First time Regent cruiser review.

[Oz_Steve]

My wife and I have done several cruises (mostly in Suites with Celebrity) and this was our first time cruise with Regent. I am currently on Voyager and this is our last night.

 

Our cruise embarkation was changed from Monaco to Marseille due to weather damage at Monaco. The mechanics of the transfer was handled well but we were not notified of the change until we reached the hotel in Monaco. Disappointed about the change but nothing Regent could do except manage the communication process better. Overall it was an experience where the good evened out the bad. 

 

It turned out that this was to become a common theme for the cruise where there was stuff that was done extremely well or extremely poorly. 99% of the staff were extremely pleasant and friendly, 1% were surly and in some cases rude. Of the 99% who were friendly, 75% of them were actually good at their jobs, the others were mostly not very good. The staff at Chartreuse in particular were rude, it was the worst food experience on a cruise ship that I have had.

 

I am going to make some general comments on specific areas and where applicable I will compare them to Celebrity, travelling in a suite.

 

Food

 

The food in Compass Rose was mostly better than the MDR on Celebrity, except for the two nights when it was terrible. They could not get their act together, get orders right or deal with and rectify deficiencies. It was definitely better in the buffet but it was regularly closed for quite long periods. I understand you need to change food etc but you could at least have a limited availability of something. Pool Grill food was better but the process of ordering and getting your order were chaotic/shambolic. Prime was great and comparable with the specialty equivalents with other lines. Chartreuse was something else. It was in a word rubbish. The food was just ok but the service was rude, slow and inattentive. I didn't make a complaint as I couldn't quite work out who was running this rock show. I think they were self organised as an autonomous collective that had locked the boss in a supply cupboard. The coffee at all venues is something else and I don't mean that in a good way. Eating in the suite restaurant on Celebrity is superior to everything but Prime 7.

 

Drinks

 

The included wine is better overall if you work at it. An exception is the champagne, it is not great and IMHO is not as good as the Californian Chandon. The spirits were about the same except they didn't have Tanqueray 10 and only had 3 bottles of Fever Tree on the ship. Cocktails were about the same. I am not sure if I mentioned it before but the coffee is terrible.

 

Service

 

The service is fantastic (with one or two exceptions but they happen) if you want the staff to smile and kiss your butt. If you want them to competently fulfill their duties then it is very hit and miss (75% hits). One of the casino staff was an absolute shocker. There was also one bartender who was terrible one night but actually quite good the next 3 nights.

 

Cabins

 

The cabins are about the same (good) but I do like the included Mini Bar which is restocked daily. The balconies are very small which is a negative.

 

Atmosphere/Entertainment

 

There was no buzz and very little going on. I saw the cruise director and his minions on the ship after 5 anywhere other than the show never. As for the entertainment it was somewhere that I never found.

 

Overall Experience

 

I found it to be a little dull and was completely underwhelmed by the included tours with a couple of exceptions.

I would rate it 7.5 out of 10, I would rate a Celebrity an 8.5. Would I sail again? Maybe if the price, timing and itinerary was right but I would not go out of my way. Would I recommend it to my friends? No but I wouldn't try to talk them out of it either. I would let them know my experience. IMHO I may be a touch too young for Regent (age 58) and maybe will try again in 10 years or so.

 

 

 

 

 

[MalbecWine]

Oh Lord, now I’m getting nervous after that review and have a 24 day cruise next year booked on the Explorer from Barcelona to Miami.  I hope they are close to our favorite cruise lines and they have been all luxury lines. I would like to hear more about that cruise.

[judi666]

1 hour ago, MalbecWine said:

Oh Lord, now I’m getting nervous after that review and have a 24 day cruise next year booked on the Explorer from Barcelona to Miami.  I hope they are close to our favorite cruise lines and they have been all luxury lines. I would like to hear more about that cruise.

I have the same cruise booked... this is kind of disheartening.  Our cruise is on Explorer, which is a newer ship.  Not sure that would make a huge difference., but let’s hope!

