Dolebludger

Yes, Bill, tipping is out of hand here in the USA. Tip jars are everywhere. And tip prompts appear on credit card checkouts — even in some retail self service transactions where tipping was unheard of a few years ago. And these prompts are above the 10% — 15% rates that I grew up with. I like to cruise Regent, for one thing, it get me out and away from these things.

I know this, Picardad. But Regent shouldn’t have different contract terms for its transfer contractors in San Juan from those in Miami. As I understand it, the only item for which we opted out (and received a credit) was the air. We didn’t opt out for transfers.

I had an interesting (but small) problem with Regent on the hotel transfer thing on our very recent San Juan - Miami cruise on the Splendor. We were told (and knew) that Regent wouldn’t provide airport - hotel transfer in San Juan because we booked their hotel for an extra night before the hotel-provided date. But we did get transfers from this hotel to the port on embarkation. We had not booked Regent air(we took the air credit) because it involved some five hour flights for which Regent would provide only basic economy. But we did not opt out of any service besides air. But during the disembarkation procedure onboard, we found that Regent would not provide transfers to the Miami airport unless we paid $70 pp! The Destination Services guy on board told me that the transfers were only good if one took Regent’s air. He had no explanation as to how and why transfers were included hotel - ship in San Juan. So we took a cab for $50 for both of us. The reason I consider this only a small matter is that I really didn’t want this transfer anyway. Regent actually lost our luggage in San Juan hotel to pier! It was found, but this delayed our embarkation. I really didn't want to use its transfer service again. This wouldn’t have happened with Regent in pre-pandemic days.

Actually, on our Splendor cruise last week, the captain made an announcement about the cancellation of the tendered stop at St. Barts — due to rough seas.

ROV, that is a good question. All the credits I’ve ever had are non-refundable, and at times have gone to waste. In such a case, I’d like to donate the unused credit to the crew fund, if I could.

The problem we encountered on 03/31/2024 at the Miami cruise terminal was that there was only one person checking passports, whereas this part of the terminal is set up for ten. Lines were long and crowds were large. Cabs were scarce. At the Miami airport on that date, we inquired about trains and busses, and were told that there weren’t any running then, and they didn’t serve the area of our gate anyway. Accurate info? IDK, as it is difficult to get info in large airports. But that’s what we were told. There were no “people movers”. We saw none of those electric carts in the over five hours we were stranded there. This did not involve a Celebrity cruise. We took another like this time. But we probably will cruise Celebrity again in the future. And the fact that Celebrity is going to other ports and airports is good news to us.

If a port change or elimination happens in the course of a cruise, it is usually easy for guests to learn the reason why — and it is usually weather and rough seas. But recently, on a Grandeur cruise of Pacific Mexico and Central America a good number of ports were skipped in fair weather. The guests were not told a reason. There was speculation that the ports were unable to offer this ship an electrical hook up, which Regent prefers to have to reduce fuel consumption and pollution. But since ships can and do generate their own electricity in these and many ports, this would be a poor excuse for missing ports.

We never like to book a post disembarkation flight that departs before early afternoon. Last June after an Explorer Alaska cruise, we had a United Vancouver to Denver flight that departed around noon. We were greeted at the airport by a very long line before we could even get inside the airport rescheduling United passengers from cancelled flights. Even though our flight had not been cancelled, we had to become somewhat hostile to even get into the airport, to check in for our flight. Other than that, we would have missed it. These days, we like to give airlines plenty of slack time, because airlines now are basically incompetent. Regent is certainly not incompetent, but has to depend on airlines, hotels, transit, and others that are.

FWIW, we just returned from a cruise on the Splendor that visited Nassau two days ago. Based on our last stop there (maybe 15 years ago) we planned to stay on the ship. In spite of that, we disembarked there and found the place most improved. BUT, I can well understand the anger and disappointment in the way cruise lines (including Regent) have been changing and eliminating ports. I understand port elimination due to unsafe weather. On our Splendor cruise, the first port was St.Barts (a tender port). The captain launched a tender, and I could see it bouncing around. I thought “I don’t want to do that”! The captain apparently agreed and cancelled the port. Good! I also understand canceling ports that have become war zones. I don’t want to pay to go to a war zone. But there have been reports right here on CC that Regent cancelled ports (sometimes with a substitute — sometimes not) not due to weather or war. I do wish that Regent, when it changes or eliminates ports, would tell booked guests why. If the guest is onboard and the reason is weather, the captain tells the guests why (and in my case) the guests could see why. But if port changes (or eliminations) are made pre cruise, I suggest booked guests deserve an explanation. From what I am reading here on CC, this isn’t always happening.

