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Rachel, I have so enjoyed all your posts!

Oh gosh, I hesitated to even post to this thread, it's been beaten to the ground.

I'm a long time cruiser in Regent, approaching 500 days, since my first sailing on Navigator in 2000 and btw, love my perks. However, I've cruised other lines in between several times, and never had a bad cruise. In the end, you form your own experience.....I've read boards for so many years, I guess you can see how long I've been here.

I've never had a bad cruise, ever. While I love Regent, I cruise other lines as well from time to time, based on circumstances, if you are with with Grandchildren and family, go with Disney, or Princess is my experience, since both have kids clubs.

I had one cruise on Azamara and loved it! I was with a lot of friends aboard, but none of them were smokers. In that one little area where smoking is allowed, this line provided me with the best time I had the whole cruise! Funny, the more time you spend with fellow cruisers, the more you get to really know them, and oh my, those guys who service the bar service on that particular deck were the best ever!

I don't often post, but am loving yours, I took this cruise many years ago, as I remember we had an overnight in Luxor, perhaps by choice. So appreciate your constant updates, forgap!

Suite Travels, what in the world does your response have to do with this thread? Have you EVER been on Crystal in bad weather during Chinese New Year, or on any cruise where things possibly went awry? I am currently on the Voyager, by the way. It is mostly about disappointments for missed ports because of weather. Okay, I'm not a bridge player,and long ago adjusted to no dance hosts on this line.

I do not want to get into a discussion about this - everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion - but I do need to say that I have known and sailed with Jamie for more than 10 years as well as a number of other CDs. I have found him to be excellent in his job - organized, creative, nice to travel etc.

I have also enjoyed many of the other CDs, both on Regent and the other lines I've sailed on. Each has his/her own good point and not-so-good points. But most if not all, do a good job.

Peggy, I'm with you on this. I don't count on the CD or any other senior officer to make or break my cruise. To me, what they can do is enhance what is otherwise always great, Actually, I have liked all of them over my years with Regent since 2000, and 35 plus cruises. I will never reach the number of nights you have! My youngest daughter, who's 33, loves Jamie!

I do not want to get into a discussion about this - everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion - but I do need to say that I have known and sailed with Jamie for more than 10 years as well as a number of other CDs. I have found him to be excellent in his job - organized, creative, nice to travel etc.

I have also enjoyed many of the other CDs, both on Regent and the other lines I've sailed on. Each has his/her own good point and not-so-good points. But most if not all, do a good job.

Peggy, I'm with you on this. I don't count on the CD or any other senior officer to make or break my cruise. To me, what they can do is enhance what is otherwise always great, Actually, I have liked all of them over my years with Regent since 2000, and 35 plus cruises. I will never reach the number of nights you have! My youngest daughter, who's 33, loves Jamie!

Wow, Davefr, you are sure busy for the next year! Good travels to you!

I was with Regent this past winter and fall, two thirty day cruises. In January/February we had a cruise with many Wonderful Brits in the South Pacific/French Polynesia ....sad that so many were unable to get most of the excursions they wanted. I fell rather certain that the local operators are connected to all the cruise lines that visit more often. They did not book until October.

In the total scheme of things in other areas of the world, feel the consolidation with NCL will give the combined lines a bit more clout in the future with local operators. Just hope, and expect, that Mr Delrio will continue the standards we expect with Regent for those prices all the way around.

I'm lucky and as a Titanium, get preference in booking earlier, as do many with far fewer nights. My daughter, who also has preference (Silver and granfathered) could have done so, and didn't book. She was almost closed out as well because she didn't, knew that, but ended up having a great time because they are young....and just got off, rented bikes or got on a local thing snorkeling or whatever (at a price) in a couple of ports. They still had a great time, lol, they not old enough to be cranky!

