Pies4u

That sounds like a variation entirely due to the dry dock arrangements. It’s a reasonable change, the sort that happens occasionally - as others have referred to. i’d be fairly happy with that situation but I’d enquire about a more generous offer. In our position, where they’ve simply removed 18 days, an entire segment, from our cruise - but the ship is still making a similar journey, I’m still baffled as to why we haven’t been offered the additional 3 nights as opposed to being told, “your cruise is now 20 days!

That 38 night cruise is interesting. It ends at sea! If you follow this thread you’ll note that several people have commented on the farcical situation of variations and changes almost by the hour on the website, the entire loss of cruises on “my account” (ours has also gone altogether too) and a total lack of clarity about the whole matter, including a half baked, inadequate explanation from Regent that is, clearly, false.

Precisely! That is why the subsequent variations can’t possibly be related to the dry dock period. The explanation provided by Regent is not logical. The itinerary has been slightly varied for 2 later segments of the GV. Consequently, the relatively few guests booked have been inconvenienced for another reason. The e.mail we received is either incomplete or simply inaccurate. The UK office are seeking clarification - they appear to have the same, limited information that customers have received. It is, at best, a poorly communicated and badly thought out piece of communication. At worst it is just a case of upsetting a limited number of people in order to generate greater revenue. If I’m offered the additional 3 nights at no extra cost, I’ll be pleasantly surprised but it won’t change my thoughts re: the overall strategy.

Agreed - a fair offer would be to honour the 2 segments at no extra cost. It’s a variation of Regent’s choice, not ours.

That would be my suggestion too tbh. I think they would maybe like us to pay extra for the revised, longer, segment - but that isn’t feasible for us really.

Thus was part of a 64 night Grand Voyage, which had 4 segments. They have amended the Dubai to Athens segment and then Athens to Rome final segment. There is actually no longer an 18 night element that we had booked, it is now 21 nights with the looks of things. The final 10 night segment is reduced to 7, so it’s still a full 64 night voyage but if you are only on the middle segments, or just the 3rd one then you are affected. It is crazy excuse to blame it on the dry dock and offering a 50% reduction on a cruise you are not getting is a bit weird. I expect a 100% reduction on that and a significant reduction on the remaining element because that is not what we booked and not we wanted! Quite frankly, it brings Regent’s reputation into question and the PR implications are pretty grim. I’ve now had a further telephone conversation with the UK office. I am told that we are the only UK customers who were booked in the 38 night cruise but I’m aware of at least 2 other groups from N .America incl briar14, of course. That is what makes me believe that they want to re-package this and sell suites at a higher price. Unless they come up with something that is acceptable we will have lost that “once in a lifetime” cruise. It doesn’t look good to me.

In a nutshell - yes.

Just spoken to Regent UK. They are still going with the dry dock explanation, as that is all they’ve been told. After a lengthy conversation, during which I explained that the reason provided us implausible and I don’t accept it, they have agreed to investigate further with HO and keep me informed. I’ve rejected the 50% reduction completely and advised them that a deviation of this magnitude is a fundamental breach of trust and confidence. This is a pretty serious situation in my view and Regent are doing themselves no favours whatsoever.

As posted on the roll call, this is very odd. The excuse that the changes are due to the dry dock in Nov/Dec 2025 is utter nonsense. How can that impact on a cruise 3 months later, which hasn’t been cancelled and is still going ahead as planned? We’ve also been told our 38 night cruise is now just the 20 day segment ending in Dubai yet, clearly, the ship is continuing on as scheduled - to Rome. To say we are not happy is an understatement of mammoth proportions. We could have booked the 20 night segment but didn’t want that alone, it was the extended stay on ship and itinerary that we booked for - including the Suez Canal, Petra & Ephesus. Without those elements, we aren’t being offered what we wanted or signed up for. This looks like a piece of chicanery to me - hoping some people cancel and then their suites can be re-sold at a higher price. Unless Regent can provide an alternative, plausible, reason they may well be losing more customers over this strategy.

Ross is our favourite too - missed him on our last 2 Regent cruises having seen/heard him on the 3 previous trips. Maybe nit the greatest voice but very convivial with a huge personality and a very gifted, (broad range), pianist. Hope he’s still with Regent in 2025 - aboard Splendor, in March, preferably,

I was going to say - just back from Japan and didn’t need any proof of vaccinations etc. They take your fingerprints on arrival but at every port their customs and immigration folk are courteous, helpful and friendly.

