PaulMCO

We have done Safaris 3 times with cruises out of Capetown.  Shamwari (near Port Elizabeth) and 2 at Kruger.

You did not mention the lodges that Regent is providing.  This makes all of the difference as most of the lodges are located on private reserves, some better than others.  Some of the better lodges have permission to go into the reserves of adjacent lodges.

Shamwari was our least liked, mainly because the area was smaller.  It was a good experience and our first safari.

Kruger.  Do Kruger and stay at two lodges.  Suggest one in the North (drier) and one in the South (wetter). Fauna is different and we had different animal sightings.

North suggest -- Motswari, as some stated earlier.  Fantastic lodge, close to an airport that has flights from Jo-burg and Capetown.

South -- one of the Sabi Sands lodges (we stayed at Lion Sands).

Travel agent...  If go private use a local  SA Travel Agent, they can arrange everything from internal flights to land transfers.

20 hours ago, saminina said:

The heavy negative on Explora posters have based their opinion mostly from the first three months of operation.  Their opinions are mostly valid, but the need to repeat over and over is a bit puzzling.    All two of them still keep at it.

Since you asked same here.  This is cruise critic and I see the same persons espousing the virtues (and there is nothing wrong with that) -- just don't complain about those who do not think everything is rosy and that there are better lines than Explora Journeys.  

I would expect to see more issues later in the year when they bring Explora 2 on line and move significant Explora 1 crew there.  I hope they do not do the same TA/Influencer nonsense on Explora II.  That is really a downside as many were obnoxious.

Still we will cruise again on Explora II in January.

Hotel 1898 reasonably priced.

Le Meridien (if you want a Marriott)

Mandarin Oriental for Luxury.

27 minutes ago, vistaman said:

had same experience on the Dawn !!! 

We had the same experience on Shadow this past November.  Just off RSSC Explorer, food far superior.  Only plus on SS is the Caviar, as much as you wish.

17 hours ago, JTor said:

 The kicker for me at the moment is that the pre-cruise experience on Explora was dreadful..... serious website problems and not much help when we called them.  They are working on fixing it. Right now that is a deal breaker for me. 

I agree, I just got on their site and tried to check my booking and magically it was gone...  Known issues for over a year and "working to fix this" is always the excuse.

Dreadful site reflects on the line.  Imagine when they have 5 ships...

I have been on the fence about canceling my next cruise with them, this may put me over the edge.

Now compare this to Crystal.  Spent 30 minutes to book two excursions and reservations each specialty, and enter my data.  Today went back to update our new passports into their system -- finished in 5 minutes. Perfect.

Went to Regents site and updated the passport info into our next cruise and the info filtered into all reservations.   Now that is how a web site should work!!

10 hours ago, vistaman said:

Is some additional money  due to be expected from the assignee ?  Later the  river cruise ships were sold as well ?  

No.  None of the ships were owned by Crystal Cruises LLC.

There were supplies and spares held in Holland and a settlement for these has already been made and accounted.

Certainly pays to be a the Administrator. Latest accounting.

Latest fee bill is $5M.  Prior bill was over $2M

One interesting point is that so far almost $16M has been returned to consumer claims and $600K for back wages.

There remains significant money for unsecured claims, but no indication of the size of these claims.

04.19.24-Motion-Motion-For-Assignee-Fees-Healy-2.pdf

In past no points or stay credits with Marriott.  They did allow us in the lounge - also a lifetime Titanium elite.

Just back from Tokyo.  Regent used Hilton, had three pre-cruise nights plus 2 of our own.  Only received points and night status for the two nights.

10 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

I agree with this logic. I  had to question why there wasn’t an option that didn’t include keeping things the way that they are. Or, One of the main differences between SB and other luxury lines is the lack of included excursions, or the baked in cost to cover some excursion credit. That is a huge difference. The scenarios as I recall included ‘x’ amount of excursion credit, or included excursions. A key differentiating factor wasn’t in A or B.  

