BettyDol

We were on the Rome to Miami cruise in Nov 2023, in  a Penthouse B suite.  Regent put us in the Marriott, Sini Bernini Bristol but the Westin Excelsior Hotel was also used by Regent.  I don't know what criteria was used for the different assignments, suite category. points status, arrival dates ???  The Sina Bernini was a lovely hotel.  More of a boutique style than the Westin,  Service was wonderful, especially the Doorman, He gave us great sightseeing and dining suggestions. The location was also good.  We walked easily to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps as well as several lunch and dinner restaurants.  There was a very nice included buffet/order breakfast.  We were there for 3 nights.  We upgraded our Regent room for the 3 nights and management let  us stay in the upgraded room without charging for the Regent included room on the third night.  If this hotel is also available for you, it is worth considering.

We were on the Rome to Miami Splendor Cruise in Nov 2023.  A couple of 

"words to the wise" about the port of Miami and Miami airport.  First, our flight from Miami to

 to Los Angeles  departed at 11:40 .  Before booking the flight we contacted Regent to confirm this would be a doable scheduling.  We were told that the airport and port were very close, we would dock at 7am and disembark at 7:30 AM.   We also checked at reception onboard and were told, "No problem". We were ready to disembark at 7:30 but were not permitted to do so.  At 8:10 the Cruise Director arrived to announce the dock workers were refusing to handle any luggage until every piece pf luggage was unloaded.  Not just our color tag luggage, but EVERY color tag .  The CD said he was told the best hope for completion of the task would be  8:30.  8:30 turned into 9, 9 to 9:30. 9:30 to finally departing the ship at 10:15,   we were immediately confronted by a long Taxi line.  By this time I was a mess.  We got to the airport and had 45 minutes to catch the flight.  The next part was actually worse than the disembarkation.  Be warned that the Miami airport is HUGE.  From security to our gate left us with only 2 minutes to spare .  I have heard from several friends that the labor situation in Miami does not favor the traveler.  Embarkation delays are  frequent and more the rule than not.  Maybe pack some roller skates to transverse the Airport!! Or, to be on the save side, book the 4:00PM  American flight to LAX instead of the 11:40!  After a really fabulous cruise, the disembarkation was a real buzz kill!

I think that Redraider 1966 would probably be more comfortable staying home.  Just saying....

Agree completely with Dolebludger!  Anyone have experience with Scenic or Atlas.  Both have snazzy brochures promising "luxury experiences" but feels a little bit off to me.  I am not ready to switch from Regent, but am curious to learn of any credible  competition!

The explanation to this price difference is both simple and not simple!  I did the math the same way you did and then got an astoundingly different quote,

. So, i called the TA for an explanation.  I hope I can explain it correctly.  The $5599 quoted price is the special, "two for one".  Once you switch to the Single  Supplement deal, you are no longer eligible for the "two for One" price, because you are a Single.  So, the price that is used to arrive at the , "single supplement " total is not based on the $5599 price, but on the original brochure price.  Yikes!! that makes the Single Supplement, 25% deal laughable. A Very misleading offer. I hope this explanation helps!

I just want to throw a different perspective into this discussion.  If this happened to me, I am sure I would be upset.  However,  a few years back, we were on a Back to back Caribbean cruise on the Voyager.  There were 70 other passengers on this btb cruise.  Unfortunetly for all of us, there were also 2 different corporate charters aboard.  each group had about 300 "guests" each.  One group consisted of about 85% 25 to 30 year olds.  When I tell you that cruise was an absolute nightmare I am understating  the situation by many miles. So, the alternative perspective I mentioned is this:  I think Regent got you out of a nightmare and into an opportunity to find a wonderful cruise!  Hope you can find a fabulous "second Choice"!!!

If you have Orange County (John Wayne) airport available as an option, it is not a bad option.  The distance may be further, but the reality of NOT being at LAX is a pleasure.  Long Beach Airport is close and small, but Orange County Airport is a joy compared to the other two.  

In the early 90s our family had our first visit to Barcelona.  We were there on a Sunday and hired a cab for the day.  We decided to go to Mass at Sagrada Familia, it is a Catholic Church after all!  The cab  driver  didn't say anything.  So, imagine our clueless tourist surprise when we arrived to discover the church was just an external shell,  not even a roof on it.  Fast forward probably 25 years and after watching a wonderful TV special about the church's progress we went again.  When we walked in, I burst into tears at the beauty everywhere.  Please, DO Not miss the Sagrada Familia!

