rallydave

matrix.itasoftware.com is the best way to look for flights. Makes all of the others like google look second rate

Always better to pick in order of priority and remember until you checkout your choices are not saved. So because of website issues best to checkout multiple times so that you don’t lose all your choices and start over possibly being locked out of your priority choices.

Thanks so much cruiseej. Just talked to seabourn and they don’t know but promised to find out and get back to me Thanks again

Thanks Flossie. Sure the same or similar is in the US Ts & Cs. And that is truly expected and contractual and reasonable. The problem is in the advertising. Can’t be sure if the following phrase is common in the UK but “truth in advertising” is an important phrase to remember and since the vast majority of people cruising rely on the advertising and never see or know about the ticket contract it is important the the advertising is accurate and unambiguous such that there is no confusion. The above is the reason I am position on this subject. Contractually excursions are not unlimited. Just like they are included and not free but unfortunately free has been used as a reason to not refund unacceptable excursions. All companies need to use the contract and not the advertising gg to determine how issues are handled.

Completely understand Contract vs marketing hyperbole. Used to write and negotiate huge Contracts for a living. And the true ticket Contract is not in the brochure but, can be found on the website and is the legal and binding contractual document. As far as marketing hyperbole is concerned, it does have to be truthful although as you stated it is not legally binding.

And we all know that the availability of excursions is limited in many cases in many ports so those are not unlimited as well. So what exactly does unlimited mean in regards to excursions with no caveats listed?? Guessing what you are say in that in the case of unlimited shore excursions the word unlimited has no meaning since we all know there are limits in most ports and on most excursions..

Ah but, they actually are. "Free Unlimited Shore Excursions" which is plastered all over their advertising without any caveats. .

Depending on the ship might make a difference. Only venture and pursuit have enough zodiacs to carry all passengers at once. Believe I have seen other ships like quest doing expedition cruises and they have fewer zodiacs and more passengers so any zodiac tours would need to be held with multiple sessions while pursuit and venture can carry everyone at once.

My experience with an Iceland/Greenland Venture cruise is that some are included while others are extra cost. Don't believe Kayaks and submarines are included at all. Really depends on the cruise so no definite answer.

Well I am asking about the charter flights in the Arctic and sure different airlines and planes. My TA says 2 dchecked bags at 50 lbs each. Sure the way Seabourn wrote the allowance is incorrect and means 2 at 50 each. As to the carryons, since they were described in last years cruise and not in this one even on my cruise confirmation whee I did find they are NOT using the Radisson Blu and even have a hospitality room noted last year while it said one carryon, there was no checking and people brought what they choose. I'm going with the three legal carryons I always fly with throughout the world with always 2 plus medical devices do not count so that is my third. Hopefully will hear more before leaving home but, confident I can get within the total 100 lbs checked and carryons.

Just read an interview with the new Seabourn President and she mentioned that she would be on the Pursuit June 17 for a special President's cruise. Contacted Seabourn and they nothing about this special cruise. Hoping to hear more about this upcoming President's cruise as I am on this cruise.and wondering historically anything special when there is a seabourn Presidnts cruise. Thans in advance for any information.

Nothing like here in the US where they post real times for checkpoints. No way I know of to get the specifics of how long to go thru the checkpoints and some airports you go thru immigration as you are heading towrd your gate. My suggestion is to google the minimal transit times for international flights to domestic flights.as at least in the EU as long as you are going EU to EU its' just like state to state in the US. Not sure with Brexit what it takes if going from UK to EU. And also google connections from incoming to outgoing and if in the same or different terminals as that can make a big difference And try to avoid Charles de Gaulle and Frankfort as long walks etc. Sorry best I can go with recommendations.

Yes, you need time but, not for customs; in Europe you simply walk thru the green lane if nothing to declare. It is immigration which you have to clear first that takes all the time as you have a one on one with the immigration agent.

Some clarifications. In reality SFO is your only choice as any of the other airports you listed are not gateway and will cost you about $500 extra for non-gateway airports. Regarding only checking United and Delta thoWse will guarantee a connection in a US Airport. IMHO much better to look at some of the non US airlines that fly non-stop from SFO to Europe with a connection to Barcelona and the same on the way home from Rome. You see, what airlines Regent had under contract in 2019 will likely be quite different 5 years later in 2024. Would much prefer one of the great foreign airlines for the long flight across the pole gettting you much closer to your destination. Most are much better than United or Delta. and if you miss your connection in Europe you are only a couple of hours to your destination with usually lots of connections. And another suggestion don't look for flights on the way home earlier than approx 1 PM from Rome. The airport is quite aways from your docking locaton and never know about traffic. Just because you dock at say 7 AM does not mean you will get off soon after that. Incoming delays, baggage issues and the like make booking an earlier flight risky. And since most flights bac to the US leave before noon, might be good to book the day after disembarkation and stay the night near the airport for a nice ending of your cruise without the stress of will I make my flight or not. Bon Novage.

