papaflamingo

If Casablanca is a "deal breaker," Then you're right, you "made a grave and expensive mistake." Never cruise for a single port, instead fly to the destination and tour by land. Cruise ports get changed or canceled all the time for many reasons. On our last cruise we came within 100 feet from the dock but the wind was too strong to dock, and it was a small port with no tug boats, so off we went to a day at sea. It just happens. As for an explanation, on another website, one person had her TA contact Regent for an explanation. Regent stated that Casablanca was cancelled due to “lack of a supplier”. Hope knowing the reason helps. If you have a question regarding your cruise, contact Regent directly or get you TA to contact them. That way you'll likely get the answer.

So, I bought a new TV for Christmas. It came with a free game controller. I didn't want the controller but since it was "free" I couldn't refuse it and get a monetary credit. I could, however refuse to take it. So let me ask you.....WHO do YOU think paid for the "free" controller? When Regent chose to provide free laundry to all passengers, the cost of the cruises didn't go up to cover the additional service. Do we "pay for it?" Sure, just like I paid for the controller. But your obsession with "free" vs. "included" is odd. You comment on it in nearly all your posts. We all know it's simply a marketing tool. So......

What makes you think they're not being honest? Have you called and asked why an excursion is cancelled and been been given a dishonest answer? Would the reason make difference? More acceptable to you? We've had excursions cancel, and to be honest I never really wondered or care mush as to why. If it's cancelled, it's cancelled. Nothing I can do about it, no matter the reason. And you put way too much emphasis on "gee we pay for excursions." Regent charges a flat fee based on cabin selection. The only add ons are Flights, hotel rooms, spa services, and Regent Choice excursions. Everything else is FREE! Including excursions, dining, drinks, toilet paper, laundry, crew members, pool towels, deck chairs. You pay for none of those things whether you use them or not. So they're FREE. Flights and hotel rooms are included in the quoted cost. If you choose not to use them you get money off the cost, so they're INCLUDED. 😏

Thanks. Didn't see that. Fortunately we're booked on the Grand Cruise that departs March 2025.

Where did you read this? According to the Terms and Conditions on the website, the $500 non refundable/non FCC is only on Voyager cruises of 100 days or more. Did I miss something? Voyages 100 Nights or Longer Category Name Suites A-H Days Prior Cancellation Amount Vacation Date Per person Deposit Date – 181 10% $500** 180 – 151 25% 25% 150 – 121 50% 50% 120 – 91 75% 75% 90 – 0 00% 100% **Cancellation amount: 181 Days Prior is $500 per person Administrative fee and may not be converted into a Future Cruise Credit.

Ok, read your other post. My question regarding cancellations on other cruise lines was to your comment in post #11 "I have been cruising for over 20 years and i do not have any allegiance to any cruise line but i have been on 9 different cruise lines during that time, so i do think i'm capable of making a comparison." Your comment indicated to me that you have not seen cancellation from other cruise lines. Perhaps I missed your point.

Why do you find it "dishonest?" Have you called Regent and asked why a port has cancelled? We had a port change on an upcoming cruise, and the email stated "due to a berthing conflict." No deception at all but also meaningless to me. If a port is cancelled, it';s cancelled.

We are traveling with another couple who are first time Regent cruisers. We select dining before them. Can I add them to my reservation when I book dining or do we have to wait until their selection opens up?

We are traveling with another couple who are first time Regent cruisers. We select dining before them. Can I add them to my reservation when I book dining or do we have to wait until their selection opens up?

So in all your 20 years of cruising no other cruise line cancelled or changed anything other than Regent? 😏

Not to snarky, but it's pretty unlikely anyone here will know what port Regent will substitute on a cruise 7 months away. They should send an email so you'll know when they officially cancel the port. There is currently a travel advisory for Burma due to civil unrest. A lot can happen in 7 months. But it's very likely that another port or two will be substituted.

We have friends currently on Celebrity on a Trans Atlantic. The ship sailed last Friday with only 45% passenger load. There are lots if reasons people choose not to cruise, especially post Covid. It simply is what it is. My understanding is Regent, as a policy, doesn't "dump" fares to fill their ships. So they may offer some specials to help sales, but generally they tend to just sail with a reduced load.

I have been cruising since 1998 (Regent since 2018). We have 84 nights on Regent, including 40 last summer. Other than losing a port stop, we have had maybe one or two excursions cancel. After our first few cruises we rarely used ship tours on the other cruise lines. But yes, last minute cancellations did occur occasionally on the other cruise lines too. ALL the issues that Regent faces are faced by EVERY cruise line. Missed ports for weather, missed ports for medical emergency deviations (happened to us a few times on other cruise lines), Itinerary changes due to mechanical problems, port worker strikes, political upheaval, etc. In my experience, Regent handled these issues better than most by substituting new ports, providing on board activities for unplanned sea days, etc., even substituting new excursions when able. If you want to see how much this happens on other cruise lines, then cruise one or two of them and compare. Or, simply read the forums of the other cruise lines.

