Jason Montague Explorer Town Hall 4/15/2017

I thought that issue can be mitigated quickly with a better contrasting color at the edge of the stairs. Blue on blue, heartache on heartache, even Bobby Vinton knew that 50+ years ago.

Loved that song! You're right - changing the carpeting at the edge of the stairs would work (not sure how difficult that is to do). I also thought of tiny lights being imbedded by the stairs. Whatever "fix" they do, I hope it is done soon as it really is an issue.

Well. after reading FLOSSIE009 report f the town hall, mu other post were out of line. Sorry. So JM did a great job at the town hall. Still looking forward to cruising on Regent for the first time. Getting lot's of information ahead of time from everyone cruising.

Rick

After 4 segments on the Explorer, my biggest disappointments is still no rear entrance to Compass Rose. A rear entrance and restrooms there are greatly needed. I also agree with the other complaints acknowledged at the town hall meeting, mainly the poor sightings and lack of a ramp vs. stairs in Constellation Theater. How in the world that wasn't corrected in the planning stages behoves me.

I do love the Explorer but currently feeling very at home on the Mariner.

Are you saying no restroom near CR dining room?

Are you saying no restroom near CR dining room?

I don't get what posters are saying about this. Are the restroom attached to CR? No. But, they are a very short walk from the restaurant (next to the elevator). You can get there in a minute or two at most. This has definitely not been an issue for us or anyone we have spoken with.

The set-up on deck 4 is: CR takes up most of the aft deck. Walking out of CR, the Explorer Lounge is on the left and casino is on the right. Then, on the right is the Boutique and then the men's restroom (with the elevators on the left). On the left side of the elevators is the women's restroom. Even people with mobility issues would have no problem getting to the restrooms.

Some passengers may be thinking about other ships where the restrooms are outside of the aft door to CR (there is no aft door on the Explorer). IMO, this is a non-issue!

What may not be an issue for you may be an issue for others.

Now that is a design flaw:cool:

Now is this poorly designed? Or maybe they're saving wear and tear on any one urinal - like snow tires and regular tires - because they're never both used at the same time?

...............and what makes this piece of "leading edge design" even worse is 1) there are only 3 urinals total, so only 2 usable at one time and 2) they are in a restroom the size of a ballroom, so space was not the constraint

Assume that there are stalls as well. Agree that someone should have figured this out before it was installed, however, I must borrow a line from "drib", "It's probably not much of an issue if it took nine months for someone to raise it". This should be an easy change for the next Explorer-class ship.

Flossie009, thank you too for contributing a home run wrap up post of JM's Townhall session. Very much like to hear that Regent will appoint a Director of on shore experience, and that the 2019/2020 itineraries will be out sooner (august) rather than later (October), and very nice to hear guests complementing the deserving/hardworking crew/staff.

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I like "Endeavor" or better yet the U.K./Captain Cook spelling "Endeavour". Or violating the rules, "Azure," Discovery" "Radiance," 'or "Atlantis".

I like "Endeavor" or better yet the U.K./Captain Cook spelling "Endeavour". Or violating the rules, "Azure," Discovery" "Radiance," 'or "Atlantis".

It sounds like Crystal has the name "Endeavor" (sorry - I prefer the American spelling - especially since the last Space Shuttle was named Endeavor).

It sounds like Crystal has the name "Endeavor" (sorry - I prefer the American spelling - especially since the last Space Shuttle was named Endeavor).

I think the Space Shuttle was named 'Endeavour'.

I think the Space Shuttle was named 'Endeavour'.

Had to do some Googling on this as I find it spelled both ways. I agree with you - according to the NASA website (the one that I believe) it is spelled with a "u". However, I still prefer it without a "u" as extra "u's" are not typically used in the United States English language and the shuttles are definitely representative of the U.S. (no offense meant to Brits or Canadians).

Thank you for bringing this to our attention:D

It's only spelled "Endeavor" when it's on the lanch pad.

It's only spelled "Endeavor" when it's on the lanch pad.

Really? Trying to figure out if you are serious or joking. If this is true, do you know the reason for this? Very interesting stuff!

It is spelled with a U.

Actually those names are really not official and just for the people other than NASA employees. Their official names are OV-99 thru OV-105 which was Endeavor. 99 was Enterprises and so on and so on as each one was built they took the next number.

Actually those names are really not official and just for the people other than NASA employees. Their official names are OV-99 thru OV-105 which was Endeavor. 99 was Enterprises and so on and so on as each one was built they took the next number.

We are aware of this, however, in terms of naming a new ship, the "official names" would not work!

Finally, despite liking "Terminator", our suggestion for the name of the new ship is "Endeavour" but, unless misspelt, it doesn't fulfil JM's naming specification

As others have already said it will probably end up as "Adventurer"

Loving the idea of the Seven Seas Terminator. But don't think it will make it. How about the Seven Seas Traveler. After all we're all traveling the world.

Discoverer? Adventurer?

Actually those names are really not official and just for the people other than NASA employees. Their official names are OV-99 thru OV-105 which was Endeavor. 99 was Enterprises and so on and so on as each one was built they took the next number.

I have to disagree, otherwise every naval vessel that we know by name should only ever be referred by its number. "Nimitz" versus CVN-66...which is used most often?

When they paint the name of the shuttle on the fuselage it becomes rather official.

I have to disagree, otherwise every naval vessel that we know by name should only ever be referred by its number. "Nimitz" versus CVN-66...which is used most often?

