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Considering trying a cruise with Regent sometime...any suggestions or advice?


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Have never sailed with Regent...mostly been on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. I get Regent's brochures literally every week - and sometimes more frequently. The trips look nice, as do the pictures in and around the ships. Any suggestions? Being honest in saying that the cruises are considerably more expensive than most other lines I've been with. Of course, I'd want to stay in the Regent Suite on the Explorer (LOL) Still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that there is a suite on a ship that has considerably more square footage than my house! I've read that the bed alone in that suite is reported to have cost in excess of 90k! I mean, seriously?

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We're like you, never cruised Regent before always other lines. We've booked 3 cruises now on Regent and will be going on are first cruise the 24th of this month. I'd say go for it, until you cruise how will you know if you like it or not. We don't drink, so we waste that anmd pay for it. But we want to try it.

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Have never sailed with Regent...mostly been on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. I get Regent's brochures literally every week - and sometimes more frequently. The trips look nice, as do the pictures in and around the ships. Any suggestions? Being honest in saying that the cruises are considerably more expensive than most other lines I've been with. Of course, I'd want to stay in the Regent Suite on the Explorer (LOL) Still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that there is a suite on a ship that has considerably more square footage than my house! I've read that the bed alone in that suite is reported to have cost in excess of 90k! I mean, seriously?

 

My best suggestion for you is to do a cost comparison of Celebrity and Regent. When doing the comparison, look a the included International Business Class air, pre-cruise night at a hotel (for concierge and above suites) included alcohol, tips, many excursions, etc,.

 

Actually the bed on Explorer in the Regent suite is about 250K (we have toured this suite twice ..... it is truly amazing). However, most of us regular Regent cruisers are not looking at that. We appreciate the low-key atmosphere, amazing crew and food. If this sounds good to you, I would recommend booking a Regent cruise.

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Have never sailed with Regent...mostly been on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.

 

three4rd, I have been following the Regent board but like yourself have not sailed with them yet. I have been very impressed with the excellent information provided on this board. Their are postings from people with literally 100s of days with Regent and many from folks that share their experiences with other lines. I have been looking at Explorer and Mariner myself and also watch videos from folks on YouTube that show the wonderful experiences that are described by others on this board.

 

I have seen many people recently that have made a decision to go with Regent after being on other lines. Ronrick1943 is preparing for his first Regent cruise on the most luxurious ship afloat "The Explorer". I am looking forward to his impressions of this ship.

 

First time Regent cruiser experiences are very valuable since they are doing what I what to do very much but have not made the decision to do so yet. I think they give me a sense of what my cruise would be like.

 

There are some cruisers like Travelcat2 that have 100's of days experience on Regent who are able to provide advice based upon their cruises and how best to maximize the luxurious aspects of the cruise.

 

The combination of new Regent cruisers and frequent Regent cruisers allows this board to help someone prepare for the most luxurious cruise possible.

 

Since I haven't cruised with Regent I can't add much but I will say that my interaction with folks here makes a Regent cruise more likely than not in the near future.

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Well we have cruised almost all of the major lines.

 

If you are going to take any excursions, then Regent is well worth the money, and as TC said, the plane fare and the pre-cruise night. We didn't use the transfers the last time, but did what TC said and told the hostess that we would be in a cab and they did take our luggage. This is a must. However, if comparing costs, add the cost of the transfer in and the excursions and all the liquor and you will be close.

 

Of course The Explorer is fabulous. Our last cruise was on Voyager and frankly we were disappointed as it is older and shows a lot of the wear and tear. The cabinets are downright old looking.

 

The service is excellent as is the food. You will love Regent. No comparison to your past cruise lines.

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I really appreciate this thread. As I approach retirement in a few years (DH calls himself “semi-retired” and still does some part time work), we are anticipating more and different travel options. We’ve done a good amount of traveling over the years, but only recently dabbled in cruising with a multigenerational Alaskan cruise on Royal Caribbean. It was great for our group (ages 11-71), but we’d like to experience some other cruise lines and itineraries.

 

Quite frankly we weren’t sure we would like cruising (which is probably part of the reason it took us so long to even try) and liked what we perceived as greater freedom of movement being on dry land. But we truly loved unpacking once and were taken with the distance that could be covered, all while enjoying a multitude of activities. Going to sleep and waking up to the ship approaching a new port...that was awesome!

