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Seven Seas Mariner YELLOW as of 21 Dec 21

mrlevin

By mrlevin,
in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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CruiserFromMaine "Live from...." Rare

CruiserFromMaine

Posted
Posted (edited)

 

15 minutes ago, howiefrommd said:

would not be surprised if cruise lines start skipping any port that requires testing.


That would be many Caribbean ports. Some of which allowed us to visit on shore excursions on ship tours only as a compromise. That was earlier this month on Silversea. Predicting ahead though, has been difficult with Covid impacts. 

Edited by CruiserFromMaine
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cr01s13r3

cr01s13r3

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33 minutes ago, howiefrommd said:

I would not be surprised if cruise lines start skipping any port that requires testing.   

This is all speculation, but if that were the case, then perhaps Viking – where each guest is tested daily – will have the most successful “restart”. I’d certainly be more likely to go on a cruise where there was a higher probability of successfully making port calls even if it is less all-inclusive than Regent. 

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flossie009

flossie009

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1 hour ago, giustot said:

Knowing what you know now, would you still take the cruise, or reschedule it?

We are very happy to be on board. A pity to miss some ports but understandable in the present situation.

We are booked to do a very similar itinerary on Splendor next year (Xmas 2022) so hopefully we will see some of the ports next time 🤞

 

 

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pingpong1

pingpong1

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2 hours ago, giustot said:

Thanks for your reports Flossie. I have a question please since I am on almost the exact same itinerary in less than two weeks on the Explorer.

 

Knowing what you know now, would you still take the cruise, or reschedule it?

 

Thanks. Tom.

Hi, Tom - Although you addressed your specific question to Flossie (we met Susan and David  yesterday afternoon in the Horizon Lounge for a "Christmas Sing-Along")...We also met Bob and Susan (Daetchief) there, and Roz and Mike (Mrskigen) earlier in the day at another presentation.

 

If I may, I'd like to add some perspective to the cruise (mine only - I'm not speaking for anyone else).  Yes, I would book this cruise again "In a Heartbeat"!!  I had no particular hankering of going on many/most of the excursions, to begin with.  I am quite happy to be on Mariner for the full 18-day "cruise  to nowhere"!

 

The food is delicious, the staff (from room attendants, to the CD, and all the way up to the Captain) couldn't be more helpful and friendly.  The entertainment in the Theater is wonderful and energized, and the booze is free-flowing!

 

Everyone is positively complying with the masks mandate and if someone "forgets" to put theirs on (or accidentally leaves it in the room - like both myself, DW, and others have done at least once), a gentle reminder, along with a smile from someone else, gets an immediate return smile and the errant mask is quickly found!  They are not being worn (or required) in the pool or when relaxing on the loungers.

 

I see no one on the ship who is "cowering in fear".  And why should they?  Regent is acting with the safety of everyone on board being their primary concern.  If "the authorities" think it's unsafe for us to go ashore in Cartagena or Mexico - I am happy for them to "make that call", with my safety in mind.  On board, the Casino and Lounges are "open for business".

 

I would think that the medical information regarding any particular crew or passengers is private HIPPA protected information.  I would not want details of "My Condition" reported to anyone, either.  I respect the way Regent is handling this.  And even if anyone "knew"....what would/could they do about it, anyway??  Just leaving your home and travelling anywhere carries certain risks with it that we all seem comfortable and used to accepting.

 

For over a year now, we've been told that masks, the vaccine, and the booster  "where the answer", or at least the best way to lower (not eliminate) risk.  So okay, I think most of us have "bought into that" line of thinking.  I'm prepared to "trust that approach", use my own judgement, and simply "get on with my life".  No one ever claimed that vaccines or masks were a 100% fail-safe solution - and at the end of the day, no one can give any one of us a 100% "safety guarantee".  As others have repeatedly said on this forum...if cruising is just "too risky" for some of us the moment....then they should simply not do it - but they also shouldn't try to impose their own aversion to risk on the rest of us, either!

 

  Best Regards to all.  Now, I'm heading back up to the pool deck and bar!!

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cwn

cwn

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Very well said pingpong1. Regent is 100% vaccinated so at least you know that from the start. We are boosted and get out everyday mixing with people, visiting with friends, going to stores, standing in lines and eating out with unmasked servers and others who we have no idea if they are sick or vaccinated. I see why people are comfortable on Regent. Regent can’t control how the rest of the world reacts to the latest news, but sounds like they are doing a good job of providing the best stress free cruise possible.

Personally we would have a hard time with the mask bit…..have to drink and eat a lot more often, I guess, since we haven’t worn one for a year now.

Thanks for your and Flossie’s reports, have a good cruise!!

Edited by cwn
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giustot

giustot

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36 minutes ago, pingpong1 said:

Yes, I would book this cruise again "In a Heartbeat"!! 

Thanks for your reply. It's very helpful.

 

I'm really not concerned about testing positive for Covid and becoming seriously ill or dying. I'm much more concerned about the increased chance of testing positive, having no symptoms, and being held prisoner (albeit with delicious food and drink) in a cabin with my wife. That could kill me. (Just kidding.)

 

I hope they are still allowing shared dinner tables and group cocktail parties.

