AtA

22 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:

 

Hmmm, the "quote" only did part of your post.  I wanted to respond to your comment about how people on the show were dressed.  From what I've seen (have not seen episode 4 yet), the focus is on people from the U.K. and they really do dress up more (in general) than people from the U.S.  I have seen many people from the U.K. dressed up - even for breakfast (kind of reminds me of the very few years I spent growing up on the East Coast).  Since Regent has about 80% passengers from the U.S., there are likely 80% of the passengers that do not dress up during the day.   And, it seems like it is mostly people from the U.S. that would like to see jeans allowed at night

The quote about how people were dressed was from another poster. I just quoted what they had said just like you did with my quote.

5 hours ago, judi666 said:

 

 

Have you watched the 4 part UK series on Explorer?  People seemed a little daunting in quite elegant dress even in the daytime.  One lovely lady had such a low cut top I was fearful for a wardrobe malfunction! 😄

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I kept waiting for something to happen. 😮

TC I think your impressions and thoughts were excellent and am glad you enjoyed your time on Crystal. Thank you.

1 hour ago, nancygp said:

 

Hi Peggy,

 

the ocean view cabins on deck 5/Serentiy are the same size  as the deck 7 but are not updated.  They are reserved for non passengers.

 

Nancy

Correct me if I'm wrong Nancy but those on deck 5 SYMPHONY are used for passengers?

11 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:

This has a turned into a money/cost thread (my fault).  Just want to point out the differences between Crystal and Regent and sometimes I fall into the “Regent is wonderful” place when in fact, Silversea, Crystal and Oceania are also good cruise lines.

 

My apologies Jackie. 

I have sailed Regent and obviously liked it enough to sail them multiple times, even taking my Mom on her last cruise to Alaska back in 2010.  

I was not enamored with Oceania when we did it a few years ago, but because of pricing, I'm trying it again with my son in January on Serina. 

5 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:

FlyerTalker - thank you for your explanations.  I have noticed for a long time that the internet is better in some areas of the world than other areas.  Alaska has always been a challenge - even for Crystal which has pretty good connectivity.  We also had difficulty in northern Norway and near Japan.  

 

For anyone that is not reading my Crystal blog, the best thing about the internet on this ship is that Wi-Fi in the computer room does not require any type of login and the computers are a combination of Apple and Microsoft (actual hardware is Apple).  in my opinion, there is no reason why Regent cannot do this since everyone gets included Wi-Fi.  There are a dozen or so computers with at least 1 (sometimes 1) crew members in there to assist guests all day (not sure when they leave - they have been there at 11:00 p.m. if I recall correctly.  This would be helpful for those Regent passengers that do not get 4 log-ons.  We really only one login on this ship (not sure how many we are entitled to) because I can use the computer in the computer room and my iPad at the same time.... thus using only one login.

You and Dennis are each entitled to log on with 2 devices. So a total of 4.

2 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

 

And the balcony stateroom is 246 sqft which I believe includes the balcony.

 

This is 55 sqft smaller than the standard Mariner suite, the smallest in the fleet.

Yes but that Mariner suite is still a lot more money than the balcony stateroom on Crystal and that's my point. To compare close to apples to apples, you have to compare a PH on Crystal to the standard Mariner Suite. And both will price out about the same dollars. Only difference is the Crystal PH will have a butler.

So if you're used to your verandah cabin on Regent, for about the same price you can get a PH cabin on Crystal.

2 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:

AtA - thank you for the further explanation.  

 

The area where you can find a serious price difference is in the top suites on Regent and Crystal (not counting the 4,000 square foot Explorer suite as it is only one one ship and is $5,000/night/person - approximately).

 

 

 

 

Absolutely agree with you Jackie although I've never stayed in anything higher than the PH on Crystal and an E-G on Regent. 🙂

That's about the closest I can come in comparing apples to apples. A Crystal PH to a Regent regular cabin. 

