rallydave

Thanks for your efforts Laraine; don't have anything different in the way of amounts covered. Sure you have this on your list to ask the administrator but, one thing that will help many of us is the ability to pay using multiple cards thus increasing the total coverage by "stacking" the coverage to up to $20K per person.

Thanks again for all your effort,

Thanks for clarifying. In my experience, a great tour guide is one who is a local expert with a passion for sharing "their" experience and location with us. It would be great if the cruise director and staff had the experience and resources to do this for Regent passengers. Again, this would be logistically difficult given the number of tours/day and the multiple ports involved. Perhaps there could be "special" tours (vs all tours) led by staff (who are qualified to do so). If a passenger wanted a "staff led tour" then they could sign up. Also, I'm sure that just because the ship is in port does not mean there are large numbers of staff sitting around with nothing to do. From what I have heard, they work quite hard already.

Not sure where you got the idea that any of us were suggesting crew members being the tour guides. That is furthest from what we are suggesting. The tour guides stay as they are today with local people doing the guiding.

What we are suggesting is that at least one crew member come along in each bus as a sort of chaperone. They would carry a way to communicate with the ship if any issues occur during the tour such as illness, accident, late arrival back at the ship, etc. NO staff led tours are being suggested.

The crew members would simple be a safety net taking care of issues that the tour guide is not able to take care of. All crew members are capable of performing this job.

Hope this now makes more sense.

Perhaps you can articulate for us which staff on the ship would fill this role?

Glad to list the people who I have actually seen supporting the rours:

Cruise Director and staff

Entertainers, guest entertainers and theater staff

Casino Staff

Shop Staff

Officers not essential when in port

Lecturers

Medical staff not needed on board

Any staff not needed during port time

Staff volunteers wanting to go on the tours.

Sure there are others but, that should be enough.

I suspect that would add up to a lot of people and cost, given the number of excursions. It would be much cheaper and practical to pay the local guides/tour companies. Perhaps you could frame your question in relation to why you would want to see an RSSC person on the bus (i.e. what value and service would they provide) and maybe there are alternatives to solve your concern?

 

Sunprince, fail to see a single penny of cost for having a Regent employee on each bus. After all, these people are paid the same amount whether they remain on the ship, leave the ship on their own or accompany the bus tours.

On the other paying the local guides/tour companies would certainly increase the tour costs by requiring additional personal who do cost money. In addition, the local people would not have contact info for the ship nor the best interests of Regent and the passengers. Most of the Regent tours we have gone on have had a Regent representative on each bus and they seemed to have back packs with phones, two way radios, first aid supplies and the like. Most, if not all passengers would prefer a Regent rep and for zero extra cost, the best choice.

Prior to UAL issuing its explorer , club and presidents cards under the UAL banner there was the UAL signature card and the Regular card. I beleive thusly that these extra benifits are presently all under vairing forms of the UAL affinity program....:rolleyes:

What you say Dan makes a lot of sense but, why would have two different but, similar brochures with UAL Explorer in both and Presidential in one and Signature in the other???

Strange way to do business if both are identical inside with the only difference the different cards on the cover????

I also have the Chase Sapphire and received the 11/1 benefits guide. 5k per person, 10k per occurrence. No annual fee. Annual fees may be the differential. The UAL cards have annual fees of $95 (10k/20k trip coverage) and $395 (20k/40k coverage).

 

"Covered Trip means any prepaid tour, trip or vacation when some portion of the cost......has been charged to your Account." (my emphasis).

 

Also - "The Trip Interruption benefit is excess over any travel insurance purchased by the Insured Person for the same Covered Trip or other indemnity by the airline, cruise line, railroad, station authority, occupancy provider available to the Insured Provider."

 

Almost sounds too good to be true, but here's hoping.

Believe you need to read the rest of the partial sentence you are quoting about "covered trip" as it further says less anything paid using points redeemable Rewards, etc.

Sure Laraine will get to the bottom of this but, believe this means you pay the full amount with a combination of credit card charges and points.

Hope you are correct but, your interpretation would allow you to pay say $1K with the Chase card and $9K with another card and get $10K coverage. Highly unlikely but, like your thinking.

This is information is very intersting and potentially helpful to a number of CCers who might not have been reading this thread. Might I suggest that a separate thread be started, perhaps by Laraine once she gets her answers back? My DH and I have both the Explorer and Preferred Signature cards. To date we have not received a letter with new informaiton on the Explorer card.