 

Given the new mask requirement, other safety related changes, and the loss of major ports (where we've paid for shore excursions in our cruise fare) I wish Regent would at least give passengers the option of rescheduling.

 

Tom.

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jhenry1

jhenry1

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We are scheduled to cruise on the Splendor in early Feb but if we miss going to a lot of ports Hope Regent will let us know and maybe give the option of rescheduling. Missing one port is fine but 2 or more is not good.  Those of you who have recently been to the Caribbean what ports were missed due to COVID?

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daetchief

daetchief

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4 hours ago, giustot said:

I hope they are still allowing shared dinner tables and group cocktail parties.

Hours ago we called 'Reservations' and asked if there was any Specialty Restaurant openings this evening?   We were offered both Prime 7 or Chartreuse for a shared table.   

 

Chartreuse it will be at 7:30!   

 

It has also been arranged [99% sure] for Flossie, ChicagoHen, Pingpong and 'us' [+ 2 friends] to have dinner at Compass Rose after Christmas.  [The speciality venues were a possibility but didn't have a big enough table.].  

 

We are all having a wonder cruise; were towing the line, and shifting when the line moves...  

"There's no other place that I'd rather be, than home on the Mariner, in the middle of the sea..."

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howiefrommd

howiefrommd

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 12/22/2021 at 12:56 PM, giustot said:

 

 

Given the new mask requirement, other safety related changes, and the loss of major ports (where we've paid for shore excursions in our cruise fare) I wish Regent would at least give passengers the option of rescheduling.

 

Tom.

Interesting you should articulate this.  One of the mass market cruise lines just announced you can move your cruise or get a cash refund for all cruises through January 14. 

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flossie009

flossie009

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After a warm welcome for Mariner from Costa Rica on Christmas Day, we have today been denied entry into Guatamala.

Having also had all ports in Mexico cancelled, we are now sailing direct to San Diego (arrival scheduled for January 1st); then due to arrive in San Francisco two days earlier than planned.

Plenty of sea days to be enjoyed but we certainly hadn’t packed for the colder weather we will encounter for the final days of the cruise 🤨

 

 

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flossie009

flossie009

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So media reporting on cruising has reverted to that seen in 2020.

This hype will no doubt feed into the paranoia of politicians and port authorities; notwithstanding factual data regarding cruise line safety protocols, number of positive cases or severity of symptoms.

So devastating for those employed in the travel industry and those of us enjoying, or looking forward to, travelling & cruising again.
 

 

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pingpong1

pingpong1

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1 hour ago, flossie009 said:

So media reporting on cruising has reverted to that seen in 2020.

This hype will no doubt feed into the paranoia of politicians and port authorities; notwithstanding factual data regarding cruise line safety protocols, number of positive cases or severity of symptoms.

So devastating for those employed in the travel industry and those of us enjoying, or looking forward to, travelling & cruising again.
 

 

Very well said, Susan!  Mary and I (along with our friends) feel perfectly safe, relaxed, and are "having a ball" onboard Mariner.  I'm not really sure that I'll even go ashore in San Diego, or for our extended days in San Franciso.  Although missing some ports has probably disappointed some on board, it has not deterred us in the least from having a good time.  Yesterday was spent in one of the hot tubs, relaxing on the pool deck, enjoying a cigar and some cocktails with "new found friends", and seeing/listening to the beautiful singing of Jeri Sager (Broadway Melodies) in the theater last night.

 

Regards to all!

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Gilly "Live from...." Rare

Gilly

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Sorry to read the news about Guatemala.  I can well imagine the atmosphere on board, am envious of you all and wish we were there with you!  I can't bring myself to "like" @flossie009's posts but agree 100% - it's almost as though the media were waiting for the story to happen.  Thanks for keeping us in the picture @flossie009.  

 

Stay safe and enjoy your holiday!

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giustot

giustot

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2 hours ago, flossie009 said:

So media reporting on cruising has reverted to that seen in 2020.

This hype will no doubt feed into the paranoia of politicians and port authorities; notwithstanding factual data regarding cruise line safety protocols, number of positive cases or severity of symptoms.

I'm very sorry to hear the Mariner has been denied another port.

 

As someone who's in the media, and someone who was booked on the January 3rd Explorer Panama Canal cruise, I would like to offer my observations.

 

At times, I also felt the media was overplaying the story and unnecessarily scaring people. But it is really just reporting very distressing information on the rapid spread of the virus through the Omicron variant.

 

Politicians and port authorities don't make decision based on what the media reports. They rely on the CDC and other government experts in infectious diseases.

 

The media did not cause flights to be canceled because crew members tested positive.

 

The media did not cause the increase in cruise passengers and ship crews testing positive.

 

The media did not decide masks should now be worn on cruise ships.

 

The media did not write the protocols for quarantining passengers.

 

The media does not tell Guatemala, Colombia, and Mexico which ships to admit.

 

To those of you who are on the ships now and having the time of your lives, that's wonderful. You deserve to have a great time.

 

My fear was that I'd be having a great time too, but if I suddenly and unexpected tested positive (as is happening to some passengers,) my dream cruise would turn into be locked up in an isolation cabin. I did not want to take that chance so I rescheduled.

 

For those of us about to cruise, we now have information to make an informed decision.

 

Tom.

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