Johnthesailor

1 hour ago, ARDXXX said:

You think you have problems! we are flying to Cape Town tomorrow to board  Mariner on Saturday and one of the ports still has no excursions at all to offer in Mindelo (Sao Vicente) and three of the excursions that I wanted at other ports are all waitlisted even though I tried to book them the minute they became available. Whenever I contacted Regent about them they informed me that Miami office was to blame and they would be released soon.

6 hours ago, UUNetBill said:

If I had to guess I'd think it was due to Navigator being moved from the Middle East to the Med a while back, there was probably a ripple effect on subsequent cruises that required a reshuffling of ports.  Unlikely almost a year out, but that's all I got.  🙂

Both the Navigator and the Mariner had significant routing/port changes so that very likely is part of the problem.  Adding to this, I suspect lower headcount at HQ and partial outsourcing have impacted their ability to react quickly to the changes and caused cascading effects. I do not know that this function has been outsourced but I do know that some outsourcing has taken place at Regent.

40 minutes ago, Johnthesailor said:

And what is wrong if they place themselves on the lounger? That is what they are for.

33 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

Holding a lounger for more than 30 minutes violates Regent's policy....not to mention being selfish.

I know that if you hold a lounger by placing belongings on it for 30 minutes or more is against policy ( and selfish) but I had no idea that placing yourself ( as in “themselves” in the original quote) in a lounger for more than 30 minutes was not allowed.  Maybe that is why there is no longer a table of shame - it could not bear the weight of all those bodies.  I don’t think it is selfish to physically lie in a lounger for more than 30 minutes.

16 minutes ago, NDOMA said:

I wish I had a Passages from our cruise earlier this month so I could post the wording of a daily notice requesting passengers not save the loungers.  There is also a tiny notice posted on the pool deck on the Grandeur, but it is very easy to overlook.

  Every sunny day, some passengers rose early to place items, or themselves, on the coveted semi-private shaded loungers, preventing others from using them.  It was usually the same people, over and over.

And what is wrong if they place themselves on the lounger? That is what they are for.

10 minutes ago, jjs217 said:

I wonder why the OP hasn't responded.

Possibly because they might have posted in the heat of the moment out of frustration and now that they have been on the ship for a while they are having a great time and forgot all about the problem ( and the posting). Just a guess but it seems plausible and even likely.

28 minutes ago, Gcto said:

I personally think the regent dress code makes sense as it ads to the overall cruise experience. Yes, one can argue about little things (dress jeans, no collar shirt under a jacket, turtle neck etc), but overall it all makes sense. 

On our last cruise however, we had one "gentleman" who decided to dress in tie dye shirts and MC Hammer pants only... during the day, during dinner etc. Asides from other antics he showed, it was quite ...sad. He flaunted his looks and it was kind of "in your face"... here's a close resemblance of what he looked like...just not as slender. Not pretty ...

 

This fits the description perfectly an individual  on the Grandeur cruise from Miami to New York a few weeks ago.  Was he on another Regent cruise as well?  Interestingly, his companion dressed fine.

We were on the cruise preceding yours (Miami to New York) and we did not receive an invitation to an upper tier event (we are Titanium), just the normal society function.  I figured they had done away with them as an economy measure.  Good to know they still have them but wonder why we were not included.  Just a little glitch I guess.

Enjoy the rest of the cruise!

We are flying from Austin, TX.  Not a very long flight and should not be problematic.  The weather was OK in both cities this morning as well as in the location the flight was coming from so not sure what happened but the rebooking agent said that the plane was being used elsewhere to fly folks that were cancelled yesterday because of east coast weather.  Does not make a lot of sense to me as a reason to cancel additional flights but I’m not an airline logistics expert so who knows what the reason was.  Ironically, tomorrow AM flight time has a forecast in Austin of thunderstorms and rain.

4 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

 

I hope you make it in time tomorrow for check-in.  We will save you a seat at the pool bar.  Where are you flying from?

