I had the pleasure of meeting Gary (in person) on a recent HAL South American cruise. Not surprisingly, I spied him taking notes several times. No surprise that his content is so thorough and well presented! Very professional.
Most of the other popular cruise vloggers on here are cruise clowns spreading misinformation or shilling for the cruise lines in order to enjoy benefits.
If you need laundry done, excursions, drink alcohol, afternoon tea, computer help, and no up charges for ANYTHING at meals, plus great service & small ships, RSSC is great.
Absolutely fascinating to watch, I've been looking at Regent for a while now for a bit of a "splurge" trip. Thanks for highlighting the pro's and con's for me. Safe travels Gary 😀
Just one more thing to keep in mind: Regents includes business-class airfare. This can be quite valuable. In our case, flying West Coast to a cruise originating in EU, it's huge. We did pay a reasonable up-charge to choose our own airline and flight times, but it was well worth it.
Wife and I have booked our first cruise on New ship Grandeur next Nov 2024 Business class flights Inc TA says prob fly with BA I checked the price of flights this Nov and it's more than we are paying for the full cruise !!!😊
Sadly I have never been on any cruise yet. But I have watched so many videos from Gary, that I found myself advising my friends on cruises and I always support “my opinions” by sharing a particular Tip for travelers video. I did watched someone else’s cruise guides but for some reason I never like them and always come back on this channel. I hope one day we’re going to join this community live, but until that time I’m going to enjoy my almost daily micro vacations here. AHOY to everyone!
Hi Gary. Huge fan of your channel. I was on Regent Navigator last November in the Caribbean and i must say that the overall experience was great, albeit their oldest ship and its problems. My husband and i are in our 40’s and we really liked the more traditional entertainment. The shows that bigger ships/lines put on, such as Celebrity etc (especially on their Edge Class ships), cannot be matched on these smaller ships and every cruise line is trying to do something different and gimmicky. But Regent have stuck to the more traditional style of entertainment and that, in itself, is what makes them different and a standout in my view. There’s nothing wrong with good traditional entertainment, and this was good. The shows were really well produced and choreographed, and we all agreed some of the best we’d seen on any ship/line. The traditional “fairground” style games such as Baggo, Ring Toss, Darts etc during the day were great for getting people of all walks of life together and chatting. It was real fun and a great way to meet people. The singers/dancers, and the band were really superb and all very interactive and approachable. But the real star was Ray the Cruise Director. He was, without a doubt, the BEST Cruise Director we’ve ever had on any ship/line. He was energetic, a great all-rounder and just really funny, approachable and a great guy. The daily quizzes were THE stand out of the cruise and a must do every day…. “Rubbish” i can hear Ray say right now. It was hilarious. He really made the quiz entertaining and even those that don’t do quizzes found it not to be missed. The included champagne and cocktails were great, as were most of the excursions, with loads of included tours to choose from. Regards the included champagne, we did note that you needed to ask for the champagne by brand name, otherwise they’d give you the sparkling wine they also had. Overall, regent were great and we’ve booked again to do Regent Grandeur, their newest ship over Christmas this year. We’re even dragging along 5 friends. Can’t wait!
We were on a cruise last November and went to the Amazon. I agree Ray is a legend - we first encountered him on our first (of many) cruise to Alaska 13 years ago. We thought he was old then and were surprised on last years cruise on the Navigator to see him again. He said he did retire and spent time at his beautiful hotel in the Lake District in the UK but missed sailing so much signed on again. I think he will be there to the end.
As a longtime Regent customer, I was glad you commented on the lack of a casual dinner option on the days you don’t want to dress for dinner or eat a full meal.They have that on Oceania and, inasmuch as the evening buffet tracked the dining room menu, it was especially well-regarded. On this issue, Regent could learn well from its sister line.
I've been on several Regent cruises and absolutely loved all of them but for the money I switched to Oceania. I found NCL's luxury line has many of the same services as the ultra luxury but in the land of reasonable, Sure you do pay for alcohol and excursions but I found myself having an alcoholic drink at times that I normally would not and taking excursions when I really should of stayed and explored on my own. On Oceania I'm selective and in better control. Gary, love your videos and you're so right on with your reviews.
Diana good to read. I have sailed 2 Oceania have 2 more booked! I had always been interested in Regent since I started cruise. So might soon. HAL also a favorite. Been carnival young yrs. Tks
We have cruised Oceania quite a few times, and really like it. I don’t know if they have the best food at sea, but it is certainly excellent. We have also cruised with Viking ocean and have really enjoyed them as well. We are trying HAL for the first time in the fall. It will be fun to compare.
My wife and I are sailing on Oceania and there newest ship Vista December 30th for 10 days in the Caribbean in one of there A1 class Penthouse suites. We look forward to experiencing a more luxury and smaller ship experience and this is the most money we have spent for a cruise and we are hopeful that it goes smoothly. I think we would like to experience Regent as well in the future as we are starting to hit that age bracket 56 yrs old where we find smaller and more inclusive and intimate is worth the price. Lol.
Hi Gary, I just have to chime in because I have cruised Regent many times on 4 of their ships. You likely know that the Navigator is their smallest (approx. 28,000 tons) and I believe oldest ship. I cruised it once from SF to Hawaii and back and yes, the lounge chairs were usually taken with people in them early. Now segue to the Explorer or even the Mariner whose ships are about twice the tonnage, I never had a problem finding an empty deck lounge at any time of the day in the best of weather. They have more room for more loungers around the pool and on the covered deck above the pool, which the Navigator does not have. To review Regent, if you haven't already you really need to try the all-balcony, all-suite Explorer, which is in a class by itself. The standard room would be a very big upgrade on most lines. As for cuisine, Chartreuse for and Pacific Rim on the Explorer (lots of videos on TH-cam) have no comparisons on the Navigator. I recall the only specialty restaurant on the Navigator is Prime Seven, which is outstanding on the Explorer. Outside of the pool grill (which often has expansive local cuisines along with the regular set items), I can understand what you are saying about casual dining except that room service has a robust menu, and they are happy to set it up on your balcony. There is no extra charge for room service. Also, the very comfortable Coffee lounge has many self-serve selections through the day and evening and is nice on the Navigator and even better on the Explorer. Each room has a refrigerator well-stocked daily with your choice of beverages including soft drinks, wine and beer. There are bottles of reusable green water bottles brought in fresh daily. Every room has a chilled bottle of champagne awaiting your arrival often with a covered dish of some lovely candies. With one of the highest staff to passenger ratios at sea, I have never gone wanting for anything. The staff is well-trained and very accommodating. It's not unusual to see the same staff over many years. Regent cruises, as you pointed out are expensive. As professional reviewers note (i.e., cruise critic, the stereotypical Regent passengers are well-heeled travelers and well-off). This brings me to entertainment. I don't cruise for entertainment. If I want live entertainment, I have no problem going to any major city for that and I often do. The times that I have gone, people were well-behaved and quiet during the show. In general, I have found passengers very polite with very few exceptions on my many Regent cruises. I found your experience with talkers in the show different than mine, but I am not at the entertainment often. I've never seen anything close to even a verbal altercation on the ship. I saw a guy really mad that there were no tables available on the back deck for dining one evening. He just needed to get over it. I have noticed that Regent has a single group "meeting" or whatever it is called for singles to meet each other. I can't recall if you said you attended that. One of the main draws, that I did not hear you speak much to are the enrichment programs. Those are usually well-attended with often very interesting and sometimes very well-known speakers. I find a much stronger focus on these programs than the entertainment. They used to have art auctions but have not for several years, which is great IMO. I'm not much for trivia, but I did participate one time during a beautiful afternoon tea. The closest to games that I play is Bridge on a sea day. There are instructors at all levels onboard. I walk the outdoor deck every day, may play some pickleball. Being a huge reader, I am never bored. If you are looking for go-carts and laser tag--not your ship. Nice spa and exercise facilities. On my recent cruise, I went horseback riding, kayaking, historical touring among other things. In Alaska, we went on the crab feed excursion, which started with a boat ride to a local island. It was wonderful! In Bora Bora, I had great scuba dive with a small group. These excursions were covered in the cost of the cruise. There are plenty of choices for all range of activities. In cases of tendering, Regent is very efficient. In Santorini, Regent cruise line was the only cruise line that had a tent-like sun covering set up with chairs and water for passengers waiting to tender back to the ship, which was much appreciated on a hot day. Tendering in Sitka Alaska was comparatively very fast compared to other lines. Two tenders continually went back and forth, and coffee urns were set up for passengers waiting to tender back. The large cruise ship next to us looked to have hundreds of people waiting for a lengthy time to tender back on a chilly and damp day. For all the luxury amenities, I have never found Regent passengers to be snobby. They mostly seem relaxed in their own skin, and past needing to prove anything to others. I have never found long lines on the ship. Fortunately, my embarkations have been smoother than yours. Sometimes there is a hiccup or two, but you got more than the normal. As soon as you embark, a glass of champagne awaits each passenger. I like that I don't have to set a time to dine except for the specialty dining, which is superb on the Explorer. I book online for those before the cruise. Their Sunday brunch with caviar and champagne--yum! I have not been on the Splendor it is similar to the Explorer. I hope you try the Explorer some time Gary. You don't have to go much past the already generously sized standard room to get a Butler. Usually, newspapers of my choice are delivered hanging in a bag on my door in the morning. I believe that little notice about the newspapers in the library is simply a gentle reminder in the rare case a passenger thinks it's ok to take them back to their room. I enjoyed my one time on the Navigator, but I choose the Explorer and next year the Grandeur. The Explorer an even the Mariner are a whole different world than the much smaller and more limited but nice but much older Navigator. Also remember Regent gives you a hotel night included before your cruise. Last cruise out of LA, we got the Beverly Wilshire. Reply
Thank you so much for that wonderful review of the explorer. Of their ships, I do believe the explorer is my favorite. I also just got back from the Alaska trip. It was phenomenal. The ship, the crew, the people, were all amazing. And you were correct in comparing the food between the explorer and the navigator. The explorer just cannot be beat.
