briar14 Posted December 26, 2023 #1 Share Posted December 26, 2023 We just received a notice that our cruise in Feb.-March 2026 from Cape Town to Athens will end in Dubai. This is 2 segments of a Grand Voyage, Mauritius to Rome. The reason given is that Voyager is going into dry-dock in Nov./Dec. 2025. I’m not sure what a late 2025 dry-dock has to do with a Feb.-March 2026 cruise. Our 38-night sailing is now 20 nights and the cost is reduced by 50% on cruise only voyage fare. Any ideas on Voyager’s status after March 20, 2026? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travlr21 Posted December 27, 2023 #2 Share Posted December 27, 2023 I also posted this in the roll call. We got the email today with the change to the itinerary for the 64 night voyage, the schedule from Feb 12 to March 19 remains the same. The change is from March 20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briar14 Posted December 27, 2023 Author #3 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Yes, that’s the question. What happens to Voyager after March 20? Our TA is looking into this for us, but I was hoping someone on this Board might have some insights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travlr21 Posted December 27, 2023 #4 Share Posted December 27, 2023 30 minutes ago, briar14 said: What happens to Voyager after March 20? Sorry if I was confusing, what I posted above is the revised schedule we were sent today. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies4u Posted December 27, 2023 #5 Share Posted December 27, 2023 As posted on the roll call, this is very odd. The excuse that the changes are due to the dry dock in Nov/Dec 2025 is utter nonsense. How can that impact on a cruise 3 months later, which hasn’t been cancelled and is still going ahead as planned? We’ve also been told our 38 night cruise is now just the 20 day segment ending in Dubai yet, clearly, the ship is continuing on as scheduled - to Rome. To say we are not happy is an understatement of mammoth proportions. We could have booked the 20 night segment but didn’t want that alone, it was the extended stay on ship and itinerary that we booked for - including the Suez Canal, Petra & Ephesus. Without those elements, we aren’t being offered what we wanted or signed up for. This looks like a piece of chicanery to me - hoping some people cancel and then their suites can be re-sold at a higher price. Unless Regent can provide an alternative, plausible, reason they may well be losing more customers over this strategy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies4u Posted December 27, 2023 #6 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Just spoken to Regent UK. They are still going with the dry dock explanation, as that is all they’ve been told. After a lengthy conversation, during which I explained that the reason provided us implausible and I don’t accept it, they have agreed to investigate further with HO and keep me informed. I’ve rejected the 50% reduction completely and advised them that a deviation of this magnitude is a fundamental breach of trust and confidence. This is a pretty serious situation in my view and Regent are doing themselves no favours whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaflamingo Posted December 27, 2023 #7 Share Posted December 27, 2023 (edited) 47 minutes ago, Pies4u said: This looks like a piece of chicanery to me - hoping some people cancel and then their suites can be re-sold at a higher price. Unless Regent can provide an alternative, plausible, reason they may well be losing more customers over this strategy. I'm not sure I completely understand your premise. Are you saying you believe Regent changed a 38 night cruise to a 20 night cruise, gave you a 50% reduction in fare, leaving the other 18 nights apparently unscheduled, in hopes you will cancel and they can sell the cabins at a higher price? Edited December 27, 2023 by papaflamingo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies4u Posted December 27, 2023 #8 Share Posted December 27, 2023 In a nutshell - yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies4u Posted December 27, 2023 #9 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Thus was part of a 64 night Grand Voyage, which had 4 segments. They have amended the Dubai to Athens segment and then Athens to Rome final segment. There is actually no longer an 18 night element that we had booked, it is now 21 nights with the looks of things. The final 10 night segment is reduced to 7, so it’s still a full 64 night voyage but if you are only on the middle segments, or just the 3rd one then you are affected. It is crazy excuse to blame it on the dry dock and offering a 50% reduction on a cruise you are not getting is a bit weird. I expect a 100% reduction on that and a significant reduction on the remaining element because that is not what we booked and not we wanted! Quite frankly, it brings Regent’s reputation into question and the PR implications are pretty grim. I’ve now had a further telephone conversation with the UK office. I am told that we are the only UK customers who were booked in the 38 night cruise but I’m aware of at least 2 other groups from N .America incl briar14, of course. That is what makes me believe that they want to re-package this and sell suites at a higher price. Unless they come up with something that is acceptable we will have lost that “once in a lifetime” cruise. It doesn’t look good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossie009 Posted December 27, 2023 #10 Share Posted December 27, 2023 2 hours ago, Pies4u said: I am told that we are the only UK customers who were booked in the 38 night cruise In which case they could afford to be generous in their dealings with you, without setting a precedent. Why could they not just offer to switch you to the 41 nights ending in Athens, at no additional cost? If you do not receive a reasonable offer, I assume you will simply have to cancel the whole booking for a full refund (and lodge a claim with Regent UK for any other expenses you have