 

Z and TB

Z,

Looking forward to this cruise.  Our flight to Miami got cancelled this morning so we rebooked for tomorrow AM - hoping all goes well.  Otherwise, we will be a few days late.

John

Strange journey, this one.

 By far, the worst internet connectivity I’ve ever had on a Regent cruise and we have over 400 nights.  Several days of almost nonexistent internet  - so bad that they made an announcement about it.  Other days so slow that server connections timed out on simple things like email and Apple News / web pages just would not load.  Frequently disconnected and had to sign in to ships internet frequently.  
 

Staffing  issues seem resolved for the most part but still a few new folks that should be shadowed by experienced employees.  But the expected Regent experience with staff is pretty much normal.

For some reason, the door on deck 11 near the bar is cordoned off but staff still use it normally.  Not a real problem but strange.

The lack of a tour or dayroom on the day of our flight leaving, extensively discussed in other posts, is a first for us.  Similar problems in our past experience were solved by providing a later bus and allowing impacted passengers to stay on deck 11 and lounges for a few extra hours but no alternatives this time.  Can’t even go to the lounge in the airport since the ticket counter and lounge won’t open for several hours after we get dropped off although I might have other options to get around this.

Some of the tours have been great but some lacking.  One tour had an unannounced lunch included and the guide cut each other visit short in order to get the bus back early.    Why?  I can understand some of the tour issues as Japan has just recently opened and Covid created lots of issues as a result of its duration.

The Sunday brunch on a sea day is apparently discontinued as this one did not offer it.  The deck party/buffet on an overnight in port is also apparently gone as this one did not have it either.  Not big issues but we were anticipating those events.  

We have cruised on Regent several times since they resumed sailing and this one is the most normal with respect to staffing (the continual improvement is good to see) and we have several booked but there are enough oddities on this one to make us hesitant to readily book Explorer in the near future in case our experiences are isolated to this ship as we have not heard of them occurring on the other ships but possibly we are seeing the (minor) impact of the cost reductions necessary to return to profitability.

I have to also give accolades to the restaurant manager for learning that we were repeatedly told they had run out of Prime Rib in Prime7 so he sought us out and told us he reserved some for our dinner tonight.

We will still continue to sail with Regent but this is a slightly different experience than we have had in the past, even post Covid.

Best,

John
 

We have never sailed on Navigator but have multiple sailings on all the other Regent ships.  We really like the newer ships but also enjoy Mariner and Voyager very much.  We are thinking about a short cruise on the Navigator  but have multiple question on her current state and would appreciate recent cruisers input:

- I know that there is no French or Asian restaurant onboard and we are OK with that but I have recently read reviews that basically say the food is lacking compared to the other ships or the Navigator pre-pandemic.  Opinions?

- Is there enough lounge capacity around the pool?  The area looks considerably smaller than the other ships.  Are there lounges/chairs that are shaded?  Are they all taken by the lounge hogs very early in the morning?
- Is the coffee connection large enough?

- I understand that the interior common spaces get way too crowded on bad weather days but is there sufficient space to leisurely sit and read or talk on regular days when we have had enough sun and hot weather?

- I’ve heard that the cigar lounge was removed and the only place to smoke is an area of the pool deck.  is it somewhat protected from weather?  And most importantly, is it sufficiently away from non-smokers as I do not wish to bother others who do not want to smell the smoke.

-Has the ship been maintained well or is it really tired?

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Having fun on the ship.  Met Flossie and the cruise critic folks the other day.  Cruise is generally good, most staff very good.  Little errors like wrong drinks delivered, less attentiveness in Compass Rose, but in general, the Regent experience.

We got bumped from our selected cabin (seems the “trainee” cruise director for the next leg wanted it) to a comparable cabin but we were disappointed that they would shift us when we had selected and confirmed a particular cabin.  This in turn, appears to have caused my daily Wall Street Journal to not get delivered to me.  Spoke to the front desk after three days - they assured me it would be corrected. Still not getting it long into the cruise.  Spoke to GM today about but he said nothing that inspired confidence that I would get it.  Davor would have it fixed quickly - this GM , eh.  Sorry to rant, but the internet speed makes it very difficult for me to read it online.

