papaflamingo

Thanks! Will have to give it a try next time! 😎

I would expect it's very likely that overland programs will be offered. We're doing the Grand Cruise next year and the Taj Mahal is an offered overland program out of Kochi (Cochin), India to rejoin the ship in Mumbai. It's not cheap ($4099 per person) but it's offered. There are also other overland programs offered including Luxor which we chose to do. So I expect those will be added down the road.

We were on Grandeur in Jan. and our friend had the crispy escargot in Chartreuse and didn't like them. I will say up front, he's not an "adventurous eater" and broke them open and ate the snail alone. I'm pretty sure that added to his "dislike." But after your comment and that of others, I'm now intrigued and I think next time I get a chance I will likely try them. But can you describe how they're prepared? Like... what's the "crispy" part, or any sauces, etc. Sorry, I know it's a bit of a weird question.

We are booked on the Grand Cruise from Auckland to Athens (maybe) Mar. 2025. We just booked the cruise before from Papeete to Auckland. The ship gets in the night before the Grand cruisers board, so we spend a night in Auckland on board. Does anyone know if it's possible for us to attend the Grand Cruise dinner the night before? Also I seem to have heard that they will generally do a Grand Cruise event (like brunch or something) on board early in the cruise. Any one have any info? Thanks

I think that was simply a function of your cabin steward. The cabin stewards have certain work hours that include off time during the afternoon. So I've found when I put laundry out after 9 am and it comes back the next day, it often is when they come to do turn down service. I simply plan for that event. Not sure why you had a two day wait. We've been on 4 different ships and never had that long of a wait. I'm guessing it was an oversight.

Not sure what you mean by "strictly." Yes you only get ONE free log in if in a suite below Concierge. However you can log off of one device ...say your cell phone.... and log in with another device....say your iPad. So you can only use ONE device at a time, but it can be any device. Just log out on one and log in on another.

I never said "a dress code has a lot to do with good taste," or anything to do with "good taste" for that matter. The "reasons behind these policies" aren't all that difficult to understand. They are selling a "total experience." That "experience" includes a defined decorum on board. That defined decorum includes a specific dress code. Just like the up scale restaurant that requires men wear sports coats. What I don't understand is why grown adults have so much problem simply abiding by the rules they agree to when they accept the cruise contract. And I certainly don't see this as "the world is falling apart," in fact I'd be fine if they change the dress code. I like the idea of shorts after 6 pm, especially in the Caribbean. But until they do, I will follow the dress code because.....I'm a grown adult and I know what I agreed to when I accepted the cruise contract.

I'm sure you probably looked into this, but just in case.. if your sons have to cancel for work reasons, there are (or at least used to be) insurance policies that covered a work situation. If you haven't checked the policy, and they're cancelling for work, you might be able to file a claim.

We were on Grandeur in Jan. and Explorer on Feb-Mar. Our experience was the same as1982CruiseStart. BOTH were open on Sea Days and I think they alternated on shore days but can't really confirm that part as we only used the Pool Grill on shore days. But definitely BOTH Prime 7 and Chartreuse were open on sea days on both ships.

Interesting question. We were on Grandeur in an F-2 Superior suite in Jan. Seems the only way to split the bed is to move each bed to the sidewall and put the night stands side by side in between. But that would put the plugs away from the night stands (they are low on the wall as I remember. Not sure if they have sockets in between the beds, but I wouldn't expect it. Sorry it doesn't help.

My two cents.... "why do people care what other people wear?" Doesn't matter. When we book Regent we pay to have a total experience. Part of that is the decorum around the ship. The "promised" experience and decorum includes the dress code. The Dress Code is very specific for both day and night If you don't want to follow the dress code, find a cruise line that is more in sync with your desired vacation experience. That's it. Doesn't matter why I care or even IF I care, what matters is it's Regent's ship and as such it's their right to make whatever rules they want. When you agree to cruise with them you agree to abide by the rules. So be an adult and abide by the rules. Not that hard folks. 😏

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.