 

I’ve been intrigued with Regent for years, but thought it was out of our travel budget. But as a person begins to do the math, with everything included, it begins to look more reasonable. Still expensive, to be sure, but perhaps worth it.

 

It has been very interesting to read all the information/opinions/personal experiences on this board. Like others I appreciate the posts from the long timers, first timers and those still on the fence alike. And consequently we have our first Regent cruise booked in April 2018. We’ll be on the newly refurbished Mariner and are very excited!

 

Thanks to everyone who has shared their thoughts and experiences and who continue to do so. Please know it is very important and meaningful for many of us newcomers.

 

Judy

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As another "newbie" I'll be following this thread with interest. We have done 32 cruises, so we aren't novices. Of those, we've done the lions share on Royal Caribbean (25) but also Princess, Celebrity, HAL, and Carnival. We are going "all in" on Regents for a variety of reasons. We will be "getting our feet wet" on the 44 night Honolulu to Sydney on Mariner next Nov.! Yeah... it's total immersion or nothing for me. Our TA has sworn by Regents for years. I've wanted to try a luxury line as I am tired of the deterioration of the mainline experience. They are still fun, but I'm older and ready for a new experience. But mostly, the itinerary is one of a kind. It hits all the places I want to go. As I looked at other alternatives, by the time you book a suite with the amenities of Regents, the all inclusive drinks, tips, shore excursions, specialty dining, and air fare, you are at or very close to the cost of the Regents cruise. Plus Mariner is hitting more ports than a comparable HAL cruise or RCI cruise. So... it's my "retirement gift" to myself and a "trip of a lifetime." So thanks for all the info I am getting from this board. And I look forward to advice and info on this thread.

I also look forward to how Mariner will be after it's renovation. Will be nice being on a "new" ship.

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Once you sail with Regent (or Silversea for that matter), you will never go back to mass market. Oceania is even a bit of a stretch for us, but we can handle it.

 

We take the credit for Air and hotel and do our own as we had abundant FF miles and hotel points. If you subtract those out, the cost drops, sometimes dramatically.

 

We do enjoy the included drinks, tips, excursions. And the best part is not having to show a keycard every time you want a drink. I like to workout—exercise classes all included. My husband likes the sauna—included.

 

The food is of very high quality, and we like good healthy food. No junk and they are very accommodating if you have any food issues or allergies.

 

I have almost 200 days on Regent. Some of the best 200 days of my life!

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After 7 Regent cruises we have never been disappointed. We have 2 more reserved, one of them is the TA on the fresh-out-of dry dock Mariner in April, which should be a lot of fun. We like the excellent, consistent service and not having to sign for everything. Several times the staff and crew have exceeded expectations by creating additional experiences for the passengers—Panama Canal lecturer was also an astronomer so had night lecture on deck; after all-day tour being welcomed back to Explorer with champagne, cool towels, band, cheering staff led by Captain Stan—making a really good trip more memorable. So, my suggestion is give Regent a try.

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Have never sailed with Regent...mostly been on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. I get Regent's brochures literally every week - and sometimes more frequently. The trips look nice, as do the pictures in and around the ships. Any suggestions? Being honest in saying that the cruises are considerably more expensive than most other lines I've been with. Of course, I'd want to stay in the Regent Suite on the Explorer (LOL) Still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that there is a suite on a ship that has considerably more square footage than my house! I've read that the bed alone in that suite is reported to have cost in excess of 90k! I mean, seriously?

 

Be realistic about what kind of cabin you want. I'm assuming not a top suite? If you've been used to larger suites on the mainstream lines, do some comparisons. The basic suites on all of the ships are very nice, and large by industry standards. (can't speak for Explorer but I bet it's true too.) The least room is the standard suite on Mariner, but I love Mariner for the public spaces, and the cabin is still spacious. And of course almost all cabins have balconies, and no Insides (exception is a few window suites on Navigator.)

 

Then you can make the cost comparison, making sure to include included tips, drinks, excursions, specialty restaurants, laundry facilities, ...

 

I haven't ever done Celebrity or RC, but I have considered it, for the Caribbean. But I will always be drawn to Regent.

