Yankeeclipper1

Sounds like misery - we had that happen to us several times throughout Europe. Unseasonal hot weather A/C turned off - explanation always "system turned on for winter, we can't turn it back to summer for a couple of days" - fact or fiction? - we'll never know, - all I know is each time it was misery to sleep.

Joanie, Enjoyed your review of Marina - you confirmed what I have (IMO) been experiencing - a notch down across the entire cruise industry - with lots of excuses and only higher fares. Oceania was one of our favorites (6 times) and your descriptions (which I trust since we think alike) are not what we previously experienced. I love the comments about the onion soup and the balance of onion caramelization and bouillon. Sounds exactly like something I would have said. 😄 FWIW - Crystal cancelled/changed our Panama cruise - replaced it with something not even remotely the same BUT did refund our full fare and offered people future credits or longer cruise for same price - all fair IMO. PS - I sent you guys an email 10/26 - let me know if you got it - I still use wonky Hotmail that does strange things. Ray

Update - A full refund will be provided. Evidently since this was their first major glitch, communications to the sales staff was not complete (they are continuing to train). It was management's intent to provide refunds - if requested - along with the other options - that was not communicated down the line. The sales staff should have had that information but did not. My TA sorted this out at the management levels - while I was talking with reservations/sales personal - which BWIVince pointed out is futile if something is off the script. With that explanation provided and resolution, I have booked a future cruise that fits our schedule.

As of today - Crystal Reservations Supervisor - "Crystal not giving refunds." This is unsatisfactory for the reasons I previously mentioned - a total switch out of the cruise not reflecting anything of the original - this is being elevated to Senior Crystal Management. Not a good way to build new customers and keep old ones.

Keith, What I was sent so far show two cruises turned into 3. Extra days (from what I understand) come into play if you choose future Panama Canal cruises that are all 16 - 18 days. You can get those for the same price as you already paid - does not work for me. All I would like - since the new cruises are not in anyway reflective at all of what I bought is a refund that will allow me to choose when and where I will book - so far that full refund (without a penalty) is elusive.

My agent is very savvy and has worked miracles before. I just want my money back since this is not even close to the original (at all) and I want to pick when and where on my own time frame - without constraints. Their offers do not work for me.

I am getting a bad vibe about this. First - Crystal did not prepare its own 800 call center for this. They (call center) did not know nor did they have any answers. My TA had to elevate it to a Sr. Supervisor who admitted they were not prepared and he wasn't armed with any solutions today. Later TA receives the communications about "offers". Saw the "offers" - not satisfactory. And before Crystal defenders start in - I get the out of Crystal control etc. I have no problem with the events causing this. But - NO REFUND - and the offers (so far) absolutely do not work for me. We don't do cruises over 14 days, Panama Canal was the purpose of the trip, no refund is offered and only 10% on future cruise is not anything I am interested in with the limited time you have to use the credit - and the future PC trips DO NOT work for me - even at the same price with a couple extra sea days. The current cruise - with changed itinerary to those Caribbean ports? - been their a million times - no thanks. I am getting really pissed off when I hear that a straight refund is not offered. This is not dropping a port this is a total change of the cruise - 11 nights to 7 nights on a totally different 100% different itinerary. Crystal is treating it as a dropped port or two. AND - They are not using the word CANCELLATION which some people are using - there is a reason Crystal will not say cancellation. Not calling this a cancellation is a manipulation to serve the purpose of not providing refunds if requested - if the other offers don't work for the customer. If I am roped in to a limited set of options with my money tied up - I may take that cruise I am limited to but I swear there will never be another Crystal cruise for us. I would prefer to have the freedom to have my money back and choose exactly what I want. And yes - this has all been told to Crystal.

Canal is open - but slowed down due to lake water levels. Canal operations are chargeing outrageous sums to guarantee front of the line access (Disney and Universal must be involved 😆). Commercial cargo backing up big time - the fee for guaranteed slot makes a cruise financially not worth it - ships can still get through but cruise ships on strict schedules are considering other options.