[Travelcat2]

Oz_Steve - thank you for taking the time to do a review of your Voyager cruise. It is 8:00 a.m. here in Barcelona and you are likely waiting to disembark the ship.  We will then board it at noon

 

Your comments about Regent vs. Celebrity is particularly interesting since we did our first Celebrity cruise in September.  Food is so subjective that it makes little sense for me to disagree with some of your comments.  I will only say that we found the food on Celebrity for lunch (only venue open on port days was the buffet) was so poor that we ate off of the ship every day.  The “suite” restaurant was not open during lunch. Our one experience in the MDR was underwhelming. 

 

For other people that are new to Regent, I would suggest that if you have issues such as the TS had in Chartreuse, contact the F&B Director.  Daniela is currently in that position on Voyager and she would have insured that the service improved immediately.  For non-food or beverage issues, contact the General Manager.  Davor is currently onboard and his office is always open (although he is not always there due to work requirements).  You can leave him a note and again, he will get back to you.

 

The TS’s experience is their experience and cannot really be disputed, however, your experience may differ - based on your expectations.  Since we will be on Voyager for the next 14 nights with the same officers, I will be looking out for things that you mentioned.

 

It is really helpful to read the input from passengers - whether negative or positive.  Regent is not for everyone but, our experience has been so positive that we keep on returning (even after trying other cruise lines).

 

Edited November 12, 2018 by Travelcat2

[flossie009]

@Oz_Steve, Sorry to hear that you had a less than impressive experience on the Voyager.

 

I am particularly surprised that you encountered employees who were rude to you, particularly in Chartreuse.

We have occasionally encountered slow or slightly disorganised wait staff, but never rude.

 

What was the reaction of senior staff on board during the cruise when you raised the issues with them, either in person or via the mid-cruise comment cards?

As @Travelcat2 mentioned you had a good team of senior officers (including an excellent CD leading the entertainment team) so it is worrying that they allowed your issues to pass without being addressed. 

 

 

Glad to hear that the annoying, forced change of port at the beginning of the cruise was handled well. You complain that communication was poor but I understand from your posts on your roll call that you heard about the change in port at the same time as other passengers; albeit via your cousin since you were already travelling in Europe at the time. 

 

 

Can only hope that your future cruise experiences, on whatever cruise line, are more to your taste.

[Zenblue100]

I have to agree with most of the original poster review - I was on the cruise just before this and we did have some changes due to the weather but nothing Regent could do about this and they handled it well. But I was not unhappy with my experience but would I go on Regent again probably not. I think it is what you are used to and expect. The food was often cold which was a real shame and the chaotic breakfast ( I know I could have gone to Compass Rose but DH prefers a breakfast buffet)  

 

I had staff pushing past me to get off the ship while for their time off which I know is precious but so is my holiday - I don't get that much time off work either. My experience of Chartreuse was different to OP is was excellent and the food was probably the best I have had on any ship and I do love La Dame on Silverseas but it was fantastic. 

 

When the staff were eating in the restaurants especially breakfast I found the waiters standing talking to them some morning it took me ages to get a coffee. I have just mentioned a few of the niggles but it is meant to be a luxury line and I just did not feel it. Once again I know I could of complained but I am on holiday and just want to try and make the best of things and I just vote with my feet and will not book again. 

[Travelcat2]

We boarded the Voyager this afternoon and met with the General Manager and F&B Director that we have cruised with before. We also spoke with Executive Chef Kelly and know that this team is amongst the best on Regent.  I had to notice that the negative reviews are from Australia and the U.K.  This is definitely not meant as a negative but flavors, tastes, etc. are not the same as in the U.S. and Regent is a U.S. corporation.  We have been in Australia 3 times and had difficulty finding food that met our expectations but we still love the country.  The U.K. is different since my DH is from there and I've been having British food for many years and love it.  Regent does not do a good version of British food (i.e. fish and chips, etc.)    

 

Zenblue100, I can imagine what Daniela (F&B Director) would have said had she heard that the food was cold.  In terms of the buffet being chaotic, this is not easy to change since most of the excursions are departing within minutes or each other and everyone is rushing to the buffet to have a quick bite and leave.  Had we experienced the service described in CR in the morning, Daniela would have made sure that the food temperature would have been hot and the food delicious.

