loriva

Thank you so much for your posting, J80crew!  It sounds like things are working out very nicely for you.  I hope you continue to enjoy your trip!

I also just started a new topic with some updated information I learned from Crystal in preparing for our cruise.  Welcome any contributions your time permits you to make.

Many thanks,

And, because I had lots of time on my hands with the many cruises and other trips cancelled during the pandemic, I paid special attention during the Crystal@Home offerings while they were not sailing and compiled a list of specialty cocktails they featured during their "Thirsty Thursdays."  Seven days onboard will not be enough to try them all, but at least I have a list for reference depending on mood!  I'm thinking some of those hot drinks might be nice to enjoy on the top deck if we hit a cold snap during the sailing!  (I did also compile notes on history and culture of places we're visiting--I don't plan ONLY to drink!  But those notes are best posted on the port section of this board.)

Muscat Cinnamon Tea (hot):  2 whole cinnamon sticks, 1 cup of boiling water, 1 oz. Seedlip Spice (non-alcoholic spirit), Orange peel. Steep in a teapot and serve with honey & a cinnamon stick.

Crystal’s Hot Toddy:  2 oz. honey, 1 lemon slice, 1 orange slice, 1 cinnamon stick, 10 cloves, Boiling water, and your choice of spirit--brandy, scotch, and bourbon work well.  Add honey and boiling water to a Cognac glass, stir to mix.  Press the cloves into the citrus slices (5 each) & add to the glass.  Add the cinnamon stick & liquor of your choice.  Stir vigorously to infuse the flavors.

Crystal’s Spanish Coffee:  1.0 oz. Courvoisier VSOP Cognac, 0.5 oz. Tia Maria, 0.5 oz. Triple Sec, Freshly brewed dark roast hot coffee, Freshly whipped cream.  Pour liqueurs into a clear coffee glass, add coffee, and finish with whipped cream.  Add chocolate shavings to taste.

The Boulevardier--An “autumnal cousin of the classic Negroni,” replacing the gin with bourbon, the Boulevardier gained a following at Harry’s American Bar in Paris during Prohibition in the United States:  1.5 oz. Bourbon or Rye Whiskey, 1.0 oz. Bitter Campari, 1.0 oz. Sweet Red Vermouth.  Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass and shake well with ice.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve with twist of orange or lemon.

Sbagliato—a “happy accident” when a bartender poured prosecco instead of gin into a Negroni: 1 ounce Campari, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, 3 ounces prosecco—mix together & garnish w/orange.
Crystal’s Brandy Alexander:  1.0 oz. Martell cognac, 1.0 oz. Brown crème de cacao, 1.0 oz. Cream, Nutmeg:  Mix and shake well with ice and strain into a glass.  Serve over ice or straight up, sprinkle with nutmeg.

Crystal’s Teenie Weenie Limón Martini:  2.0 oz. Absolut Citron, 0.5 oz. Cointreau, 0.5 oz. Limoncello, Splash of fresh lemon sour, Sugar for coating the rim of the glass:  Shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass, straight up or on the rocks.  Garnish with a lemon spiral.

Crystal’s Grapefruit Tarragon Gin & Tonic (from Crystal’s Diverse G&T menu):  2 oz. Hendrick’s Gin, 2 oz. Fresh grapefruit juice, ¼ oz. Simple syrup, 1 ½ oz. Fever Tree Indian Tonic Water:  Mix, serve in a Spanish Copa glass, and garnish with fresh tarragon. 

Strawberry & Black Pepper Gin & Tonic:  2 oz. Martin Miller’s Gin, 4 oz. Fever Tree Indian Tonic Water, 2 Fresh strawberries, 10 Peppercorns--Slice the strawberries into quarters and drop into a glass with ice, along with black peppercorns.  Add Martin Miller’s gin, stir once to mix with the ice then top up with tonic water.  Add a twist of fresh pepper from a grinder and place a strawberry on the rim of the glass.  A large balloon glass or large red wine glass works best; highball is sub..

French 75 cocktail is a potent blend of gin, champagne and lemon.

The Vesper Martini:  2 oz. Gin, ½ oz. Vodka, ¼ oz. Lillet Blonde (a wine-based aperitif)--Shake over ice until well chilled, then strain into a deep goblet—a champagne coupe or stemmed cocktail glass--and garnish with a thin slice of lemon peel.

