Just got off voyager

[cruiseluv]

Wow - really shocked by this thread.

 

I just got off the Paul Gauguin where I had the cruise of a lifetime - best food, service -- best everything imaginable. Absolute perfection in every way. Planning to return.

 

SO - since the PG once sailed under the Regent banner -- I thought I'd start looking seriously into Regent - thinking I might get some of the same experience (except not in paradise).

 

Guess I will have to keep reading these boards to see how things really are.

 

Pacheco, I just came off Mariner where we had a 99.99% flawless cruise and we have booked another Regent cruise for next year.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I think I'll be like you -- and just keep going back on the PG. LOL

 

I agree, but the things that have pulled us away from the PG are the long flights, the cost of entry, limited vacation time, and all the other great places there are in the world to see.

 

That's me talking while my case of Polynesian flu is still in remission. Just wait 'til it flares up. If I was rich, I'd be there for sure, every year.

[Dreps]

We love the PG also and have spent 24 days on her, and it was our first Regent (then Radisson) experience. Apparently, the new owners have maintained the very high standards that we encountered. Last week, I saw the article, "Paul Gauguin Scores Highest Guest Survey Ranking in 14-Year History" on Cruise News.

 

That said, we have also spent 70+ days on the Mariner and Voyager, mostly the former. We have been extremely happy on them. I don't think that one can quite compare the personal service on a 300-person ship with the 700-person ships. I think that's one of the reasons that Seabourn is often touted on this dimension (though we haven't sailed on SB). The cabins on the Mariner and Voyager are hard to beat. We have also had, in general, superb food. And we've been very happy with the new, included excursions. Again, I think it's difficult to compare the type of excursions one experiences in French Polynesia with the wide variety of excursions that Regent provides all over the world. There are few places that we've seen anywhere that can compare with the physical beauty of French Polynesia, but that is a very particular type of vacation.

[pacheco18]

I agree, but the things that have pulled us away from the PG are the long flights, the cost of entry, limited vacation time, and all the other great places there are in the world to see.

 

That's me talking while my case of Polynesian flu is still in remission. Just wait 'til it flares up. If I was rich, I'd be there for sure, every year.

 

For us, the flight to FP is shorter than the flight to Europe and we are fortunate to have almost unlimited vacation time (I am self-employed and husband is retired).

 

I don't think you are really in remission, Wendy. LOL

[pacheco18]

Again, I think it's difficult to compare the type of excursions one experiences in French Polynesia

 

The negative posts here about the busloads on excursions is really what turns me off. A big incentive to cruise Regent is free excursions - but not that kind of excursion. We always book private excursions (even did so on the PG where groups are small) because we like to tour with 6 - 8 people max.

 

I will keep an open mind and keep reading reviews. I have gotten wonderful information from CC.

[cruiseluv]

The negative posts here about the busloads on excursions is really what turns me off. A big incentive to cruise Regent is free excursions - but not that kind of excursion. We always book private excursions (even did so on the PG where groups are small) because we like to tour with 6 - 8 people max.

 

I will keep an open mind and keep reading reviews. I have gotten wonderful information from CC.

 

In that case, unless you are willing to forego the free excursions and do your own thing, you should probably not go with Regent. If full buses are a turn off you will be very unhappy. In most of our tours the buses were full or close to full. Not surprising the one that was less full(maybe about 30 people) was one of the excursions you have to pay a supplement.

 

Editing to add that for us that was not an issue. For the most part the excursions were very well organized , with excellent guides.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Pacheco I've always used the PG excursions, have never booked a private one because I figure for the most part they are the same operators (I know, Raiatea is an exception probably.)

 

But these are excursions that you get right from the little dock, and all the local excursions are small operators. The most people I've been with on a PG excursion is perhaps 15 people and that size is very rare.

 

On other itineraries, buses are the norm. Yes, Regent is tending to fill them up more than they used to and I don't like that. But so far it hasn't caused me to stop cruising with them. There are other factors that might do that. I also hope that Regent will get its act together in that regard and start treating us better on excursions, like they used to.

 

Yes, I do prefer private excursions, and when it's possible I will do this, but love the convenience of not having to do all the work. And yes, we are paying for an excursion this December in Guatemala with the hope that it will be a smaller group (it was last time, about 12 people.)

[cruiseluv]

On other itineraries, buses are the norm. Yes, Regent is tending to fill them up more than they used to and I don't like that. But so far it hasn't caused me to stop cruising with them. There are other factors that might do that. I also hope that Regent will get its act together in that regard and start treating us better on excursions, like they used to.

 

 

What mistreatment happened in your excursions?

