Anchorbuoy

Wes, or anyone else with Amex platinum, do you know if there is any coverage through them for lost luggage? Just curious.

This is from the AmEx Platinum website, Baggage Insurance Plan:

"Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered by the Baggage Insurance Plan when you purchase the entire fare for a Common Carrier ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, helicopter, or bus) on an eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage. For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Please read important exclusions and restrictions."

It appears that AmEx will pay for lost luggage, not delayed.

Full details of the program: http://www.americanexpress.com/BIPterms or

https://web.aexp-static.com/us/content/pdf/card-benefits/PlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress/BIP-PLAT-DOC.pdf

Is it totally dependent upon the personalities/wishes of the particular captain and CD for each particular cruise? Just wondering. Regards.

We have observed that it is mostly dependent upon the itinerary. It won't be on the first night, as too many people are tired, or unfamiliar with the ship at that point. It won't be on the second night, because that is the captain's reception party time.

It also won't be on days when the ship leaves in the early evening, because the captain must be on the bridge with the pilot during sail-away. It also won't be on an evening when most of the guests are on late tours.

That leaves it to the timetable of any day that doesn't have another schedule conflict.

Hi Rich

It was a pleasure sailing with you, Ginny, and Shauna this week. We loved sharing the Beatles evening, and Shauna's excitement leading up to the big event.

Safe travels, and looking forward to sailing with you again.

Rich

We will see you (again) onboard on Wednesday. Love Shauna's new hat!

They also have the automatic cut off (which, as I understand it is now 45 minutes instead of 60) so that passengers with free internet don't try to stay logged on when they are not using the internet. I would be happy if Regent went back to the way it was but are still happy to have internet.

Jackie

Your information is a little dated. Regent experimented with the 45 minute cut off, and quickly went back to 60 minutes. Enough people complained, and Regent decided to restate the longer timing.

Logging in still requires the multi-step process, but it works quickly once you know what to do.

We are booked on two consecutive cruises, Venice - Rome, Rome - Monte Carlo and have already booked excursions on both. There does not seem to be an excursion option offered for the day we are in Civitavecchia (Rome). Can we not take an excursion on that day (we are in the same suite on both legs) or will we get a chance to do this when we board?

 

Thanks in advance!

The Mariner is in Venice today as a turnaround day. No excursion was offered. The reason given: too few people staying onboard to make it worth their effort.

Otherwise, free excursions are usually provided, and those are offered a few days into the cruise.

 

On a positive note, Jonathan Smid is wonderful -- wish he was going to be on the Voyager.

Jackie

Jonathan is moving to the Voyager after leaving the Mariner. He should be onboard for your Norway cruise.

Mid Cruise Report

 

There is someone onboard with over 4,000 nights but only 10 Platinum.

'The Captain' Javelin is not on the Mariner. He is currently on the Navigator.

What is the rate for a third person that is an adult?

This is not a scientific answer, but we typically pay about $350 per day for our daughter on the sofabed. Plus the airfare, hotels, and pre-cruise excursions are additional. That fare more than pays for 3 meals, laundry, tour, and entertainment.

Are you counting the cost to change and wash the sheet (towels, etc.), provide extra suite service and amenities? I have no problem with a 3rd person (especially a son or daughter) being in a suite that can accommodate a third person (on the sofa bed) but let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the cost is the same as with 2 people in the room.

 

If I used your analogy, it takes less fuel to move the ship if there is one person in the room so they should pay half?

Yes. We are in full agreement.

Thanks for posting. That is really interesting. Thought that Regent had rules about full paying vs. non-full paying passengers. Good to hear that your daughter can accompany you in your cabin!

The third person IS paying the full fare....at least for the incremental costs of food, entertainment, laundry, and excursions. The cost for the suite itself is already covered by guests 1 & 2. The third person does not use more fuel to move the ship from A to B.

Regent indirectly controls how many third passengers can be onboard. All suites that can accommodate a third person end in the number "7". So, there is a limited number of suites that can be booked that have the sofabed to accommodate the third.

The Regent cruise from Vancouver to San Francisco has 4 days at sea. Is that great scenery to be enjoyed or simply 4 days of quiet time on board? We want to include San Francisco but are concerned about all the "sea" time. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

It will be days of solitude onboard. You can see the coast off the horizon, but you won't be close enough to know where you are.

Our third is paying for their air. When we booked this cruise, our Regent rep via our travel agent led us to believe other than air "it was ALL included". Yes, it'll be interesting to see what the REAL answer is.

I've looked very hard to find some reference to the third passenger that is not a child in Regent catalogs, online, etc. and if it's out there, it's in mouse print. If someone knows where it talks about the "third adult person", I'd be really grateful. Depending on what transpires, this could be a deal breaker. The Regent rep made no mention of an additional charge for shore excursions; their bad, if in fact there is a charge for them.