Ginger Cosmo:  2.50 oz Absolut Citron, 0.50 oz Triple Sec, 2 quarter-sized slices of Fresh Ginger, 0.50 oz sugar syrup, Half pressed lime Juice, Splash cranberry Juice:  Muddle ginger and sugar syrup in shaker, add remaining ingredients and shake well until ice cold.  Strain into chilled cocktail/martini glass.  Garnish with a candied ginger slice on pick.

Bellini Cocktail:  5.00 oz Prosecco, 2.00 oz White Peach Puree--Stir gently with ice in a shaker and strain into a small highball glass.

Rossini Cocktail:  5.00 oz Prosecco, 2.00 oz Strawberry Puree--Stir gently with ice in a shaker and strain into a small highball glass.

The Paper Plane--Created in 2007 by famed Australian bartender Sam Ross--one of the most-prolific cocktail creators in the industry today--as a modern take on the Last Word cocktail:  0.50 oz Cynar Amaro, 0.50 oz Aperol, 0.50 oz Bourbon, 0.50 oz Fresh Lemon Sour--Shake and strain over fresh ice in an old fashioned (rocks) glass.  Garnish with an orange slice.

The Stepford Sister--Created by Scottish bartender Sam Hughes of the Bramble Bar in Edinburgh.  He aimed for “something zippy and refreshing for that perfect afternoon aperitivo moment…”  Mission accomplished:  1.00 oz Beefeater gin, 1.00 oz Elderflower Liqueur, 1.00 oz Averna Italian Bitter, 1.00 oz Fresh lemon juice--Shake with ice and fine-strain (double strain so no solid pieces remain) into a chilled Martini Glass and garnish with an orange peel.

Classic Aperol Spritz:  1 oz. Aperol, 2 oz. Prosecco Sparkling Wine, 1 oz. Club Soda--Serve the drink in a nice, stemmed glass over ice.  Garnish with slice of orange.  So popular and universally satisfying is the cocktail, Crystal’s barkeepers and mixologists devised an entire selection of “Spritzes” from which to choose.  Aromatic with citrus and slightly bitter with the refreshing bite of prosecco, feel free to spritz any way you wish.  Aboard Crystal ships, choose from Aperol Aperitivo, Cynar, Campari, Lillet, Limoncello, or Galliano L’Aperitivo:
    --Aperol, an Italian aperitif or bitter, made using bitter oranges, rhubarb, cinchona and gentian root.  Aperol is not as bitter as Campari and more approachable.
    --Cynar, pronounced chee-nar, is an artichoke liqueur made in Italy full of woody vegetal flavors and perfectly refreshing as a spritz.
    --Campari, the famous bright red bitter that was originally colored from the cochineal beetle.  Campari is the world’s most-famous bitter and found in many cocktails.
    --Lillet, the sweetheart of Bordeaux in summertime.  A French aromatic wine this aperitif is made with both sweet and bitter oranges and Semillon wine.
    --Limoncello, if you don’t favor the bitter flavors then try a sweet and tangy spritz.  Limoncello is traditionally made in Campania Italy from Femminello St. Teresa lemons.
    --Galliano L’Aperitivo, made from sage, lavender, anise, vanilla, oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit, this bitter packs a lot of complex favors.

The Pirlo Cocktail (Northern Italy’s answer to the spritz):  1 part Campari (Aperol if you prefer a lighter flavor), 2-3 parts white wine (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or Lugana), Small splash of sparkling water, Slice of lemon or orange.

The Hugo:  Approx. 1 ¼ oz Elderflower Liqueur, 2 oz. Sauvignon Blanc (SB Scharl Oststeiermark), 1 ½ oz. Splash Prosecco (instead of Soda), Mint leaves (10 pcs), Ice cubes--Serve in a large wine glass.

Pink Flower:  1 ½ oz. Tanqueray Gin, ½ oz. St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, ¾ oz. lemon juice, 2 ½ oz. fresh pink grapefruit juice, ½ oz. simple syrup--Shake with ice until cold, then strain into a champagne coupé with a little fresh ice.  Garnish with a quarter slice of grapefruit.