Shoe just dropped - TA informed me Dec 2 Miami - Puerto Caldera - changed. He is on the phone with them now because their "offer" was outrageously ridiculous - as if it was just a dropped port. New itinerary is Miami - Nassau - St. Martin - St. Kitts - BVI - San Juan. Eleven night cruise just became 7 nights and the title Panama Cruise - eliminated. No thanks - I'll pass. (KenzSailing - you may want to double check that or keep on top of it).

Read on a FB site (private group) that several clients received notification their Dec 13, 2023 Puerta Caldera to Miami was cancelled. Have been reading Panama Canal is having drought problems and traffic is curtailed and backed up. RCCL has cancelled all its Panama Canal cruises as of August 8. Crystal website still shows Dec 13 Panama Canal. I have Dec 3 Miami - PC booked but am waiting for the shoe to drop since that is a R/T cruise (two parts). Anyone else have any info? (Crystal 800) didn't know what I was talking about.

Keith, Thank you for your detailed and reassuring reviews and comments - because of them and reports/comments/pictures from others we have booked December 2, Panama Canal. Looking forward to returning to Crystal. I do have a question - I may have missed it and have tried running a search - but - I do not see many (or any) comments on breakfast and lunch at the Marketplace (except for the glance at the cold bar). I am particularly interested in the buffet quality at lunch since we sometimes just like to pop in there and/or sit outside for lunch. Really no information (that I can find). Thanks, Ray

Keith, I was trying to figure out what are the "classic" Serenity Aquamarine Suites (wife wants a tub). I am going to guess from the new brochure they are the suites with the hallway cutouts - deck 10?? - which does not appear that way on the website. Your thoughts? Ray (PS - have been doing several Regent recently - hit or miss - last two - not very pleased - Looking forward to Crystal's comeback)

Since Regent did not supply an explanation in the email I received they leave it up to me to fill in the blanks. $$$$ My conjecture is this private island property would cost too much to open for a couple hundred passengers. There are no other NCL ships arriving at the island that day. Usually 2-5000 passengers are dropped. Most of the activities on the island that Navigator passengers signed up for are “free”. On all the othe NCL ships they charge $99, $129,$149 pp. add in the fact the island has to be opened up and staffed - I’ll bet staff are paid on a per Island opening per day basis rather than salary. The expense of staffing and operating activities for a couple hundred passengers just doesn’t fit the balance sheet. My supposition - until Regent supplies an explanation.

Here is a final response from Jennefer. I take this as official and indicates what they are "supposed" to be doing onboard. I would suggest anyone having issues with CHOGs (love it) remind a senior crew member of the company policy including the CD making daily announcements. "We have put together text that is supposed to be in Passages daily, and the Cruise Director is also supposed to be making frequent announcements reminding guests of our policies. I am sorry that Navigator failed to implement this, I will follow up with the fleet to ensure everyone is aware. Thanks! Jenn"

Received a quick (5 minutes after sending) response from Jennefer Teegen to my complaint about Regent's lack of consistent chair hog enforcement - reference my recent Navigator cruise. Response from Jennefer Teegen to my original email: "My apologies as I am currently traveling in Asia. I have asked the shoreside team to go back to Navigator and asked them to reinforce our policy. Like on Splendor, items should be removed from unoccupied chairs after an extended period of time. We are doing our best to educate guests about the rules and our crew will do their best to enforce them. I know this is a growing problem and frustration among our guests. Please understand we are trying our best to resolve this. Jennefer" My response: "Thank you for your quick response. What is lacking is consistent reminders of the rule. It is very simple to highlight in the daily paper AND more importantly the CD in their daily PA brief - can remind everyone, every day in about 2 sentences, what is expected of guests - regarding deck chairs. Your TV screens can highlight the simple rule. That relieves the deck crew and the passengers from having to educate people. The crew is then just following the announced rules. I don't know why that is so difficult. With reinforcement daily vs. the inconsistent enforcement that just leads to conflicts - it's quite solvable. Other lines also have other creative ways. NONE of this ever happened on board - even when raised with officers." We shall see if things improve.