 

Thanks to all who have been contributing to this discussion.

 

Joanna

While the thought of a new thread makes sense and is valuable information for all cruise lines, think one of the confusing things is that appears that the only cards that may carry the higher coverage are those which are co-branded with United Airlines. Many have simply said Explorer and Preferred Signature Cards and those may or may not be co-branded with UAL. Know 1 poster stated that the cover of the new benefit package referenced as applicable the UAL Presidential Plus and UAL Explorer cards. Then I got a scan from another poster United Mileage Plus Explorer and Visa Signature were applicable to that brochure.

Me thinks that there are many different variations on the benefits and brochures so the only way you can know if you don't have the brochure sent out for your specific card is to contact the benefits people after Nov. 1. Pretty sure that one size doesn't fit all and we need to wait for Laraine's investigation and the receipt of the new benefit brochures for our specific cards.

Larraine, please ask about the many different brochures and confusion over different but, similar different cards that Chase puts out.

Thanks all,

Laraine,

I will e mail it to you as an attachment.

Paul

Paul, could you please copy me as well, still waiting for my benefits for the UAL Explorer and include a copy of the cover with the applicble cards.

Thanks,

I just received my United Explorer card in the mail and read through all the benefits.

 

Trip cancellation is covered up to 1500.

 

I'd like to see where anyone else getting 20-40k in coverage.

It's in a new brochure that was just released with an effective date of 11/1/2013. Googling only shows the exact same number you have but, scheduled to change 11/1. I have several different Chase Cards and recently got a new benefit brochure for each of them a little different values in each one but, that's why your new card did not come with this brochure. Expect you should get the new brochure or you can call them and ask for it.

Hope this explains your different values.

Dan,

I called here, there and yonder at Chase, Visa, Benefits Administration and nobody can confirm to me this very generous coverage. They do say that there will be some changes as of Nov 1st but nobody can tell me what they are.

I'd say they would be MAJOR changes if they go from the current $1500 coverage limit to $20,000/$40,000 coverage.

Is there any way you can e mail me a scanned copy of that section covering the "trip cancellation & interruption" (without any personal info, of course) so that I could call Chase/Visa with more specific information? Needless to say, that would be a huge improvement and a good reason to use that card for all future bookings of larger trips.

TIA

Paulpepper at Comcast dot net

Dan, if possible, would be great if you could paste that document on your response in this thread as it would be extremely helpful to many of us who have that specific card as well as health insurance for out of the country as it would almost completely eliminate the need for Trip Insurance.

Thanks in advance,

I'm surprised no one has mentioned pre paid currency cards - you charge them up with money online or over the phone' date=' and are available in many currencies. They are used just like a Visa/Mastercard, either at an ATM or a retailer, and the better ones have Amex style card replacement/emergency cash facilities.

 

Maybe you don't have them in the US, but here banks, travel agents, the post office, and bureaux de change all issue them.....

 

E.g. http://www.travelex.co.uk/uk/cash-passport.aspx

 

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/card[/quote']

 

Have no idea what this would gain anyone yet I do see downsides. Don't believe these are available in the US. We do have gift cards which sound like the same thing although can't buy in foreign currency. Never seen or heard of one. You would have to pay cash for them tying up the money until you spend all of the value of the card.

 

You would have to use them only at places that take credit cards so not useful where you have to pay in cash which is why we get foreign currency. If I am going to spend at a place that takes credit cards, would want to get my rewards for the use as well as using other peoples money until I have to pay the bill. As I said, no upside and several downsides.

 

As to using the post office, They lose billions of dollars annually so have no confidence that the money would be available when I would want to spend it.

I have a Capital One Business card that does NOT charge transaction fees for non-US Dollars, but my Capital One personal card DOES charge transaction fees for non-US Dollars.

Think you may want to check on your personal card again. The following was copied and pasted from Capital One and is a generic answer to all credit cards:

Will Capital One charge me a fee if I use my credit card overseas? Capital One does not charge a fee for using your credit card for foreign currency transactions. Foreign purchases will be converted at the foreign exchange rate in effect at the time of processing the charge.

The bank I spoke of is a small local bank. Not one of the huge nationals, which I've found are typically quite inflexible. Local banks typically depend on their service to bring in and retain customers, so they are easier to work with.