Cable Car:  1 3/4 oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, 1/4 oz. Orange Curacao Liqueur, 1 3/4 oz. Fresh Lemon Sour--Pour into a mixing cup with ice and shake.  Apply a cinnamon sugar rim to a martini glass and serve straight up.

The Ginger Drop Martini by Markus Krüger:  For two cocktails, squeeze a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger into a shaker, then add ingredients--3 oz. lemon vodka, 1.5 oz. Triple Sec, 1.5 oz. simple syrup, 1.5 oz. fresh lemon juice--Shake well with ice & pour into a sugared martini glass.

Queens Park Swizzle:  3 oz. Havana Club rum, ½ oz. rich simple syrup, ½ oz. fresh lime juice, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, Handful fresh mint leaves--In a highball or hurricane glass, gently muddle the mint leaves until they are softened; use the muddler to coat the leaves up the sides of the glass.  Add the remaining ingredients and fill the glass with crushed ice.  Using a bar spoon, stir quickly in tight circles (twisting the spoon between the palms of your hands works nicely) to form a frost on the outside of the glass.  Garnish with mint and serve.

Oceans Three Zero:  1 oz. Crème de Cacao White, 1 oz. Lanique Rose Liqueur, 1 oz. Gordon’s Gin, 1 oz. Aquafaba, Juice of one lemon--Shake hard to create foam, then double strain into a cocktail glass.  Garnish with small rose petals to one side.

Enjoy!
 

While we do not sail on Crystal Ravel (Budapest to Vilshofen) until late October, I have learned so much from others on the CruiseCritic boards that I try to pay it back (and forward) whenever I can.  Here are a few things I (a first-time Crystal cruiser) have learned from Crystal in preparation for our river cruise.

     --Crystal's Shore Side Butler Service has been transitioned to River Onboard Guest Services.  They will help with any onboard inquires or requests you may have.  (I received a response to my request in less than 24 hours.)  Email is obgsriver@crystalcruises.com; telephone:  1.800.446.6620, Option #9; or Fax: 310.785.3975.

     --Should you need anything regarding Pre- or Post-Extended Land Programs, Transfers, or Shore Excursions, you are invited to contact the River Destinations team at RiverDestinations@crystalcruises.com.

     --Crystal River will mark any special occasion with a cake and champagne one evening to honor the celebration.  You are asked to contact the Onboard Guest Services team (see contact info above) at least 30 days in advance and to advise what evening you would like to have this arranged.

     --Once you have made final payment, you can sign up for a lunch or dinner in the Vintage Room.  The details of passengers who have signed up are all sent to the ship prior to boarding.  You will be advised once you board the date and time of the Vintage Room Lunch or Dinner.  If for whatever reason they do not have enough guests signed up for the Vintage Room, the Restaurant Manager onboard will advise of any other options available for the sailing.

Finally, the Crystal Onboard Guest Service representative sent me the onboard beverage menu.  (Thanks, Cara!)  While it is labeled "Rhine," it should be valid for the Danube sailings as well (as the guest rep knew I was on a Danube itinerary).  Cheers and happy dreaming of upcoming cruises!

River- Rhine Connoisseur and Inclusive Beverage Menu (4).pdf

And Ravel has arrived in Budapest!  Happy sailing, J80crew!!

             Miami, August 29, 2021– Today, Crystal River Cruises, The World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line, celebrated the resumption of European river cruise operations and its return to Europe’s beloved rivers as Crystal Ravel sailed from Vilshofen on a seven-night Danube itinerary featuring calls in Germany, Austria and Hungary, shipboard overnights in Vienna and Budapest, and cruising of the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley. In Vilshofen, officers and crew welcomed guests back to Crystal Ravel after a nearly 18-month pause in operations. Tomorrow, August 30, sister ship Crystal Debussy is set to cruise from Basel on a seven-night Rhine itinerary with calls in Switzerland, France, Germany and Netherlands and overnight calls in Koblenz and Amsterdam.

              “After months of planning and preparation we are excited to welcome our guests back on board to experience the attentive service and personalized care of our devoted staff on cruises to the best-loved destinations of Europe’s scenic rivers and waterways,” said Walter Littlejohn, Crystal River Cruises’ senior vice president and managing director.

