papaflamingo

The G7 FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS’ MEETING is being held in Capri Apr.17-19.

The poster who stated this is from San Diego, so the UK policy isn't applicable to his comment. But why, at least in the U.S., would anyone pay to have the flight ticketed early? What benefit? I'm not really trying to be argumentative, but it seems that people could be led to believe that if they book 210 days out with Custom Air then they are on the hook for the cost of air. That is simply not the case. I was unaware that there was even an option to have Regent pay for the tickets early. Anyway, sorry if my comments ruffled any feathers, that was not my intent. So I'll simply back out now.

Fair enough.

I know you're in the UK so it may be different, but how does claiming on this cruise affect further premiums? I've bought travel insurance for 40 or so cruises and have made claims. My premiums have always been based on age, cost, and area of travel. NEVER has any insurance company asked not known about a previous claim. Is it different in the UK?

Here is the published Dress Code from the website. It states "no jeans after 6 pm." You can do what you want, but it's a pretty casual dress code. Why not just adhere to it? "Attire ranges from Casual to Formal Optional. Casual wear consists of resort-style outfits; some examples are jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. Casual wear is appropriate for daytime both on board or ashore. Casual wear is not appropriate after 6:00 PM. 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. Otherwise, the recommended onboard dress in the evenings is Elegant Casual. Dinner dress for ladies includes a skirt, or slacks with a blouse or sweater, a pant suit or dress; slacks and a collared shirt for gentlemen. Sport jackets are optional. Casual wear is 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 of the 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."

Well, I'm no lawyer, but pretty sure Regent has at least one that helped right the Cruise Contract and I'm more confident than not that if I was to take Regent to court for violating the contract I'd pretty much lose. As for the amount enough to cover an equivalent room? Actually that hasn't been my experience. Now I can't speak for every port or hotel, but the times we've opted out we have done equally well getting a room and generally we upgrade (probably using the "extra" for transportation to cover it). But that's just my experience. One more thing. You actually DON'T know how much Regent pays per hotel room. So to say that the hotel costs "a lot more than the credit that was given." I bet in reality it doesn't. The credit is $300 per couple and I can get a room for about the same, I bet Regent can get it for even less. Anyway, kind of a moot point. It is what it is. I don't necessarily disagree with you that it doesn't cover the cost we incur when you figure hotel plus transportation, but I do dislike anyone saying something like it's a "breach of contract" which has particular legal ramifications. Everyone seems to like to throw those terms out, that or "bait and switch" and both carry severe legal penalties. Anyway.... probably beat this one to death. Happy cruising.

I imagine they haven't actually "broken their contract" with anyone, that would result in legitimate legal action. 😎 Not really unsympathetic at all and certainly understand your position. But if they refund their cost of a hotel and give you $200 each OBC they're pretty much compensating you for the inconvenience. Anyway, not trying to beat a dead horse here but simply was pointing out that the 150 pounds per person is what they credit if you opt out of the included hotel and transfer. That was it. Try taking the matter higher and see if you can get further compensation. Let us know if that works. It would be good info for the future.

So not cool! Obviously a very entitled person. I don't know why people can't just be respectful of those around them.

I might have already posted this remark, but I suspect the problem with deviating your flights is that Regent requires passport info for the airlines and if that changes after you book a flight there is a $500 pp charge for them to update this. That may be the reason you can't book flights without passport info. Once you get your passports, call Custom Air and see if you can book then. Deviation is NO MORE than 210 prior to the cruise. You can call them anytime AFTER the 210 days. Also if you Deviate with Regent and arrive on the "normal" day, i.e. a day before with Concierge or above, or day of cruise if not, the I believe you can still take advantage of Regent transportation to the hotel or port. If you deviate to arrive early (say a couple of days) then of course you're on your own for transport. However if you use the included hotel room, no matter when you arrive to the hotel, you will be given transport from the hotel. We always deviate our flights. We deviated at the end of a cruise, but since we were going directly to the airport from the ship, we were able to use Regent's transport. However we ended up not going on the cruise due to Covid, but transport to the airport was included in our final docs. Just ask your TA to make sure that is all arranged. Also, if you end up not deviating, and get a ridiculous air itinerary, call Regent Air and explain your situation and request changes and see what they can do. Many people here have done so successfully.

Actually their Hotel/Transportation allowance is only $150 per person in the U.S. (or that's what it used to be). So 150 pounds plus $200 OBC seems pretty fair. How much should you be reimbursed?

