Regent vs. Crystal

[azkitty]

We love Crystal but may want to try Regent. I understand about the all inclusive feature on Regent, but are there any other differences. How does the food and variety of restaurants compare? Does Regent have a good Asian restaurant? What about restaurant seating, open or not and casual or formal? Are there any other differences in amenities, entertainment and port tours, etc.?

[Travelcat2]

Will try to answer a few questions:

 

1. Regent's Asian restaurants are being replaced by a upscale steak house (will be completed by mid-January)

 

2. Entertainment is better on Crystal.

 

3. Regent has significantly smaller ships with the largest "regular" suites of any cruise line.

 

4. Seating is open. There are two reservation only restaurants on the Voyager and Mariner -- one on the Navigator. For those restaurants you specify whether you want a table for 2, 4, 6 or 8.

 

5. On a 7 night cruise, you may have no "formal" nights but one or two "informal" (jacket -- no tie). Longer cruises have formal nights.

 

6. There are no port tours included with Regent.

 

From my experience of reading comparisons of Crystal and Regent on the boards, people who love Crystal, do not love Regent (and visa versa). There seems to be some kind of animosity that does not exist with other cruise lines. Being a Regent passenger myself, I would not try Crystal unless there were open seating and were all-inclusive.

[Paint Horse]

My wife and I were on the Regent Mariner in January for a couple of weeks. We just returned from three weeks on Crystal Symphony. In my view if you scratched the name off of the ships I could not tell you if I was on a Regent or a Crystal ship. There are of course differences such as open v set seating at dinner, as well as what is or is not included in the base fare. But don't worry about it. You will be pleased with either one. Both lines go out of their way to please you.

[Steph27]

It is disappointing to read Regent is replacing their Asian restaurants with a steakhouse. However, am I correct that Regent does not allow smoking and Crystal still does? I would cruise on Regent for that reason alone in addition to the anytime dining.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Smoking is allow in very restricted areas, like the pool bar, and perhaps part of one lounge. No smoking in cabins or dining rooms at all.

 

The Asian restaurant, in my opinion, was fun, but not fabulous.

 

I don't know what the antipathy between Crystal and Regent is either. I would not cruise Crystal because I like open seating dining, I like large standard staterooms, and I don't like too much formality. I also prefer smaller ships.

[Judith02]

I have never cruised on Regent but do have quite a few cruises on Crystal. I will try to tell you what I perceive are the differences. If I were to find an itinerary that I wanted on Regent that Crystal did not do, I would probably book it.

 

1. Stateroom size -- Regent wins hands down. We are only in our stateroom to sleep, dress, etc. so the size (as long as our needs are met in a Crystal stateroom) doesn't matter to us.

 

2. Food and service. I have been told by many passengers who have been on both that they are equal in the main dining rooms. Dining in the main dining room for dinner is at set times and at set tables. We prefer this as we like to get to know our table mates and have our wait staff know our preferences. Breakfast and lunch are open seating. The food and service in the main dining room is excellent, and there are several other choices of where to eat (Prego, Silk Road, Sushi Bar, and Lido Deck) when we wish to dine with others than the passengers at our table.

 

3. Entertainment and lectures. Crystal by far.

 

4. Port versus sea days. My husband's cousin says she goes nuts on sea days and will only go on Regent for that reason. We enjoy lots of sea days and a few port days. It is a matter of choice.

 

5. All inclusive -- Regent. On Crystal, we pay for alcoholic drinks and gratuities. Since we don't drink, we don't like the all inclusive. We feel we are subsidizing other passengers drinking. As for the gratuities, they are usually picked up by our travel agent anyway.

 

6. Smoking. Crystal has banned smoking in much of the public space on board and on verandahs. I would like to see them go futher in not allowing it, but I can live with this.

 

7. Formal nights. We love them!! On a 12-night cruise, Crystal will normally have three formal nights. A large percentage of the men wear tuxes but you see a lot in dark suits. Women wear long gowns, short cocktail dresses, and dressy pant suits. For the most part, everyone stays in this attire the entire evening. Informal nights and casual nights are alloted by the number of sea days and port days. Informal for men is a sport jacket and slacks (ties optional) and for women, dresses or pant suits. For casual, it is country club casual.

