ChatKat in Ca.

i just don't get it...

 

This conversation is solely about coffee on regent...has nothing to do with leaving regent, etc.

Why can't we simply allow anyone to voice their opinions and leave it at that. What difference does it make if a comment comes from a long time customer?

 

Taste is a matter of opinion. Let it go...you don't always need the last word.

+100

Coffee on Oceania in Barista's is perfection. Was very good on Mariner on our last cruise on Regent. Coffee in a Bar on land in Europe is exquisite. I have a small electric kettle made of plastic by Regal that I travel with for making French Press Coffee and bring my own French Roast Ground.

Private transportation is a must. There are few cabs at the port in Monte Carlo.

That said - we were unable to dock in Monte Carlo this last November due to high swells. We actually went to Villefrance and were tendered in for the day. The turnaround for the next cruise was Barcelona.

We have sailed in/out of Monte Carlo several times in November and the weather is a huge factor.

L

 

This thread was about whether or not Regent has a minimum number of passengers that are required to sail. The answer is no. I wonder why people took the opportunity to explain why some people (a minority) no longer sail on Regent. IMO, if you prefer another cruise line -- Bon Voyage -- have a great time on whatever cruise line you prefer........ but, kindly do not come back to bash Regent. Regent "shunned" loyal customers? As one dearly beloved Regent Cruise Director would say...... "rubbish".

As many threads take a turn during a discussion on related matters, there is no BASHING except that another opinion disagrees with yours. My opinions are just as valid here as yours, Jackie. I have sailed the line as much as you have - nearly 200 nights - in all levels of Suites on Regent since it was the Inaugural Sailing of the Mariner in 2001. I am entitled to provide my opinion whether or not it agrees with your opinion. I am also allowed to criticize my own experience - even if it differs from yours. This is a public board.

Almost all of my friends have left to cruise elsewhere - cost has gone way up, quality is down, excursions are fine if you want a full bus to places you have been. We have been going on River Cruises and Land tours with Tauck or on our own. We were on Oceania - where we feel the food is better and we can tour privately for less.

Regent has shunned a whole segment of formerly loyal cruisers many who have moved to Oceania, Azamara, Seaborne and Crystal so they have made room for the HAL, Celebrity and Princess market.

One cruise we sailed our TA got a whole floor of cabins to sell off with short notice we availed ourselves of on the Navigator in the Carribbean. The per diem was $200 ....and there were perks with that like Amex OBC

We were on the Paul Gauguin when it was managed by Regent. I would be my first choice to see Tahiti.

The small ship was built for the islands. They have a sports deck and a dive team that is unsurpassed. They are staffed by the locals and it is one of the best experiences for the islands. They day we were on the private motu at Tahaa is one I will never forget. The Circle Bora Bora by canoe was amazing. The underwater walk phenomenal.

We stayed for 4 nights at the Intercontinental on Tahiti before the cruise - lovely.

I used to love to go to the Spa on a cruise; Regent for years had a special massage, body scrub and facial. Not cheap but very luxe.

The last time I had a spa treatment on board I felt that it was so over priced I gave them up. Now if I want to have spa time, I go local and make a day of it so I have a mini vacation. Totally refreshing and because they want my repeat business - they try harder.

We have also done both as well as Regent.

Those new O ships are fabulous. I totally notice the space differential. Even on the PH cabins. We've sailed in both Concierge and PH on Nautica and Regatta. And PH on Riviera. It would be hard for me to top the Riviera's PH experience. But if my itinerary were on one of the smaller ships, I'd consider it. We are actually going to look at Azamara next year. Same ship of a different color.

I have arranged many tours privately.

I had a guide not show up in Lisbon. We took a cab - there were 5 of us. The people did not come back at the appointed time and we waiting a full hour because they went shopping. The women sent back the husband to tell us. RUDE!

We had a 12 night Baltic Itinerary and there were 10 of us. We planned excursions for every port. We had a few compromises since most of the others were fine eating lunch quickly. We love to dine and literally at at a 7-11 one day. The group was very congenial and many of us are still in touch 7 years later. The camaraderie really made the trip. We often dined onboard together. It was one of the best trips we've taken. Several of the group are still cruising together.

You never know. We just did 26 days with shared tours in each port. Different people. Some we liked and some were not our cup of tea. We had fun. When we were not with the guide we did our own thing. I did interview everyone with the expectation we were active and we would be respectful. No one was late.

I am not a morning person.

As a matter of fact, when we vacation I end up leaving the ship to tour earlier than if I am home and working. Time in port is limited and I don't want to miss something; On our last O cruise we had 26 days and all the port days we left between 8 and 9 for private tours. Often we returned to the ship in time for dinner and we missed Trivia, Tea and all. Vacations are not all about sleeping in. They are also about experiencing other than the every day life around you. Sleep in at home. You won't miss anything there.

We will have one on the Regatta in July

 

 

How does one know in advance, such as your July trip

?

