FengShui@Sea

On 10/10/2022 at 11:41 AM, rudedoggy87 said:

Received our 30th Anniversary Cruise gift last evening. A set of very heavy coasters! A nice gesture. 
 

One thing no one seems to be commenting on is the toilet situation. Every morning, it seems, the toilets won’t flush for upwards of an hour. Seems like a big problem - big enough that everyone received a notice last night to put nothing but TP down the drain. We’ve seen quite a few maintenance folks working in the hallways on 7 and 8. 

 

Our guest bathroom toilet (at the entrance to our suite) has not functioned properly since day one.  Sometimes the flush delays by several minutes, and twice so far it just stopped working completely.  The ensuite toilet wouldn’t flush one morning, and when I called down they said that they were aware of the problem.  I think the age of the ship may have something to do with it.  We  will be on the Navigator in 2025 and I shudder to thin how it will be on there.

14 hours ago, mrlevin said:

I need to correct my statement; we did have a Sunday brunch on Navigator; sort of a disaster.  Never repeated.

To be honest I wasn’t at all disappointed.  I prefer a regular breakfast early, rather than facing mounds of food mid morning.  We have noticed that when we are sat on the port side in Compass Rose the service tends to be slow.  We now ask for seating on the starboard side each time.  
 

16 minutes ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

Wow, what time of day is that?  I have fond memories of listening to the piano in the afternoons.

The first time it was in the early afternoon, and the second time was late morning.  They haven’t shown up yet today thank goodness.
 

We are continuing to enjoy the voyage.  The food and service in Compass Rose has been excellent.   Today is Sunday but I don’t see any mention of the large Sunday brunch they normally have, however caviar is being served at breakfast apparently.
 

We dined in Chartreuse on Friday and the food was excellent.  The decor could definitely use some improvement.  It has very little art on the walls, and an ugly gold coloured curtain covering an entire wall at the back of the room.  I am curious to know what is behind that curtain!
 

We have a couple that camp out in the Observation Lounge every day who insist that the soft music be turned down to a level where it can no longer be heard.  I find it odd that the staff comply despite the impact on the rest of us who are there enjoying the music.  The staff should suggest the couple go to the library where it is so quiet you could hear a pin drop.  I am seldom the squeaky wheel but when this first happened I asked that the music volume be restored.  However, ‘madam’ promptly went over and insisted it be turned down, which it was, and we left.
 

Thanks to all that suggested I request a different hair dryer.  Mine was replaced with quite a beat up looking one but it works perfectly.  

 

Thanks for starting the blog Susan @Flossie009.  We have been very pleased with the food and service in Compass Rose.  I can also report that we are in an aft corner suite and have experienced zero vibration.  The biggest (First World) problem is an under powered hair dryer in the suite.  This is the first time I didn’t bring my own.  🙈.

Below are some photos of the Seven Seas Suite #1081

The bedroom and ensuite bathroom are pretty small compared with the living room.

For future reference you can use any plastic card to operate the lights.   We use a membership card from one of the big box stores.  When leaving the room we remove it and leave it inside the room, close to the door.  
 

I sincerely hope your mother feels better soon.  Sending her positive thoughts, and good wishes.

As someone who has had Covid, and racking my brain wondering where I may have caught it (being a total germaphob, and ultra cautious) I can almost guarantee you that she can set her exposure like a watch.  It starts at day three after exposure thinking ‘ghee, I kind of don’t feel so well’ to day four with ~ okay this is something (sore throat, fatigue, etc.). She may have caught it on the plane home, in the Miami airport, or who knows?  But I can sympathize with any uncertainty in thinking “Where did I let my guard down?”  

Yes, Prime 7.  My last choice on the Splendor would be the Asian restaurant (Pacific Rim).  
 

We are sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Dublin on the Silver Shadow in late May 2023.  I haven’t heard of an itinerary change so far (and hope it doesn’t change), but the ship holds about 380 passengers so perhaps it will be allowed to dock in Dublin.

I am really enjoying the detailed description of your travels.  Were your flights arranged by Regent?  I live three hours by plane from Miami and when cruising from there I fly in two days before embarkation day.  I can’t imagine arriving the same day when boarding a ship half way around the world.  I would be a nervous wreck, worried that I would miss the ship!

@PhD-ivaOur October 3rd cruise on the Mariner (sailing 12 days return out of LA) has been sold out for weeks now.  The one following is almost sold out.  I think with yours being a repositioning cruise it is less popular because the flights become more challenging.  Although that wouldn’t deter me.  Wish we could join you.  Enjoy your cruise!

1 hour ago, Mystictraveler said:

Currently booked on an 11 night, Feb 23 cruise from Bridgetown to Miami. The cruise calls on eight islands and has two sea days at the end. Six of the first seven days do not depart the port of call until 11 p.m. and arrive at the next port at 8 a.m. Personally, part of the enjoyment of being on a cruise is actually "cruising". Have others experienced this many late departures and did it detract from the overall "cruise" experience?

Yes.  Not like cruising at all, more like a floating hotel.  You couldn’t pay me to do that itinerary.  Others will disagree, but I think you are asking for an honest answer.

55 minutes ago, Pcardad said:

They might prefer USD now that it is worth more than a Euro. It is the kindness behind the giving that is most important.

