I agree with Ngaire, unless you have some special excursion planned for that day, like a 4x4 in the mountains, or plan on being in a rental car around Tahiti Nui/Iti and want to make the most of it, there's little reason not to board fairly early. You can always get back off the ship and explore downtown Papeete.

Egret, I'm with you! Bring on the PG air specials, and I'll be there!

I received this email from Regent and I am posting it here.

Dear Ngaire:

I feel the need to respond to the recent article in the Washington Post.

Firstly, we would never blame a guest for our mistake.
However, we would suggest that if guests are arriving at an unusual hour to the ship because of their independently-arranged flight or tour schedule (in this case the guests arrived at the pier after 10 p.m.), it is a good idea to let us know, because typically we would not expect them to arrive that late at night, several hours after the main embarkation had taken place.

It is not unusual for there to be “no shows” at our vessels (or any cruise ship for that matter). In this case the assumption was made (incorrectly, as it turned out) that the guests were not going to check in that evening when they were not onboard by 10.00 pm. The ship sailed at 10 p.m., instead of the published 2.30 a.m. sailing time.

The article states that the guests are still waiting for an apology from Regent. We apologized profusely to them at the time (verbally), and then later in writing.

This incident occurred in November 2005, almost eighteen months ago.

Thanks for the opportunity to set the record straight.

Best regards
Andrew

Oh my goodness!! Thank you Ngaire, for posting the letter you received from Andrew at Regent. It certainly helps to understand what really happened!

Unbelievable - thanks Ngaire - an entire ship was inconvenienced and 18 months later it makes the news as they wait for "their" apology, again - :mad: :mad:

Remember it is possible these people did not even know this was published recently.

That newspaper article was about different circumstances where things went wrong on trips.

This piece could have been first published 18 months ago and just pulled for this new article. At the time this was written maybe the people had not received the written apology from Regent.

I can almost see how this happened. The ship had always sailed at 10.00pm with the later departure being a new development and only to wait for the New York plane. I heard there was no late New York plane that night. So when the people had not shown up for dinner and still not onboard by 10.00 pm they were considered a no show. A mistake on Regent's part but at least I can understand it better now.

It is odd for people to board a ship that late.

Wow...I always thought the press could be sensational...guess there was a shortage of good stories. Thanks, Ngaire, for posting.

I thought this sounded lame for Regent.. one of the ships misplaced our dry cleaning and fell over themselves with verbal and written apologies and champagne.

Maybe they were having dinner at Le Belvedere!

It is odd to publish a report that old - too bad - I wonder if the couple quoted were even contacted before it was published.

Poor reporting at the very least - the time of the incident should have been noted.

Well, I think I can safely say it will never happen to me! I want to be on board the minute it's allowed! Don't want to waste a minute! Lee

I couldn't agree more!!

The fact this happened 18 months ago definitely should have been mentioned in the article. But there is absolutely nothing in the article which is untrue. In fact, Poulton's letter to Ngaire confirms the information and amplifies it. Even he doesn't dispute the facts in the story. Obviously, there is a difference of opinion between Regent and the couple over an apology.

I strongly feel it is wrong to believe that the couple was in any way responsible for what happened, or that the Washington Post was wrong to publish the story (except for the date). Tom.

Although I agree that the couple wasn't to blame (except for not taking advantage of a wonderful dinner), Regent certainly shouldn't be lambasted at this late date, either. Not being checked in by 10pm would lead me to believe they were a no-show. I wonder if others have had the same misfortune as some trips leave at 10pm while others leave at 2:30am; it could leave to honest mistakes. Of course, 99.9% want to get onboard as soon as they can so it would be a moot point.

Ngaire, thanks for getting the answer. I figured (rightly) that you were getting the up to date information for us so I was checking in here frequently instead of bothering Regent myself.

After this experience my instinct is they would never leave again prior to the official departure time without everyone being accounted for onboard.

It is really only the PG that leaves at night like this. If you look at all the other itineraries the majority of departure times are usually 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm. This is just an odd situation in Tahiti due to the flights.

While reading this thread it has occurred to me that PANDA sails from Osaka at 11:00 pm. You guys make sure they don't leave without us, OK? ;)

We are coming from Tokyo on embarkation day but our arrangements are such that we should not be cutting it close at all. After all, we would not want to miss dinner! :D

Dena

Dena we will put it in your record you will be arriving at the ship late as a precautionary measure. If you are early no problem.

Thanks Ngaire, I am not at all worried unless there is a major glitch in our transportation, or the ship leaves early (which I'm sure it won't!). We are on a flight arriving in the afternoon. In fact we are considering possibly going to see the Osaka aquarium after getting checked in on the ship - I think it's located right at the pier.

Dena

Thanks, Ngaire, for posting this information. Isn't it amazing what a few facts can do!!!

Unfortunately, the entire thing was taken out of context, it appears, by a hasty journalist.

Thanks again.

Pincus

The Washington Post put a clarification on the front page of the Travel section today regarding this story.

Last week's item about a Regent Seven Seas ship leaving port hours early should have noted that the incident occurred in November 2005. The advice -- tell your cruise line of your flight plans so it doesn't leave without you -- still holds.

Dena - the Osaka aquarium is definitely worth checking out ... and you're right, it should be a hop, skip, jump away from our boarding area.

Masaki

There often seems to be a disconnect between Regent (RSSC), the port agent etc. In 1999 we were on a Baltic cruise on the Diamond. For this cruise, we had used RSSC air so therefore, they had our flight information. However, we were rerouted from Cincinnati - JFK - Stockholm to Cincinnati - Paris - Stockholm which arrived a bit later. Since we had used RSSC air, we expected to be met at Stockholm airport for the transfer to the ship. I was able to call the RSSC office before it closed to inform them of our change in flights. When we arrived in Stockholm, no transfer was to be found. We ended up taking a cab to the ship (later reimbursed) but the lousy explanation was that the port agent's office wasn't open that day. Why wouldn't you check for messages / faxes etc. on embarkation day.