Reflections after Voyager Rome to Monte Carlo Trip

[DebbieH103]

I have submitted a lengthy report to CC for posting, but meanwhile, I thought I would post the reflections and Silversea comparisions that I promised:

 

Comments

 

Regent Experience: The Regent Voyager proved to be a wonderful cruise experience for me. I saw many new places and had a good time. They attempted to teach us new things and entertain us with a variety of activities and shows. They attempted to have local foods and fresh fish as nice surprises, and I really enjoyed that. The embarkation did not make me feel at all special and gave a bad first impression. Service at the buffet meals was not up to par with my expectations. Service in the other restaurants was very nice. In particular, they should keep their maitre d staff, as they were touchingly helpful. I felt the Hotel Director was a little overwhelmed by my comments of what needed improved, but I believe he addressed all that could be addressed during the cruise and in retrospect appreciated the feedback. The other area that disappointed me was with my stewardess who could not learn my consistent routine and who didn’t seem to understand why anyone would want anything to drink that was not in the fridge already.

 

This cruise was a special one that had a VP on board, and a panel session was held with the top officers. There were issues discussed with service, and they would not directly answer the question about whether they were paying the Asian staff as much as they would Europeans. They simply said pay had nothing to do with it and that people were paid in their own currency but that they could not easily attract Europeans due to the falling dollar. Clearly, whatever staff they hire, they need to polish the service.

 

Comparison to Silversea

 

Cabins: cabins are larger than the smaller SS ships and the same size as the larger SS ships. However, the closet is smaller on Regent (but plenty adequate), which allows for a full couch vs. the loveseat style on SS. SS had more movie selection, but Regent is already addressing this issue in the next month.

 

Embarkation: On both SS cruises, we paid for the early embarkation. In one case we were greeted by tuxedoed staff. The other time, we were just greeted. Both times, I checked out the official embarkation time, and guests were offered champagne and made to order caviar and smoked salmon canapies. Also, SS has nice sail away parties on deck vs. block parties indoors on Regent.

 

Room Service: both lines have an extensive room service menu and will do dinner from the regular dining room menu during dinner.

 

Buffet Service: The buffets on SS are much more extensive even though the ships are smaller. They also ask if you want to order other items. They have a champagne breakfast, as well. You never touch your food on SS, they serve you from the buffet (except you get your own salad) and they carry your plate to your table. On Regent, you find it yourself and find your own table if you can. However, this improved during my cruise.

 

Food: SS has an older average demographic, and sometimes they do make dishes a bit bland. Regent was not afraid to make things spicy, which I loved. Conversely, Regent did make some dishes way too salty, particularly soups in all venues and all the dishes at Signatures. We are not into caviar, but it is still free on SS for the asking.

 

Restaurants: Regent Voyager certainly has more dining choices. On SS when I went to the Italian restaurant, I felt like I was missing the fabulous experience at the main dining room. I may feel like that on Navigator, too when I try them in December, but on this cruise, I loved trying the different dining rooms, and kudos to Regent for making them all free. L’Attitudes was a particular delight.

 

Pool Deck Service: This was much better on SS. They would come serve you even in the hot tubs. I went there daily, and this never happened. On SS, they misted daily and passed out fruit kabobs, ice cream or sorbet often. You could get food served at your seat (which I rarely saw on Regent), and you did not have to sit as long before someone offered a drink on SS. At the pool restaurant on SS, there were more selections on Whisper than Regent, and the whole service was just a notch above even at the restaurant. Pool bar service was similar at all 3 of my cruises.

 

Bar snacks: on SS, they put out mixed nuts, Chex mix, Japanese crackers, etc. The few times they had any snacks out on Voyager, they were ruffled potato chips.

 

Tea: on SS, they were using loose tea, while on Regent it was bags, and the tea time was more formal with more delightful choices on SS. However, I did not try the quiet one on Regent. Many guests on Regent enjoyed the coffee bar area.

 

Spa: I did not try the spa on Regent, but the seating areas on SS are more comfortable, spacious and pleasing to the eye. Facilities and treatment offerings, along with fitness class offerings were similar.

 

Entertainment & Activities: I enjoyed this on both lines. SS moved away from the production shows for now, but I feel they will be back on the new bigger ship. I always enjoyed every show on both lines. Daily activities were similar. Trivia was much more organized on SS where an attempt was made to get team sizes fairly distributed. Everyone actually felt they had a chance that way. Also, SS has a nice golf program where there are a lot of activities with the pro, and the pro on the larger ships escorts a golf outing.

 

Turndown: Several times on SS, the chocolates are Godiva. Also, each night the lunch and dinner menus for the next day are presented, while on Regent, you must watch the TV and wait minutes for it to scroll back around if you did not catch all of it. Lunch menus were not presented on TV, either. You had to actually go to the restaurant and read them outside the door.

 

Overall feeling: On both SS trips, the feeling was more intimate, especially on Wind where they really tried to know you. Not much attempt was made at this on Voyager, but it is a lot larger. Crew on SS was much more polished, and the entire SS experience seemed more upscale. It is really hard to explain this one because it was an ambiance and a feeling, but I think the bad first impression and the inexperienced staff had a lot to do with it.

