Comparing prices Oceania and Regent

[Wendy The Wanderer]

There has been nattering about this in various threads so I thought I would start a new thread.

 

It's often tough to compare O and R, aside from the cabin, drink and perk differences, because the itineraries are not comparable.

 

I found two itineraries, almost identical, in the same month. This is ideal for comparing. If anybody else has done comparisons, perhaps you'd care to post them here.

 

I'm one person who is content with a smaller cabin, especially on a port-intensive cruise, so I'll include prices for an A and PH on Insignia and a standard H on Mariner. Regent prices have the extra incentive discount.

 

Mariner: 10 days, Barcelona to Rome, May 28th 2011

H: $7499 (GTY right now)

Insignia: 10 days, Barcelona to Rome, May 17th 2011

A2: $5099

PH2: $6499

(I chose A2 and PH2 because they are not extremely forward or aft.)

 

So, comparing apples to apples, the Regent trip is $1000 more pp right now. $2000 can buy lots of excursions and drinks I think.

 

Comparing the A concierge cabin, albeit smaller (but only ~50' smaller than the Mariner standard), brings bigger savings and still gives you a balcony and a fridge.) $1400 pp, $2800 isn't a hugely larger savings, but would pay the bar bill I'm betting.

 

Any other easy comparisons? I'll try looking at some Marina trips, since the whole stateroom issue will change on that ship.

[Travelcat2]

Just received an email from Oceania announcing that their 2011 Alaska cruises are open for booking. Coincidentally, I was doing a little comparing -- specifically of our Navigator San Francisco to Vancouver cruise (14 nights) and Oceania's 12 night comparable cruise in late May, 2011.

 

The Navigator's smallest suite is 301 square feet.

The Regatta's smallest cabin is 160 sq. ft.

 

Navigator cost per day per person: $317 (smallest inside cabin)

Regatta cost per day per person: $527 (smallest suite)

 

I also compared the Regatta Penthouse Suite to a Navigator balcony suite.

 

Navigator balcony per day per person: $606

Regatta Penthouse Suite: $527

 

Oceania's fares include air. Obviously, the smallest suite/cabin on the Regatta is a great deal.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Yes, I got the mail too, will run a comparison guess it will have to be per diems.

 

BTW, Navigator has no inside cabins. :p

[RachelG]

I would have to pay for computer use on Oceania. I can use up a lot of money on computer time, so for me, I think they would come out about even.

[White Cat]

We often compare Regent to Oceania, having cruised both lines and use the per diem method. However, we try to get it down to a true apples to apples comparison.

 

Since we purchase our own air, we deduct that from the total of both. We also subtract from the Regent price the following: estimated excursion cost, gratuities, Internet (we get free Internet as part of Regent's past passenger program), and possibly several hundred $ for drinks. Factoring in selection of a cabin since Regent's lower level cabins are often more spacious than Oceania's R ship ones, we then divide by the number of days to arrive at the per diem cost.

 

It has proven helpful, particularly when the itineraries are comparable. Of late, since we are not big drinkers, we have found the Regent cost higher than we are willing to bear and have an upcoming 3 cruises booked on Oceania.

[EdAway]

IMO. You cannot compare Oceania with Regent because Regent is all-inclusive and Oceania is not. It truly is apples and oranges because of the significant differences. Gratuities, shore excursions, all beverages, etc., not to mention the larger cabins on Regent. Until Oceania becomes all-inclusive it should be a no brainer. Crystal is facing the same dilemma...they are gradually moving towards being all-inclusive. So...let's hope Appollo keeps Regent and Oceania separate products. If they do not, Silversea wins.

[traveller333]

no brainer for me with free internet, complimentary laundry, larger cabins and all inclusive liquor and gratuities. Excursions are nice but was a no brainer even without. Oceania may work for others.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Yes you can compare them as long as you did a cost-benefit analysis. The fact is that you do not have the option on Regent to book a smaller cabin. I'm not saying that I will do this, but the option is there. As long as you're aware of the nickel and diming, you can do the comparison.

[cruiseluv]

Wendy,

 

Thanks for the analysis (my only comment is that a verandah in Regatta is 216 sq feet , and in Mariner it's 301 sq feet, a difference of 85 sq ft.).