              “We know our guests are also incredibly eager to return to the luxurious accommodations, Michelin-level cuisine and unrivaled social spaces aboard our ships as well as the enriching discoveries that await ashore,” Littlejohn said. “The effortless luxury and relaxation of river cruising seems perfectly designed for the moment in which we find ourselves, allowing our guests to escape to a world of natural beauty along Europe’s rivers, highlighted by great art, architecture and history, and with unique opportunities for cultural immersion to create cherished memories of a lifetime.”

              The ships’ staff have been prepping the vessels, refreshing their training, and implementing new Crystal Clean+ procedures that address the unique challenges of COVID-19 with stringent health protocols in place to provide guests a safe and enjoyable experience. Crystal River Cruises requires all guests and crew to be fully vaccinated as part of Crystal Clean+, which due to the mandatory vaccination requirement, allows guests to explore ashore independently.

              Inherently spacious, the line’s luxurious all-suite river ships allow for ample social distancing, accommodating just half as many guests as similarly sized vessels and offering a la carte restaurants, open-seating dining, and an abundance of tables for two.  

              In 2021, Crystal River Cruises will offer 32 voyages ranging from seven to 11 nights exploring the historic cities, cultural treasures and UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Rhine, Danube and Moselle rivers with a focus on the line’s most popular and destination-rich seven-night Rhine and Danube itineraries, as well as voyages showcasing the fairytale beauty of the Mosel Wine Region. Every 2021 river voyage is also highlighted by at least two overnight stays, with many voyages offering three overnights, allowing guests to further immerse themselves in the ports’ charm and history, or venture to nearby towns for broader experiences.

              Crystal River Cruises’ 2021 deployment reflects a gradual return of service and the consolidation of sailings from Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler to similar voyages on their identical sister ships, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel. There is still time and availability to book on select voyages, including limited availability on 2021 Holiday voyages. Crystal Ravel is set to ring in the New Year in Vienna during an extended three-night call, while Crystal Debussy will celebrate New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam with a two-night call to enjoy all the festivities and enrichment the city has to offer.

              On Crystal River Cruises’ itineraries, timeless medieval towns mix beautifully with modern hubs of culture and commerce. Guests can explore Melk’s Benedictine Abbey, Vienna’s famed Ringstrasse, and the windmills of Amsterdam, and cruise through the magnificent landscapes of the Rhine River Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On every voyage, Crystal’s Destination Discoveries features inclusive and optional curated experiences ashore, as well as Signature Events and extended journeys designed to enhance the journey for guests with selections that cater to a variety of interests, including a complimentary Signature Event at the Belvedere Palace in Vienna for select 2021 Crystal Ravel sailings. 

              Crystal’s award-winning Rhine-Class river ships are the industry’s first and only all-balcony, all-suite, all-butler vessels in Europe, with every category of accommodation positioned above the water line.  All suites feature Panoramic Balcony-Windows™ and walk-in closets and dual vanity in the bathrooms are featured in most categories.

              All of Crystal’s river ships feature private butler service in every room category, king-sized beds, Caudalie amenities, robes and slippers, and wall-mounted flat-screen HD TVs. Additional enticing features include farm-to-table cuisine in multiple, open-seating eateries: the elegant Waterside Restaurant, namesake Bistro cafés and the exclusive Vintage Room; and the Palm Court for entertainment, enrichment presentations and sweeping views of the countryside. Crystal’s attention to detail reaches ashore, as guests are transported on adventures in luxury motor coaches equipped with complimentary water and Wi-Fi for added convenience and comfort.

Source:  https://mediacenter.crystalcruises.com/crystal-river-cruises-celebrates-resumption-of-european-river-cruising-with-crystal-ravel-and-crystal-debussy/

Also wishing the both of you safe travels and a great cruise.  Traveling vicariously through you in hopes that our similar cruise goes in October.

All the best,

12 hours ago, J80crew said:

Thanks, Lori. It is also our first river cruise, though not our first Crystal cruise. We know what a great job Crystal does on their ocean ships, so expect to have a great time on this one. I’ll try to follow up with a report of our experience. 

Looks like Ravel is also underway!  Will be watching for its arrival in Vilshofen.