The cruise overall is pretty good but sometimes the little issues that the GM can’ t or won’t fix can be irritating.

We are on the next cruise.  Would you mind telling me who the cruise director and General Manager are?  How were the shows?  Looking so forward to the cruise.  Thanks for the commentary.

3 hours ago, Pcardad said:

November

Ok, that may explain it.  We are April of next year and made the request once the window opened.  I believe Regent said they would handle in date order.  If they are totally slammed maybe they have not gotten to next year.  Still, we have researched the flights and it would be a 10-20 minute conversation to select. It just seems incredulous that the paperwork has sat there since July 1.

12 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

 

Got it back today.

 

How far out is the travel date?

Submitted July 1.  Their stated response time is sadly totally incorrect and woefully understated.  We always were able to handle deviations with a 10 minute phone call.  I know it is largely the fault of the airlines but this is ridiculous.

22 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

10-12 business days currently.

 

We are at 17 days and still waiting.  Maybe they did go to only 90 days out.

The response time under the new method is much longer than ever before and longer than the stated response time (7-10 days).  We submitted the form (actually, we called and reservations -not air ops- filled it in for us) 13 days ago.  Have not heard a thing.  The cruise is not until next year but it is still frustrating not knowing if our preferred flights are being sold out for the number of seats allotted to Regent.

We are not liking this new system but it remains to be seen if our preferences will be fulfilled.  We had also been considering a European cruise this year but have pretty much eliminated it due to the air hassles.  Probably do a Caribbean cruise this winter instead to minimize the to/from hassles.

Are people socializing in the lounges and at the bar or is everybody socially distancing with a minimum of interaction between couples/groups.  Are people sharing tables in the dining room or staying Aston tables for two?  I ask because we normally travel with another couple but are thinking of going ourselves - but we enjoy socializing with others. 
 

thanks for your input,

John

We usually cruise with friends but are thinking of booking a March cruise by ourselves.  With lower passenger counts, masks, social distancing etc is it difficult to meet people on board?  Are there still opportunities to share dinner tables with others and are people accepting of it or are the vast majority isolating themselves or just dining with their own “pod”.  Do people socialize in the lounges pre-dinner or does the distancing tend to preclude that.  Are people sitting and talking at the inside bars and/or the pool bar?  Do “pickup” teams still form for trivia?  I doubt the hallway parties are occurring but are there still lots of opportunities for socializing?

Thanks,

John

Canary Islands - go on the camel ride.  You are in baskets on the side of the camel and it is fun. When we went, there was also a full bus of crew and they had a great time.  It was very unique for us and for them.  I also second the volcanic features.

So I'm a bit confused.  I have read the ticket contract and I'm finding conflicting info. 

In section 1. Introduction, It says "in the event of any conflict between the COVID-19 policies, procedures and conditions set forth in Clause 5 or elsewhere herein, and as those policies, procedures and conditions are set forth at www.rssc.com/HealthSafety protocols, the website controls."  Looking at the aforementioned link, it basically says that if you have followed the safety protocols and are denied boarding due to a positive COVID-19 test at embarkation, Regent will coordinate and cover costs for travel arrangements, for you and those travelling with you if they are also denied boarding. If guests, members of their parties and others traveling with them, are denied boarding due to a positive COVID-19 test within 2 weeks of their sail date, they will be entitled to either a refund or a Future Cruise Credit (“FCC”) for the amount paid. Guests who test positive for COVID-19 during their cruise and are required to quarantine will receive a pro-rated cash refund or a pro-rated Future Cruise Credit. If a guest followed all of our health and safety protocols, the cruise line will coordinate and cover the cost of necessary onboard COVID-19 related medical treatment, required land-based quarantine and travel arrangements to get the guest and those travelling in the same suite safely back to their home.

