rallydave

1 hour ago, FL Wolfpacker said:

Just received my flights for our July 1st sailing from Rome.  I contacted the air desk at the 210 day out time period and was told the best they could do was a deviation with 2 stops (flying out of Ft Myers, FL) with short connection times and +$2K pp charge.  I decided to wait and see what they would come up with at the 75 day time period.

Without a deviation fee they scheduled a one stop flight (thru Frankfurt) on the way out and a one stop thru Newark on the return (and both have very good layover times).  The flights are operated by Discover Airlines so that may present some issues but I am very surprised/pleased otherwise.

 

Discover is a low cost airline with very few aircraft do you risk gettin on your cruise before departure as no deviation means arrival on day ship departs.  Any delay leaving no other way to get to ship. Return likely transfer to jet blue coach in New York 

not the best flights by far and remember Regent though they might help with flight issues are not responsible to take care of travel delays. 
 

good luck as you will need it. 

16 minutes ago, caviargal said:

There does not appear to be a caviar consensus on this thread.

We were in a PH on Navigator - never able to get caviar and we missed the Sunday brunch.  Very disappointing as their competition offers it always and generously.

You must have missed the Sunday brunch is only on the big ships only on sea days and does not akwats. Never in navigator 

18 minutes ago, papaflamingo said:

Perhaps, but they say no. Regardless, Regent isn't a Travel Agent per se.  If they don't have contract rates then they are simply booking a flight for you, as a Travel Agent will.  So why would it be surprising to find that they add a surcharge to do your TA's job?  Regent is, after all, a "for profit" company. 

Not trying to be argumentative, so I apologize if my comment comes across as such.  Just an honest opinion. 

In addition you have to remember that the cruise fares that include the sir are identical no matter your home airport and not based on your particular home airport. 
 

Thus regent as you stated a for profit company has to calculate the cost of the included air based on some average of air fares for the entire US and likely a contingency to ensure the make a profit and not lose profits should the passenger bookings not match their estimates. 
 

win some lose some and sure the included fares are high enough to make a profit 

and remember the credit is identical no mater your home airport so it may or may not cover your self booking. 
 

also doubt the credit is the identical amount added to the cruise fare again to ensure profits. 

3 minutes ago, Eric Meyer said:

Is this kind of under the table? When we were onboard last year when I asked the suite steward he gave us a caviar menu but the choices were high end and over $100.

I was strictly talking about the included caviar. Didn’t know there were other types you could pay for. 
 

don’t know what you are asking about under the table. We only get the included and anyone can get it anytime freely and openly. Several parties during last cruise for everyone. 

12 minutes ago, Eric Meyer said:

Anyone have a copy (or know where to find one) of the brochure Regent gives you to order caviar in the room. I assumed that it would be available since Regent is such an exclusive and inclusive venue. Sunday brunch is about the last place that I would want caviar. Seems very picayune to have to pay retail for it on an expensive cruise. 

No brochure or anything in writing. Simply ask you waiter bar tender pool attendant etc and the caviar will be there shortly. 

23 minutes ago, bitob said:

When flight was booked I was able to add my ff number 

Really doubt a booking made before the process change will confirm whether or not ff points are given for regrnt booked AA flights. 
 

Generally points changes are effective for bookings made after the effective date of the change so until new bookings are made and flights taken the effect of this change will not be fully known. 

3 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

Papaflamingo, just a question. On your flight, I understand that economy on Jet Blue is not what most of us Regent cruisers would like. But in addition, would you have to claim and recheck your luggage when you changed from JAL to Jet blue in Boston? We find that to be true often when connections involve an airline change, and that is a “deal breaker” for us. 

As was stated earlier and I will clarify. For international flights into the US that fo not have you go thru immigration in a foreign country like Canada Ireland Aruba etc no matter the incoming airline or the connecting flight ALL luggage is removed from the plane and ALL passengers go thru immigration and ALL luggage goes thru customs. 
 

No difference same airline or different airline. This is different for many foreign countries where bags are checked to and picked up at final destination. 

Close enough for government work.  Always a few outliers

Yes papa the difference is the air credit. But because it is the same in all your examples it is the same no matter where you live and f  oh r sure sir fares vary for sure depending on your home airport. 
 

IMHO obviously the air credit is not necesrry what regent pays for your flights and likely less. We don’t ever know exactly what regent pays for air. In some cases people can fly in the credit and others can’t. 
 

thanks for agreeing and proving my hypothesis. 

Just a reminder for all; all port assignments are subject to change up until just before docking.  It is up to the Harbor Master to determine which berth any ship will be docking at and sometimes things change at the last minute so no cruise line including Seabourn is able to confirm docking location up front.  Yet they give you where the ship is scheduled but, that is no always where the ship will end up.

1 hour ago, rcandkc said:

There are a few true business class seats within the US. AA has some select flights from east to west coast with lay down business seats. 

True some planes configured with business class lie flat seats do fly domestic routes however tickets are sold as first class thus the flights are first class and my comment stands that no business class domestic flights. 
 

that said flights to Canada and Mexico are classified as international business class not first class. 

21 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

To answer the question about Iceland Air business class, it is the same as business class on domestic flights

Actually the seats on Icelandair in Business are the same as First Class domestic  US flights.  Bo ot believe any US airline has Business Class flights within the US. 

On 2/4/2024 at 11:15 AM, papaflamingo said:

The way it works is that Regent includes a specific amount in your cruise fare for air.  You can see this amount on the website.  

