marycruz

Don't worry - it will be fine. Regent excursions do not typically get back late (check your itinerary to see which ports, if any, have a late departure. When an excursion does come back late, it is communicated to the crew but it is possible that someone did not learn about it and could say something. I'd just let them know that your tour arrived back late (late generally means after the restaurants have begun serving dinner or after 6:30 p.m.)

 

If you are concerned about a late excursion, you could just put slacks and a blouse on the bed to quickly change into before going to a bar after dinner.

 

While passengers are not the "fashion police" as some people think, it is difficult to know which restaurant managers, bar managers or maître 'd will decide that you don't meet the dress code. It really isn't their fault -- they are directed to do what they do. We have spoken to the managers and they try to enforce the dress code as gently as possibly. For instance, if it turns 6:00 p.m., and you are in the bar having a drink, they kindly ask that when you finish your drink that you return to your cabin and dress for dinner. They do not embarrass you. In fact, they are typically nervous about saying anything.

 

Enjoy your cruise and please report back to the Regent board and let us know how it goes. I suspect that you won't even think about the dress code after the first day:)

 

P.S. When excursions are expected back really late, La Veranda will usually put out a buffet for returning passengers and the dress count definitely is thrown out the window at that time:-)

I will report back when we return. It will be interesting to see what happens and I'm sure we will have a great time on the Mariner!

This thread is unbelievable, I think the only way all of you complainers would be happy is if they banned smoking altogether. I personally find perfume use to be offensive and bad for my health as well. I have an allergy which results in headaches when I smell perfume. Heh, maybe I should start a protest against the wearing of perfume in public places!!! What do I do, when I smell it I leave!! My choice, perfume is legal and not a banned substance so I just try to avoid it. Seems to me same should be for cigarette smoke. BTW I am a non smoker, however I have seen the ridiculous/offensive behaviour of non-smokers toward smokers on a ship. These happened in smoking areas in the casino. No one ever comes to the defense of the smoker who is smoking in one of the few allocated places on the ship. I have seen non-smokers take up all of the tables on the smoking side of the Lido deck, while there were plenty of tables available on the non-smoking side and then complain to staff about the smoking. People need to remember that it is a legal activity!!!! Oh and as a side note while most ships don't allow balcony smoking, unlike HAL they allow more room inside to smoke. On a recent Carnival cruise there was smoking allowed in the casino, the casino bar and the disco. So people didn't have to gamble just to have a smoke inside. Live and let live is what I say, if you don't like it avoid it, and you never know maybe someday I'll jump on this "everyone should live like me" bandwagon and protest against that offensive perfume that some ladies wear!!!!

I second your feeling on the matter. I have seen folks sit in the smoking area and then start waving their hands and coughing. I don't get it. If it stinks so much why would they sit there? I thought they were trying to make a statement - I want to sit where I want and don't want smoke in my face.

Personally, I can't stand cigar smoke and have had to move from an outside deck because the smoke went all the way down the deck (it wasn't a smoking side just an area). But I just moved someplace else.

What I don't understand either is whether HAL is so wonderful that people want to go on it, get a verandah and then complain if smoke comes from the next balcony. There are so many cruise lines and ships out there that don't allow this. If HAL rules dictate that smokers can smoke on their verandahs then if I didn't like it I would not go on HAL and get a balcony. Maybe a window cabin if this particular line and itinerary was so great?

When I do the same, which is more often than not, I just order the dinner salad or a few appetizer. That helps.

 

Some cruises I have just the dinner salad practically the entire time - and don't mind it at al,l because I get to eat the fun stuff too.

 

But then I am not a big dinner eater in the first place - more of a grazer. (Which is why I bemoaned a slow and steady weight gain over these past 350 cruise days, duh?). Love port intensive cruises for one main thing - they get me out walking it off to at least stay even.

 

And one reason I have liked Neptune Lounge cabins in the past is they have small bite items, which are just the right size bites for me.

We will also have a Neptune suite next year on the Eurodam. It will be new for us so I am hoping we like it. Tasty bites sound great. I'm not always hungry either. Especially for breakfast. I normally have coffee first and then am not hungry for a couple of hours. I hope they have little donuts or pastries in there.

Do you know if the cabins on deck 6 (Neptune Suites) are good ones? We could not get one of deck 7 and I am assuming it's because everyone wanted to be by the lounge. I don't mind walking up the stairs to get to it but is there anything different between the suites on 6 and 6? I think we have an SA .

Thanks everyone. Good info.

Alaska cruises tend to be a little bit less dressy than others. Typically at dinner many passengers exceed the dress code (sports jackets, suits, etc. - especially in specialty restaurants). Women can get away with almost anything (except shorts and jeans).

