Dolebludger

dog hog, with the “better” cruise lines, they can answer questions, and do so in a language I can understand.

Well, back to the original topic, which is a company moving its customer service staff overseas. The motivation is financial, for sure. But another motivation is to insulate management from complaints. The process with off shore CSRs is often so complicated that customers just give up. And that is just what management wants. And as to TAs, the reason many of us need them is to book flights and pre and post cruise hotels. TAs also are better able to compare cruise lines with comparable itineraries to help us find what we want for the best price.

On another post on the Celebrity forum, there is a report that X has moved all its customer service off shore. With that, we are unlikely to get a response beyond what is in the script of somebody thousands of miles away, who as no ability to address specific problems. If this report is accurate, this is another reduction in benefits by Celebrity, that harms all cruisers — not only those in the Retreat.

In looking at Celebrity offerings, the prices look OK in anything below the suite classes. But for those of us who enjoyed the Retreat as a former lower cost option to a lux line, we are very disappointed. Retreat prices are now higher than for comparable itineraries on the REAL lux lines (Silversea, Regent) and Celebrity has been reducing Retreat inclusions so that a cruise there is no longer comparable to a lux cruise — and even priced higher. So, it is back to these lux lines for us, and we even save some money.

I’m not wineoclock, but we were on the Regent Explorer this past June in Alaska. And we had cruised Regent many times before. Onboard, it was the best cruise of them all. However, we did not use the line’s hotel and transfers. Those who did said they were bad. And regardless of where you get your air, there are going to be foul-ups these days. But these things are beyond Regent’s control. And before we booked that one, we priced Celebrity SS and CS and found Regent concierge to be less expensive. We didn’t have a “butler” as such, but the room steward pool was very well staffed, room service was very prompt, and we had included use of the mini-fridge and in-suite spirits. The was no sign of understaffing, as has been reported on this thread. And we also had included laundry service, shore excursions, tips, and WiFi. We did not have priority embarkation/disembarkation, but with fewer than 750 guests onboard, it was not needed. IMHO, there is no reason to book Celebrity SS or CS suites instead of Regent. Four years ago, these Celebrity Retreat suites offered a great imitation of a lux cruise experience t a lesser cost. Now, Celebrity has reduced these lux inclusions an has raised price higher than a true lux line like Regent.

Yes, when I was on Windstar’s site, I couldn’t navigate to any rooms, except those with only windows — and not very large ones at that. Time to return to Regent, where all all suites have balconies — except a few window suites on the Navigator.

I have read elsewhere on this board that Bloody Mary’s is closed for a year for maintenance and repairs. Sad.

jjs, we’re you on a motor yacht or a sailing ship? From what I can determine, there is a real difference in those two categories. And if one is undecided, Regent is always a good choice.

Good info, Jim, and thanks. It brings up a related question. Twenty years ago, there was a site that listed the passenger/crew ratios on all cruise ships. That was good info, as it seemed that a nearly equal ratio was one indicator of cruise quality. Problem is, I have forgotten the log in for that site. Does anybody know?

Yessir, Destinations needs some work, badly! On our Explorer cruise to Alaska last June, we booked our own hotel and transfers. All was well. But the people we met onboard told us horror stories about the Anchorage Hilton hotel through Regent, and the provided bus transfers. I won’t go into details as it would be a too-long post. And when we picked excursion for that cruise (and the next one) we avoided bus tours, and chose to make our own transfer arraignments. I suspect that the international labor shortage prevents Regent from getting good contractors for their provided land services. Maybe it needs to try harder. But Regent can’t begin to control service at embarkation and disembarkation ports. So we older people just have to do our research and chose our start and stop ports carefully. But, yes, on land activities that Regent contracts out, more supervision and selection is needed.

For what it is worth, the three Windstar motor yachts to which I referred in post #15 above do have elevator access to all decks, according to their deck plans. These are not sailing ships. They have no sails. They are small cruise ships like the PG. they are named Star Legend, Star Breeze, and Star Pride. I wouldn’t book on a ship lacking full elevator access now at my age of 80, but these ships appear to have very adequate elevator access, so I’m considering them. Also, I am wary of the room accommodations on those sailing ships, whereas the motor yachts have fairly spacious suites. So the Windstar motor yachts are worthy of my consideration. But when there is any doubt, Regent is my default choice. Always good.

Wendy, I can’t recall the name of the company that owned the PG between Radisson/Regent and Ponant. I guess we both are getting old! We were not caught in the PG/Ponant mess of refund refusals, but read the accounts of many that were here on CC. We have cruised the PG numerous times (can’t remember exactly how many), and always had a great cruise. Notwithstanding this, we will never cruise on any ship owned by Ponant, including the PG — unless it is sold again. And I hope this happens, and soon. But there may be an alternative that hasn’t been mentioned. Windstar operates motor ships in French Polynesia that are similar in size to the PG. I believe Windstar bought these two ships from Seaborne. These ships have cabins/suites larger than on the PG. Unlike Windstar’s ships with sails, these motor ships have elevators. They also have “cruise only” and “inclusive” fare structures that give price breaks, principally to those who don’t drink (not us). I wish I knew more about this option. Never cruised it, and Windstar’s website leaves many questions unanswered. In 2014, we cruised the Regent Mariner with an itinerary starting in Tahiti, visiting several Society Islands, visiting Easter Island, and ending in Lima, Peru. I was a great cruise and itinerary. But the Society Island portion had some undefinable element missing, compared to the PG — and perhaps other small motor ships. .

