charltonkerry

A great bit of news from the UK, the Oxford vaccine is now approved, this is the vaccine that can be stored at 2c and is relatively cheap. UK got enough doses on order to vaccinate the whole population. They will start the vaccination program from Monday coming. So really it’s now just how quick can 60 million people be jabbed twice. Look like us oldies (around 65) will need to wait another 8 weeks or so before we are vaccinated.

https://apple.news/AbXp40qb_SmKYjhlkjdPdIg

10 hours ago, wcsdkqh said:

Can anyone shed any light on the debarkation process when a ship arrives in port the prior day, and is in port overnight. I would like to book a 10:50am flight the day of debarkation in Barcelona. I would presume the ship would clear Customs the prior day and an earlier departure than would normally allowed would be possible. Under this scenario, would Regent still provide transfer to the airport or would I need to provide my own transportation? 

 

Thx for any info or experience others may have had.

Think I might have a slightly worse problem I’m on a London to Barcelona cruise (hopefully) in September, I was informed on the 23rd that our take off time for the return to London is 10:05 am. Going to fun, but hopefully we won’t be the only only ones catching this early flight. The good thing is we are overnighting in Barcelona so in my mind these should make it easier, but still a very early start.

I was chatting to someone on regent, and they didn’t even know England produced wine, let along very fine wines and sparkling wines with a quality equal to most foreign producers. They didn’t even know that the English invented the process of making champagne and the pesky french nicked it, funny enough the French don’t seem to accept the written evidence.

If the BBC said it, it must be true, mustn’t it? (No it wasn’t written on April the 1st either), this caused quiet a stir when it was first published, with much wailing and knashing of teeth being heard in Kent from 22 miles across the English Channel.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-39963098

Funny enough we had champagne with our take away fish and chips last night, heard about but never tried it, really enjoyed it. 

Oh no it not, oh yes it is 😀 sorry couldn’t resist it. For the first time in years we won’t be going to a pantomime, great shame as we normally take the grandkids for a great afternoon entertainment at our local theatre. Sorry to our American friends who if they haven’t seen a pantomime won’t know what the first part of my post is on about,

Just a little chink of light in the British press, re vaccination becoming more likely to combat Covid

https://apple.news/AAkaABGd_TzGCR-XVe8a0Ig

1 hour ago, Thundery said:

We have been sailing with Regent over the Holidays for about 10 years now. It is truly a special experience. The staff really go out of their way and the ships always look fabulous.

agree 73 days is a long time, it will be the longest for us and yes thank goodness for business class.

hope you can persuade her

Yes I did persuade Marion, think the business class flights helped, and perhaps the possibility of upgrading to first. We are planning on reserving our cabins on Monday, so pleased we are doing it, especially with the opportunity of seeing my brother again who I haven’t seen in around 10 years.

Yes you are correct for the grand spice route trip, however we were also looking at a transit through the Panama Canal as an alternative, hence the original question about the Panama Canal. However we have now decided to splash out and do the grand spice route, sorry about the confusion. Really looking forward to it.

Thanks Flossy for the info re the flight down to Sydney never thought of that, what a good idea, would give me around 2.5 days with him. Must admit to getting away from the British winter has some certain advantages. Think we are discussing it tomorrow, to much on today, and she got to be in a good mood 😀.

5 hours ago, Thundery said:

The grand spice cruise has a great itinerary. We are booking this one. Very similar to the one we were supposed to do this year

Agree, it’s the one I want to do, 2022 is an extremely special year for us, it’s our 45th wedding anniversary, my 70th birthday just prior to sailing, Marion (my wife) is set to retire and perhaps I will or more hopefully sell my company and then retire. It also gives me the opportunity to visit my brother for a day as he lives in Brisbane. But the 32 hour flight home is off putting, but what I didn’t realise was the flights are in business class. Every port apart from the initial one at Istanbul is new to us. We are taking the decision this weekend. It’s my and Marion’s dream holiday, she’s always wanted to go away for Christmas and see the ship all decorated and experience an American Independence Day / Christmas, rather than a British one. But she loves being at home with the kids and grandkids over Christmas and that’s tugging at her heart strings and the 73 nights isn’t helping. 
 

If I can persuade her, it will be the first time in our lives we have been away for more than 14 nights, at a time. You never know thundery we could be sailing away together on Halloween in a couple of years. I will let you know if we are going to go for it. 

Thank you everybody much appreciated, I left it to the wife to decide upon either this trip at Christmas 2022 or another one I just noticed which is the grand spice cruise. 

Thanks for your prompt replies, we will probably be on Splendor. Must admit being an engineer the transit probably excites me more than most. So by the sounds of things I will be wandering around the decks.

Just wondering what is the best side (port or starboard) of the ship to view the engineering aspects of this And also what deck. Or is it up on the deck for the best view. Thanks in advance.

We are booked on this cruise, but have the luxury of driving from our home by car to Southampton. If your staying in the Southampton area, then I recommend Portsmouth, New Forest and a little Boat trip over the Solent to the Isle of Wight for something a little different.

Being a bit cheeky, but would anyone know that if you are within 30 days of departure of a cancelled cruise and you rebook using your FCC for say a years time, do you still get the benefits you would have done if the cruise was taking place? Ie do you still get the price guarantee, just wondering as our May the 12th cruise has just been cancelled, we are in the UK and our travel agent didn’t know and Regent UK is shut for Easter. 