 

Adhering to the dress code is a matter of respect (even though my DH looks great in jeans and a sports coat, he won't even pack jeans).:) It's good that marycruz cared enough to post.

Thanks. I've been a worry wart about all of this. We are going next month. What I don't understand is that someone said if you get back late from an excursion, as those people did who went to the bar, and they are told not to change clothes to go to dinner, why did the bartender comment on the dress code? Also, how do they know who came back late and who didn't? Then is it OK to walk around the ship after dinner wearing what they had on during their excursion?

I have a favorite pair of 'dressy' jeans, almost black, that look great with a gray sport coat and a pair of Ferragamos...wore them on the flight to a cruise once, and then didn't wear them again the entire cruise because, well, they're jeans. Seemed like a waste to have them with me. They haven't gone on a cruise with me since. :)

Thanks for everyone's comments. I am concerned, though, if I come to the ship on the first night and it gets too late to change and I have cropped pants on or black jeans (ship is leaving fro NYC BTW) that they may say we cannot come into the Compass Rose restaurant. This rest of the cruise I have nice outfits to wear, of course.

DH and I have always worn to dinner whatever we wear to the ship and always look nice but I don't want to look outstanding compared to everyone else. Last cruise on Azamara most people were dressed for the first night but I did see some in jeans. We did not have jeans on that time but it would have been acceptable compared to people wearing blue jeans to dinner. Azamara is resort casual and I believe they do allow nice jeans.

However, if Regent says no jeans I guess we will have to wear something else to the ship in case luggage comes late.

My friends who sail Regent have worn black dress jeans at night with no problem and a dress shirt with a cashmere pull over sweater and they are sharp dressers. Not every night do they wear jeans but they have never been told otherwise or turned away.

 

I have also seen dress jeans no holes or frayed jeans worn on casual nights on Crystal. Black Tie Optional nights you can wear a sports jacket and no tie or you can dress to the nines. The long gown days and tux's are waning on luxury lines.

I have seen that on Crystal also. Actually, I was surprised on our first Crystal cruise that we were more dressed up than most of the people on the formal (black tie optional) nights and this was when that dress code was first changed from just formal. Most people did not have sports jackets and the women were not dressed elegant at all.

I think it also depended on where the ship was. The Caribbean tends to be more relaxed as far as what people wear. I think as long as people don't look like slobs for dinner, nice clothes are acceptable. I have seen people wear jeans and running shoes to dinner also on the luxury lines. Sometimes asked to go change and sometimes not.

Unlike the last night, passengers are expected to abide by the dress code on the first night (unless your luggage was lost). Generally, when we get into our suite we shower and prepare for muster and dinner. Many times our luggage is not in the suite for muster so we wear whatever we have available. By the time we need to dress for dinner, the luggage is in the suite. All we have to do is pick an outfit and put it on (wrinkled or not - time permitting there is an ironing board available in the laundry area on most decks).

 

Word of advice: After having our luggage "lost" for 10 nights on a Regent cruise (along with 30 others), we have learned to pack necessities in our carry-on. We now pack 1 complete outfit our carry-on -- just in case.

 

Regent's dress code is the most liberal of all of the luxury cruise lines. Just prepare for it and you'll be fine.

Thanks!

Only you can decide if it is "worth it". We have had a Retreat cabana 3 times now, (including one on Eurodam) with one booked on each of our next two cruises, including one on the Eurodam next October.

 

If the weather is cool, they will close the roof over the midship pool. So, yes, swimming will be possible.

Can you explain what this is exactly? We are going on Eurodam next year also and have not been on HAL since the Veendam in the 90's so not familiar with retreat cabanas. How do you book ahead of time and do you book for the entire time or just by days?

I believe every time there are new passengers groups boarding, everyone needs to attend the drill. No waivers. Part of the exercise is making sure all the passengers can traffic through the ship and report as requested.

 

Not my favorite activity either, but DH and I reward ourselves by waiting on the muster deck until the crowds have thinned out and then heading up to the Crows Nest for our first day sail away tradition - a Tropa-Mango-Mojito and some salted nuts as the ship finally pulls away - just enough peanuts to ruin my appetite for dinner. :cool:

Thanks. I was wondering about this because our cruise is also part of a 21 day cruise which is made up of three 7 day cruises. That means if someone books the 21 day they would have to go to the drill three times!

Yes and I am the same if I eat anything after 3:00 PM I ruin my dinner!

On our recent Mariner cruise everyone had adhered to dress code after 6 on embarkation day. (We certainly did!) And that was even with the fact that they held the ship as there were passengers who were on a delayed flight. So those passengers had little time to prepare for the evening.

 

The only day we saw folks in casual attire was on the Juneau port day which was a late day. Many folks returned from port dressed casually. Bartenders referenced the dress code when trying to order a cocktail before dressing for dinner.

