The Voyager is scheduled to arrive in Southampton on May 31st if the Reykjavik departure is a go.

Next cruise shown is departing June 7.

Is the ship chartered for the time between May 31 and June 7?

Oh so "cruisejunkie" is not on the cruise, he is just posting someone elses report? Now I am confused, not that thats unusal! :eek: I would hope that someone who hates Regent would not cruise them - how miserable for everyone else.

By the way where is everyone seeing the revised schedule? I looked at RSSC a couple of hours ago and they were still showing all cruises as scheduled and I didn't see any announcement on the site, but maybe I just missed it.

Ngaire is showing 05/31 - 06/07 and 06/20 - 06/26 as charters.

Peggy, the option of going all the way to Vancouver is mentioned on photofinnish's blog. Somewhere (I can't locate now), I thought I had seen that 40 people had taken that option.

JoAnn, here is the revised schedule for the leg between Dubai and Rome.

Actually it was to begin on 5/8/09. Should they decide to replace Segment 1 FLL-Reykjavik with a new Rome-Reykjavik itinerary, I think there will be at least some port stops....at least I would hope so...France, Spain, Portugal Riviera.

We'll just have to wait and see but many times when itineraries and dates change GOOD things for passengers can come out of it so let's try to keep our glasses 1/2 full until we know our options.

What are the passengers who opt to switch to the Mariner going to do until it arrives in Singapore (I don't think it arrives for about a week)? Some time must be allotted for travel but how will they cover the extra days in Dubai/Singapore?

I'd sure be tempted to switch to the Mariner and see Asia again!

Ralph, nice analysis..as for fishnets..also remember on our Voyager TA in Nov (out of Funchal) we snagged a fishnet too for a one day delay (Regent was able to fix in 10 day
drydock in December along with wondeful refurb)
maybe they need fishet sonar/radar??

Just out of curisoity does anyone kow if the problem was a net or a "long line?" I know we have huge problems with long liners out of Guaymas.

Greg

Fastest way to get this to you all will be sending out emails shortly. This is for the back to back guests.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING
SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER’S MAY 8-31 VOYAGE

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Dear Guest:

I am writing to you to provide you with an important update regarding the May 8th departure of Seven Seas Voyager.

As you may be aware, one of the ship’s pod propulsion units became entangled with a fishing net on March 18th after departure from Singapore and subsequently experienced a mechanical failure which resulted in the shutdown of the pod and the substantial reduction of the ship’s cruising speed. Following thorough inspections by technicians, it has been determined that the extent of the damage is greater than originally anticipated and the ship must be dry-docked to facilitate the necessary repairs.

Seven Seas Voyager is now en route to Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, from where the World Cruise guests currently on board will be flown home, and the ship will be temporarily withdrawn from service for repair. We have therefore had to make the painful decision to cancel the next two sailings of the vessel, which includes the May 8th departure from Fort Lauderdale. However, we anticipate resuming our published schedule with the May 21st sailing from Reykjavik to Southampton.

We are truly sorry for the disappointment this news will undoubtedly cause you, but we would like to offer you three options:

Option 1
Join Seven Seas Voyager in Reykjavik on May 21st for the 10-night cruise to Southampton. Receive a pro-rated refund of the 13-night unused portion of your cruise, plus receive a Future Cruise Credit of $1,000 per person, valid through December 31, 2010, plus we will arrange for your one-way economy class air transportation to Reykjavik at no additional charge.

Option 2
Switch to any other RSSC cruise of up to 23 nights at the same rate you paid for your cruise, plus receive a Future Cruise Credit of $1,000 per person, valid through December 31, 2010.

Option 3
Receive a full refund of your fare, plus receive a Future Cruise Credit of $1,000 per person, valid through December 31, 2010.

We will also reimburse you for any documented hotel and air cancellation fees associated with this unfortunate situation. We truly hope that you will be able to join us on an alternative cruise so we can provide you with a wonderful luxury cruise experience.

Please let your travel agent know how you would like us to proceed with your booking. Again, please accept our sincerest apologies for this unavoidable disruption of your vacation plans.

Warmest personal regards,
Mark Conroy
President, Regent Seven Seas Cruises

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING
SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER’S MAY 8-21 VOYAGE

For the FLL to Reykjavik cruise

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Dear Guest:

I am writing to you to provide you with an important update regarding the May 8th departure of Seven Seas Voyager.