Comments made about cruising this cruise line (Regent Cruise Line) very valid about Service Levels by staff ie ‘ATTENTION TO DETAILS’ which is ‘what they do’ ! I always tried to work same way as a doorman at my local CITY 5* 🏨, ie FINDING OUT why guest were there & if say a B’day,I’d inform Reception & they’d arrange with HK or RESTAURANT/rm service to lay on surprises for said guests !
Thank you. I'm currently researching my 1 bucket list cruise, to celebrate my retirement. Knowing you chose to sail with RSS again for your bucket list trip is really helpful.
Really enjoyed this video, Gary. Regent have fascinated me for such a long time, largely because I find their price point amazing compared to what I tend to pay for the more ‘mass market’ lines. Excellent to get your view on them - thanks for sharing with us - not sure I’ll ever make it into one of these ships!
A very fair review of my preferred line. One thing to add to your "where did the money go" list: that attentive service that you enjoyed. It costs money--in terms of crew/passenger ratio and quality of hires and training--to achieve that service.
You were on the oldest , smallest ship in the fleet. You should try Splendor, Explorer or the new Grandeur More specialty restaurants, culinary arts kitchen, hot- cold spa and infinity pool😅
My now-elderly father and his wife did a few R7C's and they love their wine . . . and their "free" excursions. Your explanation is very helpful as we don't drink alcohol either, and generally feel comfortable exploring on our own, so I don't think the economics work for us.
I'm glad you were pleased w the overall value and service. I agree, I get tired of being asked multiple times if I am good/happy/satisfied. It isn't to knock staff, but I feel embarrassed by the added attn and almost feel bad for the staff. Delicate balance between white glove service and discreet ambiance.
It definitely would get annoying being asked if I’m good, happy, satisfied a hundred times a day. I’d probably get to point of telling a crew member that I’m not happy with the crew for asking me the same thing a hundred times a day. They definitely need to learn how to be more discreet, also to be seen, but not heard constantly.
Thank you so much for this review. We just spent two weeks on the Viking Orion in Australia and New Zealand. We loved it. The only down side was the fact that they don't go into Fiordland Sound at all. We also missed two ports because of the storm "Gabrielle" which could not be avoided. We have been looking at Regent to compare their cruise to Viking.
I recently compared their prices to crystal (yes they are back) and found them very comparable. Excursions included is a big bonus though! I don't think I have ever heard you name so many staff names on a single cruise video!
Hello Gary, Excellent review. We have been on several Regent ships. The Navigator is their oldest ship. The room sizes on the Explorer, Splendor, are much larger than the Navigator. The service on all their ships are great, as well as the food. You will like the Explorer, it is a beautiful ship. We have never not been able to get into the restaurants for dinner. You will love the Pacific Rim restaurant on the Explorer as well as Chartreuse, their other two specialty restaurants. One other added benefit that Regent gives you is business class air on all their transatlantic flights. Makes a big difference on long haul flights.
You are not the only one who is not impressed that the pool bar has been closed for dinner. It's been a source of huge contention amongst even the most loyal of their clients. We understand it was a price cut, but if you are in a place like the Caribbean, people want to eat outside. Why is the pool bar not open? I do agree that food, linens and staff is where Regent spends its money. You will never have a sore back, a bad steak or unhelpful employee on Regent. I'm so glad your TA let Regent know it was your 100th cruise. You had to know what Prime 7 cake taste like. It's so good.
As a solo traveler, I appreciated the Social Hostess, who got some of us together for drinks and/or meals. Yes, excellent fresh fruit, sea day buffets & spa menu choices are great. I don’t have a TH-cam channel either!
I realize I am late to this conversation, but did you pay twice the fare for your cabin as a couple? I, too, travel solo and the solo traveler fees can be prohibitive at times!
I truly appreciate all of your videos! Your content is well-thought-out. You give really good tips based on your considerable experience as a professional cruise traveler. I am a solo traveler. One thing I would like to hear when you review specific cruise lines/cruises is whether, as a solo traveler, you paid double the fare (the cost of the fare for a couple) for your accommodations. I know from your past videos that you do often travel with your partner. It would be helpful to know, though, if there are any incentives for solo travelers like me to even look at Regent Seven Seas. I love the idea of luxury cruise travel but always hesitate to pay twice the cost. (I do know that the cruise lines are there to make money and that one person taking up the space of two fare-paying people is a serious consideration in their pricing.) Thank you, Gary!
Hello Gary, I’ve been viewing your informative videos for several months now. My wife and I are celebrating our 35 year wedding anniversary and have been looking at cruises on Disney. That’s when I discovered your videos and learned about smaller luxury cruises. You mentioned Regent Seven Seas and I was intrigued by their size and inclusive fare. I booked a cruise (our first) on Regent Explorer for May ‘24 to Alaska. I am so intrigued by the cruise that I anticipate booking another Regent cruise from Florida. I have found the price overall to be fair when flights and early arrival hotel (I booked a Concierge Suite) plus dinning and excursions are all inclusive. I thank you for your heads up about Regent Seven Seas. Had it not been for you, we might have been boarding a Disney cruise with thousands of guests. I am certain that would have been my first and last cruise. Nicely done. Cheers.
Come on Gary, of course they all knew who you are and what you do. I like Regent (but not the Navigator) and completely agree about the lack of casual evening dining.
RSSC has pool grill back open for casual dinner more since you went from what I’ve read. Great excursions; many different non-alcoholic smoothies/coffee drinks also offered.
Thank you Gary for this video. Been hoping that you do a video on Regent to hear your thoughts. I would like to go on a cruise someday, and am heavily leaning toward a Regent cruise because of everything that is included in the cruise fare and they have smaller ships with a maximum of 750 guests on their 3 newest ships.
We’re booked on a RSS cruise next May (2025) beginning in Lisbon on the Grandeur. We cruised from San Diego to Vancouver on Holland America and found the amenities very similar to this ship (Navigator).
Loved Ella, Mark, Joy, Gede and so many others on the Navigator! Their wonderful service elevates the cruise. Surprisingly, the casino was the emptiest I have ever cruised with,!
We love Regents and have been on lots of their cruises around the world. Like you said the main attraction is that we pay up front and everything is included. We did a fantastic cruise on the Navigator last year up the Amazon and at 25 days the free laundry was a bonus. I can see if you don’t drink the free booze is lost on you but we loved the fine wine. Beer, cocktails and the fact that they fill your cabin fridge with your favs. The staff knew our names and dislikes by the 2nd day and the service outstanding probably because they are paid above the norm. We like the small numbers on board which enabled us to meet people. A agree completely with you that they seem to think anyone over 60 must only want to listen to old fashioned music and I have said so in my review but the talks were excellent especially of the Amazon. We went at the time of the Football World Cup and we were delighted that they were able to stream all the matches with a fun afternoon of England v USA in the theatre. We have also booked to go on the Explorer in 2024 to Japan so hope to see you on the ship.
