Cannot decide between Explorer or SB Encore, please help!

[annelouise74]

We are looking to book a 7 night med cruise in 2 weeks without our children....escaping for a week! Usually we sail on Celebrity in the Retreat  but want to try one of the smaller more luxurious ships. We prefer to explore ports on our own rather than ship excursions and really enjoy good food and wine. Love the casino and some nightlife.

 

My question is which would you choose? Both itineraries are similar, Explorer looks the more glitzy of the two which appeals to me but the price is pretty much double to Encore. Is it worth the extra as we won't be using the excursions? I also like the wider choice of restaurants onboard Explorer. Which is the more livelier of the two?

 

Please help as I keep going back and forth and at this rate will end up booking nothing!

[kjbacon]

We have just returned from our first Seabourn cruise and found it inferior to Regent on almost all counts. Your interest in doing your own excursions might be significant enough in terms of price but we would never opt for seabourn over regent.

 

The food is so repetitive on Seabourn and it is over salted and under seasoned. They don’t offer the upper end selections like regent does.

 

As far as lively, Seabourn is not and rather has a bit of a library vibe.

Edited September 7, 2022 by kjbacon

[lincslady]

Intervening as a Seabourn fan - recently Seabourn has had problems with staffing - as have many other lines  - and strangely, there seems to have been a big difference between Encore and one or two of the other ships.  Do read recent reports on Encore, which have been pretty glowing, and not all from SB aficionados before making up your mind.  

[annelouise74]

Many thanks for your replies. 

 

Whilst I understand neither will have the party vibe that Celebrity has in The Club and tbh we aren't looking for that either, which would you say has the the most atmosphere in the evenings? 

[nuneham]

7 minutes ago, annelouise74 said:

Many thanks for your replies. 

 

Whilst I understand neither will have the party vibe that Celebrity has in The Club and tbh we aren't looking for that either, which would you say has the the most atmosphere in the evenings? 

I think that very much depends on the passengers - a lively crowd or not. 

We have been on Encore & Explorer this year & would undoubtedly opt for Explorer. For us service was excellent on both, the dining experience slightly better on Explorer, but the accommodation much better on Regent. Above all the Encore felt cramped on deck, the Explorer is far more spacious throughout & that makes for a more relaxing cruise.

[GeorgiaPeach51]

For what it is worth, I wrote a lengthy “blog” about our first Regent experience on the Explorer after many, many Celebrity cruises, with the most recent being in The Retreat.  So, our perspectives may be similar…and, we went to the Caribbean!  Here is the link, in case it helps you.  I would say that we struggled some to find evening entertainment, but keep in mind that it was during Covid restrictions and the ship was only half full.  That certainly had an effect on the evening vibe.  One other caution is that my poor husband ended up having to work on the trip so would often get up at 5 a.m. to work, which resulted in some early bedtimes for us.

 

I’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have.  BTW, we really enjoyed the excursions we did!

 

Joanie

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2835144-first-time-on-regent—boarded-explorer-today/

 

Edited September 7, 2022 by GeorgiaPeach51

[daetchief]

I love the Regent Experience, but the evenings could be best described by a comedian who was performing [at 9:30 PM] on Mariner: [Speaking to the audience...]

 

Comic: "How many of you are going to hit the lounges after the show?"

            -  4 people clapping...

Comic: "How many of you are going to bed after the show?"

            -  12 people clapping...

Comic: " How many of you are up past your bedtime?"

            -  Majority clapping and laughing...

 

That said, there will be music, dancing and conversation happening in many of the lounges - even the Connoisseur Lounge.   But mostly, people tend to retreat to their suites.

[moogwan]

On Splendor right now. Quite a few dancing in the Splendor lounge at midnight.

 

[annelouise74]

On 9/7/2022 at 6:59 PM, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

For what it is worth, I wrote a lengthy “blog” about our first Regent experience on the Explorer after many, many Celebrity cruises, with the most recent being in The Retreat.  So, our perspectives may be similar…and, we went to the Caribbean!  Here is the link, in case it helps you.  I would say that we struggled some to find evening entertainment, but keep in mind that it was during Covid restrictions and the ship was only half full.  That certainly had an effect on the evening vibe.  One other caution is that my poor husband ended up having to work on the trip so would often get up at 5 a.m. to work, which resulted in some early bedtimes for us.

 

I’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have.  BTW, we really enjoyed the excursions we did!

 

Joanie

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2835144-first-time-on-regent—boarded-explorer-today/

 

Wow that really is an amazing blog, actually really enjoyed reading it and learnt so much. What a talent you have for writing. Thanks so much, decision made, now on to the choice of suite x

[GeorgiaPeach51]

1 hour ago, annelouise74 said:

Wow that really is an amazing blog, actually really enjoyed reading it and learnt so much. What a talent you have for writing. Thanks so much, decision made, now on to the choice of suite x

I’m so glad it helped you decide!  I’ll try to answer any questions you might have, and you will find the Regent CC people very willing to help and very generous in taking time to answer.

 

Joanie

[Linda VH]

I love Regent.  My late DH and I were casino rats and, although its small, it’s very welcoming.  We never took the excursions as we preferred to book a private guide where needed or tour with our friends if possible.  I can’t tell you about the entertainment as we were always in the casino if at all possible lol!  

[pingpong1]

1 hour ago, Linda VH said:

I love Regent.  My late DH and I were casino rats and, although its small, it’s very welcoming.  We never took the excursions as we preferred to book a private guide where needed or tour with our friends if possible.  I can’t tell you about the entertainment as we were always in the casino if at all possible lol!  

Hi Linda....I'm a "Casino Rat", too!