 

What it comes down to for us is that as soon as we board, we feel we are at home. I'm sure passengers on both lines feel this way.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Well it sounds like you're on the right cruiseline then!

 

What's with the sea days? Lots of Regent trips have them. Are you saying that all Crystal itineraries have them?

 

And I'd like to ask a question about entertainment. Everybody says Crystal wins hands-down, and I'm not disputing that or criticizing. But can you give me examples of what you consider a great night of entertainment?

 

Oh, no smoking on balconies on Regent either, forgot to say that.

[Judith02]

Wendy, some Crystal itineraries (like the one we are doing 12/7) have a great many sea days. That one has about 10 sea days and 5 port days. I look for ones like that. Most of their itineraries have three or four sea days and the rest port days.

 

As for entertainment, Crystal has lecturers and Creative Learning classes and computer classes on sea days. We really enjoy these. They also have quite a few theme cruises with special activities. Two we are doing in 2009 are: Fashion and Style (with shopping, fashion shows, themed cocktail parties, etc.) and Emerging Artists (new talent in the various port cities.) We particularlly like the wine and food cruises. No, we don't drink but the cooking and wine tasting demos are fun. In the evenings besides the lounges (with piano bars), there is the Galaxy Lounge which has either production shows or variety entertainment nightly. Also, many cruises they have classical entertainment either before or after dinner.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I definitely like the idea of some classical performers. We had this on only one cruise, and it was a Spotlight on classical music cruise.

 

There are lectures, and often spotlights of different kinds. Our Food & Wine spotlight on Voyager was terrific, all kinds of tastings and demos.

 

I don't much care about the big production shows. I'm more of a piano bar kind of person, after dinner at night.

 

I also like to see local performers, don't see this too much on Regent, except on the Paul Gauguin of course.

[Judith02]

There is generally one classical music performer on a cruise -- could be a pianist, guitarist, harpist, etc. On one or two evenings we have even heard a tiny bit of opera. Some evenings the performer is in the large show room, the Galaxy Lounge, after dinner, or in the Starlite Lounge or Palm Court prior to dinner. On a 12 night cruise, there are generally three or four big production shows. But even on those nights, there are also movies, the casino, the lounges and the bars.

 

Two of the more popular pre-dinner or late evening places to be are the Avenue Saloon or the Crystal Cove, both have piano music and fun. There is also late night dancing in other venues plus a disco where kareoke can be found late at night on formal evenings.

 

Local performers are not on every cruise. Generally we have seen them either:

1. When we overnight in port;

2. When we are in port late; or

3. Ocassionally, like in Ireland, when they came on board for a pre-dinner show.

This is at the discretion of the Cruise Director.

 

Wendy, I am not trying to get anyone who loves Regent to try Crystal. I was just trying to talk about some of the differences and why we enjoy Crystal. If you are one who hates set dining times, paying gratuities, not having all inclusive drinking, or feels claustrophobic in anything less than a Regent stateroom, then Crystal is not for you. If the Crystal differences sound good to you, then perhaps you can try one of their lower priced "value" cruises or perhaps one of the 7 day cruises (some "value" and some at the regular price) just to see if you like it. The value cruises are exactly like their other cruise but at a lower price to attract new passengers. They also get a lot of the Crystal faithful. Our December 7th cruise from LA down the Pacific coast of South America is a value cruise and there are a great many Crystal past passengers on it.

[wripro]

AZKitty,

 

To be sure you get a fair response post this inquiry on the Crystal board as well, if you haven't already done so. I don't find the enmity between partisans for cruise lines to be limited to Regent vs. Crystal. I think you will find on every board people who are so invested in their favorite line that they will not tolerate any criticism. It's like a knife to their stomachs. You will also find many open minded people who can see the differences and similarities objectively. That's why it's important to get both sides. Frankly, imo, you can't go wrong with either line. Both offer wonderful experiences.

[nancygp]

Wripro, AZKitty has sailed on Crystal and was hoping to hear from Regent people about Regent.

