MV21

3 hours ago, pinotlover said:

Did it ever, during the duration of the entire cruise, come to the OP’s mind to query their room attendant? 🙄

Yes of course it did. Also to ask at reception, but I was on a cruise and never quite got round to it 🙂

I think the my level of 'doofusness' has been acknowledged but thanks for your contribution, most helpful 👍 😉

Oh my. What doofus I am.

If it worked for you tigerfan75 I'm sure it would work for me.

Oh well I must remember this when we are back on the Vista next year 🙄

We are just off our transatlantic on Vista and I must say I was disappointed to discover that none of the films on board had subtitles. Indeed there doesn't even appear to be a way to view subtitles on the TV.  I am hearing impaired, or as my kids say, "a deaf git", so I wear hearing aids. When watching TV at home the need for subtitles to assist me is very important.  When on the Vista I was careful not to turn the TV up too loud (especially after reading about all the problems with noise between cabins) but it effectively meant that I couldn't really make out the dialogue.

It just seems a pretty large oversight on a new ship not to have included this facility, especially when virtually every film available on our flight to Miami had Close captions/subtitles in English. And a fair few in other languages as well.

I suspect this omission is making the soundproof issue worse! 

4 hours ago, Harters said:

As noted at #9, Aussie & Kiwi customers get OBC in lieu of free gratuities, so I presume  this is what will happen for Europeans

Remember that under the 'old' (or yet to be updated) loyalty structure one received an in crease of OBC from $100 to $250.  If Oceania are going to compensate cruisers who now pay the gratuities in the fare, (nothing is really free) I would hope that achieving Silver gets a relative increse to the OBC to compensate for the lack of the perk of 'free' gratuities.

Also, I entirely agree with the poster who warns against 'chasing' loyalty tiers as that is rarely cost effective. However, if you were going to book anyway it's wise to squeeze the value if possible.

Yes must be a UK thing 😔

See attached:

46 minutes ago, basor said:

Gratuities are not included with SM - not sure where you got this idea....the change from OLife is that wine, beer and champagne are included during meals and you receive a certain amount of OBC to use for shore excursions,  The only choice is to have SM with air or without....please post the marketing showing gratuities are included with all sailings on SM

 

This may be a UK thing but I've clicked on future Oceania cruises and they all seem to be showing 'Free' Gratuities.

Here are a couple of links:

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/mediterranean-cruises/istanbul-to-barcelona-VIS251109/?sr=%2Fcruise-finder%23ship%3DVIS%26sort%3Dfeatured%3Adesc%26page%3D11%26pageSize%3D10

xxx

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/mediterranean-cruises/barcelona-to-athens-VIS240711/?sr=%2Fcruise-finder%23ship%3DVIS%26sort%3Dfeatured%3Adesc%26page%3D1%26pageSize%3D10

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/mediterranean-cruises/athens-to-monte-carlo-VIS251003/?sr=%2Fcruise-finder%23ship%3DVIS%26sort%3Dfeatured%3Adesc%26page%3D11%26pageSize%3D10

We are just a couple of cruises before we gain Silver status and were pleased to note that that would entitle us to complimentary gratuities. However, now with 'Simply More' (I can't do Oceania 'My Way' anymore 😔) it seems that the gratuities are priced or free if you believe the marketing, thereby making the shift to Silver a lot less appealing! Suppose I will have to drown my sorrows in the complimentary bottle of Oceania wine 😝

On our Marina cruise last year we were able to book La Reserve online months before our cruise. In a couple of months we are on the Vista and I understand that the La Reserve experience is hosted in a variety of venues on the ship. However, there is no trace of any mention of La Reserve in my online booking management section of the website. 

Does one have to wait until boarding before being able to book this?

TIA

We've twice cruised the Eastern Med (Greek Islands) in late October and the weather has been superb. T shirts and fewer crowds. In November it could be the same or you might need a sweater and rain gear but it shouldn't be too cold. The Western med (Barcelona etc) tends to cool down a bit quicker in the autumn but you could still be blessed with fine weather.  Once you get to the Canaries the temperatures are much more likely to be warmer (further south). In fact the  temperature in Gran Canaria is 25 degrees for tomorrow (Saturday) and virtually all next week.

So I would suggest stop worrying, start looking forward to the cruise and pack for all eventualities.

With regard to sea conditions, I'm sorry I really don't know but Captains are well versed in trying to avoid the worst.

Have Fun!!!

We are booked on the Vista in a few months and will be purchasing the Prestige Select Beverage Package (don't judge 🙂) . We booked before "Simply more" so it's a fair chunk of money.  I think I remember a few years ago a thread that such packages were increased in January???

If this is the case we will buy them now. if not we will wait a while.

Does anybody know when these increases usually kick in?

