Dolebludger

Just a simple question here. What, if any perks, are given to those in an owner’s suite? I’m thinking in terms of drinks, specialty restaurants, priority boarding and debarking, tips, room service, WiFi, and other such things are included in the price. Thanks.

A good report, as the wifeWell, my wife says she is really enjoying her Explorer cruise to Alaska. She tells me that she has been told that the ship is at full capacity, yet no crowds or lines. She really likes this ship better tha all the Regent ships we have cruised on (Paul Guiguan, Diamond, Navigator, Mariner, Voyager). This is

Nothing, really. Just pointing out the math.

How about the new Prima? I guess from your response, there is a difference among ships. We were in the Haven on the Pearl in 2015, and no separate restaurant, bar, or pool. Just wondering if things have improved, at least on some ships.

For those in the Haven, is there a separate dining venue, lounge, bar, and swimming pool for Haven guests only?

it looks like they are stating capacity exactly at double occupancy in each suite. Perhaps a coincidence, but ——-.

I’m sure that they will participate in trivia. We have always done somon past Regent cruises.

Yeah, I had read about problems with lines of sight in the theatre, and warned them about that before they booked. Grand daughter might be of help in Music trivia. . iDK. I’ll tell them to get an ice cream come at the pool bar. Thanks.

Well, this, for me, is like taking a cruise without leaving home! By telephone conversations, I have learned some very good things. When the party of wife, daughter, and grand daughter arrived at the Regent check in point, there were no lines whatsoever. Wife asked if they were too early, and was told “not at all”. They were able to go for a buffet lunch that grand daughter reports as great. Of course, there was a wait to get the suite ready, but great places to wait, with food, snacks and drinks. Wife reports that the suite (something above Cat. H, but I don’t know what) was smaller than the Celebrity Royal Suite we last sailed in, but was in great condition. And she says it has great storage, in light of the three people sharing it. And the included laundry is very handy, as the party left home two days before embarkation.

Grand daughter is very mature for her age. She is onboard now, and she is very impressed! They did take the train from Anchorage, and all enjoyed that trip. My wife and I had taken the bus about 20 years ago, and it wasn’t bad. But wife tells me the train is far better. In fact they flew to Anchorage, spent the night, rode the train to Seward the next day, spent a night in Seward, and embarked the next day. In doing so, they hoped to avoid the unreliability of airlines that has been giving us problems — although there were none this time. And I assure all that grand daughter is very mature, and is in fact an artist. She is probably less likely to disturb fellow guests than I am. And I am almost 80!

You know, things like “don’t miss this” or “avoid that”. You see, my wife, daughter, and 12 year old grand daughter are boarding the Explorer in Seward this very minute. I didn’t go, as this is more of a “girls night out” on a major scale. And my last cruise was Alaska. So we decided to use the cost of my fare on this cruise toward a cruise with a different itinerary as a couple — perhaps next spring. In any event, nobody here has cruised the Explorer before, so we know little about the good and not so good (if there is any of that). So please inform me. I am in contact with the cruisers, and I can convey any info to them.

My wife, daughter, and grand daughter are now in Alaska on a “girl’s trip”. They too made their own air and ground arraignments. They flew from Denver to Anchorage yesterday, booked a hotel, and took the train to Seward today. In fact, I think they are on it as I write this. Their emails to me say they like the train much better than the bus Regent provides, which we have taken before. They have a hotel in Seward for tonight and board the Explorer tomorrow. We just cannot rely on commercial air to to get us to the ship if we try to fly on embarkation day. Do the air the day before, as a minimum. Air was on time for them this time, but that is not always the case. In April, 2023, we booked business from Denver to Boston for an event two days after our scheduled arrival in Boston. Weather caused about a two hour delay. But instead of delaying the flight for two hours, United cancelled it, and couldn’t get us to Boston for the next two days. So we were able to get refund for our fares, and just went home the next day. These things happen, and they shouldn’t.