I sure agree with "Cruiser from Maine" about avoiding BTB cruises with a 7 day segment.  Pre Covid  we were on a 17 day BTB cruise on Voyager in the Caribbean.  The first 10 day segment was a wonderful Regent experience.  On the second 7 day segment 75 passengers stayed on. The remainder of the passengers consisted of 2 corporate "incentive" groups.  Each group had 300 people. One group consisted of Realtors with families included. This group was Ok with the exception of monopolizing several public spaces.  The other group was an Insurance Company and was made up of 25 to 30ish couples.  They were a NIGHTMARE. Examples included partial nudity, vomit, broken glass and beer bottles IN  the pool.  One night in Prime 7 we were seated next to a table of 6 for a 9 o'clock reservation.  That table ordered 18 entrees for 6 people, at 9 0'clock.  We felt so sorry for the Staff.  Suffice to say none of the 75 continuing guests were happy.  I now personally avoid any 7 day Caribbean Cruise.

What a WONDERFUL plan!  Good Luck

Seriously looking forward to your Splendor reporting as I so enjoyed your last Explorer reports and also because like  Mystictraveler and pingpong1, my husband and I are also on the Splendor next Nov. with this itinerary.  Such a long time to wait so it will be really interesting to "sail along "with you, Georgia Peach!  Betty

My husband and I boarded the Splendor on Dec. 8, 2021 and the ship was already beautifully decorated for Christmas.  There were several Holiday celebrations  presented through out the 19day cruise.  One especially enjoyable celebration was a Christmas caroling session . While there was not a clergy member onboard, the Cruise Director did have a non denominational Christmas Eve and Christmas  Day service.  I do remember a lovely, festive Christmas dinner in Compass Rose, but do not remember what we ate!  We were not aboard for New Years, so, I cannot provide any New Years info.  I just remembered that there was a British film crew onboard early in the cruise.  This crew was aboard for the Splendor's Atlantic crossing and filmed the whole Christmas decorating process.  I am sure with a little digging one could still find the show on You Tube.  It was a very interesting program.

THe 16 day cruise requirement for optional formal nights does not include back to back cruises.  We were on the Dec 8 2021, 19 day cruise and originally I expected formal nights.  Then I realized we were actually on two separate cruises, first, a 9 day cruise and second, a 10 day cruise.  I haven't seen a tuxedo on a Regent cruise in quite some time.  Regent has the best "dress code" on the Seven Seas!

We were on the Dec 8 to Dec 27th Splendor cruise.  Originally in cabins 623 and 625 About 10 days before departure we were upgraded to an F1 cabin on Deck 9 with no charge.  This cruise sailed with no covid restrictions for the first 9 days, but then masking and distancing applied for the last 10 days. On the last day of the cruise we were informed by Captain Serena that one crew member from the entertainment staff had tested, "inconclusive",   We disembarked the next day in Miami.  Seems like we got off just in the nick of time.  Deck 6 seems to now be OFF LIMITS!  

I was on the Dec 8th to Dec 27th Splendor cruise.  Dec 26th was the day we were informed that a crew member had tested "inconclusive" in the crew's weekly testing.  We were off the ship on Monday, Dec.  17th.  Thursday night I started feeling like I had a cold.  Tried all day Friday to find a testing kit or testing site, just in case it is not a cold.  Completely bombed on locating a test.  So, due to the timing of this (hopefully), cold, I am staying home.  Meanwhile, so far my symptoms consist of a runny nose and a mild infrequent cough. Today is Jan 1 and I already feel much better than yesterday.  I am posting this message to point out that just because one makes it safely off the ship, doesn't mean creepy Omicron can't find you!  We had a wonderful time on our Splendor cruise! 

About three years ago my husband and I took a back to back Caribbean cruise on Voyager.  The first segment on 10 days was fine.  The second 7 day segment was a nightmare cruise that I won't wish on my worst enemy.  There were 2 groups of 300 people each.  One group was not really a problem except that there were approximately 30 small children included. Just very unusual for a Regent cruise.  The other group consisted of mainly 25 to 30 year old Insurance company employees who  had been rewarded this trip.  The pool deck looked like a drunken, dangerous Frat party gone really, really bad.  Numerous beer bottles in the pool, vomiting passengers around the pool deck, EVERY DAY of the cruise.  The aforementioned small children, (or anyone else, for that matter), never got within 20 feet of the pool.  One night a group of 40 were booked into Prime 7  at 9PM.  The table of 6 next to us, ordered 18 entrees, hooted and hollered throughout the whole dinner.  Regent personal, were clearly present at both the pool and restaurant action, but did nothing to curb any unacceptable behavour. There were about 60 loyal Regent passengers on this Back to Back cruise who complained to many Regent officers and staff, but no action was ever taken.   Seriously, I could go on and on about other horrible examples, but I think the Drunken Frat party reference says it all.  My advice is to avoid any large bloc of incentive groups.  They do not bode well for a luxury Regent experience.