Are the Amex tastings separate from "other" wine tastings?

 

DH rarely has time to accompany me to our local Wine Festival dinners or simple (?) tastings. This would be perfect timing, to put it mildly.

 

Thanks.

 

GeezerCouple

The AmEX Tasting on the Riviera in December was only AMEX Platnium guests. Our wine bottle was from the tasting and in the cellar waiting for us. Exactly as Jim and Stan said. Wine quality for us was just ok. We have very specific likes in the wine department and did not find them over the top.

We have met people in the laundry room on cruises too.

We share all the chores - as far as entertaining one's self It's actually a nice quiet place to read. Or sometimes a bit of reality during a cruise is not such a terrible thing. After all, your bed is made, your food is cooked. Not a care in the world - except laundry. Are we not lucky/blessed or whatever you want to call it?

Try Star chefs.com for Citronella 72 hr. Short ribs. It comes right up.

3

Not the same as in his cookbook "Happy in the Kitchen"

No Sous Vide and No Cryrovac.

The chef that created the 72 hour rib recipe is Michel Richard for his now closed Citronelle restaurant in Washington DC. I have made this recipe at home from his cookbook. It's quite expensive to make if you use good wine to make it with. It requires cooking twice and marinading in wine. The time from start to finish is 72 hours but includes marinading time. I tried to find the recipe on line as it is in his cookbook but can't find it.

When we were on the back to back Istanbul to Barcelona and Barcelona to Miami, I went to wait for our friends boarding in Barcelona in the terminal.

One woman - from New York - was seated and waiting for her boarding time. She was obviously sick and kept telling the Oceania Representative how ill she was and that she must board immediately. He kept telling her to stay seated and he would see that as soon as her time came open, he would make sure she was able to board first. Suite passengers and Concierge were boarding.

Finally they opened for all staterooms and he saw to it that she could board.

SHE WAS SICK. Obviously ill with a cold - coughing, sneezing etc.

Why was she allowed to board?

I was able to get Business Class to Melbourne and Home from Sydney using my AMEX Miles via Delta but flying code share on VAustralia. First choice of flights.

Agents have different contracts with the cruise lines as to what they can offer. Volume plays into it but, sometimes you have to pick. For example, I have to choose between the AMEX Platinum OBC benefit and Tips included. Oceania won't give me both; Usually the tips are worth more.

I am very picky about my hair.

I haven't changed hair people in many years.

I had my hair cut and styled and colored by one of the hair people on the Riviera in November. I am sorry I don't recall his name but I wish I could go back. He was Bulgarian and he was exceptional. His color was fabulous. The cut worth what I paid. I went to Vidal Sasson for many years. He could work there.

We were on Continental before the United merger on that route. We started in LA and changed in EWR. Non stop in June.

If you haven't made final payment, you can move your cruise to another booking with only the loss of $100 pp (the amount may have changed); Med Cruises are not unusual and there are many to choose from on Regent

Jeronimo!

I completely agree. I have no plans to sail Regent again; The line no longer fits my profile of what I want in a cruise. I am Gold and miss some of the finer touches on board. We were on maiden season sailings of Mariner and we were totally blown away but the elegance.

That said - the focus has move to Oceania for PCH and I have moved also and while it's close to perfect it's not the Radisson of yore.

Your recollections are amazingly vivid, Kathy and are sure to be very helpful to anyone interested in booking one of these Suites.

Unfortunately, your Room Numbers appear to be a little skewed, or else you are a VERY generous person.

7131 isn't a Penthouse Suite.

I suspect that the cabin which you describe as 7131 is really 7135.

Yes, you are right. I made that mistake a couple times on board also!

We had the above cabins on Riviera in November December.

7128 was fabulous. Nice deep balcony - great walk in closet. Room very spacious.

7131 we had for the 2nd of back to back. We actually had 7130 booked but the people who had 7131 were in 7130 for the 1st of b2b. We took their 7131 so they did not have to move.

7131 had a fabulous balcony. During the cabin crawl we had 25 people out there at a time. The cabin was about 18 inches narrower at the foo of the bed. You could not use the dressing table and table at the bed at the same time.

The closet is also configured differently. The clothes rod was about 18 inches and to both the left and right of the door versus the entire width of the closet. There were the useless shoe holders and 1 less set of drawers.

We would not take 7130/7131 again unless we were on a summer cruise where we could sit out for a length of time. The space trade off for us with a wet wintery itinerary was not worth it to us. For summer/warm climates - absolutely would take it.

We are particular about our wine and we did not like the regular pours. They changed often and the labels were unfamiliar to me. Mostly Italian/Argentinian and Spanish Reds and some Australian Whites.

We found that buying wine when we boarded worked the best. We bought enough wine to last through our whole cruise by the bottle at 30% off (we used our on board credit that way) and we bought some favorites and tried some new ones. I like having a choice.