Regent vs. Seabourn???

We are interested in a cruise in the fiords. What would you recommend between Regent and Seabourn??? Anyone cruised both? Thanks.

We have been on both lines. I don't know which Fjords you mean but we did the Norwegian Fjords on the Seabourn Pride a few years ago from Copenhagen to Norway and on to Scotland, Ireland, England and ending in London. It was a wonderful trip of about 15 days. Then we cruised the Chilean Fjords on the Regent Mariner and that too was a great trip. Both trips and lines are good but given a choice it would be Seabourn without a doubt. Our line of choice.

We love the size of the ship, the service, the fellow travelers. Life is good on Seabourn - even though there are no true balconies as on Regent - too many more positives exist to make 'no balconies' a decisive factor in our choice.

Which fjords were you interested in? Hope this helps a little bit.

We are interested in a cruise in the fiords. What would you recommend between Regent and Seabourn??? Anyone cruised both? Thanks.

Different size and different enviroments. For some Seabourn is too small for others it`s just right. Both top class lines but offering different experiences. You pays your money and takes your choice. :)

Just got off regent Navigator what a waste of money and time. Seabourn is so much better. The only thing no balconies except for the very high end cabins. The service is just the best, we were on the Pride for 25 day going around the horn. You won't be sorry.

I have cruised extensively on both lines and there is just no real comparison in my opinion if your focus is service and style. Seabourn is so far superior. Intuitive service which anticipates what you need, polished dining room service by knowledgeable waiters, real sommeliers (something Margate just commented on in a Regent thread), stewardess which take care of you, etc. Plus a true, "We don't say No" approach.

On Seabourn there are also many added amenities, far more consistent food quality...and, of course, the ability to see places which the larger Regent ship cannot get into.

As for the ship, Regent's ships are larger and have more lounges. They also will have more onboard entertainment, a better casino and such. Seabourn focuses more on the interaction between guests.

I am a Regent "regular" who sailed Seabourn for the first time in March. I went with high expectations and thought that I would be a convert by the end of my cruise. I must say that Seabourn was a huge disappointment.

What was it that disappointed you so much Ste Michelle? I havent been on a Regent ship yet, but we are thinking about one.....THANKS JEAN!!!:p

Lorraine,

Here is the thread where it is all explained:

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=736317

Cheers,

Steve.

There is a thread on the Regent board presently about the value of luxury. Here is a portion of what I posted and why I think Regent is just not in the same league:

I think this thread has been hugely helpful to many because it has been so open about what luxury is supposed to be and what price people are willing to pay for it.

If the service is consistently superior then that is a big factor for most. If it is not (whether it be faux sommeliers or inconsistent waiters or whatever), then that is a factor. One pays top dollar for consistency...and most read these Cruise CRITIC boards for honest comments, not sugar-coated "feel good" tales.

If what is included in the service is a factor, then that should be considered. Seabourn (for example) provides choices of top quality designer soaps, Molton Brown hair and bath products, drawn aromatherapy baths, French champagne, massage moments on deck, etc. Silversea does many similar things. Regent doesn't and apparently has even gone to generic "Regent" bath products. That is not bashing, it is a weighing of value. If I am going to pay $4,000 more per person, I want to know if I am getting these things or a similar product!

Regent has run its prices up to the highest in the industry. Example: August 2009 - One week on Navigator $5,495.00 in the lowest suite. One week on the brand new Seabourn Odyssey $5,180.00. There is no question that the Odyssey has far superior facilities and is state of the art with many dining venues, an indoor-outdoor spa, etc. How does one find the value in paying more for the Regent cruise? Again, it is not trying to push someone over to Seabourn; it is observing and discussing reality.

When I heard of the name change, the claims that the best service at sea (like the familiar Regent hotels) would be coming, I opined that Regent could never provide a similar product at sea. I was blasted and I was (unfortunately) correct. A couple of years ago I concluded that Regent was for sale...and the same "feel good" folks blasted me....and I was correct. When I saw the weekly expensive mailers (sometimes more than one "book" a week!) and I was convinced of the sale, and again criticized. Regent then ran up its prices and I was again blasted as being inaccurate because I reported it...but I was correct. All of these things come down to knowing who you are buying from and if you are going to receive what is being marketed (or if it is mere "puffery" or worse). In other words, are you going to received good "value" for your hard-earned dollar.

Radisson had a wonderful product, but a decision was made to change from more expensive European staff to Filipino staff...and then it failed to properly train them. Regent had great dining room service and now it suffers from inconsistency. What were fantastic tours (and a real bargain...a topic discussed long ago and now no more) have become less quality and more mundane. These all affect value and the weighing process.

What you read in my posts is not an effort to push someone to another line (and boy am I sick of that inaccurate slander). What you read is frustration and bewilderment. Regent cannot market and price itself at the top and then not produce, but still expect people to pay the highest tariffs in the business.

Regent is, unfortunately, losing its "value" and, obviously is, along with the economy, making people consider options that were...just a few months ago...unthinkable. This thread is a testament to it.

Now HAL vs. Regent for $8,000 in savings. HAL suites are very nice and all recently redone, so I am not sure what Regent's suites have over them in true the "quality of life" sense. HAL now has some open seating, so that is sort of a non-issue. Food may be a bit less quality, though. Drinks (at least for this inquirer) is not an issue. HAL generally doesn't have the "youth" or silly games issues. (Regent even "stole" the crew show from HAL...not a favorite of mine, but many seem to like it.) So, if the ports are similar (and, frankly, many cruise to go to specific ports...not the ship), I am kinda wondering what Regent is giving that HAL isn't.

