Here we grow again ....
ChatKat in Ca. wrote:... I'll take the aging ships with the smaller cabins.
Stickman1990 wrote:Funny - that’s how my wife describes me sometimes
Keith1010 wrote:Kathy you are so right.
This is what good friends told us.
They sailed Regent on a crossing and said it was like a port intensive cruise.
So glad there is lots of choice out there so everyone can figure out what they like.
For many years many people have tried different lines so some people trying out Regent is not a new things.
Just as some people trying out Crystal particularly since it went inclusive is nothing new.
Some will like it. Some won't.
So it goes.
And while some won't like it that doesn't mean others will feel the same way. And while some will like it doesn't mean others will feel the same way.
Personally I want everyone to be happy with their cruising decisions but at this point in my life whether they like it or not will not influence Anne Marie and my decisions as to which cruise line to sail.
Just like a book, a movie, a hotel, a restaurant, there is only one opinion that counts.
BWIVince wrote: {responding to ChatKat} Amen!! There is absolutely nothing wrong with Regent and I would completely and whole-heartedly recommend them to friends looking for a cruise like that, but there is just about NOTHING in the way they package their offering that serves what I value personally... That's not a knock at all on Regent, I just would rather have more public space than cabin space, more open promenade/aft deck space than cabin space, more enrichment, more activities, to pay for excursions and air a la carte in the rare cases they're needed, and have readily available lower single surcharges.
{responding to Fly Fast Cruise Slow, text not shown here} This is just a gut instinct from where I sit, but I've been watching the development with the new ship(s) and watching the pricing strategies that Crystal has been driving the past couple of years, and the hyperactive (compared to their competitors) yield management work recently is kind of interesting. They seem to be kind of doing two things at once -- feel out where the upper end of what their market will bear (for projections with the next generation product) while tracking how much and where in the cycle people are willing to spend at each price point, while still trying to boost occupancy rates to justify the investment in the ocean segment, especially since it looks like they will need more berths total in order to make them work financially.
It kind of leads to whiplash with some of the high advance fares and seasonal bargains, but there also seems to be something kind of methodical to the whole roller coaster when you overlay it with where we're at (AND where we're not) in nailing down the general arrangement for the first ocean newbuild.
Stickman1990 wrote:I'm curious - have you actually sailed Regent? If so was it recently and on one of their newer ships? If not then what are you basing your assessment on?
drib wrote:{responding to Keith} For someone whose opinion, by your own admission, doesn't matter, you sure take up a lot of time and space saying the same thing!
BWIVince wrote:{responding to Stickman} No, I haven't... As I mentioned, that wasn't any kind of value judgment based on service or any kind of onboard experience, I firmly believe Regent offers an excellent product. It's just the value proposition of the way their packaging is built that doesn't serve my needs. It's just a numbers thing. Explorer and Splendor are great, they just don't introduce anything that I value (I could care less about things like infinity pools), and I'm deathly afraid of open heights so an exposed jogging track on deck 12 is my worst nightmare.
Once the option of a ship with an interior-sided promenade on deck 7 is gone (as one example of many), of course, I'll have to reevaluate my preferences, but in the meantime they just bring nothing to the party for me personally.
I don't want anyone to think I'm knocking it without trying it -- I'm not knocking it AT ALL. They're just not selling what I personally need.
Keith1010 wrote:{responding to drib} Thank you David.
Yes I do like to reenforce that the only opinion that matters is your own so I do share mine as well.
I don't think it is unusual to repeat oneself on CC. II know others do including........Well I know you know who I am talking about so no names David.
For example David I pretty much know from you saying it more than once that sailing Crystal is not in your plans. You see many repeat themselves.
My point is in the end it's great to know what others think but you have to figure it out yourself which is why when I am asked fo for an opinion I might say this works for us or it doesn't work for us but in the end only you can decide.
As I said it is nothing new for people to try other cruise lines. I base this one on fact and it's not an opinion.
As to Regent if I want to learn about Regent I will learn about it on the Regent Board not here. Same goes for any cruise line including Crystal.
Happy New Year.
Stickman1990 wrote:That’s not always going to be the case. This thread was set up to specifically discuss both Crystal and Regent and the price comparison of holiday fares - most posters have kept pretty much on that topic
I don’t think it’s unusual to find such a comparison thread on the Crystal board - particularly when several members have first hand knowledge of both lines and others have stated their plans to try Regent
Like all threads if one isn’t interested in the topic or doesn’t have anything useful to contribute on the subject then it’s just a case of ignoring it and moving on and leaving it to those who are interested
drib wrote:No, I don't. I need the names.
But that leads me to another subject. I generally only use member names. (I will use Keith, though, because it's in your member name.) I know you and others like to use real first names because it's friendlier, I suppose, and that's fine.
I use member names because a lot of the readers don't know who the friendly names are. So if iAmaHairyToad posted, but you called him Henry, well, that's very confusing. And also, maybe iAmaHairyToad doesn't want people to know his real name is Henry.
Now ... I know my opinion doesn't matter, but I think your opinions would go further if you stated the same ones less often, and in less space. It's not that I don't appreciate all the help you provide here, I'm just saying that it's not as effective as it could be.
Happy New Year.
Observer wrote:This position seems rather myopic to me. I believe that much can be learned from comparative judgments. in fact, much well-informed decision making by open minded people is made by comparing one possibility with another. Of course, if one has already made up one’s mind and is not open to other possibilities, comparisons are probably moot.