We’ve had an aft suite before (not on X) and had no soot problems at all. However, there was a rather severe vibration and shaking problem. I don’t know if any X ships have this problem at the stern, but ships of several other lines do.

Sounds like most of these items are prohibited on the ship due to fire hazard. When I have considered a cruise and searched for prohibited items on the line’s web site, it has been a bit hard to find — and in fine print. When one books a cruise, the line should send a list of prohibited items shortly thereafter — and not expect the guest to spend an hour searching for this info on the site. Further, prohibited items are not the same from line to line. We just cruised on a line (not X this time) where ordinary extension cords are allowed. So all lines should send a readable list of prohibited items right after booking — or at least with the cruise documents. This might solve problems.

How about finding the flights you want, and asking Regent for a deviation? Sometimes this works out well.

We just got back from a cruise yesterday (not Celebrity) that disembarked in Miami. That will be our last time at that port for us. The cruise terminal was way understaffed, causing the worst congestion at such a facility that we’ve ever seen. The Miami airport is also a mess. It is spread out literally for miles and has no trains, trams, busses, internal carts, or people movers. It is thus unusable by people like us with even minor mobility disabilities. We won’t be back there, either. So I would count Celebrity’s use of other FL ports as a big plus.

Possibly, but on the ship the iPad wouldn’t type accurately and correctly. Now that I have returned home, it works fine. As to the phone problem, we got instructions and followed them When we would dial a number we know well, we would only get a recording stating the number was invalid

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We understand your concerns but-it is Reget program, which allows it to shorten the the business class leg that is required in their advertising by flying guests in basic economy all over the US of course, added connections are inconvenient. And all, offer., a new opportunity to miss a flight..We found United fights business class to and from London. Perfect Flor you August cruise, Ir r\requires a deviation. Which will. Be well worth it.

Just for the record, I just saw a man turned away from dinner at the Compass Rose who was wearing denim jeans. However, I saw men wearing trousers with exactly the same cut as denim jeans — except they were made of a different fabric — not denim. They had no problems gaining entrance and seating. So it appears to be the denim fabric, and not the cut of the trousers that makes them “jeans” and unacceptable in restaurants and lounges after 6:00 PM.

We are on night 5 of a seven nighter on the Splendor. Happily, we haven’t had much of a chair hog problem on the pool deck. Today, we found loungers where we wanted on the shady side. About an hour or so later, I noticed that the lounger next to mine had a cell phone on it the whole time. We moved then to a shadier side, and the cell phone was still there, and probably still is. I don’t steal anything, but I would not “reserve” a lounger by leaving my cell phone on one for hours. I do think the service crew needs to police the place better. And perhaps to ensure that guests don’t leave valuables on the loungers, as well as not “reserving” them by leaving cell phones, purses, or the like. And we agree — if you are not sitting there, it isn’t yours.

I’m on a cruise in the Caribbean right now. This time, it is not X, but I’ve cruised X some. On this cruise — and on the many I’ve been on — there are kids. They aren’t bothering anybody. They are having a good time too. I have never been on a cruise where there was a problem with children. So, I’ve never personally seen any reason to prevent children from enjoying any cruise.And on my last birthday I turned 80.

Sounds like this is a constant state of confusion — as is all too usual. A mandatory tip on a fee is a deal breaker for me.

We are on the Splendor right now. We are in the Caribbean. The Compass Rose was a bit chilly on one evening. I wore slacks and a short sleeve polo shirt. That evening, I also wore a light weight sports jacket I had brought for that purpose, and was fine.

Typo, sorry! I meant “Splendor”, of course.

I’ve been trying to get an answer, but haven’t been able to get a clear one yet. Will keep trying.

This will be the first of what maybe several, posts about this cruise. The onboard service and food have been great. Other things, not so much. Of course,,Wi Fi has been bad, as we expected. But as RSS gold guests, with three hours of ships phone time, we expected it to work. It does not. We have some calls that need to be made. We cannot make them via the WiFi using our cell phones. And the promised three hours time via the ship’s phone has not worked at all.i will discuss this problem with somebody in authority (if I can find such a person) and will report back.

The confisiog part about this treag]d