58 minutes ago, J80crew said:

Loriva, We are on Ravel leaving Budapest September 5. We had originally planned to spend three days in Budapest prior to boarding, but of course had to change that due to Hungary’s restrictions on US passengers arriving by air. We will instead spend those days in Switzerland and fly to BUD the morning of the 5th. Crystal sent us a copy of a certificate assuring entry of Crystal passengers from the US for transit to the ship within 24 hours. We need only our vaccination cards and cruise tickets. Unfortunately we will not get the Budapest part of the cruise since we have to leave that evening, but will have a day in Bratislava before going on to Vienna. Those who are doing the reverse cruise will probably have their Budapest visits, since they will be arriving by ship. In any case, I’m just glad we get to go!

J80crew,

We're so hopeful you will cruise and have a great time.  This cruise would be our first river cruise and first with Crystal.  We had planned from the beginning to fly into Prague, spend three nights, and then take a train to Budapest, which at this time looks like its still permitted by the Hungarians.  Since we're coming by land, we're also spending two nights in Budapest before boarding the Ravel.

If you have a chance, would love to hear of your experiences on your cruise.  Again, wishing you all the best!

Lori 

Marine Traffic's tracker shows Crystal Debussy on the move to Basel, where it is scheduled to restart service on Monday, 30 August.  It was a little concerning a couple of days ago when it was in Amsterdam--its ending port, not beginning.  Debussy is showing an arrival in Basel of 1400 hours local on 29 August.

Crystal Ravel has been in Linz since mid-June.  It is due to sail out of Vilshofen on Sunday, 29 August.  I wonder when it will begin its move.

Anyone on any of these initial sailings?  Or sailings in September.  Would love to hear your experiences.  We are booked on a Budapest to Vilshofen sailing in late October and hoping it will go!

Many thanks,

Crystal is scheduled to restart its river cruises next week, with Ravel sailing from Vilshofen on 29 August to Budapest and Debussy from Basel to Amsterdam the next day.  According to the MarineTraffic website the two ships are in Linz and Amsterdam, respectively.  Ravel is certainly within striking distance of its starting port, but it was odd Debussy is at its endpoint, not its starting point.  Maybe ready to start a shake-down sailing prior to its first revenue sailing next Monday?  

After months of radio silence from Crystal, the company started sending lots of emails about sailing protocols, entry requirements for countries along the itinerary, etc.  So, it appears at least someone is looking at the itineraries and hopeful they will sail!

You're all making me look forward to cruising with Scenic for the first time.  I'll hope the Danube excursions are as interesting as your Seine and Dourno ones.  And gives me food for thought for booking future cruises with Scenic!

Thanks Wings55 and Canal Archive for your responses.  We'll certainly look forward to those sundowners as we also first encountered on safari in South Africa, but also enjoyed in Scenic's home of Australia.

Our TA finally reached Scenic yesterday.  Here are responses in hope they can help others in the future.

     --Scenic says excursions should be posted to the cruise personalizer in about two months.  We're on an Oberammergau cruise tour in mid-June 2022 so that would make it about 8 months prior to the trip.

     --Scenic provided a few flight options for us, but the pricing did not seem any different from what I am seeing via Google Flights.  And they said the prices could change at any time.  Wondering if Scenic does not have contracts for airfare from the United States as other lines do.  Anyway, it provided what we were looking for--a baseline we can use while tracking prices.

Thanks again!

Slightly off topic, but I've tried getting answers to the following two questions directly via an email to Scenic as well as through our TA and have had no luck.  So, it's "technically" about correspondence from the cruise line...

    --Did you buy your flights from Scenic?  If so, at what point could you reserve flights (usual is 270 days before boarding) and who did you call to arrange them?  I've been trying to find a quote for them  for business-class to use as a point of comparison for what we can arrange on our own, but no response.

    --When are "Free Choice" excursions posted and available for reservation?  We could get into our booking on Scenic's website to fill in our guest information forms but the excursion tab is not available (grayed out--can see the tab but not open it).

1 hour ago, PhD-iva said:

Am flying out tomorrow, 9 August to Budapest. Looks like the Hungarian police have updated their website today. Not sure I understand what it is saying. Can anyone help “translate” it for me?

http://www.police.hu/en/content/information-on-general-rules-of-border-crossing

I’m vaccinated and have my original CDC vaccine card. I (will) have taken 3 PCR tests before departure: first one 4 days before my arrival, second one 3 days before arrival and the third one the day before my arrival. There is a Sunday included in there, so its not as much processing time as you might expect if Sunday is not a processing day. I used 2 different companies to diversify my supply chain (CVS and Walgreens).

