SireDoime

Whilst my July RSS Mariner cruise to Greece was cancelled, as I expected it would be, I allowed my Regent Consultant, Yamilla, to transfer my booking to the RSS Explorer in August 2022 (Athens to Istanbul). Same Category A, which is larger on this ship. Adding to that, she kept my original 2020 booking price, adding only the Visa for Istanbul (and adjustment to the RegentCare Insurance). All in all my final payment just went up by 110$, which isn't due until April 2022. 

So, for now I'm not worried, I am still surprised why people think cruising will resume so soon in the US.

I just hope all these Summer restarts don't cause another COVID-19 wave and the lines have got it together.

My Regent Consultant just notified me yesterday morning that my upcoming July Mediterranean cruise aboard RSS Mariner was officially cancelled. She transferred me to the RSS Explorer in August 2022 doing Athens to Istanbul for 10 days.

She gave me the same 2020 pricing, except added an Istanbul Visa and did a price adjustment to original RegentCare insurance. It added 110$ to my final payment, now due April 2022.

So we'll see what happens.

54 minutes ago, labonnevie said:

Although the cruise may be cancelled, it won't be because Greece is closed to US citizens. Greece announced a few days ago they will reopen to fully vaccinated tourists or those with a negative testr beginning in mid May.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/greece-reopening-vaccinated-travelers-summer-travel

I didn't see that post. I have been following the postings from the Greek Embassy, here:

https://gr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

10 hours ago, rbtan said:

Celebrity just really has completely poor set ups for LGBT groups/meetings

I can confirm this. I went on my first cruise to the Western Caribbean on Equinox back in July 2019. The one meeting they had in CRUSH was blah. I saw the gay cruise director there, but the whole vibe was just off for me. While they were pretty gay friendly (that surprised me), and there were plenty onboard - it just seemed cliquey and geared towards the 20something crowd.

But I guess it depends on the time of year... 😎

On 3/10/2021 at 1:16 PM, rbtan said:

unfriendly(not nasty)pax

What is or who are "pax"?

On 3/5/2021 at 11:16 PM, SusieQft said:

Who did you purchase this insurance from?  Is it a "Cancel for Any Reason" policy?  I had been under the impression that when you do that, they only reimburse a fraction, usually 75%, not the full amount.

I bought it from Regent. It's called RegentCare. The cruise deposit was 1972.35$ and the RegentCare payment was 3311.77$. It states the Insurance is non-refundable once the Cancellation Penalties kick in.

I hope I can get most of this back should this cruise be cancelled, as I will not expect to cruise this year. The one question I will ask Monday: should it be cancelled by Regent and I have to pay the fee, will I also have to pay the 50% of the final balance as well? That doesn't seem fair to me.

Glad to hear (regarding the answers). I have a cruise on RSS Mariner to Greec for 10 days coming up in July, with Full Payment due in May. Really feel it'll be cancelled, since Greece is still closed to US citizens.

5 hours ago, rallydave said:

Regent Reassurance in NOT insurance and is not something that you paid for so nothing to be given back.  As far as refunds, if Regent cancels you will get refunded as FCC's have gone away however, should you cancel within the penalty phase any cancellation penalty will be taken from any refund you might get. 

I'm sorry, I mis-stated that. I was referring the insurance that I opted for at the time of Booking. I was told and have in writing that I can cancel up to 48 hours with no penalties.

My bad for the confusion. 🤭

In February I received both an email and phone call from Yamilla, my Regent Consultant, regarding my July 2nd Greek cruise aboard the RSS Mariner. I was informed the final payment was moved from March 4th to May 2nd. From our conversation I was told the penalties up to the final payment remain at their current level, that is what was stated in the email 🤷🏿‍♂️. But, since I have the Regent Assurance Insurance, my RC told me that my booking is protected from Regent cancellations and such.

However, since my cruise is in Greece, a country that has still banned US citizens 😒, it is very likely my cruise will be cancelled by Regent, and Yamilla will likely ask to move my deposit to another cruise. She suggested the RSS Explorer. So it's a waiting game now 👌🏿, but I won't touch my booking until I hear from Regent. I'm prepared to be refunded the cruise deposit and move one, but I don't think I'll get the Insurance payment back, though ☹️

The cruise ships that I learned that were sailing during this pandemic last year (and being grossly IRRESPONSIBLE, in my opinion) were MSC Grandiosa and Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas.

POST NOTE:

Okay so when I wrote this I actually thought that Carnival and others were sailing right now, just not their full fleet. I have now learned otherwise 🤐. I thought this because of videos of cruisers onboard ships (wearing masks, social distancing, not serving themselves, and using contact tracing, etc.) between December of last year and at the latest - last month.

I believe now these were be local (or test) cruises abroad, like Singapore (which I know for a fact is doing "cruising nowhere" cruises), but not from US ports. So, my remark about Carnival is a bit off the mark.

