nigelc

Hey travelcat2...Poss (the OP) started a thread and I was a contributor. Please stop creating scenarios for me. 2 ports were substituted and we sat for 2 days in Havana. We were not notified and at that point it was a done deal, It wasn't your cruise. If you think that going to Cuba is oh so wonderful, why aren't you proudly sailing into Havana harbor with your suitcases full of stuff instead of bragging on a public board that you have already been there illegally? Enough already concerning MY cruise.

Lol - very well said.

- Poor fights

- Lower standard hotels

- Poor included excursions

- Poor transfers to the ship

Sounds like cost cutting to me and hardly the 6 star experience promised in the Regent promotion materials.

Luxury is in the eyes of the beholder (hope that I didn't state this already on this thread -- there are too many threads discussing the same subject).

 

So, if I am reading your post correctly, you would be fine is Regent went back to not including air, hotel, excursions -- just in case. some passengers don't like the choices that Regent makes? Well, IMO, as stated already, with the exception of excursions, you can get a credit for not using the included amenities that Regent provides so why punish everyone just because some people don't like the hotels (or air or ???)?

 

And, as also said on one of my posts this morning, Hyatt Regency and Four Seasons are considered world class hotels but not all of them are the same standard. Looking forward to seeing just how horrible the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables is. I'll make a point of not only doing a review but also will take pictures when we are there in November. If it is as bad as some people say, I'll write to Hyatt. Regent uses their hotels -- most of them are amazing -- if one isn't, Hyatt should also be made aware of it. JMHO.

It is about getting what is advertised and promised by Regent when you are booking. Remember that despite the advertising, we are paying for these "free" services. A 4 star hotel is not a "world class" or indeed a "luxury" hotel. I am not saying that it is going to be "horrible", but it sure does not meet what class of hotel that they state will be offered. In relation to writing to Hyatt, why? After all, they are not the ones offering a "world class" hotel and then book their customers into a 4 star one.

Sorry, but if Regent are unable to supply the inclusive luxury experience they are promising in their advertising then they should either 'opt out' of offering those pre & post cruise services (leaving them to concentrate on the on-board experience that they are so good at) or amend their advertising to clarify the level of pre and post cruise services actually being supplied.

I could not agree more. We must remember that Regent is charging a premium for these services.

If Regent's pre-cruise hotel or flights isn't doing it for you, simply opt out. The true luxury experience is onboard. Anyone that thinks that they can truly control what a contractor does may be misleading themselves. Yes - Regent can break a contract with a hotel (or excursion operator or airline) but they need to find a replacement that will accommodate their passengers. Perhaps this is why other luxury cruise lines do not offer what Regent does in terms of these items.

 

In another hour we'll be off to our next luxury experience -- no air -- no hotel -- just pure luxury!

 

P.S. IMO Hyatt Regency is a world class luxury chain. Another world class luxury hotel chain is Four Seasons. You should have read the complaints from Regent customers about the Four Seasons in Sydney, Australia, We loved the hotel. As with other chains, some hotels are better than others. Not too different from airlines. An airline might be top-notch but have some planes that haven't been replaced with new equipment.

I notice you refer to the Hyatt Regency group rather than the hotel being used. As you know, because you are also booked into this hotel, the "world class hotel" booked by Regent for my November trip is the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables in Miami - a 4 star hotel with very mixed reviews, hardly a "world class" hotel. Regent sell a package and people should not need to opt out to get what is advertised and promised.

Enjoy your cruise.

P.S Please don't forget your rose tinted glasses or you might see what others see.

Hello,

 

I found this on the RSSC website under the tab All Inclusive sub tab pre and post cruise hotel program

 

We select each world-class hotel for its superb location, ambiance, standards of service, cuisine and amenities. Many have garnered accolades from such prestigious organizations as Michelin, Mobil and AAA, and have been recognized by such prized publications as Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. Details on available hotels can be found by destination, or on the Land & Hotel tab for each cruise.

Hope this helps as I was curious as well as to which hotels Regent used in various ports.

Regards,

Jack

I actually laughed out loud when I read this. The "world class hotel" booked by Regent for my November trip is the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables in Miami - a 4 star hotel with very mixed reviews, hardly a "world class" hotel.

Really dislike the term "free". Wish that Regent would simply state "included". Getting back to the hotel, it doesn't say FREE luxury pre-cruise hotel but I guess that it could be construed that way. It is obvious that Regent is the most inclusive luxury cruise line....... they just need a different advertising agency.

 

Obviously I'm look at positives in life rather than negatives. Life is too short. I guess that I can complain that we are boarding a ship that is way overdue for a refurbishment and still has the old Signatures onboard ....... but I'm too excited and happy to board the Mariner to waste my time thinking about those things. And, in November, we will be in a hotel that many complain about. If it was a big deal, I would book my own hotel...... not a big deal.

