high end cruise lines
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
regent prices are highest because of bundling more, which can also cause tours to be even more crowded
crystal did add 31 cabin espirit
curious to see their announced residences
curious to see their announced residences
#33
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,142
Can you reveal what brings you back to Regent? Have you tried any of the other luxury lines, and if so, why does Regent stand out? Thanks.
#35
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 309
Our first two cruises were on Seabourne (Caribbean on the Legend - no longer part of the fleet - and the Sojourn in the Baltic). We loved the Sojourn. Nice size, good service and Seabourne Square was a nice space for "hanging out". Our next two cruises were on the Silversea Spirit. Friends we met on our first Seabourne cruise told us that the food is better on Silversea. We agree, but food is very subjective. We have two more cruises booked on the Silversea Spirit - Athens round trip this September and Venice to Athens next April. Obviously, we are big fans of Silversea. We have friends who are loyal to Regent. We haven't booked with them due to the price - as another post mentioned they bundle excursions into the fare - and we don't wish to pay for excursions we are not interested in. Basically, we look at both Seabourne and Silversea when planning cruises. Whichever one has the route and price we're comfortable with is the one we book.
#36
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 526
I find Regent very unstuffy JMO of course. We have sailed on Crystal, Silversea and QMII. We liked Crystal but it is larger and more formal. QMII was too big for us and Silversea was a disaster. We sailed Silver Spirit and didn't care for it at all. They had big service problems.
#37
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVPG,
Posts: 1,066
We sailed Crystal including a 108 day world cruise in 2015. We are under 66 years old. It was a great experience. In the past 2 years Crystal has become less formal with only a suggested black tie optional night. That said people do dress nicely. You won't see tee shirts and shorts at dinner. There also aren't hairy teeshirt contests nor gold by the inch sales. There are almost no loud speaker announcements. We didn't find it too formal. Rather it is very well organized. Dinners tend to be fixed tables but you can dine by reservation. The ships are old but very comfortable.
Children are allowed and present especially during summer and school holidays. If you want child-free think about Viking Ocean Cruises.
Children are allowed and present especially during summer and school holidays. If you want child-free think about Viking Ocean Cruises.
#38
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
I find Regent very unstuffy JMO of course. We have sailed on Crystal, Silversea and QMII. We liked Crystal but it is larger and more formal. QMII was too big for us and Silversea was a disaster. We sailed Silver Spirit and didn't care for it at all. They had big service problems.
Last edited by Randyk47; Aug 5, 2017 at 6:53 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
on silversea it seemed to me that training and supervision emphasized fake (not real) formality and certain procedures. a while before, seabourn at least seemed more straight forward (some thought too casual) and flexible. good service requires some flexibility.
i did not find silversea stuffy at all in any way, but i ran into one waiter who seemed to dislike when we did not play the fake formality game.
butler operations also have some gaps. dedicated but days off etc.
a few silversea staff delivered solid service. an officer actually delivered on formality when being polite.
i did not find silversea stuffy at all in any way, but i ran into one waiter who seemed to dislike when we did not play the fake formality game.
butler operations also have some gaps. dedicated but days off etc.
a few silversea staff delivered solid service. an officer actually delivered on formality when being polite.
#41
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,142
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
#43
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Just FWIW YMMV- since September 2016
Viking Sea- Venice to Athens- Excellent trip, the answer to any request was "we were told to always say yes". We were not in a suite but had a balcony. This was MUCH better than Regent (see below). The excursions were great. We had a PhD in Anthropology tour guide do the included tour at Santorini Akrotiri, and this was a highlight. We did a private 8 hour tour of Athens, also fantastic. Food Great, no limits on wine/beer at lunch and dinner. I would suggest you put this in your premium Sea Cruise list. We have another scheduled next year.
Did Lindblad Explorer to Antarctica in December. Not a luxury or premium ship, but it was a feast for the mind if you like to be educated.
Oceania Marina to Central America but not the Cuba stop. TL;DR- Food was very good but not the best at sea. Excursions ok but not great. We are giving them a chance in November in a suite.
Regent Mariner- The all inclusive reminded me of a slighly improved all inclusive at a Cozumel beach resort for diving. The food was ok but the scrum to get to the dining options left much to be desired. We will not be back unless they have an itinerary that we really want.
Leaving for a Silversea tomorrow.
Oceania Marina TA repositioning in November.
All of this is research for a World Cruise in 2020. So far Viking has the edge followed by Oceania. We will see about Silversea.
Viking Sea- Venice to Athens- Excellent trip, the answer to any request was "we were told to always say yes". We were not in a suite but had a balcony. This was MUCH better than Regent (see below). The excursions were great. We had a PhD in Anthropology tour guide do the included tour at Santorini Akrotiri, and this was a highlight. We did a private 8 hour tour of Athens, also fantastic. Food Great, no limits on wine/beer at lunch and dinner. I would suggest you put this in your premium Sea Cruise list. We have another scheduled next year.
Did Lindblad Explorer to Antarctica in December. Not a luxury or premium ship, but it was a feast for the mind if you like to be educated.
Oceania Marina to Central America but not the Cuba stop. TL;DR- Food was very good but not the best at sea. Excursions ok but not great. We are giving them a chance in November in a suite.
Regent Mariner- The all inclusive reminded me of a slighly improved all inclusive at a Cozumel beach resort for diving. The food was ok but the scrum to get to the dining options left much to be desired. We will not be back unless they have an itinerary that we really want.
Leaving for a Silversea tomorrow.
Oceania Marina TA repositioning in November.
All of this is research for a World Cruise in 2020. So far Viking has the edge followed by Oceania. We will see about Silversea.
#45
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Manhattan NV
Programs: Hilton LTD, Hyatt Glob, Marriott LTTE, AA LTP, Avis PC, National EE, Seabourn DE
Posts: 3,030