18 minutes ago, flossie009 said:

I don't share your opinion.

IMO, Regent Reassurance is in addition to the UK Ts&Cs and statutory rights. It does not replace them:

• Under the Regent UK Ts&Cs (and UK statutory rights) you are entitled to a full refund of the "package" if Regent makes a "significant change". If Regent make no changes and you decide to cancel then you are liable for the normal cancellation penalties, with no compensation.
• Under Regent Reassurance you can cancel up to 48 hrs prior, even if Regent have made no changes, and will receive a FCC to the value of the cruise only fare paid.

 

As you say Flossie I could well be incorrect. 

Well our cruise seemed to have totally altered, no longer going Venice to Rome now Volos to Athens going by the UK website, if true, well happy as we haven’t been to most of those ports, looks like we are departing 9th May for 9 nights, got 2 days in Istanbul. No idea if they cancelled the orient express portion either. But all this will be sorted in the coming days. So basically it looks like Regent are by passing Italy on our cruise at least.

30 minutes ago, flossie009 said:

@charltonkerry,

Before doing anything I would speak to your TA and/or Regent.

Plus have a careful read of the UK Ts&Cs. My reading is that in your case Regent have made a "significant alteration" and therefore should offer you the choice of "a substitute package" or "a full refund".

i.e. I do not see that there is a need for you to invoke the new Regent Reassurance, and you should not end up out-of-pocket for any of the package of travel arrangements you booked with Regent. 

 

 

Kudos to Regent that they have finally brought their UK website up to date. We now have clear links to Regent's Coronavirus Protocol & the new Regent Reassurance. Also the altered itineraries in the Med are up to date.

"Everything comes to those who wait" .................... eventually 🙄

Agree Flossie, might still go, was just pointing out that Regent UK appears to have slightly different wording, unless the American site has been updated with the similar exclusion. I think  Regent UK might be pushing the UK consumer protection law as well especially in relation to package holidays.

Interesting the UK version appears to be different or the policy has been amended since the initial issue of the document. Below is what is stated on the UK site, please note! It specifically states it excludes air and concierge collection (our cruise includes a trip on the orient express from London to Venice, so it looks like if we cancel we would lose the cost of this and our air fare back from the cruise, this obviously might alter in further updates).

To quote Regent UK

At Regent Seven Seas Cruises, our extended family of guests and crew is always at the center of everything we do, and the safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. With so much information coming from around the world very quickly, some may feel uneasy about traveling — especially if you have a voyage scheduled to sail during the next several months.

To ensure you feel confident about sailing with Regent, we are introducing Regent Reassurance. For all voyages embarking 10 March 2020 through 30 September 2020, guests who have paid in full have the option to cancel up to 48 hours prior to sailing and receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit based on the cruise only fare (excluding air and Concierge Collection arrangements if applicable). Which can be applied to any new booking within one year on any Regent voyage sailing in 2020-2022. We hope Regent Reassurance gives you the additional time, if needed, to evaluate conditions and help you feel confident in your decision to sail on your currently booked Regent voyage, or to sail on a future one.

Please know that our team is working tirelessly to navigate through these ever-changing circumstances — because our priority is to take care of you, our extended family. We look forward to welcoming you on board soon.

Nor have we heard anything from our normally very good travel agent in the UK, wondering how we are affected as prior to  sailing we are catching the Orient Express from London to Venice (booked via Regent as part of the cruise package), then a night in Venice followed by a 9 day cruise to Rome, wondering If the orient express section will be covered by the new cancellation policy? Wife is upset as she is getting a gown hand made for the train, mine you I just remembered I brought a new dinner suit as well.

I suppose in a way we must count ourself as being fortunate with this alteration, as we have just booked the 28 day Miami to Vancouver cruise leaving on the 18th April 2018, (present to ourself for surviving forty years of marriage) will be nice to have a totally refurbished ship to look forward to, but will be worried that it might cancelled / delayed if the refurb is delayed for any reason.

Feel very sorry for those who have had planned holidays drastically altered by all this.

Ron, I like British (warm) bitter, well someone got to , all I do is contact Regent and it appears in my room and a few but not all bars, but if it not at bar you are at they do normally go to another bar and collect one for you. This has worked well for me on two of the four cruises we have undertaken. The first we were unaware of the situation, and one other time they totally forgot about my request. So not a totally foolproof system, but for me it wasn't a worry, as I could drink other alcohol, were as for you that's not an option, so I suggest that the 90 day rule should be obeyed, also put it on the butlers request form and check again nearer the time. Have a great cruise.

Ogie68, jmariner offered a possible share in a post above, think you might have missed that as he's on the same cruise as us.

This sounds like the cruise we are booked we sail around the 22nd September, from memory the restaurant bookings open 24th June, so you should be ok. Weather even though we come from Britain we are a little concerned over this, but talking to my travel agent she reckons base your choice of clothes on a typical British Autumn, which isn't that helpful as it could be anything, from rain and cool say around 55c through to lovely and sunny say mid 70's. I doubt if that really helps you, but we are taking layers, coat and umbrella for Marion.

I did try to start a roll call, but last time I looked it had fallen off the end of the page.

Thanks everyone for all your help, whilst I have checked the regent section on here, I never thought above checking other cruise lines, for someone who meant to be fairly intelligent, it amazing how thick I can be sometimes 😄.