papaflamingo

As others have stated the cuts are across 3 fleets. So sure, I see them affecting certain aspects of the line. It seems to me that Regent is trying to keep these cost savings as unnoticeable as possible. So some food items won't be available due to both cost and supply chain issues. Same with wines and alcohol. But that is happening cruise industry wide. Do you not think you'll see similar cuts at other luxury lines? Sadly the cruise lines are going to be struggling to make up for BILLIONS in losses during Covid. It's just becoming the "new normal." That isn't an excuse, it's simply reality. Supply lines are still stretched, crew members are harder to find, many tour companies went out of business during Covid and didn't come back, etc. I think what you will find, if you scan the other cruise lines board, is the very same disappointments being addressed everywhere.

I suspect (don't actually know) that there really won't be any difference. I imagine you can do a "mock booking" and pick your air choice and it'll show you the price. I also imagine you can change your departure city and compare to see if there's any difference. I don't think Regent is changing how their contract rates work, just adding cheaper options. I really believe that everyone will be surprised at how little is really changing.

We are on the cruise just prior to yours. This came from a re-route of the Grand Spice Cruise, which originally was to go to Athens, Greece. Since we are coming off of the Grand Cruise, now in Cape Town, we are interested in a post cruise safari excursion. I have contacted Regent and, as far as they know, those pre and post cruise programs WILL be added down the road (so keep an eye on the cruise itinerary on line). They've had so many itinerary changes due to the world situation around the Red Sea and Suez Canal, that they're trying to "catch up." What you can do is to look at other cruises that sail between Cape Town and Lisbon (either direction) and see what was offered to them. It's VERY likely that the same excursions will be offered on your cruise. At the very least, it'll give you a very good idea of what might be offered (however expect a price increase) and allow you to see if any interest you, and if not you can proceed to book your own.

What amenities and services do you see Regent cutting that the other luxury lines will offer? I believe this merging of programs is to "breed" a new customer base. The average age of Regent customers seems to be aging. They need to attract a younger crowd that is looking for more luxury and less party on cruises, just like we were when we "made the leap." I think this is also the emphasis behind offering different air classes, to get people to try the brand. The major cruise line options are getting more and more inclusive and available, including very high end suites with "run of the ship" benefits included at a cost that is not that far off of Regent. So people need to decide if they want a quieter itinerary based experience like Regent or the ability to "party as you want" or retreat to the quieter inner sanctum of suite lounge like you'll find on larger cruise ships.

I can't imagine you need anything as "serious" as "proper hiking boots." But it really depends on what excursions you go on. If you're using Regent's excursions. It's not an "expedition" cruise so there won't, likely, be any long rugged hikes. We've always worn running shoes and have found then more than adequate for any Regent excision. Your "waterproof trail runner/hiking shoes" sound like they'd be perfect for any situation you find yourself in.

Well, I hope Regent management is motivated to maximize profits, otherwise the company will go out of business. But I disagree that this will be a reason to raise cruise costs. Regent, at least since 2018, has always raised the costs for cruises throughout the year. We have booked all our cruises (except one) very early and before the cruise and the costs have risen considerably as the cruise approached. I have, only once, found a cruise where the cost actually came down during a sale, from the price I paid. And, ironically, that was just a few months ago for a cruise in late 2025. The cruise wasn't selling all that well, so they ran a special. But the only "increase of cost" you'll see due to the new pricing will be whatever the air class YOU choose will cost. If you compare the Air Credit that Regent gives with other cruise line's cost for Air you'll see they're quite competitive, and if you compare the Air Credit with the cost of a ticket YOU can purchase third party, Regent, at least for me, has only been more expensive once. And that's only because Delta was starting up service and were selling tickets for a huge discount PLUS I get another 25% (or more) off via a Delta Employee Discount Program. So, sure cruise prices may go up, but that will be totally independent to cost of air. And if the air, via Regent Air, is too expensive, then book your own air. I don't know why everyone is having so much difficulty understanding this.