Yes, you are absolutely fine. Been there, done that.

The third adult is "ALL INCLUSIVE". We have traveled many times on Regent with our adult daughter, staying in our suite. There is zero difference in her ability to participate in all venues. She has full access to all excursions, restaurants, lounges, with no extra charges.

As you found, the airfare is not included in the third-person pricing, so that will be at a higher rate than yours. The third person can purchase the B/C upgrade. Likewise, if you use the "free" pre-cruise hotel, that will cost extra....at lot extra for the third. Sometimes they will give a hotel that accommodates 3 people in one room; sometimes you will get a second hotel room.

Lastly, the reduced cost pre- or post-cruise land tours will not be free or $499. They are available, but at a 2X rate.

The Windsor Atlantica was the hotel Regent had originally showed us staying at. The above comments help to explain our disappointment at being moved to the Sheraton after final pay and with no explanation.

We too got bumped and ended at the awful Sheraton Rio.

I knew we were in trouble when we got on the Regent bus leaving the airport. The escort announced that the bus would be stopping at 2 hotels....the Marriott Copacabana and the Sheraton Rio. The guide explained that those people who had the Marriott would be having a wonderful time at a great hotel in the best part of town. She concluded by saying that those of us staying at the Sheraton would see a beach.

Enough said.

The current charge for Air Deviation services is $175 USD per person.

I have been told by the Air Deviation department that any and all flights using Delta or code share partners will have an additional charge of $500 per person, per direction. So, if you like Delta it now costs an extra $2,000 per couple, on top of the BC upgrade fees.

The Delta surcharge started Jan 1 for the current contracts with Regent.

I had a similar experience trying to use Emirates with Regent....but it was $1,000 per person, per direction.

Anchorbuoy, please update on this issue if possible. Will be boarding Mariner on next cruise.

Good news. The captain sent a letter this afternoon stating that the repair parts are expected to arrive during our stop in Miami tomorrow. If so, the stabilizers will be repaired before departure.

I would love to know how long Davor will be on the Mariner if it is possible to find out. We board on March. He is a great GM.

Eager:

Davor is scheduled to be onboard from now and thru the dry-dock, which is in late March.

Anchorbuoy, were you in an ocean-view room on one of the bottom four floors? Those rooms have not been renovated and suffer from the problems you mentioned. When we stayed there, we told them we were allergic to mold and needed to be in one of the renovated rooms high up and our room (and the room of many other Regent travelers who made the same request on checking in) was OK.... no mold, no electrical problems and adequate A/C.

No, we were on the 11th floor.

I did not realize that we needed to ask for livable quarters.

The Sheraton Rio is easily the worst hotel we have ever experienced. We had low expectations, given many of the comments on CC. But, I was too optimistic that things would turn out well.

We arrived on January 3rd. To Regent's credit, they straightened out the situation regarding lack of shoreside personnel to assist incoming passengers. There were plenty of representatives to answer questions, and they provided a conference room with wi-fi and snacks while waiting for your room. Rooms were generally ready long before the 3:00 check-in time.

The lobby and grounds of the hotel are nice. The rooms however are horrible. Our room had mold and mildew everywhere. The air conditioner could not cool below 80 degrees. Walls had sheets of wallpaper falling off. Doors were delaminating and ill fitting. The only electrical outlet in the room had fallen out, dangling by the wires....which made a challenge to use it without getting shocked. The whole place looked like it had zero maintenance since it was built.

The Sheraton management was not helpful nor concerned. The best part of our stay was leaving for the ship. Other passengers had similar experiences.

Regent's hotel offerings are usually excellent. Sheraton Rio, not so much.

NEVER again will we consider this hotel.

No updates from the captain yesterday. The ship was in San Juan, getting a Coast Guard inspection. There have been many crew drills the past few days, followed by yesterday's inspections. So, the captain, crew, and senior officers had their hand full.

We departed San Juan one and a half hours late last night. Thankfully, the sea conditions have been calm since we left. The stabilizers probably would not have been used anyway. Smooth sailing, finally !

We are currently on the Mariner, doing the Rio to Miami, Amazon river cruise. We have been without functioning stabilizers for the past week, and the ride has been rolling every day. We even missed our port call at Devils Island due to high winds and rough waters. The captain has said very little about the stabilizers other than he is doing his best, and the ship is safe. He encouraged passengers to take medications if subject to seasickness.

This morning, the captain announced that the stabilizer requires a part for which no spare exists in the world. They are working on getting a replacement manufactured, with a due date on February 4.

Those of you you getting on in Miami need to be prepared and bring Bonine.