Regent Reviews on Cruise Critic

[forgap]

Since we are leaving next week for our first Splendor cruise, I thought I’d look at reviews.  We have sailed many days on Regent (gold now but soon to be platinum) and always had a lovely time.  The reviews lately have been just terrible -  in marked contrast to the live threads on this forum.  
 

i wonder if full reviews invite more critical passengers to post?  Could the reviews be made up?  The bottom line, though, is that if I was a first time Regent passenger the reviews would make me take a pause.  
 

what is your take on this phenomenon? 

[RachelG]

I don't typically read the reviews.  My experience has been that people with an ax to grind are more likely to post reviews in general.  I see this in my medical practice.  About the only people who post reviews online are people who are upset about something--in my line of work, usually because they want more narcotics than are appropriate. I see about 100 patients a week and there are maybe 2-3 reviews a month. 

[Jlhalldc]

2 hours ago, RachelG said:

I don't typically read the reviews.  My experience has been that people with an ax to grind are more likely to post reviews in general.  I see this in my medical practice.  About the only people who post reviews online are people who are upset about something--in my line of work, usually because they want more narcotics than are appropriate. I see about 100 patients a week and there are maybe 2-3 reviews a month. 

I agree.  In the beginning of my "cruise career", I was diligent about posting a detailed review on Cruise Critic.  I probably still should. But I've been so happy with my most recent Regent experiences, it's something I forget to do...outta sight outta mind. 

[Redking]

We're seriously considering our first Regent cruise.

 

I've thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed all the Live reviews. To be honest, I didn't even think of looking at the reviews. I think I've just become accustomed to Live reviews and they have become my go-to for the cruise lines I'm interested in.

[Camillus112]

Like Rachel G, I probably should have been more proactive and submitted a formal review of my one and only previous Regent cruise.  It would have been very positive.  However, it was to the Caribbean in late February, and weather was not an issue.  Most recent negative reviews were to Alaska, where weather can cause port tendering complications...not Regent's fault.  

[ysolde]

I posted a review of our first Regent cruise (on Voyager) and I think it was a positive review.

[Sunprince]

I like to take in a lot of information when researching travel, but take it at all at face value. There are always the “out of touch with reality complainers”(which I discount). And the overly positive cheerleaders (which I also discount). But sometimes there is a lot of value in reading constructive reviews that point out honest feedback pointing out opportunities for improvement.  

[cwn]

I find reading the blog type posts are much better to get a feel of a ship, especially recent ones. The one and done post usually are so different than my experience on the same ship. I have stopped reading that part of CC.

[PhD-iva]

I read and post on the Regent and the Oceania fora (plural). I’ve seen similar concerns on the O forum about negative reviews. Perhaps a competitor has a strategy of “bad mouthing” their competition by posting false negative reviews. 
I really enjoyed my 1 Mariner cruise and my 3 cruises on O ships!

[Flygal2020]

We just came back from a cruise on the Splendor. The ship is beautiful and our room was really nice. We were disappointed with a couple tours however it didn’t take away from enjoying our trip. We love smaller ships. We would go again in a heartbeat!

[Georgia_Peaches]

We booked our first Regent cruise last month after becoming a little fed up with the Celebrity product. Our cruise will be on the Grandeur in 2025. I looked at the general reviews and agree that many of them aren’t pretty. But the complaints don’t hold a candle to what is happening over on Celebrity so like most things, I took the reviews with a grain of salt. Stumbled upon @vitacura’s wonderful live review, of which I’ve clung to every word and photo, and was hooked. Bottom line, I would never let a stack of reviews substitute for forming my own opinion. 

[fudge]

I have written 3 blogs in the past and enjoyed doing them. We are sailing on the 20th September, Vancouver to Japan including 6 days at sea so plenty of time to bore folks with my ramblings.😁

[ysolde]

10 hours ago, fudge said:

I have written 3 blogs in the past and enjoyed doing them. We are sailing on the 20th September, Vancouver to Japan including 6 days at sea so plenty of time to bore folks with my ramblings.😁

Although our next cruise is very port intensive (it's a Caribbean cruise and will take us to many of that areas beautiful islands), I must admit that I am partial to a cruise with lots of long, lazy sea days, where there is little more to do than read, needlepoint, contemplate the ocean, and get to know my fellow travelers.

