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We travelled out from the UK the day before departure for this cruise and were booked into the Sheraton at Montreal airport. The ground staff (which was one very nice lady) met us at the airport but did not assist us with our luggage even those with walking difficulties. They walked us half way round the airport and showed us where to line up for the hotel shuttle bus. This bus covered more than one hotel so the bus was full and we had to stand to the hotel. Fortunately it was a short trip but after a 7+hour flight this was not a great start to a “luxury” cruise. The hotel is ok for an overnight stop but like most airport hotels is fairly isolated so you are restricted to the hotel for dining unless you book a cab. The transfer to the ship was fine and we were on board in time for a quick lunch leaving time to explore old Montreal which is nearby. Our cabin was available around 14.00 and the luggage was already there. Our cabin stewardess met us and welcomed us. We found virtually all the staff to be friendly and efficient as usual and this cruise was something of a break for the crew as there were only 416 passengers on board. The cabins do need refurbishing as they are showing signs of wear and tear. The housekeeping staff however do great job of keeping them clean. Our balcony door creaked and rattled when opened and was quite heavy to move. Our shower (no tub) was good but filled up with water at the bottom and came very close to overflowing the raised lip into the bathroom. We highlighted these issues to housekeeping but they were not fixed during our trip. The only cleaning issue we had was that the balcony doors were not cleaned for about 5 days and they were covered in sea spray. We did have a faulty hairdryer on our first night which set off the fire alarm on the bridge but fortunately not the whole ship. This was quickly replaced by an old model which didn’t work properly either and again this was quickly replaced by the cabin stewardess. Some of the lounges on the ship have been refurbished already including the observation lounge but it had a peculiar smell of chemicals and we couldn’t use it throughout the trip as it made us cough. This was raised in the mid cruise comments and with housekeeping manager but no action was taken and it still had the odour when we left the ship. The food was good and varied and the service on the whole was good. The definition of “well done” appears on the Prime 7 menu but disappointingly my filet mignon appeared with the blood oozing out. I returned it and when it reappeared it was still pink in the middle. I returned it again and both the maitre d’ and the Head Chef appeared to resolve the problem. Signatures Restaurant was excellent and we manage 3 visits. We did have some issues with the wine waiters some of whom required a lot more training on what wines were available and even how to pour it properly without dripping it on the table. Some of the “sommelier” really shouldn’t be wearing the cup! One didn’t know the difference between a Bordeaux and a Cote du Rhone. Overall in my opinion the quality of the “house” wine is dropping but there are some reasonable New Zealand (white), French and Argentine ones if you ask one of the more knowledgeable sommelier. The lunch in the galley was badly organised. We were ushered into the galley without any explanation of what was available and where. We picked up some salad as it appeared first but just round the corner was a huge selection of other food. If you wanted more food you had to join the line to go round again. Fish and desserts were in the main restaurant but no one told us. We gave up after a salad and went to la Veranda On a port day in NY we seemed to be invaded by family and friends who brought lots of young children. I don’t have a problem with this but it is a pity they were allowed to run riot in the buffet and in the bar taking over several of the larger tables in the restaurant at the expense of the paying passengers. A last minute change to our excursion in Maine was communicated to us by letter at 21. 00 after destination services closed so we were unable to change the excursion. The NY by land and sea tour was a complete disaster. The tours left late due to other bigger ships docked beside us and causing congestion. Our guide was hopeless and made up the route as she went along. She talked nonstop but all about TV and film stars and didn't tell us about the history or sights we were passing. The bus pa system was so poor we had to turn the aircon off to hear the rubbish the guide was spouting. Then we got so hot we had to turn it on again to breathe. When we got to the port at 11.30 for the river part of the tour we didn't have a booking as we had missed it by 2 hours and the only cruise available was a 2. 5 hour cruise. We gave up at that point and walked back to the ship! Generally the other tours were ok. The only tour available on our disembarkation day was the hop on hop off bus in Miami. Many of the buses are retired London transport buses (right hand drive) and all we used are in poor condition and very dirty. We were loathe to sit in many of the seats as they looked as though they had never been cleaned ever! The pa system doesn't work properly in many of the seats and not at all in other's. The minibus transfer to the airport was not at the times advised by Destination Services. We were allocated a 15.45 transfer as the last available when we got ashore for a 21.25 flight so had to spend 5 hours at the airport. The minibus used for the transfer was in poor condition and several of the seat belts did not work including mine. Bearing in mind Regent is based in Miami it wouldn’t be too difficult for someone to check the quality of this product? On previous Regent cruises we have had options of proper tours or a day room in a hotel. Regent need to do better than this as a poor end to a "luxury " cruise sticks in your mind when booking the next one. When the ship entered the USA we had to go through the immigration formalities on board. When this was advised on the ship we were notified to bring a paper copy of our ESTA. This was essential as the immigration officers on board did not have a computer system to check the ESTA. Fortunately we had a copy with us but many did not as it is supposed to be an electronic system after all. I think this requirement, not just to have an ESTA but, also to have a paper copy should be highlighted in the pre cruise documentation. Overall we enjoyed our cruise but the start and finish are just as important and they didn’t go too well. We may look at “cruise only” next time as Regent don’t seem to be getting to grips with the non cruise part – alternatively we may drift back to Silversea or Seabourn to see how they are coping with the budget squeezes. Read Less

