Uncle D

Thank you for such an informative post.  You obviously made the wrong choice.  I’m very surprised any seasoned traveler would ever book an international flight with a 45 minute layover, especially this time of year.

Thanks for sharing so others do not make the same mistake you did.  

Good luck sorting through your travel issues.  Once onboard, hopefully you have smooth sailing and good champagne to assuage your angst.

Wes,

I am really enjoying your posts and pictures.  Congratulations on becoming Platinum on this cruise.  I  liked the recognition you received in the RSSC magazine.  Contrary to what someone posted on the other site:

“I'm not much of a fan of the publication but it is good to see Regent trying to make their guests happy (although personal articles are not my thing ....... unless you are Commodore or Diamond and are real Regent dedicated cruisers which, this case, they were not).”

It looks to me like Ida and you are very real and dedicated cruisers.  We are also Platinum and hope to meet up with you on a future voyage.  Fortunately, we are seeing fewer rude, insensitive posts like this on the new cc site.  

Snuggarelli,

You asked for feedback from those who have sailed both lines. We have sailed both lines and enjoy both. We concur with the previous posters who actually post from their own personal experiences.

Another interesting difference between Regent and Crystal can be seen on their respective cruise critic boards. On the Regent board you often hear from those who cannot resist telling others what suite they are in, how to dress, whether to tip, how often they dine with officers, their free cruises, etc. It is quite different on the Crystal board. In reality, onboard both cruise lines we have encountered extremely courteous passengers and superb service.

Please do not judge Regent or Crystal based upon opinions from experts who have never sailed with them. Some things just cannot be put into words. They have to be experienced.

Best of luck to you. You cannot go wrong with either one.

Wes - although the photo is blurry, was able to recognize the Captain that got on the Mariner after we departed in Miami. He is the one that went back to hand shaking on the Mariner after Captain Serena kept the ship healthy and clean and you know the result of that ill--conceived decision.

Such a shameful, arrogant, and disparaging post accusing this Captain (I will not use his name for fear of further harming his reputation) of not looking after his passengers well-being and not keeping Mariner “healthy and clean”.

Over the past 15 months, based upon reports here, Mariner has been in Code Red more than the other 3 Regent ships combined with and without this Captain.

We have been on many cruises with hand shaking by officers without seeing any proven direct connection that the Captain’s decision to shake hands caused illness...smh.

“I learned to keep my mouth shut and have humility as a child.“

Could not agree more. Some just cannot resist letting everyone know when they are given free cruises and getting upgraded for free in top suites 20% of the time.

Sometimes it is not about money staying in top suites. Some are fortunate to receive suite upgrades. Same holds true with free cruises.

Regent is smart filling top suites and extending free cruises to people they know will inform others about their positive experience.

Why was the poll closed? Only one person had an objection. Seems to me if someone objects they do not have to participate or post within the thread.

Marc, Thank you for the poll.

Don't you all think it is nice that there are differences between the cruise lines?

 

is it really necessary that they all be the same?

 

I am happy they are not.

 

Why? Because we are not the same.

 

We all choose to cruise for different reasons and what one enjoys the most might not be what the other one enjoys.

 

My hope is that each luxury line will have their own identity. Yes, change with the times but not be clones of one another.

 

One other item this thread reminds me of is that things do change on all cruise lines. If you haven't sailed on one of them in awhile you may not realize that it has changed. It doesn't matter whether you have sailed them five or fifty times if not for several years things likely have changed. I know because we sailed Silversea in 2009 and saw changes in 2016. Same goes for other lines that we have sailed. Most have changed so while the memories of how it was when one sailed them as nice it likely is different today than it was back then. Could be better. Could be worse. All depends on your own perspective.

 

Also sometimes some of the changes are made slowly so as not to ruffle the existing base of loyal cruisers and that includes the evening attire. Actually the most formal of the lines that we have sailed is not even a luxury line.

 

Keith

What a refreshing post. Practical, honest perspective without the condescending tone often found on this board. Thank you for sharing your actual travel experiences in a positive way.

