers and soles like sneakers. I have some and wear them all the time. I almost think that leather sole dress shoes are passé. I tried on a pair, and almost fell. When last on an X cruise I wore these “combo shoes” to the Luminae and specialty restaurants in the evening. And I also wore good jeans. Nobody complained, and I had plenty of company. And nobody even thought about looking at my socks.