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We have never sailed on a small luxury cruise line although

we have done two Scenic river cruises and throughly enjoyed

them and the people we met. Just wondering if we

will fit in with those of you who have traveled extensively

on luxury liners.

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I'm sure that you will fit in ....... the question is whether or not you would like a much larger cruising on a ship (albeit a mid-size one). When people that typically cruise on very large ships, I advise them that there are fewer restaurants, shops and activities on a a 490-750 passenger ship. However, going from a very small boat to a larger ship will likely give more restaurant choices and activities.

 

For the most part, Regent passengers are well traveled, very laid back and friendly. We discuss traveling, what excursions you are taking today/tomorrow or what you went on yesterday. Everyone is treated the same on Regent once you walk outside of your suite door (which is one reason we love the cruise line). No one knows (or asks) what category of suite you are in because it really doesn't matter (it matters a bit on Cruise Critic because people are interested in the differences in the ships, suites, etc.).

 

If you have any specific questions, please ask -- someone is always here willing to respond. Most importantly, welcome to the Regent board.:D:wine-glass:

Edited by Travelcat2
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Ha ha! Not laughing at you in any way, just reflecting on people we've met in the many cruises we've done! You need not worry a bit! Although we've traveled quite a bit, I always feel like the cruise I'm on is my first one ever! Still get chills (good ones) when the engines start and if there's music or a song associated with the line, I tear up!

John and I are retired public school teachers, so we're not used to the "high life", only on a good cruise and Regent hits the mark on that. Regent is particularly nice in that you don't really have to worry a lot about what you wear. There are no enforced formal nights.....you can most certainly dress up, if you want, but most folks go for the country club look, clothes that you might wear out to dinner or church at home and that's plenty. Most people are open and friendly. We've made many friends that we continue to cruise with and keep in touch with. Crew is lovely, restaurants are unpretentious. I think you'll be just fine!

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The last time we cruised on Regent was in 2006 at that time it was much more formal than it is now, but everyone was still very friendly and all the staff were great. So we are looking forward to our trip on Explorer, but we also still enjoy the mass market lines we will be on Princess for 31 days in December and January of this year, they still have formal nights which I wish they would drop and the food can't compare to Regent I'm sure you will love it! Actually we have never been on any cruise when we did not meet lovely interesting people and we've been on 40 cruises on 11 different lines.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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Thank you for the responses making me feel that we would fit in with people on Regent. Mudhen , I am also a retired teacher and DH is retired from sales. Travelcat 2 , I think we will enjoy having a selection of restaurants which we did not have on the river cruises. Goldenrod, the cruise we are looking at is actually on the Explorer!

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We are also wondering if many people travel as couples as we will be doing as opposed to travel with a group. Will we be able to find " new friends" to dine with ?

 

Most people travel as couples (except during the summer and Christmas). Compass Rose (the main dining room) has open seating so people looking to meet others ask for a table for 4 or 6 - even though it is only the two of you. Others will be seated at your table which gives you the opportunity to meet other couples. Also, we have met people on excursions, in the lounge before dinner and on Cruise Critic's Roll Call. We met several couples on Roll Call last year and sailed with them in November. It seemed as if we had known them for a long time....... we had great time!

 

We met a lovely couple a few years ago (not naming them but they have posted on this thread:evilsmile:). We will be taking our third cruise with them in November.

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Jackie: does this person like to MUDdle cucumbers in her HENdricks and tonic?

Z and TB

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Such a smart young man! All of us certainly had a great time on the Explorer for people that had never met (except for the person who likes to muddle cucumbers in her Hendricks and tonic).:halo:

 

snorkel lover: You can see by these posts how "strangers" can become friends on Regent!

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I'm old. I'm cranky. I generally don't like people.

 

But I always meet new friends on a cruise. Remember, we were all new to Regent (or Radisson for some) at one time or another. You may run into the occasional stuffed shirt but it's been my experience that 99% of Regent passengers are very nice people.

 

PS - I was kidding about not liking people. Kind of. :D

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We have been on five Regent cruises (soon to be six) and a Scenic cruise (next year will be two). We found the demographics to be similar and enjoyed the all inclusive aspect on both to be to our liking. We travel as a couple and have met many new friends from all over the world on both cruises. Sometimes we eat as a couple and sometimes join others. I agree with TC that most of the passengers are well traveled, and except for a very few passengers we have encountered on Regent, the passengers are friendly, enjoy talking about their travels, courteous and don't have big egos. We found the crew on both to be outstanding. I would not hesitate to recommend Regent to a Scenic passenger.

