We love Regent, but...options?

[countflorida]

Lots of very good info on this thread; really great.

 

We still like Regent; we think its best for us, but in part that's because we have a really terrific agent and we're Platinum nearing Titanium, so we get lots of extras. But we've tried all of the other luxury brands except SeaDream at least once, and have good (and a few not so good) things to say about all of them.

 

Seaborne Quest has outstanding service, the suites are fine, the service near impeccable, and the Antarctic cruise, particularly the one over Christmas-New Years when they go to South Georgia, near unbelievable; spectacular! Unfortunately, their food is too fancy for me; nouvelle cuisine to the ultimate and I'm a meat and potatoes man, allergic to fish. Also, Seabourn Square takes some getting used to; I never quite made it, sorry to say. Otherwise, the best of the rest, IMnsHO.

 

Crystal is good but as noted has the fixed dining with optional 'by reservation' which didn't work so well for us. We liked the Symphony better than the Serenity, which was just a bit too big for us. We did a crossing last year for our 50th Anniversary, sprung for a Penthouse because of the occasion, and enjoyed the cruise, our suite and the service, but it's unlikely we'll go back unless they figure a way to offer open seating for dinner or have some exceptional lecturer we just have to hear; their lecturers are world-class.

 

Silverseas is also good, but we had trouble booking an on-board credit a few years ago - they chartering the ship right in the middle of the cruise we'd booked - twice. Then we heard, from a local reliable source that the ships were badly in need of refurbishment and "other things have slipped", so we took the offered full refund and gave up. Haven't had any reason to try them again, although we might now for the right deal and itinerary.

 

We've done a couple of Oceania cruises, and very much prefer a Penthouse, which with internet and liquor, makes them about as expensive as Regent, where we get all those perks, so it's unlikely we'll go back there unless there is an itinerary we just have to try. I compared a Baltic cruise we took on the Marina and figured out we could have done the same itinerary on the Regent Voyager with subsidized business air and liquor, internet and excursions included (we got Russian visas and did a lot of private excursions, including the Sapsan train to Moscow, while on Oceania) for less money overall!

 

We also tried Holland American's Prinsendam back when it was new to HAL - see the review here on Cruise Critic (by count Florida) to understand why we really, really don't like them. Cunard's Grills are much too class-conscious for us, particularly on the World Cruise we took 16 years ago. We might try a crossing if it fit our plans and saved a long flight, but otherwise NO. We thought Princess was good before Carnival bought it, and we enjoyed a Panama Canal cruise in a top suite shortly after the takeover, but then had a disaster of a short cruise where we had talked friends into joining us - very bad, and never again.

 

One last thing, for ChatKat - you should check out Odysseys Unlimited for your Ireland tour. Not as upscale as Tauck, but Gerry O'Brien the tour director is unbelievably good and OU limits tour sizes to 24, for which they use a large bus with tables, extra leg room, and plenty of storage. A really great itinerary and tour, just make sure you go with Jerry; that tour is so popular they now have two tours at peak times, and I can't imagine how or where they would find anyone to match him! The price is fairly reasonable as they use first class and deluxe accommodations, with a castle and elaborate wrap dinner party the last night. Our best tour ever, and we've used both Tauck (New Zealand) and A&K (SE Asia).

Edited January 11, 2016 by countflorida
clarify a couple of things

[Suite Travels]

All the new Crystal ships including the riverboats and Yacht will have open dining. We are on the Serenity now and DBR is working out perfectly for us but we are only a table for two which is never an issue. We also prefer the Symphony which has a better layout.

 

When we were on Rgent we liked the Voyager over the Mariner.

[Travelcat2]

We also enjoy the Voyager a bit more than the Mariner. Enjoy your cruise Miles:)

[countflorida]

The main differences between the Mariner and the other two ships in the current Regent fleet are the size and bath layout of the ship's standard rooms. Those on the Voyager (and Navigator) are ±50 sq.ft. larger than those on the Mariner, and their standard baths have both a tub and shower, while the baths on the Mariner have either a strange euro-style raised tub or a large, walk-in shower. Since we almost never take a bath (myself never ever if any kind of shower is available) we don't mind the slightly smaller room to get the larger walk-in shower.

