2SailingNomads

$4K A night better be in the highest, well not on Regent, suite. We are doing a land vacation in a few weeks in Hawaii part of it staying in one of the best hotels in the area with an ocean view room. Add in rental car, $500 per day for F&B and nowhere near $4K. FWIW I don't know how with all the new ships (hello Seabourn where are yours on the book? Oh we don't have any unlike Silversea Explora and even Crystal) these prices will be supported. Some friends got a 70 or so day Seabourn cruise on the Pursuit for under $400 per day for 2. And that itinerary rocks, if it didn't coincide with other plans we would have joined them.

It's everyone's hard earned money to decide how they wish to part with it. On a cruise we prefer to contribute to the various crew funds - all the lines we have sailed on, Seabourn, Scenic, Regent, Ponant, and old Crystal have one. When we go out to a bar or restaurant here we usually leave 20-25% sometimes much more unless service was terrible. We are fortunate that we can do so and appreciate the folks serving us who are not in the same situation as we are and are grateful for how far we have come from humble beginnings.

Obviously there are many opinions and I have expressed mine on multiple threads, (as per Seabourn tips "ARE not expected"). We contribute to the crew fund to help everyone enjoy a special event and sometimes take some crew we have bonded with out for lunch. We have seen multiple times the last day some pax making a show of giving cash to a bartender or wait staff person. This thread is most likely not going to change anyone's behavior regarding tipping.

Word to the wise DFW is, as a close to 2 million miler, an airport to be avoided if possible unless you enjoy unexpected unplanned overnights. I avoid at all costs based on multiple terrible experiences. YMMV

One thing that puzzles me is, and this had been true on Regent, Seabourn, Ponant and our one Crystal why food is at best warm. At many good local restaurants it is served HOT. Burn your tongue hot. And please don't tell me the head waiter has to inspect it, our food is delivered as ordered hot or if an issue we get the waiters attention.

Ok but...the OP inquired about what time the Regent provided bus leaves not independent transportation.

Oe go on Explora where no pax serves themselves. Worked perfectly fine for us. You tell them what you want they serve you. Downside is it costs them more having people at those stations.

Looks like an amazing trip Julie! Ed

Not the same as 15 years ago. We saw people seated in jeans on NY eve when we went to Antarctica in '18. Personally I find that disrespectful to those of us you abide by the rules, but is just me.

My mistake jumped boards and obviously forgot which one I was on... 😞

Contact Seabourn and request it 4 or more weeks in advance. You might be happily surprised. Or not...

It is now June, no Seabourn or any other ship from any cruise line has just been in Antarctica, (we went to Antarctica on the Quest in 2017 in December). By early March all ships are going elsewhere. Take it with a grain of salt what you hear...

Absolutely true about the profit MSC mafe, again PROFIT. Division per day of the year = they can sail empty and don't care...

The grass is greener where you choose to water it!

What is his preferred brand?

Included not expected. As others and I say all time if you feel inclined donate to the crew fund as it provides benefits to those who you see take care of you and those you don't, pastry chef, tender crew, person picking up your luggage the night you disembark, engine room crew, etc.

No!

When for 31 years SLC was my airport I only flew on AA twice, once a total disaster to Manaus - luckily we as usual planned to arrive 2 days before the cruise started as the cluster that occurred in DFW resulted in a disaster in MIA. I have flown over 2 million miles (have the DL status for 1+ of them) and that experience was in the top 2 of absolute worst. Now living where LAS is my airport AA has unless going to Europe when I am on KLM biz class and loving it, the best options. (Caveat if going to Hawaii as we do often than HA, nonstop). Recently AA biz class has delivered a decent product IMO.

Interesting solution but when my wife gets up 2 hours before I want to that just allows her to put light in the bedroom and more noise although she is "very quiet" according to her....🤣

Ya excursions beyond being very expensive and you can do better on your own with a private tour often are illogical. And why do wine tasting tours start at 9 a.m.? How about 11 a.m. with the hour plus bus ride to taste wines. Poor planning IMO

If we didn't have booked other plans long before the sailing was announced we would have done it. Odyssey was our 2nd cruise Sydney to LA and the ship we have the most days on and lots of fond memories from our times onboard. I am sure it will be a special cruise

I think there is a way to opt out if you log in. We get snail mail from Seabourn and Regent every other day but we have sailed on them.. never sailed on Atlas but some how we get snail mail from them 4 times a week and one of us gets daily emails from them. Plus I get emails from Scenic which we have sailed with and have 2 river cruises booked every single day. Ponant is not bad and I want to go back on Le Commandant but Vantage that I never heard if emails me almost every day.

We had my business partner and his son on in LA. Submit the the form with in the US license info, came in at the crew entrance for some reason as I was waiting for them at the pax entrance. But easy.

I agree that there is not much benefit from Regent loyalty. IMO Seabourn, of all the lines I have sailed on, has the best. 7 day cruise after 140 paid days or 14 day after 250 days. Heck I got free transfers from my house to/from the airport after 25 or so days on Scenic.

Part of the problem IMO is too.many ships in this space. Look at the new ships SS and Regent have added over the last 3-6 or so years. Explora Journeys has 1 sailing, another under construction and 4 more planned. Regent announced a new build, and Crystal now promises new ships. Lots of new expedition ships already out competing in the luxury market. You also have the smaller Scenic - ocean Scenic as they have a large river presence which we have a couple booked for later in the year - Atlas, Ritz Carlton, and in the future 4 Seasons brands.