I agree with most of your points, though I do find Cunard to be a bit more stuffy than Regent. He is the thing to remember when dealing with lines like Regent, Seabourne and Seadream. Part of what you are paying for is the "No worries surcharge". What I mean by that is, you request something, it will appear, oh heck, prime example. My wife and I were on Seadream II, I had actually sailed her as a kid when she was with Cunard as Sea Goddess II . On the second night out, my wife being a bit of an insomniac couldn't sleep, so she went up on deck to lay on one of the Bali beds and read. Of course she fell asleep up there, she awoke to find the crew had somehow gotten here pillows and blankets, a female member of staff was waiting a few feet away, with juices, coffee, tea and some danishes, I mean seriously, I can see the line having a member of staff stand by just in case, but having a choice of beverages and some food ready was so far over the top it still amazes me years later. Anyways, yes there are some aspects that need to be updated for sure (USB's etc), but the lines main asset is it's staff, if it takes care of them they will take care of us.
My first cruise with Regent was on the Seven Seas Mariner where my partner actually booked the entire ship on its inaugural run for 9 glorious days as a company incentive. We also booked KC from the former KC and the Sunshine band so it was fun hanging out with him as well. There were about 580 of us and they even flew our company flag throughout the cruise. Needless to say, it was a glorious cruise. We later booked a cabin on the Navigator and also had a spectacular cruise. This line is absolutely five-stars all the way. With that said, I now opt for the more affordable Celebrity Apex-class ships where the service level is similar, but it doesn’t quite break the bank as much as Regency does. Great review Gary. *BTW, our group did enjoy the drinks and as I recall, our company was billed an additional $780,000 as bar costs! Oh I miss those times! Lol
Gary, one thing you didn't explain is the size of the ship, and the fact that most cabins have balconies. You're paying for a smaller (midsize) number of passengers, larger staterooms, quieter experience. The Regent experience is not as much about the shows and on board activities. I doubt I'd go with them to the Caribbean. There are so many other lines that go there. We've used Regent to go to the Baltics, Mediterranean and Spain. All great trips, with great excursions. Even though our meals are all included, we sometimes go off on our own for lunch ashore to try the local cuisine.Sometimes lunches are included on those excursions, which is usually a real treat.
I cruised the Med on this ship about 10 years ago. It’s the best cruise I’ve been on and one of my favourite holidays full stop. I hope to cruise RSSC again some day, fingers xed. ❤
Love your videos! One comment that really resonated w me was the lack of non gourmet choices. When I attended the Culinary Institute of America we would get sick and tired of eating gourmet for lunch and dinner, everyday. Then when we went home for a visit w mom and dad they would ask me to cook gourmet for them ! I just wanted a PB&J. Travel well and thanks for your content.
Love the videos. Always helpful and fun videos that I love watching. I have a couple cruises planned starting this coming December and what h your videos to help me get the most from my vacations. Plan on starting to share my future journeys with others like you. ✌🏻
Gary - I'm hoping you'll take & review a cruise aboard one of the newer Regent ships (Explorer or Splendor . . . or, post-Nov 2023, Grandeur). Navigator is their smallest and oldest ship with, among other limitations, only one specialty restaurant (and a steakhouse at that . . . EVERY city of any size has a steakhouse so an onboard chophouse is not "unique").
We have sailed three three times on Regent and have three more planned in the coming year. Regent isn’t for everyone. There are certainly cheaper cruise lines but in Regents case the saying you get what you pay for is absolutely true.
We drink, and love excellent wine and cocktails. Regents really excels here, especially the cocktails. Top-shelf wines are available as well for an extra charge, but we found the house offerings to be just fine. They also have a great fresh juice bar that we loved to visit in the mornings.
Very interesting perspective. Especially for me, an avid cruiser who would NEVER, EVER sail on Regent again. Once was enough. My wife and I sailed on the Explorer last March on a transatlantic voyage, and it was not a good experience. Firstly, and something you did not mention, our fellow guests were old... and I mean really old. My wife and I are in our 60's, and while we were not the youngest people on board, probably 80% of folks were older. Some were much older. The chance to meet other interesting people (which we thoroughly enjoy on Cunard and Oceania) was absent on Regent as most folks were tucked in by 8:30. While the food, and most front-line staff were fabulous, the ship seemed oblivious to the needs of many of their guests. My wife is in a small manual wheelchair (as were many others) and excursions were mostly only for the able bodied. The transportation provided was not accessible and people in guest services seemed to have no idea how to help us. Getting on and off the ship was always a nightmare, as they used the 5th floor departure, which was stairs. When I asked them: "considering how many frail and disable people on this ship, why not use the fourth floor departure area, as it is ramped". They just stared at me and said "it wasn't convenient". To them, apparently... Food - 5 stars - Best food at sea...better than Oceania and Cunard who I love. Butler and cabin stewards - 5 stars. Again, better and more considerate than any other line. Our butler was actually helpful and provided real value, and was fantastic at getting reservations. Excursions - one star. Inaccessible, unhelpful staff and a total turn off. Entertainment - 2 stars - Because the average age seemed to be in their 80's, I understood the focus on older type shows. Dull, but not awful. Room - 3 stars - Comfortable bed, but definitely looks dated Getting on and off the ship - 0 stars - I watched the guests disembark for the last time in Civitavechia, Italy, and every second guest almost fell down the stairs with their walkers and canes. If you like sailing with the geriatric, are able bodied and like a dated room, this cruise line might be for you!
I was on board this cruise as well. Yes, the passengers were elderly. (They know what they're getting) The weather was bad. The stop in Bermuda was cancelled. It was rainy and rough from Madeira through the Straits of Gibraltar to Malaga. But by the time we got to Rome, it was sunny. Had you continued onto the following cruise, you would have experienced excellent weather and interesting ports. In short, a trans-Atlantic at this time of year is priced for what it's worth. Give it another try! Best of luck.
@@eikoGoldstein I cannot imagine spending another day on a cruise line that treated us, the way Regent did. I certainly never complained about the weather (which was terrible, but hardly the fault of the cruise line) or the itinerary. My major concern was how a "luxury" cruise line that appeals to seniors, hasn't figured out how to deal with seniors and their attendant infirmities in a civilized way.
Cross RSS off my list. I am not disabled, rather I'm extremely fit for my age. But refusing to make simple accommodations for those who need them is appalling. Not using a ramped exit when one is available?!? Not offering accessible excursions? Not even offering a helping hand when someone is having trouble with stairs? This is all kinds of wrong.
The Navigator, being the smallest, oldest, most outdated, destined to be replaced ship in the Regent fleet is NOT a good way to gauge Regent overall. Sail on the Voyager or the Mariner for the next oldest ships in the fleet, then elevate yourself to the Explorer, the Splendor and, launching soon, the Grandeur. The newer / newest ships in the fleet are COMPLETELY different than the Navigator, and will make for a review that is much more representative of the company overall.
We did a Regent Navigator cruise, Montreal to NYC, last fall to celebrate our 50th anniversary. It was our first Regent cruise. The food was excellent. Enjoyed the all inclusive aspect, although the shore excursions were not always that great. The staff was very friendly. We told our travel agent that this was a special cruise for our 50th and I am sure she she passed that along to Regent, yet there was no recognition of the event from Regent. We are looking at Oceania or similar for future cruises at a reduced cost.
We splurged for our first luxury cruise on RSS Mariner last summer, to Alaska. For the price (VERY expensive in our opinon) I was expecting more luxury in the decor - like more glitz, crystal and glass. Here the lux was in the upholstered furn(even in the buffet), excellent, “a cut above the others” cruise staff, small number of cruisers (500 on a 750 max ship) and unusual types of excursions being offered. What I missed from cruises on Celebrity was not being seated with other guests - it was just my husband and I , like every other day at home! It was like this because it was “open” seating and we always enjoyed getting to meet and exchange stories with others at dinner. Would we go again? I was surprised just how many “every day people” (who we met on our pre-cruise bus land trip of Alaska) had done many cruises on RSS. For me, it was nice once, but not worth the money in the end - my opinion.