If a port is cancelled, it's cancelled. The reason is irrelevant. What difference does it make as to why? Nothing any passenger does will change the decision. If you must know, wait until you board then ask. It's simply part of cruising and happens on ALL cruise lines for many reasons.

The Covid shutdown seriously impacted tour companies. Many went out of business, and of those still operating, she do so on a limited basis. Regent also competes for those excursions with other cruise lines, many who bring in thousands instead of hundreds on board. It's just the way it'll be in the post Covid cruise world for a while.

We have a cruise in Oct. that has 4 days in Israel and 2 days in Egypt (also going on a shore excursion to the Pyramids). These are "bucket list" ports for us. BUT.... we recognize the instability of the region. So if they are cancelled, will we be disappointed? Sure, but we'll adjust. It'll still be a great cruise.

Very true! In fact, it'll be nice to go to the Passport Card and be able to easily carry it in your wallet and all visas are digital.

It's probably unlikely that the smallest ship in the fleet was "slowed down to save fuel' and no other ship was. The only way to impact fuel cost is to slow EVERY ship. 😏 Could be lots of reasons that these port stops were changed. Has anyone contacted Regent to ask why? Because other than that, no one here could possibly answer the question. All we can do is put forward "theories," anything from propulsion issues to dock space issues.

We have NEVER seen any indication that a tip is expected on Regent, anywhere. In fact, on our last cruise, after 40 nights, we tried to tip our Cabin Stewards (who took exceptional care of us) and they both graciously tried to decline taking the extra tips. So no, you didn't misread any cues.

We've been lucky (or more likely just don't care enough) in that our 84 nights on Regent, only had a few excursions cancel. There are lots of reasons but don't really care enough to try to find out. But we waitlisted for a different excursion of interest after the cancellation and cleared every time. On a couple of the ports a new excursion was added a day or so prior to the port so we got on those. When an excursion was cancelled and we didn't want a replacement, we simply went into the port and enjoyed the local scenery, culture, and food/drinks. In fact ports we just wandered around in often became our favorite port stops. It's a cruise, it's all good.

ABSOLUTELY. We haver done this on both our cruises. Since our flights to the cruises would be domestic (Honolulu and Montreal) but our return International (Sydney and London) and we deviated both directions, I was able to book First Class domestic for not all that much more than coach once all the fees and the air credit was factored in. Anyway, no problem at all only using Regent air in one direction. You get the appropriate air credit for the city pairing you don't fly.

You bring up a good point however we all know reality, don't we? We're successful and mature adults. We know that it's impossible for every passenger on every cruise in every port to be able to do all the excursions they want, don't we? And even if we could, someone would come on here and say the cruise line is "deceptive" because the ship didn't stay in port long enough to do the 5 excursions they wanted to do so they clearly aren't "unlimited." So let's all be adults and face reality. ALL cruise lines are limited by length of port stop, availability of vendors, weather, etc. Regent has NO limitations on NUMBER of tours you can book, BUT they have to be available and fit into the time parameters of the port stop. If you look at other inclusive cruise lines you'll find that only ONE excursion is included in each port. THAT is "limited." As for cancellations, well, that's cruising post Covid. Tour companies cancel. Ports change. Time in port changes. It's just what happens. All the complaining in the world won't change anything because there is nothing they can do. Regent can't build an extra bus or boat because too many have booked a specific excursion or a tour company has canceled. They can't go into a port when the weather prevents it or the port closes for some reason. And EVERY cruise line in the industry is experiencing the same issues and worse. Go over and read what's happening on other boards and see. This is just cruising post Covid. It's how it's going to be for the foreseeable future.

In all this discussion it seems no one has read the Terms and Conditions the we ALL agree to when we book a cruise. Here is what it says about excursions: " Free Unlimited Shore Excursion reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to availability....Regent Seven Seas Cruises reserves the right to withdraw and/or cancel a cruise or cruisetour or to make changes in the itinerary and hotel accommodations whenever, in its sole judgment, conditions warrant. In the event of charters of the vessels, truces, lockouts, riots or stoppage of labor from whatever cause or for any other reason whatsoever, the Owner or Operator of the vessels identified in the current brochure may, at any time, cancel, advance or postpone any scheduled cruise or cruisetour and may, but is not obligated to, substitute another vessel or itinerary and Regent Seven Seas Cruises shall not be liable for any loss whatsoever to Guests by reason of any such cancellation, advancement or postponement." So....there it is. If you cruise on Regent you agree to these terms.

Of course you are reimbursed whatever extra you pay for a Regent Choice excursion. You can also cancel a Regent Choice excursion for refund of the additional you paid as long as it's cancelled at least 36 hours before tour departure.

Go to the Shore Excursions desk onboard and ask them. I would be surprised if switching tickets would be a problem. I have never had a shore excursion check my ID. You simply hand them the ticket and board the bus.