We are “Gold” status with Regent - 6 cruises - with 2 more booked, and have just come back from 11 nights on Explorer. We did our first Silversea cruise in March on Dawn. I’d concur with the view that Regent has lost its way somewhat. Inconsistent dining experiences with significant deterioration in range and presentation of food at breakfast & lunch plus too many inexperienced and unaware staff were our conclusions. Excursions are a chore, rarely, if ever, departing on time due, in part, to the clumsy way they are organised, At the time, I thought Silversea was different but not quite as “good” overall - but, on reflection, I’d say that there is a far better choice of dining venues and, generally, better standard of presentation of dishes on Silversea. The fact that there are 8 restaurants, including the exquisite La Dame, novel Silver Note and the inventive Salt Kitchen elevate them way above Regent at the moment in the culinary stakes. They also scored highly in comparison in respect of the way they organise excursions, meeting shoreside with none of this going to the theatre and “exchanging 1 ticket for a bus ticket” nonsense. On balance, we are now slightly concerned that we have 2 cruises scheduled with Regent but at least 1 of them will be on the newer ship, Splendor, in a named suite. We are considering just dropping the 38 night Voyager cruise planned for 2026 but I guess there is time for Regent to show some serious improvements. Unless Regent get their act together, I fear they will lose customers and not only to Silversea but also to Oceania, who we experienced last year. Oceania actually offer great vfm and their cuisine is every bit on a par or better than Regent. Jacques and Toscana are amongst the best restaurants we’ve eaten in on any cruise line. The main dining room is far more efficient than Compass Rose on Explorer. The issues of paying for drinks and larger ships with more guests are negatives but we were surprised how much we enjoyed the ship (Marina) and the quality of service, which was exemplary throughout tbh. As others have stated, it becomes a matter of personal choice and taste but, despite the formality, Silversea appear offer the best value for us based upon cuisine, service, ambuence and organisation/administration.

Our conclusions were that the quality and range of food available at both the breakfast and lunch buffets had deteriorated, considerably, from our pre-Covid cruises. There were no berries throughout the whole cruise, never saw a blueberry, raspberry or strawberry. No beetroot in the salad range either. The whole cold fish and meat island was depleted and had nothing like the normal range. It was like they had to ration it on a daily basis. I have no idea what they did to the mustard herring, but that was inedible, the mustard sauce was nothing like is usually is. Plus, they were just “young, brown, sardines”, which taste completely different to the mature “Atlantic” herring - which the plain and cream options, clearly, were. Generally, most restaurants were ok but the lasagne served in Sette Marie was a soggy mess and we just don’t care for the food in Chartreuse, full stop, so I wouldn’t criticise individual dishes too much. (However: My wife’s chicken was inedible and the lobster/mousse is an unpleasant experience anyway!). Sadly, the tomato soup amuse bouche in P7 used to be our favourite too - but on the 2 occasions we had it this time, it was far too spicy. I used to think I’d like a bowlful as a starter but you couldn’t eat a bowl of the version served this time, you’d lose the power of speech and destroy your taste buds. Thus, I’d say that whilst c 85% of the food was fine and prepared & presented well, it’s the 15% that wasn’t that sticks in your mind. Never felt like that in any other Regent cruise. It all seemed a bit underwhelming tbh, which is disappointing for a luxury line. The ship itself is is pretty good shape, we were unlucky in getting a P’ house B with torn carpet and damaged bathroom cupboards but the bathroom itself, shower, beds and lounge/dining areas were all impressive. The entertainment team were very good too - as were all the staff, the usual helpful, friendly and courteous service was evident throughout the ship.

They used to state the beachside Sheraton from memory. We are doing Rio to Lisbon on Splendor in March 2025, I guess it might change by then!