As you may be aware, one of the ship’s pod propulsion units became entangled with a fishing net on March 18th after departure from Singapore and subsequently experienced a mechanical failure which resulted in the shutdown of the pod and the substantial reduction of the ship’s cruising speed. Following thorough inspections by technicians, it has been determined that the extent of the damage is greater than originally anticipated and the ship must be dry-docked to facilitate the necessary repairs.

Seven Seas Voyager is now en route to Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, from where the World Cruise guests currently on board will be flown home, and the ship will be temporarily withdrawn from service for repair. We have therefore had to make the painful decision to cancel the next two sailings of the vessel, which includes the May 8th departure from Fort Lauderdale.

We are truly sorry for the disappointment this news will undoubtedly cause you, but we would like to offer you two options:

Option 1
Switch to any other RSSC cruise of up to 13 nights at the same rate you paid for your cruise, plus receive a Future Cruise Credit of $1,000 per person, valid through December 31, 2010.
Option 2
Receive a full refund of your fare, plus receive a Future Cruise Credit of $1,000 per person, valid through December 31, 2010.

We will also reimburse you for any documented hotel and air cancellation fees associated with this unfortunate situation. We truly hope that you will be able to join us on an alternative cruise so we can provide you with a wonderful luxury cruise experience.

Please let your travel agent know how you would like us to proceed with your booking. Again, please accept our sincerest apologies for this unavoidable disruption of your vacation plans.

Warmest personal regards,
Mark Conroy
President, Regent Seven Seas Cruises

What about the repositioning cruise from Rome to Reykjavik? Don't they want to sell cabins for this ?

Thanks so much for getting this out to us so quickly, Ngaire - looks fair to me! Now we have some decisions to make...

Nagire for those of us on 1st segment only - is #3 our only option??? Joanna

Joanna, you have two options:

I don't know how many other 13 night sailings are on the calendar. :(

See if they give you the 14 nights of C2C (only one more than they are offering) then you get free excursions and can use your $1000 per person credit for TUT next year. :D

$1000 per person is pretty chintzy. Although paying for flight to Rekyavik (only available to two segment pax) is a nice benefit.

Hopefully everyone will be satisfied. If you are looking for another cruise, I strongly recommend C2C wherein you get free excursions and wonderful fellow passengers. :D

SECOND LETTER IS THE FLL TO REYKJAVIK

These are your options below.

If you want a more expensive cruise that is the same in length (pay a prorated amount for the additional days) you can pick that as a replacement cruise for the same price you paid and still get the $1000 FCC per person and a refund of your personal cancellation expenses.

Or just get a refund and the $1000 pp and personal cancel expenses refunded.

Option 1
Switch to any other RSSC cruise of up to 13 nights at the same rate you paid for your cruise, plus receive a Future Cruise Credit of $1,000 per person, valid through December 31, 2010.
Option 2
Receive a full refund of your fare, plus receive a Future Cruise Credit of $1,000 per person, valid through December 31, 2010.

Thanks Ngaire and Marc guess I missed 2nd letter - gives us something to think about for sure - Marc I cannot do port intensive for 14 days - I am too old - you forget you and Arlene are "kids" but love you thinking of us for C2C and TUT :hug: :hug: :hug:

Yes you can Joanna!! You just take some of those port days as "sea" days, especially if its a port you are not that excited about. You sleep in, late breakfast, or room breakfast, have a massage, read a book, have a leisurly(sp?) lunch, take a long nap, get your hair done, do a late dinner or maybe dinner in your suite, pamper yourself with a bubble bath, watch a movie in your room - come on Joanna, you know how to do this!!! :cool: You know you want to do TUT! So do we, but we don't have all those nice options since we weren't on VIKING, which I wish we would have been.

Problem is JoAnn I have Hyper Harry I travel with - wants to do it all - and then I feel guilty "chillin" alone - I am crazy over TUT - just soooo far away 1 1/2 yrs - I need a filler in the meantime and I will keep thinking we all will be on TUT have great time as we did on B2B - what memories!!!

Ngaire, thanks for your up to the minute details. This must be a nightmare for you!