2 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:

 

Interesting comparison.  However, you failed to mention the size of the "lowest cabin" on Crystal.  I believe that it is under 200 sq. ft. (will try to go to the Crystal website and will double check that number).  Wish that I could get a photo of the tiny staterooms but it would be rather rude to take a photo from the hallway when the door is open.  I believe you also have to add tax and port fees to the Crystal fares.

 

Going to check website.

 

Internet too slow on Crystal site so I checked Regent's site.  PH suites are different on each ship.  Our favorite ship (Explorer) has PH suite that run from 561-644 square feet with balcony.  The Voyager and Navigator have the smallest PH suites.  Did not have time to check to see which ship is being quoted above but the Mariner's PH suites are 376 sq. ft. with a 73 sq. ft. balcony.  Will check more later.

 

Note:  With the exception of 20% of the Navigator, all other Regent ships are "all suite - all balcony".  Not saying that this is necessary to have a good cruise ….. just appreciate having specific information when making comparisons since Regent ships are so different.

Yes you're correct I did because I was actually comparing the lowest balcony stateroom on Regent which is closer in size to the penthouse on Crystal and trying to show how the pricing on Regent in a lower category was comparative in size to a PH on Crystal. Meaning for about the same price you can either go with a lower category Regent cruise or a PH on Crystal. Both are similar in room size. And absolutely both have their plusses and minuses. But I did it to show that in the same size cabin on either cruise line, the pricing was almost the same.

People have the idea that Crystal pricing is so much more than Regent and it's not.

The lowest cabin on Crystal is a window cabin and is 213 square feet. 🙂

"Again, it bothers me that all passengers do not have the opportunity to dine in Umi Uma one time - even on a seven night itinerary. "

As I mentioned on the other thread, they absolutely do and should. In fact they can go to the maitre'd  to find a time and a place to dine. It may or may not be their first choice for time. If they don't get satisfaction with the maitre'd, going down to the concierge will solve the problem. I know because on our last Alaskan cruise because of a mistake by our butler, we wound up without reservations in Prego. Once I went to the concierge, we had a reservation the following night.

Additionally, they can absolutely go sit any night there's room at the sushi bar in Umi Uma.

" We already have favorites on Crystal that greet us wherever we see them on the ship.  Is this because we are in the top suite?  Perhaps but they seem to be friendly with other guests as well."

Absolutely NOT! Every single passenger once out of the room is treated exactly the same. 

7 minutes ago, vegasdriven said:

 

For this example the Regent cruise would be the absolute winner, as if you added international business class flights to the Crystal cruise you would be paying far more than the Regent cruise, and that.is not considering the included excursions. I guess you might come close with the window suite on Crystal, but even for us that would not be a consideration, or a fair comparison unless you are looking at Navigator, and I am pretty sure the price for those window suites would be less than the price quoted for Regent.

First I wasn't comparing the window suite to Regent. Only Crystal's PH (with butler) to Regent's lowest fare.  My point was the Crystal PH cabin with butler was still lower in price for the 7 day cruise than Regent's lowest fare for the same cruise. Yes the Regent cruise includes tours and biz air. 

However, I've found that for many of the overseas cruises that Crystal will have airfare that the TA can check on and in many cases it's comparable so that it's not more than Regent LOWEST priced cabin. Our business airfare through Crystal last year from Singapore to NY was absolutely many many thousands less than we could have gotten on our own and would have still kept it competitive with Regent's LOWEST priced cabin.

The only other difference is the included tours on Regent which I had found to be less than stellar when they started with them. We wound up either doing their tours that cost more or booking our own. Maybe they've improved since then?

13 hours ago, UUNetBill said:

I’ve heard a lot of people say this but honestly, whenever I’ve priced out cruises on any of the ‘big-4’ luxury lines it always seems to come out about equal when you factor in airfare, tips, excursions, etc.  Some sailings may be a bit more or a bit less but overall I’ve never seen a big price difference.