Or use a VPN and adjust your browser settings. I am currently looking at the UK Regent website from the USA, I assume the reverse would happen if I used a VPN from the UK to access USA sites.

Just checked my test booking. Looks like they were still sorting it out on the website. It now shows the full BC included fare in the booking screen, the full $8000 credit for booking your own flight - then mentions under "offers". "Save 35% on this voyage by choosing to fly Premium Economy. Or arrange your own flights and transfers to still save 35% - plus $5,400 in the form of premium economy air credit." So, the booking screen changed from Saturday but I still haven't figured out how to figure out where is the 35% savings. When I take air out I am back to the original (or near orignal) cruise only fare (all higher). So it still appears to me to be no change except the addtional option of getting Regent to arrange Premium Economy for you. Anyone else see it differently?

Cheddar Biscuit - I don’t see any cruise fare reductions at all. The new prices are just the included price for premium economy. The two things RSSC controls are the cruise only fares and how much of a credit they want to give for not taking - what is now available - two airfare options. The apparent reductions on the website are actually the fares that now include the Premium Economy offer (so I was told by Regent Rep). Business Class included fare is now buried inside the booking engine. When you do a cruise only and take out the airfare you are back to about the same cruise only fare - or actually a little higher than before. The Regent Rep was at a loss to actually explain where the up to 40% (35% in my example) savings is. I see no cruise fare savings - just an offer of Regent providing a lessor class of air travel with a lessor commensurate air credit. As always each traveler decides if the credit and total inclusive cruise fare is worth having Regent do your air or you take the credit and do it yourself.

IMO nothing to see here. Just called Regent to book two more on my Tahiti cruise. (1/28/24) Bottom line - savings totally obfuscated. It was not obvious to me on the website that the price you now see is the price that includes Premium Economy - they don’t give you the BC price until you book into the engine and then see that the price for BC was the same (with a little bit added price increase for the cruise as announced). If I add in the previous BC credit of $8000 the price comes back down to the same cruise only. If I add the Premium Economy credit of $5300 aganst the now published cruise rate the includes PE, I am back to the same cruise only price again. The Regent agent could not really explain where the 35% savings in addition to the airline credit were. IMO total shell game to get you to ask for PE but you arrive at the same price (or near) regardless of which airline class you use. NO THANKS. BLUF - cruise only price is about the same - no real savings - on the test case I used. BUT you can now have them arrange Premium Economy if you like.

First - just about everyone on this board will tell you - do not arrive on the same day as sailing out (unless you have no choice). You mentioned 2:50 too late but then you mentioned pre cruise hotel. Barbados is a tough one. For most of our cruises we usually take the credit and book our own. We did this same itinerary on the Navigator just this past February and for several reasons we did book with Regent - those reasons being - there was almost no price difference (at the time) between Regent and booking myself - Barbados has very limited options for getting there from the east coast - mostly just American through Charlotte or Miami. I figured for the same money I’ll let Regent worry about it. I was able to upgrade Regent’s economy AA ticket to First on the first legs for $300 each way but the second leg was sold out (only 16 seats) - we did pay for main cabin extra (couple more inches in vs standard economy.) Regent did give us a pre-cruise (forced overnight) - it was the Accra Beach (others stayed at the Hilton). Both (I have been to both) are tourist class hotels, somewhat run down but adequate for an overnight - but definitely not commensurate to a luxury cruise. If you don’t want to do any work and have the Regent backup of having to “fix things” if they go wrong - book Regent. It will be in economy (I believe) - If you want first class/business their upgrade cost to First/Business will probably be astronomical. BUT - If you want to some work - You are so far out the airlines open bookings 331 days out. You can probably take the $900 Regent Air credit and book First/Business (its domestic First seats all the way) for about $1300-1400 pp. Regent would probably charge you a lot more for the upgrade if they give it to you. I would book a refundable ticket to lock in the best fare (first class only goes up each time one of those 16 seats are sold). If Regent by some chance has a better deal you can cancel and get a refund. Do it one way on the first available (331 days out) then book the return leg 10 days later (331 days out). One way or R/T usually doesn’t matter. Hotels - Unless you want something like the Fairmont - many hotels (including the ones I mention will serve as an overnight for about $350. Regent will charge you double or more (unless included with their economy ticket). Others could probably tell you of some hidden gems you can book on your own.