So much to digest....I don't think there is any cruise that is as high per diem $$$ as Viking B2B is ?? Since other future cruises have all been discounted and include excursions, I'm wondering why there are no free excursions (or even discounted ones) included in any of these options??

I have ALWAYS thought Regent has been more than fair but this is the first case where I'm not agreeing with the compensation offered to those of us on B2B.

Adding: We get the reimbursement for first 13 day leg and $1000 credit and coach air. That credit is all that we are being given extra. Free excursions would be a nice add on.

I agree with you Marcie, a bit more compensation would be nice, I mean now I have to cancel the Boston Tea Party Event we had planned for Boston and Newport, RI.....

Its tough when you book so far out and look forward to something and you have to change things last minutes.

Hope everyone finds an alternative to there liking.

FV

I am a lowly first segmenter BUT this cruise would have taken us to within a day of 200 nights - I feel terrible about what Regent is experiencing right now - I think as we get older it is all about plans and more plans we have made pre cruise - house sitters, pet sitters, air travel, hotels, all the time consuming arrangments - so, yes, very disappointing - I know we have missed ports or had late arrival with compensation in the $500-$1000 area - still digesting all the facts - for us, it is losing a trip in May which we both needed!!! Not 2010 but NOW!!

We're really, really disappointed in the options we've been given by Regent. I truly sympathize with their problems here, but the $1000 pp future cruise credit is quite paltry--we got that much for missing a couple ports in the Caribbean. It's only right that they would offer airfare to Reykjavik, but it's not a huge expense since coach air to Reykjavik is relatively inexpensive. The problem with the air to Reykjavik is that it's either a red eye on Iceland Air which has to be one of the world's worst airlines, or a two day slog via Europe. The least Regent could do is fly us in a day or two early and put us in a hotel to recuperate from the ordeal. I'm like you Joanna, I'm getting way to old to do flights like that. Hopefully someone in Fort Lauderdale will reconsider this offer and do something more reasonable. Including excursions would be a start, but the future cruise credit definitely needs revision also. OK, enough of my soapbox--I've just been spoiled by Regent's offers in the past and this is very disappointing.

Cancellation of April 18 Istanbul to FL

We just received fax from travel agent about cancellation of our cruise. Our choices are to switch to any other cruise of up to 21 night plus future cruise credit of $1,000 per person. or receive a full reund plus the same future cruise credit. Right now we are looking to replace this one with a cruise on the Navigator in the fall. We have only been on the Mariner and Voyager. Any recommendations?

Just got off the Navigator and really enjoyed our cruise. There are a number of staff from the Diamond. Obviously smaller ship with not as many dining options but some prefer the small and intimate nature, more like the Diamond, although the dining room is not as beautiful as the Diamond.

"It's only right that they would offer airfare to Reykjavik, but it's not a huge expense since coach air to Reykjavik is relatively inexpensive."

Our AF from Rey to Boston, one way coach, was $505 for both of us - then another $230 both to get back to Jax from Boston - point is Iceland air coach was CHEAP!!

Wow, I just found out about this. Where have I been all day? I'll keep my fingers crossed that the Reykjavik to Southampton will sail.

I am a bit concerned about what this will do to Regent's bottom line. The cost of repairs, cancellation refunds, future cruise credits and rearranging travel for cruisers will be enormous. Tom.

I would hope that they would have insurance for this. Probably covered by AIG!

If anyone is getting ready to make final payments, I would make sure that the travel insurance purchased covers opperator bankruptcy.

We are getting ready to make final payment for an upcoming cruise and when looking through the insurance choices I noticed that one of the choices does not cover bankruptcy.

I don't want to start a panic. Regent may be in great shape financially and their investors may have deep pockets, but in this day and age it's not a bad idea to cover all your bases.

John, good tip (we have financial default coverage with travelex)..recommend:

www.squaremouth.com

for comparison of policies that offer financial default..good companies (as rated by AM Best
are HTH and Travelex, CSA

I thought that when the last line (Renaissance?) went bankrupt, the credit card companies refunded for non-receipt of service paid for.

Pam, that's right, but CC companies will not refund air change/cancellation fees..a good
tvl ins policy will

When Celebrity had to cancel a cruise in 2006 due to pod issues they gave full refunds and a free cruise. Here is the press release:

I think this is a good comparison because the advanced notice was about the same.

