Gray Eagle02

I go my info from my TA who made an inquiry through her contact at Regent. That contact called one of the VPs and was told that because the cruise was only 65% booked there was no way they would transfer the funds. She also said that now that Regent is part of NCL such practices are strictly prohibited. I was not optimistic about the possibility of a transfer of funds to another cruise, but filing the claim is a tremendous amount of paperwork, which I wanted to avoid if possible. Anyway The contract is very clear--cancellation within 30 days of the cruise, regardless of the circumstances, equals loss of total cruise fare. I'm not angry at all, that's why I always get insurance, but was very surprised the cruise was only 65% booked. This is, after all, the Explorer and it is the inaugural season.

My husband and I have been scheduled for the 2Nov Tel Aviv-Rome cruise for about 18 months. On 13 Oct he had a serious accident that will preclude travel. I understood that Regent had no obligation for any refunds and, as always, had travel insurance. However, we had nothing to lose by asking that the funds be transferred to a future, more expensive cruise. Our TA's request went all the way up to the VP level who refused. I thought all along this would be the answer as the contract is very clear. So I'll file the claim. What was of particular interest was the VPs report that the cruise is only 65% booked.

We booked this cruise while on the Mariner in April. The business class upgrade had dropped from $1299 to $999 so we thought we got a deal. I booked on board to get the "guaranteed lowest price" available only if booked on board. . However, I was told this only applies if prices drop prior to final payment. My last cruise the price dropped $1000/pp after the final payment. The best we could do was future cruise credit. I expressed my unhappiness with booking early with promises of saving when, in fact, the prices drop or incentives increase when the cruise does not attract enough customers. Now I watch the prices of all booked cruises. Unfortunately, the best you can do is future credit and it's up to you or your TA to ask for it.

Fortunately, I saw the date before I wrote the email.

We booked this cruise (Hong Kong to Beijing) while on board the Mariner this Spring. We were to have the best price guarantee until final payment. I intend to paste the above post in an email to customer service at Regent.

Actually the prices on Concierge suites on our Explorer cruise have not increased and are exactly what we paid a year ago. And I agree OBC is no big deal. However, if recent past experience holds true, suite prices or business class upgrades will drop as the cruise date approaches if the bookings don't increase. And that's unfair to those of us who booked early with promises of savings. This is especially true given the hefty cancellation penalties on the Explorer. Frankly, I'm getting tired of their bait and switch tactics. And I don't really think RSSC wants to be compared to the airline industry.

We are booked on an Explorer cruise Tel Aviv to Rome included in the new OBC promotion. We booked this one year ago because we were told the suites were selling out quickly. Well, according to the web sight there are many many suites left. We were on a Med cruise in November that offered a two category upgrade for new bookings shortly after we booked. Our TA was able to aquire the upgrade for us. We have a cruise booked next month that had a $1000pp price drop after our final payment. We were able to apply this discount to our Nov cruise. I will be watching the prices on the upcoming Explorer cruise very carefully as I fully expect the price to drop. However, if it does I'm sure the best we'll get is future cruise credit. I have no intention of ever booking early again. I have sent my TA an email asking her to pass on my unhappiness to RSSC

We are booked on an Explorer cruise Tel Aviv to Rome included in the new OBC promotion. We booked this one year ago because we were told the suites were selling out quickly. Well, according to the web sight there are many, many suites left. We were on a Med cruise in November that offered a two category upgrade for new bookings shortly after we booked. Our TA was able to aquire the upgrade for us. We have a cruise booked next month that had a $1000pp price drop after our final payment. After our TA called Regent we were able to apply this discount to our Nov cruise. I will be watching the prices on the upcoming Explorer cruise very carefully as I fully expect the price to drop. However, if it does I'm sure the best we'll get is future cruise credit. And I'm also sure if I were not deligent in checking the web sight I would get nothing. I have no intention of ever booking early again. I have sent my TA an email asking her to pass on my unhappiness to RSSC.

I have no intention of booking a future cruise during my April cruise on the Mariner and may consider booking the Hongkong to Beijing Voyager cruise while on the Explorer in Nov, depending on the price. However, given the recent Asian Voyager reviews, terrorist threat in Europe and Zika threat in South America, we are seriously looking at Tauck Tours in the USA.