 

One other difference is how the ships handle rough seas. Both the Voyager and Navigator tend to move around a good bit in rough seas, but the Mariner is really good and steady in a storm. Years ago we went around So. America in the Mariner, calling in the Falkland Islands after 'rounding the Horn'. The night we left Stanley there was a huge storm, then during breakfast the captain reported we would be late into the next port because he was forced to run directly west to the coast, then north as opposed to running diagonally northwest as they had encountered 100 MPH winds and 40' seas overnight. Since most all passengers had slept right through the storm, not even realizing there was bad weather about, they made jokes about it, to the extent the captain retaliated by playing images of the bridge instruments during the storm for hours on several of the TV channels the ship could control, and sure enough, we were (not) entertained by several hours of documented big waves and high winds.

 

We've been on all three of Regent's ships recently, and like the two larger ones about the same. The Navigator is fine for shorter, port-intense cruises, but we wouldn't want to take a long cruise or one with many sea days in her; too small and not enough public spaces.

[Timbuktu123]

We've been mainly Regent cruisers having sailed on all three vessels with Voyager being our favorite. To me, the priority is itiniary, so the only reason we tried another cruise line was because Regent didn't have anything that interested us at the time. Another factor is that we like long cruises, often booking back to backs which combine ocean crossings with port intensive segments. The advantage of doing that is that we get a really good feel for what's important in each case.

 

We've sailed on Regent since it first changed its name from Radisson, and to this day nothing has ever topped our first cruise on Raddison/Regent Mariner. Although each subsequent cruise was good in its own way, as time goes on we're always spotting something missing primarily due to cut backs.

 

We tried Crystal Symphony a couple of years ago from Beijing-LA and loved it. It was certainly different from Regent and bottom line we came away feeling happy we had two preferred cruise lines to choose from.

 

Comparing Crystal to Regent is tough because In order to have at least a similar cabin to what we were used to on Regent (square footage, and walk-in closet), we had to upgrade to a penthouse. That was at a significant cost increase and to make a long story short, there is no way to match the Regent experience on Crystal without spending more money. Putting finances aside, having a penthouse on Symphony was absolutely wonderful especially on long voyages. We spent much more time in our cabin than on Regent simply because we loved it so much.

 

After the Crystal cruise we sailed on Regent Voyager again in a standard cabin, and were fine, especially in the wallet but we're happy to know Crystal is still a wonderful treat option.

 

Crystal dining is a challenge after Regent, but we did the dining by reservation and it was fine. A couple of advantages: We could finish eating more quickly if it was just the two of us. Sometimes we'd strike up conversations with the next door tables which gave us a new perspective, and inviting other passengers to dine with us was easy. Food on Crystal is the best, I gained 17 pounds to prove it! Having a butler was nice since we could dine in our cabin with items from all restaurants, even specialty ones.

 

One thing we really missed from Regent is the double height theater. Crystal has good entertainment but it's in a single height theater which after seeing Regent's seems cramped. Also Regent's atrium is much better than Crystal cove. On the other hand Crystal has a separate movie theater which is superb, especially when they have High definition movies to show. It's like a studio screening room.

 

Although I'm an all inclusive kind of guy who hates being reminded throughout a trip how expensive this is, I do prefer paying a la carte for shore excursions. This is the situation on Crystal and I find their selection to be better than Regent's. Some are really expensive but it's nice to know that they're available.