 

Nancy

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Wendy, I am not trying to get anyone who loves Regent to try Crystal. I was just trying to talk about some of the differences and why we enjoy Crystal. If you are one who hates set dining times, paying gratuities, not having all inclusive drinking, or feels claustrophobic in anything less than a Regent stateroom, then Crystal is not for you. If the Crystal differences sound good to you, then perhaps you can try one of their lower priced "value" cruises or perhaps one of the 7 day cruises (some "value" and some at the regular price) just to see if you like it. The value cruises are exactly like their other cruise but at a lower price to attract new passengers. They also get a lot of the Crystal faithful. Our December 7th cruise from LA down the Pacific coast of South America is a value cruise and there are a great many Crystal past passengers on it.

 

Judith, thanks for the information. I know you're not trying to persuade anyone, I am just trying to appreciate the differences. Yes, I would hate the set dining. Don't mind tipping, but would rather do without it. Love the all-inclusive, don't like signing for things. But you never know, maybe we'll try one of those cruises some day!

 

But if I can't do Regent, my next choice would be Oceania, I think. I'm also very attracted to the all country club casual dress code.

[Jim B]

I just want to say thank you for sharing your information.

After March 11th we will have been on all the Regent ships and

are very interested in other cruise lines.

Made the mistake of taking a cruise on Norwegian Dream but that is another story.

Does Crystal charge extra for their specialty restaurants?

On Regent you have to make reservations but it is only because of limited size.

There is no extra charge to go there.

I'm probably with Wendy tha Oceania would probably be close to the top of my list.

It is just to bad that to get a similar cabin on that line compared to Regent H cabins

one would have to book a penthouse suite. And that price is almost the same and you

have to pay for everything!!

I to prefer open seating and time for dinner in the main dining room. When we find a waiter we really like there is no problem requesting his section when we go in to dinner.

[Judith02]

There are three alternative restaurants: Silk Road, the Sushi Bar, and Prego. There is no charge but since they are not included in the "regular" gratuities that the dining room staff gets (there is a suggested gratuity for the wait staff and the stewardesses), passengers are requested to tip $7.00 per person.

 

The sushi bar is first come, first seated at 6 p.m.

 

Prego and Silk Road are by reservation and are open seating. They are excellent and we try to go at least once per cruise to each one. When you pay six months in advance, you may make reservations on line for one night in each restaurant. Otherwise, you make your reservations when you are on board. If you are flexible in your date and time, it is not difficult to get reservations.

 

Another alternative is the Lido casual dining on certain, stated evenings. It is totally open seating out around the pool and has a very good, but small, menu.

[Travelcat2]

When you pay six months in advance, you may make reservations on line for one night in each restaurant. Otherwise, you make your reservations when you are on board.

 

Could you elaborate a bit more on this? Are you referring to paying for the cruise in full six months in advance? I have not heard of this before.

 

Thanks!

[Jayayeff]

Could you elaborate a bit more on this? Are you referring to paying for the cruise in full six months in advance? I have not heard of this before.

 

Thanks!

 

I have a Crystal sailing booked for mid May and by coincidence found an email from my TA in my inbox this morning about this very subject!! Provided one has booked more than six months prior to your cruise departure date there is the opportunity to pay the final balance six months out. Doing so not only allows you access to on-line reservations in the speciality restaurants, spa, salon, etc. in advance it also gives you a 3.5% additional saving on your cruise fare...Those who pay their final balance at the more usual 90/75 days out only get access to advance booking of shore excursions on-line not the restaurants, spa, etc. etc.

 

Anne

[Jayayeff]

Judith, thanks for the information. I know you're not trying to persuade anyone, I am just trying to appreciate the differences. Yes, I would hate the set dining. Don't mind tipping, but would rather do without it. Love the all-inclusive, don't like signing for things. But you never know, maybe we'll try one of those cruises some day!

 

But if I can't do Regent, my next choice would be Oceania, I think. I'm also very attracted to the all country club casual dress code.

 

Judith's done a great job of outlining cruising with Crystal so I'll skip the comparisons and just add the following:

 

Those of you thinking Oceania would be your preference over Crystal should also bear in mind that you'd have to go way up the cabin categories to get anything like the accommodation and/or amenities you enjoy on Regent. My first cruise was on Oceania and in their current fleet only Concierge Class cabins and above have fridges provided, and only Penthouse and named Suites have what I consider to be an acceptable size bathroom - by the end of 12 days my standard size one felt like showering in a cupboard !!

