First Time on Regent—Boarded Explorer Today

[Ladys Mom]

We love those little dessert samplers in Prime 7 for lunch.  Wish they did the same thing for dinner.

[Aloha 1]

20 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

The waiter in Chartreuse this evening told us there were 400 on board.  And that normally there are 700.  And that last cruise was 400.  

Actually we had 494 on board last cruise so you may have more than 400.

[boblerm]

Joanie, I am so glad that you  and Rolf are enjoying your first Regent cruise.  My wife and I had the same feeling,  after many cruises on other cruise lines, it is hard to go back.

 

If you are a fan of Dover Sole, you may wish to try it in Compass Rose, it is always available.  I prefer CR's preparation even better to that of Chartreuse!

 

Continue to enjoy.

 

Bob

[WNcruiser]

@GeorgiaPeach51 This thread is so useful for us. We usually sail in the Retreat on Celebrity so your comparisons are very helpful. We cant wait to board Explorer on the 13th. 

 

Are Prime 7 and Chartreuse only open for lunch on sea days?  

[ChucktownSteve]

9 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Regent vs Celebrity observations so far...

 

Our dissatisfaction with Celebrity after enough cruises to become Elite is based on extremely increased cost vs lack of value.  In other words, if we are paying for a little more luxury, we would like to see it in tangible ways.

 

First, comparing a Celebrity Sky Suite with the Regent Concierge suite.  Comparable size.  Both visually appealing to us.  Both bathrooms similar and sufficient.  Veranda furniture on Regent vastly superior in style, comfort and size.  Celebrity has a thing for teensy tables that do not support having a meal or even a snack on the veranda.  Regent gives you a table of sufficient size that you don’t have to balance a coffee cup on your knee if you want to also have a plate of something to eat.  The outlet situation is better on Celebrity.  We like the wine glasses, coffee cups, espresso cups available in the cabin on Regent.

 

when our cruise papers and luggage stuff arrived it came in an impressive folder with very nice luggage tags.....A hint that things were already going to be a step up on Regent.

 

On Celebrity you have to show your card when you order any beverage or drink.  On Regent you just order.  No card needed.  For Regent faithful that is probably “ummm, yes”, but to those of us accustomed to the card system, it is a welcome revelation.

On Celebrity we found that the quality of a drink varied according to the bartender who made it.  I’ll try to let you know how Regent compares.  I’m hoping we find more consistency, snd suspect that we will.

 

It is a revelation to request a bottle of wine for the room, and there it is.  Wow.  Love it.  The food on Regent so far is superior to the food on Celebrity, including both the pool area food and the food in Luminae for Celebrity suite guests.  The food is fresher, more obviously “homemade”.  Nothing in the pool area offerings is dried out and you can order a piece of fresh grilled fish from the server.  The Veranda on Regent has tablecloths, and a calm, unhurried atmosphere, while Celebrity’s pool area/Oceanview is markedly more hectic....you often cannot find a place to sit on sea days.  Of course, in fairness we are on a roughly half filled ship.

 

If you are not familiar with FOBO, we use that term to mean Fear of Better Options....there is just an embarrassment of riches so far on Regent.  For lunch today do we eat in The Veranda, or do we eat in Prime 7, or in Chartreuse or at the pool grill which is having fish al fresco today?  Choices, choices!

 

FYI we only did two Sky Suites on Celebrity, allowing us to use The Retreat.  The first time we really enjoyed Luminae.  The second time Luminae was more hit and miss and we came away somewhat dissatisfied and disappointed. That experience and the high cost of a less than stellar cruise led us to the search for a cruise line.  I should tell you that we tend to be glass half full people, so so grateful to be able to cruise at this point in our lives, so we don’t expect perfection on ANY cruise.  But we do like to see our hard earned money spent reflected in ways we can feel and see.  So far, Regent wins by a mile.
 

Joanie

 

Joanie,

 

I believe I understand exactly how you feel.  We just tried an Apex S1 suite. I found the Luminae restaurant and retreat hit and miss although they tried to do the best they could.  I did see an elevation in food from previous Celebrity cruises but still not up to Oceania, Azamara and soon to be Regent.

