I've got nothing on Charles Dickens so this isn't a Tale of Two Cities but a Tale of Two Cruise Lines!
Many prospective Regent cruisers (myself included just a couple of years ago) ask things like "Is Regent for me?" or "What makes Regent different?" or even more common, "Is it worth the money?"
After my first Regent cruise last year, I would have immediately answered the 1st and 3rd questions in the affirmative but been hard pressed to adequately convey a response to the middle one. In fact, I believe I discuss a "feeling" in my previous blog without putting it into exact words. Now, however, I can safely answer that middle question with authority.
Earlier this month, Mike and I treated our daughter Sara, her husband Donnie and our absolutely perfect grandson Richie to a cruise. Nice we are, but not nice enough to fork over $$$$$ for all 5 of us to cruise Regent! Instead, we decided to take a cruise on NCL out of New York City to Florida and the Bahamas. NCL is typical of the mass market cruise lines we have cruised with in the past so we pretty much knew what to expect. In all fairness to the line, I will say that I have found their staff to be more gracious and friendly than other mass market lines. This cruise was no exception. The pleasant staff, unfortunately, did not make up for everything else.
Before my last Regent cruise, members of both Cruise Critic and Luxury Cruise Talk warned me that once I had cruised Regent, I'd never want to cruise mass market again. I sort of believed them; especially after our great Regent cruise where all of my expectations were met and/or exceeded. But I'm a pretty easy-going gal, very down to earth and the type of person who has a great time no matter what so I didn't think I'd have any real issues "stepping back down" to mass market cruising. Wow! Was I ever mistaken!
What follows is a list of differences that I won't miss when I get back on the Mariner again in January:
Boarding the ship ~ after swiping your key card for the first time on Mariner, you are genteely escorted to the pool deck for a bite to eat and offered a cocktail by an employee who is ready to answer any questions you may have and wants you to feel immediately welcomed aboard. My experience on the Norwegian Gem was not even close to that (even though as a Casino VIP I did have a personal escort onto the ship). After swiping your key card, you are herded into the main atrium and accosted by numerous staff members, all of whom apparently are there to sell you the day's special cocktail. Interestingly enough, they don't actually TELL you it's for sale until after you have accepted a glass and then they ask for your Key Card. I felt sorry for all of the newbie cruisers who didn't know they were going to be billed $15 for what they probably thought was a welcome aboard complimentary drink.
The Pool Grill ~ like every cruise line I've ever been on, there is always a grill or small buffet right around the swimming pool where you can grab a quick bite to eat. The Norwegian Gem grill offered hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, french fries, salad and condiments the first day, and the second, the third, the fourth...... in fact, every day and every night that it was open, the menu never varied. The only thing that changed was the amount of people on line in front of you. On the Mariner, you can find traditional grill fare like burgers and hot dogs but you won't find them sitting under a heat lamp. Those items are cooked to order and then delivered to you at the table you have selected. And the menu doesn't stop there; every day there is a DIFFERENT theme for the pool grill such as Mexican or Seafood or Italian which is available in addition to the traditional items. And you don't have to stand around like an elementary school student in the lunch line waiting for someone to load up your tray!
The Buffet ~ on the Mariner you will find a traditional buffet available during the day. What you won't find here, that you can find on NCL: hordes of fellow passengers pushing their way around you, trying to get at a sliver of bacon or a soupcon of pudding as if they haven't eaten in hours; lack of sufficient seating in the buffet area and even more importantly, lack of consideration for fellow passengers ~ nobody will ask you to join them at their table even if there are clearly additional seats available and none of the ship staff will assist you in finding a seat; this is especially thrilling when you are trying to balance a plate, bowl and beverage and, again, doing so without any assistance from staff. Just try doing that on a Regent ship.... you have to INSIST that you don't need help from the staff because they are all over themselves trying to help you carry plates and find tables!
The Port Visits ~ oh, the joy we experienced having a half hour wait in line to get off the ship and an even longer wait IN THE RAIN to get back on at every port. I am not sure I am going to know what to do with the extra time in port when the Mariner stops and I can practically breeze through the efficient checkpoints coming & going. And let's not forget that Regent provides things like umbrellas for its passengers in the event of rain and bottles of icy cold water are provided COMPLIMENTARY. The Gem had a lovely woman at the top of the gangplank selling flimsy plastic trashbags (I mean rain ponchos) but somehow it just wasn't the same!
I could go on and on.....really....on and on and on! Of course there are the obvious differences that everyone talks about like how you don't have to sign for things every time you turn around (drinks, gourmet food, towels, etc.).
But it's the little things that are just done automatically that you don't really think about until they're not there.....those are the reasons why people who try luxury cruising don't go back to mass market!