Unfortunately no set of preferred air carriers. and no bias to use same carrier to and from cruise. Since Business Air is only guaranteed across the oceans/seas, should you need a connecting flight within the US, best to have that flight on the same airline as the over water or one of their code share partners so you have the possibility of First Class for the domestic flight(s)

Afree about it being a crap shoot. Unfortunately appears from the cryptic announcement the days of going back snd forth to get the best flights are over. cannot be sure but appears we now get one bite st the Apple and if we don’t want regents first offer and we decline we have to pay another non refundable $75 to try to get our choice of flights. Hope this interpretation is incorrect but the previous back and forth until agreement is missing from the notice.

I totally agree. Subcontracting something out does not relieve a company of responsibility for the subcontractor's performance. While this might be correct unless the Contract between Regent and the customer that was agreed to by the customer didn't state otherwise. And in this case the agreed to Contract between Regent and the customer clearly states that Regent takes no responsibility for third party issues. This does not mean that Regent cannot and does not at times take responsibility for third party issues however by the agreed to terms of the cruise contract prevail and Regent is not responsible for the actions of third parties. This is why it is extremely important to read the Contract before booking the cruise as the Contract is clear on these issues.

I am on Venture this summer and taking the charter from Reykjavik to Greenland and recently received an itinerary change to move me from the Radisson Blu which was described last year as horrible plus the following notice about the charter to Greenland 50lb/23kg Per Guest/2 Bag Per Guest Max Nothing about carryon and pretty sure the 50 lbs is per bag but, will be checking to make sure as 25 lbs per bag is ludicrous Glad nothing about carryon. Going to check on the suitcases and weight limits as Seabourn booked me Business that allows 70 lbs per suitcase. Appears Seabourn learned from last years problems and has us in a decent hotel and for a 29 day cruise a single carryon is absurd as when including a medical device which doesn't count on all airlines with a legal carryon plus a computer bag.

Not surprised. While there are 3 yes 3 sides to every story, yours mine and the actual appears from the comments the captain of the boat refused boarding and that is outside Regents control and responsibility. As to the attitude of the Regent destinations person if true has been historically typical of that department and Regent typically supports their employees and if not does not comment as is typical of most companies on internal issues. All that could be expected would be a refund if an extra cost tour.

In addition to that had a really awful included tour so put in disputes a different charge. Of course it was declined but, I had the credit card company send me a copy of the denial. The reason for the decline was that the tour had been "free" so nothing could be refunded. Simply another way to use the "free" descriptions to avoid doing anything about the poor experience.

Not true. Often times tours are limited or full with edit lists. Many times everyone who want a particular tour get to thru the wait list but not slways whether able bodied or handicapped so tours are not always available to all passengers. realize the advertising states free unlimited shore excursions but that is simply advertising speak. in fact excursions are included and not unlimited as many are unlimited but some have limited availability for sure. also negating the all excursions are available to all passengers is the fact that some excursions are limited based on the passengers abilities for instance long hikes thru the woods or in the case in point the captain of the excursion boat has the right to deny boarding as ha or she chooses. No matter what there is no all tours must be available to all.

Believe the $129 per person is misleading. Remember several years before COVID the included, not free excursions were for those $150 and below and with inflation likely much higher now. And have to remember the $150 price and any with additional charges the excursion itself is not the $150 or less or the price you pay for the more expensive. The prices are marked up from what Regent actually pays the third party tour operator ust like using Regent hotels whee the prices are per person and not per nite for the room like the hotels actually charge. There are costs for Regent including but, not limited to the destinations staff plus like any other cruise line or business profit to be made. So difficult to compare private tours you pay directly to the tour operator to what you pay within your cruise fare and/or extra for more expensive tours. Also don't forget by including tours within the cruise fare many people don't take the included tours in every port to the money included in your cruise fare is not spent by Regent so could be considered profit.

Absolutely correct. My TA breaks out the commissionable vs commissionable and provides a rebate based on the commissionable amount. I have asked that question and got a prompt explanation that taxes port charges and third party items such as air, hotel, etc are not commissionable Therefore taking the air rebate will absolutely not affect a TA's commission. This is a fair question and have no idea why someone would state that this is not a question that could or should be answered.

While Regent does at time work on your behalf to get you to the ship on time, they are under absolutely NO OBLIGATION to do this. The T's and C's specifically state that Regent is NOT responsible for third parties which include the airlines. True they under no obligation if you book on your own and the same no obligation if booked thru Regent. They often times do help but not obligated.

Papa flamingo. Yes not reporting tips is illegal so is being paid in cash under the table that is not reported. Illegal aliens working is also illegal. Lots of illegal doings yet it continues year after year as to losing SS benefits of course that is true but many don’t care don’t know and want the money now and when they need it later they will set up go fund mes and collect from those of us paying all our taxes. You are 100% accurate in saying what people are supposed to do and what they lose after retirement but it does go on year after year and will continue until we go off the current tax structure and go to something like the fair tax that is a fair way to make this cheating as well as the rich using DLL the loop ho look es in the current structure. An easy solution that won’t happen because of lobbuests and the smaller government getting rid of the doubling size of the IRS.