UUNetBill

@forevertravel - we, like many others, always look at the price per person, per night. As we usually take shorter cruises (12-15 nights, usually) the per diem is a bit higher. We just usually have a mental "$1,000 pp/night" figure in our heads for most itineraries. But a lot of these seem to already be creeping up to the $1,200+ range, and that's before Jason's announced 'substantial price increases on Oct 1' hit. We had to postpone our scheduled Jan '23 cruise due to work commitments, but honestly, I'm less disappointed than I thought I'd be. Maybe it's the price hikes, maybe it's the damn uncertainty about EVERYTHING these days, maybe it's the fact that travel just sucks more than it did 3 years ago, I don't know...but for the first time in as long as I can remember, we only have one cruise on the books, almost 17 months out - and I'm okay with that. I think when the Covid protocols settle down and things have gotten to a relatively normal state, we'll be good...but until then, I'm thinking I'm good with a few weeks at a resort or on an island somewhere. My customary 'itching to take a cruise' thing is much more mild than it used to be...

True. Ya got yer Jägerschnitzel, yer Rahmschnitzel, yer Zigeunerschnitzel, yer Champignonschnitzel...all kinds of schnitzels. But the Weinerschnitzel should be ohne Soße (at least in Austria...the Germans are a bit less fussy about that...)

Updated, thanks!

Be advised, some OBC can be contributed, but most can't.

We took a cruise last January, still with vax and testing requirements and masks for all on board...and it was still a nice break. Slightly different feel than usual but that's to be expected. We had a 16 night cruise booked this coming January and unfortunately had to cancel due to work requirements. We were looking for something later in the spring but most of what was available seemed to be noticeably more expensive than the one we dropped...and now I hear Jason spoke about big fare increases in October. I really don't feel comfortable with this decision, and coupling that with the higher costs, well, let's just say that our 2024 cruise is still reserved and I hope things settle by then. I'm really starting to worry that Regent will price themselves out of our comfort zone. I sure hope it's a temporary thing, but I haven't seen any prices come *down* on anything for a long, long time.

Just wanted to say thanks for taking us along with you on your cruise - loved the photos and writeups! Sorry about your fracture - I, too, did the doofus one year in Valletta and fractured several bones in my hand. Same thing - ice it, immobilize it, don't stress it...but still a pain. Hope you heal up fine. And Regent's Weinerschnitzel? Hit and miss, but after being in Germany, nothing will quite measure up for a while. 🙂

I always took it as 'Free' means it doesn't cost me anything whereas 'Included' was more 'it's part of the price if you care to partake'. Kind of like if I see a Regent ship at the port and just wander over to join one of the excursions, it'd be like "Why can't I tag along? It's free..." 🙂 And just to clarify, I didn't mean to sound pedantic, I was just hopping onto the long-running discussions of 'free' vs. 'included'. Like you said, it doesn't really matter - we're paying $XXX for the product regardless of what's 'free' or 'included'. I'm gonna be on the boat either way.

I like to savor the splendor of Explorer and explore the experience of Splendor. What could possibly be any grande(u)r than that?!? 🤣

Scott, that's about the only time I'll wear a jacket - either a chilly restaurant or sometimes I'll wear one to a specialty restaurant just because...but usually I'm rockin' the Tommy Bahama vibe.

To me, removing the Connoisseur Club from Navigator was a poor choice. I don't smoke cigars that often, but I definitely enjoy one most nights while on a cruise. Usually good drinks, great company, lively discussions, what's not to like? I'd really like to see them find some space to build a new CC on Navigator somewhere...I really found that we got fewer snooty looks in the CC than we get on the pool deck. A man can dream, right? Jason, are you listening? 😛

Hey, my ex-wife did that, too! Huh...might be part of the reason we're 'exes' now...

Good point - there was a much higher percentage of jackets and sport coats on our Baltic cruises than there were on Caribbean or Mediterranean sailings...

I usually wear lightweight slacks and a polo/TB shirt and I'm fine. You'll see some jackets, maybe a few ties, a occasional suit or a rare tux (usually on longer sailings, I think). Not sure I'd consider that 'elegant' really, but elegant casual? Maybe...leans more 'casual' than 'elegant' IMO, but that's good by me. I bet if you looked through YouTube you could find some non-marketing videos from actual Regent cruisers that would give you an idea of how people really dress on board.

Shame they didn't send the 'push through the slot' type - I liked those a lot better...

Eh, two out of three ain't bad. Signed, Bill, USAF Ret. PS - my daughter is a Navy nurse - couldn't get her to see the light, either. 🙂

It doesn't make a difference to me, actually, but those two words are NOT interchangeable. They're very different words, actually. And none of the marketing classes I ever took would tell you "It's just a word" - in fact, there are entire books written on how to choose just the precise word to convey your meaning. Just sayin'...

Scout16, I think you're right - in fact, the only outlet in the bathroom is a low wattage shaver outlet. I think some people may take extension cords to use hair dryers in the bathroom but most just use the outlet at the vanity. NOTE - if you DO take an extension cord, please make sure it's UL listed and rated for the wattage of the appliance you're using...

But were they 'free' martinis, or were they 'included'?

Nope, not yet.

Yep, that's been a sore spot for quite a few people for quite a few years. I find that it cheapens the brand somewhat - I much prefer the 'included' item list that Flossie posted over the 'free' list that Wendy put up. But apparently it works for Regent as they're still doing it, and I'm sure they're aware of the criticism the folks here on CC have been throwing at them all these years. I've kind of learned to just ignore it.

For us, the F2 is the sweet spot in cabins on Explorer and Splendor (and the upcoming Grandeur as well). Great layout, plenty of space, not much more $$ than a G1. We're looking at a cruise next spring that only has G cabins available and we're probably going to pass on it if we can't get into an F or above. There really is a noticeable difference, IMO.

I'll admit to having tossed some OBC at ol' Louis on a previous cruise. And I'd do it again.

It's gonna take a lot more than that, doc... 😂

Okay, now that's funny. I guess my reputation precedes me. I sure hope the photo you provided wasn't my 'brother, can you spare a dime' pic that's been floating around cyberland...

FWIW, we had a cruise once booked out of Barcelona, I can't remember the exact itinerary, but just a few months before departure it was drastically changed - VERY drastically changed - took out Istanbul and a few other ports we wanted to visit/revisit and they routed us to Israel and Malta. We were initially disappointed but decided to accept the revised itinerary and wouldn't you know it...it turned out to be one of our best cruises ever. Ever since then we've been a little less concerned with itinerary changes - as you said, it's good to just be traveling again! Have a great cruise!!