Gary, thank you as always. As my life goes on, I look to accomplish bucket list items. One was to do a Ultra-Luxury Cruise. I am a planner and focus on logic and strategy. I did an elaborate Excel with all the brands. Truth be told, I really wanted Regent Seven Seas. After 30 cruises, one on a luxury line (Crystal not Ultra-Luxury), I realize both the cost and experience would not create a good business decision on my part. TH-cam videos like yours support my claim. Thank you again and cruise well, enjoy every moment.
'If' I could ever afford it, I would choose a Regent Seven Seas ship for my very first cruise. I wouldn't have any expectations, so everything would blow me away. I don't drink alcohol, with the exception of a liqueur now and then, so that would be wasted on me as well. I would be happy with a fridge stocked with Diet Pepsi. It's interesting to see what cruising is all about, thanks to your videos, Gary!
Very informative! I’ll also be on the Explorer cruising Japan in Oct/Nov--our first Regent cruise. A splurge to be sure! I was surprised to learn there were no USB ports in the cabins, given the Navigator was remodeled in 2019. The Explorer was built in 2016 so I guess there won’t be usb ports in there. Good to know! But as a tea drinker I was very disappointed to see they serve Twinings-it’s such a common, pedestrian “meh” line of teas. For what they charge I would have expected a high quality, tea brand. But I
Haven't cruised with Regent and probably won't ever have that kind of $$$ to do so. That said, Regent's web page touting all-included perks is screaming "FREE" at my face. Funnily enough, on the top of the page they use the term "include", which is accurate. Scroll down to see what are included, they start listing every item with "FREE" as the first word of each item description. If I had the financial capability to cruise with Regent, I'd know that nothing is free. Maybe I'm overly sensitive and easily triggered, or just haven't had enough coffee this morning, but I find the use of "free" insulting, especially by an ultra-luxury cruise line.
I’m not even much of a shopper so the money I spent was on the stupid coffee package with so I didn’t use that much because the coffee place to no open till nine in the morning and the excursions
Thank goodness. Not another mass cruise line video with obnoxious people whinging about the buffet. (or worse just sitting somewhere repeating the "cruise news" ). I'm not a fan of entertainment on a ship anyway, I love watching the sea, meeting new people and the ports. Casinos, shows and live music leave me cold. Food unfortunately is important. New subscriber here
If wanting destination immersion the higher end ships have an advantage. The ship is more of a quality Hotel with a great lounge and restaurant. This works great if you enjoy low key Sea-days.
I must agree with your Gary that the lack of informal dining opportunity is a shame. On Explorer, at least, the Pool Grill provides some respite in this regard. Was that not available on Navigator in the evenings?
We had our first Regent Cruise in Nov 22. I would absolutely agree with the comment about the airport transfer. It was poorly organised which led to a very long wait at the airport, not a great start. We did report the experience but it seems nothing has changed. Apart from that our overall experience was excellent and we are looking forward to our next trip in 12 months time.
I've been lucky enough to sail with Regent Seven Sea, twice. (Hopefully, there will be more cruises - although I'll have to really save up for them.) They have been the best cruises I've ever taken. My only issue is that their cruises have become so port intensive. (I book a cruise, not to be tied up to a pier everyday. I love sea days - where I can enjoy being on a ship that is doing what it's intended to do....Be at sea.) Having said that..the service on Regent Seven Seas is beyond reproach; the food offerings are outstanding; their suites are incredibly comfortable and spacious.
Welcome to luxury cruising Gary. I travel Regent and Silver Sea a lot. Sorry the embarkation experience wasn’t good, I’ve never had an issue. What you describe in your video with food and service is what I’ve come to expect. I recently travelled mass market and realized it didn’t measure up. As they say - you get what you pay for.
I’m going on splendor in 5 days for the first time on any cruise. What are some regent secrets I should ask for or do? We are i. The penthouse class rooms
Gary, as usual a great sum up of your voyage! I was years ago on RSS and was not impressed due to lack of entertainment. I clearly recall that food was excellent, and alcohol ran free (many people love RSS for that). For some of us who do not drink or drink moderately it's a sunk cost. However, looking at the fun you had I may look again at the RSS. Thank you!
Thank you for this fantastic video. I always read that Oceania was one of the best restaurants at sea, along with Queens Grill. Would you agree with that?🤩
@@portaltwo Thank you. I have yet to sail on Oceania or Regent 7 Seas but can tell you that Cunnards QG is fabulous, or was prior to covid which from what I have heard from friends cruising on other Carnival controlled lines, the standard has decreased sadly.
My husband and I have cruised on several Cunard Atlantic crossings in the Queen's Grill, and the food was very good, but we have sailed on Oceania fifteen times, and their food is outstanding in all restaurants on board. You have to remember that only a small percentage of the guests on Cunard can eat in the Queen's Grill dining room. On Oceania any gest can eat in any restaurant. We have never sailed on Regent, but we have friends who think it is the best.
I do wish there were some cruises with an emphasis on health - with healthy food options that are still delicious. Even sugar free and lighter desserts, breakfast healthy options etc
Enjoy your postings! Pretty much everything you note about this ship is true for Viking with the exception of shore excursions in small groups. Many people on Viking to whom this matters book their own private shore excursions. Staff are profesional, competent, and seem to all know my name within a ew days (address me as “Sir John”). The ships are not identical, and each have small advantages. My experience on Oceania’s older smaller ships was similar, but not quite as superb. Here on the Viking Neptune I am on first name basis and often chat with the cruise director, the entertainment director, and the head chef (Chef Willy). No line is perfect, but you could pretty much substitute “Viking” and still be accurate.
Thank you for your videos Gary, they are thoroughly enjoyable. Your videos are informative and entertaining , and you are a delight to listen to. Other cruise videos I have seen the hosts manner of speaking is too rushed for my liking
Omg i went there on Feb 25- march 4 I think , it was Bangkok to Manila, it was really great considering i came from a 3rd world country and i almost never experience luxury, my parents work/worked for Regent before, my mom Left to take care of us and my dad would work there, so i rarely see/meet my dad Their Steaks, Peaches, salami, and Bread were so good! This time Ive been to Explorer, in feb-March too on 2019 i was on The mariner
I like that you name the crew and specify what they do. Hopefully some of them get to see your videos at some point and know you appreciated it.
Lovely thoughts
I had the pleasure of meeting Gary (in person) on a recent HAL South American cruise. Not surprisingly, I spied him taking notes several times. No surprise that his content is so thorough and well presented! Very professional.
Hi! Great to meet and thanks for the comments :-) Hope you had a great time and good trip home
The Gap between the quality of Gary's vlogs and others is immeasurable.
Without any doubt!!!!!!!!!!
Most of the other popular cruise vloggers on here are cruise clowns spreading misinformation or shilling for the cruise lines in order to enjoy benefits.
It's like a documentary. His attention to detail and editorial choices are top notch.
He's truly excellent
He does a great job. The only one that compares is Emma Cruises.
If you need laundry done, excursions, drink alcohol, afternoon tea, computer help, and no up charges for ANYTHING at meals, plus great service & small ships, RSSC is great.
Absolutely fascinating to watch, I've been looking at Regent for a while now for a bit of a "splurge" trip. Thanks for highlighting the pro's and con's for me. Safe travels Gary 😀
Just one more thing to keep in mind: Regents includes business-class airfare. This can be quite valuable. In our case, flying West Coast to a cruise originating in EU, it's huge. We did pay a reasonable up-charge to choose our own airline and flight times, but it was well worth it.
The only problem is that they don’t do the same for us Brits flying to the US for a cruise
Wife and I have booked our first cruise on New ship Grandeur next Nov 2024
Business class flights Inc
TA says prob fly with BA I checked the price of flights this Nov and it's more than we are paying for the full cruise !!!😊
Sorry forgot to mention it's from Scotland
Sadly I have never been on any cruise yet. But I have watched so many videos from Gary, that I found myself advising my friends on cruises and I always support “my opinions” by sharing a particular Tip for travelers video. I did watched someone else’s cruise guides but for some reason I never like them and always come back on this channel. I hope one day we’re going to join this community live, but until that time I’m going to enjoy my almost daily micro vacations here. AHOY to everyone!
Hi Gary. Huge fan of your channel.
I was on Regent Navigator last November in the Caribbean and i must say that the overall experience was great, albeit their oldest ship and its problems. My husband and i are in our 40’s and we really liked the more traditional entertainment. The shows that bigger ships/lines put on, such as Celebrity etc (especially on their Edge Class ships), cannot be matched on these smaller ships and every cruise line is trying to do something different and gimmicky. But Regent have stuck to the more traditional style of entertainment and that, in itself, is what makes them different and a standout in my view. There’s nothing wrong with good traditional entertainment, and this was good. The shows were really well produced and choreographed, and we all agreed some of the best we’d seen on any ship/line.
