What's your stand out moment of your Regent Cruise experience

[cerise638]

Let's cheer ourselves up and think of our happy memories. 

 

My stand out moment on Regent was on our second cruise about 18 months apart from our first both on Mariner. We sat down in the Observation lounge.  About 2 minutes later we were greeted by name and told our drinks would be with us shortly - at that point we hadn't ordered anything.  Another few minutes and our regular pre dinner Vodka martini (from our first cruise) was served perfectly.  To say we were impressed is an understatement.

 

Please share your Regent moments

[Travelcat2]

What a great topic for a thread!  We have had so many amazing experiences on Regent that it is hard to pick one.  

 

Our very first Regent cruise was on the Paul Gauguin when it was run by Radisson/Regent.  After arriving at night after a very long flight to Tahiti, we were picked up by the bus.  When we arrived at the ship, it looked like a million small lights were on and around the ship.  It was like being in a magical fairytale.  

 

That cruise introduced us to luxury cruising and is an experience that we will never forget.   Whenever I board a Regent ship I tend to unconsciously hold my breath - the excitement is overwhelming every single time.  We look forward to the day when we can once again board a Regent ship.

[DeepFreeze63]

Yes, so many enjoyable experiences. Our best ,New Year's Eve EVER was on the then new Explorer via the Panama Canal. Our last Regent cruise, our 18th, was the Splendor's "Maiden" voyage - Magnificent - beautiful ship, great weather, terrific shipmates and Regent went all out and made it truly memorable. Next cruise is July 2021 on the Splendor in the Baltic with our youngest grandchild; can't come soon enough!

[Mudhen]

Several years ago after a very long, hot day of touring Rome, we arrived back at the Mariner. The ship was festooned with flags, balloons, a dixieland band playing, etc. I said to John, my husband....."wow, look at all of this...." He replied that it must be to welcome back a new, beloved captain....Well....NOT! When we asked who all the fuss was for, we were told "why for you of course!"

Melted my heart!!!

[daetchief]

In 2013 there was a group of us that traveled from Honolulu for a 7 night Mariner Cruise in the Western Mediterranean in conjunction with the Hawaii Kidney Assoc. (25th Anniversary)  While in Monte Carlo a group of 6 of us decided to try our luck at La Casino after [during] a sightseeing tour of the city.   We were told the last bus back to the ship would be at a certain location at 1930 for a 2100 sailing.  We arrived at the appointed place at [or before] the appointed time and as 1930 came and passed a Regent Rep. [who was there to accommodate the guests] informed us the bus would be delayed until 2030...  We had a great time drooling over the yachts and talking to interesting locals - and after the bus arrived and as we crossed the ramp onto the ship the security detail announced into their radio: "Six passengers onboard; All accounted for" and the ship got underway...    But, that's NOT the standout moment.  That came when the six of us went to the Compass Rose at 2059; when they stop serving at 2100 and asked "Is there anyway...?" Without even an eye-roll Alex the Maitre'd called the kitchen and directed the staff to set-up a table for all of us.   No rushing; All smiles; Wow.   I would have been fine with Alex suggesting we take advantage of Room Service, but at that moment, and ever since, I realized what Regent stands for.  [Warning: Don't try this at Home!]

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

Unforgettable!!

My first sailing was December 1992--Raddison Diamond. My husband just had passed away and my children encouraged me to take this cruise.  I was nervous and frightened. It was my first trip alone. Missed my flight during a snowstorm and made it on board just in time to sail. The crew was so welcoming. Somehow, they seemed to know I was recently widowed. I was wined and dined and danced. Dinner at the Captain's Table and dancing with the officers. It was amazing. The cruise began as an escape for me, but ended as I looked forward to the future!

I remarried 15 years later and introduced Herb to Regent. He absolutely loves it!!

[ronrick1943]

I think it's they the crew makes you feel (good) and not having to take out your room key all the time to pay for things.

[pappy1022]

When I got my cancellation refund. 😃

Actually, it was our Alaska cruise with my 2 college age (at the time) sons. It was actually our first cruise ever and it was so amazing to spend such quality time with our grown boys. I still watch the video of that trip.

[bissel]

Ha ha Pappy! Family vacations are always the best. Except your story, Bellaggio , which shows your bravery was richly rewarding.
I can’t bring up just one memory. I was eagerly looking forward to our June 2020 cruise on the Mariner.  Wine cruise to our oft visited Alaska with family.  There are so so many memories. 
I am interested in what others felt as very special.