Here is another news report on a Celebrity cancellation in 2004. This one is unique in that Celebrity swapped ships so it was not the folks on the damaged ship that got cancelled. Again, full refund plus equivalent free cruise.

Thanks for sharing Marc! This sounds much more REGENT LIKE to me than the options offered yesterday!

While a free cruise sounds great we have to keep in mind that Celebrity cancelled one seven-night sailing. Regent is dealing with one month of cancelled cruises and another month of highly discounted cruises.

I doubt these compensation losses would be covered by insurance. An offer that generous for so many people might bankrupt such a small operation.

Just guessing, the Voyager probably represents 40% of Regent's business. One celebrity ship has a smaller share of Celebrity's business, and in that case the one week loss was much less. Tom.

I'm not usually a glass half empty person, but I believe the words of caution offered here are well worth heeding. There is a great deal more than Voyager's current status to be concerned about. When the pod went out on Voyager she was sailing half full. The Mariner is currently sailing with 274 passengers. There is word out there that NCL, also part of Apollo, is hemoraging money and Silversea is sailing between one third and one half of capacity. Silversea has put the drydock of the Cloud on hold indefinitely and is offering huge discounts to those who book and pay in full a year in advance. None of this bodes well for the industry we so appreciate. We wouldn't consider making that final payment without good insurance. Pat

Tom, I am not talking about the ability of Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH) to afford to give out free cruises, I am talking about the level of customer service provided by Celebrity versus PCH. I am talking about the persistant double standard of treating Full World Cruisers (FWiCs) much better than the rest of us. I am talking about developing loyalty.

If we are only considering the financial health of PCH, then we shouldn't be surprised if Regent pulls one of their ships for the rest of the year. I have been spot checking some cruises and it appears you can get an H Guarantee on almost every cruise this year. Regent's (I won't blame PCH here) excessive price increases over the last few years combined with the economy have certainly done them in.

For some that have been cancelled, they are making $1,000 per person for no work; just rebook onto another cruise. For others, it is a big deal. I think the last thing Regent should be doing is scrimping around the corners of a very expensive problem and irritating their loyal customers. A little flexibility and $1M will go a long way towards building up loyalty. Now, I just don't believe that PCH has that long term view. I think PCH management is trying to minimize the bad news that they have to tell their bosses at Apollo. I don't know if this qualifies as a SNAFU or FUBAR; I just don't have much confidence in PCH.

I am not affected by this situation in any way. I have confidence that the Navigator will be sailing in the Med and the Voyager in the Baltic this summer. If Regent decides to pull one of the ships, I guess I am out of luck.

I think it is time for the Regent and PCH "lurkers" to actually post their views.

Well said, Marc!

Marc, what you say sounds mostly sensible, except that I ask the question, what are your expectations? Have they gotten out of whack (for all of us, not just you), because of previous treatment by Regent? So that we would turn up our noses at $1000 future credit? Plus all the other going discounts of course.

I would never turn up my nose at $1,000. I think it is generous as long as all other out of pocket expenses are reimbursed. I don't know how much VIKING cost, I imagine that it was around $5+ for first segment. Regent should let you move to any other cruise, not just one of same or lower cost. However, as others have said, we have been given, comparatively, more for disruptions in the past. We got $500 pp just for having one port changed and giving up a sea day. Also, it is pretty bad when non-luxury cruise lines give comparatively more. I guess the contract says they only have to refund your money so anything else is just a bribe for your loyalty so PCH doesn't think it is going to take much to bribe folks..

The full world cruisers were given a 100% rebate for Singapore to Dubai (so were seggies) and up to 19 FREE extra days if they sailed on Mariner. I, personally, don't like Regent's double standard in treatment of FWiCs versus the rest of us. I have seen it on multiple cruises going back over five years. Therefore, I am probably being harsher than I should be because of my past experience.

I think 90%+ of all the affected passengers will end up happy; I think that is about all Regent can hope for. So, I should get off my soap box and just wait for my cruise.

I thought the offers to those on Segment #1 only may be acceptable (not overly generous .. but ok) but what was being offered to those of us on B2B was not even close to fair or acceptable IMO.

We didn't chose Reykjavik to Southampton as a stand alone cruise. We chose it so we could see the Atlantic coast and Canada (never seen this) and not have to fly to Reykjavik.