We have been on the Mariner more than any other Regent ship. Last time was in 2017, so can’t comment on current condition. The only things we don’t like are these. First, the lower four levels of suites are too small for most of us. The second thing is that suites with a bathtub shower have the tub floor about 8” ” above the bathroom floor.. this creates a problem for older cruisers to use. Stepping up and stepping down 8” is not something to we can do.safely.do. Best thing is to book a suite with only a shower. It is a fairly a good solution.as it has.no such barriers. I think the suites with the step-up step- down tub shower combos violate the ADA because even people with mild orthopedic leg problems cannot safely navigate this arrangement. And the only other thing I might ad is five years is too long between major dry dock renovation on a luxury cruise ship. And longer than that is unacceptable.

Oh, yes. We have been on so many cruises I can’t accurately count them or accurately say when a certain cruise was. I fear that old age may prevent me from cruising much in the future. Not because of Regent or any other line, but because of air problems required to get to the cruise and back home. But yes, the Diamond cruise we took in about 04 was a one-off, experimental cruise. It was in the Caribbean. And it was rather fun and rather crowded it seemed. And that Diamond cruise was advertised then as an “experimental” cruise. One of a kind, at that time. The ‘all inclusive” was only for drinks. It was not for air, hotel, or shore excursions. And as I recall, it was a rather inexpensive cruise as far as the Radisson charge was concerned. There were engine problems on this rather slow ship. As a result, when we got home, we got a $500 pp refund. That made that cruise more affordable than the same itinerary on a mass market line with NOTHING included then. If it were possible, I would take that identical cruise again.

Well, yes, on our 02/02 PG cruise alcohol was included at lunch and dinner, and there was an always replenished mini bar in the room with whatever content we requested. But to order a cocktail, beer or glass of wine in the lounges, there was additional charge. Also, on the Motu day, drinks flowed freely. So it was almost alcohol inclusive. What was missing were included drinks in the lounge and bars Now our Diamond cruise in about 04 ( I think) was an experimental cruise for Radisson. Alcoholic drinks were included at lunch and dinner, and in room mini bars, AND in the lounge and bars. So it was totally all inclusive. This cruise was a one-off and it was a time after that when Then Regent went fully all inclusive fleet wide. My previous reference to cruising on the Diamond in the 1990s was an error. It was about 2004.

Yes, we understand why full details on pricing wasn’t included in the 25 - 26 catalog. It just shocked us on first reading that pricing wasn’t included. But we understand, and probably we should have not posted this thread.

Yeah, it sort of went off the rails due to a problem of description of the problem, and who created it.

And further, all of us attorneys in solo practice usually had other attorneys to cover for us in minor matters like motions and such. But a major trial would have been scheduled well in advance to give us advance timing to not book a cruise during that time. Still, being a solo attorney in private practice is not an attractive job. Been there, done that, avoid that

IDK, as nobody has said the husband is a sole practice attorney.,if so, I really understand, I was one at one time, and got out as soon as possible to avoid ‘my time being dictated by the courts.

Another old Regent ship is (was) the Paul Gauguin. We first cruised on her in early 2002 . It was shortly after 9/11 and nobody wanted to travel. And we had been booked on a Renaissance cruise, but cancelled right before that line went bankrupt. In any event, our TA then told us that we could get a real deal on the PG. we got a discount as :”cancelled:” Renaissance cruisers. In the end, we were picked up at our house, driven to our airport, flown to LAX, put on Air Tahiti Nui, flown to Tahiti, and taken to the PG. A great 7 nighter of the Society Islands. After the cruise we had a day Room at hotel on Tahiti and we’re bussed to the airport for an over night flight on Air Tahiti Nui to LAX and from there we we were flown home, at our airport we were picked up by a car and driven home. And the cost of all this in 2002? It was about $2500 pp! Please bring back those days!