So according to the contract, the website takes precedence, I think (the words they use are a bit mangled).  The website says they will take care of you as long as you have followed the rules.  Of course, they could change the website at any time  but it sounds like they want to do the right thing, I think.

Comments?

Thanks,

John

Logic is correct but numbers MAY be a bit off.  Unless required, some cruisers will likely be getting vaccines other than Moderna or Pfizer which may have good but significantly lower efficacy thus increasing the number at risk.  Additionally, in preliminary analysis the efficacy of at least one of the mRNA vaccines may be somewhat lower (mid to high eighties percent) for the 65+ year old cohort which represents the bulk of Regent cruisers.  And the stated efficacy for at least one of the vaccines is based on a trial which appeared designed around lower to moderate exposure risk individuals, not maskless individuals in close proximity or with high risk frequent exposures.  And remember, the “immunity” conferred (in at least one of the mRNA trials) did not mean the study subjects were not infected or were not capable of transmitting the infection - just that they were totally asymptomatic (still a very, very good thing).  On the other hand, those that did exhibit symptoms had significantly less severe symptoms than average.  And now that comparatively huge numbers of people are getting vaccinated many of the numbers may firm up.

13 hours ago, mrlevin said:

100%; but I would think it would be like Yellow Fever wherein a doctor's note saying you could not take to vaccine would suffice.  However, since COVID vaccine is not a live vaccine I would think the exceptions would be fewer.

The mRNA vaccines are not “live” ( e.g. Moderna and Pfizer, to date) but some others are ( e.g. Johnson & Johnson and Oxford), at least to the extent that a virus is alive.  The latter examples use a “live” virus ( a rhinovirus, not the novel Corona virus) to deliver a protein payload which stimulates the response to make antibodies (and T-cells) against specific proteins present in the spikes of novel Coronavirus.  Both types are likely to be used in the U.S. and Great Britain as neither country has purchased enough of either to treat their populations.  Additionally, some of the over 100 vaccines under development utilize “live” (but likely attenuated) novel Coronavirus in their processes as this is the more traditional approach.

In my opinion, there probably won’t be any exceptions.  Some of the vaccines likely do not prevent contracting COVID-19 but rather may make it asymptomatic in the vaccinated individual and possibly still contagious to others.  For example, at least one of the vaccine announcements (actually, Press Releases) specifically said the efficacy rate was calculated based on the number of individuals that contracted COVID-19 and exhibited one or more symptoms.  One of the announcements did say something like “appears to reduce the transmission of the virus”.  Until an EUA is issued the public is unlikely to have access to test data or anything resembling peer reviewed details.  I’m a participant in one of the trials and I’m not routinely tested for COVID-19 but in my weekly checkin I am asked if I have any of a variety of symptoms and some of the symptoms will trigger a nasal swab for testing. So it doesn’t appear that they will know if I contract a case of asymptomatic COVID-19 but I could be mistaken.

8 hours ago, rcandkc said:

 I really don’t understand this vaccine phobia. 

There are many reasons that some people are cautious or concerned about vaccines.  Some of them have been disproved and others generally are real but far less likely to cause harm than the disease being vaccinated against.  For the new mRNA vaccines some people have worries about introducing a genetically engineered RNA that instructs some of the bodies cells to produce copies of a protein present in the “spikes” of the Coronavirus which in turn cause the body to produce antibodies to that protein. Personally, I’m a vaccine supporter but have a stronger understanding of the risks and benefits of vaccines than most folks

17 minutes ago, jhenry1 said:

Still wondering where everyone went . 

We are still here and I’m confident there are others.  But I also think that most are sort of leaving the cruise in the background as there is so much going on and I’d bet that most of us think there is a reasonably high probability that this cruise won’t go.  Hopefully we will have better indications before final payment as that is still a good bit away.  Having said that, we booked our excursions and got everything we wanted.  We have done this cruise before and it was one of my favorites overall.

best,

john