Confused / Disappointed

[Suite Travels]

Confused by your post because the Navigator and Voyager have the largest suites on Regent (Mariner has the smallest). I checked out the suite sizes on Crystal's current ships and they are quite tiny compared to Regent. In fact, unless I misread the information, the Crystal suite (which is large enough) does not even have a second bathroom!

 

Suite Travels: I do not disagree with you but, as I've said, we did not sail Crystal due to the suite size, cost of upper suites and the not exactly open seating. Agree that the new builds will be a game changer.

 

I cannot speak for ChatKat but the posts she has made about Regent have not been positive in the last couple of years. On the other hand, comments regarding Oceania were quite positive. We have sailed both cruise lines and "like" Oceania but definitely prefer Regent. Different strokes for different folks:)

 

One small correction the CP Crystal Penthouse does have a half bath on the Symphony and two baths on the Serenity.

[Travelcat2]

Was the bus holding 70 passenengers a double decker bus? I thought coach style buses had a maximum of 56 passengers.?

 

I suppose that buses in Africa are different!? I checked the maximum passenger sign on the bus because it seemed like a million people were there -- it held 80 people. It wasn't double decker but had very squishy seats (3 on one side - 2 on the other).

 

Suite Travels: Thanks for the correction -- I could not tell from the description that I read:-)

[OctoberKat]

I thought fixed seating was a deal breaker for years. But regardless, on board experience exceeds all my expectations and all inclusive except excursions. Small cabin equal to a Navigator cabin. Entertainment and programming spectacular.

 

Thanks, ChatKat, for new option to consider.

Edited January 2, 2016 by OctoberKat

[Travelcat2]

Thanks, ChatKat, for new option to consider.

 

Not sure what the "new option" is based on ChatKat's post:confused: Assume you mean sailing on Crystal which is certainly an option however, they do not yet have open seating (except by reservation). This should change when the new ships debut.

[Pamela1]

Was the bus holding 70 passenengers a double decker bus? I thought coach style buses had a maximum of 56 passengers.?

 

 

Oh well, in someone's world it's always correct! :rolleyes:

Thanks, ChatKat, for new option to consider.

 

Indeed! :D

[ChatKat in Ca.]

Confused by your post because the Navigator and Voyager have the largest suites on Regent (Mariner has the smallest). I checked out the suite sizes on Crystal's current ships and they are quite tiny compared to Regent. In fact, unless I misread the information, the Crystal suite (which is large enough) does not even have a second bathroom!

 

I cannot speak for ChatKat but the posts she has made about Regent have not been positive in the last couple of years. On the other hand, comments regarding Oceania were quite positive. We have sailed both cruise lines and "like" Oceania but definitely prefer Regent. Different strokes for different folks:)

 

Jackie, seems you are always confused by my posts but they're pretty clear to me. Don't read between the lines. After my last Oceania Cruise this year - which was ok - and since PCH sold out to NCL - there was a marked difference in the onboard experience from our prior O cruise. Not saying we would not cruise O or R Again but - the experience has steadily declined in my opinion for what's important to us. Good food, quality amenities in the cabin, close to all inclusive - without price gouging. Don't need cruiseline excursions since we're pretty independent and prefer the private option without the price gouging that has come into being on O and R. In Marseille on Regent we did a Food and Wine Trails excursion including lunch and it as $250 per person and a nearly full bus. That was over and above having "included excursions". As far as cabins we rarely take a suite - we are comfortable in the smaller cabins on Crystal and the Concierge on Oceania. On Navigator, we have sailed with and without a balcony. The Crystal cabins are so well organized we were very happy with the C3 cabin we chose for our last cruise.

Edited January 2, 2016 by ChatKat in Ca.

[Travelcat2]

Jackie, seems you are always confused by my posts but they're pretty clear to me. Don't read between the lines. After my last Oceania Cruise this year - which was ok - and since PCH sold out to NCL - there was a marked difference in the onboard experience from our prior O cruise. Not saying we would not cruise O or R Again but - the experience has steadily declined in my opinion for what's important to us. Good food, quality amenities in the cabin, close to all inclusive - without price gouging. Don't need cruiseline excursions since we're pretty independent and prefer the private option without the price gouging that has come into being on O and R. In Marseille on Regent we did a Food and Wine Trails excursion including lunch and it as $250 per person and a nearly full bus. That was over and above having "included excursions". As far as cabins we rarely take a suite - we are comfortable in the smaller cabins on Crystal and the Concierge on Oceania. On Navigator, we have sailed with and without a balcony. The Crystal cabins are so well organized we were very happy with the C3 cabin we chose for our last cruise.