Gilly, I am excited to see your posts. Early next year, I will do Singapore to Hong Kong for 33 days

OctoberKat, I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed your comments. While this whole thread was going on, I was on a couple of 30 day cruises, one on the Mariner, the other on the Voyager, and of course, I enjoyed them both. I've also been on the Navigator, it was my intro to Raddison/Regent in 2000. for my first, and I loved it. 452 nights later, I'm still happy.

Glad to hear you are exploring others, as a new cruiser, outside of Regent, and will be interested to hear more from you!

I've only cruised on Silversea, Princess, and Disney (grandkids deserve a great cruise). Once on Carnival, so long ago I don't remember. I love them all. Trying out Azamara in a couple of weeks.

Looking forward to hearing of your future adventures! Side note, you write so well~

I think Regent already tried Asian fusion and it didn't work? So, on the ships, they now have a steak house, a french restaurant, and in La Veranda, an Italian (most of the time) menu? Not sure how many restaurants there will be on Explorer, however.

delete

My brother sent me this link tonight for some pictures he found on the web:

http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/cruises/2015/01/12/first-look-at-the-most-luxurious-cruise-ship-ever/21623065/

forgive me if this link was already posted.

I am so surprised that there is no Horizon's Lounge on the stern deck. Probably my biggest disappointment of all. I spend a lot of time outside there on my cruises. Someday, I'll just have to get on the ship and see for myself. Unfortunately, it won't be next summer. And here I am where I could sign up for the inaugural without a hitch. I love Regent, just have too much booked with family in other ways to be able to do it!

CC won't allow me to edit my previous post. There is also a great Italian restaurant up the side street from the Marriott hotel at the harbour. My friends and I have visited it 3 times now on previous visits. Not sure it is even there now. At one time, it was number #1 on Trip Advisor for Italian.

I was on a cruise on one of my trips, visiting Sydney first time, and signed up for this bridge climb excursion maybe 10 years ago, but it never happened for lack of interest from other Regent/Radisson passengers, and it was cancelled. No wonder, with the demographics of Regent cruisers.

I was in Sydney years later at the Park Hyatt, with a "room with a view" of the bridge and watched them climbing. You are tethered to the others, and it is steep, and way high over the bridge. I decided at the later date(I am 68 now) not for me! I really enjoyed the Harbor cruise ferry the first time instad, with a visit to the Zoo, and also took a ferry to another beach on my third time there. Sorry, I can't remember the name, may have started with an M. Take some time to just walk around the Harbour and enjoy all the street performers. I also did a wonderful beach walk from Bondi Beach to Tamarama or something like that, and took a cab back to the ship. FUN! And a walk through the Rocks is fun. And a walk through their beautiful park a bit north. That may have been a favorite for my first visit. At the time, the skyline interested me with the tops of the buildings, and I saw a wedding, and so many beautiful trees and flower gardens. I could visit this city yearly and have a good time.

I just received an e mail from Regent telling me that the tentative date for Explorer's maiden voyage is 20 July 2016 and the itinerary looks like Monte Carlo to Venice. Reservations are expected to open 19 January 2015...

 

Sounds like a perfect itinerary, especially for us (!) as we can drive to and from the ship.:)

Where did you see this??

lol, here I sit on NYE with Anderson Cooper and Kathy on CNN, enjoying being just where I am and so glad to be out of the cold!

This is not the sort of discussion that lends itself to subjective experience (e.g., i see your two "merger" experiences and raise you nine). Keep in mind, one's personal experience may depend on which side of the acquisition one was employed. IBM just doesn't get acquired. It does not depend on the company. It depends on which firm acquires and which firm is acquired.

 

These are not mergers at all regardless of how they are positioned and reported. There are two parties, and one winner and one loser when comes to which execs are calling the shots.

Octobercat, your posts always interest me. My niece works for the law firm in NYC that represents Apollo. In mergers and acquisitions, no less, and is in London now with that same firm, in same area, I assume. I didn't have the nerve to ask her one question about this at our Christmas dinner! She surely didn't need that. While I have had previous careers in both the hospitality industry and law, Merges and Acquisitions is just way beyond my pay scale, sorta' like Patent Law.

