papaflamingo

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.

You are misunderstanding Regent's comment. As I showed with my screenshot from my old booking from 2018 it was, indeed, Restricted Business Class. Their comment came particularly with Qatar Airlines when they began to offer a Business Lite fare. That fare, if you look on their website, does NOT include pre-flight seat assignments or access to their lounge. Restricted Business falls into those fare rules with, apparently, an option to "up grade" to include both pre-flight seat assignments AND entry to the lounge. U.S airlines, at least, do not discriminate (at this time) between levels of fare. You are able to pre-select seats, enter the lounge, get full business class perks on board. A smart person (you can ignore this comment if you like) would read about offered perks before accepting an airline assignment from Regent on a deviation. BUT, Regent, at least since 2018, has ALWAYS used Restricted Business Class. Regent didn't "decide" to book on "lower level," they have always booked on a very low contract rate. Honestly, you are more than welcome think anything you want about me and are definitely more than welcome to ignore my posts. In fact I highly encourage you do ignore them, although the fact you read this one suggests you don't actually "ignore" them 🤣. The opinion of someone I have never met and plan to never meet is completely irrelevant to me and my life. BUT, I am actually NOT wrong about this. But heck.....it's America... believe whatever the heck you want. Doesn't change the facts.

Sette Mari is non reservation. So get to the restaurant at least 15 minutes before opening to ensure you're at the front of the line. Tell them it's your anniversary and you would like an intimate table outside. I'm sure they'll accommodate you. Happy Anniversary!!!

When RCCL and Celebrity merged programs we were awarded Elite status on Celebrity if we were Diamond or above on RCCL. But that was the highest tier we could be granted. And our Elite status was with zero days cruised. So to achieve he next tier we would have to actually EARN 750 points (based on from 2-24 points per night depending on cabin, etc.). I imagine any merging would be similar. There'll be a max "highest level" and you'd need to sail the entire number on Regent in order to move up. Pretty sure this is "much to do about nothing."

Yes. These are flights I booked myself for a non cruise. I am retired Delta and have access to the Delta Employee Discount program that gives us a minimum of 25% off any scheduled flight worldwide. But Regent's fares are generally (international Business Class) so low I can't touch them even with my discount. It's not that Regent Air Dept. is a "magical, mystical...black box," it's that they are bound by strict contract rates and the airlines, being oversold and understaffed, don't need to cut their rates for anyone. So it's very hard for Regent to stay within the contract and most often means "undesirable" routing. When you call Regent to deviate, you need to research as many options as you can. Look for flights that have TWO rates, one refundable one not refundable. Those are generally the flights that have Contract rates. Also compare among airlines and flights. It's pretty easy to figure the one's without contract rates as they'll be obviously higher than others. Also, these days, non stops are very hard to find as they are the "bread and butter" of the airlines and not being discounted. So you have to expect at least one plane change. Also, look at going a day or so earlier than you originally want, sometimes those rates will be lower. If nothing else, and you can't find anything satisfactory, let them send you on whatever routing they figure out.

We had friends in the suite next to us, the one with the TV on the wall. We never heard them and they never heard us. I only heard our neighbors when sitting on the sofa and it sounded like he was sitting on his sofa, presumably we were back to back with only about 6 inches and a wall separating us. Then again.... I have hearing aids too....so who knows HOW loud anyone was. 😜

It's possible. Flight costs seem to change daily these days. I booked tickets to London in Oct. for June (not a cruise so I paid for them). I have changed them at least 4-5 times as the costs have shifted. Ended up with enough E-credits to help significantly with booking our flights for our next cruise AND a trip in Oct. to see friends in Ca.!

Thanks..., will do!

First, this is a pretty minimal problem, one can always get hot water and tea bags from room service. Second, if they say "cannot" and then "do," what a great benefit and unexpected surprise. Better that than expecting a kettle and not getting it (I can already imagine the posts here if that happens). Thirdly, it IS possible the TA got it wrong in verbiage. Who really knows what an agent says to a TA?

Did you request the flights you tried to deviate on and were they on the same day as Regent's flights? That may be why. Also, when I deviated I asked the Agent for an example of a routing with no up charge. She told me... I paid the up charge.