Dolebludger

I’ve read the Regent dress code many times, and I apparently missed out on any mention of shoes. Quote?

Sounds like things are going backwards! We were on the Splendor in mid-August this year in Europe (pre Starlink) and had no problems with email, forums, and financial info sites. We had only the included WiFi. But to be fair, this cruise did not involve going way out in the ocean. The ship was always near the coast.

We have always purchased travel insurance on cruises and other trips. We fortunately have never needed to make a claim due to a cruise foul up. But we had travel insurance through use on our American Express Platinum card for a simple domestic trip involving flights from Durango CO to Boston MA with a connection in Denver.  Due to an airline problem in Durango, we missed our connection in Denver to Boston. The airline couldn’t get us a replacement flight for this for three days! But the airline agreed to refund all our fares paid to them, and fly us back to Durango the next morning for free. This trip wasn’t necessary, so that was fine, except for the $300 we paid for one night at the airport hotel. The travel insurance that came with this AnEx card paid the $300. I have never heard of any travel insurance that wouldn’t cover the out of pocket expenses incurred by the OP. 

I understand that Regent FINALLY provided transfers to Whittier for those already in Seward — after initially denying responsibility for this. I have heard no comprehensive explanation of these events. Now, as to scheduled ports to visit (between embarkation and disembarkation) the T&Cs give Regent freedom to change or even miss those with no responsibility to the guests. Understandable and usually done due to bad weather or political unrest at or near those ports. But that was not the issue here

Yes, I cannot count the number of PG cruises we’ve had since 2002. It was Radisson (now Regent) back then. Our last PG cruise, the owner was Beachcomber in 2014, and it was great. Now, I am concerned about going on ANY cruise — even PG. it seems that, though fares are through the roof, inclusions are being reduced. And air travel to get to the cruise has increasingly become unreliable. And as a result of that travel insurance rates are also through the roof. On our first PG cruise in 2002, the fare for a window suite (?) was about $2500 pp, which included air from Oklahoma City and back. Of course, the air was what used to be “coach class”, but that was before the airlines reduced seat size and leg room (and changed the name to economy), forcing those of us who don’t want 12 hours in misery to book business. now the cruise fare for the same suite would be a little over twice that (Inflation justifiable), but no air — which would quadrupole the price. And further inclusion reductions make it a deal breaker.

And our cruises all went to Riatea, where some excursion is a necessity. The PG alwaways stopped there on a Sunday, and we disembarked right by a modern shopping center which was closed on Sundays. How stupid can people be? You have 300 well to do people literally at your front door, and you are CLOSED?  We took a river tour there several times through the ship and enjoyed it. But I doubt that we can justify another PG cruise in the future, given the TOTAL cost of the cruise fare plus business class air and considering all reduction in perks.

Well, I still don’t know if a pair of socks counts as one item or two. And I don’t know why the PG reduced the benefit that was rather limited before the reduction. Are there self service laundries on the PG? I don’t know as the last time we took the PG a decade ago, airlines had a luggage allowance of two checked bags pp., and one could find porters in the airports. No more. So without some form of laundry availability, we are done with the PG.

Sure, many things are now universal, thar shouldn’t be.

Well, you see, I remember when cruise lines allowed guests to bring wine, alcohol and beer onboard from embarkation and other ports. And some even sold it onboard at lower prices than on land. Such drinks (along with soda) were considered a “guest service” and not a “profit point”. On the “Love Boat” (a ‘70s TV show that may have started popularity if cruising) cocktails and wine by the glass were $.50 and soda was $.10! Now cruising has become too much of a rip-off for me. Sorry.

I started cruising before there was such a thing as email. We booked with a TA or directly and got our boarding docs in the mail! We got written instructions as to boarding time and procedure in the mail! And we could even bring beer and liquor onboard, or buy it from an onboard store at reduced prices! While I’ve never had a problem of the magnitude of the OP’s, I have probably taken my last cruise. One reason is all this emailing mess, along with unreliable flights, and other factors. 
 

If I were the OP, the first move would be to contact the TA involved — if it were not an X employee. If so, it would be an insurance claim. When one’s trip is interrupted, it is understandable not to have all receipts and other documentary proof, so just itemize your losses in the claim. If you are asked for documentation, just do what you can. 

For our Splendor/London cruise last August we booked a concierge suite. We got a call from our TA asking if we would like to update to Penthouse. I can’t recall the price. In this case, we weren’t much interested as this was a very port intensive cruise and we had found concierge just fine in this ship in a prior cruise. I remember in the “good old days” cruise lines would give upgrades at no charge when available to regular guests like us. But, as mentioned above, cruise lines have massed a huge amount of debt at huge interest rates (they were rated as junk bonds), so I understand this program. But no guest should ever book accommodations not suited to the person’s wants/needs and count on this “move up” program.

I believe that Regent’s T&Cs provide that if the embarkation or final disembarkation port is changed, Regent has the obligation to provide transportation to the new port. I don’t think there are any exceptions for those who booked air on their own or deviated with Regent.

