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PaulMCO

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  • Location
    Florida
  • Interests
    Amateur Radio
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    Regent, Seabourn
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    Anywhere

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  1. There is a whole thread about their excursions... My post #43 explains my feelings.
  2. Currently on Explorer. The decor is very subjective, but agree it has an "old" dark feel compared to Splendor, which is light and airy. Ship is well maintained. Staff is great, food has been good and consistent-- only exception has been Chartreuse, where the food and service disappoints. Even Sete Mare which we did not like on Splendor has been excellent. Love Compass Rose, only Crystal does this better. Much better than SS or Seabourn. Room is OK, we are in a PH on deck 8. Bed is comfortable, lots of closet space, supersized shower (no tub). Room attendant has been super. Butler has been mehh. Biggest issue is destination services and the excursions, this is an issue for both Regent and Oceania and it is a driven corporate issue. We did the pre-cruise, Vibrant Tokyo. Was very well organized, which is amazing for the contractor (Destinations Asia), handling 11 buses and 300 passengers so well. Time to see Shanghai.. We were first here in 1980.
  3. but your claim, if greater than the allowed amount of $4,450, still must go through the court so it is segmented to X payment priority, and X payment as unsecured.
  4. Would not recommend the Hilton, if doing it on your own -- many better places in Tokyo. Imagine 900 rooms including groups from Regent and Oceania descending for breakfast to catch their 9:30am tour, you will find a line that extends to the concierge desk. We did it only because of the included pre cruise If doing it on your own, stay near the palace -- 4 seasons, or less costly Tokyo Station which is my favorite. Quirky design, in the heart of Tokyo near the palace, transportation hub of the station. If you want a quiet part of Tokyo, the Intercontinental was my business choice because it is in the Embassy district, not far from American Embassy.
  5. Because on other cruise lines -- like SS, Crystal and Seabourn, the destination staff have gone on many of these or sends minders (from other departments) who go on these tours and provide a detailed report, unlike Regent or Oceania. Our last cruise on SS we had the destination manager on our tour, because she had not done this particular one and wanted to evaluate it. Regent seems to have lots of outdated information in their excursions (example was our Caribbean/Amazon cruise), where we were supposed to visit a butterfly zoo, which was destroyed 3 years earlier by a hurricane. Our current cruise on Explorer most of the Japan ports, have changes to strenuous levels from 2 to 3 and lots of notes as to number of steps. One tour we did in Koichi, was a 2 and forgot to mention the 50 steps without handrail to visit the temple. Another warned of steep ladder stairs for the temple and same for the restaurant. Yet you need not go to the top of the temple, and the restaurant had steep stairs (not a ladder), but also had an Elevator. Late changes to levels are particularly bad with Regent, since everything is wait-listed -- so if you want a less stressful tour you are out of luck, if if you try to change on the afternoon of boarding.
  6. For us it is still about itinerary more than anything. Some lines are better than others and with more ships, likely we’ll find something we like on Seabourn, Regent, SS rather than Crystal or Explora. But it’s nice to have choices and you can see we are spread among them all for 2024 and 2025.
  7. Then again, I am currently on Regent, and Regent beats them both. Newer ships, no TAs or bloggers, a culture of yes we can, French milled bread, a decent complementary wine list, varying menus ( even the Italian specialty varies), great Illy coffee, good enrichment speakers, caviar Sundays, brunches, and stateroom block parties, Only negative has been the included excursions and most cruise lines have issues here. Next sailing is Crystal in June.
  8. You have to remember the tight deadline they gave consumers. Most of the insurance, and credit cards claims were not settled by the time the deadline was reached. Therefore there are thousands of duplicate claims that had to get settled. We had 4 claims two were later settled by cc and insurance and two were not. That still generated 4 motions to the court. Two denying, one partial approval and one fully being insecured. We received our check. The only question is what happens to cruises with FMC bond protection, which will be answered after all money is dispersed. Of course the longer these lawyers continue the process the more fees they earn.
  9. They are stating you will get $4,450 as a priority 1, payment. That us the maximum anyone will get under Florida law. What is left (unsecured) will likely be pennies on the dollar. Interesting that they are still going through claims and making filings with the court and that all priority 1 claims have not yet been reviewed.
  10. PaulMCO

    Casino?

    That may be the current HQ response, but that was the exact excuse that Crystal made for not restoring the old area as a casino by the former leader Mr. Jack.
  11. PaulMCO

    Casino?

    Another issue is of course finding a company to run a Casino operation. I have not seen anything in the trades that announces an award. Plus it is not so simple to plop a table and slot machines on the floor. There is the space, electrical, cooling, and most important surveillance and a small room for monitoring the gaming. This was ripped out when Genting (or their creditors) cleaned out the old casinos.
  12. Maybe Explora Journeys will hire her. They could use some marketing and they could pay her overpriced salary by not giving away free cruises to those annoying bloggers and travel agents.
  13. PaulMCO

    Casino?

    Casino or no casino. Just received this survey. My impression is that Crystal is still undecided as whether they will install casinos. specific to this are questions Does having a casino influence your desire to cruise Crystal. If a casino was available would you cruise Crystal. How much would you use a casino look for this in your email.
  14. I highly doubt that in a case of insolvency. It is not that anyone owes you money. What was owed was from an entity that no longer exists. Normally in a case like this the liquidator would wait until ALL claims are judged before distributing the remains. I credit ABC and the court and providing a priority group payment of partial assets and their skill at getting blood from insurancr companies for the wrong on the management of Crystal. one or 6 claims your priority payment cannot be more than $2,225 pp.
  15. Interesting article on a lightly used 787 worth more as a parts hangar queen... https://simpleflying.com/boeing-787-ex-vip-scrapped-parts-roswell/
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