 

As far as nothing happening on the ship, I believe that this may be a part of being on a port intensive cruise.  We are on a transatlantic crossing and there are many things planned.  

 

The bottom line (and I have heard this from Regent management) is that they want to hear about problems/issues while you are on the ship so that they can do something about it.  Once you arrive home and post on CC, there is nothing that they can do.  So, please communicate with management on the ship (on any cruise line) lest you leave the ship disappointed.

 

 

 

 

[Zenblue100]

Thanks Travelcat - I am not a fan of fish and chips myself - I have lived in the US and Africa and now live in the UK so have a wide food likes. It was not the menu I disliked in fact the always available section in Compass Rose ensures that anyone would be happy with the choice. It was the tepid / cold food when it was served and small things like the tongs in the breakfast service were put under the heat lamps trying to keep the food warm but all it did was make sure you could not pick anything up. Dishes in buffet had been their too long some of the items were even dry like the beans for instance. The porridge was never warm. I was always served ice in my drinks when I said and please no ice. The worst was the attitude of the staff in the constellation theatre during check in for tours she was bordering on sarcasm forgetting that people had just walked in not hearing previous announcements as I got there early for mine I sat there in amazement.  I know that these are all small items but they all add up and you are probably correct I should of said something while was on the ship but while I was on holiday I prefer just to get on with it. Hope you have a wonderful trip and please understand it is still a good service but just not what I expected from a luxury line. 

[Travelcat2]

5 minutes ago, Zenblue100 said:

Thanks Travelcat - I am not a fan of fish and chips myself - I have lived in the US and Africa and now live in the UK so have a wide food likes. It was not the menu I disliked in fact the always available section in Compass Rose ensures that anyone would be happy with the choice. It was the tepid / cold food when it was served and small things like the tongs in the breakfast service were put under the heat lamps trying to keep the food warm but all it did was make sure you could not pick anything up. Dishes in buffet had been their too long some of the items were even dry like the beans for instance. The porridge was never warm. I was always served ice in my drinks when I said and please no ice. The worst was the attitude of the staff in the constellation theatre during check in for tours she was bordering on sarcasm forgetting that people had just walked in not hearing previous announcements as I got there early for mine I sat there in amazement.  I know that these are all small items but they all add up and you are probably correct I should of said something while was on the ship but while I was on holiday I prefer just to get on with it. Hope you have a wonderful trip and please understand it is still a good service but just not what I expected from a luxury line. 

Could not agree with you more about the Destination Services staff in the theater.  This is one area that seems to be consistantly challenging on Regent.  Also agree that the heat lamps heat up the tongs more than the food.  We will be paying special attention to this when we dine in La Veranda.  Just wish that you had spoken with Daniela as she is the one that could have made a difference.

[Catpow]

On 11/12/2018 at 11:42 AM, Oz_Steve said:

My wife and I have done several cruises (mostly in Suites with Celebrity) and this was our first time cruise with Regent. I am currently on Voyager and this is our last night.

 

Our cruise embarkation was changed from Monaco to Marseille due to weather damage at Monaco. The mechanics of the transfer was handled well but we were not notified of the change until we reached the hotel in Monaco. Disappointed about the change but nothing Regent could do except manage the communication process better. Overall it was an experience where the good evened out the bad. 

 

It turned out that this was to become a common theme for the cruise where there was stuff that was done extremely well or extremely poorly. 99% of the staff were extremely pleasant and friendly, 1% were surly and in some cases rude. Of the 99% who were friendly, 75% of them were actually good at their jobs, the others were mostly not very good. The staff at Chartreuse in particular were rude, it was the worst food experience on a cruise ship that I have had.

 

I am going to make some general comments on specific areas and where applicable I will compare them to Celebrity, travelling in a suite.

 

Food

 

The food in Compass Rose was mostly better than the MDR on Celebrity, except for the two nights when it was terrible. They could not get their act together, get orders right or deal with and rectify deficiencies. It was definitely better in the buffet but it was regularly closed for quite long periods. I understand you need to change food etc but you could at least have a limited availability of something. Pool Grill food was better but the process of ordering and getting your order were chaotic/shambolic. Prime was great and comparable with the specialty equivalents with other lines. Chartreuse was something else. It was in a word rubbish. The food was just ok but the service was rude, slow and inattentive. I didn't make a complaint as I couldn't quite work out who was running this rock show. I think they were self organised as an autonomous collective that had locked the boss in a supply cupboard. The coffee at all venues is something else and I don't mean that in a good way. Eating in the suite restaurant on Celebrity is superior to everything but Prime 7.