Yes, this whole story makes me want to re-think my future travel plans. In my mind. If I  had a contract with Regent to a certain port, and if that port were changed for any reason, I think that Regent has a duty to get us to that port. If Regent feels otherwise, I need a new cruise line — or maybe just stay home??!!

Actually, we don't want to book a return flight before noon or after. We all know that flights can be, and often are delayed, but ships sometimes are too. 

1 hour ago, Port Power said:

I still do not understand why men carry their wallets around on a ship? You cannot use cash and don’t need anything else from a wallet.  Key card is it!

 

But your post about being friendly with crew members and relating to any other person is spot on.

 I never carry a wallet onboard. You are right. There is no reason to do it, and it creates a bulge in the pocket. My slacks that were accidentally sent to laundry with wallet were last worn on an exhausting shore excursion, after which I went to bed with the wallet still in them, and put them out for laundry without removing the wallet by my mistake. 

Yeah, there seems to be confusion (on my part also) as to what to call airline seat classifications above economy and economy +. When we took our Splendor cruise embarking and ending in Southampton UK last month we had what was called United business class Denver to London and back. But it had those full lay down seats. But our business class flights we have recently taken Denver to Boston and back on United have seating more like that in the “coach class”of 40 or so years ago. So I am confused about the definition of BC and FC. All I know is that the Navigator/Caribbean ad I received gave the up charge only for economy air, made no mention of FC, and stated that BC was “N/A”. 

We just received an ad from Regent featuring the Navigator’s Caribbean itineraries for next season. Prices were given for the cruises and for economy class add on. But under the heading of first class “N/A” was stated for every cruise — supposedly meaning “not available”. Does this mean that Regent isn’t booking FC (or BC or whatever it’s called), or that Regent can’t give a fixed price for it, or what? 

16 hours ago, RichYak said:

On MSC in Europe, at almost every port, some passengers are ending their cruise and disembarking and new passengers are embarking. Like a bus with bus stops. 

Thanks to you and others who responded. That sounds like it could be a mess.

mnpurple, please explain. Does MSC not allow guests in Europe to simply leave the ship in port and return with their ID? And what is “ferry style”?

The Retreat, YC, and all accommodations like that may not be “necessary” for all. But they sure do provide variety. We have cruised in all sorts of accommodations, from large, crowded mass market (RCCL, NCL, etc.) up to small ship lux lines (Regent, Silverseas, etc.), and have also cruised in the Retreat and YC. For us, the lines and crowds in the mass market large ships become overwhelming from day one. Some people (not us) find lux ships boring. In the Retreat, guests receive an experience very much like a lux cruise — not quite the same but close. And if a guest gets bored with that and wants the lively activities on a large ship, they are just a short walk away. So it is all about increased choices in activities. 
 

Can’t say much about fares and affordability because they have become highly volatile in recent times. But I would guess that some degree of up-charge for the retreat could be money well spent for anybody who has veered tired of the hubbub of main ship areas on a large ship.

In the past decade, most of our cruises have been either Regent or X Retreat. In the pre pandemic past we really liked the Retreat deal because it allowed us to get a CC or RS without breaking the bank. We did find more vip treatment on Regent and actually preferred the entertainment on it over X. Perhaps it was because the theater was never crowded with plenty of seating choices. But then the Retreat was substantially less expensive than Regent and thus a pretty good deal at times. But not any more. I can’t speak to relationship in fares since July 1. Then Regent stopped including air in its fares and its fares have been moving around, up and down. All I can say for sure is that Regent still includes unlimited valet  laundry, mini bar in suite, and some shore excursions in the fare.

And BC from the States to UK or Europe has gone way up too. And economy class on those long flights is painful. We may well have had our last trip over the pond.

I and others have believed that Regent was exiting the business of providing air with the cruises because airlines are hard to deal with.  Then today I get a Regent ad in the mail stating FREE FIRST CLASS AIR on select Caribbean, Canada, and New England voyages! For one thing, I think it means BUSINESS CLASS, as I don’t think FC exists on those routes. And even before July 1 Regent didn’t include BC air on those itineraries. No specific cruise itineraries, dates, or prices were stated. Again, I had believed that Regent was wanting out of the air business (I don’t blame it. It’s a mess). But now two months after the exit, it is jumping back in???

You are right. I did not intend to imply that multi connections and unsuitable layovers were Regent’s fault. They are the airlines’ fault. Because of this, our cruising is now limited to one connection (in addition to that at our available hubs) and no economy flights over one hour at a price we can afford. Anything more just wears us out.

Right, I have never seen this behavior, and certainly have never done it.

1 hour ago, irishwitchy said:

In that case,  I hope to meet you on a cruise, because you don’t seem so jolly on this site, sometimes. lol.  😉

Well, if Regent or any other entity comes up with something I don’t like, I am not silent about it. But Regent’s service crew have never done any such thing. In fact, we would like to take some of them home with us to do some well paid work for us. This thread is about people who treat others in a lower economic status (real or presumed) like they are inferior. I don’t do that! I used to have a much lower economic status and remember.