 

As to the tiny cabins, though...I couldn’t deal with a tiny cabin, personally.  There’s a reason Rolls Royce doesn’t make sub-compacts...   🤪

Which is why you shouldn't go in the "tiny" cabins. Priced out as close to apples to apples, a PH on Crystal is the same price as a regular cabin on Regent in a large majority of cases. That was one reason we switched from Regent. Especially since we didn't find the included tours on Regent to our liking and even when we priced out included air, it still became pretty much of a wash. 

Here's just one example. It's not a 100% matchup because of course ports are somewhat different.

On Crystal: Monte Carlo - Venice 7 nights May 3-10, 2020. The lowest cabin price is $3834 pp for a window cabin.

The penthouse with a butler is $5599 pp and is 412 square feet (includes the balcony) (And no, it doesn't include airfare or excursions)

On Regent: Rome - Barcelona 7 nights May 21, 2020. The lowest cabin price is $7699 pp and is 335 square feet (includes the balcony)

A Superior Suite prices out at $8599 pp and is 464 square feet.

Now of course I do realize different ports can be more or less expensive and I'm sure that figures into it, but what this shows is that if you pay for a standard cabin on Regent, then you most likely can afford to pay for a PH on Crystal.

Crystal has many cruises that have great single supplements.

Thank you for the pictures. What type of cabin were you in?

Just now, clo said:

Isn't that true for flying also?

Absolutely!

23 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Most people that check their bags  at the front of the terminal hope it makes it the 200 ft to the ship

 

We had an issue in Miami last time we  boarded there

Checked our bags with the porters ..we had locks on them

When we finally got the bags one lock was cut off & the other was in the process of being cut off  but I guess the culprit was disturbed

I choose to lock my bag & if  anyone has a problem with that  then they should page us on the ship & we gladly open it for inspection

I doubt it was a legal  inspection  though

I reported it to reception  but it fell on deaf ears

 

I make it a point to only pack clothes, shoes and things I won't mind if they go missing in my bags. Anything else stays with me as carryon.

On 8/20/2019 at 3:18 PM, bbqoug said:

I will read other reviews about the Sirena with interest between now & then, but we will go into our cruise with a hopeful and positive attitude.

Or as my DH is fond of saying, "a bad day at sea is still better than a good day on land". LOL

On 8/16/2019 at 12:42 PM, AncientWanderer said:

 

On our HAL Alaska cruise, lots of people were talking about their late booking "great deals" without being asked.  It was an odd cruise.  But we won't be booking early again for anything -- unless it's a Crystal cruise because they have so few ships.  There's just so many big ships out there to fill, seems like waiting for prices to "settle" makes sense.

 

 

 

And on Crystal if the price drops, they will honor the lower price.

I sometimes enjoy chatting with the staff even more than the passengers. I just love learning about them.

Agree 100% about the PG being the best way to see the islands

1 hour ago, Paulchili said:

I am pretty sure that they will let him check in as well since he is family and traveling with you.

Thank you.

Similar to the question asked. I'm in a PH but my son is not. If I get to the terminal early and am allowed to board early, will my son be allowed to board with me?

48 minutes ago, JPR said:

AtA wrote: “Yes this was Oceania on the Mariner.“

 

Did you mean to type “Marina”? “The Mariner” is a Regent ship.

Yes I meant the Marina. Sorry for the gaff.

21 hours ago, Hawaiidan said:

Yes...Red ginger  but beware a lot of Asian dishes, even meat  will be made with Oyster  and Fish sauce...  Seafood components figure  into much of all Asian foods... from sauces to ingredients.   You might look up the entrees and dishes and look up recipes. to be safe. 

I always do and do ask no matter where I eat. Last thing I want is to be doubled over in bed with stomach cramps on a cruise. Thank you. 

Just now, clo said:

Actually not necessary.  I can cite the experience and that should be enough.

FYI because I couldn't give up the price and because I remember the food was very good, I'm taking my son on a 7 day Caribbean on Serina this January. It's his graduation gift. I'm hoping that was a momentary lapse from when I was on.

(There were other issues too but that was the most serious one.)