Perhaps true if someone were to give the same amount of USD as they would give in Euro, however currency rates fluctuate daily.   I think the kindest gesture someone can make is to offer a commonly accepted currency rather than one from half way around the world.

Euro will be welcome, not so for USD.  

Sadly my understanding is that you cannot remove a guest from the reservation after final payment.  Correction, you can but the only saving will be the taxes that guest was due to pay.  Perhaps you could add a ‘third’ person (the one replacing your original cabin mate) and then split the difference in cost as a third person (if allowed in the cabin) should only be a nominal charge.  🤷‍♀️

The 900, 800 and 700 PH cabins have a solid (steel) balcony front rather than glass so I would avoid those.  Personally I would take deck 14 as you will be a little further back.  Congratulations on your upgrade.  You are going to love the penthouse!

2 hours ago, Pcardad said:

I hope the people complaining here have taken the time to call Corporate first.....otherwise its mostly wasted effort.

I seriously don’t see anyone ‘complaining’ here, except for the people complaining about people complaining.  Other than that I only see people offering observations and opinions.

All valid points.  However, are we as passengers expected to still pay tens of thousands of dollars for cruises with sub standard service, sub standard food preparation and quality, sub standard wine selection (i.e. serving six year old Chardonnay 😳)?  Why are we the ones that are supposed to absorb the lack of trained personnel, chain supply problems, etc. etc. rather than the commercial entity.  Is Regent now a charity case that we are all expected to feel sorry for and support?   I can forgive many, many shortcomings but don’t ask me to pay pre-Covid prices for far less value.  A fool and his money are soon parted.

Unfortunately, cruises departing from the US, Canada, Greece and Bermuda will still require the pre-cruise testI guess because of regulations in those countries.  

We had the same issue with the Sebastiani Chardonnay (2016) on the Splendor in April.  That they would even pour it really surprised me.  

We also found that some bottles of their standard sparkling wine (champagne ?) were corked.  Thinking it was just not to my taste I poured the bottle provided in our suite on embarkation down the sink.  A day or two later another guest was telling the pool bartender that the sparkling wine he just poured her was off.   I assumed they must have had several bad bottles, and let the bartender know.  However, after summing up the courage to try it again later on I found that other bottles of the same wine tasted perfectly fine.

10 hours ago, eroller said:

Oh wow interesting.  I actually thought SPLENDOR was the preferred ship as she is newer and toned down a bit.  
 

Personally I loved the glitz & glamour on EXPLORER, and the art work was first rate.  

I realize that it is a matter of personal taste, but I found the Splendor’s decor very dull.  The wow factor of the entrance to Pacific Rim wears off quickly.  The staircase going from deck 5 to deck 4 with its wooden steps had to be the ugliest central staircase I have ever seen on any ship.  Add to that the difference in level of service between the two ships in Compass Rose was mind boggling.  However, with a few exceptions the artwork was really outstanding.   I would revise my advice to say I wouldn’t avoid the ship, but I would lower my expectations.

This brings back such fond memories of our first Regent cruise (also on the Explorer).  My advice is to avoid the Splendor.  Although a newer sister ship, sadly it pales in comparison.  

45 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

Yes, I agree but does that mean we don’t cruise anymore? Regent, SS, and Seabourn all seem to have the same policy, as do other non-luxury lines (which we will not cruise).  And what about land vacations….no one discloses anything! So we choose to be smart and aware during our travels. If that means I need to employ my detective skills then so be it! 

Okay, so we don’t do ‘land vacations’ (and don’t really know what that has to do with this discussion). And what exactly is Regent, SS, and Seabourn’s policy?  Celebrity reports the number of cases to all guests each day.  What exactly does RSSC have to hide?  I’m happy you are ‘being smart’ but I would rather give my money to vendors that are being upfront with me.  

59 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

Could not agree more…should be a requirement given all the various CDC cruise requirements (none of which includes providing passengers with critical onboard info).  But Regent operates in many different jurisdictions so there would be little hope for consistency. 

 

I am a bit surprised that you came to cruise critic to get your suspicion confirmed. This is not a criticism but could there not have been a more direct unofficial way to know while you were onboard?

We spent 25 days on the Mariner just prior to the Alaskan season.  We did have an “outbreak” but not to the degree as what is described in this thread.  There was zero mention of Covid during our entire 25 days from anyone official on the ship.  Officers are not allowed to officially communicate anything. 
 

But we found ways around this:

- I began to specifically ask our butler on a daily basis: 1) how many cases; 2) how many new cases; 3) any crew cases? Etc

- I became more observant: 1) people starting to wear masks that never had before; 2) missing guests/crew (haven’t seen them in several days, where are they?) For ex, the onboard photographer lecturer had his spouse/gf onboard, I hadn’t seen them together and thought she got off…she was in quarantine for 12 days!.

- talk to other guests/crew…news travels fast

 

 

You should not have to be a detective to figure these things out.  Regent should be transparent.  Yet one more reason we cancelled all RSSC cruises after the next one in October.  Don’t wish to pay $2K a day for this kind of ‘service’.  

43 minutes ago, mrlevin said:

About 70% of the cabins don’t have a butler and we have the same right to additional bookings. 

No one said you didn’t.  The OP is in a penthouse, and my experience is that the butlers are very eager to be of assistance.