I'm done booking early. We booked a cruise on the Mariner Med cruise last year. We were told by the Regent agent that we booked it just in time to beat the price increase and disappearance of business air upgrade deal. I fact, this did not happen; the price remained the same and everybody got 2 category upgrade and business fare upgrade did not change. We called our TA and managed to get an upgrade to a Penthouse B room. About a year ago we scheduled a Miami to Miami in April 2016 cruise with early booking discount. This discount remained into affect until after our final payment when the price dropped $1000 pp. Again I notified our TA and we were offered a one category upgrade and $700 OBC or$2000 off a future cruise. Since we have a Explorer cruise later this year we opted for the $2000 off that cruise.

I am looking at an Asian cruise for next Spring and have no intention of booking early. I may look at booking a cruise while on board my future cruises but no longer see much advantage to booking early. Frankly it's a hassle to keep checking the web sight to see if the price drops.

We have an up coming Explorer cruise in the med and found this article of interest.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3422044/Terrorists-target-cruise-ships-Med-ranking-commander-says-ISIS-s-spread-Libya-casts-uncomfortable-shadow.html

We booked a cruise on the June29 after being told that the fares would increase and the business class air special would disappear on 1 July. Well neither happened and I wrote an e-mail to my TA who then forwarded my email to Regent then called and suggested they look at how many crises we had been on and how many we have booked in the future. We were subsequently upgraded from a Concierge suite to Penthouse B suite. We are satisfied.

I peruse this sight and rarely post but I am always surprised at the complaints of rising prices. Have the cruises gotten more expensive--yes,but so have all the other cruise lines. We are scheduled to go on our 4th Regent cruise in October. We scheduled it after comparing the price (including Business Class air) with Tauck Tours of Ireland, Portugal and Spain and a Uniworld River cruise. Regent was the cheapest. That comparison does not include the added cost of Tauck (which did not include all meals) and Uniworld ( does included port taxes or an overnight hotel). In the Fall of 2012 we took a 10 day Mariner Med Cruise and in the early Summer 2013 we took a 10 day Baltic cruise on a HAL ship. Both had Business Air. We had the second to lowest suite on the Mariner and a Vista suite on HAL. I kept careful records of both; there wasn't much difference in the price between the Fall 2012 Regent cruise and 2013 HAL cruise. The suite on HAL was not as nice as our near-to-bottom Regent room. Last Fall we took a 12 day HAL tour of the Eastern Med with Business Air and it will be roughly the same as the upcoming cruise on Mariner in the concierge level suite. On HAL we had a hotel in Venice that cost nearly $700 and the Business Air arraigned by HAL nearly doubled the cost of the cruise.

I enjoy HAL, the food is good, the service is attentive but I really get tired of the up charges ($3.00 for a bottle of water, $3.50 for a cappuccino, etc). And the wine is not good and the call liquor is really far below offered by Regent. It took us a hour to get off the ship when forced to tender in on our last HAL cruise, something that has never happened on a Regent tour.

Maybe the other luxury lines are better deals but we want freestyle dining, don't want a formal night and enjoy the added excursions. My husband and I or both fairly low maintenance and find the service fine. We see not reason to switch now and have two cruises scheduled for 2016.

I have a I-Phone 6plus and an I-pad. Have no problem in computer room with sign on. The computer tech told me it was probably my phone until I told him I had no trouble signing on in the computer room. My last trip was Montreal to Miami but we were in the same area of the ship. We are now in Ketchikan so I have cell phone reception. Thanks to everyone. You have been far more helpful than the computer tech.

Whenever there are too many people on the computer (on any of the ships), the internet speed slows down. Regent has been working on this and it is better than it used to be. When we were last in Alaska, there were 2-3 days when internet was not available at all. The OP did not have any black out areas which is an improvement. Some suites are further away from the signal (or whatever the units are called on a ship) and have poor internet reception.

 

The best reception is typically near the internet café. And, as you learned, when you get online when most people are not on, it is much better.

 

Hope you mention the computer rep's. attitude on your mid-cruise questionnaire. That attitude is not acceptable!

Thanks for the reply. We were on the Navigator and the Mariner in the past and the Internet was far superior to this cruise. I was under the impression they had improved WiFi fleet wide so was surprised to find service much worse. BTW,we had a cabin in the same general area the last time we were on the Navigator and our WiFi reception was much better (as compared to no reception now).

We are currently on the Navigator and the Internet is completely unacceptable. It is completely unavailable in our stateroom. I have discussed this with the computer rep and he had a somewhat indignant response and said too many people were on and this affected speed and availability. Actually I was unable to get on at 3AM in the morning so i suspect something is fundamentally wrong with the WiFi system that has nothing to do with volume.