 

Regent does have something we've had trouble taking advantage of on Crystal, much more interaction with staff and entertainers. Every time we sail on Regent we come back with wonderful memories of times we've had with dancers, officers, and cruise directors. On sea days especially, we interacted with some of the dancers who double as activity directors. Being entertainers they have an easier time than fellow passengers breaking the ice and it's great to gain insight into their lives on and off the ship. Crystal seems to make a great effort not to encourage officers and entertainers to socialize with passengers unless it is at a pre-defined event. I suppose that's the culture of Crystal but it is something we miss when we sail on that line.

 

We are thinking of trying something new next time we sail on Crystal: mixing cabin types based on the segment of a long cruise we're on. While crossing oceans with sea days we'll be pampered in a penthouse and once in a port intensive segment, drop down to a regular cabin. That way we'll be in a prime position to compare the two and save a few bucks along the way.

 

A parting comment regarding Regent: our last cruise offered a deal clincher, all visas included. Being a multi-national couple and traveling to Africa and Asia, this made me book the cruise in a heartbeat. Regent and Crystal take note!

[RachelG]

Timbuktu 123, really appreciated your comments and comparison of regent vs crystal. I am convinced that if we were to cruise on crystal, we would have to at least book a penthouse. Time will tell.

[Techno123]

Some thoughts from a non-seasoned cruiser! We have sailed on Seabourn Odyssey (Balcony), Oceania Insignia (Balcony) and Regent Voyager (Concierge).

 

We loved Seabourn (First cruise first love and all that) and were not bothered by any smoking. Found the main dining room a little 'cold and clinical' but food to be excellent and staff amazing. Did our own thing re trips apart from Ephesus, I also really liked Seabourn Square. Cruise no 4 will be back to Seabourn in July - I do worry though that it won't seem so amazing now we have something to compare it to.

Oceania was no 2 and had many plus points - I preferred the main dining room, the lunch time buffet was excellent with food cooked to order as you waited (I must have had sea bass every day!) and plenty of room to eat outside although OH hated being served at the buffet. The included wines were good enough and I liked the fact there was a wine menu so you could choose what you wanted to drink depending on what you were eating (this concept is sadly lacking on both Regent and at the time on Seabourn) however having to show your card for every drink was a pain. The standard balcony suite had a tiny bathroom with the loo set at a strange angle so would definitely have to 'go up' a category or two next time we sail with them which I definitely would (although I have also noticed a rise in cost). Did our own thing re trips

Regent was our last cruise and again thoroughly enjoyed and would definitely sail with them again (issues below were not major but a bit irritating now we know the kind of things to expect). You are a Regent aficionado so will just say what I didn't like - didn't like that La Veranda was split into 2 sections and also the outside eating area seemed comparatively small compared to the other 2. Did not really enjoy Signatures - barely adequate service and mediocre food but the other specialities and main dining room were great especially Sette Mari. Apart from St Petersberg didn't feel that the 'free' excursions were worth the additional cost of the cruise and I know that many of you think the same. Smoking was an issue in the pool area at times as it drifted right down so I had to sit on the other side (fortunately or not it rained .... a lot so not much sun bathing happened!) My big bugbear was that the included wine list was guarded like the proverbial crown jewels. We had a wine tasting on a sea day which was only a small fraction of what we eventually drank but I was told by the Chief Sommelier that they were all that was on offer and when I queried it with the F&B manager he told me they did not have a list (despite some kind Regent sailors having posted one a few weeks before) and that when he first started there were only 2 reds and 2 whites available so 4 of each was very good! However, we got chatting with an excellent sommelier in Sette Mari who brought me all sorts of wines to try and always ensured there was something I liked so all ended well.

 

So in conclusion, all a bit different but all offer a generally excellent product - Hapag Lloyd's Europa is supposed to be the best but it is a German ship and I have no experience.

[picodrive]

Okay, first off, let me say that this post isn't intended to start a flame war. Rather, it's the opposite - I'm trying to educate myself, and I hope at the same time to provide a valuable thread for others to enjoy.

 

So, having said that - my wife and I have sailed almost exclusively on Regent. We took a foray onto Cunard because of the itinerary...it was okay but not great. It was a good cruise for the money, let's leave it at that.

