Regent 2025 World Cruise--All the Extras and Final Thoughts

There are plenty of perks available when on a World Cruise. Let’s check out some of the perks of the recently concluded 2025 Regent World Cruise aboard the Seven Seas Mariner.

WORLD CRUISE PERKS

• Valet Laundry Service, Including Dry Cleaning and Pressing. Other cruise lines offer DIY laundry for World Cruisers; Regent not only does your laundry and returns it gift wrapped in tissue, but they also include complimentary dry cleaning and pressing—a BIG DEAL. When you’re packing for a 5-month-long cruise, it’s a deal-maker.

• Door-to-Door Luggage Service.

Coming and Going

We compared a few World Cruises on other lines, and none offered the door-to-door luggage service that Regent did. Another cruise line we’ve also enjoyed cruising with offered to ship one suitcase weighing up to 50 pounds, per person, to the ship, but not back home. Regent shipped two suitcases per person, weighing up to 50 pounds, both to the ship before the cruise and then returned them home after the cruise. We made certain each of our suitcases weighed less than 50 pounds when we shipped them to the ship in Miami, but we had no way of weighing the suitcases for their return to Wisconsin. The Luggage Forward dude was on the Mariner the last couple of days of the cruise, dealing with WC cruisers’ packing questions. He told us not to worry about the exact weight, and although we were definitely over the maximum, we incurred no penalty. (YMMV.)

• Comprehensive Visa Package.

This item seems standard on most world cruises, at least for US citizens. FYI, we needed visas or visa stamps upon arrival in Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, China, and Vietnam. Regent handled the paperwork for all countries, except Australia and New Zealand. For those, we completed online applications several months before embarkation, scanned our passports along with our documentation, and received our approvals within hours. We showed our printed copies of the email confirmations to Regent upon embarkation in Miami and were reimbursed for our expenses via shipboard credit.

• Onboard Medical Service

All medical consultations and treatments received onboard were covered. The only exception was for obtaining refills for prescription medications prescribed before boarding—those incurred a charge. (This is no longer being offered as of the 2027 WC. Only medical consultations will be included.)

• Commemorative Gifts

We got a few special gifts to commemorate our world cruise experience. Our choice of a lined jacket or a fleece vest with 2025 World Cruise insignia. one per person; one charcoal gray WC computer bag/backpack; and two WC baseball caps—these were mailed to us before the cruise; two leather journals with an included WC map and pens were a beginning-of-the-cruise gift; and we received two pairs of matching black ebony chopsticks with pearl inlay handles towards the end of the cruise.

WORLD CRUISE PRE-BOARDING EVENT

A 1-Night Hotel Package at the Miami Biltmore Hotel Before Boarding

And an Exclusive Pre-Cruise Gala Event with Headliner Kool and the Gang:

WORLD CRUISE EVENTS: Exclusive Shoreside Experiences

• Wine-tasting and Lunch, February 16, 2025, at Casa Viñamar, Casablanca Valley near Valparaiso, Chile.

• The second World Cruise event took place on March 19, 2025, at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Club in Auckland, New Zealand. We were on the New Zealand Auckland-to-Napier Overland Excursion, and so we missed this event. Reliable sources informed us that there was a lot of rain and not enough indoor seating, but photos I saw of the buffet looked incredibly appealing.

• Dinner and Show at the incredible Hotel Gajoen Tokyo—which doubles as an art museum—on May 14, 2025, Tokyo, Japan.

There were also private events for the world cruisers on board, including a dance show by Candombe. This traditional dance has strong ties to the Afro-Uruguayan community, featuring drumming, energetic movements, and improvisation. An improvisational piano piece by Tim Brumfield, after we had visited Easter Island, was moving. Terry Bishop did one of his famous song and dance routines—The Twelve Days of Cruising—amidst much hilarity. Everyone greatly enjoyed the South Asian Delights Buffet for World Cruisers as we sailed towards Singapore.

During the theatre events, drinks flowed and canapés were served—and we would always look around the theatre, somewhat amazed at all the people we had yet to meet! You would think that during 150 days of cruising with 280 world cruisers, you would get to know each person, at least by name. But not for us! We were still meeting folks the last few weeks of the cruise, and saying awkward things like, “You’re world cruisers, too!?”

Art is Everywhere

Observations from a First-time World Cruiser:

• Did the Special Events decline in number during the second half of the cruise? Or did it just feel that way?

• Ports of call and excursions, whether Regent or DIY, were king for us, but meeting wonderful people was a close second.

• We weren’t sure we would enjoy being on a ship for 150 days. We loved the experience, AND we were ready to go home by the last week of the cruise.

• Overlands were a big plus. We didn’t sign up for any until we were on the ship, but we will always look at the overland tours from now on. A great way to experience a country more fully; a great way to get to know fellow cruisers.

• It was a joy to explore the idea that “art is everywhere” (Bo) and search for “destination beers” (Sherpa), which really augmented our cruising experience. Follow your passions, even when on a World Cruise. Make the cruise “your own.”

Earthshine

Suggestions from a First-time World Cruiser:

• Regent: Have a special event for first-time world cruisers only near the beginning of the cruise. While everything is shiny new and exciting, please tell us how glad you are that we chose Regent for our first-time experience, and give us an idea of what’s to come for world cruisers. Show us why the World Cruise will be special, and why not make the first-timers feel special, too? Regent already has the loyal following of the WCers who have done 3, 5, even 10 or more world cruises with Regent, but it’s time to welcome the newbies to the club and make us glad we chose what we did.

• To future world cruisers: Pack smart. Make sure you have enough prescription meds for the entire cruise, plus a bit extra, and the toiletries you’d rather not find substitutes for. Then be ruthless about everything else—pack two weeks of clothes for hot climates, two weeks for moderate climates, and 4-5 days of cold-weather clothing for a cruise similar to the 2025 WC. Then take full advantage of the laundry and dry cleaning. And buy a few pieces to augment your wardrobe from around the globe.

• To all cruisers: Engage with people wherever you go. Support the local economies—eat a meal or have a drink, collect a piece of art (or more), buy gifts for family, friends, and yourself! Find the positives in whatever you do and wherever you travel.