The traditional “fairground” style games such as Baggo, Ring Toss, Darts etc during the day were great for getting people of all walks of life together and chatting. It was real fun and a great way to meet people. The singers/dancers, and the band were really superb and all very interactive and approachable. But the real star was Ray the Cruise Director. He was, without a doubt, the BEST Cruise Director we’ve ever had on any ship/line. He was energetic, a great all-rounder and just really funny, approachable and a great guy. The daily quizzes were THE stand out of the cruise and a must do every day…. “Rubbish” i can hear Ray say right now. It was hilarious. He really made the quiz entertaining and even those that don’t do quizzes found it not to be missed.
The included champagne and cocktails were great, as were most of the excursions, with loads of included tours to choose from. Regards the included champagne, we did note that you needed to ask for the champagne by brand name, otherwise they’d give you the sparkling wine they also had.
Overall, regent were great and we’ve booked again to do Regent Grandeur, their newest ship over Christmas this year. We’re even dragging along 5 friends. Can’t wait!
We were on a cruise last November and went to the Amazon. I agree Ray is a legend - we first encountered him on our first (of many) cruise to Alaska 13 years ago. We thought he was old then and were surprised on last years cruise on the Navigator to see him again. He said he did retire and spent time at his beautiful hotel in the Lake District in the UK but missed sailing so much signed on again. I think he will be there to the end.
As a longtime Regent customer, I was glad you commented on the lack of a casual dinner option on the days you don’t want to dress for dinner or eat a full meal.They have that on Oceania and, inasmuch as the evening buffet tracked the dining room menu, it was especially well-regarded. On this issue, Regent could learn well from its sister line.
I've been on several Regent cruises and absolutely loved all of them but for the money I switched to Oceania. I found NCL's luxury line has many of the same services as the ultra luxury but in the land of reasonable, Sure you do pay for alcohol and excursions but I found myself having an alcoholic drink at times that I normally would not and taking excursions when I really should of stayed and explored on my own. On Oceania I'm selective and in better control. Gary, love your videos and you're so right on with your reviews.
Oceania is such a great choice!!!!!👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 1
Diana good to read. I have sailed 2 Oceania have 2 more booked! I had always been interested in Regent since I started cruise. So might soon. HAL also a favorite. Been carnival young yrs. Tks
We have cruised Oceania quite a few times, and really like it. I don’t know if they have the best food at sea, but it is certainly excellent. We have also cruised with Viking ocean and have really enjoyed them as well. We are trying HAL for the first time in the fall. It will be fun to compare.
My wife and I are sailing on Oceania and there newest ship Vista December 30th for 10 days in the Caribbean in one of there A1 class Penthouse suites. We look forward to experiencing a more luxury and smaller ship experience and this is the most money we have spent for a cruise and we are hopeful that it goes smoothly. I think we would like to experience Regent as well in the future as we are starting to hit that age bracket 56 yrs old where we find smaller and more inclusive and intimate is worth the price. Lol.
Hi Gary, I just have to chime in because I have cruised Regent many times on 4 of their ships. You likely know that the Navigator is their smallest (approx. 28,000 tons) and I believe oldest ship. I cruised it once from SF to Hawaii and back and yes, the lounge chairs were usually taken with people in them early.
Now segue to the Explorer or even the Mariner whose ships are about twice the tonnage, I never had a problem finding an empty deck lounge at any time of the day in the best of weather. They have more room for more loungers around the pool and on the covered deck above the pool, which the Navigator does not have.
To review Regent, if you haven't already you really need to try the all-balcony, all-suite Explorer, which is in a class by itself. The standard room would be a very big upgrade on most lines.
As for cuisine, Chartreuse for and Pacific Rim on the Explorer (lots of videos on TH-cam) have no comparisons on the Navigator. I recall the only specialty restaurant on the Navigator is Prime Seven, which is outstanding on the Explorer. Outside of the pool grill (which often has expansive local cuisines along with the regular set items), I can understand what you are saying about casual dining except that room service has a robust menu, and they are happy to set it up on your balcony. There is no extra charge for room service. Also, the very comfortable Coffee lounge has many self-serve selections through the day and evening and is nice on the Navigator and even better on the Explorer.
Each room has a refrigerator well-stocked daily with your choice of beverages including soft drinks, wine and beer. There are bottles of reusable green water bottles brought in fresh daily. Every room has a chilled bottle of champagne awaiting your arrival often with a covered dish of some lovely candies.
With one of the highest staff to passenger ratios at sea, I have never gone wanting for anything. The staff is well-trained and very accommodating. It's not unusual to see the same staff over many years.
Regent cruises, as you pointed out are expensive. As professional reviewers note (i.e., cruise critic, the stereotypical Regent passengers are well-heeled travelers and well-off). This brings me to entertainment. I don't cruise for entertainment. If I want live entertainment, I have no problem going to any major city for that and I often do. The times that I have gone, people were well-behaved and quiet during the show. In general, I have found passengers very polite with very few exceptions on my many Regent cruises. I found your experience with talkers in the show different than mine, but I am not at the entertainment often. I've never seen anything close to even a verbal altercation on the ship. I saw a guy really mad that there were no tables available on the back deck for dining one evening. He just needed to get over it.
I have noticed that Regent has a single group "meeting" or whatever it is called for singles to meet each other. I can't recall if you said you attended that.
One of the main draws, that I did not hear you speak much to are the enrichment programs. Those are usually well-attended with often very interesting and sometimes very well-known speakers. I find a much stronger focus on these programs than the entertainment. They used to have art auctions but have not for several years, which is great IMO. I'm not much for trivia, but I did participate one time during a beautiful afternoon tea. The closest to games that I play is Bridge on a sea day. There are instructors at all levels onboard. I walk the outdoor deck every day, may play some pickleball. Being a huge reader, I am never bored. If you are looking for go-carts and laser tag--not your ship. Nice spa and exercise facilities.
On my recent cruise, I went horseback riding, kayaking, historical touring among other things. In Alaska, we went on the crab feed excursion, which started with a boat ride to a local island. It was wonderful! In Bora Bora, I had great scuba dive with a small group. These excursions were covered in the cost of the cruise. There are plenty of choices for all range of activities. In cases of tendering, Regent is very efficient. In Santorini, Regent cruise line was the only cruise line that had a tent-like sun covering set up with chairs and water for passengers waiting to tender back to the ship, which was much appreciated on a hot day. Tendering in Sitka Alaska was comparatively very fast compared to other lines. Two tenders continually went back and forth, and coffee urns were set up for passengers waiting to tender back. The large cruise ship next to us looked to have hundreds of people waiting for a lengthy time to tender back on a chilly and damp day. For all the luxury amenities, I have never found Regent passengers to be snobby. They mostly seem relaxed in their own skin, and past needing to prove anything to others.
I have never found long lines on the ship. Fortunately, my embarkations have been smoother than yours. Sometimes there is a hiccup or two, but you got more than the normal. As soon as you embark, a glass of champagne awaits each passenger. I like that I don't have to set a time to dine except for the specialty dining, which is superb on the Explorer. I book online for those before the cruise. Their Sunday brunch with caviar and champagne--yum! I have not been on the Splendor it is similar to the Explorer. I hope you try the Explorer some time Gary. You don't have to go much past the already generously sized standard room to get a Butler. Usually, newspapers of my choice are delivered hanging in a bag on my door in the morning. I believe that little notice about the newspapers in the library is simply a gentle reminder in the rare case a passenger thinks it's ok to take them back to their room.
I enjoyed my one time on the Navigator, but I choose the Explorer and next year the Grandeur. The Explorer an even the Mariner are a whole different world than the much smaller and more limited but nice but much older Navigator.
Also remember Regent gives you a hotel night included before your cruise. Last cruise out of LA, we got the Beverly Wilshire.
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Great post about Regent Seven Seas. I'll take your advice and try either Explorer or Splendour.
Thank you so much for that wonderful review of the explorer. Of their ships, I do believe the explorer is my favorite. I also just got back from the Alaska trip. It was phenomenal. The ship, the crew, the people, were all amazing. And you were correct in comparing the food between the explorer and the navigator. The explorer just cannot be beat.
