cruiseluv

1 hour ago, pingpong1 said:

Greg/Cruiseluv - I'm 90% sure that we're going to be joining the cruise in Barcelona and not Tarragona.  Just be aware that there are several different cruise ports/terminals in Barcelona itself.  They just don't know yet (specifically) which terminal/pier the ship will be at.  We should know definitively in the coming weeks.  Regards

That’s what I think but the uncertainty is holding me back from buying tour tickets for la Sagrada Familia. However, a very recent Splendor cruise Southampton to Barcelona disembarked in Tarragona recently, I think last week. Don’t know if that was the original disembarkation port on the itinerary 

1 hour ago, pingpong1 said:

Hi Greg and Cruiseluv - I hope we'll be meeting you onboard (we board in Barcelona).  Yes, these types of emails (health notifications and medical updates) are now fairly standard.  Particularly after "the age of Covid" began and cruising resumed after things had been halted for a while.  Immediately after cruising first resumed, pier side Covid testing (on "cruise day"), and everyone having to show their vaccination documentation was required of all passengers.  As time has gone on, and with these latest emails, Regent is now telling/updating everyone as to what is (and more importantly what isn't) required any longer).  Nothing to worry about here.  Best Regards.  See you soon.   

Thanks Pingpong , I cruised this past January and can’t even remember if I got that kind of email. Mercifully we didn’t have to test anymore at that time. Hope to see you onboard!

1 hour ago, Flgreg said:

That's how I felt---UGH. Did you not get the same type email?

 

Regarding Barcelona the documents I received with the luggage tag state Port of Barcelona with terminal TBD. However, from what Regent told us in the past that this can change at the Port's discretion. We remain hopeful that it will be Barcelona and not Tarragona.

I checked my emails right after I read your post and I have nothing! Was it forwarded by your TA or sent to you directly by Regent?

thanks for the port info, my itinerary says Barcelona as well but for me is just a stop not embarkation 

I’m on your cruise, boarding earlier in Rome. Don’t know the answer to your question but my comment is UGH, here we go again! 
On a different question, have you heard anything new about Barcelona being the embarkation port?

1 hour ago, NYC-London said:

Yup, that is the mall - wouldn't it be funny if we all know one another

 

Columbia High School grad

I lived in Westfield many years , that was my mall 

2 hours ago, PaulaJK said:

Hello NYC. We are Short Hills Mall locale. The one you mean? Yes, very interested in Lonedaddy’s MBA mention. I guess surprised since not MBA..but I can say that world of mouth is very strong here…in malls, clubs, etc.

Short Hills Mall! Would that be near Summit, NJ by any chance? 

6 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

100% agree with your comments pingpong! What has changed at Regent? A new President, financial pressures or incompetence? Where is the President in this mess? What about FDR? It used to be that people at the top were actively managing major problems…but now where are they? 

I might be wrong, but didn’t FDR retire?

2 minutes ago, roninman said:

I'd suggest they think long game and make their final offer now.  Heck, make their final offer last week.   Too many have already felt forced to cancel, or been made to jump through hoops to even arrive at the new debarkation that the cruise line assigned in the middle of a large city-wide sporting event, or have had stomach aches trying to understand what to do.

 

If final offers had been clear by now people would have been much happier.  And if final offers had been made by now, people who accepted intermediate offers, or believed in the cruise lines original final offer of (no credit, no refunds), would not feel cheated they did not wait for the next final offer.

 

What is possibly gained by waiting to make a final offer?

Agree! All this unnecessary angst!

If you think Regent has your back if you purchase air from them, I suggest you read the thread on the Voyager Israel cruise

As long as Regent has cruises operating during the weekend, and for which they have contracted with passengers to transport them to embarkation port, it seems to me they need to provide service during those weekend hours. If they can’t they shouldn’t offer air as part of their so called services 

13 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Agreed.  But how are the prices that far out?  One thing I’d like to avoid is paying more for airfare than the actual cruise and I’ve reached a point in my life where sitting at the front of the plane is a must.  

Wish I knew the answer to that question… prices nowadays are dynamic, always changing. If prices go down you might no get cash back but you can get a credit to use on a future flight

5 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Thank you so very much. I am still learning and didn’t know about the 210 mark…would have waited for the 75 days. Also good to know we can take the credit and book our own air at the 210 mark. There is no way we will fly in on day of embarkation. The fact the Regent thinks that’s a good idea for over seas (any , really) is quite baffling. I’m sure they have their reasons…

Again, appreciate your post , along with others. Very helpful, indeed. 

You can book directly with airlines much earlier than 210 days out. For example, in Delta and AA you can book 331 days in advance 

52 minutes ago, loriva said:

Regent is currently calling pax to inform them this sailing will no longer be stopping in Egypt.

The only sane course of action. Im glad they awoke from their stupor 

3 minutes ago, PhD-iva said:

I just read thru the Celebrity thread covering this topic. One thing that is different is that X also canceled the Egyptian ports. So, now it doesn’t go to Israel or Egypt.

Did that make a difference in the decision to offer refunds/FCC?

What it shows to me is that Celebrity, or its parent company Royal Caribbean, its not nuts to go to Egypt

1 hour ago, stanleyheller said:

Regent has cancelled the Israeli three day portion of the trip, substituting two days at sea with embarkation in Turkey. Despite clear U.S. State Department warning about travel to Egypt and noting the murder of three tourists in Alexandria on Octoberer 8th,, Regent, at present, plans to continue the Egyptian portion of the cruise. I think it is unwise and risky to do this, but if I were to go on the cruise, I would need to stay on board the two days in Egypt. Then there is an additional day at sea. This is crazy and I will be demanding a refund.
PLEASE NOTE: From the U.S. State Department - today!!!