I thought I saw on the police website (or somewhere) that they don’t accept the rapid test results. I’m nervous bc I’ve read that covid test results are being delayed due to a surge in testing. I HOPE at least 1 of the tests come back before I land in Budapest!

 

The Hungarian National Police document is confusing to say the least.  I THINK you are covered by the transit provisions at the very end of the document.  They also list telephone numbers you can call for information at the airport.  Before that, you might want to call--and email to document--Uniworld to determine if they have been notified of any changes from what they sent to you last week.

1 minute ago, Pcardad said:

I have this question repeatedly and been told there is no information available.

Which, given this statement from Crystal on its 2022 WC--"We do know with near certainty that many of our planned calls will not be available including those in Australia and New Zealand."--appears completely disingenuous on Regent's part.

7 hours ago, Kwaj girl said:

HOT OFF THE PRESS......Email just sent by Regent.  Note the "date of issuance" as yesterday though it was not sent out until 821am today (highlight added for emphasis):

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR UPCOMING CRUISE DATE OF ISSUANCE: AUGUST 4, 2021

 

Dear Valued Guest and Travel Advisor*,   On behalf of all of us at Regent Seven Seas Cruises, we hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well.   We would like to provide a brief update regarding your 2022 World Cruise aboard Seven Seas Mariner®, Navigate the World.   Based on our published 2022 World Cruise itinerary, the timeline of our scheduled ports of call, and our requirement of 100% vaccination of all guests and crew, we are confident that we can deliver an exceptional experience. Therefore, on January 5, 2022, Seven Seas Mariner® will embark on her 120-Night World Cruise as planned, sailing roundtrip from San Francisco. The entire Regent family is eagerly anticipating your arrival.   As we prepare to welcome you aboard, we remain mindful of the global health environment and will communicate updates as needed. We do anticipate that a measure of flexibility will be required to operate a voyage of this breadth and scope. If we are unable to visit a specific destination due to travel or safety restrictions, we will notify guests as soon as possible and will make every effort to replace ports of call.   To offer you more confidence and flexibility, Full World Cruise guests may cancel by October 7, 2021, which is 90 days prior to cruise departure date, without penalty and receive a 100% Refund on amounts paid** at time of cancellation. Refund requests will be processed within 60 days of receipt.   Please be advised that we will not be offering any refunds related to itinerary adjustments or missed ports of call that may be necessary. As noted above, guests have up until 90 days prior to cruise departure to cancel their booking and receive a full refund**.   SailSAFE™ Global Health and Wellness Council We are expertly guided by our SailSAFE™ Global Health and Wellness Council which will ensure the implementation of our enhanced SailSAFE Health and Safety protocols, such as fully vaccinated guests and crew, and controlled guest occupancies. These and other requirements will be in place until a time when we can confidently adjust our protocols and we will constantly monitor the global health environment to ensure the well-being of our guests, crew and the communities we visit.   If you have questions regarding your upcoming cruise, please contact us using the phone numbers below.   Thank you for your patience and loyalty as we manage through this evolving situation. We look forward to welcoming you aboard Seven Seas Mariner for a long-anticipated and well-deserved World Cruise.   Best wishes,   Regent Seven Seas Cruises

 

 

That is something, at least, for the full WCers.  But agree Regent should have sent it sooner to alleviate concerns.

Regent has not sent anything to those of us on segments of the WC.  For our Papeete to Auckland leg, our final payment date is still the 26th of August.  So we will be making final payment (or not) likely without any clarity on the itinerary--beyond knowing we won't be going to Auckland.

We completely understand many things will need to change on this itinerary--most, if not all of which, will be out of Regent's control.  But there appears to be no realistic chance New Zealand or Australia will be open for this cruise.  Shouldn't Regent be announcing changes for those segments affected by these closures before the final payment date for the segments?

