I love the free internet. However, taking away the SSS discount is, to me, worse. Where is the mutiny over the higher costs or lack of SSS discounts on so many cruises? Maybe we can give back priority dinner reservations or priority spa reservations to get more internet bandwidth or to get back our SSS discounts? ;)

Marc, YES, YES! I would gladly give back many perks of Gold, like daily newspaper, dinner reservations priority, spa reservations priority, even tier events, to get back that automatic SSS discount of yore. We could buy those services for less than has been taken away! Same with all-inclusive with the much higher fares!

I wanted to hop on to your original post, and did not, because it said everything I am feeling about Regent over the past few years, and would have been redundant. I am upset about what we are now paying per diem for any cruise other than crossings.

I too, am feeling extreme "sticker shock" for 09 as I have booked myself for FLL to Dover, and the Viet Nam cruise. Hopefully all weather gods will be with us, and they will be great cruises. In the end, supply vs. demand always wins. Hard to say what will happen when the money comes due for some of the cruises.

Sorry if this breaks Larry's rule about complaints. It really can be taken either way, complaint or suggestions for improvements. Just my thoughts, as one who, one night after boarding her next cruise, will reach Platinum!!!!!

Between our cruise, the holidays, and Mark's surgery, 2009 hasn't even been a glimmer on our horizon, so I haven't looked at pricing. We have one cruise booking "parked" (need to find the paperwork, I guess) but that was one of those just-in-case things.

As far as the tier benefits, I think the internet and some pressing are about all we'd be excited over, and we could pay for the pressing.

I have to say that the free internet is a huge perk as a Silver member. Never went in the computer lab once, since the laptop worked so well from the cabin on Voyager. The hour of phone time is great also, anything else to me is basically useless.

FV

I echo Olivia's sentiments about the pricing and per diems. Have really enjoyed the product but the per diem in the Med is over 700/night on the Navigator for 2009. Hard to plan much at those rates. Wow!!

One idea for a perk might be for Regent to offer 1-2 cruises per year heavily discounted for the most loyal repeaters (Silver and above). These could be some of the Caribbean shoulder season sailings, etc. or one late Med. So it would be like a SSS discount...only better.

Our cruise on 12/07/2007 on Voyager was our first cruise on Regent being All-inclusive. This cruise was heavily discounted, and we had some certificates from Mush we were able to use. The thing that surpised me the most is I expected to see Voyager lounge and other bars a little more busy, and the several nights we stopped by Voyager lounge it was dead. This cruise had a couple sea days also so usually there are some late nights.I guess its true that There really is no PARTY unless there is an LCT Group aboard. Regent is really cleaning up with the new fares.

Frank

On Navigator, the crew had an American Idol show which drew the biggest audience I have ever seen on a cruise. It was great fun and made a wonderful way to get to know your waiter, etc. I imagine it was like the Dancing with the Stars on the Mariner recently.

I agree with most all the above but would like to throw in our two cents for the free cruise after reaching Platinum level. Love the free laundry but I'd rather have the free cruise!

Add me to the gang who would keel over if they took the free internet away! And we actually love the free 1 hour of phone time and have used it every time!

I like the regional food and cnsider this a huge perk. I loved it on Voyager, we weren't on Navigator long enough for that, I guess, but I would have rather had spiny lobster than that wierd lobster they had the captain's night.

I'd like to see the stewardesses (and all the vast amount of internet posters) actually understand the room liquor policy for those that only drink wine.

Also, I would like to see stewardesses understand a person's habits without having to religiously put out the cabin privacy card just to get ready for dinner.

I'd like a full room inspection before boarding so that I know the safe works and the chairs on the expensive balcony can be used.

I'd like to be able to get an onboard booking discount within a week of returning home because on the shortie, she was either busy, closed or I was not available.

I'd like to see daily spa specials, as if you didn't get up there the first hour of the cruise, you were paying over $3 a minute for the spa.

Also, on sea days, they seem to have some of the best events at the same time. I'd like to see them really survey guests and spread the fun and interesting things across the sea days.

I think they are beating their competitors on the repeat guest programs and single supplements by far, so I doubt they improve, but I am all for that.

I would also like to see Navigator add another dining option at night - maybe do something with the card room or something.

I'd also like to see more casual cruises that don't go above informal or at least more with only one formal night.

I would also like to see the 3 and 4 night offerings expanded and planned out instead of offered at the last minute. I would also see a commitment to not let these get chartered.

Agree with all comments.

I would like to see more cabins made equipped for handicapped travelers.

It can be like a walker or wheelchair brigade at embark or debark----and yet they only have a small number of handicapped cabins. More cabins for the disabled.

Also, make a cabin to accomodate 3 people and have a handicapped bathroom in it !!! Right now an adult child taking his 2 elderly parents cannot be three in a cabin anywhere on the ship and get a handicapped bathroom----even the larger suites. Unless this has changed in the past year on the Mariner.

I think any new build should have ALL the bathrooms easy for handicapped people whether needed or not---it might help even moderate disabled people and cause less falls or bumps--and even lawsuits.

