555lavan1t

We have sailed on Regent/Radison since 2003 (gold) but not as many sailings as many on this board. We have also sailed Crystal with our last three cruises on Crystal Serenity. We love both lines. As for entertainment, I agree with most that the troups on Regent are not as good as Crystal, however Some of the best entertainment we have seen has been on Regent when they bring a headliner in for a few days. None of this matters to me because I just love the experience on both lines. The polls and rating do not matter to me either because my vacation/cruises are personal and I truly enjoy both lines regardless the polls. I just don’t care what others think about one line being better than the other line and how many people actually vote anyway in these polls.

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Dancing in Horizons is always an option. We have never had a problem finding a venue to dance on Regent, whether horizons or simply the small floor in the observation lounge or the show lounge on the Nav. with the piano player. Sometimes we are the only couple on the floor, but that's okay we are fine with it; lets us concentrate on just us. We also cruise on Crystal which is more attuned to dancing and has larger venues like Palm Court on Serenity with larger numbers on the floor. We like both Regent and Crystal for dancing but the more intimate setting on the Regent ships is special, if you don't mind being front and center on the floor, especially with an Argentine tango.

We were on a Crystal Serenity crossing last December and I think there was neon lighting in the Pulse Nightclub. I don't remember seeing it anywhere else. We are scheduled on the Explorer in December and it looks like we will have all the neon we can handle.

I believe I read that the computers on board did not have Microsoft office loaded, so even if the USB ports were not disabled, there is no application to open view or edit a ms word document.

We have done both (Alaska twice) with our R to C including Geiranger and Flam. Agree with Portolan that scenery and wildlife is better in Alaska. We also liked the Alaska excursions better. Having said that, we really liked the R to C. Ports were more varied/different than ports in Alaska, especially in Iceland and sailing across from Iceland to Norway. Agree that a few days in Reykjavik is a good idea. We are talking about a third Alaska cruise now that the Mariner is back. Our flight (Icelandic Air) to Reykjavik was comfortable in the upgraded seats. Not as comfortable as what we are used to in business class to Europe, but the offset is it's not as long a flight.

Thanks Jackie, I forgot that the Mariner was returning to Alaska. We will have to re-think the Crystal idea even if it means missing Glacier Bay. The Mariner in Alaska in 2003 was our first Regent cruise. Special memories. Really like the pent house suites on Mariner.

We have been to Alaska twice, both times on Regent Mariner. Neither time was Glacier Bay offered, but we really didn't miss it as everything else was so beautiful. Now we are considering another Alaska cruise and think Glacier Bay would be wonderful to see. Because the Navigator is not our ship of choice for Regent (although we really enjoy it when cruising on the Navigator) we are thinking Crystal, provided we like the Crystal TA this December and they still do Glacier Bay. The aft vibration has never bothered us on the Navigator, as a matter of fact, we found the aft vibration on the Voyager (our favorite ship) more pronounced, but again, just doesn't bother us a bit.

My wife and I have been on three cruises with Alan and Nathan. They are true professionals. From their dance lessons in the observation lounge to their performances on stage to sitting in the lounge talking to them they are delightful and really add to the cruise. So glad they are continuing their relationship with Regent.

Thank you for your kind words Pam. The reason many people discount Regent for dancing is the very reason we love it - smaller floors where you have to tighten up the patterns and moves and not travel so much. Perfect for Argentine tango which is far less travel than American tango. Makes for a more intimate dance setting. Crystal has a better name for dancing and the music and floors probably are better, but for us Regent is very special and the reason we have cruised their ships more than any other line since 2003.

I'm sorry no one was dancing on your Mariner cruise. It's so nice sitting in a lounge watching couples dance to a quiet piano or a tune by a trio who are quiet enough to have a table conversation, or being on the dance floor yourself. This is why we like Regent and what makes it different for us than other lines.

Guess you can tell I like to dance. Hope that Zimmer46 likes the Voyager (our favorite) for dancing as much as we do. It just doesn't get any better than martinis and tango on the Voyager.