[Travelcat2]

I agree Wendy. The excursions have been very "mass market" lately (although the guides and tours themselves have, for the most part, been good). For us, getting from the theater to the too-full buses was memorable (in a negative way). Tickets with the time we need to be outside of the ship to board the bus would make it a bit easier.

[pacheco18]

Wendy -

 

Bruno and Patrick are not available through the PG - and they are likely the best two of all. I did one PG excursion - severely lacking IMO.

 

Hupuna Safari on Bora Bora was $50 less pp than PG- same company -- same tour -- fewer people on our Landrover. Another couple had the same experience with a boat excursion. They saved around 60 pp. Dr. Poole is much less expensive if booked privately - several passengers booked him during a pre or post cruise land stay. These private tours saved us a lot of money and it took only an email to book. The research is half the fun!

 

Larger group tours sponsored by the ships often take you to places where there is a "kickback" for purchases. What happens when 15 or 20 passengers go to a particular pearl farm or shop every time the ship is in? Also with a larger group, there is less opportunity to get to know the guide - which often gives you great insights into the culture.

 

I'm not a cruise snob - you can see I'm off on a Celebrity Cruise shortly (after the PG I don't know . . ) and I have booked all private tours in small groups. We all have different issues that are important to us. Some want all inclusive, others want no kids, others want no formal nights. I want small group excursions with private guides so I can go where I want at my own pace, no lines, no crowds. What I am hearing about Regent's tours is disappointing since I would be "paying" for those excursions anyway. To sail Regent and pay for private excursions does not seem to make sense financially to me.

 

I think I will wait to see how things develop. I am booked up until Jan 2012 and plan to go back on the PG in 2012. Maybe you will be on board!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

What mistreatment happened in your excursions?

 

Okay. I guess I should have said mistreatment by Regent in managing us and the excursions, but it's actually been both:

 

- a catamaran trip in Barbados where they packed about 40 of us into a little local bus, no room at all, in fact some had to sit in jump seats down the centre isle. Very cramped as well. This was after sitting around outside the port for a while awaiting somebody to show us where to go.

 

- same catamaran trip--the boat was then packed, nowhere to sit, many sat out on the trampoline, which was okay, but no way it should have been that crowded (a previous catamaran trip in USVI had about 15 on a slightly smaller boat.) The captain was also a real jerk, ordering people around and yelling at us. He tried to get people drunk and get us dancing, obviously used to a younger party crowd--I do not go on a catamaran trip for a party, I go to see the beautiful scenery and the wildlife (in this case, sea turtles.)

 

- Salvador in Brazil--it seemed that all bus excursions left at the same time. Our excursion was free, and there were about 6 or 8 busloads of us, all in the constellation lounge at once, waiting for bus tickets. Then all the buses left one right after another, and so we ended up tripping over each at the sites. There was another paid excursion that only had about 2 busloads, and they also bumped into us in various buildings. The tour itself was fine.

 

These are the examples since excursions became included in the price.

 

We'll see this December--Two of the excursions we're taking we took in 2007, so we can compare. One was a "concierge selection" and is now a paid one, so I also can compare the quality and size of that.

[cruiseluv]

That was pretty bad. We had nothing like that. The worse experience was with a tour guide in Tunisia who was pretty blatant about steering us to his "preferred vendors" and keeping tab of our purchases so he could collect his kickbacks later.

 

Actually, I was very happy with the place they used for lunch for the free excursion at the Amalfi coast. Thought we would get some inland place with no views. It was a lovely restaurant with a beautiful view and very good food.

 

All the excursions we took (except as noted above)were very well organized and professionally conducted. WE weren't bothered by having to meet in the show lounge. The wait to go on your tour was minimal.

[hondorner]

Last January, we found the wait in the theater for ticket numbers to be called to be very social, running into many of the folks we had met previously, and having great conversations in the comfortable seats in an air-conditioned environment, rather than standing around outside in the heat waiting for laggards.

 

Our only complaint was that the cruise staff escorted us out of the theater through the port side of the Stars Lounge, where the residual odor of cigarette smoke was extremely annoying.

[Emdee]

I too enjoyed the wait in the theatre pre excursion. Had a lot of nice conversations and met a number of people.

 

Met on the dock in Alaska. Excursion groups were somewhat small except for sawyer glacier and the train but we didnt really feel like we were herded too much. With the long line ups in airports etc maybe we are used to being herded.

 

I also love private excursions and always arrange them in land travel. Didnt find any of the excursions really bad except the one to Rome. That was a zoo partly because Rome was chock a block with tourists everywhere.

[pacheco18]

Maybe I should try a Transatlantic for my first Regent experience -- shore excursions not really that much of an issue!

 

Some time in 2012 . . .

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Maybe I should try a Transatlantic for my first Regent experience -- shore excursions not really that much of an issue!