I have been on Regent five times. The first two, on the Diamond, were fantastic...but then Radisson made a decision to change and it was not for the better. The service is inconsistent, there are no real "go out of your way to surprise a guest" moments, the dining rooms are operated without polish (and I have been subject to a number of long waits just for a table) and even little things like some threadbare towels or remnants from the prior guest being left in the bathroom, have crept into the mix.

If there was an itinerary that I really wanted to take and I could find a reasonable price I would definitely consider Regent, but I would not expect to have an experience similar to Seabourn.

Eric,

Well said.

Thanks. :)

I do have one slight correction. The quoted Regent fare doesn't include port charges (Seabourn includes them), but does include "free air" of $1,000, so actually the Odyssey cruise is $469 more per person, but I think since we are talking a relatively small sum on a luxury cruise the pricing point remains accurate. Sorry for the minor error.:o

Shame on you Eric. :p

Is that shame on me for making the benign error...or admitting to it??:confused: :D

Is that shame on me for making the benign error...or admitting to it??:confused: :D

Eric,the shame is for the error,admitting to it is either brave or stupid. :D

I would conjecture that as a travel agent it was brave, but as a lawyer....:eek:

I was surprised to read about the negative experience on Seabourn since we are booked for Transatlantic on Pride Oct. 30, our first voyage on Seabourn. We were very loyal to Radisson (Song of Flower to Alaska and the Baltic, Diamond transatlantic, Navigator Panama Canal, and Mariner 35-day Lima-Manaus - fantastic because of Terry Breen, travel-commentator extraordinaire). Two years ago in looking for a cruise, I started with Radisson/Regent but opted for Oceania's maiden voyage of the Nautica Athens-Singapore. We upgraded to the Penthouse (about the same size as regular cabins on Radisson), I added-in gratuities and budgeted a generous amount for alcoholic drinks and came out ahead of Regent. Oceania was delightful (my husband didn't miss the ultra-formal nights). I've always been interested in Seabourn but couldn't afford the large suites with balconies, and a premium for a sliding door that opens (had that on a river cruise) was ridiculous, so we finally decided that we would miss a balcony the least on the Atlantic during November. Sooo, now I wonder if the writer was justified in her complaints: I see that the bathroom door does open onto the bed, the closet does appear cramped, etc. Help - are we making the right decision?!

I was surprised to read about the negative experience on Seabourn since we are booked for Transatlantic on Pride Oct. 30, our first voyage on Seabourn. We were very loyal to Radisson (Song of Flower to Alaska and the Baltic, Diamond transatlantic, Navigator Panama Canal, and Mariner 35-day Lima-Manaus - fantastic because of Terry Breen, travel-commentator extraordinaire). Two years ago in looking for a cruise, I started with Radisson/Regent but opted for Oceania's maiden voyage of the Nautica Athens-Singapore. We upgraded to the Penthouse (about the same size as regular cabins on Radisson), I added-in gratuities and budgeted a generous amount for alcoholic drinks and came out ahead of Regent. Oceania was delightful (my husband didn't miss the ultra-formal nights). I've always been interested in Seabourn but couldn't afford the large suites with balconies, and a premium for a sliding door that opens (had that on a river cruise) was ridiculous, so we finally decided that we would miss a balcony the least on the Atlantic during November. Sooo, now I wonder if the writer was justified in her complaints: I see that the bathroom door does open onto the bed, the closet does appear cramped, etc. Help - are we making the right decision?!

The bathroom does does not open onto the bed, and the closet is adequate..

Don't worry!!!

Host Dan

Dan, the bathroom door does open outwards towards the bed,there is about four inches from door to bed when it is open.That has been my experience on Seabourn,but it is just fine as there is enough room to move around the bed.The closet door opens inwards and is snug but I have no problem storing and retrieving my clothes,you do have to back out of the closet when you close the safe.It must be good for us to go backwards as well as forwards,it proves that our bodies work properly.:D

Never had a problem with either bathroom dooor or closet. More than enough room in both situations and I have always sailed in category A.

Dan, the bathroom door does open outwards towards the bed,there is about four inches from door to bed when it is open.That has been my experience on Seabourn,but it is just fine as there is enough room to move around the bed.The closet door opens inwards and is snug but I have no problem storing and retrieving my clothes,you do have to back out of the closet when you close the safe.It must be good for us to go backwards as well as forwards,it proves that our bodies work properly.:D

Toward the bed is onething, onto the bed is another!! LOL :D

Host Dan

Of all the things to decide which cruise ship to take: bathroom door clearance and sufficiency of a walk-in closet. Hang around long enough and things like intuitive service, great food and interesting fellow passengers just seems so trivial.;)

Enlighten me here. What is the difference which way the bathroom door opens? Once you open the door, ostensibly you will step inside the bathroom and close the door behind you so who cares?

I am constantly amused by the minor things people take so seriously. A cruise is supposed to be fun so why spend so much energy worrying about what could possibly go wrong? This is not to say there aren't issues that merit discussion, but which way a door opens???? Come on!!!!!

Enlighten me here. What is the difference which way the bathroom door opens? Once you open the door, ostensibly you will step inside the bathroom and close the door behind you so who cares?

 

I am constantly amused by the minor things people take so seriously. A cruise is supposed to be fun so why spend so much energy worrying about what could possibly go wrong? This is not to say there aren't issues that merit discussion, but which way a door opens???? Come on!!!!!

YEAH! I was beginning to thing I was alone in my thoughts..Lola

Now you all have Mrs. Jack worried about the thread count in the sheets.;) :rolleyes: :eek: :eek: :eek:

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine..........................................

I will say, though, I wish they would fix the bathroom door so it would stay open during "ocean motion". The door banged me in the side during some rough weather on the spring crossing on Pride. It hurt!