We took this cruise because of 2 nights in New York City. Although never having sailed with Regent, we were pleasantly surprised. Excellent service by all staff. The ship was not full so staff had more time to visit with passengers. The captain, Serena Melani, was frequently out and about visiting with passengers. Senior restaurant staff were often seen cleaning tables. I was very impressed to see this. Capt. Serena was even at the gangway, saying farewell to passengers during disembarkation. Two staff members stood out. Reynaldo in Compass Rose, took special care of my wife’s dietary needs. He even had menus sent to our cabin ahead of time. Gayatri, our butler, is new to working on a cruiseship but learns fast and tries hard. Her sweet nature overcame any inexperience. Nothing was too much trouble for her. Tours are included. The only thing spoiling them were quite a few days of rain. Still we got what we wanted through this cruise. Read Less

We have traveled with Regent for over 200 days in the past 5 years. We love the service, the staterooms, and crew. Each trip brings a different adventure. Life aboard a cruise ship is not perfect, but it is certainly "next to perfect". We board again on Friday for the Amazon. The Mariner is scheduled to go in for redecorating in March. It's time! The majority of the staterooms are tired and the bathrooms need to be replaced. Shore excursions are pretty good, but I have learned to research the ports and decide if we want to upgrade excursion by making our own plans. Additional sites and venues should be able to be booked through a concierge, such as theater tickets, dinner reservations or sporting events. The crew on all the Regents ships is outstanding and willing to go the extra to please you and make your cruise a life time memory. Read Less

Chose this cruise because of the length and ports. Cabin was great (inside). Food was good in the Horizon Court with variety - [compared to the Caribbean Princess' Marketplace (which was horrible)]. The pastry chef did a fabulous job - the pastries not only looked fabulous but had flavor. Anthony, our assistant buffet steward - was an absolute gem. Our Captain Justin Lawes, was terrific as usual, as we had sailed with him before (unlike other captains that you never see or can't understand the announcements due to their broken English or not using the microphone properly), he goes around and talks to people, did an interview in the International Cafe, and keeps the guests informed. The Captain took care of everyone, as we had to miss a port (St. John's) due to a hurricane and stayed overnight in Halifax in order to stay out of the wind and rain. For a repositioning cruise, this was good in all aspects, as we have been on several and the atmosphere or how staff treat you or the food or all of them have played a part in previous repositioning cruises. Read Less

Itinerary was the determining factor. Quebec was VERY nice but rain was a factor. Rest of cruise OK but a hurricane interrupted a port call. We spent an extra day in Halifax, NS which was finne. Other ports nice. A balanced trip with port and sea days. The Canadian ports were friendly and mostly walkable. The ISA ports were OK but we have visited most of them before. Newport RI was scenic with their huge estates. New York was OK, but we prefer venues less crowder. We visited the Statue of Liberty which i consider a tourist trap. You can just walk around the statue because there is a two year wait to visit inside. Ellis Island was more memorable. Entertainment was sub par and the quality has been declining for years. Food was exceptional. Great variety, well prepared and nicely presented. Wait staff was efficient and gracious. The ship operational crew was excellent. Handled weather situation very professionally. Only used one shore excursion. It was OK, nothing outstanding. Read Less