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Greetings from South Beach, three4rd. DH and I have taken more than 50 cruises on everything that floats, even a container ship, and enjoyed most of them. IMO, the best way to find out if you will enjoy a ship is to sail on it.

 

My attitude toward water is a little different because my family had a powerboat that was our summer vacation for several years. Sometimes four adults and seven children aged 5 to 12 were together on it for weeks at a time. We were all fans of living on the water, and it has remained one of my favorite pastimes. Fortunately, DH enjoys this kind of thing, as well.

 

Presently, my two favorite lines are Oceania and Regent. We reached Diamond on Cunard because QM2 sailed from Red Hook, Brooklyn, and we lived in Manhattan. She was never a favorite ship because the class structure on board is so rigid. We were often in top accommodations. and I found it creepy that I could tell the difference in classes by the robes worn to the spa. The bar only for Queen and Princess grill guests was not to my taste, either. When Travelcat talks about not wanting anything like that to creep into Regent, she is right.

 

Explorer and Riviera are both gorgeous ships. Currently, we have bookings on both of them. These vessels are going where and when we want to go. The accommodations are what we want. Having a good time is up to us. What's not to like about that? It works for us.

 

Mary

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Since you have been on Mass Market cruise lines, you will really appreciate everything on a Regent cruise.

 

We have been on a couple mass market cruises before we took our first Regent cruise, and Regent is now our cruise of choice.

 

I recommend you build a comparison between what a cruise is like on Regent and what you can get on other lines. Things like cabin size (which is a big deal), number of passengers, number of staff per passenger, what's included - not just liquor, but specialty coffees, and soft drinks. Include ports of call for the cruises you are looking at, length of time at port and what excursions are offered. Be sure to include specialty restaurants and gratuities that are included. Also some Regent cruises will have lectures that either pertain to the ports you are going to (not shopping lectures) or a serious of lectures that are about a certain topic. This will help you see what Regents has to offer.

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We took our first Regent cruise in 2001 as Radisson Seven seas on the Mariner and loved the wonderful ships and very high level of service. Over the years they added shore excursions and the drinks to the package which really set them apart from the other cruise lines. A very high level of service from a great crew with perks for returning guests just added to the fantastic experience.

 

Everything worked for us until Norwegian bought them and our last cruise was poor at best. Our itinerary was changed at the last minute to facilitate the ship going into dry dock giving us an overnight in Barcelona vs a day in Gibraltar. We where also told that everybody was expected to be off the ship by 9AM the following morning (we arrived at 2:30PM) so not a lot of time in port to visit and pack. We all received a $400 future cruise credit but got the feeling they really didn't care if they ever saw us again. So after 128 days I moved on.

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My husband and mine first cruise about 7 years ago was on Regent to Alaska and we really enjoyed the people, food, writing one big check, etc. We don't cruise a lot because I like land trips a bit better. However, our next cruise was on Celebrity X in the Galapagos (Regent didn't go there). The next cruise was to Norway and we were going to sail with Regent, but that summer the itinerary didn't work and we had a nice credit from Celebrity, so we used it. I wasn't a fan of a 2000+ passenger ship, but we stayed in a Aqua Spa room and that made it somewhat better. I hated showing the badge for a drink and explaining that I could have the good booze. ;) Also, I wasn't fond of the hard sell for the special restaurants every time we returned to the ship.

 

Next cruise was a trip on the Explorer last year to Turkey, Egypt, and Israel, but we cancelled that because the cruise had to change all the ports to the Greek Islands and Israel, which we didn't really want. Anyway next month we will finally be back on a Regent ship - the Mariner. We are going from Miami to Peru. We are spending an additional week in Peru, once we get there. We are both very excited and as much as the décor may need some help, the price was very good. I expect the food will be very good - I'm a bit picky about that.

 

I hope you find a cruise on Regent that meets your needs.

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Be realistic about what kind of cabin you want. I'm assuming not a top suite? If you've been used to larger suites on the mainstream lines, do some comparisons. The basic suites on all of the ships are very nice, and large by industry standards. (can't speak for Explorer but I bet it's true too.) The least room is the standard suite on Mariner, but I love Mariner for the public spaces, and the cabin is still spacious. And of course almost all cabins have balconies, and no Insides (exception is a few window suites on Navigator.)