Peace 🙃

2 hours ago, SusieQft said:

Are you sure?  My final payment was changed from December to March some time ago,  and had the exact same terms.  My initial reaction was the same as yours.  I asked my TA about the penalty, and she said that "not changing" meant that my penalty does not get any higher (i.e. it remains at the $100 pp admin penalty), not that the original schedule remains in effect.  Otherwise I probably would have cancelled it in December.  My May cruise should be cancelled any day now by Regent anyway, comfortably before the new final payment date.   When that happens, the question will sadly become moot for my booking.

 

What my Regent Consultant told me was that the penalties "will reset" after the new payment date. I do know that as of now, I am still beholden to the 100$ fee if I cancel "now", before the 120 day mark (March 4th). Especially since the email states: "Cancellation penalties will remain at their current level until the new final payment date."

As for the rest, I just interpreted as such (this is why I genuinely hate the cancellation policies for cruising). I thought if I cancelled, say on May 1st, then I'll be subject to the 50% penalty fee for 90-61 day cancellations prior to sailing.

While I trust my RC, I'm still  going to call Regent this morning to get more insight on this.

However, I have learned that it is best to leave the booking alone, and let Regent handle it: meaning if they suspend it, let them do that as opposed to trying to cancel or rebook beforehand.

Because I was actually trying to rebook the day I got this email.

Last month I heard that Regent suspended bookings, I believe, March through April. These sailings were refunded automatically with no action on the part of the guest.

Well, my July cruise to Greece (which I booked last year) had a Final Payment due on March 4th, and I hadn't heard anything from Regent regarding that sailing.

So Thursday (Feb 4, 2021) I called my Regent Consultant to let her know that I want to fully cancel my booking. Well, she alerted me to an email that Regent had just sent out an hour before I made that call. It read:

-------------------------------------

Well, I was rather surprised, because this was exactly what I was waiting to hear. I normally check my email every week. However, since I checked it the day before, I missed it on that day. So my Final Payment is now May 2nd. But if I cancel before then, then I'll be subject to the penalties as if the payment had not changed. Which I think is unfair.

After talking it out with my RC I decided to keep the booking, and wait it out. I have learned that those who cancel before such announcements are made become subject to cancellation penalties and fees.

I did tell her that I am not really motivated to travel abroad this year (as the CDC recommends against international travel), or any travel onboard cruise ships until the pandemic has been declared over. But, I will wait it out, and see what develops by summer.

Regent seems to be responsible one, by not sailing any ships; while others like Carnival - who seem to not care at all 🥵 - just book anyway.

That said, good luck to us all! 😄

PS: My invoice was updated to reflect the new Final Payment date in an email sent the next day.

10 hours ago, mcshane said:

I think those of us who follow the science will welcome mask and physical distancing rules. 

Thank you. Finally some common sense.

10 hours ago, Kwaj girl said:

https://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/Cruisings-Return-Will-Likely-Include-Mandatory-Face-Masks-Onboard

 

Something else we don't need.  If they enforce this...bye-bye luxury experience.  Imagine...walking around the ship looking at faceless masked zombies.  ::rolleyes::

And I can't imagine how they're going to keep fellow cruisers 'apart' - do I have to call out to you across the lounge if we want to have a conversation??  Are they going to say we can't join you because we're not in your immediate family/travel group...that they'll have to seat us at a table "6 feet apart?"

This type of attitude is why COVID keeps spreading. 😒

We need personal responsibility with cruising. Masks and social distancing works. 👍🏿

.

😕 This is what I see (as of Jan 07, 2021) I don't see the same format in your shots. When I click the >>  I get the room layout screen. I don't see the gold upward caret. 🤔 Maybe they updated the layout?

20 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Folks, the screen shots I have posted twice now both come from www.RSSC.com. Here  is a link: . https://www.rssc.com/cruises/SPL230328/summary
as far as I know that is the official cruiseline website so I would appreciate it if you would not continue to question my ability to access a website. Perhaps because I am using an Apple mobile device it looks different than what you see on your device.

 

Thanks for letting me know that what I thought I was seeing wasn’t a post-Covid promo and I AGAIN apologize for missing the bullet beside the “Concierge Level Amenities” on staterooms that receive them. It wasn’t a deal breaker (in fact we prefer to book our own hotel) but I was trying to confirm what my Travel Agent was telling me...she was right. 
 

Have a good evening and stay safe after this awful day in the USA.
 

On 6/7/2019 at 5:09 PM, Eno-Bob said:

"you must keep the bedroom and bathroom curtains down and the veranda door curtains closed after dark" 

"go out on the veranda after dark if you kept lights off."

Why? Is this a ship requirement or for privacy?

PaulJC

5 hours ago, 2012_Alaska_bound said:

Check the Regent Suite Guru (pinned post on this Board)
 

 

Thank you. I didn't know was available!

PJC

5 hours ago, liptastic said:

Hi Paul,

We have been in 1103 twice and would always book that location. Very quiet area , minimal footfall and we’ve never experienced any noise from above deck.

Have a great cruise on the lovely Mariner,  Jean.

Thank you.

By the way, what is "footfall"?

PJC

...

Room Noise: I'm booked in Room 1115 on RSS Mariner. Does anybody have experience with this Penthouse location? Is there any noise from the deck above?

Thank you.

PaulJC