@sanne 😱

Since this is the one question no one else answered, I will.. the answer is YES. But like anything else, it's all dependent on someone backing out or maybe they'll add a class. My wife and our friend on our Grandeur cruise last Jan. simply spoke to Guest Services (I think, but if not, Guest Services can tell you who to talk to) and were put on a Wait List for the cooking class. A few days later they both got a call that room had opened up for one of the classes and they both went and loved them. As an aside, our friend's husband and I, who had no interest in the class, were called by our wives and we were able to go down at toward the end of the class and taste their masterpieces, meet the instructor, etc.

I don't really see how. On RCCL or Celebrity one of the "big" perks of Elite or D+ is lounge access and free drinks. That has created a huge overcrowding problem, especially on Royal Caribbean. That isn't a problem on Regent as there is no higher tier lounge, etc. So I don't really see how someone coming to Regent from Oceania or NCL makes much difference. Just another passenger with perks that don't personally affect me.

Good point. I did read this, but simply figured that, like the included hotel night, if you choose not to use it you can get it credited back. But you're right... that may not be the case. One thing this credit does though, is to allow someone to fly into the port a few days early, like we did when we went to Hong Kong last Feb. and get Regent supplied transportation from the airport to hotel, something forfeited if you deviate today.

Why do you think this? Air Fares have been going up for a few years now. All Regent has been doing is raising the cost of the Air Credit and that reflects in an equal increase cost in the cruise fare. For those who don't want to pay that, or can find cheaper flights, they simply opt out and take the Air Credit. It's already flexible. Giving us the option of Premium Select or Economy instead of Business Class at a lower rate gives us increased flexibility and an ability to pay less for the cruise. So why do you feel this will mean we will pay more? I imagine what has happened is that there are people out there that aren't willing to pay $9800 round trip for Business Class as part of a Regent cruise fare. So they can offer the same cruise with air at a cost of say....$3000 round trip... saving someone $6800 per person on their cruise fare. That could be a "deal maker" for some. As it stands today, if we don't want to pay for Business Class, we have to find our own flights and lose transportation as well as the flexibility to cancel the tickets if we cancel the cruise. But if someone doesn't want to pay these fares and wants to book themselves, they can simply do just that.

WOW!!! I bet that was "exciting"! I flew for the Coast Guard for 10 years and when we saw a Water Spout we turned the airplane and "beat feet" as fast as we could!

The cost of the flights has nothing to do with "managing costs." The actual cost of the flight has always been passed along to us. Regent gets a deeply discounted rate from the airlines (all cruise companies do). Currently the airlines are understaffed and over booked, so there is no need for them to discount seats to the cruise lines. That's why it's so hard to get Business Class seats discounted. They are the premium airline product. So Regent ends up booking on the least desirable flights as those are the flights that the airline is willing to discount. So non stop to Europe is hard to find and decent layovers between flights are hard to find without an up charge. There is nothing Regent can do. They are at the mercy of the airlines.

We did Explorer in Feb. 21-March 6 from Hong Kong to Tokyo and it was generally cold and some rain, but I don't remember the seas being bad at all. But it really depends on Mother Nature. The good thing is Typhoon Season starts in May. 😎

I'm Diamond Plus on Royal Caribbean. I looked at Silver Seas program and 350 VS Days gets a free 7 night cruise. So do I get a free cruise on Silver Seas? Never mind...just read the fine print...NOPE...DARN!!!! 😎

Yes.. in this day of computers it should be easy. I should be able to go into my account and cancel one excursion, let it be put back into the "pot" and then book something else, all on line. It's not a big deal EXCEPT too many simply say "well, I'll keep it and cancel on board." That means someone on the waiting list can't clear pre-cruise. I think a computer upgrade would be a win-win for all.