I would vote for the Barcelona stay to be at the beginning of your cruise.  We have done it both ways.  The "trouble" with doing a few days at the end of the cruise is that we are so spoiled by the wonderful  service, dining and socializing onboard, that having to make arrangements on land seems like such a burden!  

Sailing 19 day (formally 20 day), BTB Miami to Miami cruise on the Splendor, Dec. 8 to Dec. 27.  This is a FCC replacement for an April 2020 Explorer TA.  Can't wait!!

Hi Dawn,  My husband and I have done 6 Caribbean Cruises with Regent and and about 15 other itineraries with Regent.  Hopefully, our 20 day December Caribbean cruise will sail!  For me, the only difference between a Caribbean cruise on Regent and all other Regent cruises, is the CARIBBEAN vs  any other location.  Other itineraries are more interesting, but the Caribbean cruises are relaxing because the ports are less intense than , say, the Med.  This gives you more time to enjoy what I consider the highlight of a Regent vacation-  the ship itself!  I don't know how much time you have for your vacation, but, if you can manage a TransAtlantic crossing I highly recommend one as an excellent way to enjoy the Regent experience.  TA cruises  are our favorite.  In any event, any Regent Cruise you choose will be WONDERFUL!  Happy Hunting

Hi Kate-AHF,  I don't know what the current situation is with the deviation details, but, I thought it might be interesting to comment on my last deviation experience,  We were booked on the since cancelled Explorer TA, Miami to Barcelona.  Our flight of choice for the deviation was Barcelona to LAX on  Lufthansa.   We had taken that flight 3 times before.  The first and second times, we had to pay $500.00 per person due to the Lufthansa up charge.  This time the up charge  was $1000.00 per person.  WE opted for the British Air flight with zero up charge.  Of course, in the end all the planning was for naught as the whole shebang was cancelled!  I mention this as you need to be aware of possible up charges when planning your deviation choices.  Good Luck!!

Two more into the same boat.  However, I feel like we were "nudged' into the boat and have a lingering unhappiness about the playing field of FCC vs Refund.  Let me explain!  We were to sail on the Explorer TA, scheduled to depart from Miami on Apr. 3 2020.  On March 5, 2020 Regent made the offer of FCC on cruises scheduled to sail from Apr,3, 2020 until Nov. 30, 2020.  The decision to cancel was required to be made 30 days in advance of the cruises scheduled sailing date.  Unfortunately, our April 3rd sailing was a mere 28 days away.  We were allotted one, and only one, day to make the decision to cancel and receive a FCC.  This FCC could be applied to any cruise up to Dec. 31, 2021.  At the time the Corona virus was worrisome, but not a full blown pandemic yet.  However, a bird -in-the-hand .. scenerio seemed reasonable.  So we accepted the FCC.  Approximately three weeks later the cruise was cancelled by Regent. I can't say for sure, as hindsight changes everything but I think if we had had the 30 day leeway to make the decision, we would have waited and by then, the handwriting would have been on the wall.   I do agree with the previous posters that we accepted the the FCC offer and then things changed.   With only one day to make the decision the FCC seemed the only intelligent choice.  We will be back cruising with Regent and at least we will have the FCC to pay for our next cruise.

Today's Wall Street Journal has an article that says NCL has cancelled all Asian cruises on NCL. Oceania and Regent through September 2020.  I am sorry I do not know how to reproduce the article here on the forum.  The article is on page B3 of the Feb. 21 issue. There are 40 cruises involved- 24 on Norwegian, 10 on Oceania and 6 on Regent.  Regent's website does not reflect the changes yet.  We are sailing on Explorer's April 3rd Transatlantic and there is space available !  Maybe a good replacement cruise????

We have been to Harvest Cay once.  Regent was the only ship there that day.  We had a full fun day.  Started with an included shore excursion followed by a lovely couple of hours lounging and swimming on the beach.  We then had a nice island style reasonable lunch.  After lunch we lounged and swam by the enormous pool.  We even had time for a stroll through several not too touristy shops.  The beach and pool loungers are plentiful.  Actually, all of the facilities are plentiful because the whole area is set up for the large ships.  It is a fairly long walk back to the ship and with all kinds of things to do on shore, lunch at the Cay is  easy!  So, take a little cash and ENJOY!

Our "Preliminary Vacation Summary", received from Regent on Jan.20th lists the Four Seasons Hotel as our Pre-Cruise hotel arrangement.  Maybe there is more than one Hotel for the Pre-cruise included night??? Last year on a TA with Regent we stayed at the Conrad and really liked it.  My husband will be the guy wearing the University of Michigan gear.  Go Blue!

Of course we could fly out of those airports if only there were good flights available.  The routes and destinations that we normally fly are available from LAX.  The thread was a question about transportation to and from the airport, not which airports are closest to Huntington Beach.  We are not particularly interested in connecting Hubs.