We're back, it's rick & ron on the ss mariner--miami to san francisco (april 18,2018)

[ronrick1943]

I find it interesting that Ron and Rick prefer the Mariner to the Explorer since the Mariner is our 3rd favorite ship. However, it shows how what one person loves another may not love. This also shows how subjective all of our reviews are.

 

Couldn't agree more, wouldn't it be a boring world if we all liked the same thing. Reviews are just reviews as one person see's it, that's the way it should be and nothing else.

[ronrick1943]

End of A Sea Day

 

Another great day, lunch at La Veranda. It was a German buffet both inside andout. The wind picked up on the deck andthey had to move a few tables. They hada large ice carving of a beer mug, kind of neat the top was filled withbeer. Food looked good, even had a wholeroasted pig. We just had salad, a burgerand Ron had a Cuban sandwich. All wasvery good.

 

Returned to our cabinand watched a movie and took a short nap.

 

Dinner with some friends at Chartreuse, service was as goodas ever. We had rack of lamb and veal,both cooked just right. It was a niceevening and a great way to end the evening.

 

No show too night. Believe it or not we’re leaving the ship to go on a tour in Acapulco,let you know how that was tomorrow.

 

It’s still smooth sailing, this ship really handles the oceanor we’re very lucky on this trip.

 

Yep, another day without a problem or a worry---everydayshould be like this.

[ronrick1943]

End of A Sea Day

 

Another great day, lunch at La Veranda. It was a German buffet both inside and out. The wind picked up on the deck and they had to move a few tables. They had a large ice carving of a beer mug, kind of neat the top was filled with beer. Food looked good, even had a whole roasted pig. We just had salad, a burger and Ron had a Cuban sandwich. All was very good.

 

Returned to our cabin and watched a movie and took a short nap.

 

Dinner with some friends at Chartreuse, service was as good as ever. We had rack of lamb and veal,both cooked just right. It was a nice evening and a great way to end the evening.

 

No show too night. Believe it or not we’re leaving the ship to go on a tour in Acapulco,let you know how that was tomorrow.

 

It’s still smooth sailing, this ship really handles the ocean or we’re very lucky on this trip.

 

Yep, another day without a problem or a worry---everyday should be like this.

[ronrick1943]

Looks like a really nice day in Acapulco, the water still calm. Had a great night of sleep and looking forward to taking in the sites today. Yes believe it, also most time to get off and we haven't cancel (yet). Let you know more about Destination later. Just had coffee in the cabin and ready to go.

[ronrick1943]

Acapulco

 

We did do the tour from the ship; it was the old city tour and the cliff divers. We’ve been here before so we’ve seen most of it but wanted to see the cliff divers.

 

About Regents Destination Services; keeping in mind this our opinion! The front desk does a pretty good job, friendly, helpful and always a smile.

 

Off to the theater to exchange our tickets for that little card to get on the tour. We got thereabout 10 minutes before not wanting to be late. We got to the front of the line only to be told they haven’t called that tour yet. We take a seat, as we sit down they call our tour.

 

Now wouldn’t it be easier to have someone at the door looking at tickets before you enter, that way they can tell you to take a seat or go to the table in to claim your card. It seems like everyone goes to the table to be turned back. Just a thought!

 

Now we’re told the van’s are late. After about ten to 15 minutes they call to meet the van’s outside. Going outside no van’s in site, we wait a little longer and the van’s start to pull up. We started to get on and we’re told to stop. They pulled away (nice van), then a dirty older van pulls up, dirty outside and inside. The 2nd row only the back of the seat was bolted to the floor, not the front as the front of the seat would fall/lean backwards. Air conditioning fair at best. Tour guide OK. When we stopped at the Fort across from the ship, we tipped the driver and told him we’d walk back to the ship. Another one hour and half more was too much for us. We would have been happier staying on the ship today.

 

This was not even near Luxury, and Regent can’t say it’s a 3rd world. They had a lot of Luxury van’sand a few old ones. When a company sells luxury, that’s what they should provide. The same experience to all. Now don’t tell me Regent doesn’t have control of vendors! That just isn’t true, they do have control.

 

I’d give Destination Services a grade “D” at best. For us they missed the mark today. If Regent isn’t going to let you opt out of tours, then they need to provide a better service in this area. This could be a game changer for us.

[MalbecWine]

Ron, certainly not luxury at all. So sorry for you guy’s. Have a word with the destinations desk.

[ronrick1943]

Ron, certainly not luxury at all. So sorry for you guy’s. Have a word with the destinations desk.