 

Some time in 2012 . . .

 

Yeh, but that's 'cause you're going on the PG next year! Lucky you. Or you could consider Oceania--excursions there are not included, and there are active roll-calls where pax share private excursion arrangements.

[pacheco18]

LOL - not next year - 2012 - after the refurbish - maybe the 14 day - you PG addicts are correct - nothing like it. The new friends I met on board have all decided on a reunion and I am sure I will get some of my friends to come along too -

 

I love O and I do only private excursions there too. I have them all set for Asia and even for the few stops on the TA next November - that TA roll call is ridiculously large and active. PG has its fanatics and so does the Marina.

 

 

Sorry - but a bus with 20+ tourists on a tour with a guide holding up a sign or umbrella is just something I cannot do. We all have our "issues."

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Well the PG is on our "maybe" list for 2012 as well, but we'll see.

 

I understand about the tour guides. I don't like it either: at some point we'll try Oceania.

[pacheco18]

Well the PG is on our "maybe" list for 2012 as well, but we'll see.

 

 

And I really do hope to meet you on the PG some day.

[alexandra cruiser]

do they break it into smaller groups with local guides at sites??Will be my first experience with "free excursions" and have signed up for some,,,usually go on own or private,,,but feel these ports are not too conducive ,,,ie..Guatamala,Belize,etc...to do on own....esp,,since hubby is doing his "own thing" in each,,,and I ll be on own....

We just got off SeaDream in Adriatic,,,toured each town on own,,,but seemed safer,,,much to see right from port,,,not so much on this one,,more far from town,,,but hated small rooms with no balcony or window that opens....great food and service...

Have been on Oceania,,,and had to wait for buses,tenders,etc...but not TOO bad for the few we went on,,but was S.America,,,and ports easy to manage with taxi,,,etc...but were together on these....have only been on O Insignia,,but room have only showers.,little closet space, and limited room service,esp.for breafast....same passenger size as Regent,,,but cabins seem bigger and more perks with R,,,but we ll see,,,first time in Nov..

[cruiseluv]

In the included excursions we just did with Regent they did not break the bus loads into smaller groups. We all went with the same guide.

 

Yes, same amt of pax as O Insignia, however, Insignia is around 30,000 tons ship whereas Mariner/ Voyager is around 48,000 tons.

[tallship]

Things I do not like about the way excursions are handled -

 

- Waiting in line in the theater to get your bus ticket (sometimes up to 30 min)

-Waiting in theater for your number to be called (another 15-30 min)

-Waiting yet again (esp if tendering) in another line to get off the ship

-Returning back to the ship more than 30 min-1.5 hours later than the stated return time causing us to miss excursions scheduled for the afternoon

 

Yes, you may meet nice people in the theater to talk with but not a great way to start the day on a "luxury" cruise

[alexandra cruiser]

an hour before trip will begin,,,if 8am tour,,,do I have to line up at 7,,,if so,,may just find private and pay...sounds like too much hurrying up and waiting...seems like a better way,,anyone ever complain ???maybe they ll change it somehow...

 

Then a full bus load wandering around...wow...sounds confusing....even last river cruise broke groups up....not AS bad....

 

:eek:

[hoosier74]

We also experienced some waiting, but it wasn't this bad. It may indeed be a result of the included excursions as the waiting we experienced was mostly due to passengers who wanted to change at the last minute or disappeared somewhere between getting the numbers in the theater and getting on the bus. I think that passengers were probably more inclined to make changes or decide not to go without telling anyone if they hadn't had a separate charge for the excursion. The most populated excursion we went on wasn't a 'free' one and actually was $149 each. I think there must have been over 200 on that one (we all had lunch together). Many buses of course.

[Travelcat2]

Maybe I should try a Transatlantic for my first Regent experience -- shore excursions not really that much of an issue!

 

Some time in 2012 . . .

 

There are two great Transatlantic crossings in November, 2011. One stops in some good ports prior to the 6 or so sea days.

 

In terms of excursions, I agree with all of the less than positive comments. We do enjoy talking to other passengers -- however, we do not need to be stuck in the theater to do so. In terms of breaking up the groups, it depends upon the excursion. When we went on rafts in Alaska this summer, the groups were broken down into sizes that could be accommodated on the rafts.

 

As I have mentioned before, the absolute best I have seen Regent handle an excursion was in Nimibia last November. Approximately 400 passengers on the Voyager were attending a dinner under the stars (in the desert). Our tickets indicated when we could board the bus (we did not have to wait for the bus -- they were waiting for us). The bus departure schedules were timed very well. The venue had no difficulty accommodating the entire group. Buses stayed there, so, small groups could return early if they so desired. Wish that all excursions could be handled this well!