papaflamingo

Did your Travel Insurance reimburse you for expenses incurred for the 3 day delay getting home?

Just for the record, I wasn't excusing any rudeness, I was simply pointing out that at some point an agent, who has remarkably limited authority and information, is the butt of everyone's frustration. Might have been less "rude" had she not been called a liar.

This is an incredibly unusual situation for all. So I certainly wouldn't feel responsible or be embarrassed about recommending Regent. For me, I would have worked directly with my TA since that's what her job is and let her work it out. I won't say much about the agent's attitude other than to say I was a Coast Guard Pilot and Senior Duty Officer and a 29 year Airline Captain. I dealt many times with upset, angry, and distraught people all during very high stress times, be it searching for their loved ones lost at sea or dealing with delays and cancellations with the airlines. I often had to use the same line "we are doing all we can." And you know what? We WERE doing all we could. So when someone comes back with "I disagree," it's only natural to yell "GODDDDD." I just managed to not let anyone hear me yell it. 😎 Anyway, I agree, given how you feel, you are probably well advised to cancel your future cruises and sail on a different line. I wish you luck and happy cruising on Silversea or whatever line you choose.

Ok...that's what discussion is about... differing opinions.

Honestly, I think you expect way too much. When this happened the cruise that was affected was a week away. It takes time to evaluate the situation, gather all the information, look at options, and come up with a plan. The fact that the weekend phone agents weren't "read in" on what upper management was considering is not surprising at all. You really think that a major decision like this should be made in the first 36 hours without complete information, without time to consider alternatives, without exploring the actual ability to put alternative in place?

Consider away. Of course it would help if you actually KNEW the source though instead of jumping to random conclusions. 🤣

That is a ridiculous analogy. Again, we have done 84 days on Regent, just cancelled a 22 night cruise for Covid, and have 5 more booked and I have NEVER had a problem getting shore excursions. And the only "limitation" is the departure time of the ship and/or the "closeness" of the tours. So in my experience they are actually delivering on their promises. In other words, the "favorite chicken dish" is always available.

At the time I commented no official decision had been posted. All I was suggesting was that instead of the first reaction being the "I'll never sail Regent again" line, that everyone actually WAIT until an official decision was made. Now that that decision is made, I hope you find a cruise line that will offer you a full refund when a port gets cancelled. I'm pretty sure that is not going to be the case though. In the meantime, I highly suggest you take out cruise insurance with the "cancel for any reason" benefit. Even cruise insurance won't pay out for full cancellation in this case. If cruise insurance, the vehicle used to protect you against unexpected events, won't pay out, why are you mad at Regent? They didn't start the war. Why aren't you mad at your cruise insurance company? Remember, YOU agreed to that pesky cruise contract..

How would you suggest they market their product? We have 5 cruises booked through 2025 and there are excursions offered in each port and there is no limit on how many we can book. So apparently there are "free unlimited shore excursions."

Y'all need to chill out and let this run its course. Regent apparently has only said they're cancelling Israeli ports...... for NOW. And already people are lining up on here to crucify Regent for not giving them full refunds because Israel was cancelled? Really? Did you read the cruise contract when you agreed to go on the cruise? But more importantly, why don't you just let the "dust" settle and see what happens. Who knows, Regent might offer some cancellation benefit... or not. But before y'all get worked into a "gee I'll never cruise Regent again" frenzy, at least let them make the decision. By the way, is Oceania or Celebrity or Royal Caribbean, etc. offering full refunds? Anyone know the answer to that?

I see that. I thought you were referring to Regent's policy. That's the link I posted. 😎

Here is a link to the cancellation schedule for Regent. For 14 nights or less, depending on cabin category, you're looking at risking $100 per person until Final Payment at 120 days prior to the cruise. AND I believe that $100 is usable for Future Cruise Credit if you book within a year. https://www.rssc.com/frequently-asked-questions/general-reservations-questions

Yup...pretty much. 🤣

I feel your "pain." My wife is always kicking me too. Difference is, I rarely know WHY she kicks me. 🤣

We were supposed to board Voyager in Athens this past Tues. I caught Covid on the day we were to fly to Athens. We, obviously, cancelled (yes I have insurance) and have already booked a similar cruise for 2025. Maybe I was luckier than I thought.