Not true.  The cruise fare and air inclusion is usually more than what the credit is depending on where your starting point is.  This is because everyone pays the same price for the cruise and air no matter your starting airport thus for instance for cruises in Europe the fare Regent will pay to get you to or from Europe with an east cost departure will certainly be less than flights to the same destination from the west coast and vice versa for flights to Asia.  Yes it is a set amount for every cruise likely based on a middle of the US departure so Regent wins some and loses some depending yon your  departure location.

The air credit is also a fixed amount no matter your starting location and being a business, IMHO the Regents air credit may be more or less than for your specific starting location and likely less than the amount included so Regent likely makes some money on do it yourself air.  Not a simple process for Regent to do this but, imagine the number of different fares depending o your starting location as well a multiple credits for do it yourself air??

24 minutes ago, elmsliebev said:

does anyone know which terminal Oceania use in Hong Kong? We will be there in November on Regatta. Thanks. 

No specific terminal. All depends on where the harbor master says to go.  It can change multilple times before arrival. Not like some ports where the cruise line builds terminals or where they go every week like Miami Fort Lauderdale port canaveral etc. 

16 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

The currency exchange rate banks/credit card companies use for “credits” is less favorable to the customer than the rate used for a “charge”.  So for ex, if your card was charged an exchange rate of 1.25 per dollar for the charge and then the same transaction was immediately credited (without the actual exchange rate fluctuating),  it would be credited at a lower exchange rate, say 1.23 per dollar. There is always a difference in the buy vs sell rate for foreign currency transactions.  So you are “shorted” on the credit side. 

Since I have never had a credit vs debit for a foreign currency transaction can’t say for sure how it would work if I got the credit here in us 

just another reason to take your credit from seabourn in cash

17 minutes ago, Sunprince said:

Do they pay it back to your credit card dollar for dollar if your home currency is not US$. Otherwise the credit will hit your statement at a less favourable currency exchange rate than the original charge to your card. So you are out $ in the end, not a lot but still not dollar for dollar credit.

?? If your home currency is not usd your card will be charged in usd and converted to your currency using the best exchange rate

a credit will work the same way so your risk is changed exchange rate between purchase and credit so you have an equal risk in getting a little more or less 

the ship is usd so this is the only way this can wirk

On 1/19/2024 at 10:23 AM, jjs217 said:

Lots of experience with this situation - every time we cruise with Seabourn.  Like cruiseej said, just go to Seabourn Square and you can get your OBC paid back to your credit card.

If you crave your credit card points/miles, take the credit in refundable OBC and make sure you don't overuse your non refundable and like others said go to the square and get cash in USD back.  Then take it home deposit and pa your credit card bill.  This way you get points/miles without an actual spend.  Works every time.

Need to be quick to accept as Regent will go down the list to find takers.  Obviously overbooked and trying to find suites for guarantees.  The offer will be gone if you don't respond quickly

Unfortunately no matter what the ship, port or any app says, the docking location cannot be confirmed until the ship is approaching the port as harbor master has control and at time the port changes at the last minute which is why tour operators have to check in the AM where your ship will actually be ported.

On 1/14/2024 at 8:57 AM, GMIAC said:

 

Do these flights count as revenue tickets with regards to Advantage miles? 

Really depends o the flight category.  Cannot be sure especially with AA

Nothing to get back.  It goes on your account as pending and then disappears until a charge to you comes in and then it shows as a charge.  Anyone so close to your credit limit who is sailing Seabourn has bigger problems than this relatively small hold.

16 minutes ago, kjbacon said:

Call me thick (wouldn’t be the first time lol) but I’m still wondering about the details … does everyone, including gty cabins, get the same offer pitched to them all at the same time? And if there aren’t enough takers, they add to the offer? Thx!

No only the people in suites needed for the guarantees get offers. The entire process is a regent secret but enough people have commented to enable many of us somewhat understand the process

no guarsntee people are contacted. So far as far as reported the offers keep increasing such that enough suites are available for all guarantees 

some pretty huge offers have been reported pre Covid.  Remember these are all educated guesses based on CC posts. Have never seen a post that a guarantee didn’t get on board but remember many people not on CC or choose not to pist

13 minutes ago, kjbacon said:

We are also on this cruise and our friends are too. 
 

How does a buyout situation work? I grasp the basic concept but have no clue on the details.

I described it above in post 28. Does not affect guarantees and people shop are confirmed can save thousands on similar but different cruises.  Offers to booked people keep increasing until enough confirmed people accept.  Kind of a game of chicken. 

40 minutes ago, Fun Redhead said:

Hi, I am a solo cruiser booked a B2B the Mariner, both in the second lower guarantee

Don't know what a second lower guarantee is.  Perhaps a guarantee where you put down a deposit so the second lower would be no deposit.  Please explain

5 hours ago, alainciao said:

We also have a GTY for the Feb 5 cruise.  F1.  I'm beginning to wonder if we may see the buyout situation arise.  I don't want it, but this cruise has been waitlisted for a long time and the interest in Grandeur is very high.

No need to worry as Regent will make offers to people with reservations and keep sweetening the offers until they have enough suites for all of the guarantees.  Have never heard of guarantees getting a buy out offer.

17 hours ago, midwife said:

You are assigned a boarding time by Seabourn. You don’t get to choose your own. 
We received ours 1-2weeks before we sailed after we received our boarding passes. 

And, the time provided is virtually useless board when you choose.  They won't turn you away!!!