How does Silversea compare to Regent

[V8Babe]

Regent is truly going downhill, bt Silver Seas is the most overrated line of all of them.

 

 

Have you actually sailed with Silversea? We sailed on the Whisper last September and could not fault anything. We are not smokers but did not find 'the smoking areas', to be a problem. As for being over-rated, in my opinion, they deserve all the praise they get.

[dougburns]

Lynn and I were avid Regent cruisers with over 250 nights. While I think Regent is a great line, I think it has gone down hill to some degree since Apollo took over from the standpoint of management. We switched to Silversea in 2008 and have cruised both Shadow and Silver Spirit. We think Silversea is fantastic and wish we had tried it sooner. There is much less complaining and the pax seem to be a bit more sophisticated. A much more international crowd. For instance, on the Silver Spirit T/A we had @ 60% non U.S. pax and they were from every corner of the world. Our best cruise ever! And we had some great ones on Regent.

[Suite Travels]

Regent has a long way to go to be in par with Seabourn,Crystal and Silversea. Regent is very over priced compared to these other lines.

 

We have friends who recently returned from the Voyager and they have over twenty cruises with RSSC/REGENT. We have cruised with as well. They told us about the decline in service and that the food was spotty. They just booked their first cruise on Seabourn. I believe it is the Odyssey and they also booked a Crystal cruise in the PH.

 

Regent has beautiful ships that is a given. When the staff,service,food are not up to snuff the ship is just a hull.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Gee, many of us relative veterans (only just Gold myself) are singing the same song about Regent--something is off, the bloom is off the rose, food is spotty, etc. I personally think the service is still top-notch, but the staff are overworked, obviously.

 

Are you listening, Regent?

 

Maybe we should start a letter-writing campaign.

[Travelcat2]

Gee, many of us relative veterans (only just Gold myself) are singing the same song about Regent--something is off, the bloom is off the rose, food is spotty, etc. I personally think the service is still top-notch, but the staff are overworked, obviously.

 

Are you listening, Regent?

 

Maybe we should start a letter-writing campaign.

 

You could start a poll:confused: I know that Regent reads CC on a regular basis.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Well, let's see, what would be the choices:

 

I have been cruising on Regent for at least several years. I feel that:

 

1. Regent continues to deliver a class product and I'm very happy with them.

 

2. I feel that the overall luxury experience has detiorated (food, service levels, personal touches), but I intend to continue cruising on Regent

 

3. Regent is not doing it for me any more. I'm looking at other lines.

 

 

(Not sure how I could frame the poll, any ideas?)

[Travelcat2]

Well, let's see, what would be the choices:

 

I have been cruising on Regent for at least several years. I feel that:

 

1. Regent continues to deliver a class product and I'm very happy with them.

 

2. I feel that the overall luxury experience has detiorated (food, service levels, personal touches), but I intend to continue cruising on Regent

 

3. Regent is not doing it for me any more. I'm looking at other lines.

 

 

(Not sure how I could frame the poll, any ideas?)

 

Having just posted a poll, I remember that you can have up to 14 choices -- which seems like a lot. You can also post "other" which I failed to do. Here are a couple of suggestions.

 

1. Regent delivers a class product and I am happy with them

 

2. Regent overall has declined in the past two years.

 

3. Quality of food has deteriorated in Compass Rose.

 

4. Quality of food has deteriorated in Signatures

 

5. Service has declined in the restaurants.

 

6. Service has declined in other areas of the ship.

 

7. I am looking at other lines due to Regent's itineraries.

 

8. Regent isn't doing it for me anymore. I'm looking at other lines.

 

You're right -- this is difficult to frame. I think you would see a lot of comments. You will have the option to allow people to make more than one selection. This was just a few ideas -- hope others will chime in. In any event, I have no doubt this would get Regent's attention.

[UUNetBill]

I'm a fan of 'KISS' - keep it simple, uh, silly. . .

 

If you're trying to determine the extent of any 'decline', I think all you'd want to know is how it affects you or any other potential Regent customers.