Comments made about cruising this cruise line (Regent Cruise Line) very valid about Service Levels by staff ie ‘ATTENTION TO DETAILS’ which is ‘what they do’ ! I always tried to work same way as a doorman at my local CITY 5* 🏨, ie FINDING OUT why guest were there & if say a B’day,I’d inform Reception & they’d arrange with HK or RESTAURANT/rm service to lay on surprises for said guests !
Thank you. I'm currently researching my 1 bucket list cruise, to celebrate my retirement. Knowing you chose to sail with RSS again for your bucket list trip is really helpful.
Really enjoyed this video, Gary. Regent have fascinated me for such a long time, largely because I find their price point amazing compared to what I tend to pay for the more ‘mass market’ lines. Excellent to get your view on them - thanks for sharing with us - not sure I’ll ever make it into one of these ships!
A very fair review of my preferred line. One thing to add to your "where did the money go" list: that attentive service that you enjoyed. It costs money--in terms of crew/passenger ratio and quality of hires and training--to achieve that service.
I really hope that they pay the crew properly...
You were on the oldest , smallest ship in the fleet. You should try Splendor, Explorer or the new Grandeur
More specialty restaurants, culinary arts kitchen, hot- cold spa and infinity pool😅
My now-elderly father and his wife did a few R7C's and they love their wine . . . and their "free" excursions.
Your explanation is very helpful as we don't drink alcohol either, and generally feel comfortable exploring on our own, so I don't think the economics work for us.
I'm glad you were pleased w the overall value and service. I agree, I get tired of being asked multiple times if I am good/happy/satisfied. It isn't to knock staff, but I feel embarrassed by the added attn and almost feel bad for the staff. Delicate balance between white glove service and discreet ambiance.
agree!!!
It definitely would get annoying being asked if I’m good, happy, satisfied a hundred times a day. I’d probably get to point of telling a crew member that I’m not happy with the crew for asking me the same thing a hundred times a day. They definitely need to learn how to be more discreet, also to be seen, but not heard constantly.
Thank you so much for this review. We just spent two weeks on the Viking Orion in Australia and New Zealand. We loved it. The only down side was the fact that they don't go into Fiordland Sound at all. We also missed two ports because of the storm "Gabrielle" which could not be avoided. We have been looking at Regent to compare their cruise to Viking.
I recently compared their prices to crystal (yes they are back) and found them very comparable. Excursions included is a big bonus though! I don't think I have ever heard you name so many staff names on a single cruise video!
Was so nice to meet you the other day, at the Alvear Palace, as you stepped out of the elevator. Best to you,
Joshua
You too! Hope you have a great trip!
I really liked the shout out by name of the crew in this one.
Hello Gary,
Excellent review. We have been on several Regent ships. The Navigator is their oldest ship. The room sizes on the Explorer, Splendor, are much larger than the Navigator. The service on all their ships are great, as well as the food. You will like the Explorer, it is a beautiful ship. We have never not been able to get into the restaurants for dinner. You will love the Pacific Rim restaurant on the Explorer as well as Chartreuse, their other two specialty restaurants.
One other added benefit that Regent gives you is business class air on all their transatlantic flights. Makes a big difference on long haul flights.
I appreciate your evaluation of different cruises. It helps me and saves me money not booking cruises that are not right for me.
You are not the only one who is not impressed that the pool bar has been closed for dinner. It's been a source of huge contention amongst even the most loyal of their clients. We understand it was a price cut, but if you are in a place like the Caribbean, people want to eat outside. Why is the pool bar not open?
I do agree that food, linens and staff is where Regent spends its money. You will never have a sore back, a bad steak or unhelpful employee on Regent. I'm so glad your TA let Regent know it was your 100th cruise. You had to know what Prime 7 cake taste like. It's so good.
As a solo traveler, I appreciated the Social Hostess, who got some of us together for drinks and/or meals. Yes, excellent fresh fruit, sea day buffets & spa menu choices are great. I don’t have a TH-cam channel either!
I solo also, nice to have solo gathering by Hostess.
I realize I am late to this conversation, but did you pay twice the fare for your cabin as a couple? I, too, travel solo and the solo traveler fees can be prohibitive at times!
Just in case someone didn't understand Gary's Britishism ... The cabin's 'mod cons'... Modern conveniences. :)
Gary, this is the information I’ve been looking for! Thank you for your insightful comments.
I truly appreciate all of your videos! Your content is well-thought-out. You give really good tips based on your considerable experience as a professional cruise traveler. I am a solo traveler. One thing I would like to hear when you review specific cruise lines/cruises is whether, as a solo traveler, you paid double the fare (the cost of the fare for a couple) for your accommodations. I know from your past videos that you do often travel with your partner. It would be helpful to know, though, if there are any incentives for solo travelers like me to even look at Regent Seven Seas. I love the idea of luxury cruise travel but always hesitate to pay twice the cost. (I do know that the cruise lines are there to make money and that one person taking up the space of two fare-paying people is a serious consideration in their pricing.) Thank you, Gary!
Hello Gary, I’ve been viewing your informative videos for several months now.
My wife and I are celebrating our 35 year wedding anniversary and have been looking at cruises on Disney. That’s when I discovered your videos and learned about smaller luxury cruises.
You mentioned Regent Seven Seas and I was intrigued by their size and inclusive fare.
I booked a cruise (our first) on Regent Explorer for May ‘24 to Alaska. I am so intrigued by the cruise that I anticipate booking another Regent cruise from Florida.
I have found the price overall to be fair when flights and early arrival hotel (I booked a Concierge Suite) plus dinning and excursions are all inclusive.
I thank you for your heads up about Regent Seven Seas. Had it not been for you, we might have been boarding a Disney cruise with thousands of guests. I am certain that would have been my first and last cruise.
Nicely done. Cheers.
Hi there, and thanks so much for watching. And it great to hear that they have helped so much. I am sure you will be very happy with the choice!!
I hope that Mark can join you on the Japan cruise! I felt for you having to go on this one solo! Thank you for the video!
Congrats on 100! May you always have fair winds and following seas. Cheers!
Thanks!!!!
Royalties for contemporary Broadway shows are extremely high. It's less expensive to hire a big cast.
OMG, looking at that food is making me hungry & jealous!
Come on Gary, of course they all knew who you are and what you do.
I like Regent (but not the Navigator) and completely agree about the lack of casual evening dining.
RSSC has pool grill back open for casual dinner more since you went from what I’ve read. Great excursions; many different non-alcoholic smoothies/coffee drinks also offered.
Nope. It is still closed. What is happening is more theme night buffet parties like you saw, but no pool grill. It's a rather frustrating venture.
Thank you Gary for this video. Been hoping that you do a video on Regent to hear your thoughts. I would like to go on a cruise someday, and am heavily leaning toward a Regent cruise because of everything that is included in the cruise fare and they have smaller ships with a maximum of 750 guests on their 3 newest ships.
We’re booked on a RSS cruise next May (2025) beginning in Lisbon on the Grandeur. We cruised from San Diego to Vancouver on Holland America and found the amenities very similar to this ship (Navigator).
I just got back from a transatlantic cruise on the Splendor, it was fantastic.
Loved Ella, Mark, Joy, Gede and so many others on the Navigator! Their wonderful service elevates the cruise. Surprisingly, the casino was the emptiest I have ever cruised with,!
I long ago bought a multi port USB charger. Takes one outlet plug and don't have to fret about a USB socket anymore.
The Buffet on Cunard is open Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Never did get to try out the outdoor Burger Shack on QE, the weather was always too cold
What fun for the cruise ships to see your videos too!
We love Regents and have been on lots of their cruises around the world. Like you said the main attraction is that we pay up front and everything is included. We did a fantastic cruise on the Navigator last year up the Amazon and at 25 days the free laundry was a bonus. I can see if you don’t drink the free booze is lost on you but we loved the fine wine. Beer, cocktails and the fact that they fill your cabin fridge with your favs. The staff knew our names and dislikes by the 2nd day and the service outstanding probably because they are paid above the norm. We like the small numbers on board which enabled us to meet people. A agree completely with you that they seem to think anyone over 60 must only want to listen to old fashioned music and I have said so in my review but the talks were excellent especially of the Amazon. We went at the time of the Football World Cup and we were delighted that they were able to stream all the matches with a fun afternoon of England v USA in the theatre. We have also booked to go on the Explorer in 2024 to Japan so hope to see you on the ship.
Gary, how about one for the mobility challenged? Both ships and ports?