I hope I dont sound like I am complaining

Randy

Another "I would like to see": Less programming two interesting events at the same time. I was frustrated by that on Navigator last November when I wanted to play bridge and also attend the lectures which were always scheduled at the same time. Even the bridge lecturers complained to me that they, too, would like to attend the lectures but couldn't because they had to be in the card room overseeing the duplicate play.

Jean, that is the reason I stopped playing bridge on the ships. I really think they should have duplicate bridge games scheduled opposite the shows at 9:45pm instead of (or in addition to) 1:30pm. An 8:00am game would be good too.

Just getting caught up.
Ngaire, I have been on 6 cruises on Radisson/Regent and only had the needlepoint on one of them.
Debbie made a point of wanting more casual wear. I, personally, would enjoy more formal, informal than cc casual. I am old fashioned, I guess, and if I am on a 6 star ship, I expect a little bit more formality than on others.
Lynn

I imagine the needlepoint is offered on the longer cruises that have more sea days and are less port intensive. I always seem to remember the needlepoint corner but I have been on longer cruises in the last year and that may be the reason I always see the needlepoint corner.

On Fjords we have to vacate our pooch table for the needlepointers every day.

This thread certainly highlights the differences between what each person feels is important.

They offered needlepoint on CROSS every afternoon right around Tea Time.

You're right Ngaire--one person's delight is another's disaster. That's what makes a community! I think RSSC does a good job of trying to provide something for everyone. Because space and time are finite on a cruise, sometimes the choices aren't everyone's ideal. But I think they do as good a job as one can do with both.

I'm a game person and loved having trivia twice a day as well as "Jamie's games" (pictionary, ship feud, gestures etc.) once a day as they do on all sea days on the WC.

Lynn, I really like informal, but formal is not always great. I am not going to get my husband in his tux 3 nights I doubt. He could do the dark suit but so far has not done a formal night on a ship without wearing a tux.

When I meant more casual I meant some cruises that didn't have so many formal nights that were to some of the exotic places. This would be more important in Navigator when you are not just going to try to go to Portofinos all the time.

On Voyager on my cruise, on cc nights, everyone wore informal, and on informal nights, all the women were formal. They always dressed one leg up from the posted. Even the men mostly wore jackets on cc nights. I am certainly not for a big downgrade just the opportunity to not have to go fancy every other night.

Maybe somebody's said this before, but here's a big one for me: choose guest lecturers that enhance the destinations. Our two Caribbean trips have been disappointing in this regard--nothing about the local history, culture, anthropology, natural world. Nada. We had Stubbs talking about the politics and economics of China--how about somebody lecturing about Guatemalan history, or Mayan civilization? On the PG this part of the trip is perfect.

Loved the ballroom dance classes. I'm thinking that they will have them frequently on the WC, since two of the young dancers we spoke to said that the big evening shows will probably only be presented once per segment, freeing the performers up to set up other events perhaps.

I agree with most of what everybody has got down. We've done only Voyager cruises. The food has been fabulous, service exceptional, guest room spacious and luxurious, shore excursions fabulous/different/challenging.. but my husband and I would chg/add:
- no formal nights; we actually prefer Regent to any other line in most areas by far, but did select Oceania on our last cruise due to their no formal dress (and itinerary). We don't like packing that extra weight/space for 2 nights and frankly when on vacation, we don't want to wear formal wear
- continued restricted smoking. I know, I'm a non-smoker, but the reality is that most people are nowadays and to start allowing smoking in staterooms is just not going to happen. The days of having to smell stale smoke from previous guests or sharing a public room with smokers is hopefully over.
- better entertainment in the showroom; not meant to be a complaint, but we have had more entertaining entertainment on other lines, albeit it was a few years ago (so is this a trend?) Would like to see fun/great magicians, better comedians, maybe even some music that wasn't from Broadway - less pop..
- Our personal preference is no days at sea. I know many folks enjoy that break, but we'd prefer to have the choice of getting off and exploring or staying on board and relaxing. This is a big thing with us when selecting our cruises. First we select 3 lines to look at: Regent, Crystal, and Oceania (after our last one) and then look at where we want to go and what their itineraries are.
- public rooms on Oceania were nicer - larger, but still intimate; decor very appealing

That's our opinion for what it's worth. Age may be a factor I realize. My husband is 50 and I'm 48. We hopefully have a lot of years of cruising left and the more active we can be, in order to enjoy the gourmet food on board, the better.

I personally enjoy sea days. I like many of the suggestions that have been mentioned so far.

I'd like to see several choices for pillows, not just feather or lumpy foam. How about the theraputic pillows?

I agree with Wendy about lecturers. It was so much more interesting to hear about where we're headed. That's not to say there shouldn't be other lecturers, but there should be a few who are well versed on where we're headed.

Camera workshops (SLR type) that are more than here is a digital camera and you can put files on a CD and view them on a computer. Everyone has a camera on these type of trips and I would think that this could be really helpful

Grant,

I'd like to see something like that, too. But I really do not think there is much interest.

We've signed up for Photo tours on our last 2 cruises with Photo Pros, but they've been cancelled for lack of interest. We were really looking forward to going out on a photo shoot with the Pro on Moorea & were very disappointed it was cancelled. Instead we booked an ATV to tour places, but it would have been much better with an experienced pro to guide us and to gear the trip to the lighting conditions, etc.