We chose this cruise/cruise line because RSSC has a great reputation, people recommended it; and we've never been to most of the ports. The ship: old, but beautifully updated. Nothing was dirty or stained or worn. Very clean. From public spaces to rooms. Nice touch the walk-in closet. I'm not sure any other cruise line offers this. Butler service was great but we found we really didn't need it. Self-laundry nice to have but machines didn't get clothes clean. Food---probably the biggest disappointment as for on-board experience. When the pool grill has consistently the best food on a ship, there is a problem. Kudos to the staff here, though. And the bar service here. Tops. Compass Rose, main restaurant, great breakfasts---eggs, crepes, pancakes, french toast, bacon in particular. Good champagne and daily specials. What's with the frozen "hash brown"? Isn't this Regent? I'd expect it from a lesser cruise line but come on. Ham---good, but paper thin. Again. La Veranda good breakfast and cooked to order eggs as well. Great toast. Decent lunch buffet. Sette Mare which it transformed into at night---ummm. This is NOT good Italian. Conceptually and visually stunning, but taste was not there. This is not a floating nursing home, but the lack of seasoning in general made it feel that way. Steaks at Compass Rose and mostly at Prime 7 were solid. Crab legs first night at Prime 7 great, last night, rubbery and not good. Tuna steak--again, best at pool grill. Tuna steak at Prime 7---inedible. Bars--great staff and drinks---can somebody please stock some Luxardo cherries please? Tea at Galileo's was really fun and good. Bingo and other games fun. Production cast were tops. Port talks---how about some? We went into ports with a one-sheet briefing of some facts and things to do--that is if we knew to find it at the destination desk. An in-depth port talk beforehand would have been helpful. Excursions---please, make sure your staff in charge of these actually go on them. The one in the DR (buggies and beach off-road) was not as advertised. "Restrooms" at the beach were nothing more than a hole in the floor with no running water. And don't think we would ever have eaten or drank from the ramshackle stand at that beach either. Again, this is Regent! I'm sure Carnival wouldn't have even offered this tour. So, please do your homework. For what we paid, we were very disappointed.