Good advice above so I’ll give a miniscule bit. Fresh Squeezed OJ. They have it but you have to ask, otherwise you get packaged stuff.

We usually take the credit and do our own. Usually works out IF you get to the airlines when they first open the seats - 331 days out. Usually Business Class is never any cheaper than those initial offerings since there are so few seats - they only rise in price each couple of seat sold. For example - we have Tahiti cruise 1/24. I booked oneway First and BC from DC - PPT Delta/AF for $1700 the day it came open. Waited for the return to open 15 days later (staying Pre and Post) for $2300. Total $4000 against the RSSC $8000pp credit. Sometimes it doesn't work for many reasons and we have taken Regent air and then upgraded to First - Barbados for example. Also the airlines have the cruise schedules so to get the best fares you need to add a couple days Pre and Post and see who is coming in and out of port. A little work but worth $8000 (total savings) to me.

We liked it but had already framed our expectations as compared to the Explorer knowing the Navigator's limitations - but felt it was a good value at the time when we booked - going to a few places in the Caribbean we had not been to. The May one coming up - definately a good value back when we booked - 15 nights $5350pp and $2150 OBC. For that we will put up with Navigator's short comings. Navigator - No wow factor - just nice - more compact - but did NOT feel crowded/cramped. CC complaints about Sette Mari - were not our experience - we eat early and never had a problem getting seated almost immediatly (ate there 4x) getting a table - usually about 1845. Chair hogs were out and I am pissed Regent apparently still is not addressing it. Next cruise I will be aggressive in involving the general manager - if necessary. Did miss having the other two restaurants but found enough variety in the CR menus - a few misses - but immediate attempts by staff to correct. Your husband will be happy - lobster still available any night - for me due to the moratorium in Alaska on Red King Crab I miss KC. The production shows of course were limited as compared to mainstream ships but were entertaining - and still had a better production value than SS or Seabourn and live music always a plus. Regent puts a lot more resources into its show and stage production facilty - than the other two lux lines - and no I am not saying its Broadway by any means - but was better than high school musical we found on Silver Sea. We were invited to dine one night with the lead singer and discussed how their world works on ships. Really had no big complaints. Overall was a good time. BUT as you can see from other YMMV. Ray PS still can't get proper French Toast anywhere. But they did have Cronuts.

Sometimes its worth rebooking and sometimes not - depends on your original fare booked. There is a caveat - if you booked on board through the "onboard savings program" they do not rebook - you TA calls and they add the new benefit or price reduction (if there is one) - without rebooking. Five cruises, 2 were worth rebooking, two were not and one had the $1000 OBC and price reduction added without rebooking (it was booked onboard). From the Onboard Savings Fineprint: "Guest will be able to take advantage of this new promotion plus the added benefit of the applicable Onboard Savings by having their travel agent call Regent Seven Seas Cruises to have the new promotion added to their reservation (subject to availability). Should there be a price reduction after final payment has been paid, the difference will be given to guest in the form of a Shipboard Credit, suite upgrade, or a Future Cruise Credit at Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ discretion."

We are also on that cruise. I am also perplexed by the timings, expecially the Hamilton 6PM - 5AM - makes me ask - what are they thinking? Many of the online port schedules show 1400 and 1500 arrivals - and no other ships in port?