The Hungarian Government updated its entry requirements on 21 July--it has a really high vaccination rate (so much so it's donating doses to others) and low case totals.  Since I found the guidance on the U.S. Embassy Budapest website a little confusing--saying USCs are generally not admitted to Hungary, but noting the free entry via land since 21 July 2021--I sent the American Citizen Services section an email last evening.  Here is their response in full:

"Thank you for your inquiry.

"We suggest you to read the State Department’s Travel Advisory on Hungary: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Hungary.html

"Except in the case of entry by civil aircraft, entry into Hungary from Croatia, Austria, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia, regardless of nationality or protection against the coronavirus, is possible without restrictions.

"Please find below the detailed information about entering Hungary right now. This is the current situation, unfortunately, we do not know what will happen in the next few weeks and months. These regulations made by the Hungarian Authorities so they can give answers to specific questions regards entering Hungary. Please note that the situation might change by the time you are ready to travel.  Please check with the Hungarian authorities right before your departure time. http://www.police.hu/en/content/information-on-general-rules-of-border-crossing

"For further questions we suggest that you contact the Hungarian Covid-19 Government office directly:  koronavirus@1818.hu  They deal with foreign language inquiries as well.

You may also call:   +36 1 550 1825

"Regarding a Hungarian citizens travel to the USA please contact the following phone number:

+36-1-701-2000

American Embassy

Citizen Services

1054 Budapest

Szabadság tér 12.

E-mail: ACS.budapest@state.gov

Website: https://hu.usembassy.gov/"

Here is the current State Department travel guidance on Hungary as cited in the email above and  copied from https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/hungary-travel-advisory.html:

"Level 3:  Reconsider travel to Hungary due to COVID-19-related restrictions.

"Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice for Hungary due to COVID-19, indicating a low level of COVID-19 in the country. There are restrictions in place affecting U.S. citizen entry into Hungary. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC’s specific recommendations for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.

"Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 and related restrictions and conditions in Hungary.

"Read the country information page.

"If you decide to travel to Hungary:

See the U.S. Embassy's web page regarding COVID-19.
   -Visit the CDC’s webpage on  Travel and COVID-19.
   -Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  --Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
   --Review the Crime and Safety Report for Hungary.
    --U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Last Update: Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information."

So, as of today--entry appears to be a "go."  But it may not be so tomorrow.  And at least one cruise line--Uniworld--has modified its itineraries out of Budapest to cancel its tours there.

Since I found the guidance on the U.S. Embassy Budapest a little confusing--saying USCs are generally not admitted to Hungary, but noting the free entry via land since 21 July 2021--I sent the American Citizen Services section an email last evening.  Here is their response in full:

"Thank you for your inquiry.

"We suggest you to read the State Department’s Travel Advisory on Hungary: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Hungary.html

"Except in the case of entry by civil aircraft, entry into Hungary from Croatia, Austria, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia, regardless of nationality or protection against the coronavirus, is possible without restrictions.

"Please find below the detailed information about entering Hungary right now. This is the current situation, unfortunately, we do not know what will happen in the next few weeks and months. These regulations made by the Hungarian Authorities so they can give answers to specific questions regards entering Hungary. Please note that the situation might change by the time you are ready to travel.  Please check with the Hungarian authorities right before your departure time. http://www.police.hu/en/content/information-on-general-rules-of-border-crossing

"For further questions we suggest that you contact the Hungarian Covid-19 Government office directly:  koronavirus@1818.hu  They deal with foreign language inquiries as well.

You may also call:   +36 1 550 1825

"Regarding a Hungarian citizens travel to the USA please contact the following phone number:

+36-1-701-2000

American Embassy

Citizen Services

1054 Budapest

Szabadság tér 12.

E-mail: ACS.budapest@state.gov

Website: https://hu.usembassy.gov/"

Here is the current State Department travel guidance on Hungary as copied from https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/hungary-travel-advisory.html:

"Level 3:  Reconsider travel to Hungary due to COVID-19-related restrictions.

"Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice for Hungary due to COVID-19, indicating a low level of COVID-19 in the country. There are restrictions in place affecting U.S. citizen entry into Hungary. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC’s specific recommendations for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.

"Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 and related restrictions and conditions in Hungary.

"Read the country information page.