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We're ramping up for Regent cruise #8 next month and I can honestly say we've met a WIDE variety of people on our previous cruises. You honestly can't tell where most people fall on the socioeconomic scale - it generally doesn't come up in any discussions. Most passengers we've met seem to be pretty well educated (but not pompous), financially comfortable (but not ostentatious), and generally outgoing and enjoyable to get to know. As I said before, we have about 4 couples we've met that we're still in contact with - and a handful of Cruise Critic peeps that we chit-chat with here.

 

All in all there's a good mix of passengers on board. If you cruise on a Regent ship and don't meet fun and interesting people, it's probably because you chose not to (which is fine, too).

 

On our last cruise, we had a multi-multi-millionaire on board - in the Regent suite, of course - and although I only met him briefly in the Connoisseur Club, people who chatted with him said he was very down-to-earth and just an overall nice guy. You'd never have known he was in that income group from just a casual conversation. But more common are the people like us, who have to budget our travel funds pretty carefully - and we still enjoy every minute on board.

 

On a lot of cruises, it's the people you meet who make it a great vacation, IMHO.

Edited by UUNetBill
Edit a boo-boo
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We have never sailed on a small luxury cruise line although

we have done two Scenic river cruises and throughly enjoyed

them and the people we met. Just wondering if we

will fit in with those of you who have traveled extensively

on luxury liners.

 

Hi: We have done the Nile, Yangtze, Volga, and soon to do the Danube and the Mississippi. We love river-cruising but then we are in our sights-seeing mode. We have done 9 Regent cruises and have loved them all. Ocean cruising can (depending on the itinerary) be much more relaxing. You won't have any trouble "fitting in".

 

I always recommend "sharing" dinner tables as you can meet fascinating, enjoyable fellow cruisers. The Regent Explorer is a magnificent ship; you'll be spoiled having it as your first ocean cruise!

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....still giggling!

ahem....onward...!

One thing that I've always loved about Regent are the Block Parties. Unfortunately, you don't always get one as port intensive cruises usually forgo that because of time restraints, BUT it's a great and wonderful way to meet your neighbors. Often times it's held the first sea day evening (could be other times as well...watch for it in your daily squeek). Late in the afternoon, a bell is rung and everyone goes into their hallway with an empty wine glass. Members of the crew come around with open wine bottles and snacks. While you're meeting your neighbors, the captain, the cruise director and maybe another officer, race down each hallway, one deck at a time, and greet ALL of the passengers! So very cool! I don't know of any other line that does this.....just love it! Great way to meet people.

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I'm a retired teacher too and my husband is a retired welder. As a matter of fact, my retirement gift to myself was a cruise on the Navigator back in 2006, and we were hooked on Regent. We can't cruise as often as we'd like because of finances, but that makes each Regent experience the more sweet! We have our 4th Regent cruise coming up this fall and can't wait to get back on board!

 

We too love the block parties. We've met great people on our trips, and 99% are friendly, outgoing, and just plain fun. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Enjoy!:)

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Unless you have the bad luck to wind up with a charter group, there are very few groups on Regent ships. Sometimes a TA will escort a group, but those "groups" are about as loose as one can get.

 

I usually cruise with a friend (who, as it happens, I met on a Regent--at that time Radisson--cruise). We like to request 6-tops in the dining room, and just ask to be put with fun people. And 95% of the time, that's what we get. We've both made friendships on these cruises that have lasted for years. And my travel buddy is a retired educator.

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....still giggling!

ahem....onward...!

One thing that I've always loved about Regent are the Block Parties. Unfortunately, you don't always get one as port intensive cruises usually forgo that because of time restraints, BUT it's a great and wonderful way to meet your neighbors. Often times it's held the first sea day evening (could be other times as well...watch for it in your daily squeek). Late in the afternoon, a bell is rung and everyone goes into their hallway with an empty wine glass. Members of the crew come around with open wine bottles and snacks. While you're meeting your neighbors, the captain, the cruise director and maybe another officer, race down each hallway, one deck at a time, and greet ALL of the passengers! So very cool! I don't know of any other line that does this.....just love it! Great way to meet people.

 

The Paul Gauguin does it too, and we have attended on the PG as well as the Mariner and Explorer.

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Wow, thank you so much for all the responses. Although, we have been on many cruise lines ( Celebrity, Princess, Holland and Royal Caribbean ), we have never been on a small luxury ocean liner. We have decided to take our first cruise with Regent in 2018. We will be going on the Explorer in the fall of 2018. All of your responses certainly helped with the decision.