 

I'm guessing those of you who said Oceania over Crystal as a possible alternative did so due to the open seating and maybe the all CCC. Having experienced both Oceania and Crystal I don't think either are deal breakers. The onboard expereince on Crystal is not formal or stuffy as some may think and there are enough dining options that you can chop and change around throughout a cruise and dine more or less when and where you chose - and often with whom you choose as the Maitre d's are very accommodating if you want to eat early instead of late one day or with new found friends if any of their or your usual tablemates are not in the main dining room that evening, etc. etc.

 

One other thing I notice someone mentioned was ship size. I don't believe the Crystal ships are much, if any larger than the Voyager and Mariner. The Symphony I would say is much the same size as the two larger Regent ships and the only 'size' difference I notice on the Serenity is the fact that it is a deck higher than Symphony so has one more deck of staterooms..

 

I thoroughly enjoy cruising with Crystal and am looking forward to thoroughly enjoying my Regent cruise on the Voyager next year. Personally I wouldn't return to Oceania with their current fleet of ships...

 

Anne

[azkitty]

Judith, thanks for the information. I know you're not trying to persuade anyone, I am just trying to appreciate the differences. Yes, I would hate the set dining. Don't mind tipping, but would rather do without it. Love the all-inclusive, don't like signing for things. But you never know, maybe we'll try one of those cruises some day!

 

But if I can't do Regent, my next choice would be Oceania, I think. I'm also very attracted to the all country club casual dress code.

 

We have tried Oceania and would do it again based on itinerary and ports that we would want to see. We found it to be a very friendly group of passengers and liked the casual, open seating mainly because they seem to be in a port almost every day. That does get to be a little wearing unless you only go for that reason, "If it's Tues., it must be Belgium". If we want relaxation and the ambiance of a 6* resort, we prefer Crystal. I also have to mention that the food and selection/choices on Oceania is far below that of Crystal. I also felt there was somewhat of a class system on Oceania in that many shipboard perks are only available to Concierge class and above.

 

As for what I hear about Regent, it may be smaller than what we like, although the Paul Gaugin Tahiti experience would be very nice. We don't care for the mega ships, but somewhere in between. Oceania in that respect was a little small and offered little in the way of shipboard programs or entertainment. We don't care for the large production shows, but want more than a piano bar.

 

Our TA does pay our gratuities on Crystal and we get a shipboard credit. Lately, our TA has been urging us to try Regent, which is why I posted the inquiry.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Azkitty, Mariner and Voyager have about the same # of pax as the current Oceania ships, I believe. Higher tonnage too, so feel a little roomier. And the larger cabins, of course.

 

I admit I like that size (about 700), but the Paul Gauguin is special, in a class by itself. Navigator is smaller as well (460).

[DebbieH103]

I wanted to say that I really appreciate all of the contrasts and details throughout this thread. Thanks to all.

 

I did want to say that regarding the Regent smoking policy, they do allow it in the Voyager lounge on Voyager at one end. It actually is the end where it is the quietest if you want a conversation away from the music, so I don't like that, and if you want to chat with smokers, it can get to be a bit much in that corner, so I can only take it so long.

 

Also, regulars know I will always throw in a Silversea comparison, and they do have local performers quite often. Regent may not do that so much, but I like the overall job that Regent does with the entertainment, including drawing food into it. I think Regent does a great job including regional cuisine and tries to surprise guests on a regular basis. There is enough enrichment for me, and some of the tours are interesting. I love the mix.

 

Also, the "posted" amount of formal nights for an 11 night cruise is 3 (obviously not Paul Gaugin), though Regent doesn't always stick to it.

 

For those that like set dining and set waitstaff, it is certainly possible to arrive at the same time every night (we pretty much do). You can request a certain section, as well. Of course, getting the same tablemates each night would have to be something upon which others would need to agree.

 

I never understand the rational of thinking you are paying for someone else's alcohol. For instance, if one couple gets tired and misses the show every night, they are then paying for someone else's show. If one person skips lunch because they are not back to the ship yet or too full, they are paying for someone else's lunch. You are paying so much a day for a complete experience and making choices daily from what is available. I have not found Crystal to be that much cheaper, and sometimes it is higher. Most of what is offered appeals to me except the non-inclusive and having specific tablemates. I could live with that part more than signing for things.