 

But having read all of the discussions about which luxury line is the best, or the most luxurious, or the most this or that, it got me thinking that there have to be some viable options to always sailing Regent. The problem is that we don't have unlimited time or money to sample all of the options. So I'd like to ask for CIVIL and FAIRLY UNBIASED opinions on the pros and cons of lines other than Regent. We were specifically looking at Crystal, Seabourn, Oceania, and Silversea.

 

I know that different people value different things on a cruise. What we like are open dining, smaller ships, good wine/food, smaller groups on excursions, and comfortable suites. The casino, shows, shopping, etc. are nice but not critical. Variety of ports is a plus as well, which is another bonus of smaller ships.

 

Right now, I'm mostly interested in Seabourn, followed by Oceania and Crystal. Right or wrong, my impressions of those lines are: Seabourn is a nice option but you may be on a larger (1,250 pax) ship; Crystal has fixed dining for the most part, smaller cabins, and a somewhat more reserved clientele; and Oceania is like an a la carte Regent on a slightly lower budget. (I know here is where the flaming may begin, and I'm sorry - that is merely my perceptions from reading these boards for years - it's not based on personal experience!!)

 

I would be grateful - very grateful - if I could get more information of everyone's experiences on other lines and what you all like/dislike about them all - Regent included.

 

I'm going to believe that this won't start a flame war and thank everyone in advance. :D

 

So...thank you.

 

Bill

 

I can only speak about Oceania Marina (4 cruises) and Riviera (1 cruise). We love the size, 1250 guests, and the newer aspect of the ships. More dining options and award winning food in my opinion than on some smaller ships. We like the Penthouse suites which include a butler and nice amenities. Love the Captains and crew members who always take good care of us! There are a lot of quiet places to relax, have a drink, read a book, etc. We just finished a crossing from Capetown to Rio in December and will be booking our next adventure soon! Recommend you give them a try!

[findacruise]

TC, finda - thank you both, too, for your input.

 

I remember back in early '09 when my wife and I were trying to choose our first cruise, it was set seating and smoking policies (and formal nights, too, as I recall) that led us to Regent. I think I'd be most comfortable on Regent just because of familiarity, but it's sounding like my '17 vacation could possibly be with another line because it really does sound like 4 flavo(u)rs of the same snack...

 

And findacruise - yes, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on your upcoming cruise. All input is welcome!

 

Just a quick note to say Seabourne 6 days in has been wonderful. We love the smaller ship and the friendly personalized service. I definetlyw will write specifics after the cruise but it so far has exceeded Regent and Oceania in service. Food is subjective and in my mind Ocenia still has that one overall. Fellow passengers relaxed, well travelled and friendly.

[English Tim]

We have been fortunate enough to sail on many different ships on many lines and have never had a bad cruise, as we always try and stay positive.

 

I think some of the mainstream lines are really making an effort to improve service levels, but my wife now prefers the smaller ships, so we are returning to Regent, having twice cruised Seabourn in last 12 months.

 

We hope to try Crystal, Sea Dream and Silversea to be able make a better judgement.

[lincslady]

Tim - we went back to Regent after some 5 or 6 years, when we have been travelling with Seabourn. I will be interested to read how you now compare the two lines after your upcoming trip with Regent.

[beauty123]

I don't know if my post is totally relevent as I haven't sailed on Regent yet ( sailing on 18 May, Alaska) but the main reason I chose Regent was because it was supposedly all inclusive and because I have also learnt through 2 previous cruises that I prefer small ships that have destination focussed itineries

I do have 2 "issues" so far

Kettle / coffee maker will not be provided in our basic suite and we will need to ring room service every time we want a coffee, I know this will really annoy me.

The shore excertions are costing me money as many of the best ones are not "included as stated"plus multiple excertions are conveniently often not possible due to Regents "convenient" timings. They state on their website "Regents choice Excertions" and "Free Excertions" but I was under the impression that I had actually already paid for the excertions in my "all inclusive" cruise price?

