bitob

Just now, mrlevin said:

Bitob, any way you can count the total lounges on decks 11 and 12?  I really think the modifications made should make Grandeur better than Splendor with respect to chair hogs. Franck had given me the same explanation Christmas 2021 and Christmas 2022; nothing has changed on Splendor. 
 

I have found getting their early helps. I take a sign saying “Lounger $10” gets me a little spending money. 

He told me. 180 or so loungers for 700 guests. Therein lies the problem

Just now, CruzC2C said:

We are currently on the Grandeur in a Concierge D and we do not have a lounger on our balcony.  When I asked about there being no lounger on the balcony, I was told that only the higher suites now get loungers.  That this only applies to Grandeur.
 We have 2 chairs and a small table on our balcony.  I’m extremely disappointed with no lounger.  

Sometimes the floor plans indicate what patio furniture will be on your balcony. 

Just now, Kwaj girl said:

 

Who, in their right mind, would just leave "valuables" laying around unattended? 

I’m just the messenger. That’s one of the reasons Franck gave me. He could be referring to iPads or iPhones. 
 

i know I am far less concerned about theft on a regent ship than eg at a resort. 

Just now, Gpilon said:

I suspect Regent would rather passengers get in fights rather than having a proactive policy to avoid it. Absolutely crazy. 

The don’t want their staff getting altercations with passengers and they are concerned that there might be valuables on chairs that will go missing. That’s what I was told

No effect whatsoever 

the lounges on deck 11 not as popular 

double vs single means they hog 2 single chaises 

I have an official answer about the chair hogs. I spoke to Franck the gm who was on the Splendor  cruise when Stefan imposed the policy 

it is not company policy and it will not be for many reasons. The official policy is what’s written daily in passages. Do not expect anything to change 

10 minutes ago, GMIAC said:

 

And there are any number of websites that will generate and official-looking companion certificate. 

and you can buy a coat for your pet that signifies he’s a ‘service dog’

2 minutes ago, vistaman said:

yes however  some MD are probably very willing to write certificates that some people can take their lap dog on cruise ... 

this is totally unregulated. 

Just now, -Lew- said:

 

 

But the problem was essentially solved!  Why did Regent simply not institute the policy on Grandeur?

 

We sailed on Viking Sky this past fall and in 55 days never had an issue finding a couple of available lounge chairs by the pool.

Doing it on one ship at the request of passengers does not make it a policy. 

Just now, rcandkc said:

Makes me want to stay away from warm weather cruises. 

No better on silversea or any other cruise line 

1 hour ago, -Lew- said:

 

A group of us on the January 21st Splendor sailing were instrumental in getting Regent to set rules fleet-wide regarding saving lounge chairs.  Here's a link to a thread I started regarding this issue last February.

 

Stephane Carriou, Food and Beverage Director, was instrumental in getting the fleet-wide policy activated.  I believe he's onboard now, so I'm puzzled why the policy is not in effect.

 

We're on Grandeur for a B2B2B beginning January 26 and really don't want to have to reinvent the wheel.  I've written to Regent regarding this and suggest anyone who is sailing on Grandeur in the next few months to do the same.

he is on board. it gets worse each day

I can’t specify precisely because I don’t ask about his negotiations on air or anything else. I just revel in the good news 

But he does perform miracles in many aspects of my bookings 

Just now, 2SailingNomads said:

Joined on the 21st.  Lots of good about this ship, but quite a bit of poor workmanship,  (Shower door, carpet in hallway stairwells, uneven boards by pool bar, A/C issues in our suite, etc.)  Automated doors to pool deck have had multiple issues, pool bar had workmen on more than one occasion fixing things - new ship yes but some of it a lack of quality control and maybe a rush to get it delivered.  Today for the first time we did hear our neighbors talking when we were inside our suite - on deck 14 - never had any noise when on Splendor.  Service has been mostly excellent, butler always wanting to insure we have everything, laundry came back same day, and food has been very good, however rarely hot, mostly warm at best.  Entertainment has been some of the best we have experienced at sea.

  

Lots of chair reservations early in the morning, with NO enforcement of the supposed rules.

 

And...  a woman with a dog (not a service dog) who takes it to restaurants and coffee connection and I have no idea, luckily for me, where else...  I was not aware that Regent allowed dogs on board.  

I’m sure she claims it’s a service dog

emotional support?

could be to detect seizures

no way to prove

not regulated

We as individual passengers have no power. No clout. No ability to negotiate 

many, not all tas, can negotiate for better deals. 
 

that’s why i hand out my tas card on every cruise 

One final caution

there is plenty of covid on this ship. I don’t know exact number of cases but I personally know 3 people with covid. The coughing on board is very noticeable. 
 

we never leave home without Covid tests. I suggest you carry one in case you have even minor symptoms so you can confirm one way or the other

Starlink blocks WiFi connection when vpn connected. You have to connect to WiFi first then connect vpn 

Some tas have more clout than we do

For included flights a great ta is worth his or her weight in gold

i flew in a Qatar qsuite la to Cape Town with no up charge!!  My ta worked his magic

No brainer costwise 

always log into WiFi before turning on vpn 

On 12/27/2023 at 3:05 PM, broker1217 said:

I hesitate to say this, but we disembarked in Lima on the 19th and there was a LOT of coughing on board. One woman in Observation Lounge was coughing, sneezing and blowing her nose. lots of coughing on transfer bus departing Lima.

We both tested positive for COVID one and two days after returning home.

We did not go to shows and skipped excursions the last 10 days, and we don’t dine with others.

In hindsight, I wish we had avoided any shared elevators and had masked up on the transfer.

Just use precaution as you see fit.

While we were on board (Dec. 4-19) there was no enforcement of washing or sanitizing.

i’m on rssc grandeur. i’ve never experienced so much coughing. i know we have some covid cases. we are also on panama canal cruise heading to los angeles. we’ve been on for a few weeks since barcelona

we also love silversea and appreciate this detailed thread. we will be on silver ray in 2024 for 37 nights. lots of good information

We have been in grandeur since Barcelona 

on crossing formal nights there were more tuxes than I expected to see but most were elegant casual 

the 7 day Caribbean leg was all elegant casual with a few slobs mixed in

now on the Panama Canal leg we are back to elegant casual. A few ladies are overdressed (imo) nightly but live and let live. Tonight is of course New Year’s Eve. Might be a tux or 2 on board 

there is no reason to get dressed up or even for men to bring a sport jacket unless you want to. Those folks are definitely in the minority 

You can stream with a vpn. I’ve been doing so the entire cruise. Internet has been flawless. The IT guy is great

1 hour ago, flossie009 said:

Isn’t every cruise ship? 
The difference we like about Regent is their flexibility and willingness to do something special when requested.

 

We do not find that to be an issue. If we have failed to note the number, then invariably the server will just ask where you are sitting and say “no worries, I will find you”

On Mariner at present and at the Pool Grill servers will take your order at the table - no need to go to the serving station

 

 

They are doing same on grandeur

I’ve had a lot of good butlers but Bobby on this cruise is in the top 2 for sure. Very proactive rather than reactive. When they offered me a move to the gs I said only if he part of the deal 

when we moved to the grand suite I pointed out that they didn’t put hooks anywhere. Not the bathroom. Not the closet. There were hooks in the grandeur suites   I suggested he mention it

i just realized he had hooks installed but he wanted me to discover them for myself. I was not expecting that. 

Panama Canal transit now

my 6th time lol

narrator mediocre compared to others who have guided us through the canal but it is still fascinating