 

Drinks

 

The included wine is better overall if you work at it. An exception is the champagne, it is not great and IMHO is not as good as the Californian Chandon. The spirits were about the same except they didn't have Tanqueray 10 and only had 3 bottles of Fever Tree on the ship. Cocktails were about the same. I am not sure if I mentioned it before but the coffee is terrible.

 

Service

 

The service is fantastic (with one or two exceptions but they happen) if you want the staff to smile and kiss your butt. If you want them to competently fulfill their duties then it is very hit and miss (75% hits). One of the casino staff was an absolute shocker. There was also one bartender who was terrible one night but actually quite good the next 3 nights.

 

Cabins

 

The cabins are about the same (good) but I do like the included Mini Bar which is restocked daily. The balconies are very small which is a negative.

 

Atmosphere/Entertainment

 

There was no buzz and very little going on. I saw the cruise director and his minions on the ship after 5 anywhere other than the show never. As for the entertainment it was somewhere that I never found.

 

Overall Experience

 

I found it to be a little dull and was completely underwhelmed by the included tours with a couple of exceptions.

I would rate it 7.5 out of 10, I would rate a Celebrity an 8.5. Would I sail again? Maybe if the price, timing and itinerary was right but I would not go out of my way. Would I recommend it to my friends? No but I wouldn't try to talk them out of it either. I would let them know my experience. IMHO I may be a touch too young for Regent (age 58) and maybe will try again in 10 years or so.

 

 

 

 

 

Oz_Steve, we are in a similar demographic and live where you do plus have 115 nights on Regent with 24 more coming up in just over a week. Generally we do longer cruises to maximise the travel taken to get to departure ports.  We find the understated comfort suits us for a relaxing break, but it is certainly not 'jumping'.

 

I agree the coffee is generally awful.  You can circumvent this in a couple of ways.  Firstly, get to know the staff at the Coffee Connection and tell them what you want and how to make it. No doubt you have an espresso machine at home - just take them through the steps.  Secondly, the staff in La Verandah/Setti Mari are often Italian who take great pride in their coffee skills.  Get them to make you a special double espresso (with hot milk as a side for the morning); it will be delicious, and they'll be grateful you're appreciative of their skill.  Thirdly, if you're in a concierge suite and have an Illy Coffee machine, ask for hot milk as a side and using 2 pods per cup make an in suite cup.  None is quite as good as what you'll be used to but all are perfectly acceptable.  

[Travelcat2]

Have to chime in about the coffee.  I am no longer much of a coffee drinker but do appreciate a good cup of coffee now and then.  This morning (on Voyager) I thought that some coffee would help me wake up so I ordered some in La Veranda.  For me, the coffee was nice and strong, had a deep flavor and was delicious (unless it has changed, Regent uses Illy Espresso beans).  So, this is yet another case of tastes being different.  In the U.S., most coffee is watery (unless you are in a really good restaurant).  This is one area where it is difficult to everyone.  I like the idea of teaching the barista in the Coffee Connection how to make coffee if what is being served is not to your liking.

[boblerm]

On 11/11/2018 at 8:35 PM, MalbecWine said:

Oh Lord, now I’m getting nervous after that review and have a 24 day cruise next year booked on the Explorer from Barcelona to Miami.  I hope they are close to our favorite cruise lines and they have been all luxury lines. I would like to hear more about that cruise.

MalbecWine, while I in no way shape or form wish to disparage the remarks of the TS, everyones perceptions are no more less valid than anyone else's, all I can say is that my experience on 9 Regent cruises have been drastically different. Moreover, I often ask my fellow passengers how they are enjoying their cruise, and the number of responses that have been less than enthusiastically positive, I can probably count on one hand. 

I am only chiming in here because I really do not want you to be anything other than super excited about your upcoming cruise on the Explorer. 