Having said all that, I am hard to please and quite critical in my reviews which are generally for hotels or restaurants.

After researching for months I still believe Regent is the right choice for us, despite the 2 "issues" because it ticks all our other boxes, small ship, gratuities included,etc, etc. Time will tell

[English Tim]

I don't know if my post is totally relevent as I haven't sailed on Regent yet ( sailing on 18 May, Alaska) but the main reason I chose Regent was because it was supposedly all inclusive and because I have also learnt through 2 previous cruises that I prefer small ships that have destination focussed itineries

I do have 2 "issues" so far

Kettle / coffee maker will not be provided in our basic suite and we will need to ring room service every time we want a coffee, I know this will really annoy me.

The shore excertions are costing me money as many of the best ones are not "included as stated"plus multiple excertions are conveniently often not possible due to Regents "convenient" timings. They state on their website "Regents choice Excertions" and "Free Excertions" but I was under the impression that I had actually already paid for the excertions in my "all inclusive" cruise price?

Having said all that, I am hard to please and quite critical in my reviews which are generally for hotels or restaurants.

After researching for months I still believe Regent is the right choice for us, despite the 2 "issues" because it ticks all our other boxes, small ship, gratuities included,etc, etc. Time will tell

 

You must be British!

 

A kettle is rarely provided. I don't think I have ever had one, but I believe P&O ships might have this facility.

 

As for excursions, I believe many of Regent's wealthier customers will be happy to be for many extras.

 

I believe that any luxury ship will see all pax as a source of additional revenue, be at the spa, premium wines, excursions, etc. We are generally happy with the included offerings and having paid quite a lot for a cruise, would be reluctant to stump up extra, but we are all different.

[beauty123]

Al;though we travel widely our stays are generally in top end hotels (all of which have had a coffee maker at least and usually a full wine fridge). Our only forray into cruising was on Allure of the Seas when it first launched some years ago and I vowed I would never cruise again, basically I was "wowed" by the hype from my travel agent and didn't put in the time doing any research, so my own fault I got it very, very, very wrong in a big way!.... Tim, if you are Brittish?. Do you remember Butlins on a bad day?. Anyway several years on and putting in the time with research I am giving it another go and if this doesn't hit the mark I am going to just stick with land based hotels like Soneva Fushi, Naladhu etc in the Maldives or Rayavadee in Thailand or Dreams and Kampari in Santorini etc. I am hoping I got this right!

[UUNetBill]

There will, of course, be a difference in the amenities on board a ship vs. what you'll find in a hotel. Cabins are smaller and fire is a definite concern, ergo the lack of electrical appliances in all cabins. I'm sure that Regent will do their best to accommodate you, depending on how often you drink coffee you could probably either have a standing order to have coffee delivered or try and book a cabin near the Coffee Connection. I prefer spending time in the public areas, actually, as I find them more comfortable than most of the suites.

 

Lots of options, and although I've never cruised on one of the larger ships (one sailing on the QM2, and that was enough) I find the more intimate environment on the smaller ships a perfect fit for my wife and I.

 

As to the excursions, there are threads galore that go on about 'free' vs 'included' - as long as you understand the cost structure (i.e. they're pre-paid, not free) it shouldn't be an issue - find the ones you like, sign up, and enjoy them!

 

Hope you like your cruise.

Edited February 25, 2016 by UUNetBill
Fixed typo

[findacruise]

Bill - We have completed our SB cruise but aren't home yet. I plan to write a full review and will share that when done. I did want to say that during the two weeks on board we had overall the most personal, friendly and efficient service of any cruiseline we have sailed on, including Regent. There were small things theydid from the minute we got on board that no otherine has done, e.g. offer to check our hand luggage while we enjoy lunch.