[Techno123]

32 minutes ago, ysolde said:

 I must admit that I am partial to a cruise with lots of long, lazy sea days, where there is little more to do than read, needlepoint, contemplate the ocean, and get to know my fellow travelers.

Now that sort of cruise is my idea of hell 😂😂 - I don't mind a couple of sea days but like to be off the ship exploring.
 

We have just come back from a land trip to Berlin (nothing to do with cruising). The hotel we stayed in had pretty good reviews when we booked but the reviews had gone downhill recently but I do agree that people are more likely to complain than post the positives. So, we took the negatives with a pinch of salt and we really enjoyed staying there (made sure I posted a positive review too 😜).
 

It seems to be happening everywhere.

[bebop bonnie]

I’ve cruised on Regent for many years… most recently on Explorer and twice on Splendor.  Have never had anything but wonderful experiences.  I lurk/check in on CC frequently, especially just prior to a cruise.  As a result I’ve come to ‘know’ many of the posters.  Smart, angry, experienced, diehard cheerleaders…all posters make for interesting and usually very helpful information.  The often posted advise to relax,  direct concerns immediately to appropriate staff, and not to sweat the small stuff is spot on!!

[bebop bonnie]

I just posted the above with my first ever photo attached!   It was one of the very early “post lockdown” cruises on Splendor.  We were at La Veranda lunch on day one.  The attitude of our amazing server was shared by all the crew and all the passengers!!  Perfect expression of joy that I, and most everyone I encounter continue to share  on Regent!

[GeorgiaPeach51]

@bebop bonnie  Hi!  We were on that cruise with you, and that is one of the best photos I have ever seen posted on CC!  LOVE it!

 

Joanie

[DeepFreeze63]

17 hours ago, cwn said:

I find reading the blog type posts are much better to get a feel of a ship, especially recent ones. The one and done post usually are so different than my experience on the same ship. I have stopped reading that part of CC.

After 25 Regent cruises and many years on CC, all I can say is AMEN!

[mj_holiday]

I read the forum on cruise critic before our cruises, especially our first one.  When I see reviews that complain I usually try to figure out is this real or an attitude (no facts provided).  I can usually find other reviews, comments by the one who is not pleased and that tells me alot about the person.

 

I form my own opinions and have learned alot from the day by day blogs and the trips summaries that are posted.  I will not attempt a day by day post myself because I know I won't keep it up.  I do take notes each day so I can have a fairly comprehensive summary when we are home.

[briar14]

On 9/16/2023 at 12:46 PM, bebop bonnie said:

I just posted the above with my first ever photo attached!   It was one of the very early “post lockdown” cruises on Splendor.  We were at La Veranda lunch on day one.  The attitude of our amazing server was shared by all the crew and all the passengers!!  Perfect expression of joy that I, and most everyone I encounter continue to share  on Regent!

We were on the first post locked down cruise. It was an absolute joy. Your picture is perfect!

[Redking]

On 9/16/2023 at 3:23 PM, Georgia_Peaches said:

We booked our first Regent cruise last month after becoming a little fed up with the Celebrity product. Our cruise will be on the Grandeur in 2025. I looked at the general reviews and agree that many of them aren’t pretty. But the complaints don’t hold a candle to what is happening over on Celebrity so like most things, I took the reviews with a grain of salt. Stumbled upon @vitacura’s wonderful live review, of which I’ve clung to every word and photo, and was hooked. Bottom line, I would never let a stack of reviews substitute for forming my own opinion. 

The Celebrity Forum is certainly not a happy place to visit at the moment. Quite refreshing to jump onto some of the other forums.

[Pam]

Which I guess means I have to toddle over to the Celebrity forum to check out the mayhem.  (I love Regent)

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 hour ago, Pam said:

Which I guess means I have to toddle over to the Celebrity forum to check out the mayhem.  (I love Regent)

Of which you’ll find plenty, I’m afraid … from allowing vaping in the casino…to not, from charging for a cookie…to not, from downgrading food in the MDR, to charging for room service, to removing butler service in Sky suites…and the list grows daily. Just not what she used to be. But such is life… nothing stays the same. Can’t wait to try a regent!