GaCruiser53

We ended up booking the Barcelona to Monte Carlo and the Monte Carlo to Amsterdam to replace the original Trieste to Amsterdam. It is one day shorter but we did get s significant refund. We will have to switch cabins and had to rebook our excursions, but we are glad to be taking this trip. We’ll have to do Venice another time.

We were also booked on the Venice to Monte Carlo with a B2B from Monte Carlo to Amsterdam. We are going to do this as our first leg. Anyone else on this cruise? We are thinking of a private excursion from La Spezia to Florence and Pisa if anyone wants to join us.

Well it is Thursday 12Jan and we are finally in Auckland.  We are off of the cruise to nowhere.  Now the fun begins on getting the refund and letting home office know that this was not the “Unrivaled Experience” that Regent claims that they provide.  
 

At least you are moving around and visiting ports. You could be on the Explorer where we are sitting 17 miles off of Australia getting the hull cleaned.  All of our ports of call have been cancelled.  Started I Sydney and visited Melbourne for NYE.  Then we were told that the hull needed to be cleaned.  We have been at sea since Jan 1 and ‘hope’ to make port in Auckland by Jan 12.   

Well it is Saturday at noon on the Explorer and we are still getting the hull cleaned.  The captain reported the area with the worst growth has been cleaned.  Due to the rough seas yesterday, the job was no finished.  We will be staying put until the job is done and meets New Zealand’s requirements.  
 

Today the seas are calmer and the divers are working on the starboard side of the hull.  Hopefully that is the last section to be cleaned.  Now word as to hen we will leave or when we will arrive in Auckland.  

Well it is Thursday afternoon, Jan 5, and the Explorer is idling outside of Adelaide.  Latest is that the preliminary evaluation done yesterday is being reviewed. We are waiting for directions on where to go for the divers to clean the hull.  Problem is we have 20-25 knot winds and 4-6 ft swells. This could be a problem for divers to do their job. 
 

On the compensation side, Regent is offering a full refund of the cruise only part of the trip.  It will be in FCC and/or cash, depending how the cruise was paid for.  Refund in FCC for the part paid for in FCC, cash for the part paid for in cash.

So we are still at sea just floating around.  

We just received the update on this cruise (to nowhere).  We are going to just outside of Adelaide to have the hull cleaned. Then we are heading straight to Auckland with no stops at any of the ports.  This cruise is a BUST!!!  
 

Compensation tha is being offered is a not sufficient for the time and expense of going all the way to Australia and New Zealand and see one port.  Regent needs to rethink the compensation being provided to the travelers. 

3 hours ago, Silver Sweethearts said:

Several media outlets mention that it is the Viking Orion that is having the problem - not the Regent Explorer.  Who is correct?

Currently on Explorer.  We were heading towards NZ to get hull cleaned. NZ denied us the chance to clean hull in international waters near them.  Now heading to Adelaide to have the process done there.  Where we go after that is a big unknown. We have missed 2 ports in Australia, at least 1 port in NZ, and visits to fiords on the South Island.  
 

People on board are quite upset at the poor information being given to us.  We are still being entertained but many want to put their feet on solid ground.  The initial compensation was very little.  Many traveled a long way at high expenses to be just floating around on the oceans and not seeing the sites of Australia and NZ. 
 

More info to be provided soon. 

Hopefully we will get to most of the other ports.  Regent will not put their resources (ships, crew, and passengers) into any dangerous area.  

As much as I wanted to see some of the sights in St. Petersburg, with what is going on right now, this not the time to feed the Russian economy.  I just hope this doesn't escalate into something bigger and endangers other countries in the area.   

Received an email today from RSSC indicating a change in the itinerary for our Baltic cruise in September (Splendor from Stockholm to London).  I am waiting to see what is being substituted for St. Petersburg.  

If the other countries are still accepting cruise ships, it still makes the trip worthwhile.  I will miss St. Petersburg stop, but I am sure there will be some interesting stops.  

This trip has been rescheduled from 2020.  We were suppose to take a Baltic cruise for our 40th Anniversary.  We hope that we do not have to reschedule this one...again...

we are taking the Freedom out of Galveston in August. We want to arrive in Galveston on Friday for the Sunday cruise. Want to go visit the Museums in town, especially the one with the Port of Entry data for genealogy research. Looking to get from either airport to Galveston and looking for a hotel somewhere near the cruise terminal that will not cost 300+ a night. Any suggestions on getting to Galveston and hotel to stay at?\

thanks

Hello folks.. not to be a downer, but I was looking at the luggage tag comments on RCL website and found this:

U.S. & Canadian Guests who Qualify for the

Luggage Tag Program

• Crown & Anchor® Society Pinnacle members.

• Guests who have booked the following staterooms:

AquaTheater Suite (A1, A2, A3)

Royal Loft Suite (RL)

Royal Suite (RS)

Presidential Family Suite (PS)

Sky Loft Suite (SL)

Owner’s Suite (OS)

Loft Suite (L1, L2)

Royal Family Suite (FS)

Two-Bedroom Suite with Balcony (TS)

Grand Suite (GS)

Eligibility Requirements

Guests must have their cruise documents available and have an assigned stateroom in their name. Or, if booked under a Guarantee, have been advised on their stateroom assignment and are in possession of their paper cruise documents. Requests for Royal Caribbean's Luggage Tag Mailer must be made no later than 14 days prior to the sailing date. If the guest is eligible to request luggage tags, they will be able to complete the request via Online Check-in (on the status page) or Countdown to Cruise (on the Guest Documentation tab).

It appears that there is confusion in who can get luggage tags and when one can get them. My family will be on the AOS sailing in July and to my knowledge our travel agent will be printing everything we will need. We are in a JS, which is not on one of the "preferred" staterooms. I trust that the travel agent know what she is doing and will get the tags in advance.

I agree that standing at the drop off zone and filling out luggage tags will be a real hassle and slow the boarding process. I am especially concerned because we will be flying to San Juan to board our cruise. RCL is really messing with people (especially experienced cruisers) with these type of things and the recent gratuity increases. Looks like a long time RCL cruiser maybe looking for a new cruise line to support in the future...

Folks, these are all great info about RCI to Celebrity. My wife and I are looking at booking a cruise on the Equinox in October to go into the Med. We are Diamond C&A members in RCI. I fully understand the conversion to Elite in X. One comment had me confused... Someone mentioned a drink package on Equinox. What does this include?

We really enjoyed the Diamond Concierge lounge on our last RCI cruise (New England last October). If I had realized all of the flowing booze that we were going to get, I would have not spent the money on the wine package (5 bottles over 7 nites)! Is there something similar to the Diamond Lounge on the Equinox?

One more thing... what stateroom is equivalent to the Junior Suites?

Thanks

Ed