Just checked on Regents web-site and at https://www.rssc.com/experience/suites under what's included, it clearly states "FREE 1-Night Pre-Cruise Luxury Hotel Package". I don't think it could be any clearer than that. In relation to booking my own accommodation, why should I need to? I just want what Regent promises in the package that I am paying for.

Looks like we have something to look forward to !!

 

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Unfortunately, it was not a great experience, with delays and poor service on the plane - good seats though.

Gilly--

 

As we were checking out this morning, I noticed a Regent Cruises courtesy desk set up in the lobby, welcoming passengers for the included one night hotel stay, prior to a 13 night cruise to Stockholm on the Navigator. Small world! Again, in my opinion, Regent's choice of below average hotels is a little unseemly for a luxury cruise line.

 

 

Our "free" hotel in Athens last year was definitely below average and reading the reviews for our next "free" hotel (the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables in Miami) in November, I am not hopeful that it will be much better. Definitely, not what you expect from a 6* cruise line.

We are flying out to Athens this saturday 2nd sept to join Queen Victoria for 7 nights. We are flying from Manchester on a Titan Airways flight which I am told is a Cunard charter flight. Does anyone know if we need to collect our luggage at Athens airport or do Cunard arrange to transfer it to the ship?

When we have previously done a fly cruise with P&O we have not needed to collect our luggage and it has been sent direct to the ship.

 

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We did this flight last year with Cunard and Titan to Athens and was told by the UK Cunard representative that our bags would go straight to the ship with no need to collect them in Athens. Wrong, we (along with a number of others) exited the secure area and then was told that this was not the case and we needed to collect our own bags. An hour later they managed to get the airport security staff to let us back into the baggage area - a real pain.

To be clear on my own position....we support the auto gratuities, which seems IOHO the best way to reward staff for what some call basic gratuities. We would not provide any further gratuity to the auto amounts, except in the case of a truly exceptional service provision. I understand the comments in relation to drinks and gratuities, and agree it seems "easy money" for such staff, but this is the business model and the only way to avoid these is not to purchase any drinks.

 

The subject is certainly emotive, and I respect all views!

I would agree that this is the business model and it is a "take it or leave it" position. As I have said in other threads, I enjoy cruising with Cunard and have tipped extra to staff that have provided "exceptional" service. What I take exception to, is articles/posts that promote further tipping as a matter of course, with such silly expressions as "its good form" to tip extra.

Basically what a Sommelier/Wine waiter is paid to do as that is his job so why should you hav epaid him any extra. Would you ask an electrician to fit a new plug get a price and then say you have made such a lovely job that I am going to pay extra on top of what you are already charging me for... I dont think so.

I couldn't agree with you more. In practice, we are paying Cunard's very high drink prices with a 15% auto-tip on top. Then there are suggestions by some for the need for a further tip - madness. However, it is there money, so enjoy.

The guide BlueRiband posted is one person's opinion of additional tips for those who want to reward exceptional service. I didn't read it that you were expected to tip all of them, just those who you felt had gone above and beyond.

I would totally accept that it is one persons opinion, but I would suggest that they go beyond suggesting additional tips for those who provide "exceptional service". For example, the writer states that for cabin stewards that "while the automatic service charges will cover their basic gratuities, it's generally considered good form to tip them a bit extra for a job well done ..... ". Well "good form" seems to go well beyond if they provide "exceptional service". Indeed, the writer suggests that it is best to further tip before any service has even been provided. For example, they state that "another instance might be a bartender at your preferred on-board bar -- a hand-passed gratuity on the first day of the sailing can go a long way in having him or her recognize your face in the crowd, and remember just how you like your drink. Or, perhaps, there's a window table for two that you have your heart set on in the main dining room -- a nice tip to the maitre d' on day one can help ensure that she or he never fails to have that table waiting". Have we really got to "bribe" staff to get an available table? Should it not be a case of first come, first served? As I said in my first post, I read it that the writer is suggesting a further tip to a wide range of staff, with little reference to them providing "exceptional service".

Popping a few corks can also involve remembering what you like, making recommendations on your preferences, keeping your white or rose chilled, and constantly refilling your glass. Oh, and saving the rest of the bottle that you might want to drink at the next night's dinner.