Bob

[Bigdogwon]

TC, will Daniela stay on the Voyager after the TA?  

[MalbecWine]

3 hours ago, boblerm said:

MalbecWine, while I in no way shape or form wish to disparage the remarks of the TS, everyones perceptions are no more less valid than anyone else's, all I can say is that my experience on 9 Regent cruises have been drastically different. Moreover, I often ask my fellow passengers how they are enjoying their cruise, and the number of responses that have been less than enthusiastically positive, I can probably count on one hand. 

I am only chiming in here because I really do not want you to be anything other than super excited about your upcoming cruise on the Explorer. 

Bob

No worries Bob, we have heard great things about the Explorer and that Regent has upped its game in the luxury market.  We are looking forward to this cruise.  We said we would never return to Regent eight years ago..but never say never.  The itinerary is perfect for us and the ship pictures and reviews have been awesome.

 

I have been following Wes on his cruise and have been impressed what he and Ida have shared with us albeit not on the Explorer.

[BBWC]

After 3 days on Voyager, I must say I give the OP some credence. By way of background, we spent 6 1/2 months on the last 15 months on Navigator (grand yoyage and world cruise), and just finished a 22 day cruise on Explorer before boarding Voyager. I don’t feel that the service and food on Voyager is on par with the other ships. There is a definite lack of attention to detail or ‘having eyes but not seeing’.

Some examples:

The toilet paper in our suite has not been replaced for two days.

We still do not get our newspaper and for the third day have been calling reception. It is getting a little tiring.

La Veranda staff could need some more training. At lunch, we often have an empty plate in front of each of us, waiting for them to be cleared. Almost invariably, a server comes and removes one plate but leaves the other one (and their hands are not full).

Canape service in the lounges is pretty much nonexistent (and we enjoy it).

I know these are not big problems in the grand scheme of things (and I pointed all of them out in the mid cruise comments),but it is just quite different than our experience on Navigator and Explorer.

I don’t enjoy the food in Compass Rose as much as on the other two ships, either, and for the first time I can remember had a lukewarm entree the other day. Service there is also a little chaotic and noticeably slower than on Navigator and Explorer, which leads to quite a backup even if you arrive after 8 pm.

Overall, I think Voyager is our least favorite ship.

[Travelcat2]

On 11/13/2018 at 5:29 PM, Bigdogwon said:

TC, will Daniela stay on the Voyager after the TA?  

 

I answered this on my blog but will do so again here...... Daniela will be onboard Voyager until December 20th!

[Travelcat2]

4 hours ago, BBWC said:

After 3 days on Voyager, I must say I give the OP some credence. By way of background, we spent 6 1/2 months on the last 15 months on Navigator (grand yoyage and world cruise), and just finished a 22 day cruise on Explorer before boarding Voyager. I don’t feel that the service and food on Voyager is on par with the other ships. There is a definite lack of attention to detail or ‘having eyes but not seeing’.

Some examples:

The toilet paper in our suite has not been replaced for two days.

We still do not get our newspaper and for the third day have been calling reception. It is getting a little tiring.

La Veranda staff could need some more training. At lunch, we often have an empty plate in front of each of us, waiting for them to be cleared. Almost invariably, a server comes and removes one plate but leaves the other one (and their hands are not full).

Canape service in the lounges is pretty much nonexistent (and we enjoy it).

I know these are not big problems in the grand scheme of things (and I pointed all of them out in the mid cruise comments),but it is just quite different than our experience on Navigator and Explorer.

I don’t enjoy the food in Compass Rose as much as on the other two ships, either, and for the first time I can remember had a lukewarm entree the other day. Service there is also a little chaotic and noticeably slower than on Navigator and Explorer, which leads to quite a backup even if you arrive after 8 pm.

Overall, I think Voyager is our least favorite ship.

 

In a strange way I am glad that you made a less than positive post about the current Voyager cruise because it enables me to post the other side of the story.  Voyager was our favorite ship until Explorer debuted over 2 years ago.  Keep in mind that chefs, General Managers, Cruise Directors and most other crew members change ships frequently.  So, the crew members that served you on the other ships could be the same ones that served you on Voyager.