I'm just happy to be able to cruise on Regent, and will have a wait and see attitude for what is ahead. Having just returned from a 30 day cruise on the Voyager, right before the holiday, I was pleased that things seemed to be steaming along as in the past. I get on in mid-January for a back to back on the Mariner for 26 days from Sydney. We'll see if any subtle changes are apparent on the ship, but I surely don't expect any.

Note: I have never had breakfast, lunch, or dinner with Frank Del Rio. But I admire and respect him very much (once I realized that Mark Conroy would be leaving) and that they were able to bring Regent along to a profitable situation since being acquired by Apollo, if it had to be sold.

Well, I just got off the Voyager for 30 days, almost a fully booked cruise, and my room stewards were most attentive. I have posted here before that I am happy if my cabin gets done at a reasonable time after I hang that "service, please" sign. Perfect this one was, every single day. And on many days, I had out my privacy sign, as I was sick the last third of the cruise.

I board the Mariner mid-January for a cruise from Sydney all the way to Papeete for 26 nights, and hope things will be up to snuff as usual.

1982cruisestart, I am enjoying your commentary along the way, even though I am onboard! It has surely been a fun journey so far, lots of sights, sounds and smells in our ports in India, and has been mentioned, lots of bureaucracy that is certainly frustrating to the ship's officers concerned with moving us along with excursions, etc. with utmost efficiency. A real challenge when the staff is all ready to go, and are met sometimes with delays at getting pax off the ship.

Mumbai...oh the traffic. I skipped my Goa highlights tour the next becuse of it. Lazy me. The highlight of our stops in this country for me was Cochin. A friend in my group of travelers hired a real houseboat for the day to take is along the Kerala backwaters, and it went even beyond my expectations. Lovely scenery, we had a crew that could not have been more accommodating. The chef onboard cooked an Indian meal of lamb curry, shrimp, several vegetable dishes, with fresh pineapple for dessert. It was served in the dining room, and the boat also had two bedrooms. The open "bow" had comfortable couches and chairs, just lovely. The captain even let us take the wheel for photo ops when we were in a quieter area with less traffic.

In Male, Maldives the next day, I took the walking tour. It was hot, and again, crazy traffic. And we had a mosque visit and had to be fully covered head to toe, at least the women did.

This place is definitely a land trip sort of place for divers, beautiful little islands everywhere We left around noon today, and had a wonderful performance on the pool deck from a singer from Wales who will be leaving us shortly. As hot as it was out there, the passengers loved it and he did an encore, We Are the World. Very impressive. Have to stop now because my battery is dying on my IPad

I have to chime in here to agree that indeed the dune safari was a hoot! I have done this once before from Dubai, and this was right up there for having some great dips! A mild "adventure excursion" and you never even leave your seat. The rest room stop before returning to the ship was well, better for the guys than the gals, three stalls, 2 were squatters, and just one western toilet. I worked my way almost to the front before leaving the line as it wasn't that far back to the ship. But, remember in this part of the world, always bring your own paper!

Everything else going well for me all the way around. Wine glass always tended to so far in the dining rooms. But tonight in CC Lounge had to go over to VL to ask for a waiter. He was there in seconds.

I too am onboard, and so far, everything is ship-shape as always. I got that little glass of bubbly, and after check-in went to quickly, see why there is no need for more, it just goes wasted. The only thing new for me was the new conversion of the Park West gallery into another retail shop, and the space opposite having given a second entrance into the gift shop that was already there. Davor told me this was all done while the ship was moving. It is a great improvement!

Onboard, there are over 200 Gold, platinum and Titaniums, and over 600 previous Regent cruisers.

Did a city tour yesterday in Abu Dhabi, this is the emirate with the great majority of oil beneath it, and even with that, there is so much green development going on, solar panels everywhere. Lots and lots of irrigated trees everywhere. Our guide (from Sri lanka) with 30 years experience says that Abu dhabi has "much more oxygen" than Dubai.