Think this approval will be hit and miss whether a big bank, small bank or credit union. I bank with a regional credit union and have been with them for over 25 years with a perfect record. They would not bend their rules but, did come up with a solution to the problem that worked for us.

Both my DW and I have ATM cards, we opened painlessly a second checking account as a sub-account. This way they were able to provide us 2 more ATM cards for the sub-account. This way we took 4 cards on our last trip and had one or more been kept by the machine or perhaps lost the ability to work we would be able to transfer money via the internet to the sub-account and use the second set of ATM cards to withdraw money.

We will keep these extra cards and account for future use if necessary.

We have an Amex Gold Card and I did not know that they don't charge fees for transaction. Do you mean no commission

It is only the Amex Platinum card that has no foreign transaction fees. Not sure what commissions you are talking about.

Your Gold Card will charge you a 2.7% fee on any charges not in US dollars.

Hope this helps. By the way, only the Platinum Card that costs $450 per year is foreign transaction fee free. There are other Amex Platinum cards that do have the fee.

I'm reluctant to carry too much cash around, but how easy is it to exchange US $$ currency to € on board ship or at the ports?

 

Are the exchange rates very high?

Yes, very high!!

 

Do people use travelers checks anymore?

 

Probably exchange them on the ship for US currency but, difficult to exchange elsewhere

 

Can you get currency from American credit cards on board ship or ports?

 

Yes but, a cash advance and you pay a fee to exchange plus interest starts immediately. The absolute best way to get foreign money is to use your ATM card at an ATM. Have never been charged an ATM fee outside the US. And, your exchange rate is the best you can get. Otherwise use a credit card without a foreign transaction fee. Many out there, just need to do a little searching. Know Capital One has all of their cards without the fee, just don't like Cap 1

 

How secure are the safes in the rooms on board?

 

Just fine.

 

What is the best plan to make sure you have enough € currency for when you need it?

 

Go to an ATM first thing wherever you change currencies and get a little local currency.

 

Thank you

See answers above in red.

We are booked on Nautica's Beijing-to-Bangkok cruise in March 2104. I'd appreciate information on where the shuttle service provided by Oceania drops of at in the city. Was there one drop off point or several? Do you remember where the points were? Can the shuttle on the day of debarkation to carry luggage?

 

Thanks,

David

Ah, what city are you asking about regarding the shuttle?? If Bangkok, there won't be a shuttle on disembarkation day.

We have been loyal cruisers on Regent and Oceania since inception.

My DH and I now feel that this new cancellation policy reflects an emerging Oceania attitude that wants to squeeze passengers for every cent they can. Bottom line profit takes precedence.:(

While I firmly feel that PCH (Oceania and Regent) have moved toward squeezing the passengers for every cent they can to the extreme lately, isn't that the job of the company to make a profit??

If a company "gives away the farm" such that there is not sufficient profit for the stakeholders, the company will cease to exist and nobody will be enjoying the cruises. It's the old story, charge as much as the customer will pay and once it gets out of hand, the customer will dictate the future pricing by either paying what the cruise line charges or move to another cruise or other vacation type and the cruise line will be forced to lower prices or go out of business.

Thanks Terry&Mike,

 

If I get the Verizon Global Data which is 25.00 for 100MB, will I still need the ships internet package? I don't have a clue what 100MB is, but hopefully it will allow me to send a few emails and texts. I have an international world phone for emergency calls if needed.

You should be able to get by with 100MB for a few e-mail. Where it might get expensive is when you receive e-mails and that uses quite a bit of mb. Also the simple act of deleting e-mails needs a connection and uses mb.

As far as texts, they are like phone calls and there will be charges to send and receive them separate from the mb usage. Check with Verizon for pricing but, think about $0.50 per text. You have to be connected to your provider the same as for phone calls so if someone calls while you are texting, and you answer, another charge. Have to turn off data usage at this time or you willl also use mb. Probably best to go to the verizon store and ask for help telling them what you plan on doing if not familiar with workings of your phone.

A suggestion if you do this, find out how to reset your internet usage (mb) to zero and check it out periodically. No cost to do this and no cost if you just check and have the phone and data turned off.

Yes, a bit confusing so if you go to the store, take notes on how to do things or read your manual and again make notes so you are sure not to have a huge bill when you get home.

