On March 14, about 55 LCTers will embark on the Seven Seas Mariner with executives from Regent, to help them design the new ship they’ve announced. While on the Mariner from Bangkok to Singapore last year, Regent President Mark Conroy discussed the new ship’s design, saying it will be larger and more stable. He indicated larger suites would fill the additional space and keep the maximum number of guests to about 700 (although on one occasion he mentioned 750). At another point, he indicated the standard suite would be about 450 sq ft. This raises an important point that LCTers may want to weigh in on in Question 1 below: Larger suites with more space, which likely means higher prices, or more suites (and paying guests) to help hold prices down.

Mr. Conroy also noted they were trying to decide about the theater, because it's a big piece of real estate to hold all of the guests for use about 6 hours a day and not always full; so Question 2: One very large theater or two smaller, one to hold around 500 and another for around 150.

This post would be remiss without a big Thanks to jbittle for the info on the new ship from the Mariner's Bangkok-Singapore President's Cruise last year.

Theater size: is there any regulation which requires a ship to have one space where all passengers/staff can all congregate.
Of course, "seating" may be limited to 500+ but additional people can stand or additional "seating" can be brought in.

Just question . . . .

Peggy

One problem with smaller suites and 750 to 800 guests is that open seating can't be handled when you get over 750, even with 700 the CR sometimes has a wait to be seated.

Peggy, I seriously doubt there is any such regulation; if there were, how could ships like the Caribbean Princess - 3150 passengers - sail at all?

With respect to dining space, I would expect that the ship's designers would provide extra space in Compass Rose and Veranda in a larger ship, particularly if suites were added, but it's an excellent point to raise with Regent's management during the cruise starting March 14th.

I must say though, that in all our years sailing with RSSC - both brands - we've only had to wait for a table twice, and once was because four of us went to, I think, Latitudes, and didn't want to risk the menu (there were two who were alergic to fish). The CR matre'd escorted us to the near-by bar and told the bartender to put our drinks on his tab, meaning as many as we needed according to that bartender, urging haste, but we only had one apice before we were seated. Obviously, this was before 'all-inclusive' came into play.

>>Peggy, I seriously doubt there is any such regulation; if there were, how could ships like the Caribbean Princess - 3150 passengers - sail at all?<<

Good point . . .

My thought was that question 2 about the theater seemed biased: are these really the only two options? Is this a trade-off Regent has previously discussed? If a smaller (500 person) theater is deemed adequate, why is there a need for a second, smaller venue? Why couldn't there simply be one 500-passenger theater?

I've only been on 5 Regent cruises (2 PG, 2 Diamond, 1 Voyager), far less than many of you on this forum, but I have never seen the theaters completely full. Are there times that everyone on the ship turns out for an event?

Or would it be possible, with a slightly smaller theater, to move to two shows a night on some nights -- an early and a late? It seems many people don't go to the shows currently because they're tired and want to get to sleep. Why not have an 8:30 and a 10:00 show? The early diners could go to the early show and still turn in early; the late diners wouldn't have to rush through their meals to make the show. It might not be feasible for all the entertainers, but certainly would be for some. Broadway shows do two two-and-a-half hour shows a day; two 50-minute shows on a ship ought to be feasible for some performances.

I'd sure vote for Regent to shrink some facilities, like the theater, if it enabled them to add a few extra cabins and keep the prices down for the majority of cruisers. Does the boutique area need as much space as it's given on Voyager? It seems like a lot of space devoted to a not widely-used resource. With many -- certainly not all -- passengers bringing laptop computers and having WiFi access throughout the ship, could the computer room be a little smaller?

As for dining, I don't mind terribly if we have to wait for a table. We, too, had the pre-all inclusive experience of maitre d's sending us to a nearby bar for drinks on the house until a table became available -- who could complain? We tend to eat on the later side, and we understand that the room may be full if we show up a little after the main evening rush. But we're there to relax, so we don't have a problem if we need to wait a little until some of the early diners complete their meals.

-- Eric

I have never experienced the theater when you couldn't get a seat anywhere on either the Voyager or Mariner. I'd like to keep the number of passengers down to 700 as well as the prices down so I guess this means leaving the standard cabins the size they are on the Voyager. If prices keep going up the way they are, most of their loyal cruisers (including us) will be looking at other vacation options.

Marcie.
It had to be close to full when we had "Dancing with the Mariner Stars".But I agree I don't think they are ever completely full and standing room only.

I thought of that too Jim. I think Dancing With the Mariner Stars is the MOST crowded I've ever seen Constellation Theater on any Regent ship, any cruise!! (well except maybe the night we had Oscar Night dinner in lower level of CT on SA trip but they had taken out all the chairs and cocktail tables for that and only had the built in bench seats so not good comparison)

After about a week, 76 of you voted, the poll is closed and the results are in:

1. Larger suites (cost more) or more like Voyagers (help hold down costs)
Larger suites (450 sq.ft.) but only 350 of them, or 700 passengers max. (likely to increase costs) 30% (23 votes)
More Voyager-size suites, up to 375-400, for 750-800 total passengers (help hold down costs) 70% (53 votes)

Seven out of ten of you voted in favor of leaving suite size basically as it is, to help keep prices lower!

2. One Theater or two?
One very large theater to hold most or all passengers 25% (19 votes)
Two theaters, one for ± 500, the other for ± 150 75% (57 votes)

Three of four voted in favor of two smaller theaters over one larger venue.

These results will be passed along to Regent management next week during the cruise. THANK YOU to all who participated.

I think it's coming through loud and clear to KEEP PRICES DOWN.