 

Not reading between the lines but do appreciate your explanation. What confused me was not your post but someone else's in response to yours. Looking back at what you posted, you indicated that you thought that "set seating was a deal breaker". Since nothing has changed regarding set seating and/or open seating by reservation, what changed your mind? This subject is of interest to many people but I fear that we are going even further off topic. Would enjoy discussing this on a comparison of Crystal and Regent thread (or Crystal and Oceania on the Oceania thread).

Edited January 2, 2016 by Travelcat2

[IndiTravler]

I think it is missing the forest for the tree to say any high end cruise line sends out full buses; if you have only experienced one or two. DH and I have never experienced a full bus in 10+ years of cruising. I am sure it happens, but so far not to us.

An example of when a cruise line tour is more than worth it. We were in Indonesia and had approximately an hour's drive to our destination. Regent had arranged for a police escort to take us down the middle of the road to avoid what would have been at least an hour more sitting in traffic. A private tour can not equal that. I know traffic can be a real problem as on the same cruise we spent at least 3 hrs fighting Chinese New Year traffic going from Saigon to the Mekong delta and return.

ChatKat, Every time 50 on a bus? I doubt it.

 

I'll confirm. Every bus we were on on our last cruise in Africa was packed. We've crunched the number and the experience. We're going to sail them again but probably really focus on private and small group tours. I do busses full of people on Princess when I'm paying less and have lower expectations.

Edited January 2, 2016 by IndiTravler
Typo

[ChatKat in Ca.]

What I found fabulous about fixed dining were servers who got to know your preference. And thought ahead to have your choices ready for you. Be it beverages, dressing on the side, Wine style. Even without asking our server presented us with the menus for the two weeks we were on board. Little things that matter

[Travelcat2]

What I found fabulous about fixed dining were servers who got to know your preference. And thought ahead to have your choices ready for you. Be it beverages, dressing on the side, Wine style. Even without asking our server presented us with the menus for the two weeks we were on board. Little things that matter

 

Thank you. That is the kind of service we get on Regent by sitting in the same server's area each night. The difference is that we can dine with the same server whether we want a table for 2, 4 or 6. Our sommelier has our wine waiting for us each evening - even if we dine in P7, Signatures or Sette Mari. Good to hear that you had a good experience on Crystal.

[ChatKat in Ca.]

Thank you. That is the kind of service we get on Regent by sitting in the same server's area each night. The difference is that we can dine with the same server whether we want a table for 2, 4 or 6. Our sommelier has our wine waiting for us each evening - even if we dine in P7, Signatures or Sette Mari. Good to hear that you had a good experience on Crystal.

 

Even at the Gold level it was often not possible to have the same servers every night on Regent. Because there is no set time and if you wander in at your convenience - for us often at 8 pm - not possible.

 

Another benefit - with Crystal - we did finish dining by the time the late seating show started and we never missed a show we wanted to see

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Gee Kathy, I knew you enjoyed your Crystal cruise, but didn't realize that you had decided that you liked fixed seating dining. I just can't get my head around that--I've never really cared that I have the same servers every night, although I do love a ship small enough that the staff get to know you. The Paul Gauguin comes to mind, our favourite ship. What I don't like is eating with the same people every night.

[ChatKat in Ca.]

Gee Kathy, I knew you enjoyed your Crystal cruise, but didn't realize that you had decided that you liked fixed seating dining. I just can't get my head around that--I've never really cared that I have the same servers every night, although I do love a ship small enough that the staff get to know you. The Paul Gauguin comes to mind, our favourite ship. What I don't like is eating with the same people every night.

 

We had a table for two. Well, we had a table that sat 4 but reserved for two. We invited people to dine with us and it worked like a charm. We could have had more if we wanted to do that as the ship was not full.

[Travelcat2]

We had a table for two. Well, we had a table that sat 4 but reserved for two. We invited people to dine with us and it worked like a charm. We could have had more if we wanted to do that as the ship was not full.

 

Sorry to hear that Crystal, with only two ships, is still not running full. I always wonder why this is the case.

[fizzy]

I'll confirm. Every bus we were on on our last cruise in Africa was packed. We've crunched the number and the experience. We're going to sail them again but probably really focus on private and small group tours. I do busses full of people on Princess when I'm paying less and have lower expectations.

 

While I can't really say that the busses were packed on the couple of excursions that we went on, it does seem like a significant number of passengers (using cruise critic as a broad cross section) are doing their own thing which means a bonus/cost saving to Regent. If everyone on board decided that they would use all of the included excursions it might turn into quite a mob scene. I have always wished for an opt out option.

[Suite Travels]

Jackie, Crystal cruises are pretty full except for a few select cruises. The Northwest Passage Cruise has 200 on the wait list and into 2017 many sailings are already booked full. The booking we have in 2018 are already 70% booked.

 

We just heard from a friend on the inaugural Espirt yacht and just returned that it was completely full. That being said we are not into yacht cruises.