TIA

We have cruised on the Riviera and Marina a few times and are booked on the Vista later this year. We have always enjoyed the Oceania product and the size and amenities of the Riviera and Marina seems to hit our 'sweet spot'. There was always a compromise with the cabin (we tend to go Concierge Verandah) as although they were nice, the bathrooms were, as my Scottish wife would say, "A wee bit cramped". Nothing like Concierge on Regent but then not that price either.

However, when the Riviera was refurbished and the bathrooms redesigned with larger walk in showers we were very excited and likewise we are looking forward to this on our Vista cruise with a similar bathroom set up. Then when we discovered that Concierge and below bathrooms will not be refurbished on the future Marina refit - Cue much disappointment as we feel that the Riviera and Marina are no longer sister ships as the (cabin) experience on the Marina is reduced.

We will probably avoid the Marina because of this, unless a particular itinerary appeals and stick to booking Riviera, Vista and Allura.

I would be interested if others will start to view the Marina as the 'unfortunate' sister (never say ugly). 

We are booked on the Vista next spring and as we were booked before "Simply More" we are still offered the "House Select" and "Prestige Select" beverage packages. 

When I go onto our booking on the website, under the Prestige Select offer, it states: "Unlimited premium spirits, champagne, wine and beer wherever and whenever you wish."

Does this mean we can order room service under the Prestige Select package? We were thinking pre-dinner drinks in our room?

Many Thanks

Thanks for your suggestion. My wife went online and managed to find the booking while logged on but the app steadfastly refuses

to find it even after reinstalling it. Who should I speak to at HAL to get it sorted?

Thanks again

Hi,

We have booked our first HAL cruise and I downloaded the app and put in my Booking ref and it has our booking ...great.  However, my DW then downloaded the app and she was given a Mariner number but can't seem to link her app with our booking ref.  The confirmation we received from HAL has her name and details but the app doesn't seem to want to know her!

Is there a way for her to link her app to our booking?

Many Thanks

Thanks for the info. I'm looking forward forward to trying out HAL.

Hi,

We have cruised before but never on H&A but we've booked a Fjord cruise for next September. We have the benefit of the "Have it all, early booking bonus" so it appears that a few things are included. One of these is the Elite Beverage package.  On the H&A website it states the price of the package PLUS 18% gratuity.  Will we have to pay the 18% gratuity or does that come included too. Also if we were to buy the package on another cruise am I right in thinking that we would be charged the $59 plus the gratuity of 18% making it closer to $70.  

I'm a bit confused as other lines we've been on the gratuity is included in advertised price.

Many Thanks

Ok. Thanks for the info 👍

Hi,

we are currently on an Oceania cruise and have got to bronze status. All the literature states that one gets a $100 cruise credit plus a bottle of wine and a cap and bag etc. I had assumed we would each get the $100 credit but instead we've got $50 each. Is this correct, if so my assumption was wrong.

Many thanks

This is a review of our 10 day trip on the Explorer in February 2020. We were travelling with our friends who were completely new to cruising and of course we have spoiled their choices in the future even though we explained every cruise line is not like Regent. 

Before we go any further we think Regent is a superb product and we would cruise with them again in an instant. Anyway some thoughts (forgive my stream of consciousness/ramble.):

My wife and I have cruised Regent twice before as well as a smattering of Seabourn and Oceania cruises (larger ships).  We travelled from Britain via Regent inclusive air and as we were Concierge were placed in a hotel the night prior to the cruise. Concierge made sense as everything was arranged for us but I would think twice about doing it again, particularly as we have now reached Silver and get early excursion and speciality restaurant access for booking. Also during the entire cruise experience the pre hotel/transfer process made it feel a bit ‘mainstream cruising’. One felt ‘herded’.  The hotel was great (Mandarin Oriental) but we were not the last bus to leave the hotel to embark and we didn’t set foot on the ship until past 3pm. This was the latest I had gained access to any ship (Princess included.) By that time the Verandah was closed and we ordered room service for a late lunch. I can understand the appeal of having everything organised but for anyone interested and involved in planning their cruise (I imagine most of us here) it would have been just as easy/cheaper(?) to book one’s own hotel and cab it to the port. That would have eased the sense of being on an enormous excursion.

The ship looks magnificent but also had a few disappointments for us (see below). We have come round to the conclusion that we are grateful to be cruising these lovely ships anyway and some ships have elements that are better than others and some cruise lines offer a slightly different emphasis here and there. Plus every cruiser will have different aspects that are important to them. We are happy to sample as many as possible and muse over which bits we like best (so I accept not everyone will agree with us - be gentle with me!).  

Our Suite (Deck 9) was marvellous and the bed looking towards the balcony was a joy. Very spacious. Our Steward wasn’t intuitive; we ran out of things a couple of times so we resorted to notes but I know they are incredibly busy. The furnishings/balcony furniture are very good. Good choice of movies if you want to laze on the bed one afternoon.

