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.

4 hours ago, NanJ0508 said:

I listened to a YouTube video this morning by Tips For Travelers and he reminded cruise passengers to pay attention to the cruise line's required time to embark, not the time of the ship's departure. The cruise line has the right to refuse your embarking if you arrive after the required time and you can lose your entire vacation payment. 

 

 

 

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.

On 6/3/2024 at 5:02 AM, chamima said:

 

I thought the same thing . 🤣

 

 

Will do.

Thanks!

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...

12 hours ago, RlyLvn said:

I am just glancing through these posts. 
 

There are a lot of opinions. 
 

Just want to say I am sailing on Explora I as we speak. 
Here are some of the comments I am hearing:

1) “This is the nicest and most beautiful ship we have ever been on”. This person just got back from Seabourn in Antarctica. 
2) “This is our third cruise on Explora and we have another one booked”

3) “We are sold and there is no going back to Silversea, no comparison”

4) “The food is the best ever”

5) “Educating TA’s seems to be working. My TA advised me of the ship. We booked it and WOW!  We booked a second. 
6) “The outdoor public areas are just out of this world”

 

I could go on and on. All positive!

 

We are loving every minute. 

Cheers!

 

 

 

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...

On 6/1/2024 at 5:07 AM, Dr. Cocktail said:

 

Explora II had a delayed delivery announced months ago but I don't recall any new setbacks. If you could provide a recent source, that would be appreciated.

 

Fincantieri has had many late deliveries recently, the most  recent being that of Sun Princess which cancelled its inaugural sailing literally days before departure. Even after sailing, it left without all facilities and entertainment options complete.

 

As for sailing empty, I would be more concerned if I was A and K. The Crystal ships are also sailing with a less than ideal number of revenue generating passengers. My agent tells me that she is constantly inundated with offers from them.  She is part of a luxury conglomerate and she said that their failure has still left a bad taste in many of the agents who had to deal with the aftermath of their collapse.

 

MSC made a staggering 38 Billion USD in profits in 2022 (you can look this up - it's a fact). They're in it for the long haul.  They truly make RCI, Carnival Corp and NCLHI look like poor cousins.

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

7 hours ago, Pcardad said:

I think many would but the issue is that the grass isn't greener elsewhere.

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.

On 5/23/2024 at 1:12 PM, GOARMY said:

Whistling balcony doors; slamming closet doors; reopened interior doors between common area and bedroom in PH Suites resulting in--more slamming nighttime noises.  

 

Yes to all three on Explorer back in 2017 when on a series of inaugural cruises.  Engineers were a common sight in hallways vising Suites and making quick fixes.  Ours included.  Whatever they did solved, more or less, the balcony door issue while allowing us to utilize that area.

 

When last on Explorer in late 2023--no issues with closet door.  That jam worked.  Silence at night as to sliding balcony door. Nary a whistle heard even in windy, rough weather. Granted, our PH was centered, and lower.

 

Reference 2Sailing nomads Post #5:  Still had to confront the interior door issue. "Solution" was keeping doors open at night and placing a heavy chair in the track.  Restricted further slamming.  

 

When at sea:  Ship happens.  

 

GOARMY!

 

 

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.