We have enjoyed many wonderful cruises on Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea, suite class on Celebrity and others. Regent remains our favorite, but we continue to cruise with different lines and enjoy the differences. We are very lucky to have this opportunity.

It makes me question what incentives the most vocal cheerleaders receive for blindly promoting only one cruise line. Surely it’s more than free laundry! We already have that perk.

So, when is the best time to take photos of this offensive, in your face, suites boarding line? Is it from the same offensive, in your face, suites boarding line as you board first or when you are waiting in line with the other “first class” passengers?

Believe it or not, even nags are welcomed on Crystal. That is, those who are open-minded enough to explore.

We are lucky to be able to decide our own journey that best suits our style.

Thankfully, I tried Explorer and I love it!

As this thread relates, I would like to post a copy of a relevant part of an email that I sent to Regent on my return home from a cruise on the Mariner in early September 2017.

 

"We are quite dismayed to learn that you had become ill during yourcruise and certainly hope that you are enjoying good health at this time. As we are sure you can appreciate, viruses or bacteriological infections can becontracted at any time, not only on cruise ships, but also as we go about ourdaily lives at home and at work. A cruise ship is like a large family,and when one member contracts an infection of any kind it can spreadrapidly. While Regent Seven Seas Cruises maintains rigorous standards ofsanitation and hygiene in compliance with U.S. and international regulations,unfortunately, we cannot totally prevent the possibility that passengers orcrew members may become exposed to an infectious agent during theirtravels.

At least 4 consecutive Mariner cruises on code red. Crew, who knew?

Again, to anyone currently onboard, is the ship still code red?

“To be honest, I have no idea why this thread was started since there is another active "Code Red" related thread”. tc2

I started the thread to ask current travelers on Mariner if the ship is currently on code red. It is a simple question for anyone now onboard. I do not see an active thread dedicated to this topic.

Mariner has been on code red on every cruise since 9/8 and even on cruises dating back to January.

So the conclusion is:

“It seems that most cases of illness happen on Mariner when she is in South America - specifically when people board in Lima.” TC2 post #11

Makes sense... I guess we now have our answer.

To anyone currently on Mariner,

Is the ship still in code red?

Is the Mariner under code red now?

Is Mariner under code red today?

“I will be paying particular attention to people that are sick in the airports, plane, hotel and ship when we sail next month.”

Brilliant! Also, remember to put on your mask as you board Mariner. Many crew members have been onboard for months.

“Regent is doing a good/great job of managing illnesses onboard their ships”.

Absolutely, only the last four cruises have been code red.

“At least part of the last four cruises have been code red.” TC2 post #24

Sometimes the obvious answer escapes the only one who tries hardest to defend Regent. Maybe because she has the most to gain? Thankfully, someone watches the computer room while the crew bar is open.

The only constant in all of the code reds (how many?), are the crew. They stay on board for months, passengers stay on for weeks. Go figure...

I haven't been tracking this, but it appears that code red issues seem to be a very big issue for the Mariner not the other ships. That points in my opinion to the crew or lacking of cleaning, not the passengers. Thoughts?

You think???

Sean Connery-

"Alex, I'll take the category Tipping A Broad for $200".

"Depending upon the butler, the level of service and what requests we have made, we have tipped the butler."

TC2- 4/1/2015

You posted:

Earlier in the cruise, we asked twice to see if we could get into Prime 7 and were met with an icy "..I have nothing." So, I stopped asking, and found it to be no loss... The Prime 7 meal was very good, but not dramatically different from a dinner in the MDR.

Maybe you should have named your thread FOOD on Navigator...

Looks like the OP in the other Food thread on this board ate in specialty restaurants on multiple occasions with F&B Manager, GM and other senior officers.

Sorry it did not work out for you. Especially since there is no class system on Regent and everyone is treated equally.

We also find tipping works to get into Prime 7 or Signatures. Just a suggestion for those of you who do not get preferential treatment of multiple invitations to dine with GM, Captain and/or F & B manager in your suite or in a specialty restaurant.

TC2- "If people only tipped for extraordinary service..."

Totally agree. Like you, we tip our butler for extraordinary service.