We had experience on MSC a few years ago, both in the Yacht Club and in the regular ship. Then, the YC food was up to lux line standards.the food in the MDR was not.

Now, here’s another dress question that I don’t think has been asked before. This may not be covered in the published dress code. Men’s shoes in the evening? There are now popular men’s shoes that look like low cut sneakers, but the tops are leather. Are these acceptable on Regent in the evenings, if all else complies with the dress code?

Actually, one thing I like about X cruises is they are the only line that allows good jeans after 6:00 PM. But on the cruise, I have always worn a dress T shirt and a sports coat with my jeans. And I never got kicked out!

In 2014 we were on the Paul Gauguin cruise of French Polynesia, and there was a “cockney” British couple onboard. But when the woman put on her two piece, the bottoms were faded but the tops looked like brand new. Of course I asked why. She replied that only in the company of people from the USA did she feel the need to wear the top. Now I was an old man even then, and we were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary, so none of this mattered to me. But it did make me think: why can men go topless but women can’t in the USA? I still don’t know the answer.

Back in the day, stewards introduced themselves politely when we were on a cheap RCCL in an ocean view cabin. And of course, we had no butler — of course. Back in the day, on cheap cruises, we did not need a butler (probably don’t need one now) when we had full room service and when we could bring our own drinks onboard. And, as an alternative, we could buy spirits at the store on Royal, take them back to our room, and have a drink. Then, shortly after 9/11, Royal (and other lines) started prohibiting carry on drinks, under the guise of security protection allowing the X-ray of luggage —without notice to those booked before the new policy. That’s when we started looking for alternatives. And now we find that some “mass market” lines won’t even allow us to carry on water? Oh hell! Now if we can’t cruise on a line that provides us with water, soda, beer, and booze anytime and anywhere we want it, we just stay home. Sorry for the rant. But now, some lines are cutting down on food? X Retreat included? Well they have been squeezing cruisers for over 22 years. After our next cruise on Regent (at less cost than on the Retreat),if it isn’t fabulous, it will be our last cruise. To my observation, cruise lines have been ripping us off for 22 years. And if the lines can’t show some respect for my $$$, they will have to do without it.

I can’t speak to Oceania, but I can speak to it’s big brother, Regent. Just ensure that your “suite” is large enough for you, and compare prices. Some very high level suites have a steward plus a butler. We don’t worry about that, because a butler isn’t needed. Room stewards take care of everything, but —- . All suites have restocked mini fridge, spirits in suite, access to all restaurants, full room service, tips, excursions, and economy air included. But few want economy air, so it is a bit of a problem getting the air you want. A good TA is really needed. Post pandemic, I can personally attest that the food and all onboard service is great on Regent. Even better than it used to be. We cruised in the Retreat on X twice before the pandemic shut down, and it was great, and at less cost than Regent. Now, the Retreat costs more and has fewer inclusions. Hello! What shall I book? Easy, book Regent instead of the Retreat, save some money, and receive better inclusions and service. Back in 4 or 5 years ago, the Retreat (then Celebrity suites) used to be the best deal for an onboard lux cruise. Now it is the worst.

Well, back in the old times when we used to cruise RCCL, our room steward used to come and introduce him/herself. They were still room stewards, not butlers. We didn’t pay for a butler also, and we didn’t have one. But if I pay for a butler and a steward, I’d better have both!

Well, where we live in a small tourist city in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, our hospitality businesses are having a hard time getting up to steam. Labor and supplies are just too expensive, and the owners were hurt because of the pandemic shutdown. While realizing that cruise lines draw from international labor and supply sources, they seem to be having some problems too. So there will be variations in quality of everything that makes up a cruise, I guess. All I know is that we had a couple of pre pandemic cruises in the X Retreat. The experience (for us) was equal to the lux lines, but at much less cost. Now it is at more cost than the lux lines, with reduced service and inclusions. So we took a summer cruise on our old friend, Regent, this summer And all things onboard were actually better than years earlier. For our next cruise, we looked at the Retreat, and prices were higher “apples to apples” in the Retreat than on Regent— with more inclusions and services on Regent than the Retreat. We booked Regent again, obviously. On the summer Regent cruise, there was no sign of understaffing, reduction in menu choices or quality, or anything else.

Right!

Well, if the “Retreat Hosts” are in the chain of command with housekeeping (not the butlers), they are what is called “room stewards” on most cruise lines. And cruisers in categories below the Retreat get room steward service too, right? So having the so-called retreat hosts (really room stewards) is no longer an upscale benefit of the Retreat, right? On other upscale cruise lines (or accommodations), having a butler means in addition to a room steward. Not in the Retreat.

Ken, that is a good idea. My wife and I always opt for two tops when cruising (when possible), but I had never thought of this reason for doing so.

I do take objective comments of others into account when choosing a cruise. If the food is cold, that is objective. If the comment is the food didn’t taste good, that is not objective. It should be clear that few cruise lines are able to provide consistent quality of anything now. So I take both the negative and positive comments into account.

I read somewhere recently (I can’t remember where) that there was a problem with air, hotels, ground transportation, and other services in Barbados. Not enough of these services to handle the number of cruisers and other tourists going there. That may be the reason Regent isn’t offering air hotels, and transfers there. Maybe Regent can’t. In any event, if Regent comes clean with the reason, I hope I will see it on this thread. I recently was researching Caribbean lux cruises, and was surprised to see how many departed from and/or returned to that island. Because of what I had read, I didn’t book a cruise with Barbados as a cruise departure or return point.