My "conclusion" comes from personal experience and personal conversations with both United AND Regent. I'm not trying to argue, there is really nothing to argue about. It's simply the facts that were given to me by BOTH the airlines and Regent. Nothing that is booked through Regent becomes non-refundable PRIOR to Final Payment according to the Published Cancellation Schedule except the non-refundable portion of the deposit and the non-refundable $175 Deviation Fee. To suggest that if you book your flight 210 days out the cost of air becomes non-refundable is simply absurd. You don't pay for the air until you make your final payment on your cruise. If you agree to an up charge flight that isn't paid for until you pay final payment for you cruise. So unless the OP booked inside the final payment period and had to pay in full according to the Cancellation Policy, the only cost is the $175 Deviation Fee and no more.

When is your cruise? Because you'll need passports before you go. Once you get your passports you can again contact Regent Air to deviate, or simply use their included air. I'm confused by "Regent has said we would have to cancel our air part of the package and book our own flights." Probably you can't deviate without the Passports, because they have to enter the info with the airlines and it's a $500 charge if you change it later. So maybe that's what they were talking about. But wait until you get the passports, then try to deviate again. As to traveling the same day, I would never do that (I'm retired airline and know better). As to Travel Insurance covering a delay, yes....depending. You really have to read the policy and see what it covers. It's critical to know what is a covered event.

The "higher grade" Concierge is simply a better location on the ship. Otherwise there are no differences in Concierge cabins. But again, I don't know how they decide who to cancel for hotels as it's really a pretty rare thing. But I imagine it's Concierge first (maybe the lower grade, maybe not) and I would think it would be based on when the reservation was made. But honestly this is a very rare situation so I wouldn't worry too much about it happening again.

To my knowledge Regent doesn't pay for the flights more than 60 days out. When I deviated on our Feb. cruise from Hong Kong I made the deviation 210 days out. About a month later United changed the schedule giving me an uncomfortably short layover in SFO to change planes. Long story short, I contacted United and they said there was nothing they could do to change the schedule since the tickets hadn't been paid for. So I called Regent and all they could do was rebook a different day but it would be an up charge and a new deviation fee. However the agent did give me the date that the ticket would be paid for (60 days or so before the cruise). So after that date I was able to call United and make an acceptable change directly with them. So, you can BOOK 210 days out, but the flight won't be paid for until 60 days out.

We were in an F-2 on Grandeur in Jan. The only time we heard our neighbors was when I was on the sofa and he was on his sofa (on the other side of the wall). We were traveling with friends on the other side of the cabin (TV wall) and never heard them, nor did they hear us. Anyway, it sure seems to be a problem. Have you mentioned this to your neighbors? Perhaps you could "ask" if they are hearing you as a lead in to letting them know that you hear them? Anyway, seems different cabins have different issues. It's too bad as Grandeur is a beautiful ship.

No. The letter that people got on the cruise before us was posted on a thread here. As I remember it specifically described the addition of the shore power mechanism. But, the cancellation of Nicaragua was 3 months before the cruise and stated "Due to current restrictions imposed on cruises into Nicaragua." I am just "internet savvy" enough to take about 30 seconds out of my day and see what is going on in Nicaragua and there was an Embassy alert for "political uprising" (or something similar) so I just and saw the travel advisory (it was really for unfair treatment of foreigners or something like that). So I simply assumed that was the reason. But further research (just a couple of minutes ago) said that last year Nicaragua closed for cruise ships. "Political uprising" was my term only because I actually didn't remember the wording of an email I received about 6 months or so ago a port I didn't care about, for a great cruise I completed 4 months ago. As for Acapulco, it wasn't much of a mystery. They were hit with a major hurricane in late Nov./early Dec. that destroyed the city. Mexico has spent Billions trying to get the infrastructure back up and the city open. So no surprise, nor explanation, needed there.

We stayed at the Keio Plaza Tokyo in the Shinjuku area and loved it! Had a "club level" room and gave us access to the club on the 19th floor and included breakfast either at the club or down in the restaurant and evening drinks and appetizers that we simply turned into dinner. Great location.

I don't believe that is correct. I believe you can cancel Regent Air prior to the 60 days as that is when they pay for the tickets. What you lose if you book Custom Air then cancel it is the $175 per person Deviation Fee. And the 60 days is mostly when 100% penalty for cancelling begins for cruise cancellation. The only risk you run booking 210 days out is the non-refundable $175 pp. But you have secured seats on flights you want so it is, IMHO, well worth it.