 

Crystal is in the best position in the luxury market then any other luxury line and more is coming. I doubt that any other lux line will be able to compete with the diversity of travel that Crystal will offer both land sea and air and high quality service.

[liptastic]

Thank you. That is the kind of service we get on Regent by sitting in the same server's area each night. The difference is that we can dine with the same server whether we want a table for 2, 4 or 6. Our sommelier has our wine waiting for us each evening - even if we dine in P7, Signatures or Sette Mari. Good to hear that you had a good experience on Crystal.

 

If you are dining with the same server each time in CR or Sette Mari that must mean you are arriving at the same time each night to ensure you get that table? That almost sounds like voluntary set times for dinner?

We have very rarely had the same server each night as being on holiday we are glad not to be watching the clock and running to a time schedule.

[Travelcat2]

If you are dining with the same server each time in CR or Sette Mari that must mean you are arriving at the same time each night to ensure you get that table? That almost sounds like voluntary set times for dinner?

We have very rarely had the same server each night as being on holiday we are glad not to be watching the clock and running to a time schedule.

 

In a way it is voluntary set times but we don't always get the same table (size or location -- just within our server's area). We generally can get a table in our server's area between 6:30 and 7:15 (except on nights when there is a special event that lets out during that time). Dinner is about the only time that we are "sort of" on a time schedule. This is based on not going to bed on a full stomach - having time after to dinner to do things, etc. Sometimes we go to our table (early) and spend half an hour talking, sipping wine and watching the waves and don't order for half an hour.

 

People all have different times that they prefer - ours just fits in with when we have dinner at home (actually, at home it is a bit earlier than on the ship). Even with early dining and not going to bed on a full stomach, I managed to put on more weight than I ever have on a cruise (we were away from home 35 days):(

[newlondon]

IndiTrvl, Your comment about buses in Africa still surprises me. We did mostly independent on our Oceania cruise but the two buses we were on were only half full. It is worth mentioning that cruise lines warn you that buses in Africa are in short supply and therefore the experience may be different from 1st world ports.

[Suite Travels]

The key to not gaining weight on a cruise is to stay away from rich high caloric foods and if you like some rich foods order half portions. Also walk as much as possible even in the corridors and if you are able to use the stairs. Drinking too much empty calories will pack on the pounds as well. We eat the same way we do at home and try to stick to the same time schedule.

 

You don't need to deprive yourself of good food, just watch your portions and the easy snacking and drinking.

 

We did a sixty day cruise and I gained one pound and did not starve. Also, drink plenty of water which also prevents wight gain and makes you feel full.

[OctoberKat]

Regarding fixed-time dining, I originally was opposed to it. Yet on our first two cruises (one Regent for ten days, one Silversea for 17 days), we ended up dining at the same time each night. Who knew we were so routinist?! Thus, fixed-time dining has lost its horror for us, we are entirely open to it.

Edited January 4, 2016 by OctoberKat

[Suite Travels]

Also you have the speciality restaurants and DBR...dining by reservation which for the most part is open dining. If you are a table for two it is never a problem which is what we take.

[Travelcat2]

The key to not gaining weight on a cruise is to stay away from rich high caloric foods and if you like some rich foods order half portions. Also walk as much as possible even in the corridors and if you are able to use the stairs. Drinking too much empty calories will pack on the pounds as well. We eat the same way we do at home and try to stick to the same time schedule.

 

You don't need to deprive yourself of good food, just watch your portions and the easy snacking and drinking.

 

We did a sixty day cruise and I gained one pound and did not starve. Also, drink plenty of water which also prevents wight gain and makes you feel full.

 

I admire your restraint. I thought I was being good (passing up chocolate ice cream with Kahlua) and eating few desserts. My downfall on this cruise (I think) was lunchtime drinking - something I would never do at home. After lunch I'd have a French coffee and take a nap (remember - there were a ton of sea days on the 2nd segment of our cruise). Honestly, I don't want to eat like I do at home because it is too meager. Also, men have it easier on excursions when they drink a lot of water. In Africa, on our safaris, men simply went into the bushes while women had to "hold it" for 3-4 hours so water was not an option (seriously, not one woman took advantage of going in the bushes):eek:

 

One Crystal question. If we want a table for two every night at the same time, what has to be done to make that happen? Thanks much!

[ChatKat in Ca.]

If you want a table for 2, when you book, tell your travel agent. If there are no tables for two, when you board, ask the Maitre d

[Suite Travels]

As Kathy mentioned you just tell your TA to make it a two top table and it should be confirmed. Now if you want to join friends just ask the Maitre d. The good news is and I am sure it is true with Rgent the dining room is never full because people are dining at other venues. As a courtesy we always tell the Maitre d when we will not be in the MDR which is most of the time. We enjoy the specialty restaurants much more.