Yeah, we cruised on the Raddison Diamond back in the mid 1990s. This was the first Raddison cruise to be “beverage all inclusive” as an experiment. The only problem with this ship was that she was so slow! And on our cruise, one of the two engines was malfunctioning. We were making less than 10 knots!. And it was very crowded — probably because of the new open bar concept. I was talking to the Captain, And he volunteered the idea that the cruise wasn’t quite right. He said he was going to recommend a $500 rebate pp. know what? We got it! So we got a nice Regent (Raddison) Caribbean cruise for less than $1K pp for a seven nighter! All inclusive on board! Now, there were no balcony “suites” as I recall. At least we didn’t have one. But the rooms (suites?) were rather large and rather square, And we liked them. I recall when we were docked at some ports how small the Diamond was compared to some cruise ships of the day, which were not that large by today’s standards. Our then 20 something daughter was with us. She and the staff captain had a bit of a thing going on, but just intellectually (I am told). In any event, my wife said “I think our daughter is driving this ship”. I said “No because we haven’t sunk”. But later she confessed that she was driving the ship! Mothers know! But it was a fun cruise. Not a “class” cruise like one on the Explorer now, but fun and it didn’t need a second mortgage to take. I kind of miss the Diamond, based on that cruise. It was sort of like a mass market cruise, but not as crowded and no $1K bar bills.

I really don’t totally agree with CWN’S comment above. We have been cruising Regent since it was Radisson. And I have answered the question about the reliability of making a zoom call on disembarkation day. And to our experience, it is close to none. And is it beyond this thread’s evocative to mention that a problem may be an employer’s fault, and not Regent’s? Regent does not guarantee internet connects on board, let alone after leaving the ship. To our experience, once you disembark, a Regent ship, you enter a “real world” of lack of service, where nobody knows what they are doing. We like Regent, because once we leave the dreaded airline world we are treated like people and not like cattle. And when we leave a Regent cruise, it is like we are cattle again. I don’t depend on anything after we disembark. And what is wrong with calling out an employer who has seemingly cut an employee’s scheduled vacation short? Now what is wrong with that? Please tell me.

Yeah, but what kind of an employer puts an employee through this on a scheduled vacation day? Emergency? No, what kind of emergency can be announced over a week in advance? I was a corporate attorney when my corporate client’s vice president of operations called me about an emergency at 3;00 AM, and it was. He wanted me as his favored attorney to be there with him to help him, and I got dressed quickly and went. I didn’t do much, but I was there for a client. That’s what we did. But I was not on scheduled vacation many miles away. I was right there, so I went. But the corporation for which I worked never interfered with scheduled vacation time off. No calls, no contact of any kind until until my vacation time was over. And when it was,I reported for work. That is how it was. It offends me to hear about a corporate employer cutting an employee’s scheduled vacation time short by a “mandatory zoom call” when the employee (on vacation) may not have the ability to participate. If that is the case, somebody needs a new job. Shouldn’t be hard to find these days. Even I could find one (if I wanted one) as I am almost 80!

If you can, move the cruise. But if the date of husband’s “mandatory zoom call” is on a scheduled vacation day for him, and if it is not an emergency, it is the employe’s fault — not yours. Either you, or your TA should contact Regent about dinner and excursions. Our experience with Regent has been that those things tend to fill up pre cruise, but open up when you are onboard. But, let me say again. If your husbands scheduled vacation included the day of this “mandatory zoom meeting” and if it is not an emergency, the employer should compensate for any monetary loss (and I know of no corporate emergency that is announced more than a week in advance). I am fortunate not to have an employer for almost 30 years, and I don’t miss them at all. Employers seem to foul up everything. But there seems to be a shortage of employees at all levels now. It shouldn’t be difficult to find one that would respect scheduled vacation time off.

Just a little curious about this thread. If I understand correctly, the husband must be on scheduled vacation from his employment for you to be considering this cruise and for his employer to spring a “mandatory zoom meeting” on him when on vacation, when a cruise is being considered. And, if I understand correctly, you have yet to book this cruise, but are just considering it. If something has come up, on an emergency basis, from the husband’s employment, that might conflict with the disembarkation, I wouldn’t book if the internet connection is involved. We have no luck in doing things like that once we disembark Regent. In fact, internet is rather spotty on a Regent (or any other) cruise ship. If the zoom meeting is an “emergency” in your husbands position, and if he has vacation time which includes the disembarkation date, I wouldn’t book. But if husband has vacation time through that date and the zoom meeting isn’t an emergency, husband needs to seek a new employment. None of this is the fault of Regent. No employer should interrupt scheduled vacation time with a “mandatory zoom meeting” on scheduled vacation time, minus an emergency.