We’ve been with Regent 5 times before so know to expect the highest level of luxury and outstanding polite, friendly and efficient service. Their attention to detail is phenomenal and with under 500 guests and almost as many crew you can see why these cruises are vastly superior to lower cost ones.
Many of the staff, and not just your suite stewards, greet you by name which is amazing when we sat at different tables and in different restaurants. On our way home we were even greeted by name and wished a safe journey at the airport by a waiter who can only of served us a few times.
We like the fact you pay for the entire cruise including trips, food, wines etc beforehand so nasty surprises or big bills afterwards.
The downsides? Very few but for the first time meeting and transfer arrangements from airport to hotel and then to the boat were chaotic and left many first timers to Regent unimpressed. We tried to tell people this was far from our previous experience but it gave a bad first impression. A mix up over luggage collection resulted in us carrying our own luggage onboard unaided up a long flight of steps. We needed that welcome glass of champagne!
We also noticed (as is common with nearly every company on the planet) some cost cutting procedures eg a cheap biro in cabin replacing nicer pens of yore, fewer expensive dishes on the menu eg halibut, crabs legs but that is nit picking as you couldn’t fault the quality or variety of food with exciting new menus every day. Also we saw the waiters round the pool were hardworking but simply not enough of them and we often waited 20 minutes for a drink to come or a couple of times we were forgotten completely but we were relaxed and on holiday so not worried. The staff all seem genuinely friendly and want you to have a good time.
There seemed to be almost as many British as Americans on this cruise and I’m guessing 98% over 50. This isn’t a cruise for young children and has none of the big screens, water slides, climbing walls you see on the larger brasher ships. There is a nice pool, 18 hole putting green and other board activities for the active. The theatre had well attended music shows and a magician. The atmosphere was always friendly but never raucous. At dinner you could choose to dine as two or “share” which was a lovely way of meeting new people.
We are definitely looking forward to our next cruise, most likely with Regent!