As it stands now, there are TWO prices on the website. One is ALL inclusive, including air, Business Class internationally and economy domestically. The other is Cruise Only. As I read the new change, all they're doing is offering an OPTION to fly in a higher class domestically OR a lower class internationally, YOUR choice. And they're now offering a credit for private transportation. Sure, that part may be copying Silversea door to door, but it's CHOICE only. If you don't want it, don't take it. As for pricing shown, my guess is they'll have a way to show this on the website, so you won't actually have to "book a cruise" to get air pricing. MY guess is they'll show the whole thing and cruise only, just like they do now, and did when Premium Select was an option. If you want less than all, then all you have to do is a mock booking on line and likely it will ask if you want to save money in Premium Select, or Economy, just like they do now with Non-Refundable option. Honestly, I don't know what all the fuss is about. It seems they're responding to the desires of people who DON'T want everything but want some things. As to your comment "business class air is getting more difficult for the cruise lines to get at a lower rate," EXACTLY. I am retired Delta and my son is a Fed Ex pilot, so I keep in touch through him and friends as to the state of the airlines. Ridership is UP and availability is DOWN. That equates to higher prices. And Business Class is their "bread and butter." It is selling out as fast as it can so no need to discount it for anyone. Regent really struggles to find seats at a rate that is within their contract. And those rates go up...and up...and up as the airlines increases their prices. Those prices are passed on to us. Always have been, by the way. Anyway, as the title of this thread says "Much Ado About Nothing." Just more options for us, in essence giving us MORE control.

Yes you are probably overthinking this. Of course I'm only guessing, but what I would expect is they'll show a price with everything included (most expensive) and a price with no additional inclusions. THEN, if you do a mock booking, just like today, it'll give you choices (or have your TA price it). Remember when they offered Premium Select in lieu of Business Class for a savings? It'll be just like that. In fact I bet that was a test program to see how many would choose a lower level of air class to save money. Looks like there were enough to make the change. Anyway, when you select your cabin level on the web it'll offer you the options to do a non refundable deposit like today, any of the air options, and probably limo service. As you make your selections the price of the cruise will change accordingly. That's how they did it when Premium Select seats were an option, and still do it with the non-refundable option. As for the Air Department to get your flights, nothing really should change. If you choose Business Class you'll be assigned flights in business class (or deviate like today). If you choose Economy, you'll be assigned flights in economy (or deviate like today). The email doesn't say you get to choose your airline, it says "flights customizable to your preferred air class." As for perks...no changes there either. As the OP says in the title "Much Ado About Nothing imho."

Oh they did, but not through the wall. 😜

Pacific Rim would be nice! Tempura Lobster....YUM!! 😎

Yes. That's one of the big perks to Concierge. So really not much of a problem in my opinion. I doubt that offering a few perks like early excursion booking will attract an NCL or Oceania loyalist. We were RCCL loyalists for years, but as I got older and was able to afford, both in time and cost, Regent, we began sailing itinerary based and found we love the all inclusive small ship cruises. Not much in the way of loyalty perks would have influenced my decision.

Like last time they'll likely upgrade the decor to the new look. Doubt they'll do much more than that. Not sure what else they CAN do in only a few weeks.

If they come in as Gold, Four log ins for WiFi and Early booking for Shore excursions and Dining Reservations, $100 OBC, are the big ones. The question is, what's the highest level that you can transfer to? When we crossed our Diamond Plus status on Royal Caribbean to Celebrity, the highest level we could get was Elite, which, at the time (many years ago) equated to Diamond, which was one level below D+. Also keep in mind that likely (at least RCCL did this) any cross program will start you with the status, but ZERO nights. So to achieve the next level you'll have to sail the entire time on Regent.

@Dobby36 Thank you. 😎

Check the airline's website. Best example, look at Qatar and read the perks for "Business Lite." That's what you'll be offered. It's not Regent, it's the airlines. If you read Delta's website you'll see that you'll see that you are limited, with a Delta One ticket (their business class) to entry to the Skyclub limited to 3 hours prior to departure, but anytime between connecting flights. Also certain destinations aren't considered "Delta One" so no free entry. This is not dependent on "restricted business," but for ALL Delta One tickets. So go on the web and research the business class perks of the airline you are interested in and you'll see any limitations. Again, look for terms like "business lite" that you'll find on Qatar. You'll be, when in restricted business, the lowest (or close to it) level of ticket so any perk restrictions will likely apply.