 

Tours: SS tours were always escorted, while Regent ones were sometimes escorted. This often made a difference. Regent took a lot of effort in giving tours led by local guides and always tried to throw in a local treat for a tasting when possible. Regent needs to be more aware that on a six hour tour, guests might need to go to the restroom, and stops should be planned.

 

Conclusion: both lines provide a nice all-inclusive experience. On each step up in size, the experience was less personal, though more amenities start coming with size. People that like good food and nice cabins and unusual experiences in exotic lands will enjoy either line.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Thanks Debbie, good summary. I agree about the sailaways--I really missed having one on deck last December out of FLL. It's where I wanted to be, out on deck, not in the hallway!

[wingit]

Thank you, Debbie, for your reflections and trip reports. Very helpful to a first time Regent cruiser. Our upcoming Voyager cruise will actually be our 5th cruise, but our 1st on a luxury line. When we return I will try to post a review from our perspective. Thanks again.

[Iamboatman]

Thanks Debbie. Very well said!

[DebbieH103]

For anyone wanting to read the entire huge report, it is at http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=34418.

 

I hope from looking at those ratings that people can see that overall I thought this was a trip of a lifetime.

[bebopper]

I think the negativity in that review was biased and unnecessary. How can you critique features (such as the spa) without having even experienced them? It even preconceived a position on the Navigator before even being on the ship. Again, I think the reviewer had a bent toward bashing Regent no matter what. Sorry to disagree with other posters.

[simonv]

Very accurate comparison of Regent and Silversea, and that means your opinion is the same as mine, of course. I also thought that food on Regent better but service needed much more polish. Suites equal. Excursions better run on Silversea. Thanks, Debbie.

[tennisbunny]

Thank you for your detailed comparison. As we will be on Voyager for the first time next month and loved SS, I believe your insights and experience will be helpful in terms of expectations.

 

Since we are going to the Caribbean and visiting some new ports I've never seen but a few I have, we don't plan many ship-escorted/organized excursions. My sister and I work in demanding industries and this vacation is meant as a time of togetherness where we can completely relax, enjoy each other's company (we only see each other once a year) and pamper ourselves.

 

I'm confident that Regent will fit the bill for us! My only real question is that with the number of pax (700) versus the less than 400 pax on SS, will we feel crowded at all. This is a key reason for paying the extra $ for a luxury line. I truly have gotten to a point that the waiting in lines on the mass market lines is beyond trying to my patience.

 

Thanks again for your perspective.

[DebbieH103]

Bebopper, what I said about the spa was from what I experienced. I used the steamand the sauna on two occasions, and I said the area was well stocked and the shower wasn't working and also that the waiting area was small. In fact, it is one bench with no back. Nobody could argue this since SS has just redone theirs. I also said the offerings looked similar. I in no way tried to rate services.

 

Regarding tours, it has been mentioned a number of times on this board that all tours used to be escorted. I think it makes a difference when there are people with special needs or on canes and things. When we had those people on board, a rep did come. I don't know if it was a coincidence. Since SS has a higher demo, maybe that is why they still do that. However, even our BVI snorkel was escorted. I was complimentary on the tours except for the bathroom issue, and others brought this up to the senior VPs, I didn't. Finding or using a bathroom in Europe is not so easy. I thought the tours were extremely interesting and tied totally to local people and cultures and said so. I loved them. I also thought they were fairly priced.

 

I said food taste was more interesting and choices were more varied on Regent.

 

The preconcieved notion of Navigator is that I will feel more like Silversea in that I'd prefer the main dining room to the Italian (because I expect to love the main dining room). That was not a negative at all. Reviews on Navigator have me pretty excited about the trip, and I loved Voyager and would go back any day. You just can't argue that ships with 382 and 296 people might not have a better handle on personal service.

[canadagal]

Very good review with a lot of detail! Thanks for providing the link to the "huge report" that you submitted to CC. I do note on the huge report that you did give Regent a total of 5 in overall enjoyment.....the highest number you can give. I think all of your detail will help others that have not cruised yet on Regent. Thanks for taking the time and effort that you have put into this.

I also would like to say again that I too wish Regent would accompany pax on all of their shore excursions. Regent, please extend the feeling of being cared for to the excursions as well! I'm going to make sure I put that suggestion on the evaluation form on my next cruise.

Pat

[DebbieH103]

The longest line I ever faced was under 10 at the buffets. At the special deck events, the tables did get full, and once I had to eat in a lounge chair, but I had a table there and was just fine.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I was on Navigator last winter with a couple of Silversea fans--they said they felt like they were on SS on Navigator, the ship was so similar.

 

Tennisbunny, no you won't feel crowded on Voyager. Yes, it's a bigger ship, and feels that way compared to Navigator, for example. But it's only big in a good way, and feels very spacious, never crowded.

[DebbieH103]

Wendy, I am trying Navigator on the 3 night shortie on December 14. It was too cheap to pass up.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I'm embarking on Voyager the same day in FLL. Enjoy the shortie. It's too short for us, especially from the frozen north, you know, carbon footprint, that sort of thing, not really worth the trip.

 

Navigator's a nice ship, I like the size and the staterooms. Really enjoyed head-waiter Arnold. Only downside is the lack of viable alternative dining for dinner. But for 3 days, Compass Rose will not get boring!

[DebbieH103]

We will have only been back from this Dubai trip for 5 days, so a shortie is probably all I'm up to. Your itinerary looks good.