Baby boomer cruisers, what would you do if your cruise went wrong? That’s what travelers on Regent Seven Sea’s Voyager ship are facing today. The World Cruise journey will end early in Rome after the ship’s pods were damaged by fishing nets, forcing the cruise line to schedule an emergency dry dock for the crippled vessel.
Regent Seven Sea Voyager in Moorea
Alan and I traveled with Voyager on the first two segments of a World Cruise in 2006 and know the special feeling that permeates a World Cruise. Two years later, we were cruising Voyager again on a sail through the Norwegian Fjords and beyond towards the Arctic Circle. I’ll confess, it’s my favorite Regent ship.
So why am I writing about a cruise that I’m not on? Because I want to know what you think a fair solution would be for the passengers affected. Besides being reimbursed for cruise days missed, air arrangements home and other out-of-pocket expenses, how much of a future cruise credit should passengers receive? Should they be given a free future cruise? How does Regent walk the tightrope between keeping customers happy and reaching a settlement that will allow them to stay in business?
I don’t have the answer. But I do know one thing. Cruisers who booked through a travel agent were the smart ones. Why? Because a good travel agent will be your advocate in this situation.
Internet cruise forums are hot and heavy on the topic. Here’s the discussion at Cruise Critic and another one at Luxury Cruise Talk. So what do you think? What type of compensation would you expect?