Because if you said -- I would NOT purchase to all 7 possible scenarios, you would want to keep the status quo.  If you said yes to one or more of these, then they would know several changes to the current pricing which would be acceptable.

Actually quite a good survey.  It really did evaluate what was important to me, doing it multiple ways and there were a couple of consistency got yous too.

I think they did also.. We got a good price for our's.

As for the majority of cabins being OTs, yes but there are a significant number of PH's on Explorer.  In fact several are priced close to that of a Cove Residence.

I though the design was OK, but there is lots of wasted space.

The bathrooms are ridiculously small for the majority of the Residences.

The bedroom area is also small and rather claustrophobic -- this maximizes the living space but at the expense of the bedroom.

Only a Residence gets a butler.  We have gotten used to this on Regent, SS, and Crystal. 

Very few benefits -- no extra bookings at Marble or Sakura.  Champagne was recently changed and no more Dom.  Yes you get free laundry, but then on Regent everyone does.

Tight connections, missed connections, weather, mechanicals, strikes etc.  I have had more bags delayed in my life and that is over 6mm over just about every airline - from Pan Am to Yangoon ("the safe one") than delayed packages.  I have never had a DHL package lost (delayed yes) in my 40 plus years of sending proposals to customers throughout the world.  I do not use a luggage service regularly but only strategically where I have a large number of suitcases.  Generally this involves multiple climate zones. Last time in March where we had winter weather in Tokyo and summer in Hawaii.

Having a cruise line preferred Company insures timely pickup on the end of cruise segment.  We hardly use the end of cruise option because we generally don't care when our bags make it home.

3 hours ago, GMIAC said:

It’s definitely a region issue, not a bandwidth issue. If you use a VPN, you’ll bypass that issue. 

It is not a region issue because the IP address of the satellite system is Miramar, Florida (sometimes Miami).

It is Regent blocking downloads and streaming. @joan021 Did you pay to have a streaming upgrade??

Alternatively - if you had a VPN and used an iPad for the Kindle APP, it would work.  Did that on my last cruise in Japan.

The issue of delays to put Starlink in is not technical but contractual.  NCL has to wait for the  internet portion of the contract with MTN/EMC/Anuvu to expire.  My guess Anuvu will still do the entertainment/TV segment.  The internet person's are contract employees of Anuvu.  Had a nice discussion with the one last year on Splendor.

The Future Cruise person on Encore a few weeks ago said, December was the target date to complete the refit.

3 hours ago, travelberlin said:

I am trying hard to find a choice 😃. I have bought packing cubes and watched tutorials on how to travel just with a carry on. I will put it into practice for my next trip. 
 

Ivi

Excellent  - but that can be a challenge when you fly Euro airlines (like LH) where they weigh everything. 

I have been doing carry-ons for 20+ years on my quarterly trips to either Vienna or Karlsruhe.   Can manage 10 days worth of cloths, including 2 suits in a carry-on.  I keep telling my DW, just remember, the ship does have laundry.

@Keith1010  Is Crystal partnering with a company?  I know Regent is doing Luggage Forward and it makes it more secure knowing the cruise line is working with the company to make sure your bags are picked up and get home.

2 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

They don't show up on line in My Account nor on the cruise invoice.  

 

You or TA can confirm number on the phone with Crystal or on-board with one of the two personnel who handle the loyalty program and book new cruises.

 

Keith

You can confirm the number also by email which we just did.

43 minutes ago, Whipsnade said:

I had a bad experience recently in Mumbai. I think it was Indian Customs but DHL was involved and they confiscated items like all our labeled meds, shaving brush, hair brushes, heating pad. DHL has offered compensation which I find strange if Customs was the culprit. 
any thoughts?

Meds of any kinds are NEVER allowed by any forwarding service. Same with electrical items.

4 hours ago, travelberlin said:

I was looking at those companies mentioned here like LuggageForward. I have never used them but it looks convenient. How far in advance do you have to send the luggage? What happens if there are flight cancellations? Could it happen that your luggage does not arrive at the port in time for your embarkation? Do you have it delivered to you at the ship or where?