This might be the case for some passengers, but in my case I pick my own wine, only drink red so there's no chilling involved and rarely leave any wine for the next night (:evilsmile:). The $7.50 service charge on a $50 bottle of wine is really for just popping the cork, with the odd refilling of my glass. My point regarding the "tipping guide" is that it appears to recommend further tipping to a wide range of crew members. We are told that the "auto-gratuity" system is for our convenience and is a fairer system for the crew too. However, the guide appears to disregard this system and suggest that we further tip those we traditionally use to tip directly. While I can understand tipping the odd crew member who has provided "excellent" service, I cannot understand this idea of further tipping such a large selection of the crew.

There is a CC article on the subject here: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=132

Reads like a crazy person wrote the article to me, pay your auto tips and then it appears there's a long list of people to tip again - complete madness. Take the Sommelier for example, a bottle of $50 wine a night for 14 nights generates $105 gratuity - not a bad tip for popping a few corks.

I can't remember if Cunard do this, but many cruise lines have an extra space on the drinks receipt for you to leave an additional tip. :confused:

Yes, there is space on the receipt to add an extra tip.

Excellent pictures - thank you for sharing them. I was in Iceland in January, very interesting but at times eye wateringly expensive - I cant even bring myself to share how much I paid for a jumper.

1. I read what the man said... very carefully. 2. I'm sure Frank will contact you if he feels that his words need clarification, or that we need more re-educating.

Very well said - Regent offers an excellent product, but it is not perfect and not a good fit for everyone. CC offers a forum to discuss different cruise lines to gain a better understanding of what they offer. However, when you have no experience of the topic being discussed, it may be better to read the thread rather than put a one sided argument.

No one says you have to tip over & above the auto gratuity. I'm in the industry & I DO tip over & above. We like to take care of our "own" you might say. Other than that it's your choice to tip over the standard or not.

The whole issue with "auto gratuities" on drinks is that you have no choice but to tip even when there has been no real service provided. In addition, it is doubtful that all of the service charge generated by the "auto gratuities" on drinks goes to the crew. As I have said before, I do not mind tipping excellent service or paying a service charge when I have received some form of service above the minimum needed to provide me with the product they are selling. But charging me 15% to open a bottle of beer is simply wrong. That said, it is what it is, and I enjoy sailing with Cunard - but lets see this for what it is, the cruise company's way of charging more for drinks.

So if you think the $30 million a year Cunard collects in service charges isn't used to pay wages, what is it for?

Well if it is a true tip it should not be used by Cunard to pay anything - it should go to the crew on top of their wages.

As I posted on an earlier thread (which was soon 'removed'?) if everyone on a ship carrying 2000 passengers spends $20 per day on beverages over a 7 day cruise, this would amount to $280,000 of beverages sold, add on the 15% service charge - hey presto in a week $42,000 profit made just on beverage service charge, to be split, as Cunard tell us in their brochures "just amongst the beverage staff" - I don't think so somehow........:rolleyes:

 

P.S. Over a year that amounts to $2,184,000!! Makes your eyes water!

Lol not a bad top-up of your basic wage - but as you say, "I don't think so".

The stewards and waiters receive a miniscule amount as basic pay and the $23 / $27 per cabin makes up the bulk of the money they take home. So I don't think it unreasonable to describe the service charge as staff wages.

Sorry, but this means nothing. Is that amount per week, per month, per year? How many cabins do they get paid to cover? If we are including gratuities as wages then we must not forget the value of free accommodation, free food/soft drinks/tea/coffee, free uniforms, free health care and the chance to travel the world for free. Yes, there are negatives about the job, as there are in most jobs. But we must recognise that the remuneration package is not just based on the basic pay. Tips are clearly an important element, but they are not guaranteed or a right.

On a maiden season cruise on QM2 we called at Civitavecchia. There was a large, rich and lively group of Russians on board-lots of couture and diamonds. We were supposed to sail BUT the Russians were nowhere to be seen aboard at the appointed time.

Commodore Warwick was on the bridge wing seething, an officer was on the pier starring down the quay and there were two large ferries steaming in circles; they could not come in until we got out.

Finally a number of shiny vans came roaring along horns blowing. Out burst the missing Russians, each burdened with multiple high-end shopping bags.

We all heard there was a tense conversation . :o

Shame they had not invested in a good watch rather than the "couture and diamonds". But a bigger shame the Commodore did not sail away without them - bet he would have if it had been a less wealthy group.

Its the Hyatt Coral Gables this November for us too.

Whatever the rights and wrongs are about tipping, I thought it was well understood that sommeliers and bar waiters aren't included in the tip pool from the auto gratuities: their tips are the 15% service charge.

Do not really care what "tip pool" it goes too, it still costs me 15%. Indeed, if I walk up to the pool bar and order a coke or a beer, what real service do I get for my 15%? No a lot, just the cruise company providing the basic service needed to sell the product. In addition, I really do not believe that the bar staff etc get all of this service charge, its far too much money for cruise lines to let go of it.