 

I have done per diem analysis at nauseum between Regent and Oceania, and basically for us it has come down to the fact that when you compare a PH in Oceania and a standard cabin in a Regent ship and allow for cost of excursions, drinks and gratuities it is very comparable. Of course, the value of drinks or excursions is to some extent subjective. An additional factor that is not captured in that calculation is the fact that the guest to space ratio in Regent Mariner (68.7) is much higher than in Oceania(44.2, using Regatta), so that has been the tie breaker for us. I think the numbers might be different for Marina, and with the option of a bigger standard cabin we might give Oceania a try.

[Travelcat2]

IMO. You cannot compare Oceania with Regent because Regent is all-inclusive and Oceania is not. It truly is apples and oranges because of the significant differences. Gratuities, shore excursions, all beverages, etc., not to mention the larger cabins on Regent. Until Oceania becomes all-inclusive it should be a no brainer. Crystal is facing the same dilemma...they are gradually moving towards being all-inclusive. So...let's hope Appollo keeps Regent and Oceania separate products. If they do not, Silversea wins.

 

I agree with what you posted. And, I do not believe that Regent and Oceania will merge. What I don't understand is how Silversea would win if Regent and Oceania merged:confused:

[jhp]

I for one hope they don't merge into two lines, as they are two different products. Either Regent would have to cut out something, or Oceania would have to charge for more, disappointing both of their markets. I would probably go more toward Siliversea if that happens, so agree with the poster who made that comment, but that's just me. It's the wonderful perks I have with R now that keep me loyal, all other things being equal. But for others, the pricing factor is more important.

[EdAway]

IF...you merge Oceania and Regent as all-inclusive AND remain Regent than you significantly challenge Silversea. Keep them separate with Regent as all-inclusive you keep the inter-mural debate in the company. If you do that than by all means keep the distinction and not have one compete against the other. Maybe follow the Carnival business model...they have Seabourn and Holland America and they don't compete.

[Emdee]

I did not care for the Oceania product but love Regent. Unfortunately some of the itineraries have gone up a lot next year. I will still do one Regent cruise but I am looking to other vacations and or other cruise lines for my other holidays. For example we are have just finished Mariner and will be on Nav in August but am looking at an Azamara cruise ( for the first time) in October. Azamara has Choice Air which allows me to book what I want without any penalty for change in dates airlines etc and they will give me an air credit towards that cost. Also Azamara includes water and soft drinks and wine with meals like the PG did in the old days and is more than enough for me. Also, I will have repeaters status from past celebrity and rccl cruises which will give me some internet, laundry etc.

 

The only problem of course is the small rooms which are like Oceania. Marina looks incredible and I shall certainly cruise on it.

 

I shall do a comparison when I return.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Cruiseluv, you're right, I got the cabin size calculation wrong. And 216' cabin is actually smaller than a cabin on the PG, since it includes the balcony. So not sure I wouldn't find it too small. And I know that the pax to space ratio makes a big difference.

 

I too have been casting sheep's eyes at Marina, but I wonder about the size.

[hondorner]

The analysis is really simple for me. Fact 1; Most Regent cruises are beyond my budget. Fact 2; I like the extra space on Regent, but don't like it enough to pay extra for it. Fact 3, as long as one flies coach, the air option on either is about equal. Fact 4, we enjoy an occasional drink, but a couple of hundred dollars for a bar bill would cover us for at least a year.

 

The conclusion is that most Regent cruises are too expensive for us. Even though Oceania is a premium line that is more expensive than the mass market cruise lines, we can that much. Whenever Regent comes close to Oceania on a per diem basis (as it did on our January Caribbean cruise), and throws in free stuff on top of that, the decision is simple -- in that case we sail Regent. Otherwise, no matter how much suffering is involved in the smaller cabins, the wavering shower curtains, and having to sign an occasional chit, we will sail Oceania.

 

As long as all of the other cruise lines have some combination of smoking, formal nights or fixed seating for dinner, we will be unlikely to sail them regardless of price. We learned that lesson on Celebrity last year.

 

Azamara is trying hard, but according to most of the reports we have read, they have a ways to go. Some folks were tempted to try them when there was a significant price difference, but along with the glasses of wine at lunch and dinner, they have significantly increased their pricing. Oceania also includes all sodas and bottled water, and announced that policy far in advance of Azamara, who is still pretty much trying to copy Oceania.

 

We really liked the Regent product, and would likely be willing to pay more for it if we could afford it...