 

Then you can make the cost comparison, making sure to include included tips, drinks, excursions, specialty restaurants, laundry facilities, ...

 

I haven't ever done Celebrity or RC, but I have considered it, for the Caribbean. But I will always be drawn to Regent.

 

I agree with Wendy. We have previously been on RC, Celebrity and Oceania. I respect that others prefer (and can afford) the larger cabins, but other than the smaller cabins on the Mariner, we have found the lower level cabins to be more than adequate in size and comfort. We have now been on six Regent cruises and have two more booked. Considering the volume of cruises and passengers, there are going to be some cruises with issues and there will be some that are close to "perfect". We have found Regent to be very good to excellent, and therefore continue to use them. One thing we really enjoy is seeing some of the same crew from previous voyages. I want to believe that these hard working crew from around the world are treated decently by Regent since they sign up for so many contracts. I respectfully suggest to a previous poster that until you sail on the Explorer and have other ships at that level to compare, saying it is "the most luxurious ship afloat" is simply repeating their advertising. I haven't sailed on her yet, but am looking forward to making my own comparisons. Not sure when Caroldoll sailed on Voyager, but we were on her last month and thought the renovation was excellent. We had a few service issues that I posted on a "mini-review", but they were relatively minor compared to the cruise as a whole. I have never hesitated to recommend Regent.

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... Anyway next month we will finally be back on a Regent ship - the Mariner. We are going from Miami to Peru. We are spending an additional week in Peru, once we get there. We are both very excited and as much as the décor may need some help, the price was very good. I expect the food will be very good - I'm a bit picky about that.

.

 

Hoping you love it. We did this itinerary last year. Your ports are quite different from ours, hope you enjoy them--we have done most of those ports on previous, shorter cruises. The Panama Canal was particularly terrific. We stayed in Lima for a while (no Macchu Pichu for us) and loved that city.

 

BTW, we loved Mariner. Great public spaces.

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As everyone knows, we love Regent. I would be remiss if I did not mention that Regent is not for everyone due to the laid back atmosphere and the small ships. The ships are basically pretty quiet during the day. There is one small casino and 1 or 2 small boutiques. So, if you are used to a lot of activity on the ship, you will not find it on Regent. On the other hand, if you love relaxing, going to a nice lecture or two or chilling out on your balcony, Regent is the place for you. As has been said, except for summer and some school holidays, Regent has 0-5 children (approximately) onboard and there are no activities for them at all.

 

Not trying to put anyone off of Regent -- what I am describing is the same for most luxury cruise lines (Crystal, Regent, Seabourn and Silversea). Definitely recommend doing as much research as possible. If luxury cruising sounds right for you, you'll likely become spoiled and won't want to return to mainstream or even premium cruising.

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Three4rd; Be very careful when considering a Regent Cruise. The inherent risks you would be taking in regards to your mental health and future happiness cannot be understated. Regent is a potent drug that once you are addicted to it, there is no course of treatment to reverse the symptoms of euphoria, time dysplasia and then the sudden depression as you are caused to disembark.

Everyone thinks they can handle Regent Cruising; they start out by doing a 7-night Med Cruise, then it’s a 12-night Baltic Cruise, soon you are considering cashing in all your 401k’s and calculating how many nights you could stay aboard before the money runs out.

You learn that the Veranda Suites are more comfortable than most deluxe suites on other ships but you still want more... F1, PH2, The Regent! Who needs a Butler? YOU Do! You haven’t seen him all afternoon; you press the button on the phone, he’s at the door! How could he have known?

Where are all the passengers? You can just about choose any seat in any venue. Where’s the end of the line? Where’s the LINE? You’re all alone with your LW in the infinity pool. Crew members keep asking you questions... Do you need anything? Is everything OK? Of course it is; isn’t this how cruising should be?

Don’t risk your sanity. It’s not worth it! If you’re happy on Celebrity or Holland America don’t cruise on Regent. Once you try being a Mariner, all you can do is become an Explorer. It’ll be years before you feel that ultimate Splendor...