 

Thank you, We plan on it, our Butler took our Mazatlan tour tickets and we asked to speak to the Destinations Manager. The more that I think about it Regent really put passenger in danger. Since the front of the seat was not bolted down, and the seat was tiling back and fourth every time the driver stated up or stopped. What if the back bolts gave way, not us but think about the people behind, knees and legs.

[Travelcat2]

We have always had issues with Destination Service and excursions. Hope that you mention this on your Final Questionnaire!

[JMARINER]

Acapulco

 

I’d give Destination Services a grade “D” at best. For us they missed the mark today. If Regent isn’t going to let you opt out of tours, then they need to provide a better service in this area. This could be a game changer for us.

 

Are you grading the ship Destination Services personnel, or Regent Corporate, or both.

 

 

AFAIK the ship personnel have no input as far as the tour operators are concerned.

 

J

[Travelcat2]

Are you grading the ship Destination Services personnel, or Regent Corporate, or both.

 

 

AFAIK the ship personnel have no input as far as the tour operators are concerned.

 

J

 

Agree with you but the onboard Destination Services team is responsible for the general mess that usually takes place during the time they are trying to get passengers checked in and onto the buses/vans. There is no consistency between ships - or between Destination Services teams. In my opinion, there are far from blameless.

[ronrick1943]

Are you grading the ship Destination Services personnel, or Regent Corporate, or both.

AFAIK the ship personnel have no input as far as the tour operators are concerned.J

 

The people at the front desk are very good like I said. The people in the theater before departing good but can improve.

Who ever books the tours is the "D" grade, they should know whats going on and how each and every tour operator works.

Rick

[ronrick1943]

We have always had issues with Destination Service and excursions. Hope that you mention this on your Final Questionnaire!

 

I agree and I have a meeting in the morning with the manage of the department. Also will write it on the comment card. I have an idea that I'm going to start a new post regarding this problem. Rick

[ronrick1943]

Agree with you but the onboard Destination Services team is responsible for the general mess that usually takes place during the time they are trying to get passengers checked in and onto the buses/vans. There is no consistency between ships - or between Destination Services teams. In my opinion, there are far from blameless.

 

I agree again, each ships Destination Service Department should know whats going on, I'd even make them go on a tour as a guest. That way they can report back and a get improved or better tour companies. Improving the tours that Regent sells in the cruise package. Rick

[whenyoudream]

I never expect perfection with group tours. But being put in an unsafe vehicle is unacceptable. It appears the Regent ship was the only cruise ship in the port on April 29. What was the excuse for that switch of vehicles and-or tour operator?

 

Our first cruise on Regent will be in July for Alaska, having traveled the Alaska interior by car on our honeymoon back when we could not afford a cruise of any price, so now going to see the glaciers and coastal cities in style 32 years later. We presume we will be fine with the run-of-the-mill excursions that are available to all ships, but expect the transportation to be SAFE, for crying out loud.

[Boatmans Lady]

Do Regent not send an escort with each trip, that you can bring safety issues to their attention? On our cruise at Christmas (not Regent) all the ship's tours we took, had a representative on board. Due to a change of itinerary due to hurricane Irma, we had a lunchtime arrival in Antigua, so our 6 hour tour got moved to 1pm, but due to sunset being around 5-5.30 the tour was cut short. We voiced our opinion whilst on the tour and then the next day and whilst we weren't compensated, the tour was pulled for the following cruise.

[ronrick1943]

I never expect perfection with group tours. But being put in an unsafe vehicle is unacceptable. It appears the Regent ship was the only cruise ship in the port on April 29. What was the excuse for that switch of vehicles and-or tour operator?

 

Our first cruise on Regent will be in July for Alaska, having traveled the Alaska interior by car on our honeymoon back when we could not afford a cruise of any price, so now going to see the glaciers and coastal cities in style 32 years later. We presume we will be fine with the run-of-the-mill excursions that are available to all ships, but expect the transportation to be SAFE, for crying out loud.

 

Thank you, I agree and don't understand why, Regent had a person outside and saw what happened and did nothing. I do have a meeting this morning with the manager, we'll see.

[ronrick1943]

Do Regent not send an escort with each trip, that you can bring safety issues to their attention? On our cruise at Christmas (not Regent) all the ship's tours we took, had a representative on board. Due to a change of itinerary due to hurricane Irma, we had a lunchtime arrival in Antigua, so our 6 hour tour got moved to 1pm, but due to sunset being around 5-5.30 the tour was cut short. We voiced our opinion whilst on the tour and then the next day and whilst we weren't compensated, the tour was pulled for the following cruise.

 

We haven't taken that many tours, but the ones we have taken never has a Regent person been on the tour. I don't understand why Regent doesn't have someone spot check looking like a guest not a Regent agent. That way they can correct anything on the tour or correct suppliers as needed. No other ships we're in port so Regent had choices. We have a paid extra tour coming up so we'll see what happens.