 

I'm glad to hear about your Regent restaurant experiences.  It was the restaurant menus that made the difference for me book three Regent cruises. 

 

When we booked last year, Regent was a much better value than the increase pricing of Celebrity without the benefits/perks.

 

Thank you for your observations. It makes me feel better looking forward to our May, Sept and Jan Regent sailings.  I look forward to more of your insights. TYVM.

Edited March 5, 2022 by ChucktownSteve

[Gilly]

9 hours ago, WNcruiser said:

Are Prime 7 and Chartreuse only open for lunch on sea days?  

 

On board Splendor last November, we returned from a morning tour and enjoyed lunch in Chartreuse whilst in Istanbul.    The best way of knowing what's open and what's not is to keep an eye on the opening times in the daily Passages newsletter.

[Travelingwithstyle]

Joanie,

 

Thank you so much for all your post.  They are very helpful.  My husband and I have been on 65+ cruises in the 25 years of marriage.   In the early years we went on Carnival, Princess, and Holland America.  The last ten years we have only been on Viking, Azamara and Celebrity.

 

In June we will be on the 94 day Grand Voyage Regent Navigator.  We are super excited about the new experiences on Regent.  Thank you so much for posting.  It is greatly appreciated.

 

When you have a chance if you drink red wine  can you please give us your opinion on Regent's red wine.  It is our favorite and at times some of the cruise companies' included red wine  are not very good.  

[GeorgiaPeach51]

12 hours ago, WNcruiser said:

@GeorgiaPeach51 This thread is so useful for us. We usually sail in the Retreat on Celebrity so your comparisons are very helpful. We cant wait to board Explorer on the 13th. 

 

Are Prime 7 and Chartreuse only open for lunch on sea days?  

 WNcruiser, my understanding is that they are both open on sea days.  On port days they alternate with only one open.  So, today we are docked in Cozumel and the lunch options will be Chartreuse 12-1:30, La Veranda 12-2:00, or the pool grill 11-4:00.

 

We are headed out to an ATV jungle ride this morning.  Should be fun!  I’ll let you know.

 

my sweet hubby went to the Coffee Connection this morning.  He came back with coffee nicely served in ceramic cups and.....stop the presses, hold the fort and hold onto your hat......I had my first encounter with a Portuguese tart.....I think that’s what it was.  It is also known surely as the best thing you will ever have the honor snd downright privilege to eat.  I failed to get a photo but will do so.

 

when we return from traipsing thru the jungles of Cozumel ai will have a few words about desserts, our dinner in Pacific Rim and a few more observations about Regent.  

[Gilly]

Oh my word @GeorgiaPeach51, life can only get better now you've tried your first pasteis de nata !   If you enjoy those on board, just wait till you try the original in Lisbon, where they're bought by the dozen and that just doesn't seem to prove a problem...🤣  (Don't ask how I know...)

[2012_Alaska_bound]

40 minutes ago, Gilly said:

Oh my word @GeorgiaPeach51, life can only get better now you've tried your first pasteis de nata !   If you enjoy those on board, just wait till you try the original in Lisbon, where they're bought by the dozen and that just doesn't seem to prove a problem...🤣  (Don't ask how I know...)

 

 

Looking forward to experiencing these in Lisbon next month! Any recommendation on best places to try them?

[WNcruiser]

2 hours ago, 2012_Alaska_bound said:

 

 

Looking forward to experiencing these in Lisbon next month! Any recommendation on best places to try them?

The most famous place is Pasteis de Belem

 

https://pasteisdebelem.pt

[Gilly]

4 minutes ago, WNcruiser said:

The most famous place is Pasteis de Belem

 

https://pasteisdebelem.pt

Exactly!  I just came to say that the original and best...warm and fresh from the oven.  Like buying Krispy Kremes in Winston Salem, there's nothing quite like it 🥰  there's always a queue, but like all good things, it's worth the wait.