There were stadiums and parks, medical facilities everywhere, very family centered to provide the residents with a good life. Obviously not the same as the imported laborers from India and elsewhere that I saw along the way, and keeping the grounds at the sights we visited.

Today is Fujairah, and I'll be taking a dune buggy safari in less than an hour.

DeepFreeze63, sounds like the ship is is great shape for those of us who board after you leave!

Thanks so much for your continued reports.

oh, darn that Davor is leaving! Please deepfreeze, who is the replacement if you can! I LOVE Ray's puppet shows.

We were on the October 12-22 Navigator cruise from NYC to Montreal, and generally had a wonderful time this itinerary is positively enchanting--Newport, Rhode Island with its Great Gatsby mansions, Boston and the Freedom Trail and USS Constitution, Bar Harbor and the gorgeous Acadia forest (and boiled lobster lunch!), Halifax and the Titanic museum and cemetery, Sydney and the Louisbourg Fortress with reenactors a la Williamsburg but better, Saguenay and its cheese curds factory, Quebec City and Montmorency Falls, St. Anne's Cathedral, Chateau Frontenac

 

Navigator sailed like a dream; I believe they've enhanced the stabilizers since our last cruise on her. Yes, there were extraordinary numbers of exceedingly elderly and infirm people, too many of whom sadly did not appear to be enjoying themselves--but no indication that this was Regent's fault.

Service was indeed a bit harried in Compass Rose. We went to Prime 7 and enjoyed it, as usual. Perhaps bad orders led to disappointment by other posters?

 

Anyway, our experience was pretty much night and day with the one that began this thread...

fortunately, my own experience on this cruise mirrors yours, (I THINK I have edited your post somewhat) but my cruise was a few years ago albeit wonderful, on the same ship.

I am sorry some others are not finding the same, but I respond to you because you have been on this board as long as me, many years ago

Jane cambridge, I don't get the chance to pre-order liquor in the cabin, I just do it onboard with my cabin stewardess, and have it at the end of the night.

I do appreciate all the other comments. Oh my, weather makes such a difference, as well as the difficulties you have with mates who may have some special needs.

 

First of all, it is quite obvious that either corporate or management must be following the previous thread because many of the problems that I reported on previously have now either been corrected or improved, esp with regard to service on the pool deck. Not sure where they were hiding before, but now there are plenty of servers (at least when we have been up there). We also try to go during non-busy hours.

 

 

It is the little touches that differentiate Regent from other cruise lines. When we returned from our excursion the other day, it was quite hot and it was such a nice gesture to return to the ship and have cold wash clothes waiting for us. In addition, since we missed lunch and it was after 4:00pm by the time we returned, there were sandwiches waiting for us in our suite.

 

From the crew members I have spoken to, they seem to be quite excited to hopefully go on shore during our San Diego stop. They will be unable to do so in Los Angeles since that is the end of one cruise and the start of another. Many of my friends refer to me as the "shopping sherpa" and I have been trying to help them out by printing out maps, discount coupons and finding places to shop - the top requests seem to be gifts for children and their mothers. Hopefully it will be a nice holiday season for many of the crew, even if they all can't get to be home with their families.

 

gnomie :)

Going to focus on the positive, Gnomie, I'm highlighting the plus parts of your long post, as it seems to be getting a bit better. I do read everything, all the rest you write, thoroughly. Has the balance tipped since you got on? What I want to know, will you cruise Regent again?

I am so glad you are helping the crew with discount shopping coupons, etc! I just know they appreciate it very much! So nice of you.

I agree with all said above! While I NEVER would suggest it on the bus, I sometimes wish people who even hold the rest of up from getting back to the shipped should be hissed!

Times that has happened to me with latecomers, many seem to just think it is funny, (they were only shopping) while everyone else is steaming. However, other times they get on frazzled and stressed because they have gotten lost in some of those towns with winding streets.

I often wonder how many times Regent has left an excursion passenger "at the dock" so to speak.