[flossie009]

We have so many happy memories of cruising with Regent ................... and hope that we will have many more when we get through these difficult times.

Just to share two extra special experiences:

 

The first was our initial exposure to the Regent brand.

Summer 2009 and Voyager was docked overnight in Southampton before embarking on a private charter around the British Isles.

Regent (UK) invited prospective customers to look around the ship and enjoy lunch on board*.

It was a glorious sunny day so the drive to Southampton was a pleasure and the experience on board was magical.

No hard-sell was evident or necessary; the friendly Regent staff & crew put across the “Regent vibe” so well during our few hours on board that we took our first cruise with them in October that year and have cruised with them regularly ever since. 

(*For those requiring disclosure it was a long time ago & we were required to pay for the lunch .................. but we did get a free pen 😉)

 

The second special memory was on my birthday in 2013 during a TransAtlantic on Mariner.

We had splurged on a Horizon Suite and the day started with a champagne breakfast served on the balcony.

The day coincided with a stop in Madeira and our included excursion was “Tea at Reids” - perfect.

We had a few cruising friends in for drinks & nibbles in the evening as Mariner set sail; a glorious backdrop to our party as the sun set over the town of Funchal.

Then off to Compass Rose for a delicious dinner, finished off with birthday cake and singing waiters.

A truly special day and a joy to spend it with friends on a Regent ship 😀

 

We are certainly missing our regular injections of Regent pampering this year 😕.

On top of that we told our suitcases that we might not be cruising for a few months and so now we are also having to deal with emotional baggage 🤣

[poss]

The "emotional baggage" line is FANTASTIC.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

50 minutes ago, poss said:

The "emotional baggage" line is FANTASTIC.

 

It's a meme that's going around.  How are you two doing, poss?  Nice to see you posting.

[mrlevin]

There are so many but this is one of the most memorable.  We were on a back to back in Med for one of my wife's major birthdays.  We were on with a large group of friends and one of the other men shared the same birthday (not same year) as my wife.  So, the two of them started to plan a wonderful birthday celebration.  Martin was CR Dining Room Manager and very accommodative.  He agreed to set up a large (14 seat) table in back of port side of dining room.  He created a special lobster and crab appetizer (he named the Lobster Crab Tantalyzer) for the meal.  We (Rod) invited the Captain to dine with us; he accepted!  Captain Knute had always been one of my favorite Captains even prior to that event.  Then, for dessert, Martin had arranged for Cinnamon Ice Cream Baked Alaska as he knew how much my wife enjoys cinnamon ice cream.  It was a fantastic evening.

 

There are scores more of special days onboard Radisson/Regent (including three Christmases and three New Years Eve) but that birthday celebration is what we use to describe Regent to others.

 

Marc

[bebop bonnie]

I had a similar experience as Mudhen.  Returning from Firenze on the motor coach tour "Florence on your own". we got off the bus to a red carpet and staff standing with cool wet towels and silver trays of champagne.  The long red carpet had staff (a lot of them!) on each side of the carpet, clapping , singing and with a band playing behind them.  I'm not sure who cheered loudest, the staff or us!!  It was one of many of my very memorable and special experiences ..... and i can't wait for one day (soon), to enjoy more of them!!

[Portolan]

Many to choose from, but one which stands out was off Voyager in the Mediterranean: an evening reception at the Celsus Library at Ephesus followed by a classical concert in the Grand Theater.  The reception was a Gold and above special event (back when those events were way more special due to fewer in the group).  The concert was for all passengers on the ship.

[cerise638]

2 hours ago, Portolan said:

Many to choose from, but one which stands out was off Voyager in the Mediterranean: an evening reception at the Celsus Library at Ephesus followed by a classical concert in the Grand Theater.  The reception was a Gold and above special event (back when those events were way more special due to fewer in the group).  The concert was for all passengers on the ship.

That looks spectacular.  You were very lucky to experience that

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I'm thinking of a Voyager cruise that was called "WAVE" because of an affinity group from our TA onboard.  Monte Carlo to Dover, in 2006.  It was a wonderful cruise in all kinds of ways, not the least of which that we were travelling with two other couples who were already cruise buddies, and have remained friends, or the Cordon Bleu cooking course that we took onboard.  It was also one of the old Spotlight cruises, which I loved--this one was a spotlight on Food and Wine, with wine and champagne tastings, as well as olive oil, and cooking demonstrations.