KenzSailing wrote:{responding to Vince} If you're so inclined, could you expand on your "hyperactive yield management" point? I find these nuts and bolts of the business discussions fascinating, and you're one of the few contributors who can do so with actual cruise biz insight
Keith1010 wrote:Honestly I don't.
When I wanted to learn about Seabourn I read what is posted there. I also read reviews on the Review site. Same for Silversea, Regents, Celebrity etc.
I don't need comparisons because that is when we get into lots of subjectives and.....a big and..........I want current....Often the comparisons are not current.
Anyway, this is my view.
I have never cared for comparisons because it gets subjective.
If I want a comparison I can create my own from reading what people say on the respective cruise line board for the line I am interested in. I can go to the actual web site for the line and I can go to my go to book which is the Ocean Cruising Book by Douglas Ward.
I do have a very open mind by the way which is why I don't go for the comparisons that people create.
I do go by the 80/20 rule which served me very well in business.
If I haven't sailed a line and 80% of the people say something is good or not good I take that as fact until I experience it myself.
It worked well in business and it worked well as we selected cruises to sail, places to see, hotels to stay at and on and on and on and these days there are many fact based sources.
On a related note this is where I get a laugh from questions
Question. What is the specialty restaurant fee. Answer: It is fact based. What happens next we get several opinions on whether or not there should be a fee but that was not the question.
Now back to comparisons. I will speak with people (speak is the key) who I know (know is key) and I respect (respect is key) if they have sailed multiple lines and will ask some fact based questions and even ask for an opinion or two but if they haven't sailed the line in a few years let's face it with all the change it can be outdated and a bid and........Sailing a line one time is not sufficient to me for a comparison. Why? Because every cruise is different.
If we agree to disagree that's fine.
But for me if I want to learn about Regent I know where to go.
Keith1010 wrote:Drib appreciate your opinion.
However as someone said a week ago on a similar issue unless you are the moderator we can say want we want and as often as we want Drib as long as it conforms to Cruise Critic.
On a related note something I learned in my career and as part of my career including studying Lincoln On Leadership is keep the message simple and repeat it often until people get tired of hearing it. It is at that point that they actually get it.
Happy New Year Drib and I will be sure to call you Drib from now on unless we sail together.
drib wrote:Or, they learn to tune it out.
And just look at how it turned out for Lincoln!
Okay, then, but please note that "drib" starts with a lowercase letter.
Keith1010 wrote:Got it drib.
It actually turned our well for the USA and my experience is more get it than turn it out.
Some even start repeating it. Time will tell. Choice is good. You know what both are very true IMHO.
drib wrote:The first part of that is highly debatable, but not appropriate for Cruise Critic.
The second part of that cannot be substantiated.
If it can go one hour without a response, then I'm calling it a victory. (It's 13 minutes as I write this.)
Wait a minute ... the refs are throwing a flag. Keith edited his post that I quoted. The new post omits what I quoted completely. That's a foul!
Keith1010 wrote:The good news is tomorrow I am returning to Crystal Serenity and I can't wait.
No comparisons.
Just Crystal....Crystal....Crystal...
And if it was another line.........It would be x line........x line........x line.........
I will just enjoy the moment.
And I do stand by what I have said as to how to do the research and the due diligence and will repeat myself if necessary as most people on this board does.
And with that I say good night even if that means I don't get the last word in.
ChatKat in Ca. wrote:{responding to Stickman} Yes, although it's been a few years. I have sailed on Oceania. I'm Gold on Regent and Oceania doesn't rate the same.
Stickman1990 wrote:{Responding to Keith} That’s not always necessary of course
Stickman edited his post to add some extra crap here.
drib wrote:I hope you have a wonderful time. And I hope I help you add to your enjoyment of Serenity, by suggesting that you spend more time there than here.
You know, a wise man once said that you want to keep a message simple and repeat it often until people get tired of hearing it. And so, I will say it again, that your opinions would go further if you stated the same ones less often, and in less space.
And the clock starts now.
Stickman1990 wrote:{Responding to ChatKat} The question about first hand experience was specifically directed to Vince - I know you’ve sailed Regent & Oceania and that’s why I said “particularly when several members have first hand knowledge of both lines and others have stated their plans to try Regent” earlier
Stickman1990 wrote:Reading the thread and participation is entirely optional of course
Keith1010 wrote:Thank you for your good wishes.
I am sure I will be multi-tasking and I really don't need any advice on how often I post nor what I post.
Wait a minute! Keith edited out the above to something much less confrontational. This is the revised post:
Keith1010 wrote:Now it's definitely time to say goodnight.
But here's a very important point, I think. When I edit a post, it always show the that there was an edit, and the time edited. To make sure it's not just my own posts that do this, I looked at one of Stickman's and his edited posts are just like mine.
But Keith's edits do not show a time nor that they were edited.
I can only conclude from that that Keith is a secret moderator!
drib wrote:Oh, don't pay any attention to the Stickman!
And I completely agree, but we're now in the middle of the Super Bowl of getting the last word, and Keith1010 is on the clock!
Stickman1990 wrote:Ahhh - another quote from my wife! - that’s two today already
For those who like the back and forth type thing there’s plenty of tennis happening down under at the moment - ATP Cup then the Australian Open - they go back and forth all the time and get paid millions!
So this is the problem ... I posted after Keith1010, but not quoting Keith1010. I did mention Keith100, a typo on his name, though. So I'm not sure who wins. Maybe It has been over an hour, so I'm claiming victory. Maybe later Keith will claim the same based on this technicality, and then maybe it's for the best if we can both claim victory.