It began the second day! The first day regent put us up in is after the most inappropriate hotel in San Francisco, the tiny, quaint Mark Hopkins Intercontinental; queue 35 minutes for a seat at breakfast and sleeping in a bed with a lumpy mattress.

Formal night; gold star points - up to four items of clothing pressed gratis. Yes, please. A pair of shorts, a dress and one gentleman's' suit (jacket and trousers). Promised to be due back in our suite by 3pm, still waiting at 6.30pm.

Finally ironed articles arrive back. A suit; the wrong colour,two sizes too bigwith top-stitched lapels and outer pockets. Not my husband's suit. Call room service to sort out. They swore it was the same suit we sent out. After the general manager of the cruise as good as called my husband a liar (a 100+ night cruiser on Regent) there was nowhere to go. The Captain heard of the fracas and intervened. Back to the General Manager who complained we'd gone over his head (he refused us a lost and found confirmation for insurance purposes until we were to disembark 3 weeks later). Read more