 

My guess is that you will be expected to adhere to the dress code.

What were they wearing when they went to the bar - shorts? Or jeans?

What do most of the women wear to dinner? Dresses or pants with nice tops? Do women wear capri pants to dinner?

Thanks for any help here because we have not been on Regent before.

How do people dress on the first night? If they received luggage late is it alright to go into dinner with cropped pants or dress jeans? Or will they not allow you into the dining room?

Does anyone know what they allow on first night?

Yes, all Neptune suites can have breakfast in the Pinnacle dining room or special seating service in the Upper MDR. Plus room service is available for hot breakfasts from about 6 am onwards. I believe there is also continental breakfast available earlier than the opening of the Lido lines. Dining hours are well posted and to say "nothing to eat was available" across the entire ship is an intentional misrepresentation. The Dive In is open, room service is 24 hour and there is the nacho bar by the pool that stays open for pre-dinner snacks.

 

These descriptions don't sound like any experiences we have had on any HAL ship after 350 days onboard, so hopefully this was a one-off experience for this particular passenger. Unfortunate when it all starts going down hill, then the small things start to accelerate. But we have also yet to hear the "other side of the story".

 

If one finds the shower stall in the Neptune suites not to their liking size wise, they can always use the shower in the tub. There were alternatives so one can reasonably speculate about an attitude which might have not been able to see the options and alternatives. No one can deny this person's reality but it appears HAL is not a good fit, nor is his experience even remotely similar to those others have had after many, many HAL cruises.

Thanks. That's good info.

Would you happen to know if whether you need to go to all the lifeboat drills if you are on a 14 day cruise on HAL and it is also two 7 day cruises?

I am glad to report to my lifeboat so I can know exactly where I must go from my stateroom. I am tired of being Mrs. Do-Goody and following rules while other do what they please and crab about it. When you get to your room sit down and read the bulletin---the Rules for Muster drills are right there, turn on the tv and voila more info and Hark!! was that an announcement I hear--hey it is about mandatory muster drill. Does that mean me---I haven't finished my cocktail and unpacking. Do they really throw you off if you don't attend? I have been on Disney and I didn't like meeting in an auditorium but the drill was well run...If passengers with little ones can do it right there, why can't they get themselves to the right station on HAL? New on a ship? Get the map and take a walk around noting important stops....Lounges don't rank as important for the first few hrs!:):) !!!!

p.s I have never met a rude HAL staff person. I especially like the security personnel!:):)

Would you happen to know if you are on a 14 day or 21 day cruise with HAL that is also 2 or 3 7 day cruises, do you have to go to the lifeboat drill for each 7 day cruise since new people are getting on and some are getting off?

Just another thing that's confusing me.

PS ... The Pinnacle Grill doesn't open before 8am so if you want breakfast prior, you are in The Lido with a mob, one of the things we really dislike.

Oh. That's good to know. Thanks.

Sounds OK to me but I've only been on one HAL cruise and it was the Veendam back in the 90's. I was wondering why the posters husband had to wait 30 minutes for an omelet.

If we get a Neptune Suite I would go to the Pinnacle Grill to avoid the mob scene for breakfast buffet.

Where do I start lol! The staff has been closer to rude than helpful (not all, but many). We are traveling with 3 other couples and we all dropped our jaws when our waiter laid into one of our group for asking the most simple and innocent question. He, of all people, is perhaps the most gentle soul that I know so all the more shocking! Communication in general is horrible, no one know what's going on. There are times when all the restaurants are closed .... yesterday we overheard a man begging at the Lido Buffet at 2 or 3pm for anything to eat! The breakfast buffet opens at 7 and is the only game in town; it is a mob scene. My husband waited a half hour in line for an omelet. We are in a Neptune Suite and our shower is smaller than a phone booth. Their internet (which is not cheap) is down more often than it is connected (no refunds). Lifeboat drill was worse than a joke. Didn't even take attendance!! We don't have a lifeboat as ours is in Skagway for service. When asked, we were told that in the event of a real emergency, we should report to this empty spot and then they would tell us where to go. Really? Yes, let's wait for mass hysteria to redirect 75 +\- people to multiple locations. Thats a good start!!

I have a question. I am not familiar with the ship you are on but if you were in a Neptune Suite did they have a special restaurant for you to go to breakfast? We are going on the Eurodam and it shows the Pinnacle grill for breakfast for suites.

With an 11 night cruise, there will not be a formal night.

From their website:

 

Attire ranges from Casual to Formal Optional. Casual wear is appropriate for daytime onboard or ashore, and consists of resort-style outfits. Casual wear, including shorts and jeans, is not appropriate after 6:00 pm, with the exception of the final evening of the cruise. On the night prior to disembarkation, guests may need to pack their luggage early due to morning flights the next day. With this in mind on the last night of every voyage we will relax the dress code for dinner to Casual.