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Wow, thank you so much for all the responses. Although, we have been on many cruise lines ( Celebrity, Princess, Holland and Royal Caribbean ), we have never been on a small luxury ocean liner. We have decided to take our first cruise with Regent in 2018. We will be going on the Explorer in the fall of 2018. All of your responses certainly helped with the decision.

 

After 5 Regent cruises, we're trying Scenic in 2018 - only for a change and because it fits better with our diaries - so we hope we'll enjoy it. seemed the nearest equivalent to Regent in the river cruise market.

 

I'm sure you'll enjoy the Explorer! We'll be back on Regent in 2018 we hope.

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After 5 Regent cruises, we're trying Scenic in 2018 - only for a change and because it fits better with our diaries - so we hope we'll enjoy it. seemed the nearest equivalent to Regent in the river cruise market.

 

I'm sure you'll enjoy the Explorer! We'll be back on Regent in 2018 we hope.

We just finished Regent cruise #7 with 8, 9, and 10 booked. I'd also consider Scenic (from what I've seen so far) and Seabourn, and possibly the upcoming Ritz Carlton ships if they're not too crazy expensive. But until we can't find a Regent itinerary that fits us, we'll stick with what we know, especially since we'll hit Gold on our next cruise next month. :D

 

Pretty good loyalty from a couple who just wanted to do one cruise away from the gaggles of kids on other ships.

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...Pretty good loyalty from a couple who just wanted to do one cruise away from the gaggles of kids on other ships.

Well our first cruise was going to be the one and only HOAL (holiday of a lifetime) but then we got the Regent bug ..... 2018 is just an anomaly, we hope! ;)

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Well our first cruise was going to be the one and only HOAL (holiday of a lifetime) but then we got the Regent bug ..... 2018 is just an anomaly, we hope! ;)

 

Regent advertising should come with a warning "can be addictive". For better or worse, we are addicted and there does not seem to be a cure:halo:

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Greetings, Snorkle Lover, from South Beach. It is very easy to enjoy traveling on any Regent ship. We are veterans of many cruises on lots of lines, including a container ship. In 1994, is a fit of mutual insanity, we sailed on Ivaran Line's San Antonio, the largest ship in the world at that time. for 46 days. The container ship carried a theoretical 12 passengers and 36 crew. I say theoretical because we were only eight passengers. I mention this because getting along with six other civilians and a bunch of overworked Norwegians who are sleeping in four hour segments is not as easy as sailing Regent. You know that stuff you hear about going where tourists never go. Well, that was our itinerary, We went to a bunch of ports where no sane person would go because there was nothing there. Fortunately, our staterooms were unexpectedly luxurious, including a crystal ice bucket and Norwegian silver tongs. Food was excellent but the movie selections were lacking. I watched all of them. No plot, no name actors, no fancy sets. That's because they were all required flicks about ship safety, lifeboat safety, first aid, fire management, docking procedures and so on. Crew members, at least at that time, had to view these masterpieces on a schedules. Since this was the maiden voyage, these were all the latest edition. Wow! What luck!

 

So, to us, all ships that are not container ships are wonderful. Not to leave the impression that the San Antonia was a total loss, we got to know our fellow passengers, and the crew. One day, we sailed alongside a whale sanctuary off the coast of Brazil. There were dozens of grey and brown whales swimming close to us, leaping, breaching, splashing, belly flopping. It was glorious, especially the mother whale who did a breach with her baby practically plastered to her side. Too bad all this happened before cell phones and today's cameras. After it was clear the show over, the captain came out on deck. I went over to him and asked him what he thought of the display. His answer: Whales, good eating. Then he left, Clearly, we were not on Regent.

Mary

Edited by warburg
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That was a wonderful story! We also flirted with the idea of sailing on an Ivaran ship, but never got around to it. Maybe that was a good thing?! haha......still, a wonderful tale! Thanks for posting it!

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Thank you ALL so much for weighing in with your thoughts and opinions for a newbie Regent couple. So, now we are faced with picking a cabin and it seems like the pickings are slim even though the cruise we are looking isn't until the fall of 2018.

So our TA has told us that the following cabins are available on the F2 level....717,715,817 and 815 I believe they all are in the front of the ship and could be an issue. The Concierge E level has 647 and 649 which appear to be connecting rooms

( might be a problem?) and 719,721 close to the elevator and also in the front of the ship. Oh me what to do?? Maybe we need to put this off a year when we can have a better cabin selection. HELP!!

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