Smokers were not an issue for us,. We just happened to encounter.none. I will cover suites, dining, more on service, the ship etc when I get home. In the mean time if you are in a hurry for specific answer, let me know

Joanna

[UUNetBill]

Joanna - glad you had a good cruise - looking forward to reading all about it. Thanks!

Bill

[findacruise]

I submitted this to CC. It's long, but I hope it gives you an idea about Seabourn. I copied the text as I have no idea when they will publish it or how they might edit it. Joanna

Sojourn Review 2/14/-2/28 RT Singapore:

We have wanted to try them and this itinerary provided us this opportunity for the time period we wanted to vacation at a cost we felt was reasonable for a luxury product. From the moment we reached the cruise terminal until we disembarked, we were wowed by the thoughtful, personal service and unexpected small pleasant touches.

Our cab was met by a person in a Seabourn shirt; he took our luggage and checked us in with someone who marked it and then escorted us in to the terminal and gave our luggage to another for processing. We were then shown the way to check-in. There was no line and we were soon on our way to lunch. As we entered for lunch there We have been on many cruises on a number of other lines, but never on Seabourn. was a crew member who offered to check our hand luggage so we didn't have to deal with it; he tagged it and gave us the claim check. Delightful to not have bags all over the place. All suites were ready at 2PM, exactly as promised. Our luggage arrived shortly after. Painless.

Service was seamless in the dining venues, with only one time in the Restaurant where dinner dragged a bit. But, our fellow passengers were so much fun, it really didn't bother us. In the Navigation Lounge we had a drink after the muster drill. The next night we walked in and our server greeted us by asking if we want " and recited exactly what we had the night before" down to how many ice cubes I requested! If I had the same server at breakfast, she always called me by name after the first time and remembered I drank decaf. This was true of everyone we encountered. Even the head of all dining venues asked if we had made reservations in R2 after the 3rd day and when I said "no not yet" he immediately said he would do it for us and did. All the officers were actively involved in making sure the guests were having a good time and well taken care of.

Our cabin Stewardess was the best we have ever had in all our cruises. She could not do enough for us. She showed up shortly after we arrived with a selection of soaps for us. She took our order for what liquor and wine we wanted for our bar and asked about any special needs or requests. She chatted with us and in no way appeared to be in a hurry. She talked about getting to know our schedule, etc. and she did. She was always cheerful, helpful and genuine. She left special things for us in the cabin and helped me when I injured my ankle by getting me ice bags several times a day.

Food is very subjective. I personally feel that Oceania has the best food at sea, both in selection and quality. Sojourn did not have as much variety, but the ship is smaller. Personally I felt some of the food seemed a bit contrived at times, but again that is my opinion. It was still good. A plus is that you can order from any of the restaurants at dinner and have the meal served in your suite. When we ordered room service for breakfast the night before, it was always there promptly. Hot items were hot - even the toasted bagel.

We took a few Seabourn port excursions and found them to be good to very good. We had an excellent guide on two of them. From a price standpoint, there are not inexpensive, but still less than on some other lines. What is nice is that they are ala carte, so it is your choice. In our cabin was a lovely small paperback book about the two main countries we visited. It was most helpful detailing information about the country, areas and ports were were visiting. Also, we were each provided with a small diary we could have to carry with us for notes. Another thoughtful touch.

There were three "conversationalists" on board that each spoke three times. I attended most of the sessions and found them interesting and well spoken. One day all three were together and moderated by the CD. There were the other regular activities, such as Trivia, bridge lessons, spa lectures, etc. Seabourn Square is where many people meet for coffee, to read and so forth.

Another touch I particularly like is the lack of PA announcements. Other than muster and crew drills, there is basically one announcement a day; if at sea, it's the captain's noon status and, if in port, it's the captain's announcement that we are departing. Only the muster and crew/emergency drills come in to the cabin.

We attended only a couple of the entertainment evenings and enjoyed them. There was quite a variety. I did not rate them, though, on such a small sample.