incurred) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briar14 Posted December 27, 2023 Author #11 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Just checked Regent’s web site for what Voyager cruise came immediately after dry dock—a Dec. 17 cruise, Marseilles to Muscat (WL), which is a change from last night when it was Barcelona to Dubai (WL). Then nothing until Jan. 27, Cape Town to Port Louis. The schedule seems to be a moving target😊. I think an accurate communication from Regent would be helpful rather than the drydock excuse. Travel in and through the Middle East may be difficult for quite some time. If that is a reason, state that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies4u Posted December 27, 2023 #12 Share Posted December 27, 2023 That would be my suggestion too tbh. I think they would maybe like us to pay extra for the revised, longer, segment - but that isn’t feasible for us really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies4u Posted December 27, 2023 #13 Share Posted December 27, 2023 3 hours ago, flossie009 said: In which case they could afford to be generous in their dealings with you, without setting a precedent. Why could they not just offer to switch you to the 41 nights ending in Athens, at no additional cost? If you do not receive a reasonable offer, I assume you will simply have to cancel the whole booking for a full refund (and lodge a claim with Regent UK for any other expenses you have incurred) Agreed - a fair offer would be to honour the 2 segments at no extra cost. It’s a variation of Regent’s choice, not ours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pcardad Posted December 27, 2023 #14 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Far more likely that something else is going to happen....a more extensive refit, a sale or a re-purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briar14 Posted December 27, 2023 Author #15 Share Posted December 27, 2023 (edited) @Pcardad, I agree. Thanks, I was hoping you would reply. The web site itineraries for these East Africa cruises have changed again today. Reserved this for the itinerary. If it is not going to happen, we would like an early notice so we can look for something else similar rather than having Regent string us along. Edited December 27, 2023 by briar14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrlevin Posted December 27, 2023 #16 Share Posted December 27, 2023 54 minutes ago, Pcardad said: Far more likely that something else is going to happen....a more extensive refit, a sale or a re-purpose. Grand Voyage from Mauritius totally gone. Cape Town to Dubai completely waitlisted. Bye, bye Voyager? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pcardad Posted December 27, 2023 #17 Share Posted December 27, 2023 7 minutes ago, mrlevin said: Grand Voyage from Mauritius totally gone. Cape Town to Dubai completely waitlisted. Bye, bye Voyager? I think the WC is going to move to Explorer at some time in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briar14 Posted December 27, 2023 Author #18 Share Posted December 27, 2023 32 minutes ago, mrlevin said: Grand Voyage from Mauritius totally gone. Cape Town to Dubai completely waitlisted. Bye, bye Voyager? Marc, I am all over this 😊. These East African itineraries and availability have changed at least 5 times today. Our mutual travel agency is working on clarification. Hope you are enjoying your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travlr21 Posted December 27, 2023 #19 Share Posted December 27, 2023 So yesterday we received a revised itinerary and today it is gone? It disappeared from our Regent account and can't be added under our original booking number.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briar14 Posted December 27, 2023 Author #20 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Ours is also gone and supposedly new itinerary cannot be added and, as of a few minutes ago, is entirely WL, not a good sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBWC Posted December 27, 2023 #21 Share Posted December 27, 2023 1 hour ago, Pcardad said: I think the WC is going to move to Explorer at some time in the future. ADM was quite clear that there would be no WC on the newer ships - not enough storage for long ocean crossings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pcardad Posted December 27, 2023 #22 Share Posted December 27, 2023 22 minutes ago, BBWC said: ADM was quite clear that there would be no WC on the newer ships - not enough storage for long ocean crossings. Perhaps but I know it was discussed very recently. Also, expect BIG changes for Mariner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrlevin Posted December 27, 2023 #23 Share Posted December 27, 2023 10 minutes ago, Pcardad said: Perhaps but I know it was discussed very recently. Also, expect BIG changes for Mariner. Mariner changes before or after 2024 Grand Arctic? Final payment due next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pcardad Posted December 27, 2023 #24 Share Posted December 27, 2023 (edited) 26 minutes ago, mrlevin said: Mariner changes before or after 2024 Grand Arctic? Final payment due next week. Physical changes after. Other changes before. But please remember, I am not an official source and I only share what I hear that won't get anyone in trouble. Subject to me being wrong, of course. Edited December 27, 2023 by Pcardad 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossie009 Posted December 28, 2023 #25 Share Posted December 28, 2023 7 hours ago, BBWC said: ADM was quite clear that there would be no WC on the newer ships - not enough storage for long ocean crossings. Very surprised. We have always found the storage to be much better in the suites on Explorer & Splendor than on Mariner 7 hours ago, Pcardad said: Also, expect BIG changes for Mariner. Hope they do not change the layout of the public areas, which are near perfect on Mariner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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