"If you decide to travel to Hungary:

See the U.S. Embassy's web page regarding COVID-19.
   -Visit the CDC’s webpage on  Travel and COVID-19.
   -Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  --Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
   --Review the Crime and Safety Report for Hungary.
    --U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Last Update: Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information."

And to correct an error in post #10, Hungary does not list the Czech Republic as one of the countries for free entry as, of course, it does not share a land border with the latter.  For our Danube cruise in late October, we are planning a pre-cruise stay in Prague, then taking a train to Budapest--but forgot it transits through Austria before reaching Hungary.  D'uh!

Safe travels to PhD-iva!  Really hope you have a great trip!!

Thanks for posting these updates.  Please do report back on how everything went.  It seems completely bizarre there are restrictions on those arriving by air, but not those by ship, train, or other means of transportation.  The Uniworld letter says "Guests arriving by train, car, or ship do not have a limit to how long they can stay in Budapest," but it also doesn't mention what the conditions of that stay are.  For U.S. citizens, the U.S. Embassy in Budapest is still showing need for a 10-day quarantine (which may be waived with two COVID-19 tests):  https://hu.usembassy.gov/covid-19/.  It does also note--which is at odds with the statement about USCs generally not being allowed entry--that "As of July 1, 2021, except in the case of entry by aircraft or from Ukraine, entry into Hungary from Croatia, Austria, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia, regardless of nationality or protection against the coronavirus, is possible without epidemiological restrictions, but providing other general conditions of entry (such as valid travel documents) is necessary."  That would seem to be in line with what is stated in the Uniworld letter.  I note, however, that the Czech Republic is not one of the countries from which free entry--except by air--is allowed.

We have a tiny fraction of what others have riding on this cruise.  But this would be our first cruise with Regent--bad luck in timing as we decided to try them just before COVID-19 hit and have had the first three we booked with them cancelled.  We hope this will not be the fourth, but if the itinerary is significantly changed we, too, would rather see them cancel.  Our experience with Regent--again in an unprecedented time for any and every cruise line--has not been great.  (Thanks to CC.com, I've learned the pre-cruise communication from Regent has always been much below the on-board experience.  So we're hoping to reach the point where we can enjoy the latter!) 

Maybe it's time for Jennefer Teegen, Director of Guest Experience at Regent, to see this concern among Regent clients--both those with lots of cruises under their belts and those hoping to join the family--and either weigh in directly here or send updates to those on the 2022 WC and its segments.

On 8/1/2021 at 9:12 AM, jhenry1 said:

If you choose to deviate and then closer to sailing decide to book your own flights and take the credit is that possible or are you locked in to what Regent booked for you

As a new-to-Regent cruiser, I found this a very interesting question.  What did your TA find out from Regent when he/she asked them?

This morning, RSSC.com is showing Cat E availability for the full WC.  But at least one segment--the one we're booked on, Papeete to Auckland--is showing "Waitlisted" across the board as it has for months.  Not sure how the segment can be full, while the WC is not, but I'm not in the industry so maybe there is an explanation. 

I believe full payment for the WC is due on Friday, 06 August.  I hope for those on the full WC that Regent makes a decision on the cruise or itinerary before then.  Even with six months to go, it appears certain that New Zealand and Australia at least will not be accepting cruise ships.

3 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

I presume that this new contract is retroactive to future cruise bookings?  Where would we read this?

That was my question as well.  If you accept the new ticket contract, definitely.  If you booked under the old one, however, not sure.  Since you cannot do the other things on the new on-line check-in until 21 days before a cruise, would it be prudent to hold off accepting the new ticket contract until that date--when you might be more confident on what you are accepting from Regent in terms of itinerary and conditions?

26 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

It is my understanding, as told by multiple Regent employees, that FCC stopped being issued last Jan? and any currently on the books must be used by cruises sailing by 12/31/21....So my understanding is yes, they must be used. I am NOT saying that Regent won't change their policy and possibly refund your money if you have tried repeatedly to use them...who knows. I am not taking that risk.

Sorry for not explaining myself well.  These are FCCs issued for cruises cancelled prior to the change and applied to a segment of the WC for 2022.  Since we took the FCCs, we cannot obtain a refund.  Wondering--and none of us know, I understand--that should that cruise be cancelled or substantially changed if Regent will change its deadline for use of those FCCs beyond the current end of 2022 deadline.