What you want to do is to Deviate your flight. You do that by contacting Custom Air. There is a $175 per person non-refundable Deviation Fee. When you call you will have a single $75 charge to talk to them, but that will be applied to one of the $175 Deviation Fees IF you accept deviation, so it becomes "free." Anyway, when you do this you can request any flight itinerary and go any day (up to 30 days before and after the cruise). So if you want to go a day or two early, or stay a day or two (or more of course) after the cruise you can. If you choose to do this, research your flights and itineraries and have a list of what you want. If Regent has "contract rates" on your requested flights then there will be no additional charges (other than the $175 pp). If they don't have "contract rates" you are likely able to book it for an up charge. It is up to you if the up charge is worth it or not. Anyway, Deviation can be done 210 days before your cruise, and IMHO, well worth it. If you go the same day that Regent would have sent you anyway, I believe you still get transport provided. If not, you have to find your own transportation to the hotel. But wisdom (and 29 years as an airline pilot) tells me NEVER GO THE DAY THE SHIP LEAVES!!!! Anyway, Custom Air is very easy to work with and will help you find routing (if available) if you don't want to pay the up charge and your desired flights aren't available. Of course the more you research and more flight options you find, the better chance you'll find one that has no (or very minimal) up charge. Once you agree on deviation they will send an email (to your TA if you used one). This email MUST be responded to as it is the actual acceptance of the deviation. Also on most airlines you will be able to choose your seats while on the phone with the Regent Agent. One more comment about Atlanta to Reykjavik flights. Not sure what you mean by "disappearing," but if you're looking at Delta, those flights may be seasonal and also NOT daily. So you may have to fly on a Mon. Wed. or Fri. for example.

The Concierge Cabin is the cheapest cabin where a night is included, so it makes sense that these cabins would be the first bumped. Then Penthouse, etc. in order of cabin cost. Like the airlines, the bumping won't start with First Class, it'll start with the lowest cost economy seats. Was it "every" Concierge Cabin? Who knows? If not, then could be date cabin was booked.

I find a comfort zone in many places...even some I will not mention publicly! 😱 🤣

Yeah...heard about this on the news so....just couldn't resist. I figured it would be a lot more exciting than "gee my Prime 7 steak came out medium not medium rare...not a luxury experience" threads. 🤣

Just a couple of comments.... There has been enough discussion regarding the comment that the Captain "refused" to answer both the Coast Guard and the Harbor Master, and discussion of airlines leaving people at the gate for me to comment. I am both Retired U.S. Coast Guard and a Retired Airline Captain. Let me say this. No Professional Ship's Captain would EVER "refuse" to answer either the Harbor Master OR the local Coast Guard!!!! I can't stress this enough. A ship's captain simply DOES NOT ignore the local authorities, at least not if he wants to keep his job. It would be like an Airline Captain ignoring and refusing to answer an FAA Controller. SIMPLY NOT DONE! As for Airlines leaving people at the gate. What you may or may not know.... for an airline to depart a Weight and Balance must be generated and on board. In order to make an "On Time Departure" the flight is "closed out" around 5-10 minutes before departure and the Weight and Balance is generated. ANY change, even adding 1 person (or removing 1 for that matter) requires a whole new Weight and Balance to be generated. This is done (at least at the airline I flew for) by the Dispatchers in an office at the airline's headquarters so it isn't a quick thing. THAT is the number one reason that Agents don't let late passengers board. And to add to that, airlines are ranked by on time performance, something that the traveling public demanded, so the days of waiting have come and gone. And just for perspective of how critical Weigh and Balance is, when I flew the L-1011 (a very large plane weighing over 400,000 pounds), we took a Football Charter out of Florida. We had to remove ONE 180 pound Charter Rep. in order to have the "numbers" for takeoff. Imagine a 180 pound person being "critical" to an over 400,000 pound aircraft! So Weight and Balance is no joke. My point is, there is a lot in this story that is not exactly correct, and there are a lot of dynamics in place that make something that seems simple, like waiting, very difficult and costly. But before judging anyone, it's imperative that all dynamics are understood and the entire story is known.

Actually, we were on the cruise immediately after the one you are referring to. And the reasons were clear. Nicaragua was cancelled due to political uprisings (this was done on our cruise too). Acapulco was cancelled because of a hurricane that pretty much wiped out the city a month before (this was cancelled on our cruise too). And Cabo and Ensenada were cancelled and substituted with Puerto Vallarta and an overnight in Los Angeles. This was done so that the ship could be in LA a day early. Grandeur has an ability to hook up electrically to the port and completely shut down their engines for environmental reasons that will become a requirement in ports like LA. The "mechanism" for this hook up was not completed before her first sailing so they had to do the work in LA and finish it, thus the extra night in LA. It was pretty clearly laid out in the letter posted on an earlier thread here. So, in fact, the guests WERE told the reasons.

Don't panic, they'll let you know. We got our assignment on our Preliminary Cruise Summary that came about 60 days prior to the cruise.