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Most Regent cruises are beyond my budget. Fact 2; I like the extra space on Regent, but don't like it enough to pay extra for it. Fact 3, as long as one flies coach, the air option on either is about equal. Fact 4, we enjoy an occasional drink, but a couple of hundred dollars for a bar bill would cover us for at least a year.

 

The conclusion is that most Regent cruises are too expensive for us.

 

Sadly this is true for us as well, after 9 Regent trips. But, I think this just means fewer cruises, not no cruises. For now we'll do land trips or cheapie Caribbean cruises (define cheapie--about $8K). When we're fully retired, who knows, depends on the markets. We may resort to mass market lines when decrepitude precludes land trips.

 

We like Regent's Business class deals across the pond--we find it tough to fly coach for long flights. That's actually a great incentive to take a European cruise and combine it with a land trip, since doing our own biz class is prohibitive.

 

And I've figured our Oceania bar bill would be $50 per day, so for us this is significant. So when and if we take the plunge, I will factor this in.

[CCKelly]

Wendy, I like this thread you started. Particularly on the Oceania CC board, it is often mentioned that O is significantly less expensive than R. I have made two of my own comparisons (on was for an Asian trip that we did not do on either line, and one for a Med trip). I tried to factor in the tips, the bar bill, and the shore excursions, and Oceania came up only slightly less per day. This was for a lowest category balcony on O, versus the lowest category on R (which was an H on Mariner). The cabin size on O is significantly smaller and I understand very small bathrooms and less public space in general, and of course signing for the drinks, so I did not see a big incentive.

The only way I see O being significantly less money is 1) booking a non-balcony cabin or 2) may work for those that are really non-drinkers and that are not that interested in shore excursions.

 

We are not big drinkers, but do like a nice wine with dinner each night, maybe a glass at lunch, or a pre-dinner cocktail now and then. It doesn't take much for a bar bill to start adding up considering the prices that drinks and wine go for on cruise ships!

 

We definitely go on cruises to see each and every port, so this is very important to us. I am not sure how Regent's included tours will work out, but we will see pretty soon! In any case, we have to include budget for this which is usually a combination of ship's tours, private tours, and touring on our own often with a rental car if necessary, so that all adds up too.

[AdvenLee]

Don, I pretty much agree with everything you said. I love the Regent cruises, but I feel that the cost, for us, is just too much. So, Oceania has a good product, and we will put up with signing chits and small space to keep cruising. However, I still keep looking, comparing and trying to justify the per diem costs of Regent. On some cruises I believe that they do come out fairly close when you factor in included drinks and shore tours.

I look forward to meeting you and Betsey on the Marina (TA...Nov. 2011). Holly

[DaveFr]

There has been nattering about this in various threads so I thought I would start a new thread.

 

It's often tough to compare O and R, aside from the cabin, drink and perk differences, because the itineraries are not comparable.

 

I found two itineraries, almost identical, in the same month. This is ideal for comparing. If anybody else has done comparisons, perhaps you'd care to post them here.

 

I'm one person who is content with a smaller cabin, especially on a port-intensive cruise, so I'll include prices for an A and PH on Insignia and a standard H on Mariner. Regent prices have the extra incentive discount.

 

Mariner: 10 days, Barcelona to Rome, May 28th 2011

H: $7499 (GTY right now)

Insignia: 10 days, Barcelona to Rome, May 17th 2011

A2: $5099

PH2: $6499

(I chose A2 and PH2 because they are not extremely forward or aft.)

 

So, comparing apples to apples, the Regent trip is $1000 more pp right now. $2000 can buy lots of excursions and drinks I think.

 

Comparing the A concierge cabin, albeit smaller (but only ~50' smaller than the Mariner standard), brings bigger savings and still gives you a balcony and a fridge.) $1400 pp, $2800 isn't a hugely larger savings, but would pay the bar bill I'm betting.

 

Any other easy comparisons? I'll try looking at some Marina trips, since the whole stateroom issue will change on that ship.

