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Not exactly in the case if this closed loop Caribbean cruise.

Regent is a different experience. It is not just the money. You get a less crowded ship in terms of space. Passenger to crew ratio is better. Service is better. Main dining room food and service is much better. Entertainment is a little better. The new less than one day included laundry service is over the top fantastic. Included tours are a plus or minus depending on your view. First class air travel is included for international routes. Cruise directors on Regent do not yak yak multiple times a day reading that days activity program in a Carnivalesque manner on the PA system. (Yes, that really bugs me 🙄) In Oceania's favor: Waves grill is far superior in menu choice and service speed and quality to equivalent on Regent. Crew served instead of self serve in the buffet area is a plus for those who value that distinction. Spa areas in front of ship for a fee or included for Concierge and above does not exist on Regent. Gym area is open and spacious near forward area of ship on Oceania vs low ceiling smaller area in back of ship on Regent. Specialty restaurants on Oceania are equal to or superior to Regent, depending on the restaurant. Option for wonderful evening buffet with grilled steak/lobster/lamb chops does not exist on Regent. They turn their buffet into an evening only Italian specialty restaurant which is so so IMHO. I am sure others can come up with other differences, but a fair comparison depends on what you value in addition to a cost comparison.

That is a valid point. I just booked a cruise in 2025 which ends 6 months and 12 days before my passport expires. Wondering if I need to renew before that cruise as a protection against the unexpected.

As I noted, information on which countries are a "no no" on closed loop cruises do not seem to be listed in a consolidated location, as far as I know.

IME Time is 12:01 a.m. Eastern (Miami) time in the U.S. on date reservations open. So it is 5:01a.m. For UK residents.

Problem is that most all countries in the Caribbean are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that allow closed looped US cruises without passports. These cruise line exceptions are often not listed on websites of those governments. One can usually find them on tourist websites. In the case of Grenada the cruise exception is listed on the Sandals Grenada website as well as a few travel agencies. Not worth the energy to do a more exhaustive search unless one is extremely curious or is trying to challenge Oceania's rules, which seems quite risky.

I looked at the itinerary for the Dec. 4 Oceania cruise out of Miami. None of the countries have a six month beyond leaving their country rule. If it were a more lenient cruise line, a U.S.citizen could make the trip with just a driver license and a birth certificate or just an enhanced drivers license which a few states like my own issue. Seems like the question is how firm Oceania will be about enforcing their own 6 month rule.

Pretty sure you can call Regent and ask. Give them the excursion you are interested in and they can look it up. If you are satisfied with availability then book the cruise and with your booking number you can likely book within minutes to assure your space on the tours you want.

You are right, but for good or for bad it does give an indication of attitude which may prevail on the cruise and therefore a new cruiser's potential comfort level on the ship.I also found the anecdote pretty funny so thought I would share.

On a recent cruise (not Oceania or Viking) I had a nice conversation with a college geology professor who was giving lectures on that cruise. He told me that he lectures on several cruise lines, but that Viking Ocean is his favorite, due to the higher level of engagement he gets from the guests. He mentioned that Viking has a saying among its crew that their cruise line is for "thinkers rather than drinkers."😆

It must depend on the cruise, then. I apologize for correcting you. I guess I am fortunate that mine are available 15 months out.

That is inaccurate. Mexico certainly does do it just as the U.S. does.

No, it is easier than that. For any Regent cruise, use the "Find a Cruise" tool. Click on the cruise you are interested in and scroll down just a little. There is a place where it says "click here" for all excursions for that cruise. It offers you a link to have the PDF listing all of that cruise's excursions emailed to you. The email with pdf attached arrives instantly. I am several months ahead of my one year booking window for my next Regent cruise and I just ordered and received the PDF last night. I have done it also for cruises which I am just considering way into the future.

Fairmont Waterfront is the Fairmont directly across the street. Fairmont Pacific Rim is across the street and down 1½ blocks and is a little bit more upscale than the Fairmont Waterfront.

Just looked up the drive on Google maps. At least a 30 minute drive during the day non rush hour.

I am curious about that also. Just came off of another cruise line with similar itineraries. Went from Pacific time (LA and Ensenada)to Mountain time (Cabo and Mazatlan) to Central time(Puerto Vallarta) and back again to Pacific time when we disembarked LA.

So bottom line is that if you are under age 75, there are zero pre-existing condition exclusions to be concerned about. For those over 75, how broadly the pre-existing condition definition is interpreted may be a concern. In our experience several years ago, the travel medicine team at the University of Pittsburgh was active in medically related decision making and were very professional.

Are you purchasing in the age 75 plus diamond category where a physician letter is required, or is this pre existing condition restriction you are encountering applicable to under age 75 purchases for which no medical form is required?

In all the years AQ class and BLU have existed, Celebrity has shown a designated early dining time on my reservation when in AQ class even though BLU has a no reservation first come first served policy.. So folks new to dining in BLU were often confused. If in 10+ years Celebrity has not straightened out this issue for BLU diners on all if their ships, I doubt they will clarify this issue which currently affects just one ship anytime soon.

We had a need for Medjet about 7 years ago and they really came through. Originally bought it expecting that, if we did need it, it would happen in some distant part of the world, as we cruise a fair amount of time. However, our need and appreciation for it occurred in a less exotic situation. Wife was visiting grandchildren in New York area. At the time we lived in Maryland. An otherwise healthy person, she suddenly developed a serious life threatening infection. Spent nearly a month on IVs in a hospital. When she became a little better and was okay to transfer, Medjet did the job, transfering her from a private jet airport on Long Island to the Washington DC area. She fully recovered and the whole scary event is a distant memory. Was told that if we had to pay for the jet transfer, it would have cost nearly $20,000. We will hit the age soon where Diamond coverage will be our only option, but will almost certainly keep our coverage. Happy to answer any further questions. Ed

RCCL and Celebrity lounges serve alchohol and are large more elaborate hangout places. Oceania Concierge and Executive lounges are maybe 4 times as large as a regular balcony cabin, do not have a bar, do not have any windows. Small room to get a cup of coffee and rolls or light snacks. Not even in the same universe as main stream cruise line lounges. Suggest you at least look at a deck plan and you will understand.

You do go to Anarctica but only sail by the northernmost islands with no landing.

Their capacity is so limited it would be quite problematic to open them up to any guests beyond those in concierge or PH cabins.

LOL...only one S Class ship has been through Revolution...the Silhouette. Equinox had very partial one...that's it. We have no idea if or when other S class ships or 3 not yet Revolutionized M class ships will be updated. I was on Eclipse to Alaska in July and the condition of the furnishings was an embarrassment. Carpeting in some public areas including the gym reeked of mildew. Such a shame. I realize that the Revolution project is expensive and the corporation lost money during the pandemic, but would be nice to at least have a firm schedule for when these needed updates will occur.

Enjoy your cruise! BTW Waves grill and Terrace Cafe are Oceania dining locations. On Regent it's La Veranda and the Pool Grill. 😄