Ivi

Ivi --

Luggage forward uses a courier in most cases it is DHL.  This means it goes on there own planes.  Luggage free uses Fed Ex.

The amount of ahead time depends on the country and customs clearance time and whether you choose rush or normal.

Our most recent cruise we shipped two 25kg suitcases to Japan.  We had the choice of Normal or rush shipping.  Normal for a delivery date of 12 March was 29 February.  The luggage arrive at our pre cruise hotel on 5 March.

Just now, Waltershipman said:

Paul what date I'm january on EJ

It is my signature....  Explora II - 14 Jan 2025

On 4/14/2024 at 7:42 PM, mango puddin said:

I was considering Explora, maybe I should stick to Regent.

 

How would you say the food on Explora compares to Regent?

I will disagree with Terry but as he said food is subjective, but just one element.

Also Explorer on Regent as our last cruise which we just returned and Explora in January. 

Would I go on Explora again -- yes we are in January

Would I go on Regent again - yes we are in August.

@TLCOhio  used to be the brand President of Azamara.... so CS was important before they jettisoned it. 

The question -- being in the Industry for such a long time -- generally people do not leave.  When you go to a competitor, you immediately leave -- the question is where will she pop up???

My guess Explora Journeys ???

Hotels -- depend on your cost points

Favorites with 30 plus years traveling to Tokyo in order (not including the Imperial and 4 Seasons which are my favorites and are $$$$)

Tokyo Station (think you can still book it via Hyatt if you are a Hyatt member)

ANA Intercontinental in a quiet area near the Embassy -- this was my corporate hotel as it was near our office

Hyatt Regency in Shinjuku (the Park Hyatt is now closed for Renovations until late 2025)

Hilton Tokyo - good hotel at a reasonable in Shinjuku -- just stayed there on a Regent Japan pre-cruise.  If you are gold or higher, rate includes breakfast

Tour guides -- Can recommend Patrick L at Tours by Locals.  He is an ex-pat that speaks Japanese fluently and gives a different perspective to a native. We have found many of the older native guides very regimented and scripted with flip charts and other visual aids. 

Also at Tours by local -- Eiichi M (Eddy). 

10 hours ago, frantic36 said:

 

 

I read the blog for Ducie and it stated they tried to go ashore but the swell was too strong so they did the zodiac tour. Experienced sailors know you can't guarantee a landing if there is a problem with swell or weather. At least the snorkelers and divers got a good experience and hopefully some on the zodiac trips.

 

I am on the 28/29 May Sailing so I have a vested interest in following the blog. I am hoping to snorkel but am sadly no longer a strong swimmer and had a scare a few years ago snorkelling so if we can't land I will just have to enjoy the zodiac trips and the ship. I'm glad to follow the blog as it helps with managing expectations.

Source is a passenger reporting on FB.

Read same.  Swell was Pitcarin.  Low tides was the other two as they could not find an acceptable landing spot through the reef.   Now swell is unpredictable.  Low tide -- come on...  This is first time for Seabourn.  I hope they learn from this, as we are booked for same all the way to the Solomons for 2025.

On 4/8/2024 at 1:03 PM, Nops said:

There is a blog of the current Pursuit South Pacific Cruise on the Seabourn website. Many diving pictures in the Pitcairn Islands.

Yes but many passengers were not happy as they were NOT able to make land on Pitcarin, Ducie or Henderson. 

Most Regent ships (except Grandeur) do not yet have Star Link -- so you are stuck with the high orbit legacy EMC Networks/MTN satellites with high ping times and limited bandwidth.  They had a long term contract with EMC so Starlink is not scheduled until the end of 2024, according to the Future Cruise consultant. 

Before you log in you might want to talk with the Internet Manager -- sometimes they will give you the extra logins complementary.

@UUNetBill is correct about turning off your VPN to reconnect.  Same with doing the end of cruise survey. 

Do not purchase the steaming package if you have a VPN.  With a VPN you override their site blocking algorithm as it is IP based, so you are wasting money.