Dolebludger

Well, if there are only two category H suites available to booking guests on the Mariner and Navigator, Regent’s advertised lowest price to book a cruise is rather misleading, given the fact that about four times that number of Category H suites were available for booking in the pre-pandemic past. So apparently Regent’s advertised lowest “deluxe suite” price for cruises on those ships is really an “upscale” tactic? And I never encountered a “guest jeweler or boutique clothing designer” on Regent pre-pandemic. They would be onboard only to try to sell me something. One of the reasons we have liked Regent is no sales pitches.

I read from another post that all but two category H suites in Mariner and Navigator have been reclassified as crew cabins. Does anybody know the reason for this? Is it because of Covid, or another reason?

You should also note that the Concierge suites on the Mariner are the same as all from category H tthroug Concierge. The main benefit in going Concierge is the pre cruise hotel stay included. And many find these suites (Including Concierge) to be a bit small.

It is impossible to find the best cruise “bang for the buck” these days, unless you know the overall quality of the line in the class of rooms you would like, and what you want included (or not) in the fare. It has never been a better time to have a TA who is working for YOU! Celebrity’s fare structure is confusing, according to what I have read here. We have had two great Celebrity cruises in suites, that included everything like open bar all over the ship, WiFi, priority boarding and disembarking, vallet laundry, etc. but now I read that this does not apply to a suite guarantee, and that there are other exclusions depending on the class of suite. And we realize that some want the lowest cost, even though it doesn’t include much. In our younger days, we took many cruises like that. The only thing I can figure out on this board is that if you book “cruise only” all you get is a cabin, meals in the MDR and buffet, and nothing else. Dependent on the choice of accommodations chosen on X, This can be quite affordable. But going upmarket from that, we are confused. Because of the ever changing Covid problems, we are not ready to book just yet. When we are, I’ll just call out TA and tell him where and what we want included. We will let him advise us as to which line and which ship we should book to get us what we want at the best price. The whole thing has become too confusing for me!

Domestic first class is far from great, rather it Is like coach used to be in most respects. But some of us don’t like basic economy at all — often for medical reasons. IMHO nobody who books on Regent. Wants to be relegated to the cattle car known as basic economy. Problem may be that domestic airlines fail to devote enough cabin spade to domestic first to accommodate demand,

The times we cruised on X pre-pandemic, I do not recall any port shopping lectures. Or perhaps they had them, and we just ignored them. We know that such presentations are given from personnel of the stores and not employees or independent contractors of X. \these are like going to an “infomercial. We wouldn’t miss them, and wouldn’t go if they were given.

We once upgraded to Concierge on the Mariner for $1000 or so. But we did so because my wife had back surgery between booking and sail date, and it was the only way we could avoid that shower/tub combo, which she would have been unable to navigate. We did not get the pre cruise benefits, and the suite was identical to all the lower level suites. But for the medical problem, it would not have been worth it.

I think there have been instances where somebody who was extremely drunk or doped fell overboard, but that is rare.

It is basically a good idea for a cruise line to offer choices in accomodations and inclusions. I just hope that this new approach doesn't result in confusion like the always included vs. cruise only did.

I am aware that Viking offers included drinks at lunch and dinner and from mini-bars in the suites. But is there a drink package that includes drinks in the lounges at other times?