Friends of Dorothy need not apply. (redux)

[TPAtravelfan]

The idea that there are only two options, namely accept things as they are or move to a different cruise line, pops up on CC's discussions from time to time. This reminds me of arguments over improving things in the United States such as health care delivery that end with someone saying "well, if you don't like things in the USA, you can move to Canada."

 

If the belief is that nothing can or will change with Regent, it is a sad perspective on Regent's management. Regent can change and I see no reason to discourage people from protesting about Regent's policies or about other things that passengers dislike about Regent.

 

As for having no obligation to respond, I feel that if Regent has an interest in fairness and in excellence, then it has an obligation to respond to policies that appear discriminatory or simply unfounded. If this FOD change has some sound basis, then Regent should explain the reason.

 

How difficult can it be for Regent to write a brief explanation here, onboard the ships, or somewhere? Silence is not golden in this instance, it is a tarnish on management.

 

Exactly. It's simplistic thinking to say that we, as loyal Regent passengers, don't have a voice in the matter beyond our wallets.

[wripro]

That kind of thinking only comes from people who are so devoted to their favorite cruise line that they cannot stomach any criticism. You might as well tell them you hated their grandkid's piano recital.

[Travelcat2]

Actually wripro, I strongly disagree with you. A few of us on board the Voyager have been discussing this thread. Have any of you given any thought to how many different organizations there are - just in the United States -- that sail on cruise lines? The vast majority of people that we have spoken with feel that most people are only interested in their own causes. What about Navy, Army, Marine or Air Force Veterans? How about the organizations that assist the many people with disabilities that are on board? Regent could probably have a meeting every hour of the day with different organizations.

 

Okay -- after thinking about what I said about Regent having no responsibility whatsoever to explain their policies, I would like to change what I stated. Regent has no responsibility whatsoever to explain their policies on a public forum. However, if someone were to write to management of Regent and ask why they no longer list meetings for a particular group of people, you would probably receive a response.

 

I am so done with this subject. While I support what many of you are saying, at this point I find this thread very self serving. Sorry if I have offended anyone.

[Responder]

Actually wripro, I strongly disagree with you. A few of us on board the Voyager have been discussing this thread. Have any of you given any thought to how many different organizations there are - just in the United States -- that sail on cruise lines? The vast majority of people that we have spoken with feel that most people are only interested in their own causes. What about Navy, Army, Marine or Air Force Veterans? How about the organizations that assist the many people with disabilities that are on board? Regent could probably have a meeting every hour of the day with different organizations.

 

Okay -- after thinking about what I said about Regent having no responsibility whatsoever to explain their policies, I would like to change what I stated. Regent has no responsibility whatsoever to explain their policies on a public forum. However, if someone were to write to management of Regent and ask why they no longer list meetings for a particular group of people, you would probably receive a response.

 

I am so done with this subject. While I support what many of you are saying, at this point I find this thread very self serving. Sorry if I have offended anyone.

 

Would be nice if Regent would state their policies on a public board....same as some of the posters do who also speak for Regent on a public board.

[CruisetheCs]

Actually wripro, I strongly disagree with you. A few of us on board the Voyager have been discussing this thread. Have any of you given any thought to how many different organizations there are - just in the United States -- that sail on cruise lines? The vast majority of people that we have spoken with feel that most people are only interested in their own causes. What about Navy, Army, Marine or Air Force Veterans? How about the organizations that assist the many people with disabilities that are on board? Regent could probably have a meeting every hour of the day with different organizations.

 

Okay -- after thinking about what I said about Regent having no responsibility whatsoever to explain their policies, I would like to change what I stated. Regent has no responsibility whatsoever to explain their policies on a public forum. However, if someone were to write to management of Regent and ask why they no longer list meetings for a particular group of people, you would probably receive a response.

 

I am so done with this subject. While I support what many of you are saying, at this point I find this thread very self serving. Sorry if I have offended anyone.

 

Self Serving? I'm not sure what is different on this thread from half the other threads on CC. It is a thread about a policy change that some people object to or want an explanation for. So now it is self-serving to complain about Regent's policies or lack of communication?

 

I certainly don't want to be self-serving by complaining about something I want changed. But I can't quite figure out how I can push for a change that I want without serving my self in some manner. I guess I missed the thread that explains what it is okay to complain about and what it isn't okay to complain about.

 

As for the large number of organizations that exist in the world, somehow I doubt that they all want to have a meeting on Regent. It makes no sense to to me to not list meetings for those that want them. For example, I simply don't understand why Regent would not allow veterans to have a meeting announced in Passages or somewhere else onboard.