We were on Voyager in 2012 and 2013, both 14 day cruises and on the Navigator last year. Not a problem dancing on the Voyager in Horizons lounge, Voyager lounge or the Observation lounge. Many times we were the only ones on the floor which was very nice considering the size of two of the floors.

We eat early and would go into Compass Rose and request a window table for two. The Maitre d' would tell us how long a wait and we would walk to the Voyager lounge and dance to the trio playing. A waiter would come and get us when the table was ready. How fine is that?

In the Observation lounge we would mostly dance to the piano player. He would quickly learn what we liked to dance to and would play our music unless someone else was dancing and made a request. The Voyager generally has the house band, a trio or duet and the piano player. The house band we have found the hardest to dance to, but when they go with jazz we start looking for the piano player in one of the smaller venues. The trio and piano are always great. When they change venues, we just follow them to where ever they are playing.

While the navigator has fewer venues, we take advantage of all of them. The Stars lounge just outside of the theater is where we dance to the piano player.

We love dancing on the Regent ships. The floors are small but not crowded and we find the music is good for ballroom 99% of the time.

Have fun on the Voyager.

It is a nice acknowledgement and kudos to Regent for getting this program of remembering their customers started. I would bet that you get a card soon. Birthday cards aside, I wish I could sail on Regent as much as I fly on Southwest. Funny, Z mentioning their cats birthdays. Won't it be fun sitting in the observation lounge in December 2016 with Z and all telling our cat stories. I've heard some of his first hand and we will be rolling in the floor laughing so hard. Opps, don't mean to get this off topic.

Got my birthday cards from both Regent and Southwest Airlines. The Southwest card included 6 drink tickets. I like the Southwest card the most.

What a coincidence. Bette and I were at Bellagio last week. You are so right, the Petrossian and piano is very relaxing in a hyper energy city. We love it. We are there three/four times a year. Have you ever been to Bellagio on Lake Como?

Hi there,

 

We would like more details about the entertainment offered on Regent's ships. Our cruise is on the Explorer but I imagine it will be similar to current arrangements.

 

3) What kind of music is played in the various lounges? Musicians? DJs? May I assume there will be a piano player at some point in the day/evening?

We have always enjoyed the piano player in the lounges. There has always been one on all our Regent cruises and will be found in the evenings in different lounges depending on the time. We love to follow him around and enjoy drinks and listening and many times will dance when its just the two of us on the small dance floor.

On all of our cruises with Regent there will be a duo or trio group that sings in the various lounges and many times will take requests. They are in addition to the regular Regent band and are not part of the Jean Ann Ryan entertainers who mostly perform in the theater, although they will be in the lounges enteracting with guests when not performing. My wife and I have enjoyed the Jean Ann Ryan group when we have gone to the theater. I will confess though that we seldom go to the shows, opting instead for the lounge singers and piano. We also like the more readily available drinks in the lounges than the slower drink service in the theater. See you on the Explorer TA.

Some roll calls are fun and active and some are slow and boring, but the cruise is always great. My wife and I have met some couples on roll calls that have added immeasurably to the cruise and with whom we continue to stay in touch. In the past three years I have participated in two roll calls that were fun and lead to meeting some very interesting people. If, however, it doesn't work out, it's an easy fix.

Our current Exployer roll call that is about sixteen months out is already in the fun category with great participation and I find myself anxious to meet some of the participants. So I am on the side of; for me there have been more active roll calls than slow roll calls. No roll call complaints.

Travelcat is right, a roll call is no big deal and certainly not necessary, but it sure helps to pass the time waiting until boarding and setting sail, and once in a while a real jewel appears who just makes your day with their wit.

Okay Charltonkerry, make that scones in the afternoon and martinis is the evening. We enjoyed both with you and your lovely wife

in 2012.

Larry and Bette

Never a dull moment Z. Like your idea of a suite spigot for the wine. If you are successful, I will order up one for martinis with an add on shaker. My TB would not allow box wine, but mixed half and half with cheap beer its okay. Hi Charltonkerry. Can't wait to be back on Regent for afternoon scones. Such a small Regent world - can't believe we have cruised with both you guys.