Disembarkation was a breeze. No announcements. You just get off the ship when your letter tells you to. Unfortunately, I had an minor accident and needed a wheel chair because of the long distance. I was well taken care of. (Note: the Medical Department was excellent)

My husband and I both enjoyed this smaller ship, the well traveled, friendly people we met and the high level of service we experienced. We will not hesitate to book another Seabourn cruise when they have an itinerary of interest.

CABIN:

All cabins on the ship are suites. But a note to those who may want a butler - there are none on Seabourn, even in the larger suites. But I don't think there is anything you couldn't get done that a butler would do for you if you had one. The suite is very comfortable, with a sitting area by the door that opens on to the veranda. There is a curtain that can be pulled to separate it from the bed area. The sitting area has a couch, two chairs and a nice table plus a small table you can pull over by the couch. There is a standup cabinet that contains the refrigerator and bar items and across from it another cabinet with the TV and drawers for storage.

There is ample storage space spread among the cabinet, walk-in closet that has drawers, and a credenza opposite the bed.There is a small drawer in each nightstand and there is another small drawer in the area where you can dry your hair outside the bathroom.

For as new as this ship is, I was surprised by the limited number of outlets. We had a multi-plug with us that we can plug 4 USBs into and used it for charging and a universal plug that allowed us to use the 220 hairdryer plug also. But to use our laptop on the table and plug it in to charge, we had to have it stretched across the sitting room floor and plug it in to the outlet in the bar cabinet.

The bathroom has a shower and tub, although the shower is not a big walk-in, it is glass enclosed and fine for us. My husband is 6'2' and had no complaints. We had enough storage and counter space.

[Travelcat2]

Thank you for your review of Seabourn. I find it quite interesting! Am happy that you were not bothered by smoking on the balconies. This is a major concern of ours since there is no way that I know of to guarantee that there will not be smokers on either side of you.

Food is indeed subjective and your write-up ,while interesting, left me not knowing much more than I did before because I do not find Oceania's food to be as great as some people feel that it is and that was the comparison you made. I understand that Oceania has more of a selection than smaller cruise ships but we did not find the quality to our taste. In fact, the options in the MDR and buffet restaurants were so poor on Oceania that we ended up dining in specialty restaurants every night (on both cruises). So, would you kindly compare Seabourn's food offerings and quality to that of Regent? Also, what was your opinion of the "specialty restaurants". Last food question..... I have heard that the main dining room is closed at lunch. Is this still the case?

Despite our differences of food, I enjoy reading about experiences on other cruise lines. We have always felt that Seabourn was a good product but haven't sailed with them due to issues I've already commented on.

While we have only sailed on Regent, Silversea and Oceania, we find Silversea the closest to the Regent Experience that we enjoy so much.

[Lexicruiser]

We have been on many cruise lines. There is no comparison as far as destintion. We totally go for new destinations that we have not experienced. It is very difficult to compare cruise lines as their cabins vary in size. Also when you consider excursions some include and others charge extra. It is a puzzle each time you look to book your cruise to the most exciting destinations that you have not been to. In short we close the gap and book the most exclusive cruise line that sails to our next adventurous destination that we have not been too. And those are few.

Happy cruising

[findacruise]

[quote name='Travelcat2']Thank you for your review of Seabourn. I find it quite interesting! Am happy that you were not bothered by smoking on the balconies. This is a major concern of ours since there is no way that I know of to guarantee that there will not be smokers on either side of you.

Food is indeed subjective and your write-up ,while interesting, left me not knowing much more than I did before because I do not find Oceania's food to be as great as some people feel that it is and that was the comparison you made. I understand that Oceania has more of a selection than smaller cruise ships but we did not find the quality to our taste. In fact, the options in the MDR and buffet restaurants were so poor on Oceania that we ended up dining in specialty restaurants every night (on both cruises). So, would you kindly compare Seabourn's food offerings and quality to that of Regent? Also, what was your opinion of the "specialty restaurants". Last food question..... I have heard that the main dining room is closed at lunch. Is this still the case?