Proceed at your own peril! ❤️

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Three4rd; Be very careful when considering a Regwent Cruise. The inherent risks you would be taking in regards to your mental health and future happiness cannot be understated. Regent is a potent drug that once you are addicted to it, there is no course of treatment to reverse the symptoms of euphoria, time dysplasia and then the sudden depression as you are caused to disembark.

Everyone thinks they can handle Regent Cruising; they start out by doing a 7-night Med Cruise, then it’s a 12-night Baltic Cruise, soon you are considering cashing in all your 401k’s and calculating how many nights you could stay aboard before the money runs out.

You learn that the Veranda Suites are more comfortable than most deluxe suites on other ships but you still want more... F1, PH2, The Regent! Who needs a Butler? YOU Do! You haven’t seen him all afternoon; you press the button on the phone, he’s at the door! How could he have known?

Where are all the passengers? You can just about choose any seat in any venue. Where’s the end of the line? Where’s the LINE? You’re all alone with your LW in the infinity pool. Crew members keep asking you questions... Do you need anything? Is everything OK? Of course it is; isn’t this how cruising should be?

Don’t risk your sanity. It’s not worth it! If you’re happy on Celebrity or Holland America don’t cruise on Regent. Once you try being a Mariner, all you can do is become an Explorer. It’ll be years before you feel that ultimate Splendor...

Proceed at your own peril! ��❤️��

 

Amen! Our experience exactly.

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Amen! Our experience exactly.

 

.....and ours!

 

Only been on 2 Regent cruises so far - but have 3 more booked. Voyager next April and then return visits to Explorer and Mariner in April & Nov 2019 respectively.

 

Still a big fan of Cunard but can't find an itinerary and/or price that suits us for comparable trips.

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Three4rd; Be very careful when considering a Regent Cruise. The inherent risks you would be taking in regards to your mental health and future happiness cannot be understated. Regent is a potent drug that once you are addicted to it, there is no course of treatment to reverse the symptoms of euphoria, time dysplasia and then the sudden depression as you are caused to disembark.

Everyone thinks they can handle Regent Cruising; they start out by doing a 7-night Med Cruise, then it’s a 12-night Baltic Cruise, soon you are considering cashing in all your 401k’s and calculating how many nights you could stay aboard before the money runs out.

You learn that the Veranda Suites are more comfortable than most deluxe suites on other ships but you still want more... F1, PH2, The Regent! Who needs a Butler? YOU Do! You haven’t seen him all afternoon; you press the button on the phone, he’s at the door! How could he have known?

Where are all the passengers? You can just about choose any seat in any venue. Where’s the end of the line? Where’s the LINE? You’re all alone with your LW in the infinity pool. Crew members keep asking you questions... Do you need anything? Is everything OK? Of course it is; isn’t this how cruising should be?

Don’t risk your sanity. It’s not worth it! If you’re happy on Celebrity or Holland America don’t cruise on Regent. Once you try being a Mariner, all you can do is become an Explorer. It’ll be years before you feel that ultimate Splendor...

Proceed at your own peril! ��❤️��

 

 

Great!!

Same experiences happened to us!!

We are in Lisbon today and boarding our favorite Regent ship- the Explorer on Friday.

Sheila and Herb

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I was going to say "Advice? Book the Regent cruise, go on the Regent cruise, love the Regent cruise, repeat as often as possible."

 

But others beat me to it with faster wittier replies. :D

 

We took our 'One Luxury Cruise, the Trip of a Lifetime!!!" back in the summer of '09. Well, eight cruises later with more booked - we've taken my wife's parents (twice), my parents (once), and our teenage (at the time) daughters (once) - I think I can agree that Regent is beyond addictive.

 

I'm glad others agree - I thought maybe I was weird. ;p

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I was going to say "Advice? Book the Regent cruise, go on the Regent cruise, love the Regent cruise, repeat as often as possible."

 

But others beat me to it with faster wittier replies. :D

 

We took our 'One Luxury Cruise, the Trip of a Lifetime!!!" back in the summer of '09. Well, eight cruises later with more booked - we've taken my wife's parents (twice), my parents (once), and our teenage (at the time) daughters (once) - I think I can agree that Regent is beyond addictive.

 

I'm glad others agree - I thought maybe I was weird. ;p

 

Agree 1000% (but please do your research)!

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