 

The recommended onboard dress in the evenings is Elegant Casual. Dinner dress includes skirt, or slacks with blouse or sweater, pant suit or dress for ladies; slacks and collared shirt for gentlemen. Sport jackets are optional. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts or tennis shoes are not to be worn at dinner. Ties are not required. On sailings of 16 nights or more, Formal and Semi-Formal attire is optional on two evenings. On the two Formal Optional evenings, guests are welcome to dress as per the Elegant Casual dress code or opt for a more formal choice of clothing including gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies; tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits with tie for gentlemen.

How do people dress on the first night? If they received luggage late is it alright to go into dinner with cropped pants or dress jeans? Or will they not allow you into the dining room?

That's a great attitude - I'm with you, I'd prefer shower only but not enough to want to change cabins in the middle of a B2B. Shower, bath, either way, I'd much prefer to be on board than back in the office. :p

 

Enjoy your cruise!!

Thanks.

I think others have covered most of the issues with the tub/shower combo

 

Just to add:

1. The tub is small if taking a bath

2. The shower curtain is 'tacky'

3. Many guests complained about difficulties with the shower/tub combo which is why Regent converted so many to shower only. Since the same space was utilised, the shower is huge with a useful seat/shelf at one end

 

However I am sure you will enjoy your cruise and will find your suite on Mariner very comfortable

Thanks. I wish we could have gotten one with the shower only but since we are on B2B we didn't want to have to switch cabins so the one we got was the only one available for both cruises.

I'm sure we'll have a great time too.

After reading various comments on these boards about the bath/shower combos, I was very apprehensive about the difficulties we would have using one on our recent cruise to Alaska. While we would have preferred the shower only, the suite we preferred was only available with the bath/shower due to our late booking. I worried about the dangers involved in entering and exiting the tub and had come up with various scenarios about how we would manage. We are on the upper end of Regent cruisers age-wise and actually found the combo no where near as bad as we had imagined. Just a little extra care was all it took to manage safely.

Thanks for the feedback. I know some people said they have asked for a step stool to get in and out of the tubs!

This is very reassuring though.

I'm not flossie but IMO the shower/tub combo is borderline dangerous. Firstly, the tub is raised off of the floor (for some unknown reason). If you are tall, your head will hit the ceiling when taking a shower (I'm 5' 3 1/2" tall and the ceiling feels low to me). Since the bathtub is raised, when getting out of the tub one needs to be careful as the step down is deeper than you would expect. It is very easy to slip or fall when getting out of the bathtub (even if the ship is not moving - it would obviously be worse in slightly bumpy seas). I suspect that a person with any balancing or disability issues would find the bathtub very challenging.

 

On the other hand, since you now know about the issues with the bathtub, you know to hold on to something when getting out of the tub. Just be careful and you should be fine.

Thanks. I am 5'2" but DH is 5'11". I hope he doesn't hit the ceiling! We had a tub like that on Celebrity two months ago in a Sky Suite. It was tough getting out because of the raise but I don't remember being that close to the ceiling. They also had a handrail but it was on the inner wall which didn't help much while getting out. I sometimes wonder who designs these things.

Actjually heard our next door neighbors complaining about the tub because they were handicapped and had requested a walk in shower and were told that cabin had a walk in shower but it did not. They had to be moved because of the tub.

With an 11 night cruise, there will not be a formal night.

From their website:

 

Attire ranges from Casual to Formal Optional. Casual wear is appropriate for daytime onboard or ashore, and consists of resort-style outfits. Casual wear, including shorts and jeans, is not appropriate after 6:00 pm, with the exception of the final evening of the cruise. On the night prior to disembarkation, guests may need to pack their luggage early due to morning flights the next day. With this in mind on the last night of every voyage we will relax the dress code for dinner to Casual.

 

The recommended onboard dress in the evenings is Elegant Casual. Dinner dress includes skirt, or slacks with blouse or sweater, pant suit or dress for ladies; slacks and collared shirt for gentlemen. Sport jackets are optional. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts or tennis shoes are not to be worn at dinner. Ties are not required. On sailings of 16 nights or more, Formal and Semi-Formal attire is optional on two evenings. On the two Formal Optional evenings, guests are welcome to dress as per the Elegant Casual dress code or opt for a more formal choice of clothing including gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies; tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits with tie for gentlemen.

How do people dress on the first night? If they received luggage late is it alright to go into dinner with cropped pants or dress jeans? Or will they not allow you into the dining room?

On Mariner we would always opt for a 'shower only' suite rather than those with a shower/tub combo; IMO the latter are not good for either showering or bathing

We have a shower/tub combo on our upcoming cruise on the Mariner. What specifically is wrong with the tub and shower?