 

It had many highlights, including Voyager going all the way up the Gironde Estuary to Bordeaux.  And because we were with friends, and before included excursions, we did wonderful private excursions just for the six of us, in all sorts of wonderful places.

 

But one big highlight that stood out was when were travelling by night from Malaga to Lisbon.  We were passing Gibraltar at night.  The captain paused the ship, and pirouetted around so that everybody could good look at Gibraltar by night.  It was magic.

 

All in all, one of our best Regent trips, all things considered.  And our first on Voyager, which at the time became our fave.

[Portolan]

41 minutes ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

The captain paused the ship, and pirouetted around so that everybody could good look at Gibraltar by night.  It was magic.

 

OK, I can't resist your comment about pirouetting (Dag maybe?) because it reminded me of Voyager meeting Navigator in the Med on a cruise in 2006 (same year as my earlier photos...it was a very good year!).  Voyager pirouetted around Navigator and I took the picture of Navigator approaching below (first picture).  Through CC, I connected with Ladd Borne who was on the Navigator and we exchanged photos of each other's ship.  He took the second picture below of Voyager.  I'm the guy in the tan shirt (6th person forward of the funnel).

 

We also passed the Song of Flower on our first Voyager cruise in 2003...the only two times we've met other Regent ships at sea.

 

I'll restrain myself after this post as, as I expect with most, we could remember sooo many great experinces!

 

 

Edited June 26, 2020 by Portolan

[lincslady]

Thanks for the pictures of the evening at Ephesus.  One such was my standout memory of cruising with Regent - and I must admit to several 'impromptu' happenings when Dag was Captain which were pretty good too, such as sailing around for better views of the likes of Monemvasia and Gibraltar.

[GrJ Berkshire]

First 24 hours on the ship, Mariner, when we really saw how much of an upgrade this was to our previous ships and cruises, with no extras, no nickel & diming, fell in love with the PH-C suite, pre butlers at that level , so much so we have returned 3 times to the same suite.

The first dinner in Compass rose a 2 top by the window was the icing on the cake, never wanted to look beyond Regent again, in early 60's now , then mid 40's: this is what we had worked hard to achieve, wanted more........... never gone elsewhere.............missing it in the pandemic.........but will be back!!

[1982CruzStart]

20 hours ago, Portolan said:

I'll restrain myself after this post as, as I expect with most, we could remember sooo many great experinces!

Please don't restrain yourself. With no trips to follow this is a wonderful way to live vicariously through others' cruises even if they were in the past.  I love reading about other peoples' highlights. 

[bissel]

Portolan, I second that! And it was a thrill to see your concert photos as we were there but have no pictorial trace. Thanks so much!

[fudgbug]

Krakatoa erupting in October 1992 on the Song of Flower before she was Seven Seas.  Unforgettable!

 

Captain Dag anchoring in Isles de Pines so he could jet ski on New Year's Day on the millenium cruise while the guests enjoyed the beautiful beach and snorkeling.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

2 hours ago, fudgbug said:

Krakatoa erupting in October 1992 on the Song of Flower before she was Seven Seas.  Unforgettable!

 

Captain Dag anchoring in Isles de Pines so he could jet ski on New Year's Day on the millenium cruise while the guests enjoyed the beautiful beach and snorkeling.

 

How lucky!  Everybody who I've met who sailed the Song just adored her.

[UUNetBill]

On 6/26/2020 at 3:12 PM, Wendy The Wanderer said:

But one big highlight that stood out was when were travelling by night from Malaga to Lisbon.  We were passing Gibraltar at night.  The captain paused the ship, and pirouetted around so that everybody could good look at Gibraltar by night.  It was magic.

An early Regent cruise on Navigator (might have been our first??) and we had just tendered back to the ship from Santorini - Capt MacNeil raised anchor and we departed on time, but since we had a short sail to our next island, he pulled out into the caldera and did lazy circles during dinner as the sun was going down...the world's most amazing revolving restaurant.  Sitting in CR having a magnificent meal as the brilliant blue and white encrusted hillsides slowly transformed to a million shades of orange, gold, amber and yellow, and then pulling out as the evening lights on shore started twinkling on through the deepening shadows.   It was spectacular, unforgettable.

 

That might have been the exact moment I was hooked.