Last time in Barcelona in 2012, we stayed at Hotel Duquesa de Cardona. Haven't stayed at either of the two you mentioned, but really liked the Duquesa. Walking distance to Las Ramblas and right across the street from the cruise terminal. They had a beautiful little roof top bar. So fine watching your ship arrive while having a martini sitting at roof top.

Hi Z and TB and K and J

Boy, the review and great pictures really bring back the memories of a wonderful cruise. Thank you Z. B and I greatly enjoyed experiencing the Navigator with all of you in the Carib. Z, your review was right on. I agree that the ports were not crowded and very pleasant as to the number of people. I thought that Antigua and St. Lucia were a little dirty and not to my taste, although we had a very good tour guide in Antigua and really enjoyed her commentary. We got off the ship in St Lucia, but got back on in less that 15 minutes. St. Maarten was our favorite port because it was very clean and our best tour, the Americas Cup race on Stars and Stripes, was an absolute blast. Our private tour of San Juan (aka San Juan bar crawl) was on a scale all by itself thanks to Z and TB. A great time and great way to see San Juan.

Your picture of our little anchovy Navigator with 490 passengers docked beside the 6000 passenger whale Oasis of the Seas was the perfect example of why we love Regent. This wasn't our first time on the Navigator and we love it. Never experienced the brown water, thankfully, as that would really freak us out. While we feel the aft vibration, it is something that just doesn't bother us. There are too many good and wonderful things to enjoy on the Nav to get hung up on something that to us is a minor occurrence.

J can deny the dessert comment but it doesn't change his dessert consumption. TB actually made us feel a little guilty as we sat outside Galileos with our drinks while counting her laps around the deck. But alas, the guilt lasted only as long as it took for the next martini to arrive.

Thanks for the review Z and giving us a chance to enjoy the cruise all over again.

Larry

Same thing happened to us on an excursion in Ephesus years ago. before the bus got us back to the ship it stopped at a rug making store and what a high pressure sales pitch. We simply got up and left and made our way back to the Ship. Once on board we lodged a complaint with the destinations desk and enjoyed the rest of the cruise. Don't know what became of it and wasn't interested enough to follow up. Just a minor hiccup (and something we laughed about) in an otherwise great cruise.

I've been cruising on Regent since the Radison days and have never been disappointed or felt service was lacking on any cruise or any ship and I've been on all of them. It seems to me that many people on these boards, especially the Regent board are way too focused on what they don't get or what they think they should get rather than just enjoying their cruise. Maybe it's my age and the changes I've seen in all aspects of my life, but why would anyone expect that things would not change. It's a challenge for any company to stay in business, especially during the last 10 years and I'm happy that Regent has responded to a changing economy and is continuing to provide great cruises for me to enjoy. So what if it isn't the same as it was 10 or 15 years ago, it's still the best for me and I intend to enjoy every Regent cruise on which I am fortunate enough to be on.

Mr. Rumor, this was one of the best threads I've read in a long time. Perfect description of ports and activities on board ship. You've really got me excited about our March cruise on the Navigator. Thanks for the read and sharing your cruise. See you on the 22nd Z.

Larry

"The Jean Ann Ryan Singers and Dancers headline with "Broadway Tonight" shortly. This will be the fourth time we've seen this production, but are looking forward to checking out the new cast. We've met several of the female dancers, and each has to be at least six feet tall. Two of the male dancers, Alan Grundy and Nathan Barry, served as coaches to Mark Ballas and Dereck Huff on Dancing With the Stars."

Rich

I believe that this same group was on the Voyager last June, Reykjavik to Copenhagen. I remember the names Alan and Nathan and them coaching the pros on DWTS. In addition to their performances they gave Ballroom dance lessons in the Observation Lounge during the afternoons. We loved it. We will be on the Navigator March 22 and hope they are still on board.