[ronrick1943]

Back on the ship (Acapulco) Sorry for the late post, meant to post last night.

 

It’s lunch time on the La Veranda deck, nice weather and great views of the bay. It was hot here today but the deck has a cold breeze this afternoon. For some reason the food seems to be extra good or I’m just hungry because we’ve found the food really good here.

 

Table again with people we met and enjoy talking with, just nice people. After lunch we went back to the cabin, yes fell asleep again for an hour or so.

 

Time to get ready for dinner, tonight it’s Prime 7 and invited to dine with Captain Serena Melani. She really is pleasant person to talk with, she interesting and knowable. No one talked about the Regent, The Ship or anything that may have gone wrong during the cruise. Just a very pleasant evening getting to know each other, one of the most enjoyable dinners during the cruise.

 

Food and service was good as always (but why wouldn’t it be this time with the Captain seated at the table).

 

No, we didn’t make the show, dinner took awhile tonight and that’s our story and we’re sticking to it. No review tonight but the theater looked full as we went back to the suite.

 

Again our Steward/Stewardess are doing a great job, and we thank them for that.

 

Tomorrow is another sea day so it could be a little less writing as we don’t plan to do much but enjoy the day.

[Boatmans Lady]

We haven't taken that many tours, but the ones we have taken never has a Regent person been on the tour. I don't understand why Regent doesn't have someone spot check looking like a guest not a Regent agent. That way they can correct anything on the tour or correct suppliers as needed. No other ships we're in port so Regent had choices. We have a paid extra tour coming up so we'll see what happens.

 

I know I'm English, but I am in the transport industry [of people, not goods] and whilst the countries being visited probably don't have the checks and procedures we do, that is no excuse for Regent not to do follow up checks that the vehicles [and guides] are up to spec.

After all, we aren't talking a load of potatoes here, we are talking humans and their lives!!

 

I will be interested in hearing if destination services or Regent reply to you and if they reassure you that more checks will be done.

[Travelcat2]

I agree and I have a meeting in the morning with the manage of the department. Also will write it on the comment card. I have an idea that I'm going to start a new post regarding this problem. Rick

 

If you meant that you were going to start a new thread, it is a great idea. There are issues that passengers need to understand and that Regent needs to fix. In terms of the nice van departing, it likely was not a van used for tours (or if it was, perhaps it was for private tours - we have seen many beautiful vehicles waiting outside of Regent ships with the name of the "party" they are waiting for on a card.)

 

While I have been overly vocal for years about Regent excursions over the years (not in a positive way), a thread specific to excursions (not about whether we like having them or not) could be very helpful to others.

[sanne]

I agree again, each ships Destination Service Department should know whats going on, I'd even make them go on a tour as a guest. That way they can report back and a get improved or better tour companies. Improving the tours that Regent sells in the cruise package. Rick

When tours were not included we always had someone from Regent on our tour, once even one of the hairdressers! At the end of one not so good tour the regent person had a clip board with form to fill in about the problems to which we all gave our opinion. I haven’t seen this for many years.

[briar14]

When tours were not included we always had someone from Regent on our tour, once even one of the hairdressers! At the end of one not so good tour the regent person had a clip board with form to fill in about the problems to which we all gave our opinion. I haven’t seen this for many years.

 

We had various crew members (production staff, casino managers) on several of our included tours. However, this has not happened in the last few years. Last time I remember was in 2014.

[RJ2002]

We had various crew members (production staff, casino managers) on several of our included tours. However, this has not happened in the last few years. Last time I remember was in 2014.

 

On our recent Mariner cruise (Nov/Dec 2017) we had several excursions where a member of the crew accompanied us. I guess it is hit or miss.

[mdunne48]

During our recent Caribbean cruise on the Explorer 3 out of the 4 excursions we went on had Regent personnel with us. They were dressed as 'civilians' and fully participated in the excursion. I'm not sure whether the tour operator knew that they were Regent employees. I saw two of them discreetly taking notes during the outings with their iPhones.

[ronrick1943]

If you meant that you were going to start a new thread, it is a great idea. There are issues that passengers need to understand and that Regent needs to fix. In terms of the nice van departing, it likely was not a van used for tours (or if it was, perhaps it was for private tours - we have seen many beautiful vehicles waiting outside of Regent ships with the name of the "party" they are waiting for on a card.)

While I have been overly vocal for years about Regent excursions over the years (not in a positive way), a thread specific to excursions (not about whether we like having them or not) could be very helpful to others.

 

None, those were the van's being used for tours. I do plan on starting a new thread on tours a little later.