Despite our differences of food, I enjoy reading about experiences on other cruise lines. We have always felt that Seabourn was a good product but haven't sailed with them due to issues I've already commented on.

While we have only sailed on Regent, Silversea and Oceania, we find Silversea the closest to the Regent Experience that we enjoy so much.[/quote]


TC2 - I did not mention smoking, as we encountered no smokers. That, of course, is not to say they don't exist and could not be a problem. Some were discussing that the small bar on 9 (deck above the pool) did have smokers. It never bothered us inn the pool area. They also mentioned they were told by a Seabourn rep that they are considering the balcony policy. Of course, we all know "considering" can mean anything!

As far as food, if I were rating it on a numeric scale, IMHO Seabourn would be a 4, Regent a 4.5 and Oceania a 5. While we were on board, the MDR was open for breakfast and lunch, although for only an hour, rather than the longer period of time that the Colonnade on deck 8 (buffet) was open. This is a self serve buffet, usually open about 3 hours for breakfast and 2 hours at lunch. I usually found sufficient choices on the buffet and at both breakfast and lunch because there is a menu on your table of items you can order that will be cooked and brought to your table. It is also open at dinner, but was transitioning to a reservation only restaurant on our voyage. It is currently where, on certain nights, they serve a Thomas Keller menu and that is done family style. You also have the option of open dining at the patio grill on the pool deck for lunch and most dinners, weather permitting.

The dinner menu in the MDR was lacking in choices. There were 4 choices for appetizers and 4 for main courses that changed each night and 4 appetizers and 4 mains that were always the same and that was it. (plus desserts) On occasion there might be an insert that had a Thomas Keller appetizer, entree and dessert to choose from, but that was not nightly.

T2 is a specialty restaurant that serves small plates. A number of people we talked to really liked this and booked as many times as they could get in. It is a small area. We ate there twice. We were a bit underwhelmed. Perhaps our palates are not as finally honed, as the offerings for the most part, seemed a bit overdone. I much prefer Oceania's and Regent's specialty restaurants.

The only Silversea cruise we have taken was in the Galapagos and that can't be compared to a regular Silversea cruise. Ironically, we were originally going to be on the Silver Shadow instead of this Seabourn cruise doing almost the same itinerary. When the Shadow failed it's second CDC inspection last May, we canceled and booked the Sojourn cruise. We did not want to be on a ship that had failed two CDC inspections.

I hope I have answered your questions. If there's anything else, I'd be glad to try to answer.

Joanna

[Travelcat2]

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond:)

[UUNetBill]

Joanna,

Thanks for posting your review here. Good, good, good information. How great it is to have these choices. Definitely food for thought...

Bill

:)

[findacruise]

[quote name='Travelcat2']Thank you so much for taking the time to respond:)[/quote]


You and many others have been generous with your time answering questions on these boards and it makes a big difference. Anything I can do in turn, I'm glad to.

[rhornco]

A recent cruise review of the Regent Mariner was posted by vmrc on Cruise Critic and it is relevant to this thread. The reviewer, who had been on several Seabourn cruises, described their Regent South American cruise as "the worst ever" . The penthouse suite they had paid $30,000 for was not in good condition and they missed three ports with a 4 day stay in Santos (Sao Paulo) to replace an emergency generator. There were other complaints but the main point was that they paid considerable money and they had a bad cruise. Regent could not be blamed for some of the issues and Cruise Critic posts indicate other cruisers had no major complaints.
The cruise review suggests that when you pay big bucks for a cruise, typical on a luxury ship, your expectations are higher than on other cruise lines. If your cruise has several negative issues, the amount of money paid for the cruise compounds the disappointments. As vmrc noted, they will not sail on Regent again. I am not sure I would have the same opinion but I appreciate most reviews and opinions expressed on Cruise Critic. When you travel, you risk time and money and hope for the best experience.