 

Edited March 5, 2022 by Gilly

[cmalagngl]

We  are exactly in the same place with Celebrity although I would say increased pricing and decreased value.  Especially with the lack of consistency with cocktails.  We ventured out to sail on Regent in October 2020.  That was cancelled and we are now scheduled for October 2022 for our first Regent cruise.  Can't wait!!!!!  Thanks so much for sharing your observations.

[islandchick]

We were also Celebrity fans until their prices started getting out of control. Since then we have tried Seabourn and Crystal. Now that we have tried the Luxury brands I don't think we could ever go back to mass market, even in suites. There is just no comparison. Our first Regent cruise is in 1 month on a TA and I can't wait to be pampered!

Loving all your observations and comparisons. Thank you. Enjoy your cruise.

Edited March 5, 2022 by islandchick

[-Lew-]

2 hours ago, WNcruiser said:

The most famous place is Pasteis de Belem

 

https://pasteisdebelem.pt

 

[steve1191]

5 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

 WNcruiser, my understanding is that they are both open on sea days.  On port days they alternate with only one open.  So, today we are docked in Cozumel and the lunch options will be Chartreuse 12-1:30, La Veranda 12-2:00, or the pool grill 11-4:00.

 

We are headed out to an ATV jungle ride this morning.  Should be fun!  I’ll let you know.

 

my sweet hubby went to the Coffee Connection this morning.  He came back with coffee nicely served in ceramic cups and.....stop the presses, hold the fort and hold onto your hat......I had my first encounter with a Portuguese tart.....I think that’s what it was.  It is also known surely as the best thing you will ever have the honor snd downright privilege to eat.  I failed to get a photo but will do so.

 

when we return from traipsing thru the jungles of Cozumel ai will have a few words about desserts, our dinner in Pacific Rim and a few more observations about Regent.  

Joanie,

 

Thanks for your posts! We re booked on a Viking Ocean cruise in late JuUne to the British Isles and then a Regent cruise in August to the Baltic on the Splendor!. We are so looking forward to those cruises this summer. We too have been on Celebrity and agree with your thoughts. I would be interested in your thoughts regarding the differences you have found between Viking and now Regent.

[ronrick1943]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your trip with us.  The photo’s really add to your report.  We also like Regent and have cruise with them—however for us it was getting to be the same-same-same…so we’ll be trying Silversea for are next two cruises just to change things up a bit.  I think Regent and Silversea are about the same.  Oceania we’ve stopped cruise because we fell the food just isn’t what it use to be—however the named suites are really nice.

[GeorgiaPeach51]

Back from the ATV tour.  It was a hoot!  Neither of us had been on an ATV before, so there was a bit of a learning curve.  There were about 18 of us.  We met at the end of the dock and checked in, signed the waivers, and boarded a bus.  Masks were required most of the time.  There  was a 25;minute bus ride to the “jungle”.  It was more list dense woods to be, visually.  They gave a brief how to and showed a video and off we went.  It was fun!  Very bumpy, we wore helmets snd face masks to deal with the dust, and leaned a little about the area and some of their customs.  I recommend the tour.

 

We ate for the first time in Compass Rose this morning.  When we entered at about 8:15 there was only one other couple in this big room...it was a little surreal.  By the time we left there were about 6 more people....you kind of feel like you didn’t get the notice of cancellation or something.

 

Now, a few words about desserts.  While not earth shaking, it is a fun part of cruising for people like us who normally don’t eat dessert except on vacations or when out to dinner.  The desserts on Celebrity, for us, are pretty much an abysmal failure.  Oh, they look pretty, snd there are many of them, but they are mainly a masquerade of some kind of ingredients that don’t include butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs, real chocolate.  They are kind of a version of the cakes in grocery store bakeries that have Crisco-like.icing consistency.  There is no taste of a made from scratch dessert....I don’t know what they use instead of the real stuff, but it is horrid.