I agree with most of your points, though I do find Cunard to be a bit more stuffy than Regent. He is the thing to remember when dealing with lines like Regent, Seabourne and Seadream. Part of what you are paying for is the "No worries surcharge". What I mean by that is, you request something, it will appear, oh heck, prime example.
My wife and I were on Seadream II, I had actually sailed her as a kid when she was with Cunard as Sea Goddess II . On the second night out, my wife being a bit of an insomniac couldn't sleep, so she went up on deck to lay on one of the Bali beds and read. Of course she fell asleep up there, she awoke to find the crew had somehow gotten here pillows and blankets, a female member of staff was waiting a few feet away, with juices, coffee, tea and some danishes, I mean seriously, I can see the line having a member of staff stand by just in case, but having a choice of beverages and some food ready was so far over the top it still amazes me years later.
Anyways, yes there are some aspects that need to be updated for sure (USB's etc), but the lines main asset is it's staff, if it takes care of them they will take care of us.
My first cruise with Regent was on the Seven Seas Mariner where my partner actually booked the entire ship on its inaugural run for 9 glorious days as a company incentive. We also booked KC from the former KC and the Sunshine band so it was fun hanging out with him as well. There were about 580 of us and they even flew our company flag throughout the cruise. Needless to say, it was a glorious cruise. We later booked a cabin on the Navigator and also had a spectacular cruise. This line is absolutely five-stars all the way. With that said, I now opt for the more affordable Celebrity Apex-class ships where the service level is similar, but it doesn’t quite break the bank as much as Regency does. Great review Gary. *BTW, our group did enjoy the drinks and as I recall, our company was billed an additional $780,000 as bar costs! Oh I miss those times! Lol
Gary, one thing you didn't explain is the size of the ship, and the fact that most cabins have balconies. You're paying for a smaller (midsize) number of passengers, larger staterooms, quieter experience.
The Regent experience is not as much about the shows and on board activities. I doubt I'd go with them to the Caribbean. There are so many other lines that go there. We've used Regent to go to the Baltics, Mediterranean and Spain. All great trips, with great excursions. Even though our meals are all included, we sometimes go off on our own for lunch ashore to try the local cuisine.Sometimes lunches are included on those excursions, which is usually a real treat.
"End of cruise bill, Zero". Excellent!! I have begun to add my cruise fare to my end of cruise bill to determine my real cost per day.
You forgot to link the video at the end. It sounds like a video I'd like to watch, though!
I cruised the Med on this ship about 10 years ago. It’s the best cruise I’ve been on and one of my favourite holidays full stop.
I hope to cruise RSSC again some day, fingers xed. ❤
We have been on both the Navigator and the Explorer. Both had USB in our suites.
Love your videos! One comment that really resonated w me was the lack of non gourmet choices. When I attended the Culinary Institute of America we would get sick and tired of eating gourmet for lunch and dinner, everyday. Then when we went home for a visit w mom and dad they would ask me to cook gourmet for them ! I just wanted a PB&J.
Travel well and thanks for your content.
Longer cruises also have comedians/local entertainers. I love knowing exactly what you’ll spend ahead of time.
Cheri I agree,
Appreciate your digging loose leaf. Really want to take a gong fu Cha set on my first cruise. Or have it there waiting!!
Love the videos. Always helpful and fun videos that I love watching. I have a couple cruises planned starting this coming December and what h your videos to help me get the most from my vacations. Plan on starting to share my future journeys with others like you. ✌🏻
Gary - I'm hoping you'll take & review a cruise aboard one of the newer Regent ships (Explorer or Splendor . . . or, post-Nov 2023, Grandeur). Navigator is their smallest and oldest ship with, among other limitations, only one specialty restaurant (and a steakhouse at that . . . EVERY city of any size has a steakhouse so an onboard chophouse is not "unique").
Thank you for sharing your cruise.
Not sure if it’s just me, but the link didn’t appear for your suggested next video to watch…
We have sailed three three times on Regent and have three more planned in the coming year. Regent isn’t for everyone. There are certainly cheaper cruise lines but in Regents case the saying you get what you pay for is absolutely true.
We drink, and love excellent wine and cocktails. Regents really excels here, especially the cocktails. Top-shelf wines are available as well for an extra charge, but we found the house offerings to be just fine. They also have a great fresh juice bar that we loved to visit in the mornings.
Very interesting perspective. Especially for me, an avid cruiser who would NEVER, EVER sail on Regent again. Once was enough. My wife and I sailed on the Explorer last March on a transatlantic voyage, and it was not a good experience. Firstly, and something you did not mention, our fellow guests were old... and I mean really old. My wife and I are in our 60's, and while we were not the youngest people on board, probably 80% of folks were older. Some were much older. The chance to meet other interesting people (which we thoroughly enjoy on Cunard and Oceania) was absent on Regent as most folks were tucked in by 8:30.
While the food, and most front-line staff were fabulous, the ship seemed oblivious to the needs of many of their guests. My wife is in a small manual wheelchair (as were many others) and excursions were mostly only for the able bodied. The transportation provided was not accessible and people in guest services seemed to have no idea how to help us. Getting on and off the ship was always a nightmare, as they used the 5th floor departure, which was stairs. When I asked them: "considering how many frail and disable people on this ship, why not use the fourth floor departure area, as it is ramped". They just stared at me and said "it wasn't convenient". To them, apparently...
Food - 5 stars - Best food at sea...better than Oceania and Cunard who I love.
Butler and cabin stewards - 5 stars. Again, better and more considerate than any other line. Our butler was actually helpful and provided real value, and was fantastic at getting reservations.
Excursions - one star. Inaccessible, unhelpful staff and a total turn off.
Entertainment - 2 stars - Because the average age seemed to be in their 80's, I understood the focus on older type shows. Dull, but not awful.
Room - 3 stars - Comfortable bed, but definitely looks dated
Getting on and off the ship - 0 stars - I watched the guests disembark for the last time in Civitavechia, Italy, and every second guest almost fell down the stairs with their walkers and canes.
If you like sailing with the geriatric, are able bodied and like a dated room, this cruise line might be for you!
I was on board this cruise as well. Yes, the passengers were elderly. (They know what they're getting) The weather was bad. The stop in Bermuda was cancelled. It was rainy and rough from Madeira through the Straits of Gibraltar to Malaga. But by the time we got to Rome, it was sunny. Had you continued onto the following cruise, you would have experienced excellent weather and interesting ports. In short, a trans-Atlantic at this time of year is priced for what it's worth. Give it another try! Best of luck.
@@eikoGoldstein I cannot imagine spending another day on a cruise line that treated us, the way Regent did. I certainly never complained about the weather (which was terrible, but hardly the fault of the cruise line) or the itinerary. My major concern was how a "luxury" cruise line that appeals to seniors, hasn't figured out how to deal with seniors and their attendant infirmities in a civilized way.
Cross RSS off my list.
I am not disabled, rather I'm extremely fit for my age. But refusing to make simple accommodations for those who need them is appalling. Not using a ramped exit when one is available?!? Not offering accessible excursions? Not even offering a helping hand when someone is having trouble with stairs?
This is all kinds of wrong.
@@dogmaticagnostic7716 understood! Best wishes!
@@eikoGoldstein You, as well.
The Navigator, being the smallest, oldest, most outdated, destined to be replaced ship in the Regent fleet is NOT a good way to gauge Regent overall. Sail on the Voyager or the Mariner for the next oldest ships in the fleet, then elevate yourself to the Explorer, the Splendor and, launching soon, the Grandeur. The newer / newest ships in the fleet are COMPLETELY different than the Navigator, and will make for a review that is much more representative of the company overall.
This why you are the number 1 cruise TH-camr great information in a reasonable timeframe. Thank you 😊
We did a Regent Navigator cruise, Montreal to NYC, last fall to celebrate our 50th anniversary. It was our first Regent cruise. The food was excellent. Enjoyed the all inclusive aspect, although the shore excursions were not always that great. The staff was very friendly. We told our travel agent that this was a special cruise for our 50th and I am sure she she passed that along to Regent, yet there was no recognition of the event from Regent. We are looking at Oceania or similar for future cruises at a reduced cost.