We just did the “Vibrant Tokyo” pre-cruise package & agree with rkaratsu. The Hilton was simply overcrowded, 800+ rooms, and over 300 on the package made it chaotic at best and farcical rapt worst. It is a stop over hotel for flight crew and they had at least business conferences going on too - breakfast was certainly not a “luxury” experience. As for the trips, well too little time at the impressive National Museum and a waste of time looking at expensive shops in Ginza really didn’t help. The final morning, prior to joining the ship, was fine. The Meiji shrine, pleasant gardens and the Fuji TV observatory tower is a decent as to pass 3 hours or so tbh. I wouldn’t bother with the pre-cruise deal again if hotels are going to be questionable and the volume of guests too high. When it is included as part of the cruise it would seem odd to refuse but I’d prefer to be located in a better quality hotel and just have a couple of half day trips to places worth spending some quality time in! Alternatively, provide credit for the package and allow folks to organise their own time. Overall, not too impressed - and it slightly detracts from the high end product that Regent are trying to market. We had a totally different experience in Hong Kong in 2018, top class hotel, superb organisation and a dedicated bus for each day. Only c 35 per bus & only 3 in total. Very pleasant experience compared to the current “Hilton fiasco”.

Schipol is, probably, the worst major airport in Europe! It certainly provided us with the worst post cruise experience last year. Shocking signage, awful customer service from check in and other staff plus you walk miles, go up and/or down stairs or escalators, if they are working! Only a helpful cleaner actually provided clear advice on where to go. The whole place was shambolic, ridiculously over crowded and we vowed never to return from there again. I know it is due for extensive improvements, they may have commenced already, but it was simply dreadful. Paris CDG runs it a close second but I’d avoid Schipol at all costs tbh.

Yes, you usually get the best offers for future cruises if you book on board. Not sure how that would work for one just 2 months away. Presumably, that will be fairly well filled and the suite choices would be very restricted, which limits the discount available. I don’t know if there’s a specific policy on discounting but a cruise that is over a year away and less than 50% sold would be more likely to attract benefits in my view.

Have only experience of 1 cruise - but 2 cruise consultants. Have to say, they were both fantastic. Very courteous, helpful, friendly and efficient service in my view. I prefer the direct approach, as opposed to using a TA. At least you get to resolve your concerns & questions without waiting for a 3rd party, you sort your own queries and requirements with a dedicated member of SS. The only downside to that seems to be that many (all?) TA’s can offer some obc, but I’m content to do my own bookings and save the extra legwork, phone calls or visits to a TA.

The quiet bar is the small Observation/Library bar - very rarely anyone in there, never more than an handful, after dinner on our recent 22 night cruise. Very pleasant spot with an exterior area too.

We got the back pack and assorted items with it, hand gel, masks, water spritzer etc in a Grand Suite on .pDawn in March.

We also stayed at the 1898 after a regent cruise - very pleasant rooms and great location. Just beware of the wooden floor at the rooftop bar & pool! If it gets wet it is very slippery, my wife went “base over apex” on it but, fortunately, was on,t shaken up but no serious damage. Would still go back, staff and breakfast also very good there too.

It is a very long way from Rome to Piraeus - hefty taxi fare! It’s in a different country. I’d be tempted to stick with Civitivecchia tbh, which is far enough. Sorry, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit - but the highest form of humour.

No, he’s a predictive text dude! Typed “side” but this dude popped up.

We stayed in a GS - 12 days in Caribbean followed by a crossing to the Canaries and Madeira, disembarking in Lisbon. We were able to use the huge balcony extensively in the Caribbean and on the first day at sea of the crossing. After that, it became far less usable until we were in port. There is some dude protection, a screen which gives protection to the dining table and chairs on the side - but it is entirely dependent upon wind direction. As we had a fantastic 12 days in the Caribbean, we got great vfm out of the balcony. Anyone just doing the 11 day crossing, with 8 days at sea in total, would not do so in my view. The suite itself is superb, the dining area is spacious and would be great for an in suite dinner. We only had the occasional breakfast or room service and canapés. The bathroom and walk in wardrobe are great, well appointed and practical. Nothing not to like, it is a magnificent space. I looked in a Silver Suite, not stayed in one, and have to say that it looked like a smaller version of the GS but without the huge forward facing balcony. It looked pretty good to me and the butler gave me the full guided tour! On a shorter cruise or one with a lot of sea days, we’d be happy in the Silver and save money. Hope that helps.

Sorry, meant to say “……SS and Regent staff….” - as they both have the same rules and apply them with the same approach.