 

Crystal could consider what some of the upscale resorts do - offer the non-inclusive and the inclusive option and then you would just sign anyway and they would figure out upon departure whether you owed or not. Of course they mght have the issue of people getting things for their companions not on that plan. It is just a thought.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

 

I never understand the rational of thinking you are paying for someone else's alcohol. For instance, if one couple gets tired and misses the show every night, they are then paying for someone else's show. If one person skips lunch because they are not back to the ship yet or too full, they are paying for someone else's lunch. You are paying so much a day for a complete experience and making choices daily from what is available.

 

Debbie, I could not agree with you more! I hardly ever go to a show at night. I also don't make many special cuisine requests, so I'm not putting that burden on the kitchen staff. Hardly ever have room service, either. But I am happy to know that they are there, as I am happy to have the all-inclusive beverage policy.

[WesW]

Am enjoying all the posts, esp Wendy's (loves Regent) and Judith's (loves

Crystal)...have cruised both Silversea (yeah Debbie) and Regent multiple

times, obviously we prefer open seating and AI...but w/Judith's posts thought I would research Crystal...well if u want a transatlantic in 2008 (which I will be on regent on 23 Nov)..let's look

at prices...Crystal (for their 21 Nov sailing) wants $411 per day for entry balcony cabin...Regent wants $324 for their cabin (all balcony's)...oh and let's remember Regent is all inclusive 24x7 (w/tips), offers four restaurants, NPR lectures on this cruise, Le Cordon Bleu Cooking workshop (for $450)) (wife is taking) Understand Crystal has their specialty restaurants, is renown for super entertainment (am personal friends with a harpist who plays frequently on Crystal) but for a 2008 transatlantic the comparison yields an obvious choice--Regent r/wes

[Judith02]

Just a slight correction to you. If you had looked at their website "specials", that crossing is $314 per person in the C category with a one category free upgrade to a verandah stateroom.

 

Crystal has no inside staterooms and A to E are all furnished the same. Inside the staterooms are the same size but only A and B categories have verandahs. The highest deck is penthouses and penthouse suites not staterooms.

 

It is prudent to always check their specials. For instance, next April we are doing their three nights in Beijing with a 12 night cruise of China and Japan on the Symphony -- one of their Asian cruises with the following offer. It is $5,995 for an E category (their lowest one; no verandah on deck 7) with a free two category upgrade to a category C (also on deck 7 but with no obstructions). If someone were to book a D category (no verandah on deck 5), they would automatically be upgraded to a verandah stateroom B on deck 8). If someone didn't want the Beijing portion, the cruise alone is $3,995. We have never used our double upgrade for our 20th Crystal cruise so for the price of the lowest stateroom (E) with their free double upgrade and my 20th cruise double upgrade, we will be in the highest category (A) verandah stateroom -- it is not a penthouse; that's still further above. People booking a penthouse get a discount for the Asian cruises rather than an upgrade.

 

An obstruction could be part of a lifeboat or something on the deck like the stored gangplank. Symphony has the lifeboats mid ship on deck 8 (front and back on deck 8 are category B staterooms with no obstructions and with verandahs) and the bottoms are at the very top of the windows in some of the deck 7 staterooms. Certain of the deck 8 staterooms are blocked while others have no obstructions in category E there. These staterooms on deck 7 and the certain ones on deck 8 are the best bargain on Crystal because the obstruction is not that great except for the top of the windows.

 

On Serenity the lifeboats are tucked away and there are no obstructions so there are no categories D or E. Category C has no verandahs but all other categories do.

[WesW]

Judith, thanks..did find where those specials are on the crystal site...makes for a better cruise value vis-a-vis regent's crossing. For us, regent's AI+tips along w/open seating makes our choice regent for this

crossing. Judith, glad to see as a crystal alumni u get extra benefits which engender loyalty. We as vet regent cruisers also get discounts, along with last year's on board booking discount (on regent) and our TA discount we are sailing at about $280 a day on this crossing. It's clear from this thread, the cruiser who chooses Crystal or Regent is a winner.

r/wes