Thanks.... whew... looks like it might be complicated. Maybe it'll be an opportunity for a "romantic dinner for two" for my wife and I. 🤣 Thanks again... I'll give your suggestions a try and see how they work out. 😎

Hmm...... tempting but would probably get me into "cruise critic jail." 🤣

We will be doing this in a couple of weeks. We are 2 couples and we have early booking, they don't. So to make sure I fully understand, you suggest we book for 2 then when they become eligible we change it to a booking with sharing and add their reservation? Can the change be done on line or do we need to call Regent to change like shore excursions? Thanks.

I think it actually opens at midnight of the check in date. Since you aren't competing with anyone for anything then no reason to worry. Just check in when you're ready.

We booked an Open Booking and used it for the Grand Cruise in 2025. Our entire deposit for both of us is only $4,000 ($2,000 each). MUCH cheaper than the normal deposit. THAT is one of the HUGE advantages of on board bookings.

I've had fun with my pic of the pull handle too. It's "a thing." 🤣 But we really enjoyed Bloody Mary's on our stop in Bora Bora in 2018.

Not to worry, I'm married, I'm used to being contradicted. 🤣 Seriously, you bring up a very good point. I just looked at our cruise in 2 months in the Caribbean and there are also a lot of excursions available. I think that must have to do with the fact that there are so m any cruises to the Caribbean that there are many, many excursion options and companies. 😎 .

The amount that Regent offers off a future cruise can often more than cover any cancellation fees. When we changed our cruise, we were driving, so no problem there and the hotel was cancellable. Of course I NEVER prepay anything I don't have to just for some "odd" circumstance like this. The one thing was my Insurance. I was able to call the company and even though only 4 days before the cruise, the company allowed me, for a few hundred dollars, to switch the dates of the cruise and continue the coverage. So I still came out WAY ahead cash wise. One more comment about air fare. We alway book as far out as possible. So almost every flight we've had for the last couple of years have had some minor schedule change after booking. Because of that it always gives us the option of changing or cancelling the flight. That seems to be happening more and more and really is good deal for passengers as it gives a sort of "automatic out" if there is a change in the cruise or vacation.

It's going to be tough booking only a few months out as people book excursions up to a year out and dining up to 90 days out. However just a few comments. For dining, Compass Rose and Sette Mari (the Italian restaurant) are no reservable. So depending on ship you're looking at one - three specialty restaurants that are reservable, and depending on the length of the cruise you could probably get in at some point by trying once on board. Now, for Shore Excursions. They often come open last minute as people change their minds. But one thing you can do is put a 5 day hold (was 7 but the other day I only got 5 days) on the cruise. That will hold the price and cabin and allow you to decide. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY it will give you a booking number and you can enter into your "my account" section under "booked cruises" and since both excursion and dining booking are open you can go and see what's available for booking. It won't let you actually select them but will show what shore excursions are available and what dining reservations might be available, then you can decide if you want to book the cruise or not. If so, simply pay the deposit (or full amount if that close to sailing) then go back and make your choices. If you feel you don't want to book you can cancel or simply let the "hold" drop.

This isn' t all that new. We had Navigator booked last March for 10 nights in the Caribbean in a Deluxe Verandah. We were on an airline rate (very unusual for Regent), so deeply discounted. Four days before the cruise we got a similar email offer. If we pushed to Nov. or Dec. they would switch us to Mariner, upgrade us to a Penthouse (HUGE upgrade considering it's Navigator to Mariner and Verandah to Penthouse), and give us 20% refund. We had a pipe freeze at Christmas and were in the middle of our re-construction so this was a major "win" for us! As Pcadad says it's all about the money. They have our money for over a year as it turns out, because part of this is the "final payment" date is the ORIGINAL cruise, not the upcoming one. So we can't just cancel. PLUS they get the cost from whomever takes the cruise. Like everything in any business, if you really want to know why....follow the money.