 

Please contact Daniela (F&B Director) and let her know what your issues have been.  She wants address issues while you are on the ship instead of reading about them later.  Also contact either Davor (G.M.) or ask for the head of housekeeping about the newspaper, toilet paper, etc.  These things need to be fixed ASAP!

 

OTOH, I do understand not liking a ship as this is what we feel about Navigator.  Our issues go back many years.  We remember Navigator when she lost power too frequently - listed without warning and had brown water coming out of the taps (brown water is still an issue but not as frequently).

 

Truly hope that you speak to officers onboard that can make the rest of this cruise enjoyable.  After all, due to weather issues, after tomorrow we face 9 sea days.  Cannot imagine not getting toilet paper for that long

[BBWC]

Not saying that we do not like the Voyager, just not as much as the other ships. We are booked on a 41 day cruise on Voyager next year this time, and have no intention of changing that.

Also want to mention that I noted the issues above in my mid cruise comments which I turned in around 4 pm yesterday. By the time we were in the lounge by 6:30, there were multiple rounds of canapes offered, with the servers circulating frequently. After they left at 7 pm to go to Compass Rose, bar staff continued with the offering. 

Oh, and this morning at La Veranda, our server picked up both plates at the same time.

[Travelcat2]

23 minutes ago, BBWC said:

Not saying that we do not like the Voyager, just not as much as the other ships. We are booked on a 41 day cruise on Voyager next year this time, and have no intention of changing that.

Also want to mention that I noted the issues above in my mid cruise comments which I turned in around 4 pm yesterday. By the time we were in the lounge by 6:30, there were multiple rounds of canapes offered, with the servers circulating frequently. After they left at 7 pm to go to Compass Rose, bar staff continued with the offering. 

Oh, and this morning at La Veranda, our server picked up both plates at the same time.

So glad to hear how responsive they were to your mid cruise comments.  

[orvil]

That's all good. But, did you get the toilet paper?  That's a crisis:)

[BBWC]

We had to call but, yes, we got a plentiful supply of TP.

[Toryhere]

On 11/12/2018 at 11:42 AM, Oz_Steve said:

My wife and I have done several cruises (mostly in Suites with Celebrity) and this was our first time cruise with Regent. I am currently on Voyager and this is our last night.

 

Our cruise embarkation was changed from Monaco to Marseille due to weather damage at Monaco. The mechanics of the transfer was handled well but we were not notified of the change until we reached the hotel in Monaco. Disappointed about the change but nothing Regent could do except manage the communication process better. Overall it was an experience where the good evened out the bad. 

 

It turned out that this was to become a common theme for the cruise where there was stuff that was done extremely well or extremely poorly. 99% of the staff were extremely pleasant and friendly, 1% were surly and in some cases rude. Of the 99% who were friendly, 75% of them were actually good at their jobs, the others were mostly not very good. The staff at Chartreuse in particular were rude, it was the worst food experience on a cruise ship that I have had.

 

I am going to make some general comments on specific areas and where applicable I will compare them to Celebrity, travelling in a suite.

 

Food

 

The food in Compass Rose was mostly better than the MDR on Celebrity, except for the two nights when it was terrible. They could not get their act together, get orders right or deal with and rectify deficiencies. It was definitely better in the buffet but it was regularly closed for quite long periods. I understand you need to change food etc but you could at least have a limited availability of something. Pool Grill food was better but the process of ordering and getting your order were chaotic/shambolic. Prime was great and comparable with the specialty equivalents with other lines. Chartreuse was something else. It was in a word rubbish. The food was just ok but the service was rude, slow and inattentive. I didn't make a complaint as I couldn't quite work out who was running this rock show. I think they were self organised as an autonomous collective that had locked the boss in a supply cupboard. The coffee at all venues is something else and I don't mean that in a good way. Eating in the suite restaurant on Celebrity is superior to everything but Prime 7.

 

Drinks

 

The included wine is better overall if you work at it. An exception is the champagne, it is not great and IMHO is not as good as the Californian Chandon. The spirits were about the same except they didn't have Tanqueray 10 and only had 3 bottles of Fever Tree on the ship. Cocktails were about the same. I am not sure if I mentioned it before but the coffee is terrible.