 

When they paint the name of the shuttle on the fuselage it becomes rather official.

While I fully understand your disagreement and yes the names are used most often that does not make them "official". All of the "official" records refer to the Orbiters by their Orbital Vehicle (OV) number much like naval ships use names as you described CVN, etc.

Spent many years working on the Space Shuttle program most of that on Orbiters and never in the office had them referrer to by their more familiar name. All paperwork and records use the OV nomenclature. This whole discussion is really a nit and interesting for those who want to know.

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Impressions of the Regent Explorer based on 24 nights from Miami to Venice, March/April 2018

Bottom Line Up Front: If (as impossible as it would be) all of Regent’s ships were doing the same itinerary, we’d choose Explorer, then Voyager, Mariner and Navigator, in order. Explorer because the Big Wins listed below outweigh the Big Fails. Explorer did not, however, deal a knock-out blow which we actually view as good. If it were perfect in every way, we’d probably feel diminished if we had to “settle”for one of the other ships. As it is, itinerary wins: we booked cruises on Voyager, Mariner and Explorer while on-board.

Big Wins:

Suite design for F (and D & E) – love the feet outward layout, lots and lots of storage space in neat drawers and cabinets that draw themselves closed when pushed nearly closed (we can’t break ourselves of this habit at home and are leaving things only mostly shut!), lots and lots of power points including USB charging at both nightstands, large verandahs even with F2 (which we had), great bathrooms with tub and rainforest shower.

Pacific Rim – our favorite restaurant (6 times in 22 nights!...yes, you can only make one advance reservation per restaurant per segment, but if you are willing to share and flexible on times, no problem getting additional visits), we were great fans of Latitudes and are happy again. At the Town Hall I cited this great addition and suggested that, since they can’t create a Pacific Rim space on the other ships, they might at least add some of the signature dishes to the “All the Time” menu in Compass Rose.

Compass Rose menu expansion – we used to sometimes end up in the former Compass Roses and have to choose the item we disliked least…no longer with the huge “All the Time” section. The chairs are more comfortable, as well.

Wins:

Restaurant Reservation desk – very nice to have a single place to go to deal with additions/changes to restaurant reservations.

Setti Mari – already a favorite, it benefits from much more outside dining space with some very sheltered locations and infrared heaters for enjoyment while under way.

Specialty Restaurant availability – Explorer carries 50 more passengers than Voyager/Mariner. Our impression is that Compass Rose is similar in size and that Chartreuse and Prime 7 are larger. Add the new capacityin Pacific Rim and it certainly was the case for us that we could eat pretty much in any restaurant we wanted (with the above-citied willingness to share or be flexible on times).

Minor Wins:

Chartreuse – hard to say why, but we liked it more than Signatures. Seemed less pretentious.

Neutral:

Décor and artwork – clearly a hugely subjective area. The décor is startlingly different from the other ships—sort of grand era of cruising retro—but we neither adored it or hated it. Similarly OK with most of the artwork. It’s not like we view the ship as an art museum where one sits and ponders the artist’s work.

Minor Fails (correctable):

Beer Selection – totally pedestrian. Nothing you can’t find at the local 7-11. Regent seems to respect wine drinkers as having palates, but not if you like quality beer. They’ve even dropped the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (a widely available, pretty decent large craft beer). If you want it, put in a special request. Once upon a not-too-long-ago time they also had Guinness and Bodingtons in the nitro cans…avoid the Export Guinness at all costs (very bitter)! Not expecting true micro-brews, but please, something not distributed in tank cars.

Major Fails (not correctable on Explorer, but could be addressed on Explorer 2…many noted before by others):

NO OUTSIDE FORWARD DECK AREA – hugely disappointing! Other than the Observation Lounge, it is nearly impossible to see where the ship is headed. On our recent Miami-Venice cruise, this was particularly painful while sailing into the Kotor fjord and the morning sail into Venice. I brought this up at the TownHall and it received quite a round of applause (as did the next item), so not just my view. It would/will be challenging to fix this on Explorer 2 since it was caused by creating the high value real estate on deck 12 forward.

NO REAR FACING LOUNGE – we really like the Horizon Lounges on the other ships. Nothing on Explorer faces the rear since the obvious space was given over to the spa and the fitness center. I think that the latter, at least, could be placed elsewhere. The lack of this second “formal” lounge (along with the Observation Lounge) means that events like tea time end up in the Observation Lounge where many, like us, like to spend a lot of time. Not so comfortable when they are setting up tea time all around you. This, too, received a good round of applause when I brought it up at theTown Hall.

Theater sight lines, cramped rear stairwells – all mentioned by others and specifically recognized as something to deal with at the Town Hall.

Agree with your review and also the order of your ships - in order of your preference! I think that we liked Chartreuse a bit more than you and Pacific Rim a little less (however Sake in Pacific is wonderful - as is the ginger pear tea -- could not find any dessert that we like).

drib - interesting thought but the Regent suite is forward and the deck, while large, would not hold enough passengers. I would not be surprised if there was an open forward area on Explorer 2 since it has been brought up many times, We didn't miss the aft lounge at all. I saw that the Meridian Lounge was utilized during the day for various things and, IMO, takes the place of the aft lounge. OTOH, I do understand that some people love the Horizon Lounge. We found that it was almost always too hot.

P.S. In terms of names -- I agree with Portolan. My DH worked in the space program (including during each of the shuttle launches) for 37 years and always refers to the spacecraft by their common names (Voyager, Mariner, Challenger, etc.).