 

But, on Regent , you get the real deal.  No imposters here.  By golly, if it looks like chocolate goodness, it will taste like chocolate goodness.  If it looks like cheesecake it is absolutely cheesecake when you take a bite.  We peeked in the afternoon tea yesterday and we didn’t give in to temptation and linger to sample, BUT I took photos for you so you can see what you have to look forward to someday.  You can thank me later....😃😃

Edited March 5, 2022 by GeorgiaPeach51

[islandchick]

Wow, those desserts look amazing. I am excited as I have never found great desserts on any cruise, even luxury lines. Was this the chocolate tea or another special tea event?

[GeorgiaPeach51]

What else is missing on Regent that is prevalent on Celebrity?

 

Nary a photographer in sight to implore you to stand still or scooch closer.

 

No “art” auctions full of incredibly ugly framed things...editorial comment there.

 

No long lines to enter or exit the ship.

 

No lines anywhere at all.  
 

No waits for the elevator.

 

Not one millimeter of rust anywhere on the outside decks observed so far.

 

No wait for the room steward to refill the nice L’Occitane shampoo, etc., in your suite.  The moment we opened it, it was refilled and even more brought that very evening.

 

I’m trying to post as I remember things....it’s just so, so, so, so, so, so lovely.  Regent still wins by not just a mile, but by a country mile, which anyone from the South knows is slightly longer than a real mile.  🥰🥰

 

Joanie

[voyager1964]

@GeorgiaPeach51 -  thank you very much for you live review. Somebody has mentioned that the beds on Regent were much softer than on Celebrity - would you agree with this?

[vegasdriven]

Loving your ongoing review. Have only been on  one Regent cruise (Voyager). Had to cancel 2 since then- really hoping nothing happens to impact the next one planned for Dec. holiday cruise on Splendor. 

[GeorgiaPeach51]

10 minutes ago, voyager1964 said:

@GeorgiaPeach51 -  thank you very much for you live review. Somebody has mentioned that the beds on Regent were much softer than on Celebrity - would you agree with this?

We both find the bed very comfortable and have slept well.  I would say it is slightly softer but not enough that when one person turns or gets out of the bed it wakes a light sleeper on the other side.  

[GeorgiaPeach51]

2 minutes ago, vegasdriven said:

Loving your ongoing review. Have only been on  one Regent cruise (Voyager). Had to cancel 2 since then- really hoping nothing happens to impact the next one planned for Dec. holiday cruise on Splendor. 

I hope it happens for you!  Something so fabulous to look forward to!  It feels to me that we have finally turned the Covid corner..

 

[GeorgiaPeach51]

Our dinner in Pacific Rim.  Beautiful restaurant.  Fabulous service, which is true all over the ship.  They served a Complimentary drink, which was interesting, and some crackers with a sauce.  Not sure what they were called.

 

I had the sushi platter for an appetizer.  Just great.  Loved it.  Rolf had the soft shelled crab, which he had never had, and he enjoyed it.....plus he had the tuna tartare, which was wonderful.  Then I had the outrageously good miso cod, he had the duck, and we split an order of lobster tempura.

 

Hands down, the winner was the miso cod.  Close second was his duck.  The lobster tempura wasn’t a winner for us, though it was the dish we most wanted to try.  My husband would eat lobster three meals a day if he could, being a New England boy...so he thought it was cooked in such a way that the taste and texture of the lobster was lost.  It is not that it was bad at all, just not as sublime as the miso cod.

 

for dessert he got a chocolate thing and I got a pudding thing with the little bubbly things found in bubble tea....st least they were similar, though some were chewy.  But, ai liked it...it’s very light so if you are a little full, it’s a good bet.

 

after dinner we visited the money we left last night in the casino, and left a little more to keep it company.🤔🙄

 

then to the show...the violinist was excellent, told some sweet and amusing stories.  Very appealing  personality.  We had vowed we would stay up snd dance, but since my poor husband was up so early for work, we called it a day at 10:30.

 

photos are self explanatory I think.  I added a photo of the lovely orchid in our suite.  ❤️

 

Tonight we are overnight in Cozumel and we are dining for the first time in Prime 7.