 

My suggestions:

 

1. I love Regent and I think they're still atop the rankings.

2. Regent has shown a downturn in service, but no more so than other lines.

3. Regent has shown a downturn in service, more so than the other lines.

4. Regent has degraded enough that I'm considering other lines.

5. Regent has degraded enough that I've booked on other lines (but would still sail Regent if the cruise was right.)

6. Regent has slipped so far that they've lost my business completely.

7. Other (Please explain)

 

Something like this would help me understand how veteran cruisers feel about the current situation. . .

[PaulaJK]

IF Regent reads these posts and gives any credence to them, then they certainly have read many posts from Regent regulars which elaborate views that cusine, service,etc have noticably declined. These posts, of course, are mixed in with others that predicate that everything is grand.In my view, Regent does not need a poll........just to identify its market and goals. It may be that they have decided to go more towards upper mass marketing than try to maintain their previous standards. If not, they will value the posts and try to make corrections.

 

Mark T...since you are on the Regent board, are you aware that Regent permits smoking in designated areas of the pool bar, lounges and decks? It's hardly all or none as some would like. I have not sailed Seaborne so am unfamiliar w. their policies. I have sailed Crystal and do not find the exposure to smoke significantly different from Regent.

[ededmd]

I'm a fan of 'KISS' - keep it simple, uh, silly. . .

 

If you're trying to determine the extent of any 'decline', I think all you'd want to know is how it affects you or any other potential Regent customers.

 

My suggestions:

 

1. I love Regent and I think they're still atop the rankings.

2. Regent has shown a downturn in service, but no more so than other lines.

3. Regent has shown a downturn in service, more so than the other lines.

4. Regent has degraded enough that I'm considering other lines.

5. Regent has degraded enough that I've booked on other lines (but would still sail Regent if the cruise was right.)

6. Regent has slipped so far that they've lost my business completely.

7. Other (Please explain)

 

Something like this would help me understand how veteran cruisers feel about the current situation. . .

 

Well done UUNet Bill.

[Mark_T]

Mark T...since you are on the Regent board, are you aware that Regent permits smoking in designated areas of the pool bar, lounges and decks? It's hardly all or none as some would like.

 

It all comes down to the detail though, importantly there is no smoking in the suites or the balconies and the designated areas amount to outside zones where it is not a problem or the 'cigar bar', casino and disco where we would never go anyway.

 

This is a long way from having smoking areas in 'most bars' from the Crystal quote earlier.

[ededmd]

I wonder if the main differential that attracts non-smokers to Regent is the suite / balcony ban on Regent.

 

I don't need a non-smoking ship by any means but not dealing with stale smoke smell in the suite or wafting smoke on my balcony is great.

 

While you may have 'considerate' neighbors on Crystal or one of the other ships which allow balcony smoking you might not... With Regent, at least by rule, you know what you will get.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

As for the poll, I'll leave it someone else if they wish. I don't think I can stomach it.

[ededmd]

As for the poll, I'll leave it someone else if they wish. I don't think I can stomach it.

 

Ah Wendy, it is the making of it, the results, or all the snarky drive-by comments sure to emanate from other cruise lines' fans?

 

Best wishes for a non-dyspeptic evening! :)

[PaulaJK]

MarkT....I do appreciate Regent's no smoking in the cabin/balcony policy although both cruises where I have had a neighbor smoking his cigar on his balcony was on Regent! Yes, I understand, he was breaking the rules.

 

That aside, don't get thrown by Crystal's posting. I have sailed both lines and find no significant difference in non cabin smoking areas. As you are probably aware, Voyager's lounge and pool bar have smoking areas. I am a non smoker ..try to sit far from them...and try to keep my annoyance to a minimum as they,too, have to be provided for by the lines.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Ah Wendy, it is the making of it, the results, or all the snarky drive-by comments sure to emanate from other cruise lines' fans?

 

Best wishes for a non-dyspeptic evening! :)

 

I just think they're mostly a waste of time, although I like answering them! It wasn't my idea, my idea was for us all to write Regent.