We splurged for our first luxury cruise on RSS Mariner last summer, to Alaska. For the price (VERY expensive in our opinon) I was expecting more luxury in the decor - like more glitz, crystal and glass. Here the lux was in the upholstered furn(even in the buffet), excellent, “a cut above the others” cruise staff, small number of cruisers (500 on a 750 max ship) and unusual types of excursions being offered. What I missed from cruises on Celebrity was not being seated with other guests - it was just my husband and I , like every other day at home! It was like this because it was “open” seating and we always enjoyed getting to meet and exchange stories with others at dinner. Would we go again? I was surprised just how many “every day people” (who we met on our pre-cruise bus land trip of Alaska) had done many cruises on RSS. For me, it was nice once, but not worth the money in the end - my opinion.
Gary, thank you as always. As my life goes on, I look to accomplish bucket list items. One was to do a Ultra-Luxury Cruise. I am a planner and focus on logic and strategy. I did an elaborate Excel with all the brands. Truth be told, I really wanted Regent Seven Seas. After 30 cruises, one on a luxury line (Crystal not Ultra-Luxury), I realize both the cost and experience would not create a good business decision on my part. TH-cam videos like yours support my claim. Thank you again and cruise well, enjoy every moment.
Always look forward to watching your videos. Love the camera you use to film yourself. You can't see the stick - what is it, it's brilliant?
'If' I could ever afford it, I would choose a Regent Seven Seas ship for my very first cruise. I wouldn't have any expectations, so everything would blow me away. I don't drink alcohol, with the exception of a liqueur now and then, so that would be wasted on me as well. I would be happy with a fridge stocked with Diet Pepsi. It's interesting to see what cruising is all about, thanks to your videos, Gary!
To be honest...the much higher fare doesn't justify the product. I believe the Suite life on Celebrity at a much lower fare is a better deal.
Very informative! I’ll also be on the Explorer cruising Japan in Oct/Nov--our first Regent cruise. A splurge to be sure! I was surprised to learn there were no USB ports in the cabins, given the Navigator was remodeled in 2019. The Explorer was built in 2016 so I guess there won’t be usb ports in there. Good to know!
But as a tea drinker I was very disappointed to see they serve Twinings-it’s such a common, pedestrian “meh” line of teas. For what they charge I would have expected a high quality, tea brand.
But I
What tea would you recommend TY=Phoo?
@@lenvella9541 Harney and Sons, Tea Forte’, Fortnum & Mason, Republic of Tea, Mighty Leaf
After seeing this, I would love to go on a Regent's cruise.
Haven't cruised with Regent and probably won't ever have that kind of $$$ to do so. That said, Regent's web page touting all-included perks is screaming "FREE" at my face. Funnily enough, on the top of the page they use the term "include", which is accurate. Scroll down to see what are included, they start listing every item with "FREE" as the first word of each item description. If I had the financial capability to cruise with Regent, I'd know that nothing is free. Maybe I'm overly sensitive and easily triggered, or just haven't had enough coffee this morning, but I find the use of "free" insulting, especially by an ultra-luxury cruise line.
That "stocked" mini bar didn't look very stocked to me. Princess FULLY stocks it to overflowing. And for FREE if you are Elite. (15 cruises)
Heidi and I would like to see you go on the New Crystal line and compare the two.
Wow Gary! I never had a cruise where it ended up zero as the amount I spent! That is a big plus
I’m not even much of a shopper so the money I spent was on the stupid coffee package with so I didn’t use that much because the coffee place to no open till nine in the morning and the excursions
Thank goodness. Not another mass cruise line video with obnoxious people whinging about the buffet. (or worse just sitting somewhere repeating the "cruise news" ). I'm not a fan of entertainment on a ship anyway, I love watching the sea, meeting new people and the ports. Casinos, shows and live music leave me cold. Food unfortunately is important. New subscriber here
If wanting destination immersion the higher end ships have an advantage. The ship is more of a quality Hotel with a great lounge and restaurant. This works great if you enjoy low key Sea-days.
Your informative videos bring me joy. Thank you and peace.
Also booked Japan round trip as our second regent trip👍👍👍
I would be interested to see you review the Ritz Carlton Yacht
Thank you Gary. We appreciate your videos and commentary.
Thanks, Gary! Love your vBlogs!
I must agree with your Gary that the lack of informal dining opportunity is a shame. On Explorer, at least, the Pool Grill provides some respite in this regard. Was that not available on Navigator in the evenings?
This line sounds amazing. Even the daily programming is definitely for me. I will be keeping an eye on Regent Seven Seas.
Excellent info! As a travel advisor, I love your reviews and feedback. Thanks!
We had our first Regent Cruise in Nov 22. I would absolutely agree with the comment about the airport transfer. It was poorly organised which led to a very long wait at the airport, not a great start. We did report the experience but it seems nothing has changed. Apart from that our overall experience was excellent and we are looking forward to our next trip in 12 months time.
I've been lucky enough to sail with Regent Seven Sea, twice. (Hopefully, there will be more cruises - although I'll have to really save up for them.) They have been the best cruises I've ever taken. My only issue is that their cruises have become so port intensive. (I book a cruise, not to be tied up to a pier everyday. I love sea days - where I can enjoy being on a ship that is doing what it's intended to do....Be at sea.) Having said that..the service on Regent Seven Seas is beyond reproach; the food offerings are outstanding; their suites are incredibly comfortable and spacious.
Welcome to luxury cruising Gary. I travel Regent and Silver Sea a lot. Sorry the embarkation experience wasn’t good, I’ve never had an issue. What you describe in your video with food and service is what I’ve come to expect. I recently travelled mass market and realized it didn’t measure up. As they say - you get what you pay for.
I’m going on splendor in 5 days for the first time on any cruise. What are some regent secrets I should ask for or do? We are i. The penthouse class rooms
Gary, as usual a great sum up of your voyage! I was years ago on RSS and was not impressed due to lack of entertainment. I clearly recall that food was excellent, and alcohol ran free (many people love RSS for that). For some of us who do not drink or drink moderately it's a sunk cost. However, looking at the fun you had I may look again at the RSS. Thank you!
Thank you for this fantastic video. I always read that Oceania was one of the best restaurants at sea, along with Queens Grill. Would you agree with that?🤩
I've not yet sailed with Cunard, but I can personally vouch for Oceania's claim. Their food is consistently fabulous. Great line otherwise, as well.
@@portaltwo Thank you. I have yet to sail on Oceania or Regent 7 Seas but can tell you that Cunnards QG is fabulous, or was prior to covid which from what I have heard from friends cruising on other Carnival controlled lines, the standard has decreased sadly.
My husband and I have cruised on several Cunard Atlantic crossings in the Queen's Grill, and the food was very good, but we have sailed on Oceania fifteen times, and their food is outstanding in all restaurants on board. You have to remember that only a small percentage of the guests on Cunard can eat in the Queen's Grill dining room. On Oceania any gest can eat in any restaurant. We have never sailed on Regent, but we have friends who think it is the best.
This was really interesting, I watched rhe Channel 5 doc on this, nice to see another viewpoint!
I do wish there were some cruises with an emphasis on health - with healthy food options that are still delicious. Even sugar free and lighter desserts, breakfast healthy options etc
I have to say I experienced this on a Fred Olsen cruise. Amazingly attentive staff.
Enjoy your postings! Pretty much everything you note about this ship is true for Viking with the exception of shore excursions in small groups. Many people on Viking to whom this matters book their own private shore excursions. Staff are profesional, competent, and seem to all know my name within a ew days (address me as “Sir John”). The ships are not identical, and each have small advantages. My experience on Oceania’s older smaller ships was similar, but not quite as superb. Here on the Viking Neptune I am on first name basis and often chat with the cruise director, the entertainment director, and the head chef (Chef Willy). No line is perfect, but you could pretty much substitute “Viking” and still be accurate.
Great video as usual Gary. Perfect timing. My friend sails on this same ship same itinerary March 13.
Thank you for your videos Gary, they are thoroughly enjoyable.
Your videos are informative and entertaining , and you are a delight to listen to. Other cruise videos I have seen the hosts manner of speaking is too rushed for my liking
As always, an excellent review! very excited to see your take on The Ritz Carlton Yacht!
Omg i went there on Feb 25- march 4 I think , it was Bangkok to Manila, it was really great considering i came from a 3rd world country and i almost never experience luxury, my parents work/worked for Regent before, my mom Left to take care of us and my dad would work there, so i rarely see/meet my dad
Their Steaks, Peaches, salami, and Bread were so good!
This time Ive been to Explorer, in feb-March too on 2019 i was on The mariner
Imagine having Gary Bembridge aboard? That would be pretty cool.