WorldTravelers56

Make sure to keep Regent in the loop on the visa application process per their recent email letters. 

We had a similar issue as AZNettie. They did not accept the flight itinerary for our Buenos Aires to Rio cruise, probably since the flight is into Argentina and out of Brazil but we did not document when the cruise actually enters Brazil. We then resubmitted a pasted together single pdf document (since you cannot upload a cruise itinerary and a flight itinerary as separate files). We highlighted the first Brazilian port on the cruise and the flight out of Rio. Let's hope for the best ... time is running out.

So maybe in your case you show the Rio flight and the last Brazilian port from the cruise itinerary -- all in big highlights.

Just an update ... after nearly 2 weeks of waiting they rejected for the second time the photo. This time they explained in more detail that it needs to be a clear 2x2 photo. Not sure what clear means, perhaps the resolution needs to be high enough but they did not specify. Our photo already was 2x2, so I increased the size to 1200x1200 pixels. They further stated that it should NOT be a passport photo and the ear (ears?) needs to be visible. This is something not mentioned anywhere. Very frustrating 

Did anybody actually get their e-visa yet? We submitted ours 9 days ago and it is still in progress according to their website.

Here is something we were not really aware of. Regent Custom Air seems to often choose so called “married” flight segments for their itineraries. This means all flight segments for a trip are linked to each other and cannot be changed without cancelling the whole itinerary.

We ran into a problem where the airline changed the schedule of one flight resulting in a very short connection time to the international flight. When we called the Airline and Custom Air about putting us on an earlier flight, we were told they can only do this by first cancelling the whole trip since we have married flight segments. But now there are no more business class seats left on the international flight so we would completely lose this flight. Now we are stuck with this short connection time.

The bottom line, avoid married flight segments at all cost.

What is the best approach when a flight is cancelled or a connection is missed while already en-route on an itinerary booked by Regent Custom Air? FYI, we booked everything directly with Regent.

• Do you make the necessary arrangements directly with the airline or do you call Regent Custom Air to get rebooked?
• Does Regent know about your changed arrival time/day and will they automatically arrange a new airport transfer or do we need to call Regent Headquarters about this?
• Who do you call if nobody picks you up?
• What if we have a pre-cruise land program which involves domestic flights. Who will help us to catch up with this program? Is Custom Air going to rebook the local flight too or do we need to call Regent Headquarters?

It is nice to read that most cruisers do not like the artificial mixes -- and perhaps it will get to someone's attention at Regent. If Seabourn can do it, why not Regents. I left those comments in my cruise review.

In my recent experience on the Voyager, not a single cocktail had a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon, except a slice for decoration. Most cocktails need only half a jigger of lime/lemon juice, so it should not be a huge effort to prepare some fresh juice. I don't think Rose's Lime Juice is much better (The ingredients in the modern USA product, listed in order of concentration are: water, high fructose corn syrup, lime juice concentrate, sodium metabisulfite (preservative #223), natural flavors, Blue 1).

I might have to bring some fresh limes on my next cruise and juice them myself.

I noticed that in all bars on the ship (Voyager) they use Sweet & Sour Mixes for their cocktails instead of fresh lemon or lime juice and simple syrup. I understand that this is a lot easier for the bar tender, but we are talking about a luxury cruise experience here.

Those commercial Mixes are full of chemicals, stabilizers and artificial sweeteners, which add an artificial taste to the cocktail, especially if you are used to fresh lemon and lime juice. I disliked it so much that I picked cocktails that did not use those mixes.

I talked to several bar tenders and the FB Manager. They basically said it is too much work to squeeze fresh juice. One bartender reluctantly tried to muddle some limes. I can't imagine why they cannot squeeze some juice at the beginning of the evening or at least buy prepackaged juices without the chemical additives.

Regent advertises for the 2017 season "free business class air" in all suites categories. However, the fine print states "on most intercontinental flights".

What is everyone's experience when you ask Regent to make the air reservation for destinations in far away countries?

Do you get economy on the intra-US and international flight segments within the same continent? And only business class on the flight leg between continents?

Not to hijack this thread, on the two formal nights are there any special dishes offered in CR and Setti Mari or is it better to make reservations in the specialty restaurants to avoid the 6:30 pm mob??

Are you guys regularly tipping the driver and guide on Regent organized shore excursions outside the United States? Our travel consultant at Regent replied that no tips are required or expected on shore excursions except Egypt, where the driver/guide ask for "voluntary" tips.

I still like to know what is customary and how much if anything people tip.

How do you pay for souvenirs in markets and stalls during shore excursions, for instance in the Middle East and Asia?

Do you bring lots of US one-dollar bills? Are US dollars widely accepted?

Can you change money into local currencies on the Regent ship or in the port (and change leftover money back)?

What are the fees and is there even time in the port to do this?

Are credit cards accepted in some of the markets?