 

And just suppose that there were so many groups requesting meetings that Regent didn't have space or time for them to meet. Maybe Regent could develop a simple room reservation system. When the meeting rooms are taken, guess what? No more meetings. Sort of like they do with Prime 7 or the excursions. No more space available, no more reservations.

[fizzy]

 

And just suppose that there were so many groups requesting meetings that Regent didn't have space or time for them to meet. Maybe Regent could develop a simple room reservation system. When the meeting rooms are taken, guess what? No more meetings. Sort of like they do with Prime 7 or the excursions. No more space available, no more reservations.

 

Your solution is so simple. I don't see how anybody could object to this. Perhaps we will get an official response for your idea.

[Travelcat2]

 

For example, I simply don't understand why Regent would not allow veterans to have a meeting announced in Passages or somewhere else onboard.

 

.

 

Had to respond to this one since Regent no longer lists veterans meetings (do not recall what they are called but they listed them in the past). IMO, the meetings requested on this thread are no more or less important than other groups (such as veterans). So, isn't the question really why Regent no longer lists meetings for groups they do not "sponsor"? I have learned over the years that companies will change policies whenever they wish to and do not generally give a reason why the change was made.

[TPAtravelfan]

I have learned over the years that companies will change policies whenever they wish to and do not generally give a reason why the change was made.

 

And I have learned that the customer does, indeed, have a voice. Perhaps you missed the "New Coke" debacle of the early 80's?

 

Hello Regent: Can you hear the voice of the LGBT community?

[Travelcat2]

And I have learned that the customer does, indeed, have a voice. Perhaps you missed the "New Coke" debacle of the early 80's?

 

Hello Regent: Can you hear the voice of the LGBT community?

 

30+ years ago? IMO, things were different then. In any case, I have no doubt that Regent can hear you. However, also IMO, you stand a better chance of receiving a response if you contact them directly. :)

[TPAtravelfan]

30+ years ago? IMO, things were different then.

 

Absolutely right. Social media did not exist in the 80s. But where would we be today without CruiseCritic as a soapbox from which to broadcast!?!

 

:-)

[Sunprince]

Absolutely right. Social media did not exist in the 80s. But where would we be today without CruiseCritic as a soapbox from which to broadcast!?!

 

:-)

 

I find it so funny that the OP and TC are on the same ship and are going back and forth on this board debating the subject...why not just meet up in person and hash it out :)

[Travelcat2]

I find it so funny that the OP and TC are on the same ship and are going back and forth on this board debating the subject...why not just meet up in person and hash it out :)

 

Had no idea that we were on the same cruise. We get off in the morning

so I guess that we won't meet. It is funny indeed:D

[TPAtravelfan]

Actually, we have met before...

[CruisetheCs]

As for the large number of organizations that exist in the world, somehow I doubt that they all want to have a meeting on Regent. It makes no sense to to me to not list meetings for those that want them. For example, I simply don't understand why Regent would not allow veterans to have a meeting announced in Passages or somewhere else onboard.

 

Had to respond to this one since Regent no longer lists veterans meetings (do not recall what they are called but they listed them in the past). IMO, the meetings requested on this thread are no more or less important than other groups (such as veterans). So, isn't the question really why Regent no longer lists meetings for groups they do not "sponsor"? I have learned over the years that companies will change policies whenever they wish to and do not generally give a reason why the change was made.

 

The fact that veterans are also excluded was mentioned early on in this thread, so I'm not sure what the "had to respond to this one" refers to. The earlier references to veterans is the reason I put it in my post! I've indicated that I think veterans and other groups should be able to have meetings mentioned in passages.

 

As for the question being "really why Regent no longer lists meetings for groups they do not 'sponsor'", from my perspective that has been the question since veterans and other groups were first mentioned on the thread.

 

And in today's world, I don't think companies take things away from LGBT or veterans groups without an explanation.

 

Though you may feel the thread is self-serving (a concept I still don't understand here), I think the issues are pretty straight forward. But some permutations make me feel as if it being drawn into a bowl of Jello.

[DaveFr]

My wife is a member of a service club and always attended the weekly meetings on Regent. She first encountered the absence of such meetings (and FOD meetings) on our cruises last September/October. Both the cruise director and the assistant cruise director told her that the meetings were no longer listed in Passages because they had received many complaints from other groups saying that it was unfair their group was not listed while the service club meetings and the FOD meetings (and presumably Veteran's meetings) were listed. In response to the complaints, Miami decided not to list any FOD meetings, etc. in Passages.