The atrium is superb and we liked the Explorer and Meridian Lounges. The dua on the Meridian lounge were particularly good as was the pianist in the Observation Lounge - we noticed his pre dinner audience grew as the cruise progressed.  The expanded Coffee Connection with the limited outside seating is a welcome addition. The Verandah is good with a fair amount of outside seating and Sette Mari was particularly nice eating al fresco on a balmy Carribean evening. The main Compass Rose restaurant we found to be lacking in architectural charm - it’s just a square room and the extravagant ceiling glass work doesn’t manage to conceal this. It felt like a rather grand canteen/refectory (that’s going over the top I know but you get the idea).

Other speciality restaurants were fine which is how we felt generally about the food - fine. Which led us to compare the food with Oceania. I know that one of the marketing straplines with Oceania  is “the finest cuisine at sea” which I have always taken with a pinch of salt 😉 However we decided that for this cruise we think Oceania’s food beat Regent. Certainly Regent’s food wasn’t better than Oceania’s (again in our view!).

We thought the entertainment on this cruise was some of the best we had seen (barring Seabourn who always seem to have an excellent group of young vocalists on board). The performers did very well, especially one evening doing a particularly complex dance number while the ship had a bit of a pitch and roll.

This iteration of Regent ship has seen the Pool Grill expand thereby taking up space that would have been previously available for guests to sit around the pool in the shade. This is particularly important to us and unfortunately we were only able to achieve this on one afternoon of the 10 day cruise.  We enjoy our balcony but sometimes that option wasn’t open to us as it was in full sun. We sensed this was an issue with others and witnessed guests asking the crew to implement the 30 minute rule to free up some of the ‘empty’ sun beds. Unfortunately no action seemed to be taken. It was a shame because usually the ‘pool experience’ on Regent (and Oceania) is so good. The beds are plush and towelling covers luxurious. We were surprised when we cruised on Seabourn and saw that basic pool loungers were supplied (not ‘premium’ at all). Thinking further on this particularly as we are all more aware of sun damage we wondered whether the pool deck could have some awnings installed to increase the number of shaded beds available which appeared to be at a premium (beds in full sun were left empty). The upper pool deck could then be available for the true sun worshippers. Just a thought.

Excursions were interesting and well organised with not too many on each coach which is what one expects with Regent. Some of the countries we visited were Guatamala, Roatan, Cayman Islands and Mexico.  Our favourite excursion was to Chachoben Mayan Ruins with an excellent guide. 

Although we had inclusive air and transfer to the airport we decided to get taxis and book a day room in Miami prior to our flight home.  I think this was the right option for us as the included option was to store our luggage at the bus station and get on a hop on hop off bus.  Doing it our way reinforced our view that next time we probably won’t do the concierge/all included route.

We had a great time and our friends enjoyed their initiation into cruising.

I hope this is useful and of interest to you all.  Best Wishes.

Now I need to get onto the websites and decide where next.

Thanks for the info everyone. We will let our steward/ess know our needs when we board.

We have cruised on Regent twice before and are taking friends with us when we return to Regent in a few weeks.

We have always travelled in the Concierge Suites (and will this time too) and have asked our steward/ess to place two bottle of spirits in our room. Scotch for me and Gin for my DW.

We have explained this to our friends who are new to Regent but looking on the Regent website, it doesn't mention this. It states, "Back in your suite, your mini-bar is replenished daily with soft drinks, beer and bottled water — all complimentary." 

Are bottles of spirits still available and if so does this apply to all suites. As we will make Silver on this cruise we are considering dropping from Concierge to a Superior suite as apart from the hotel, it appears we should receive all the other benefits through Silver status (correct me if I am wrong).

Many Thanks

Thanks for your guidance everyone.

Am I right about actually booking the excursions online, in that I will need to have both profiles open to book the same excursion.  There isn't a similar setup to Dining excursions where one can book your friends onto your table if you have their reservation number?

In a couple of months two of our friends will be accompanying us on their first ever Regent cruise. It will be our third and they have devolved all the responsibilities regarding booking Dining and excursions to me.

I think I have the Dining adequately planned – I believe we can book a table for 4 as long as I quote their reservation number. But I am enquiring about booking excursions jointly.

I have set them up with a Regent profile so I have access to that and I obviously have a profile myself.  When excursions are released will I need to go online with me on my own profile and have a laptop next to me with their profile opened and basically ensure I book both couples on the same tours?  If the tour is replicated how do I ensure we are all placed on the same tour.

Any insights would be welcome.

Many Thanks

Richard

Hi,

I've been reading this thread and wondered if anyone could tell me whether one can book excursions for friends. They will be on their first cruise so I have said I will book all our dining reservations (I understand I can do that as long as I have their booking reference) but can I do likewise for excursions.

Many Thanks

On the Riviera in the Summer and have an OBC and some internet minutes free. Will this be shown on the docs I receive from Oceania as I can't see them on my online account?

Thanks