Egypt “RECONSIDER TRAVEL TO EGYPT DUE TO TERRORISM”

The Embassy is aware of multiple foreign tourists killed in an attack in Alexandria today, Oct 8, 2023. This incident may be related to ongoing hostilities in Gaza and Israel.
U. S. citizens in Egypt should exercise increased security awareness and precautions.”

 

It is both nonsensical and risky for Regent tp visit Egypt next week on this cruise. I cannot begin to contemplate the liability cost to Regent and its insurer if something goes wrong and passages are injured or killed.
 

As history has shown us, staying onboard the ship while in Egypt might not be the best course of action. At this point in time this itinerary is nuts

4 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

Almost 100 people die every day in the USA due to being shot or being hit by a drunk driver. If you want assurances of safety you can always stay home on the couch. I know with 100% certainty that I am going to die, I would prefer to die doing something I enjoy rather than turning into a vegetable watching Netflix. Just my opinion...I get that people are scared and they have the right to be.

The difference might be that in our daily lives we’re not paying about a $1,000 per day for the privilege of going into into a war zone

42 minutes ago, Joanandjoe said:

Frantic36-

 

I hope you were never unlucky enough to witness a shooting that took place 5 feet from you, as I was on an A train in NYC about 40 years ago.  I totally changed my daily commute to avoid the subway as much as possible.

 

If we feel unsafe in Turkey and Egypt, regardless of whether you feel safe there, we shouldn't have the choice of going where we feel unsafe or canceling everything we've paid for the trip.  BTW, even before the war in Israel, we decided to stay on the ship in Port Said rather than go with armed gusrds to the pyramids.  We thought Alexandria was safe; but, sadly, we were wrong.

 

(Oops, I'm repeating some points I already made, and adding some more.)

I don’t even know if that’s necessarily safe, the Achille Lauro comes to mind…

25 minutes ago, melbox4 said:

Turkey and Egypt are not safe for Americans. I am very disappointed to read this. 

Agree 100%

27 minutes ago, SarahV2023 said:

Yes it was advised by the ship captain this evening. I am onboard now. I am also a Travel Advisor 

I can’t believe ports in Egypt are part of the mix! Just today an Egyptian cop opened fire against Israeli tourists and killed 2. 

1 hour ago, edgee said:

This is a situation which is unprecedented for at least 50 years U. S. carriers have stopped flights to Israel. Saying Israelis are "used to this" does not reflect gravity of the situation. This is indeed Israel's equivalent to U.S.'s Sept 11.

Someone would have to be crazy to even contemplate going there

On 9/23/2023 at 9:37 AM, Techno123 said:

@cruiser941 the couple we are cruising with had a similar issue but only for one port. They managed to book the majority of the excursions they wanted but one (Okinawa) opened later. - a mix up with the IT and their booking hadn't gone through. There is absolutely nothing else available on-line at the moment except the shuttle into town. They have waitlisted for the Battle of Okinawa but it is very popular so they may not clear it but if not, the suggestions from those above will be followed.
 

However, your situation sounds much more of a pain. Are you saying there are only two you want to do still available or actually only two excursions in total? It sounds like the latter as you say 'not have any of the free excursions available'.

 

It would seem rather disingenuous of Regent to be selling cruises 2 to 3 months out which advertise 'our Included & Unlimited Shore Excursions guarantee your voyage will be like no other.' but then make hardly any excursions available to late bookers.

100% agree with your last comment. Sounds like deceiving advertising to me

On 9/22/2023 at 5:38 PM, CJANDH said:

Opening shore bookings a year out may not be the best strategy to keep customers happy. Many people cannot book that far out and will almost always find it hard to book a decent excursion after making their RSS booking 6 or 9 months out. Viking don't open their shore bookings until 3 months out. There is still a mad rush to book as soon as they open; but at least most pax get a shot.

Agree 100%. In a case like this the customer should be given an opt out and a credit. How can Regent still say “ free excursions “ when there are none to be had?

9 hours ago, RachelG said:

St James path

What segment did you walk?

3 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Rachel:  I am so glad you got to experience a piece of the Camino De Santiago and sorry you were not able to see the interior of the cathedral.   I hear that it is breath taking and to experience the botafumeiro would be a lifetime highlight. For most of my adult life, I have wanted to experience the Camino, but work got in the way and now I think I’m a little too far over the hill to do it.  We hope to cruise one day on a similar cruise as this one so we can also experience the same.  Thanks for sharing your experience with us.  
 

Z and TB

Over the hill??? Ive met you and your lovely wife and you are certainly not over the hill! I’m older than you , did my last Camino, the Camino Ingles, in 2019 and other segments in the years prior . You just need to do a little endurance training and would be good to go! You shouldn’t give up on it

5 hours ago, Camillus112 said:

I had the opportunity of watching the workings of the "botafumeiro", a huge incense dispenser which hangs-and is swayed- from the Cathedral's ceiling. This only happens when a group of "peregrinos" or "caminantes" arrive at the Cathedral, to celebrate their finishing the Camino de Santiago.  It was breathtaking!

Pilgrims arrive every day to Santiago, I’ve done it 4 times. They swing the Botafumeiro on special occasions or when someone or a group of people contribute 300 euros, nowadays is mostly every day at least during one of the masses, it’s quite a spectacle. Santiago is a very special place and it’s Cathedral is awe inspiring