 

Personally, I don't think Regent arrived at the best solution to the complaints. All Regent has done is replace one set of complaints with another. It would be simple to have a bulletin board on the ship so groups such as FOD could post notices of meetings they had arranged. This would give all groups equal access.

Edited July 29, 2014 by DaveFr

[TPAtravelfan]

It would be simple to have a bulletin board on the ship so groups such as FOD could post notices of meetings they had arranged. This would give all groups equal access.

 

What a simple solution, DaveFr!

 

Someone could program the portable video display units to list the various group meetings on a single daily agenda, cycling through with the other information presented such as weather, port and embarkation information. This solution would satisfy the groups, give the CD some oversight and keep Passages orderly.

 

Hope that Regent folks are listening.

Edited July 29, 2014 by TPAtravelfan

[CruisetheCs]

They could also easily develop a phone/tablet app that lists meetings and other ship news that the staff could up date regularly.

[TPAtravelfan]

They could also easily develop a phone/tablet app that lists meetings and other ship news that the staff could up date regularly.

 

I've always felt an iPhone or tablet app would be great for a cruise ship. You could use it as a day planner to set reminders for tours, shows, restaurant reservations and other activities. You could include a buddy list with locator and messaging. (I could sure use that)

 

The ship could include port information and other things related to destination services, up to the minute weather info, dining room menus, etc. Casino could issue gaming coupons, bar could post happy hour specials (Oceania) and the store could offer sale items tailored to guest preferences. You could even use your smartphone as a suite key as Hilton has announced.

 

With the server onboard, this could be accomplished over the ship's wifi without need to access the satellite internet. The local wifi network would have no problem with the additional traffic since it's the pipe to the satellite that is the bottleneck.

 

Unfortunately, this will first be done on much larger ships due to cost and the business case will undoubtedly be tied to incremental revenue generation. Doubt we'll see it for a few years.

Edited July 29, 2014 by TPAtravelfan

[computerworks]

Norwegian, for one, has had the app (iConcierge) for a few years now. Works on the newer ships that have the infrastructure.

 

http://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/iCONCIERGE_05132014.pdf

[Emperor Norton]

And I have learned that the customer does, indeed, have a voice. Perhaps you missed the "New Coke" debacle of the early 80's?

 

Hello Regent: Can you hear the voice of the LGBT community?

 

Terrible example. You know that coke you drink now? Yeah thats the new coke. Consumers lost. They nixed the new coke and turned coke classic into the new coke.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Emperor Norton

[quepaquete]

It would be simple to have a bulletin board on the ship so groups such as FOD could post notices of meetings they had arranged. This would give all groups equal access.

 

 

Celebrity Cruises has been doing this for a couple of years now, and there still complaints.

[TPAtravelfan]

Celebrity Cruises has been doing this for a couple of years now, and there still complaints.

 

What exactly does Celebrity do?

 

And what do you suggest? Back to no notice at all?

[TPAtravelfan]

Terrible example. You know that coke you drink now? Yeah thats the new coke. Consumers lost. They nixed the new coke and turned coke classic into the new coke.

 

Actually, that's exactly my point. Coke made a mistake changing their formula. Customers told them they made a mistake. Coke changed back to the old formula.

 

I'm suggesting that Regent do the same with their Friends of Dorothy policy.

 

Up to speed?

[Emperor Norton]

Actually, that's exactly my point. Coke made a mistake changing their formula. Customers told them they made a mistake. Coke changed back to the old formula.

 

I'm suggesting that Regent do the same with their Friends of Dorothy policy.

 

Up to speed?

 

1. Coke introduces new coke

2. People complain, coke introduces coke classic

3. People have a choice - new coke or coke classic

4. New coke vanishes

5. Coke classic gets turned into new coke - consumers ultimately dont get what they want - they have to switch lines and buy Mexican coke if they want the original coke (Pepsi being a bit smarter came out with their throwback drinks)

 

The analogy only fits if you expect Regent to temporarily rescind their current policy and then ultimately go back to the no notification route.

[TPAtravelfan]

The analogy only fits if you expect Regent to temporarily rescind their current policy and then ultimately go back to the no notification route.

 

Whatever... ;-)

 

I'd like to see Regent go back to allowing FOD (and other interest group gatherings) be posted in Passages. Barring that, respondees to the thread have come up with another viable solution using onboard bulletin boards.

 

If anyone else would like to see Regent bring back onboard support for interest groups beyond Needlepoint Fans, Solo and Social Travelers, Religious Travelers, Friends of Bill W and Bridge Players, please say so in this thread.

 

Many thanks!