 

Service

 

The service is fantastic (with one or two exceptions but they happen) if you want the staff to smile and kiss your butt. If you want them to competently fulfill their duties then it is very hit and miss (75% hits). One of the casino staff was an absolute shocker. There was also one bartender who was terrible one night but actually quite good the next 3 nights.

 

Cabins

 

The cabins are about the same (good) but I do like the included Mini Bar which is restocked daily. The balconies are very small which is a negative.

 

Atmosphere/Entertainment

 

There was no buzz and very little going on. I saw the cruise director and his minions on the ship after 5 anywhere other than the show never. As for the entertainment it was somewhere that I never found.

 

Overall Experience

 

I found it to be a little dull and was completely underwhelmed by the included tours with a couple of exceptions.

I would rate it 7.5 out of 10, I would rate a Celebrity an 8.5. Would I sail again? Maybe if the price, timing and itinerary was right but I would not go out of my way. Would I recommend it to my friends? No but I wouldn't try to talk them out of it either. I would let them know my experience. IMHO I may be a touch too young for Regent (age 58) and maybe will try again in 10 years or so.

 

 

 

 

 

A very interesting post. 

I have one question. You don’t really mention the difference in the ship experience between the relatively small, one class Regent and the large multi class Celebrity ships. It’s all well and good paying an arm and leg to be a suite passenger on a less salubrious ship, but isn’t that like staying in the single five star room at a hotel in Upper Kumbucta West rather than staying in a standard room in a five star hotel in the most desirable location?

[Toryhere]

On 11/13/2018 at 6:36 AM, Travelcat2 said:

We boarded the Voyager this afternoon and met with the General Manager and F&B Director that we have cruised with before. We also spoke with Executive Chef Kelly and know that this team is amongst the best on Regent.  I had to notice that the negative reviews are from Australia and the U.K.  This is definitely not meant as a negative but flavors, tastes, etc. are not the same as in the U.S. and Regent is a U.S. corporation.  We have been in Australia 3 times and had difficulty finding food that met our expectations but we still love the country.  The U.K. is different since my DH is from there and I've been having British food for many years and love it.  Regent does not do a good version of British food (i.e. fish and chips, etc.)    

 

Zenblue100, I can imagine what Daniela (F&B Director) would have said had she heard that the food was cold.  In terms of the buffet being chaotic, this is not easy to change since most of the excursions are departing within minutes or each other and everyone is rushing to the buffet to have a quick bite and leave.  Had we experienced the service described in CR in the morning, Daniela would have made sure that the food temperature would have been hot and the food delicious.

 

As far as nothing happening on the ship, I believe that this may be a part of being on a port intensive cruise.  We are on a transatlantic crossing and there are many things planned.  

 

The bottom line (and I have heard this from Regent management) is that they want to hear about problems/issues while you are on the ship so that they can do something about it.  Once you arrive home and post on CC, there is nothing that they can do.  So, please communicate with management on the ship (on any cruise line) lest you leave the ship disappointed.

 

 

 

 

I once discussed this matter with the head chef on Paul Gaugin. I asked him why the steaks were thin and rather fatty. He explained that once they had introduced Australian and New Zealand meat of high quality. But the problem was that it was too lean and for the Americans who make up the majority of the passengers. 

On that basis I can understand why some Americans would have difficulty with the food in Australian. If you find the meat odd, it will effect your overall experience.

[UUNetBill]

I agree that a lot of it comes down to expectations and perceptions.  We also read a few negative reviews before our first Regent cruise (Navigator, way back when) and were somewhat apprehensive since that trip was taking a pretty large chunk of our vacation budget, both time and money...long story short, we had a meeting with the Cruise Consultant on our third day on board to book another Regent cruise...we've had as many as three booked at any given time.  We're sitting on 77 nights on board with another 20-some booked.  We've taken both of our parents on several trips with us and they're hooked now, too.

 

As has been said on numerous threads - there's no perfect cruise line for everyone, but there's probably a perfect cruise line for each of us.  For us, it was Regent.  For the OP it may be another line.  Nothing wrong with that.