Wendy,

 

Nice analysis if a person is satisfied with flying coach. However, if a person wants to use cruise air and upgrade to business class, the results are very different. That's because a RT business class upgrade on Regent is $1998, while a RT upgrade on Oceania is $3799. With the upgrade added, the Regent suite is $9497. The Oceania PH2 suite is now $10298 and the A2 cabin is now $8898. So, without considering the all inclusive nature of the Regent cruise, it is $801 less expensive than the Oceania PH2 suite and $599 more expensive than the Oceania A2 cabin (which is about 80 sq. ft. smaller than the Regent suite). IMHO, taking into account excursions and a bar bill, the Regent cruise is clearly a better deal IF you want to fly business class using cruise air.

 

Dave

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Yes Dave, I know, and agree. Guess I should compare cruises when I wouldn't need Business, i.e., leaving from N.A.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Okay, a Caribbean comparison where Biz Air is not really required.

 

Regatta, 12-days, Eastern Caribbean, Jan.22

Minimal Ocean View: $2399 (for comparison)

A3: $4199

PH3: $5499

 

Navigator, 10-days, Eastern Caribbean, Jan.24

Mininal Window: $4499

Minimal Balcony: $5199

 

I don't think I even need to do the per diem calculation on this one. But I'll do it, for the PH3/Balcony:

 

Oceania: $458

Regent: $519

 

Total price difference, PH3/Balcony is $600, we can easily spend that in the bar! :o

 

Yes, Navigator is always a little cheaper than Voyager in the Caribbean and still has fewer dining options. And yes, the Regent trip is 2 days shorter. But...with gratuities, drinks and excursions included, Navigator would be a no-brainer for me. Especially since I get a $300 Amex Plat credit for booking Regent, and I don't believe that's available for Oceania.

 

Funnily enough, the Regatta trip shows "sold out" solidly, while the Navigator trip shows an H GTY and "availability" in all other categories. Itineraries are very similar--I am amazed by the voracious loyalty of the Oceania crowd.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

And here's an Alaska comparison:

 

Regatta, Vancouver-Anchorage, June 17th, 12 days

min. window: $3999

A3: $5299

PH3: $6499

 

Navigator, Vancouver-Seward, June 8th, 7 days

Window: $3599

Balcony: $4499

 

Per diems, PH versus Balcony:

Regatta: $542

Navigator: $643

 

So, a $100 pp/pd. Of course, lots of Alaska excursions aren't free, just cheaper, but still, with the price of excursions there, I would say Regent is the winner again. That's $200 per day more for a couple.

[hondorner]

Wendy,

 

Nice analysis if a person is satisfied with flying coach. However, if a person wants to use cruise air and upgrade to business class, the results are very different. That's because a RT business class upgrade on Regent is $1998, while a RT upgrade on Oceania is $3799. With the upgrade added, the Regent suite is $9497. The Oceania PH2 suite is now $10298 and the A2 cabin is now $8898. So, without considering the all inclusive nature of the Regent cruise, it is $801 less expensive than the Oceania PH2 suite and $599 more expensive than the Oceania A2 cabin (which is about 80 sq. ft. smaller than the Regent suite). IMHO, taking into account excursions and a bar bill, the Regent cruise is clearly a better deal IF you want to fly business class using cruise air.

 

Dave

Hi, Dave, yeah, I know, we're weird, but while we're willing to spend a premium for service and food, and somewhat more of a premium for the all-inclusive amenities on regent, we're not willing to spend an extra dime for space.

 

That's probably why we're planning to spend 5 months next year in our small RV -- we get almost 25 miles per gallon, instead of the 6 mpg of the large land yachts, even though it's fully equipped and weighs 8,000 pounds.

 

We're perfectly satisfied with the standard cabin on the Regatta Class ships, we actually prefer the tiny walk-in shower to climbing over the side of a tub, and we would consider ourselves nuts to double, triple or quadruple the plane fare for a few hours, no matter how nice is Business Class.

[hondorner]

Wendy, if you live in Florida as we do and take the air credit, A Caribbean cruise on Regent comes even closer to what we expect as normal Oceania prices. That's why we sailed Navigator in January (we got an incentive for the canceled December cruise, which made it even cheaper than Oceania). Alaska is almost as much of a bargain, but with the new Oceania itineraries, O becomes our choice even if it doesn't make economic sense.

 

Yes, the loyalty of Oceania cruisers is remarkable, and despite the naysayers, should bode well for the future of Regent now that it has the same overall management.

[DaveFr]

Hi Don,

 

You're not weird, it's just different strokes for different folks. :D The thought of being crammed into a coach seat on a long international flight makes me shudder. :eek:

 

Dave