Hoping people do NOT post flights and airlines on the sticky as tc has suggested due to her correct statement that available contract airlines change quite often and also that people might just get lucky and get a non-contract airline without an extra charge, other than deviation fee, that would confuse people and cause more problems than help.

Also, can't imagine the number of confusing and multiple posts that people would need to sort thru to only find that their particular home airport no longer has a contract with their chosen airline.

To get the current up to date information, best to call or have your TA call the Regent Air Desk and get the correct answer from the horses mouth.

Don't let your paranoia intrude.

 

No one is judging you for choosing to dine with whomever you want.

 

If you don't jump to conclusions and read my post carefully, you will see that I am simply mystified by the interest put forth to achieve this.

 

That I don't understand it is my problem, not yours..

It's not the paranoia or the jumping to conclusions nor the lack of reading the entire post, the issue is the fact that you are on the persons ignore list and your post can't be seen by this person. You have joined the good peoples list so enjoy the lack of any responses or arguments.

In fact, the restaurants and the balance of the ship deserve what the cruise line sets as appropriate dress. If people don't like the dress code of any cruise line, they are free to move on to a cruise line where the dress code fits their humble opinions. Polo shirts and pants other than denim are perfectly appropriate for specialty restaurants as well as the balance of the ships of both cruise lines after 6 PM.

Don't understand why passengers who claim to love a particular cruise line post opinions that differ from the cruise lines posted rules. Guess they really don't like the particular cruise line as much as they claim to??

China Airlines is the airline of Taipei and is just terrific -- I have flown it several times.

 

Air China is the airline of China, which is the one I think you mean. Both airlines get 4 stars from Skytrax. All our US carriers get 3 stars.

 

I would suggest not jumping to conclusions -- or yucks as the case may be.

Thanks mpfund, it is Air China from Beijing. Have recently flown domestic flights on Lan in South America, SAA in South Africa as well as China Eastern in China and all three were much better than any US carrier. On time, clean, free baggage, as well as full meals and snacks depending on the length and beer and wine included.

Much prefer most non US carriers and some people who tell others not to comment about cruise lines they haven't traveled on need to keep their comments to themselves when they haven't flown the airline especially about the airline of Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific) which is Chinese in the discussion.

Next week China Airlines starts flying non-stop from Houston to Beijing and they are a Star Alliance carrier which Regent tends to use. Pretty easy to get from Montreal to Houston. Not sure this helps but, is another avenue to Asia that hasn't existed in the past.

samdoca,

It is obvious you are not an experienced flyer and are new to CC. What you believe about booking a reasonable time in advance is far from it. There are numerous threads which talk about the need to book your deviation at the earliest time to get the best fares and flights. That time is 270 days or about 9 monts prior to departure. You booked about 90 days out and chose to wait until the Oceania flights were available at the 75 day mark.

Your flight requirements may be simple to you however very late in the process as the closer one gets to their departure, the flights available diminish and the costs go up. You cannot compare the fare or availability for your flight between the ship departure date and days earlier as Oceania most likely has space pre-booked for the ship departure date and not for other dates. And, what you call milk runs are the type of flights that cruise ships use as they are less expensive that non-stops and easy connections.

Highly doubt Oceania will meet what you want and the longer you wait, the more expensive your deviation will be as well as the more inconvenient. You need to make up your mind quickly and take the best available price and schedule now if you wish to deviate.

Sorry you had all these issues and hope you have a great cruise. Now that you are reading CC, suggest you look into these issues on older threads to avoid this happening again.

By the way, am usually one who blames the cruise line but only when they are truly at fault and unfortunately, for your issue, they are doing what they can at the available fares and schedules.

Aloha Purple,

 

I believe that you can deviate and get your flights anytime after you have paid the deposit. Yes, have your travel agent do this, and perhaps give some suggestions. For example, since we are traveling from Hawaii, we asked a received flights from the west coast to Europe so that we did not need to fly across the US on cramped domestic flights (which are somewhat rough even in First Class on a flight this lone).

 

Aloha from Hanalei,

 

Mark

Mark, you are correct that you have to pay your deposit in order to deviate but, there is more than that. Generally you cannot deviate until you are 270 days prior to your departure flight. Most airlines post flight schedules 330 days in advance however, you need to allow enough time to be able to book your return at the same time.

Regent generally won't take a deviation until the 270 day mark and it can be later if you choose an airline where Regent has not yet negotiated a contract.

You were correct, just not enough details to cover all eventualities.