captbuzz

I assume the pool is heated.

I am trying to gather approximate weather predictions for the TA cruise. It seems most of the ports in the Med. the temps will be between 65 - 45 F with a high probability of rain and then Bermuda being in the 75 -60 F range. I am just not sure what to expect for the sea days in betwee.

Great idea which I had not thought of. Enjoying the photos which bring back memories. We did this trip with Tauck a couple of years ago with our daughter & son-in-law and really loved it. It was our second cruise with Tauck, the first being the Netherlands and Belgium and then last year we did the Rhine & Moselle with our grandson & daughter-in law (from Jensen Beach) and all have been truly wonderful. We've also done several land tours with Tauck and can't say enough good things about tem!

Regent has tracked it well but, if you are changing levels during a cruise, I would double check that it is in the system (you can check with the internet "guru"). IMO, having two logins is important for any couple that like to use the computer at the same time. On Oceania we had only one login and were always waiting for each other to get off of the computer. If you rarely use the computer or are not as joined at the hip as my DH and I are, it probably would not make a difference.

I assume that the "guru" works for Regent. Can you point in the direction of how to contact him/her?

FWIW, the unlimited internet used to be a SSS Silver perk, then when it was moved to Gold, those of us who were Silver were grandfathered. We won't hit Gold until next August (hopefully) and even though we were still Silver on our last cruise, we had two logins.

 

Not sure when the benefit changed, but we were silver in 2010 or 2011, I think, so anyone who was Silver before the change to Gold should get multiple logins, too.

Did you need to request this at check in or were they aware of the fact?

In May of 1995 while on a Paris trip we ventured out to the large flea market via the metro. On our return while on an escalator in the metro we were surrounded by a group of young gypsy (assumed) men who jostled me and a couple pinned me against the rail while the other two patted me down to the ankles looking for a wallet or travel wallet. I started screaming "police" at the top of my lungs and they disappeared. The station was virtually empty so no response from anyone. I was wearing a money belt and had enough layers of clothing that they didn't get anything but it was unsettling. I try to be a little more careful since then on where I go and the means of transportation we use.

Purchased a cut proof (steel embedded) camera strap for a little peace of mind.

Thanks for all the advice. I've ordered the pants and the wife will not carry her purse. Any thoughts on protecting a camera?

There more posts I read on the boards the more I am concerned about safety in Barcelona. Anyone have suggestions to avoid problems?

I tried calling Regent and had my TA call with not luck.

We are on the TA cruise for 16 days and was surprised to find that we were limited to 3 (1 per specialty rest) reservations. It seems like in the past the number was increased for cruises over 10 days.

We have been to Barcelona before spending 3 days exploring the city. We have seen most of the items mentioned but have not been to Colonial Guell. I was a little surprised that none of the Regent excurssions included Parc Guell.

Has anyone done this excursion? We're trying to making a selection.

It would but my whole point of cruising with Regent is to eliminate the amount of additional effort I have to put in to my vacations. What attracted me to them in the first place was the all inclusive aspect of their cruises.

Okay - I am now thoroughly confused and we do not receive brochures - only emails from Regent. Are you saying that the "explanation" of the "free" hotel is gone or the "free" hotel is no longer offered? I assume that the included hotel still exists for "concierge" suites and above since a hotel was listed for our November, 2016 Explorer cruise.

 

captbuzz: The major change to the Seven Seas Society benefits was made last year -- you now have to reach "Gold" status before you receive unlimited included internet. However, Regent runs quite a few specials that include some included internet and the upper suites also receive a limited amount of internet (only one person in a suite can use it at a time). I believe the change to the included hotels occurred in 2013. Rather than just cost cutting, much of what Regent has done is make the Category "E" and above suites more desirable by adding benefits. Since the "regular" suites are the same size on the Voyager and Navigator, there was no reason for a person to book an "E" category over a "D" category (except location).

 

Hope that you reconsider the Explorer -- it is expected to be a wonderful ship with many amenities, new restaurants, a Culinary Center, etc. We found the prices a bit too high for the first few sailings so we booked the transatlantic in November which has more "normal" pricing.

I am not sure when they changed their policy re the hotel night but it was after October of 2013 because we sailed with them then and got the room. We are considering the transatlantic as well but when I look at what they are asking for the pre-night room of $589 per guest which is almost 3 times the rate I could book it for on my own. It makes sense to upgrade to E for the differential and get the room included. It just seems annoying along with the change in policy re the internet for Silver sss members.

We are looking for comparisons between the two lines. We have sailed with Regent many times (7 times) going back to when they were Radisson but have found some of their recent changes in policies annoying and are exploring alternatives.

This seems to be a trend throughout their philosophy. We have not sailed with them in over a year and when I checked on sailing on the Explorer next year I learned that the free hotel night is only available in certain cabin levels and it seems that some of the benefits in our SS Society have been reduced. I was ready to book on Monday but I think I will look at alternatives first.

May I ask you to please post any exciting info you come across as we are doing this trip in reverse also in July 2014. Thanks