We are a semi-retired couple from Toronto, Canada. This was our 25th cruise, only 3rd on Princess. We chose this based on itinerary, price, and our available time frame. We enjoyed a relaxing cruise, visiting new Canadian and U.S. ports (some for the first time), and the weather was warming up as we made our way southbound. We opted to travel by train from Toronto to Québec City on the embarkation day. We did not worry about missing the ship, since it stayed overnight in Québec. On the train ride we connected with 3 other couples joining the cruise. Upon arrival we bought wine at the nearby SAQ store and walked about 15 minutes to the terminal, where processing went smoothly. The terminal is modern, with free wi-fi, but the ramps to the gangway were too steep. Perhaps some equipment was not working properly and they had to resort to alternative methods. We met Alyson, our cabin steward, who was friendly, efficient, and took care of whatever we needed. He didn’t do towel animals, but left two chocolates on our pillow every night. The cabin E312 had obstructed Oceanview in midship. The lifeboat and overhang blocked 50% of the view, but it was not a big issue for us. The shower is tiny with an awkward curtain, the cabinetry is older and scratched up, but the bed and linens were wonderful and the blackout drapes let us sleep in. On occasion we were able to hear muffled conversation from the adjoining cabin or the hallway. The lighting was adequate (no night light in the bathroom) and storage ample and easily accessible. The ship offered an excellent app for our cell phones called “Princess @ Sea”. You connect with the ship’s wi-fi network for free and can access the daily activities, check account balance and transactions, send messages to other members of your party and more. All food and beverage services were very good. Service was attentive and anytime dining around 7:00 pm with table sharing worked well for us. We purchased one Coffee Card with onboard credits, and it lasted us for the entire cruise. The food was plentiful, ranging from average to very good. Breakfast at the Lido was more awkward, especially if you order an omelette. You place the order, get a slip with a number, then when you find a table to sit down you give one of the waiters your slip and he goes back to collect your omelette and bring it back to your table. There were many servers around at all times and tables were quickly cleaned up after use. Princess offered two “Happy Hour” events. 3:00-4:00pm at the Wheelhouse bar, and 10:00-11:00pm at the Skywalkers Lounge. You buy one drink and get a second one for $1.00, plus 15% gratuity. Prices were affordable, with most wines in the $7-$8 range, and most beers at $6. The nightly entertainment was also very good, as was the music throughout the ship. Production show “Encore” and the soul singer Teacake deserve special recognition. The crew was friendly, polite and did not push hard to spend more on drinks or bingo like on other cruise ships. On the negative side, we missed an indoor or covered adult pool area especially during the initial cold and rainy days. Also there were two unfortunate events which need to be addressed. Tropical storm Philip forced an overnight stay in Halifax and skip St. John, New Brunswick. And a Norovirus outbreak made it challenging for passengers and crew. Both issues were handled professionally and with transparency by the Captain and his officers. The daily activities would wind down every evening around 11pm, attesting to the guests demographic sector which was mostly retired people, many in the 70’s and 80’s. While the Cruise Director was just average, there were enough activities to keep us busy during sea days – movies, wine tasting, shopping, etc. but there was no excitement and exuberance. Disembarkation in Fort Lauderdale was well organized, and there were ample taxis and vans outside. We shared a metered taxi to the airport ($15 plus tip). In summary, a nice cruise and thankfully we managed to avert any Norovirus symptoms. Read Less

Have always wanted to see Quebec and New England States. Next time I will choose a smaller vessel, and earlier time of the year to travel. The ship needed a lot of updating, especially the bathroom in the rooms. Much too old, too worn and too small. The dining in the restaurants were outstanding, the buffet was just okay and your choices were limited as far as main dishes and desserts (except cookies) all tasted store bought. Fruit was not ripe and the help was very nice. Entertainment was poor. Elton John was horrid. Comic had poor taste in jokes. The quartets about the ship were great. Our service was always top notch. Port excursion expensive. Getting off the ship was terrible--very steep, with no one to help you down.Lines very long to leave the ship. Again, thought the staff was amazing. Would not travel this large of a ship again and this old of a ship. . Read Less

We chose this view as it was a repositioning with an excellent itinerary and the ports of call were better than expected. We loved Quebec and arrived 2 days early so we were able to explore more, but we will be back here probably earlier in the year this time to get longer days and possibly better weather. We took most of the tour with the cruise line and we were not disappointed. The New York one to the Statue of Liberty and Stanton Island was very overpriced, but as we docked in Brooklyn and not to long a stay, it was the best choice. We took an independent tour in Bar Harbor, with Ollies Trolley it worked out to be excellent and good value for money. I would definitely recommend this company and go on the same tour again. The only disappointment was that we were unable to visit Saint John's New Brunswick due to Tropical storm Phillippe as the captain made the decision for the safety of all. The Captain of the ship The Crown Princess, Captain Justin Lawes was exceptional and possibly the best on the cruise line. The entertainment was very good and the production shows with the singers and dancers was excellent. The cruise director was really good and very entertaining and skilled. This was an excellent cruise and would do it again but earlier this time Read Less

Took this cruise to see what was left of the Fall Colors along the Eastern seaboard plus the Canadian ports which were new to us. Enjoyed Quebec City even in the rain and wind. Ship was docked right at Old Town. Other ports were fine. We missed St. Johns, Newfoundland because of very bad weather. That's just one of the chances one takes while cruising. Enjoyed Boston and NY, NY. The ship, itself, is badly in need of renovation. On the outside, it's rusty and beat-up. Inside, there were lots of problems starting the minute we walked into our mini-suite. The smell of sewage was obvious and the room steward told us to be sure to run the water in the bathroom faucet before we used it as the water had debris in it. That was obvious when you opened the toilet and saw all the black particles that had accumulated. The sewage smell emanated from the toilet and even the closed lid did not keep it out. The bed center looked like a sink hole. It was many cruises and perhaps years since it should have been trashed. I tried it the first night and didn't sleep. Talking to our steward the next morning he said he'd turn it over and put a board under it. That worked for one night and then I never slept well again. Even tried the couch but it was no better. Food was OK but nothing special and service was sloooooow. Horizon Court food was cold and the variety was limited. And then the Norovirus hit. It was all over the ship and the trip wasn't quite the same after it became prevalent. Two at our table got it and were "isolated" in their cabins for one to three days. As we disembarked some poor fellow began puking right in the middle of the floor of the Wheelhouse Lounge which was our assembly point. Not a good ending but an exclamation point on the problem. We are elite with Princess and have two additional cruises already booked with them--a BtoB to Europe and cruise around the British Isles plus a 60 day Pacific Circle. Our last ten cruises have been on Princess. We did not experience anything like this on our last cruise and hope this is not a trend. Read Less