Regent Still On Top

[hvsteve1]

San Francisco once again took the No. 1 spot among best U.S. cities in Conde Nast Traveler magazine's annual Readers' Choice Awards.

 

Among cruise lines, Regent Seven Seas, Grand Circle Cruise Line and Seabourn won the top three spots for best small ship lines; while Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and Disney were named best large-ship cruise lines. (Regent has both small and large vessels.)

[larry1365]

Conde Nast is living in the past century....if they still consider a 700-pax ship "large," they need to open their eyes and get out on the water!

[Margate Cruiser]

What do the consider small. In my book my book they should consider by tonnage. or 300 passengers or less.

[surfklutz]

What do the consider small. In my book my book they should consider by tonnage. or 300 passengers or less.

I agree completely - they are mid sized and large - but not small.

[NCCruzQueen]

If you consider the Freedom of the Seas weighs 160,000 tons, is 1,112 feet long, 184 feet wide and has 15 passenger decks holding 3,634 guests double-occupancy, the RSSC ships are small.

[wripro]

But the criteria for small ships is number of passengers, below 500. that is why Regent does not qualify except for the PG.

[wripro]

But the criteria for small ships is number of passengers, below 500. That is why Regent does not qualify except for the PG.

[surfklutz]

I agree that it does not qualify as small - and the PG would not be considered the number 1 best small ship in anyone's mind I don't believe.

[larry1365]

Since the new ships have grown so much in tonnage, size and pax carried...they need to either create new categories or expand the criteria bands.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Navigator is under 500, barely. I agree that they should adjust the categories.

[Dolebludger]

What wories me about these ratings is the inclusion of Grand Circle Cruise Line among the best! Now let me be clear that I have never cruised any of the Grand Circle ships, but have heard and read very little but bad comments about Grand Circle. Do I have bad information? Is this a different "Grand Circle" from the one that owns the PG?

[Travelcat2]

What wories me about these ratings is the inclusion of Grand Circle Cruise Line among the best! Now let me be clear that I have never cruised any of the Grand Circle ships, but have heard and read very little but bad comments about Grand Circle. Do I have bad information? Is this a different "Grand Circle" from the one that owns the PG?

 

Yes -- Grand Circle owns the PG (check out their website sometime -- they offer interesting, but different, package tours that include the PG). In my opinion, the PG must be the reason Grand Circle is one of the best. As a company, Grand Circle is a nightmare (have you read their ratings in the Better Business Bureau?) Perhaps Regent also gets rated for the PG because they manage it.:confused:

 

It also does not make much sense that Regent was rated #1 for the Navigator. Last year they beat out Crystal Cruises (by 1/10 of a point) for best large ships. Their rating system is quite confusing.

[Travelcat2]

Just went to the GCT website. They have an announcement about their Conde Nast rating, etc. They list "Per Diem" for the top 10 ships. I find the first two interesting:

 

1. Regent Per Diem $800

2. Grand Circle Per Diem $270

 

I checked out 3-4 of their cruises. At least two of their cruises use "Louis Cruise Ship Lines" that hold up to 1,360 passengers. Another cruise uses Hurtigruten Norwegian Costal Ships (600 passengers) and the third. . . . the "Grand Circle Paul Gauguin". Just wanted to share.