[canadagal]

I would appreciate any input on Silversea versus Regent.After 300 nights sailing with Regent I am ready for a change.Since Apollo acquired Regent I have seen a falloff of the product.Many long time Regent people; both passengers and crew have made the switch to Silversea.Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

Getting back to the OP's question......I tend to be in agreement with you. I've switched back to Silversea this year and will be on the Cloud next month. After many years of consistantly cruising with Regent I just don't find their offerings of value and are grossly over priced, not to mention the slippage in quality. All the free shore excursions, air and on board credits just don't make up for the dramatic rise in pricing. I'll miss Regent's onboard past pax perks but not enough to make me book anything with them in the forseeable future. There are just too many other luxury lines with more equitable pricing and quality to tempt us. Too bad as I'd love to see the old Raddison back that I grew to love and appreciate......but I think she's gone forever with Appolo at the helm.

Pat

[Suite Travels]

FYI, on Crystal you cannot smoke on your balcony. After fifteen Crystal cruises and five on Regent prior to the ban on smoking. We have never had our suite smell of lingering smoke.

[Roland4]

It all comes down to the detail though, importantly there is no smoking in the suites or the balconies and the designated areas amount to outside zones where it is not a problem or the 'cigar bar', casino and disco where we would never go anyway.

 

This is a long way from having smoking areas in 'most bars' from the Crystal quote earlier.

 

The policy I don't believe has been updated to reflect the current situation. At the moment (besides the disco) the only bars where smoking is allowed are the piano bar and the lobby bar. According to a senior executive we spoke to in November, it is probable one (the piano bar) and possibly both, will be smoke free in 2011, leaving the cigar lounge, the disco and casino as the only indoor public areas allowing smoking. It was explained to us that many long-time (high mileage:)) passengers do smoke, so they are taking a gradual approach to elminating smoking to limit the complaints. I wish they would not allow smoking in the staterooms as well, but I can honestly say it has not been an issue for us.

[gillianrose]

The policy I don't believe has been updated to reflect the current situation. At the moment (besides the disco) the only bars where smoking is allowed are the piano bar and the lobby bar. According to a senior executive we spoke to in November, it is probable one (the piano bar) and possibly both, will be smoke free in 2011, leaving the cigar lounge, the disco and casino as the only indoor public areas allowing smoking. It was explained to us that many long-time (high mileage:)) passengers do smoke, so they are taking a gradual approach to elminating smoking to limit the complaints. I wish they would not allow smoking in the staterooms as well, but I can honestly say it has not been an issue for us.

 

Did the executives at Crystal give you a percentage of those "high mileage" (what does that mean, exactly?) It can't just be World Cruisers, because there are many of those who don't smoke and don't like smoke.

 

How much of the problem is related to officers and staff onboard wanting to smoke in the piano bar, as has been mentioned by some? I don't have a problem with smoking in special rooms set aside for that purpose, like a closed cigar bar, but wherever people sing or dance, customers or performers, I think there should be no smoking.

[gillianrose]

FYI, on Crystal you cannot smoke on your balcony. After fifteen Crystal cruises and five on Regent prior to the ban on smoking. We have never had our suite smell of lingering smoke.

 

Aren't you still smokers?

 

If you quit, my apologies, and congratulations, too!

 

(My point in asking is that folks who smoke are not likely to smell lingering smoke smell, at least not to the degree that a sensitive nonsmoker would.)

[gillianrose]

MarkT....I do appreciate Regent's no smoking in the cabin/balcony policy although both cruises where I have had a neighbor smoking his cigar on his balcony was on Regent! Yes, I understand, he was breaking the rules.

 

Did he stop when you informed the onboard staff? You did do that, didn't you?

Did they take action?

[Suite Travels]

You know, 40 or 50 years ago smoking was not an issue. The killer is that American obesity is more of the issue. Morbid obesity kills more us than second hand smoke. As for example, diabetes,heart disease and high blood pressure and stroke.

 

I am not saying that smoking is not detrimental to your health; but being obese is is equally as bad.

[Mark_T]

I am not saying that smoking is not detrimental to your health; but being obese is is equally as bad.

 

I'm guessing that having your health and enjoyment of a cruise ruined by second-hand obesity is a rather more rare occurrence :)

[OrpingtonT]

I'm guessing that having your health and enjoyment of a cruise ruined by second-hand obesity is a rather more rare occurrence :)

 

:)

 

Good one, Mark.